Kathy Sharpe and family
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive into Lima
Welcome to Lima! Upon arrival, you'll be met by our representative and assisted with your transfer to your hotel for overnight. You'll stay in an airport hotel for ease of travel tomorrow.
Overnight Airport Hotel
Day 2
Lima – Flight to Cusco – Sacred Valley
Have breakfast, and then our representative will assist you with a transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Arrive into Cusco, meet your guide and driver, and head directly for the beautiful Sacred Valley and the Incan ruins of Pisac. Marvel at the sweeping agricultural terraces, crowned by some of the finest examples of Imperial-style Inca stonework. Next, you'll hike from the ruins to the main town of Pisac with your guide (approximately 1.5 hours downhill) and enjoy the stunning views of the valley.
Afterward, continue to your hotel, Sol y Luna, known for its peaceful setting in the Sacred Valley, charming casitas built from local stone, and excellent Andean cuisine. Profits from the hotel support the Sol y Luna Association, which provides comprehensive education for children from disadvantaged communities throughout the Sacred Valley. During your stay, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Sol y Luna Intercultural School to learn more about its work. The school educates nearly 163 students from 20 surrounding communities and develops creative solutions to ensure children living in remote areas can attend.
Overnight Sol y Luna
Day 3
Horseback riding to Moray – Local community and school visit
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Then, it's time to begin your Peruvian paso horseback riding adventure! Meet your friendly horse and trot through the sweeping landscapes of the Sacred Valley for 1.5 hours, until you arrive at Moray, an archeological site featuring Inca terraces overlooking the panoramic valley below. Moray is still under active excavation.
Once in Moray, visit a local school, and share gifts and conversations with the students.
Have lunch with a great view at UNU restaurant in Tiobamba.
After time to re-fuel, depart on a scenic 1.5 hour hike, passing through farmlands and observing local farmers harvesting their crops along the way. You'll then arrive at the salt flats of Maras, which have been in active use since before the time of the Incas! Take in their beauty before returning to your hotel, with the evening at leisure.
Overnight Sol y Luna
Day 4
Walk with llamas and visit local families
After breakfast, meet your guide and head out to explore a beautiful canyon called Acasmarca. Walk through the canyon, joined by local community members and their accompanying llamas and alpacas.
Once in the Valley, you'll have the chance to learn more about a local reforestation program and contribute to their efforts by planting a native tree.
Afterward, visit a Quechua home at Totora Canyon before traveling onward to a local home in Urubamba where you will learn how to cook a traditional lunch and have a meal with the family.
Following lunch, visit the local market in Urubamba, taking in the bright colors of the crafts, fruits, and vegetables. Then, return to your hotel.
Overnight Sol y Luna
Day 5
Zipline – Ceramic Activity
After breakfast, meet your guide and head to a hands-on ceramic workshop, where a local artisan will introduce you to the traditional techniques behind this distinctive style of Peruvian pottery. You’ll have the opportunity to shape and decorate your own piece while learning about the cultural significance of ceramics in the Sacred Valley.
Enjoy lunch in Urubamba before continuing to one of the valley’s most exhilarating adventures. The Via Ferrata route, located near Ollantaytambo, follows a network of cables, bridges, and iron ladders anchored into a 300-meter cliff face high above the Sacred Valley. After reaching the summit, descend by zipline, gliding across the canyon with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and agricultural terraces.
Following the adventure, transfer to StarLodge Adventure Suites, a remarkable cliffside lodge suspended directly from the rock wall high above the valley floor. Each transparent capsule offers sweeping views of the Sacred Valley and the night sky. Relax in the outdoor hot tubs perched on the mountainside, then enjoy a memorable dinner served beneath the stars.
Overnight StarLodge Adventure Suites
Day 6
Exploring Machu Picchu
It's time to visit Machu Picchu! Meet your guide and transfer to Ollantaytambo Station. From here, you'll take the train to Aguas Calientes, enjoying stunning views of the surrounding Sacred Valley along the way.
Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, enjoy lunch. Then, take a scenic bus ride up to Machu Picchu, the iconic Inca citadel perched high in the Andes and one of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites. Accompanied by your private guide, discover the history, engineering, and significance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site as you wander among its temples, terraces, and stone structures. Your guide can put together a treasure activity to make the day extra exciting for kids!
After your explorations, you'll return to Aguas Calientes, with the evening to relax at your hotel, Inkaterra Mapi Pueblo Hotel. This tranquil retreat is nestled in the cloud forest overlooking the Vilcanota River. Designed to resemble a traditional Andean village, the property features charming stone pathways, lush gardens, and private casitas surrounded by one of the most biodiverse regions in Peru. Enjoy dinner at the restaurant, where contemporary Peruvian cuisine is served in a peaceful setting.
Overnight Inkaterra Mapi Pueblo Hotel
Day 7
Machu Picchu – Back to Cusco
After an early breakfast, take the early bus back to explore Machu Picchu, and walk to Inca bridge or hike up the Wayna Picchu Mountain, taking in the breathtaking views of the citadel.
Before the crowds arrive, return to Aguas Calientes and board the train back to Ollantaytambo. Head to El Albergue Lodge, situated on a working farm. Check out the coffee roastery, sample experiments at the distillery, and then enjoy a pachamanca. This traditional Peruvian lunch consists of meats and tubers slowly cooked underground.
After lunch, transfer to Cusco and explore the city! Once called the “navel of the world” by the Incas, Cusco remains a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with the older, more austere remains of pre-Columbian glory. You can still see the foundations of Inca structures on many of the city streets today! Choose to wander around San Blas, a plaza located within the Historic Center that boasts winding roads, vibrant markets, and beautiful art galleries and shops. You could also head down to the city center, where you can stop at famed plazas, churches, markets, and ruins.
Overnight Antigua Casona San Blas
Day 8
Inca Site of Sacsayhuaman – San Blas – Chocolate-making
After breakfast, your guide will meet you and take you to see the incredible Fortress of Sacsayhuaman – a unique archeological site that was very important to the Inca Empire.
Afterward, return to Cusco city by walking downhill back to the neighborhood of San Blas. Enjoy a delicious lunch at one of Cusco’s many great restaurants followed by a fun chocolate-making activity. Learn about the chocolate process from bean to bar, and sample your work by eating the excellent Peruvian chocolates you made.
Enjoy the evening to relax and wander around Cusco.
Overnight Boutique Hotel
Day 9
Visit local School for Girls – Flight to Lima
This morning, venture to a local school that is empowering and educating girls from rural areas outside of Cusco. The school aims to uplift girls to break the cycle of poverty and also support and educate families.
Spend the morning learning about the school’s mission and meeting the students.
Have lunch with the girls, and then head back to the Cusco airport to catch your flight to Lima. Once in Lima our representative will assist with your connection for your flight home.
