Peru with Enrique Limardo

Bienvenidos a Peru! Our journey through Lima begins in the charming old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site starting in Pueblo Libre. Here, we delve into the cultural richness of Peru at the Larco Museum, housed in a restored viceregal mansion atop a pre-Columbian pyramid, showcasing an impressive collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts. Continuing our exploration, we visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion with a fascinating history dating back to the conquistadors. A scenic tour through colonial downtown reveals Lima’s architectural grandeur, culminating in a dinner at a seaside restaurant offering stunning views and delightful coastal cuisine, perfect for unwinding after a day of discovery.

We begin bright and early with an immersive tour of Surquillo market; it’s a kaleidoscope of fresh produce and local crafts and a firsthand look at the ingredients we’ll be eating for the rest of the day.

Armed with stalks of healthy produce and fresh fish, we’ll trade the streets for a private kitchen and participate in a hands-on cooking class. Alongside our tastemaker, we’ll lean deep into Peruvian culinary tradition and try our hand at local classics like ceviche.

After some time for repose at the hotel, we’ll embark on a relaxed walking tour of Barranco, Lima’s most romantic and bohemian district. Enjoy traditional Peruvian anticuchos and picarones at the Park of Barranco, all while soaking in the district’s artistic ambiance.

Today we move into the Andes! After a short flight to Cusco, we ride into the Sacred Valley to Chinchero for weaving alongside local master artisans. We’ll not only learn about the vibrant dyes that define Andean clothing but also how to warp, weave, and even how to execute the ñawi awapa technique.

Soon after, we’ll meet with the indigenous community, exploring their farms and learning the importance of agriculture and its connection to Pachamama (Mother Earth). We’ll also be invited to harvest our own Andean ingredients—potatoes and oca, añu root and quinoa—for this afternoon’s traditional pachamanca meal. After our bounty is placed in a pit barbecue where hot stones will cook everything to charred and caramelized perfection, we’ll feast like locals—casual, fun, authentic, delicious.

Dinner tonight is casual and light at the hotel’s organic restaurant.

We’re getting deeper into the roots of one of the greatest empires in history. We start at Maras salt flats, a vast landscape of salt-evaporation ponds in use since pre-Incan times. Nearby, we’ll see the circular terraces of Moray, an amphitheater of agriculture with its own prehistoric irrigation system. Our host is from famed MIL Centro restaurant, owned by rockstar Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez. They’ll share how these deep-rooted traditions influence and inspire their modern cuisine.

But we won’t just talk about it—we’ll experience it first-hand. At MIL Centro in Maras, we’ll be treated to an unforgettable meal. It’s a storybook—actually, more like an encyclopedia—with eight courses, each representing an ecosystem of elevation used in their authentic, intense and fiercely local cooking.

After ample time to relax, we’ll convene for a truly special dining experience. Not only have we been invited by the Orihuela family to view their private art collection—from ceramic bulls and ancient textiles to Inca weaponry and ceremonial vessels—we’ll also be guests for dinner. It’s certainly a unique atmosphere, and it feels like dining inside a museum.

Today we head to nearby Ollaytaytambo and board a train to Aguas Calientes. We can ride all the way there—or, if you’re up for the adventure, arrive by foot via an awe-inspiring, 11-kilometer (6.8-mile) hike on the Inca Trail! We pass over suspension bridges, through jungle and by amazing archaeological sites like Chachabamba and Winaywayna before reaching the last climb: up steep, narrow stone steps that lead to our first look at Machu Picchu, spilling down almost impossibly over a mountainside.

Walking through the Sun Gate, Intipunku, is the absolute best way to see this marvel for the first time, and we’ll toast to the magic of the moment with a special bubbly pour. Back at the hotel, we’ll be able to put our feet up and relax in luxury after our long trek, Machu Picchu on our minds for the evening.

We’re not done with Machu Picchu yet! After a delicious breakfast, we’ll head back to see the clouds lift to reveal the scale and sheer audacity of a ridge-top site built between towering peaks. We’ll dive deeper on a spellbinding walk through ruin-filled terraces and ancient terrain.

Our lunch unfolds in the shadow of the lost city at Belmond Sanctuary. Look out for exotic butterflies and giant hummingbirds between sumptuous bites of some of the best elevated fusion in the valley.

This afternoon, we’ll train back to Cusco to shop or take advantage of our beautiful hotel—whether that’s enjoying the spa, soaking in the pools or wandering the well-kept gardens and cozy reading rooms to relax with a drink.

Today is a leisurely introduction to Cusco, ancient capital of the Incan empire. Here, sleek and modern eateries fit neatly into weathered Spanish-colonial buildings, while locals in indigenous clothing sell traditional crafts and produce. It’s a lively place where past and present lives in harmony (except for when a llama holds up traffic).

We begin with a truly special lunch. We’ll head over to the outskirts of the city to roll up our sleeves for a cooking class and pisco sour workshop led by our tastemaker, the ultimate expert in Peruvian food and drink. Afterwards, we’ll tuck into the fruits of our labor over an outdoor banquet that epitomizes rustic elegance, every dish an ode to this epic week of exploration.

We’ll return euphoric and ready to explore Cusco independently until we reconvene for our farewell dinner at the Map Cafe. This is quintessential Cusco cuisine—fresh, sophisticated and unlike anything you’ve tried before. As we dig into some of the best food in Peru, don’t be surprised if our host leads a few toasts to celebrate a truly incredible week.

Today we say our goodbyes, but first we squeeze in some last lessons from the Incas. We’ll get to know Cusco and its iconic streets and sights, including Siete Borreguitos and nearby Saqsayhuaman, an Inca-built hillside fortress of enormous stones fit into a perfect, mortar-free puzzle.

After our tour, we’ll freshen up before heading wherever our journeys take us next—home or beyond—with Peru in our hearts forever. Buen viaje!