We just returned from an incredible trip to Peru, a fascinating destination known for its rich cultural heritage, world-renowned gastronomy, beautiful architecture, traditional crafts and spectacular landscapes.

We visited cosmopolitan Lima, historic Cusco, iconic Machu Picchu and fascinating sites and beautiful landscapes in the Sacred Valley.  Highlights from our recent trip included:

Visiting incredible archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley
Touring highlights of the Sacred Valley include sites like the Maras Salt Mines, thousands of pre-Inca salt wells still in use, or the agricultural terraces at Moray, thought by scholars to have functioned as a research laboratory where the Incas experimented with crop cultivation.

Riding the train to Machu Picchu
This bucket list journey travels through the spectacular landscapes of the Sacred Valley with views of the Andes, Inca ruins and small rural communities.

Privately touring iconic Machu Picchu
Our expert local guides bring this breathtaking ancient site alive and help navigate the site and its many circuits.

Exploring Lima’s UNESCO-listed historic center
We love exploring Lima’s historic center and vibrant, cosmopolitan neighborhoods like Miraflores and Barranco.

Dining at some of the most renowned restaurants in Lima
Lima has a spectacular food scene, including world renowned restaurants such as Central and Astrid y Gaston.

Privately touring Casa Aliaga in Lima
A gem of Spanish colonial architecture, Casa Aliaga is one of the oldest continuously inhabited private homes in the Americas.

Staying at luxury hotels in Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley
Peru’s top hotels combine an elegant sense of place with world-class dining and warm hospitality.

Learning about ancient Andean weaving traditions
We take our travelers to meet skilled weavers in the Sacred Valley for a private weaving demonstration.

Enjoying—and learning to make—pisco sours
We visited the most historic and atmospheric bars in Peru and had private lessons to learn how to prepare this famous drink, which is believed to have originated in Lima in the early 20th century.

Visiting an alpaca farm
It’s fascinating to learn about (and meet!) Peru’s local camelids—alpacas, llamas, guanacos and vicunas—and the different kinds of wool used in Peruvian textiles.

Exploring Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire
Cusco is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its blend of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture, vibrant markets, ancient ruins and rich history and culture.

Shopping for local crafts, folk art, antiques, silver, textiles and other items.
Peru is a shopper’s dream, from upscale boutiques in Lima to high-end specialty shops in Cusco and off-the-beaten path gems in the Sacred Valley.

Seeing ancient Inca walls, incredible feats of engineering
Made of large interlocking stones that fit together without mortar, the walls were designed to absorb earthquake shocks and are an enduring testament to the ingenuity of Inca masonry.

Visiting notable museums and galleries
We had a wonderful time touring Peru’s museums, including the acclaimed Larco Museum in Lima, which houses an incredible collection of pre-Columbian art and artefacts and offers a comprehensive overview of the civilizations of ancient Peru.

Meeting locals 
We loved experiencing warm, generous Peruvian hospitality everywhere we went.

Contact Artisans of Leisure to begin planning a private luxury Peru tour featuring iconic sites, renowned gastronomy, incredible landscapes and insider cultural touring.