Journey through the Culture of Peru with WSJ+

We’re working with WSJ+ to create entirely customizable and private trips for you, their members. Our Travel Experts are here to make your trip entirely your own. Private, customizable, and totally flexible. This is what we do. This month, we’re introducing a new highlight itinerary to Peru that you can embark on today. Take it ‘as is’ or customize it to your heart’s content.

Ancient cultures and modern cuisine collide on this ten-night journey through Peru. Travel through history alongside a host of expert guides and gain insider access to iconic sites as you skip the crowds of Machu Picchu and sail into the floating islands of Lake Titicaca. You’ll embrace local life too, as you pay tribute to Pachamama with a traditional shaman and meet the people playing a role in Peru’s culinary revolution.

To add extra magic to your time away, WSJ+ members will enjoy a complimentary Pachamanca lunch in the historic town of Ollantaytambo. Embrace Peruvian culture with this traditional dining experience where local ingredients are cooked subway using the heat of the earth.

Exclusive to WSJ+ members

This trip has been designed exclusively for WSJ+ members, drawing on our travel experts’ in-depth knowledge of Peru. The experience, however, is yours and yours alone, with all of our trips private and customisable. What you’ll find below, therefore, is simply a suggestion. Our Travel Experts will work with you to devise an itinerary based on your inquiry, budget, group size, and desires. Typically, this will include everything from the experiences you do (and the guides that will take you there) to the hotels you’ll stay in and the trains, planes and automobiles that will take you in between. We can also help with international flights, if you like.

WSJ+ members will receive:

• Immersive experiences tailored to your interests. This could include anything from anthropologist-led tours to Michelin-starred culinary immersions.
• Exclusive benefits to elevate your trip, including a complimentary traditional dining experience.
• Stays in Peru’s most luxurious hotels.
• Access to expert guides throughout.
• Unrivalled expertise in planning your trip to Peru.

What to do

Home to a rich and vibrant culture, this journey through Peru offers a new discovery at every turn. Begin your immersion in Lima where you’ll get your bearings alongside distinguished historian Alejandro Lira on a private tour through the city’s history. You’ll cover everything from ancient civilizations at Huaca Pucllana to the Incas at Larco Museum and the onset of colonialism in the historic center. In the evening, we’ll secure reservations at Central, commonly recognized as one of the best restaurants in the world.

From Lima, your climb into the Andes begins in the Sacred Valley. Here, you’ll dive deep into local culture as you meet the local people bringing the region to life. Start with Ani, who’ll cook you a traditional meal from her home on the shores of the Urubamaba River. The next day, you’ll spend time with both a local shaman to pay your respects to Pachamama, Mother Earth, in a traditional time-honoured ceremony and Manuel Choqque, a farmer who has clung onto his native land to help lead the way in Peru’s culinary revolution. Elsewhere, you’ll spend time exploring the region with a beautiful kayaking trip and gourmet picnic on the tranquil waters of Huaypo Lagoon and a stroll through the ancient cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo where we’ll arrange for you to enjoy a traditional Pachamanca lunch.

Next, you’ll continue high into the peaks to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. You’ll have a night up here, so take your time to soak in your surroundings. We’ll arrange for afternoon entry, when the site is at its quietest, in the company of an anthropologist guide who will bring the ancient Incas to life. Spend your time as you like, strolling the ruins or summiting peaks. Once you’re done, you’ll come back down to earth in the ancient capital of Cusco. Get a feel for its storied past tomorrow as you join historian Jean-Jacques Decoster on a private tour of the city.

Your journey ends on the sky-high shores of Lake Titicaca. Here, you’ll have some time to unwind and relax – but there’s ample exploration too, should you wish. We’ll arrange for you to set off by boat to visit the lake’s iconic floating islands and meet the indigenous people that call them home. Built out of a fibre called totora, you’ll start on Taquile as you discover the ancient methods, handed down through the generations, that keep these unique homes afloat. Exploring further, you’ll also uncover archaeological sites, an intricate network of trails and a vibrant textile community.

Where to stay

Throughout your trip, you’ll stay in the best hotels Peru has to offer. Often boutique and leaning into nature, these hotels take on the personality of their surroundings. In Lima, discover the city’s artistic side from Hotel B in fashionable Barranco and enjoy an aperitif up on the roof terrace. Out in the Sacred Valley, you’ll have a private casita and 100 acres of ancient land to call home whilst up in Aguas Calientes, you’ll slumber in the shadow of Machu Picchu, shrouded by an ancient cloud forest. From the ancient courtyards of La Casona in Cusco, your trip then ends at the inimitable Titilaka. A boutique bolthole with a penchant for art and cuisine, we couldn’t think of a better spot to sign off your Peruvian discovery.

Anything else?

This experience is yours and yours alone, so feel free to customize it however you wish. Over our years exploring Peru, we’ve built up a handy network of contacts and exclusive experiences and can help take your experience to the next level. So whether you want to spend a few nights glamping in total luxury in a remote corner of the Sacred Valley or pick up a paddle and embark on an epic kayaking adventure, we know just how to help.

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