Treasures of the Incas - with ME to WE Amazon Extension to Ecuador, Summer 2021

Treasures Of The Incas – With Me To We Amazon Extension To Ecuador, Summer 2021
The mysterious world of the ancient Inca Empire pairs nicely with the flavours of a modern gastronomic powerhouse. From classic Peruvian dishes such as ceviche, to a traditional Pachamanca Feast in Sacred Valley, you’ll be inspired to introduce new recipes into your own cooking back home. These sumptuous dining experiences will fuel captivating days exploring the secrets of an ethereal part of the world. From the pulsating capital of Lima to the mist-cloaked mountains of Machu Picchu and the serene waters of South America’s largest lake, you’ll be spellbound by Peru.


Exceptional Dining

• Lima: You can relax before meeting your Travelling Concierge at 18.00 for a Welcome Dinner at MAYTA with Chef Jamie Pesaque.
• Lima: Enjoy a Highlight Lunch at Amor Amar in a trendy, bohemian district.
• Sacred Valley: Experience a caja china lunch, a popular way to create a delicious meal in Peru, cooked in a wooden box.
• Macchu Picchu: Learn how to blend the perfect pisco sour.
• Sacred Valley: Delight in a Pachamama feast prepared in an underground oven and served in an exquisite garden in Ollantaytambo.
• Cusco: Dine at MAP restaurant, one of the city’s most prominent restaurants, situated on the lively, modern courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art. This contemporary Peruvian haute cuisine restaurant offers an artistic dining experience, candlelit for a dazzling evening ambiance.
• Lima: Savour a creative array of seasonal dishes created by chef Arlette Eulert at Matria during your Celebration Dinner.
• Dining Summary: 15 Breakfasts (B), 10 Lunches (L), 2 Lunches with wine (LW), 3 Dinners (D) and 7 Dinners with wine (DW).

Journey Highlights

• Lima: Experience the beautiful ‘City of Kings’ through the eyes of a Local Expert.
• Sacred Valley: Visit the Centre for Traditional Textiles, meet with the founder, Nilda Callañaupa, and learn how the Centre is working to empower Quechuan woman and men in the communities of Chinchero, Chahuaytire and Pitumarca by preserving and teaching textile traditions that had begun to disappear.
• Sacred Valley: Witness the spectacular terraced salt pans, called Salinas de Maras and learn how the care of them is a family tradition in the region.
• Sacred Valley: Learn of the importance of ancient rituals to the people of the Sacred Valley as a local shaman performs a a centuries-old ritual just for you that expresses reverence to the Earth.
• Sacred Valley: Enjoy stunning scenery from the panoramic viewing cars of the Vistadome train.
• Aguas Calientes: With a Local Expert, explore the cloud forest, visit a working tea plantation and an orchid farm.
• Machu Picchu: Spend a full day exploring the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, rediscovered by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911 after being forgotten for centuries. A Local Expert helps you understand the enigmatic fortress abandoned by the Incas in the 16th century.
• Sacred Valley: At a local camelid farm, meet llamas, guanacos, alpacas and even the rare vicuña and enjoy an insight into how their soft wool is used to make beautiful woven textiles.
• Cusco: With a Local Expert, practice your bartering skills at a local market. Enjoy a fun challenge of purchasing items from the market (with money and a list supplied by your Travelling Concierge) for the best prices possible. All purchases are later donated to local needy families.
• Cusco: Join a Local Expert to explore the Temple of Korikancha, Sacsayhuaman and the cathedral.
• Puno: Explore Sillustani to view the stone burial towers ‘chullpas’ that have dotted the shores since pre-Inca times.
• Lake Titicaca: Cruise the lake and learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local people, who bundle reeds from the lake to build floating platforms, houses and canoes.

Luxury Hotels

• Lima: Explore the very best of Peru’s capital city at the JW Marriott Hotel Lima.
• Sacred Valley: The elegant Tambo del Inka will ensure an indelible stay.
• Machu Picchu: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 81 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest.
• Cusco: The stylishly decorated and luxurious JW Marriott El Convento Cusco is built atop ancient Incan ruins.
• Lake Titicaca: Enjoy the sunsets on the lake from the only five-star hotel region, the Libertador.

VIP Experiences

• Lima: Visit the home of local artist Victor Delfin, known for his monumental El Beso sculpture at his workshop in the city’s trendy Barranco district.

Inclusive Luxury Gold Services

• You will be escorted by one of our fine Travelling Concierges, handpicked to serve as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
• Enjoy the comfort of Luxury Gold’s air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard restroom.
• Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert’s fascinating commentary.
• At every hotel, you’ll be treated to seamless baggage handling, with prompt delivery inside your room.
• Hotel and restaurant tips are included – you’ll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
• Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
• From time to time, your Travel Concierge will enchant you with a Luxury Gold Flourish, which is a local speciality representing the destination.
• Complimentary, private airport transfers are included on start and end dates and when additiona…