Cusco: Soft Landings

Cusco rises from the valley at 11,150 ft (3,399 m), a patchwork of Inca walls and colonial facades. The first day prioritizes gentle acclimatization to altitude and quiet exploration of the historic centre.

A.M. Arrive Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport (CUZ); private transfer to boutique hotel in the city.

P.M. Orientation walk — Plaza de Armas, Coricancha (Sun Temple), San Blas artisans’ lanes, and San Pedro Market.

Night Rooftop aperitif overlooking city lights as evening settles across the valley.

Visual Highlights:
- Plaza symmetry
- Inca walls
- Market colors
- Rooftop perspectives

Stay Cusco

Cusco: Stones & Crafts

A day combining Inca architecture with traditional crafts. Cusco’s streets reveal how ancient stonework integrates with colonial design.

A.M. Guided visit to Sacsayhuamán, famous for massive terraces and precisely fitted stones.

P.M. Explore Coricancha (Sun Temple) and San Blas artisan workshops, including weaving and pottery.
Night Candlelit dinner in a colonial courtyard restaurant with live Andean music and locally sourced menu.

Visual Highlights:
- Stone joins
- Cusco panoramas
- Artisan hands at work
- Tiled rooftops at dusk

Stay Cusco

Foothills & Hot Springs

A gentle acclimatization day in the Vilcanota range, combining mountain views with thermal pools.

A.M. Drive 3½ hours southeast from Cusco via Tinki; photo stops at Andean villages and broad puna plains.

P.M. Optional ridge walk or relax in Pacchanta hot springs, with snow-capped Ausangate peaks behind.

Night Dinner at camp — hearty mountain stew with local wine under a star-filled sky.

Visual Highlights:
- Steam rising from natural pools
- Alpaca herds
- Snow-capped peaks
- Star trails

Stay Pacchanta | Luxury camp or lodge

Five Lakes Circuit

A full day trekking among alpine lakes fed by Ausangate glaciers, with moderate ascents up to 4,700 m.

A.M. Begin 5–6 hour trek to Comercocha and Pucacocha, capturing reflections, glacier close-ups, and changing light.
Lunch Picnic by an upper lake — bread, cheese, fruit, and coca tea.

P.M. Continue circuit past turquoise and jade lagoons; encounter local herders and llamas.

Night Bonfire dinner beside the lakes with mulled wine and clear night skies.

Visual Highlights:
- Turquoise lakes
- Glacier reflections
- Herders and pack animals
- High-altitude vistas

Stay Pacchanta | Luxury camp or lodge

Rainbow Mountain

Early sunrise hike to Vinicunca, famed for its vibrant mineral layers and Andean panoramas.

A.M. Drive 1½ hours to trailhead; hike 2 hours up, 1½ down to the viewpoint ahead of crowds.

Lunch Packed lunch or café stop along the descent.

P.M. Return drive to Cusco in late afternoon.

Night Celebration dinner with panoramic views over tiled roofs, candlelight, and local wine.

Visual Highlights:
- Rainbow strata
- Vilcanota range vistas
- Locals in bright shawls
- Sunrise colors

Stay Cusco

Maras, Moray & Chinchero

nca ingenuity in agriculture and textiles, combining historic sites with living culture.

A.M. Visit Maras salt pans (over 3,000 pools) and Moray terraces, used to study altitude-specific crops.

Lunch Valley restaurant serving Andean potatoes, corn, and cheese.

P.M. Chinchero village — observe traditional weaving with natural dyes; learn folklore passed through Inca descendants.

Night Dinner on a terrace overlooking the valley with local wine.

Visual Highlights:
- Geometric salt terraces
- Circular Moray amphitheaters
- Loom threads
- Natural dye pots

Stay Cusco

Paucartambo Festival

A shift into the foothills to experience ritual life and colorful processions.

A.M. 3–4 hour scenic drive with photo stops at ridge roads, small markets, and village views.

P.M. Explore the church, plazas, and viewpoints; witness festival processions and masked dances.

Night Fireworks and street food, accompanied by live highland music and local chicha.

Visual Highlights:
- Folkloric dances
- Ritual masks
- Vibrant streets
- Night celebrations

Stay Paucartambo | Eco-lodge or camping

Tres Cruces & Ollantaytambo

Ridge sunrise followed by descent into the Sacred Valley’s living Inca town.

A.M. Dawn at Tres Cruces for wide vistas; descend to Urubamba Valley (≈2 hours).

P.M. Explore Ollantaytambo’s streets, canals, and terraces; photo opportunities in tight village lanes.

Night Dinner in a restored stone house with moonlit terrace views.

Visual Highlights:
- Ridge light
- Canal reflections
- Terraced streets
- Village panoramas

Stay Ollantaytambo

Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes

A morning at the fortress, afternoon on one of the world’s scenic rail routes.

A.M. Explore Ollantaytambo archaeological site: ceremonial sectors, terraces, and stone façades.
Lunch Light meal in town.

P.M. Board train to Aguas Calientes (≈1½ hr); enjoy riverside and gorge views.
Night Dinner of fresh trout with chocolate-based desserts.

Visual Highlights:
- Terrace geometry
- Train gorge vistas
- Lantern-lit streets

Stay Aguas Calientes

Machu Picchu

Early entry to the citadel rewards quiet terraces and temples in cinematic light.

A.M. Shuttle to Machu Picchu (≈25 min); explore Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, and Guardhouse viewpoint.

Lunch Light snack in Aguas Calientes.

P.M. Train to Ollantaytambo (≈1¾ hr) then 2-hour drive to Cusco.

Night Multi-course Andean tasting menu in a restored colonial dining room.

Visual Highlights:
- Misty terraces
- Carved stone details
- Panoramic Guardhouse views

Stay Cusco

Optional extension to the world’s highest navigable lake (3,810 m), rich in Aymara and Quechua culture.

Day 1 — Journey to Puno: 6-hour drive via La Raya Pass; photo stops at markets, villages, and weaving cooperatives.

Night: Lakeside dinner with fresh trout and piano accompaniment.

Day 2 — Islands of Tradition: Boat to Uros and Taquile Islands; optional homestay on Amantani with sunset and dawn light.

Night: Lakeside or homestay dinner with local songs and sky views.

Visual Highlights: 
- Reed islands
- Taquile textiles
- Mirrored lake water
- Island terraces

Optional extension into Tambopata or Manu Reserve, home to rich wildlife and lush ecosystems.

Day 1 — Rainforest Arrival: Fly Cusco–Puerto Maldonado; boat to lodge; canopy walk and caiman spotting at dusk.

Night: Candlelit dinner with forest sounds and open-air comfort.

Day 2 — Wildlife & Waterways: Early macaw clay-lick; oxbow lake exploration; return to Puerto Maldonado for evening flight.

Visual Highlights:
- Rainforest layers
- Birds and mammals
- River reflections
- Insects and amphibians

In Cusco, accommodation is never just a place to rest — it’s part of the journey. Behind carved doors and quiet courtyards, you’ll find centuries of history, craftsmanship, and comfort woven together. Each stay offers its own perspective on the city — from vaulted dining halls and mountain-facing terraces to tranquil spas that echo with Andean calm and timeless elegance.

Evening in Cusco carries its own quiet grandeur. Many boutique hotels and restaurants occupy 16th-century buildings where stone vaults and fireplaces frame intimate dinners. Candlelight flickers across centuries-old walls, and every meal feels grounded in place — a celebration of Peruvian flavour, architectural heritage, and the enduring artistry that makes dining here both atmospheric and deeply connected to history.

In Cusco’s restored haciendas, heritage and comfort come together with effortless grace. Rooms feature carved shutters, antique paintings, and hand-woven fabrics that honour local tradition. Thoughtful design balances authenticity with modern ease — soft light, calm spaces, and quiet detail. Staying here feels like inhabiting a story, surrounded by the textures and spirit of centuries-old craftsmanship.

After exploring Cusco’s cobbled lanes and highland ruins, retreat to interiors where calm and refinement take centre stage. Soft water, candlelight, and mountain silence create a deeper kind of rest. Here, Lens Explorers’ philosophy comes to life — authentic adventure balanced with warmth, comfort, and the gentle serenity that turns every journey into renewal.

Each stay is chosen for its sense of place — tranquil retreats where Peru’s natural beauty unfolds outside your window. Wake to birdsong across the valley, watch morning light sweep the Andes, or rest by a garden terrace scented with eucalyptus and wild herbs. These havens invite reflection and artistry, where every view feels composed and every moment unhurried.

Peru has become one of the world’s great culinary destinations, its restaurants ranked among the finest anywhere. Chefs here combine creativity with deep respect for regional tradition, elevating native ingredients to international acclaim. Each Lens Explorers journey includes the chance to taste this mastery — refined, imaginative, and rooted in the extraordinary diversity of Peru’s landscapes and flavours.

Few dishes define Peru like ceviche — fresh fish cured in lime, chilli, and sea salt — or lomo saltado, where Andean ingredients meet Asian technique. Each recipe tells a story of migration and innovation, connecting coast and highlands. Meals are selected to highlight the balance of freshness, spice, and colour that gives Peruvian cuisine its unmistakable character.

In the Andes, food is both nourishment and ritual. Dishes such as pachamanca, meats and roots slow-cooked beneath hot stones, express gratitude to the earth. For Lens Explorers, sharing these meals is a cultural encounter: simple, honest flavours prepared with care and pride. Each bite connects you to the rhythms and generosity of highland life.

Ever since Hiram Bingham revealed Machu Picchu to the world in 1911 — its terraces and temples rising through jungle mist — Peru has stirred the imagination of travelers and archaeologists alike. Across its valleys and mountain trails, ruins, carvings, and citadels appear etched into the land. Trekking here feels like walking through time, where every path reveals another trace of ancient civilization.

Lens Explorers journeys are designed with space to wander — the freedom to pause, explore, and follow curiosity through Peru’s landscapes. Each itinerary blends guided discovery with time for detours: to linger in a plaza, wander a highland trail, or sketch beneath the open sky. This rhythm sets Lens Explorers apart — travel that moves at your own pace.

The Andes reveal one of the world’s most striking palettes. At dusk, Maras’ salt pans glow in shades of pink and blue, mirroring the vast sky. Across valleys, stone terraces, golden grasses, and mountain shadows shift with every cloud. Whether you photograph or simply watch, the light and texture of the Andes turn each moment into a work of art.

These encounters offer a window into the living culture of the Andes — among Quechua-speaking communities whose traditions descend directly from the Inca. Join local families to learn the meaning of ancient weaving patterns, wander vibrant markets filled with colour and folklore, or share stories beside a communal fire. Every experience reveals a culture that endures and welcomes.

One of the joys of travel with Lens Explorers is the freedom to pause for the unexpected. A misty valley may open to grazing alpacas, a herder crossing a ridge, or children playing in a village square. Whether you capture it or not, these unplanned encounters — simple, vivid, and human — become the moments you remember most.

Exploring Cusco: days 1-2
Exploring Mountains: days 3-5
Exploring Folklore: days 6-7
Inca & Macau Piccu: days 8-10

Day 11 — Onward Travel
or Lake Titicaca bolt-on (2 days)
or Amazon Rainforest bolt-on (2+ days)