Culture and Connection in Peru
Starting in Lima, this holistic private tour through Peru draws on gastronomy, culture, nature and history to connect you with your surroundings. Quiet mindfulness activities in the Amazon complement dramatic hikes through Andean landscapes on your way to Machu Picchu. Explore the small details and spectacular scale, discovering how ancient civilisations and Indigenous communities have cultivated a deep understanding of this land.
Trip highlights
- Explore how sustainable farming and native ingredients contribute to Lima’s culinary prowess
- Reconnect with nature through guided mindfulness activities in the Amazon
- Learn about ancient Amazonian cultures through members of Indigenous communities
- Hike a section of the scenic Inca Trail, with views of the Urubamba river and Andean landscapes
- Explore Machu Picchu and its history with a private guide
- Be invited to take part in traditional Andean customs and ceremonies in Cusco
Our bespoke trips include
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your journey.
Days 1–3
Culture, history and gastronomy in Lima
Once known as the ‘City of Kings’, Peru’s cosmopolitan capital, Lima, is a hub of contemporary culture and world-renowned gastronomy. Explore Barranco’s eclectic street art, stroll along the Pacific coast in stylish Miraflores or get lost in the city’s excellent museums, including the Lima Art Museum, Lugar de Memoria and the catacombs under the 16th-century Monasterio de San Francisco. Lima’s cuisine is exceptional: Peruvian classics like fresh and zingy ceviche or sweet picarones, Michelin stars and communal market restaurants will tempt you from every corner. Guided by our in-the-know recommendations, you’ll soon discover why it’s earned a reputation as the cultural capital of South America.
A culinary tour of Lima
Today is all about understanding the roots of Peruvian gastronomy, with a full-day tour that takes you through the simple, natural ingredients used in the country’s beloved dishes. Start early at the renowned fish market in Villa Maria del Triunfo with your private guide. Learn about the importance of fishing and seafood culture, and watch as the bounties of the Pacific Ocean are displayed. Next, visit one of the small-scale hold farms which characterise Peru’s coffee production, learning how local farmers cultivate and export the beans over a freshly roasted cup of coffee. Continue to a local farmstead, where you’ll learn how they combine traditional Peruvian farming methods with sustainable practices and enjoy a home-cooked lunch of farm-to-table produce.
Days 3–6
An Amazon adventure
Journey deep into the Peruvian Amazon, where nature rules all and new species await around every corner. Here at your peaceful rainforest lodge, you’ll have the opportunity to ground yourself in nature and disconnect from the pace of modern life with a series of carefully selected mindfulness activities. Expert guides will teach you about the incredible natural world around you and the communities which exist in harmony with it.
Moments of mindfulness
Forest bathing
Restorative yoga
A forest bathing session in the Tambopata National Reserve
Discover the mindfulness practice of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, which originated in Japan during the 1980s. Connect with nature by venturing into the Tambopata National Reserve within the Amazon rainforest, allowing the sights, sounds and aromas of the jungle to wash over you. Regular forest bathing is proven to have several mental and emotional benefits, such as reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood and better sleep. You’ll finish the session feeling calmed, present and reconnected with nature.
A calming yoga and meditation session
Truly appreciate your majestic surroundings with an outdoor meditation and yoga session. Feel your breathing relax as you’re guided through each soothing posture, accompanied by the gentle rush of the river flowing past. Align your breath, body and mind through gentle poses and conscious breathing, while reaching towards harmony with nature.
Delve into Indigenous wisdom
Cultural heritage
Nature walk
A meeting with members of the Yine community
This cultural immersion will introduce you to the customs and ceremonies of the Yine culture, one of the eight Indigenous groups of Madre de Dios. Guided by Yeni Alvarado, a visual artist and guardian of the ancestral Yine chant, you’ll create patterns to be drawn on faces and learn about the sacred chants that connect us with animals and nature, as well as the cultural heritage of the Yine people.
Walk in nature with the Ese Eja community
This educational and engaging nature walk is led by Don Victor Pesha, a member of the Ese Eja community. Throughout the walk, he’ll share his ancestral knowledge with you, including the medicinal uses of the Amazon’s plants and trees, as well as their cultural significance. You’ll learn more about the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon while cultivating meaningful connections with nature and its powers.
Days 6–9
The secrets of the Sacred Valley
Steeped in history, the Sacred Valley is an adventure playground and heritage site rolled into one. While it’s known as the gateway to Machu Picchu, it’s home to a vast array of other historically important sites. Hike and mountain bike your way past ancient ruins, learning the secrets of Incan civilisation from the Indigenous communities who still observe traditional practices today.
Explore your surroundings
Horseback riding
Salt mine hike
Visit Ñaupa Iglesia on horseback
Begin your experience with a visit to the ancient ceremonial site of Ñaupa Iglesia, learning about the stories behind these spiritual ruins from your private guide. From here, you’ll continue on horseback, soaking up the impressive scenery on the hour and a half ride to Perolniyoc waterfalls. Once there, you can pause to rest before exploring your surroundings, which include the mesmerising waters of the narrow yet powerful falls and the archeological remains of Raqaypata. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes before continuing your journey.
Explore the surroundings of the Sacred Valley
A silent guided hike and guided meditation in view of the Andes form a peaceful, transformative start to your day before exploring the circular terraces of Moray. Learn about their historical use by the Incas for developing crop varieties, as well as the salt production history of the nearby town of Maras. Even today, salt extraction is still the main source of income here, and crystalised salt pans scatter the farmlands. Meet with a Pampamesayok, or Andean priest, who will honour Pachamama (Mother Earth) with rituals that are thought to date back to before Incan times.
Hike to Machu Picchu
Today, you’ll embark on a shortened version of the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Your 13 kilometre route navigates cobblestone paths, mountain vistas, the winding Urubamba river and Incan ruins. Explore the archaeological sites of Wiñaywayna and Choquesuysuy with your private guide, learning about their agricultural, urban and religious functions before finally reaching your end goal: Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate. Take a moment to soak up the awe-inspiring views of this ancient citadel before heading down to explore it.
Days 9–10
A day at Machu Picchu
You’ll have a day to explore Machu Picchu in more depth with a private guide. Tour each corner of the ancient citadel, learning about its use and design from your expert guide, before choosing to climb either Huaynapicchu or the Machu Picchu mountain. From here you’ll get to enjoy spectacular views over Machu Picchu, as well as the valleys, mountains and cloud forests that surround it, allowing you to truly appreciate the scale of the Incan design and the majesty of their enduring creation.
Days 10–12
Two days in Cusco
The city of Cusco proudly displays the influences of Peru’s past in its cobbled streets and decorative plazas. It was the capital of the Incan Empire until its Spanish conquest, and the two threads of history coexist side by side in the present day. Visit the Coricancha Temple of the Sun, which had the Church of Santo Domingo built on top, people watch in the Plaza de Armas, or tour San Pedro market. Designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1925, it’s the oldest market in the city, and sells fresh produce alongside local handicrafts.
Make it mine
Cusco tour
The power of nature
A spiritual walking tour of Cusco
Learn more about Cusco on a walking tour of the city that incorporates the spiritual traditions of the Andes. Your guide will lead you in a series of Andean ceremonies, including an Andean welcome ceremony (k’apachi) and a reading of coca leaves (coca tapuy). Continue your experience at San Pedro market, where stalls are laden with textiles, crafts and local produce. Your tour continues with visits to the Santo Domingo convent and Temple of the Sun, the Plaza de Armas and the bohemian quarter of San Blas.
Discover the healing power of plants
Head out into the countryside with an expert botanist to discover the healing powers of plants. They’ll share their years of passion and expertise with you, explaining the medicinal properties of the flora and fauna around Cusco and how their uses have been passed down through time. Finish your session by enjoying a refreshing drink made from native plants as you learn about the relationship between Andean botany and the culture and folklore of local communities.
The diversity of destinations that we were taken to gave us insight into where the Peruvian people came from and what their life looks like today. From the many natural sites that we got to explore, the story of their history seen at the archaeological sites, observation of the activities that guide their daily life and of course the culinary…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
