Peru Beyond Machu Picchu: The Luxury Itinerary Most Travelers Never Consider
Peru Is Much More Than One Photograph
Machu Picchu is one of the great sites of the ancient world and it absolutely belongs on any Peru itinerary. But travelers who fly in, tick the ruin, and fly out are missing one of South America's most varied and rewarding countries. Peru has a capital with one of the world's best food scenes, an Amazon basin that rivals anything in Brazil, and highland landscapes that go far beyond the Inca Trail.
Lima: Start Here and Do Not Rush It
Lima has become a serious culinary destination over the past decade and a half. Central, helmed by Virgilio Martinez, has ranked among the world's best restaurants for several years running. Maido, Kjolle, and Isolina all deserve reservations. The Miraflores and Barranco neighborhoods are excellent bases, and the Belmond Miraflores Park remains one of the finest hotels in the city.
The Sacred Valley: More Than a Stop on the Way to Machu Picchu
Most travelers treat the Sacred Valley as a night's sleep before the train to Aguas Calientes. That is a significant missed opportunity. The valley is scattered with Incan sites that rival Machu Picchu in craftsmanship, including Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Moray, and the pace of life in the valley towns is genuinely restorative. Belmond Rio Sagrado and Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba are exceptional bases.
Machu Picchu: How to Do It Properly
The site deserves a full day and ideally an early morning entry before the crowds arrive. Staying in Aguas Calientes the night before is the only way to guarantee a dawn entrance. The Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, which sits directly at the entrance to the site, is the single most convenient address in the world for a sunrise visit.
The Amazon: A Completely Different Peru
The Peruvian Amazon is accessible from Iquitos in the north and Puerto Maldonado in the south. Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica near Puerto Maldonado is a world-class lodge that puts you deep in primary rainforest within a short flight of Cusco. Adding two or three nights in the Amazon transforms a standard Peru itinerary into an extraordinary one.
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