This is the perfect itinerary to explore the best of Peru in one week

Heading to Peru and looking for a plan that spans culture, food and nature?

You’ve come to the right place. As courtesy of Belmond, the luxury travel experts, this is how to see the very best of Peru in just seven days.

Day one

Arrive in Cusco

En route, take the scenic drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Visit a textile centre, where weavers from more than 12 communities of Southern Peru demonstrate the spinning.
Continue to the town of Pisac, which is well-known for its market that sells handicrafts.
Arrive at your hotel at Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel and spend the night.

Sacred Valley

Visit Ollantaytambo which is one of the oldest occupied settlements in the Americas. While here, check out the Inca fortresses and climb the steep stone steps (around 260) to the imposing fortress at the top of the mountain.
Explore Moray, an Inca site where terraces are arrayed in concentric circles. It was used as an agricultural laboratory, testing growing conditions for different crops.
Enjoy a lunch prepared with local produce at Unu Restaurant in the Tiobamba community.
In the afternoon, visit Maras. The colonial village of Maras is known for its nearby salt pans, which have been harvested since pre-Columbian times.
Go back to the hotel to rest.

Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Head to Ollanta train station and board the Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu.
Have a brunch on board as you look out across the Urubamba Valley.
Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes train station, take the bus to Machu Pichu and check in at Sanctuary Lodge, a Belmond Hotel.
Take a tour around the Inca citadel and its surrounding complexes including the world-famous Machu Picchu.
After the tour, retreat to the Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel for the night.

Machu Picchu and Cusco

Start the morning hiking up Huchuy Picchu (meaning “small mountain” in Quechua) which is a short walk of 1km along Inca stones.
Continue exploring the Machu Picchu citadel.
Sit down for lunch at Tampu Restaurant at Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel.
In the afternoon, board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you then catch the Hiram Bingham train to Cusco.
Dinner is served on board while lively musicians entertain you.
Arrive at Poroy train station and check into the Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel.

Cusco and Puno

Head to Wanchaq train station and catch the Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train to Puno.
Have lunch on board the train.
Stop in Raqchi, also known as the Temple of Wiracocha. Visit the Inca site, which is believed to have been a control point on the main road system that originated in Cusco and expanded as the Empire grew.
Arrive at La Raya, which marks the border between the regions of Cusco and Puno and spot llamas.
Get to Puno Lake Titicaca train station and spend the night on board the train.

Puno and Arequipa

Spend sunrise at Lake Titicaca.
Have breakfast on board the train.
Take the boat to the Uros floating Islands where the indigenous Uru people belong to a small ethnic group that once co-existed on Lake Titicaca with the Incas, Aymaras and possibly even older civilisations.
Continue to Taquile Island and its beautiful beach. Taquileños are known for their handwoven textiles and clothing, regarded among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
Return to Lake Titicaca train station for tea time and departure to Saracocha.
Arrive at Saracocha and spend the night on the Belmond Train.

Arequipa and Lima

Enjoy breakfast on board while looking out across the lake.
Visit the Sumbay Caves which has more than 500 ancient paintings and engravings.
Have a light lunch on board.
Arrive at Arequipa train station.
On the way to the airport take a short panoramic tour of Peru’s White City, so named because of the white volcanic rock, sillar, used in its buildings.
Take the flight from Arequipa to Lima.
Fly home from Lima International Airport.

*Itinerary courtesy of Belmond