Slow Travel: Peru in-depth
21 days from £4,550 pp
Go beyond the classic highlights on this private, slow travel holiday to Peru. Over three weeks, explore the white city of Arequipa, watch condors soar above the Colca Canyon, kayak to the reed islands of Lake Titicaca and spend a full week in the Sacred Valley, as well as Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, reached on foot along the final stretch of the Inca Trail. Prices start from £4,550 per person, including flights within Peru, private guides and transfers, and characterful places to stay, from Colca Lodge’s hot springs to El Albergue, a historic inn beside the railway in Ollantaytambo. It’s Peru in depth, at a pace that leaves room to wander, linger over long lunches and really get to know each place.
Trip Highlights
- Spend a full week in the Sacred Valley, at a properly slow pace
- Watch Andean condors soar above the Colca Canyon
- Kayak to the floating Uros islands on Lake Titicaca
- Walk the final stretch of the Inca Trail to the Sun Gate
Our Expert Tip
”Really embrace slow travel by spending more time in fewer places. Take the time to wander aimlessly, have long leisurely meals, watch the world go by and really soak it all in”
Sinead, Peru Expert
Slow Travel Peru Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-3: Lima
Three nights in Lima give you time to explore properly and take it all in. Stay at Casa República, a restored mansion in Barranco, and spend a morning with a private guide getting to know this arty seaside district, where old summer houses have become galleries and cafés.
Another day is all about food. Your guide introduces you to the dishes Peruvians love most, from a classic ceviche to anticuchos sizzling on a street grill, and the stories behind them. For more ideas, see our best foodie experiences in Peru. Wander the streets and enjoy a rooftop sunset drink… making time to appreciate Lima without being rushed.
Day 4-5: Arequipa
Arequipa is around 1,000 km from Lima, a 20-hour drive, so we take a short flight to the ‘White City’, famous for its buildings of pale volcanic sillar stone. Stay at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Arequipa or similar, on the Plaza de Armas.
Explore the old centre with a private guide: the plaza and cathedral, San Francisco Church, the stonework of the ‘Maestros Canteros’, and Santa Catalina Monastery, a walled city within the city where nuns lived in seclusion for centuries.
Day 6-7: Colca Canyon
Be driven through stunning landscapes dominated by volcanoes, stopping for lunch and views. Continue to Colca Lodge or similar, beside the Colca River, where you will spend the next day and a half relaxing amongst peace and nature, with time for a soak in the lodge’s natural hot springs.
With your guide, head out early to the canyon’s edge, when the condors ride the morning thermals, then call in at the villages of Maca and Yanque on the way back. In Coporaque, beneath pre-Inca terraces still farmed today, spend time with local families and see how life here follows the seasons.
Day 8-9: Lake Titicaca
Enjoy the morning at leisure, relaxing at your lodge or heading out for a picturesque hike in the valley. You will then be driven to Lake Titicaca and Casa Andina Private Collection Puno, on the lakeshore, a scenic journey across the Andes that takes around six hours.
Next morning, leave the tour boats behind and paddle out by kayak with your guide to the Uros, where whole villages float on layers of totora reed. After visiting two of the islands, continue by boat to Taquile, an island famous for the knitting of its men. A true Travel Differently experience.
Day 10-12: Cusco
Swap the road for the rails: the train from Puno to Cusco takes most of a day, crossing the altiplano past herds of alpacas and over the La Raya pass, with lunch served on board and an open-air observation car at the back. Stay three nights at Quinta San Blas or similar, in Cusco’s hillside San Blas neighbourhood.
A private half-day tour introduces Cusco’s Inca and colonial layers, from the fitted stonework of the old Inca streets to the fortress of Sacsayhuamán above the city. With a full day free, wander, rest and adjust to the altitude, and be sure to book into a restaurant for some world-renowned Peruvian fine dining or local delicacies. Short on time? Our Classic Highlights of Peru covers the essentials in under two weeks.
Day 13-17: Sacred Valley
Five nights at El Albergue or similar, a historic inn right beside the railway station in Ollantaytambo, with its own farm and café, make the Sacred Valley your home rather than a stop on the way to Machu Picchu.
Days here follow a gentle rhythm: a slow breakfast, then one outing with your guide. Explore the Inca terraces of Pisac and the stone streets of Ollantaytambo, right on your doorstep; see the salt pans of Maras and the circular terraces of Moray; and spend a day with a family in the Misminay community, joining in with whatever the day brings, from work in the fields to the family kitchen.
Keep a day for something active, such as cycling, kayaking or a tree-planting morning with a local reforestation project, and leave the rest unplanned. The inn’s garden is a lovely place to read, and Ollantaytambo’s cafés are made for lingering.
Day 18: Machu Picchu
Today you arrive at Machu Picchu the way the Incas intended: on foot. From Ollantaytambo, take the train to Kilometre 104 and set off with your guide on the last stretch of the Inca Trail, a full day’s walk of around six hours. Climb past the terraces of Wiñay Wayna, then on through cloud forest to the Sun Gate, where Machu Picchu comes into view for the first time, spread along the ridge below.
Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes for the night at El MaPi or similar. Want a longer trek? Read our guide to hiking in Peru.
Day 19-22: Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley
Spend the morning on a guided tour of the citadel itself, hearing how the Incas built it and what each temple and terrace was for, with time to explore at your own pace. After lunch, take the train back to the Sacred Valley for two final nights at Sol y Luna, near Urubamba.
Your last full day is yours: a massage, a dip in the pool, or one more walk in the valley. Love a special stay? See our Luxury Peru Adventure.
Day 21: Departure
Transfer to Cusco airport for your flight home, after three unhurried weeks in Peru. Want to add Ecuador and the Galapagos? See our Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos Adventure, or browse all our tailor-made Peru holidays.
When to Go
Best time for a slow travel holiday in Peru
The best time for this trip is May to September, Peru’s dry season, with clear skies in the Andes and at Machu Picchu, and the best chance of seeing condors in the Colca Canyon. April and October are good shoulder months. The Inca Trail, including the short trail, closes every February for maintenance.
Includes
- All accommodation
- Excursions
- Transport
- Private guides
Excludes
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa cost
- Tips
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
