5 Best Luxury Peru Vacations 2021

Peru is a diverse land stretching from the Pacific Coast, crossing the high Andes Mountains and rolling away to the depths of the vast Amazon Jungle. This topographical melange in addition to the cultural nuances serve to make Peru a truly unrivalled destination. The big question is what to see and what to do in your vacation time limits? Over the past decade Totally Latin America focused on building only the finest luxury Peru vacations. Our company differs in that all our staff live, breathe and work in our destinations. In our experience, this is the only honest modus operandi to deliver the very best experiences. So, what are the 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021?

Before we explore the 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021, let us share some of the secrets of creating the best itineraries. Firstly, set your timeframe and window of opportunity, how many days and what months to travel? Typically, Mid- April to mid-November are the best months in Peru, especially with Machu Picchu. Secondly discuss with your travel adviser what you like and what you do not like in your vacation. Our advisers come with their ears switched on, white blank sheet of paper and pen in hand and a mind full of knowledge. Simple as that. From there trip plans evolve and we always seek balance in our itineraries. Moments of activity and wonderment but also moments of contemplation and relaxation. A combination of art and science but the result is a unique exploration which you yourself will have created with us.

To captivate your imagination let us explore some breath-taking options with our 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021.

Courtesy of Inkaterra Hotels – Discover the Best of Peruvian Hospitality

No. 1 – Aqua Nera Amazon Cruise & Machu Picchu (10 Days)

Aqua Nera is a brand-new vessel for late 2020 and the finest on the Peruvian Amazon River. Just twenty suite rooms (322 ft²), a guaranteed one to one guest to crew ratio and four dedicated naturalist guides for the ultimate in service. Fitments include, gym, spa, cinema, games room, plunge pool and lounge bar. It also boasts the finest of Peruvian gastronomic fare by acclaimed chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, with inspiration from locally sourced food. The Amazon region is home to a fifth of all species of birds, forty- thousand plant types and a third of all known animal species on our planet. Daily excursions to the river and jungle are done with four skiffs of maximum ten passengers and conducted by four expert naturalist guides.

Courtesy of Aqua Expeditions – A Room with a View

These cruises at Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve are categorised to three-night Discovery, four-night Explorer and seven-night Expedition Cruises. Our experience sees the three- and four-night cruises as the most popular options and the seven-night cruises are the select choice of true Amazon nature afficionados.

Following on from your Amazon adventure we head to the high Andes to discover the Sacred Valley of the Inca. A Premium Casita stay at Sol y Luna Hotel is the perfect base to acclimate to the rarefied air at 9,420 feet.  Here you will explore the Inca Ruins at Ollantaytambo, Moray and visit a traditional Andean village to discover the cultural secrets of this fascinating region. Onward by luxury Hiram Bingham Train, or take the One Day Inca Trail hike, to enter the famed citadel of Machu Picchu. Here you will enjoy a privately guided tour throughout the imposing complex. Overnight just outside, at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge and revisit next day to complete the Huyana Picchu trek and more time to discover the complex. Return by train to Cusco with two nights at the palatial mansion of Inkaterra La Casona. Cusco is a city where you witness a true blending of Inca Ruins and later Colonial influences. By the end of your adventure you will have fallen in love with Peru on our number 1, of the 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021.

Courtesy of Sol y Luna Hotel – Relax in Sublime Andean Comfort

No. 2 – Amazon Tambopata Research Center & Machu Picchu (10 Days)

Number 2, on our list of the 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021. Nestled deep within the Tambopata National Reserve lies the beautiful Amazon lodge of Tambopata Research Center. This is one of our favorite lodges as it is the only one actually located inside the national reserve. Until recently the journey to the lodge involved a seven-hour journey by riverboat. Due to a new road the journey time is now just a pleasant one hour by road, and two and a half hours by boat from Filadelfia port. Along the river you will often encounter herons, macaws and alligators. Tambopata Research Center has juts 24 well-appointed rooms, of which we recommend the Deluxe Suite for the finest in comfort. There are almost one- thousand feet of elevated walkways to access the tree canopy and maximise your immersion in nature. A mix of boating trips and hikes by day and night offer amazing opportunities to discover the secrets of this pristine Amazon Jungle habitat. Sightings include monkeys, sloths, peccaries, macaws, parrots, puma, jaguars and so much more. See our video here.

Onward to Cusco the navel of the world of the Inca civilization. Your accommodation is at the Palacio Nazarenas Hotel Cusco. A select property of old-world grace and contemporary luxury, the perfect vicinage located just a few blocks from the main Plaza de Armas. From here we explore the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas. A fertile valley that holds the many storied Inca ruins of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Moray. Here you will learn the ancient cultures of remote Andean villages, witness the working of the lands and see traditional weaving still practiced in time honoured tradition. Onward to Machu Picchu and to maximise the experience we recommend the One Day Inca Trail Hike. It is the perfect culmination to any Peruvian adventure. Stepping through the Sun Gate towering over the citadel of Machu Picchu laid before your very eyes.  This entrance to Machu Picchu, and the unique location and habitats of Tambopata Research Center, surely qualify this as one of the best luxury Peru vacations for 2021.

Courtesy of Belmond – Exclusive Andean Dining at the Senzo Restaurant

No. 3 – Skylodge Adventure Machu Picchu & Apurimac Canyon (11 Days)

The perfect journey for adrenaline junkies and those with a proclivity for adventure with a luxury air. We begin with a journey from Cusco to the Sacred Valley. En route visiting the ruins at Pisac followed by lunch with our friends at Hacienda Sarapampa. Overnight at the Tambo del Inka luxury hotel. Next day includes some easy lake kayaking and a visit to Moray Ruins as a great way to acclimate to the altitude. Onward then to Pachar located at the western end of the Sacred Valley. If you look high above you will see some dots hanging from the high cliff face, that is your accommodation…. Skylodge! The climb is a via Ferrata metal stair set to the rock face and leads to the 1250 feet high pods. These three space age pods give a majestic 300-degree view of the Sacred Valley. Dinner is included with wine and creature comforts. Next day zipline back to earth!

Machu Picchu is reached by the One Day Inca Trail of six miles in the footsteps of the Inca civilization. A glorious entrance by the Sun Gate and next day a privately guided tour, in addition to the Huayna Picchu Trek. Back in Cusco, we take a day of relaxation before embarking upon our white-water rafting adventure at the remote Apurimac Canyon. The options are the demanding Black Canyon or a veritable aqueous crusade at the Granite Canyon. Two or three days of unbridled whitewater adventures in a pristine natural paradise. This little visited river holds an imposing steep sided gorge running unparalleled class III and IV rapids. At night we camp on a deserted beach and enjoy great food, a few drinks and great camaraderie around the campfire. With Skylodge Adventure Suites and the Apurimac Canyon rafting this trip is without question one of the best luxury Peru vacation for 2021.

Courtesy of SkyLodge – Sleeping Among the Stars

No. 4 – Peruvian Gastronomic Delights & Machu Picchu (8 Days)

Peru has a geographically diverse topography of desert, mountain and jungle. In addition, a varied cultural base of influences from Japan, Italy, Africa, Spain, Korea and many more countries. These are the perfect fusion ingredients required to create the best cuisine on the planet, and they have. We begin our journey in Peruvian gastronomy at Hacienda Sarapampa in the Sacred Valley. Our friends Maria and Yussef have opened the doors of their homestead to allow travellers a true farm to fork experience. Onward to the Inca Ruins of Pumamarca and Ollantaytambo and here we include a traditional Pachamanka meal. A native dish prepared in a hot stone oven or huatia under the earth. Ingredients can include marinated spices blended with lamb, cuy, alpaca, chicken, pork. Hearty highland Andean produce of potato, beans, corn are staples of this delicious food creation. From Ollantaytambo you have a short train journey to Machu Picchu and comprehensive privately guided tour. When overnighting nearby at Aguas Calientes we recommend an early booking and a visit to Indio Feliz Restaurant. Patrick Vogin, the French owner is a vivacious character and driver of simply delectable forays in French- Peruvian fusion cuisine. We return to Cusco which holds an immense miscellany of Spanish Colonial and Inca ruins, including the sprawling fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking this city. The grand finale of this gastronomic adventure is the sweeping metropolis of Lima. Here lies the pinnacle of Peruvian food at Central Lima. This restaurant is consistently in the world top ten restaurants. Driven by the insatiable appetite for creativity of chef Virgilio Martinez and his sister Malena’s Mater Inicitiva laboratory of food. This tour culminates on a deep learning experience and chance to create your very own food with a private Urban Kitchen experience with our friend and international chef Ignacio Barrios. This epicurean adventure is one of our five best luxury Peru vacations 2021. An unrivaled melange of both local and world class Peruvian gastronomic fare.

No. 5 – Machu Picchu & Luxury Andean Explorer to Lake Titicaca (10 Days)

Arrival to Lima. Overnight at the sumptuous colonial mansion of Hotel B Barranco. Next day we embark upon a tour of both Colonial and Modern Lima. For dinner we recommend nearby Central Restaurant, a perennial favourite in the world top ten restaurant compilations. Onward to Cusco where your private guide and driver will escort you to the Sacred Valley. Here you will enjoy several days exploring the Inca Ruins of Moray, Ollantaytambo and Pisac, options on hiking, horse treks and cultural excursions to local Andean communities. Your base is the wonderful Sol y Luna Hotel at Urubamba. From Ollantaytambo you will take the train to Machu Picchu and enjoy a privately guided tour of the citadel with an overnight at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Next day you have time to re-enter the site and options to explore the site a little deeper perhaps to venture to the Sun Gate, Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for some panoramic photos. By evening take the luxury Hiram Bingham train to Cusco with evening folkloric music and a delicious gourmet meal to end the perfect day as you enter Poroy, Cusco. Overnight at the Monasterio Hotel Cusco.

Courtesy of Belmond – The Luxury Belmond Andean Explorer Train

Cusco is a great city to enjoy further ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, Pikillacta and others, or simply take a free day to browse the cobble lined ancient streets and markets. Our next luxury train adventure is by the Belmond Andean Explorer from Wanchaq Cusco to Puno and the shores of Lake Titicaca. Read a full description of this wonderful journey along the spine of the Andes Highlands, click the link to see our article on the Belmond Andean Explorer on the journey from Cusco to Puno. Following your overnight on the train you will be taken to Titilaka Hotel. This is the perfect base right on Lake Titicaca from where to journey on some great excursions and learn of the local Aymara community. View our article on this wonderful hotel and insights to the excursions here. Following on from your stay you fly from nearby Juliaca to Lima and depart home, amazed by your adventures. Two luxury train journeys. Machu Picchu and the wonders of Lake Titicaca meet all criteria to become one of the 5 best luxury Peru vacations 2021.

Courtesy of Titilaka Hotel – Connect with Nature

The above tours are all exceptional journeys to the heart and soul of a country more diverse that any on the planet. Your expert adviser at Totally Latin America will be glad to advise and plan the perfect tailor-made journey.