There are few places in the world that compare to Peru when it comes to post-retirement travel. It has everything from a rich ancient history and culture to a rich culinary scene. Not to mention its huge spectrum of microclimates creating extraordinary natural diversity. In just one trip, you will feel like you have learnt about and experienced so much more of our earth than you did in all your working life.
As a senior traveler seeking to reward yourself with once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, we expect you won’t want to do anything by halves on your visit to Peru. This is why we at Totally Latin America want to show you some of the most luxurious and exclusive ways you can explore this remarkable country. On our luxury Peru tours, you could be eating at one of Lima’s globally-ranking restaurants, bird-watching from the floor-to-ceiling window of your private suite onboard a highly exclusive Amazon Riverboat, or watching the Peruvian Highlands whizz by from the open deck of the Andean Explorer.
Those are just some of the experiences to be had on the list of five of our favorite Peru tours for seniors in this article. Each one includes our highly recommended suggestions for high-end accommodation, restaurants, tours, and transport. Which one will you want to make your next great post-retirement adventure?
Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu and Cusco
At around $1000 for a round trip, the Hiram Bingham train is not only the most exclusive way to travel to Machu Picchu, but it’s also one of the most exclusive train rides in the world. The ticket price may be extremely steep considering it’s a three-hour journey each way, but isn’t retirement all about reaping the rewards of all your hard work over the years?
The Pullman 1920s-themed cars, featuring a 5-star restaurant, bars, and observation lounges, whisk you off to the ancient Inca citadel with a three-course meal and sparkling wine followed by pisco-making tutorials and live Peruvian music. After catching your breath from the first sighting of Machu Picchu upon your arrival, a private guide will tell you all there is to know about the history, architecture, and culture of this sacred citadel and its inhabitants.
Before returning to the Hiram Bingham for a four-course dinner later or on the following day, you’ll be treated to afternoon tea at the Orient Express’ Sanctuary Lodge Hotel, the only establishment positioned beside Machu Picchu.
Complete your Inca exploration with a few days at the Monastario hotel in Cusco, the ancient Inca capital and modern culinary hotspot. This ancient monastery turned hotel and recognized historical Peruvian landmark is the perfect base to explore the city. Allow the hotel to arrange Peruvian cooking classes, Inca ruin tours, reservations at world-class restaurants, or even a night at the opera.
Sacred Valley and 1-Day Inka Trail to Machu Picchu
While Machu Picchu is a dream travel destination for many, the ancient citadel itself is only part of the appeal for others. Machu Picchu sits like a pot of gold at the end of the Inca Trail which has become one of the most coveted hiking routes in the world as it follows in the footsteps of the royal Incas as they journeyed to the ancient citadel centuries ago.
The full Inca Trail is tough, even for spritely young adults, let alone seniors. That’s why we recommend doing a 1-day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu. Although admittedly, it’s not quite as big an achievement as the full trail, this option allows you to at least get a taste of the trail, and it just so happens to be the best part. Along the four-hour hike from the Kilometer 104 train station to Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate, not only will you get to soak up the scenes of the Andean foothills, but you will also get the chance to visit more ancient Inca sites including Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna.
After a full private tour of Machu Picchu where you will learn about everything from Inca architecture to Inca beliefs and spiritual practices, you might be ready for a good rest. There’s nowhere better to rest the body and soul in Peru than the Sacred Valley. Once home to royal Inca estates and traveler inns, it is now home to some of the country’s best rural resorts. Spend a few relaxing days at Hotel Sol y Luna which will help restore you with its tranquil gardens, pool, spa, and top-tier gastronomy.
Amazon Jungle River Cruise
Experience the Amazon Jungle in the style and sophistication you deserve on an ultra-luxury riverboat cruise along the Amazon River. Choose from a selection of exclusive riverboats including our favorite, the Aqua Nera, which offers 3,5, and 7-day tours of the rainforest. Launched in 2020, this fine vessel pampers its maximum of 40 guests with 322 ft suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gym, spa, cinema, games room, plunge pool, lounge bar, and four naturalist guides to take you on intimate expeditions through the Pacaya-Samira National Reserve.
Through the motorboat rides through the mangrove, jungle walks, and wildlife spotting, you’ll not only get the chance to see the rainforest’s full diversity of flora and fauna, but you will also get the chance to learn more about our natural world. The naturalist guides know everything about the Amazon from which trees provide a good source of drinkable water to how its eco-system thrives. Each moment you are exploring the Amazon, you are gaining an understanding of and connection to our natural world as you’ve never felt before.
Although the heat and humidity of the Amazon become less manageable the older you get, the Aqua Nera acts as an idyllic sanctuary of rejuvenation. After busy days spent bird-watching, fishing, and trekking, you can enjoy some downtime with a documentary at the cinema, a massage at the spa, or a delicious Amazonia-inspired dish by onboard chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Thanks to the 1:1 world-class service, you won’t have to lift a finger at any point in your stay.
Culture, Wildlife, and Relaxation: Lima, Paracas, and the Nazca Lines
As the modern capital of Peru, Lima is the perfect place to sink your teeth into the country’s historical and cultural development. The city we know today was founded in the 1530s by colonial Spain and now, everything from the architecture of its grand Historic Centre to the customs and values is influenced by a colonial heritage. However, reminders of pre-Columbian Peru are found in museums and exceptionally preserved archeological sites (huacas) across the city.
Aside from exploring Lima’s heritage, the best way to understand Peru is through its food. As the country’s culinary capital too, Lima is the best place to find those lip-smacking local dishes. Treat yourself to a reservation at Central for its creative indigenous gastronomy or Astrid y Gaston for its staple Peruvian dishes, both of which feature on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
From Lima, drive a few hours south to Paracas National Reserve aka Peru’s wild Pacific Coast. From the cliffs, desert, and beaches of the mainland to the beautiful Ballestas Islands, there is ample opportunity to spot sea lions, pelicans, penguins, and other rarely sighted creatures. Paired with a luxury stay at the beachfront Hotel Paracas near the coveted Paracas Golf Club, you can enjoy a week of exploration and relaxation.
Finish off your trip with a private flight above the Nazca Lines, the mysterious pre-Columbian animal-shaped geoglyphs decorating the surface of southwest Peru that have had historians baffled for centuries.
The Andean Explorer: Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu
There’s no better way to explore the highlights of Peru than on the Belmond’s Andean Explorer, one of the world’s most luxurious sleeper trains. Its 18 distinctive royal blue cars feature a 5-star restaurant, bar, spa, and open deck as well as 35 private suites with ensuite bathrooms measuring up to 13.2 sqm. Between the earthen tones, natural stone, alpaca wool, and leather finishes, mixed with sleek lines, Peruvian patterns, and abstract art, the train exudes a modern yet classic style to emulate the luxury experience.
Beginning in Arequipa, the colloquial capital of Peru, the train voyages to Puno where you will visit the floating Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca, home to Peru’s oldest surviving indigenous community. After spending quality time fishing, exploring, and cooking with the Uros people, the Andean Explorer will take you onwards to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital.
Just because the train has reached its final destination, it doesn’t mean you have to. After spending a few days eating your way through Cusco’s ever-evolving culinary scene (find out more here), wind down for a week at the Explora Lodge in the Sacred Valley. It’s a stylish, serene, and spacious base from which to explore the villages, Inca ruins, markets, and landscapes of this scenic area.
If your Andean Explorer experience left you wanting more of Belmond’s legendary hospitality, you can finish your trip by takin the Hiram Bingham train from Sacred Valley to the base of Machu Picchu. Here, Belmond will treat you to a private tour of the citadel followed by afternoon tea at the neighboring Sanctuary Lodge Hotel.
Create Your Own Peru Tour Itinerary for 2024
While these Peru tours for seniors are some of our most highly recommended ideas, you can create your own itinerary with our Totally Latin America Peru experts. Whether you want culture, beaches, nature, adventure, or a combination of them all, we can create your ideal itinerary of destinations complete with hotel bookings, guided tours, restaurant reservations, and more. Get in touch with us here to get started.
