Signature Peru | Threads of the Andes

From Cuzco to the Sacred Valley: Find the living heart of the Peruvian Andes carved into stone and spirit

This is Peru’s story: footsteps echoing through Inca ruins, artisans preserving ancestral skills, and the mighty Andes watching over it all. Led by your handpicked Signature Guide, journey from the temples and cobbled streets of Cuzco to the fertile folds of the Sacred Valley, and onward to the once-lost citadel of Machu Picchu. Each step draws you deeper into the heart of the Andes, each encounter shaped by the storytellers who call it home.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Experiences:

• Pay tribute to the earth in Llaullipata, taking part in an ancestral Andean ritual and offering coca leaves, grains, and chicha to Pachamama in a serene forest setting
• Weave stories in Misminay, joining artisans for a hands-on workshop before a community walk to the terraced rings of Moray
• Board The First Class train by Inca Rail for a luxurious journey through the Sacred Valley, before exploring the once-lost city of Machu Picchu
• Join guardians of Inca culture and heritage to hike a historic section of the Inca road system (Qhapaq Ñan), listening to ancestral legends over a locally prepared lunch
• End with Andean storytelling, as myths and mountain spirits are brought to life in an intimate evening of oral tradition, reflection, and quiet wonder

Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between exploring Pisac’s artisan heritage, a master ceramic workshop, or serene paddleboarding on Huaypo Lake

Signature Stay: Find peace in the Sacred Valley, settling into Peruvian casitas in a Relais & Châteaux retreat wrapped by the Andes

Signature Guide: Let your handpicked Signature guide lead you to the country’s soul – sharing their home, heritage, and heart

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.

On this journey, you can:

• Participate in a traditional offering to Pachamama, guided by Andean priests in the forests of Llaullipata. By engaging in this ancestral ceremony, you help preserve Indigenous belief systems and support local practitioners who sustain these spiritual and ecological traditions.
• Join a hands-on weaving session in Misminay, where artisans share ancestral techniques passed through generations. Through this exchange, you support the preservation of Indigenous knowledge and community livelihoods in the Sacred Valley.
• Support local craftsmanship through traditional workshops, from making your own zampoña instrument with a luthier in Cuzco to shaping pottery using pre-Columbian techniques at Casa Taller Seminario. These encounters empower artisans and celebrate cultural continuity.

Is this trip for you?

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Driving times: The longest travel days take place on Day 6, when we journey to Machu Picchu (approximately three hours, including rail), and Day 7 returning to Cuzco (around three hours). All other journeys are under two hours.

Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. Simply prebook your preferred activity at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts. Additionally, those arriving early on Day 1 can pre-book an optional creative workshop in Cuzco, priced from US$147, or enhance your journey with an optional hike up Machu Picchu Mountain on Day 7, priced from US$291.

Walking: Cuzco and many of the Inca sites (including Machu Picchu) are built on hillsides and sightseeing often involves walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps or terraces. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness.

Altitude: The altitude can make physical activity feel more tiring than at sea level. As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness. The maximum altitude visited on this trip is on Day 8 at Racqhi (11,420 ft/3,480m), and we also spend time in Cuzco (11,155ft/3,400m). Please ensure your travel insurance covers you for being at altitude. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall). You should bring appropriate clothing.

Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.

Vaccinations and Health

Peru

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis and yellow fever. Additionally, Zika fever, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in Peru. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so you should take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Amazon: If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a yellow fever vaccination. Additionally, dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Methanol: The FCDO warns travellers to be cautious of methanol poisoning when travelling in destinations visited on the trip.

Visa

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/peru
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Food & Drink

This journey is designed to deepen your connection to the country through its food and drink. Savour a five-course tasting at MAP Café, a pachamanca lunch slow-cooked beneath the soil, and potato vodka crafted in the highlands. From superfood picnics and refined coffee cocktails to elegant chef-led dinners, Peru’s bold dishes and culinary innovation are celebrated at every turn.

Weather

The Andes experience two distinct seasons: dry (May-October) and wet (November-April). The dry season offers crisp air, cool nights and clear light, ideal for walking, photography and archaeological visits. During the wet season, short afternoon rains bring the Sacred Valley to life with green terraces, wildflowers and rushing rivers. Both seasons reveal Peru at its most atmospheric.