Private Journeys to Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley
Peru Most Personal
It's now a place known and recognised by everyone; an iconic destination for any traveller to Peru, one of the most diverse of Latin America’s fascinating countries. Encountering it in the spirit of its discovery is increasingly difficult unless you know when and how to find the rare and unhurried experiences known to those who cherish this special place. Blending culture, cuisine, adventure, family moments and places of perfection, Journeysmiths can reveal Machu Picchu and the wider Sacred Valley in ways that remain personal and extraordinary.
- Hiram Bingham The Lost City of the Incas
“Superlatives are never enough for Peru, a nation with deserts, rainforests, coasts, towering mountains, volcanoes, the altiplano, and layer upon layer of cultural fascination. Something as incredible as Machu Picchu just could not have remained secret for centuries in a country with less to explore! The secret might be out nowadays, but a place this enigmatic can still be experienced with the awe that it deserves.”
Plan Your Private Peru Journey >
Machu Picchu: Sacred Rituals & Connection
As you touch the ancient walls, you’ll feel the energy of the cosmos pulse. Your guide will explain the alignments of the structures to the stars, the seasonal passage of the mighty sun, and the companionship of the moon. Your group will be hushed; you will bond not just with each other but with the essence within everything.
Experience the Power of Tradition
As one of our charity partners, Awamaki empowers these artisans by connecting them to global markets, ensuring that their craft and skills can be passed on to the next generations rather than being lost.
We recommend visiting the weavers in their homes to watch dyeing, spinning, and weaving in action, and to meet the women behind the textiles. The experience is intimate and immersive, offering a genuine connection to daily life, their creativity, and the positive impact your visit supports.
Culinary Mastery in the Andes
Together with local farmers from the Mullak’as-Misminay and Kacllaraccay communities, you’ll explore hundreds of native cultivars—learning their nutritional, medicinal, and cultural significance—and forage the hillside for ingredients that have shaped Andean life for centuries.
Your experience culminates in an exclusive eight-course tasting menu, perfectly paired with the awe-inspiring views of the Moray terraces, connecting history, landscape, and cuisine in a way only a true master can reveal.
Immersive Private Dining
A private cooking class offers a deeper immersion into Peruvian culture, revealing not just the local ingredients and ways of preparation but the folklore, attitudes, and rituals behind each dish.
Where you dine is part of the experience. Will it be on a private terrace where the flavours of Peruvian wines seem to take on an even headier influence? Or will it be deep in the cloud forest, surrounded by nature’s sounds and aroma? Finish with a tea tasting on a local plantation, taking part in the process from leaf to cup. Every meal becomes a connection to Peru’s culture, landscape, and people.
Discover the Forest with an Ecologist
This is cloud forest territory, a place of flitting hummingbirds, dripping ferns, pineapple-like bromeliads and exquisite orchids. Abundance is everywhere, and you’ll need help to make sense of it all, which is why a local ecologist expert will be your guide. Yesterday, you may have been amid the ruins of the mysterious ridge-line citadel, but today you are sharing the still air of the valley with someone whose sense of awe comes from natural creation in its widest sense.
Orchids & Birds of Machu Picchu
If there’s something to match the beauty of the birds, it’s the orchids. There are more than 350 species to discover, which is why you’ll need some help from an expert. Some will be obvious, including the largest orchid flower in the world, but the wonders of others might be missed without close attention. Tiny specimens will be revealed with the help of magnifying glasses, and you’ll appreciate that where nature is concerned, there are layers and layers of fascination.
Family Adventures at Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a place for families: our expert guides know the best spots to spark fascination, offer gentle shortcuts and resting places, and tell stories that captivate all ages.
We can also arrange guides to focus solely on younger explorers, ensuring they have their own magical journey. Perhaps, when you’ve been regaled by treasure-hunt stories, you’ll regret not having been part of the youthful gang.
More than Ancient Places for Young Minds
Mum and Dad know that the family army marches on its stomach, and this is an opportunity for an enriched experience of Peru. We can arrange mini-chef classes, and you’ll find that your kids will emerge sticky but with more sophisticated tastes. They’ll also love a personalised encounter with chocolate makers and will be fascinated by the path from plant to Easter egg, with plenty of history and culture thrown into the mix.
Secrets Unveiled in the Sacred Valley
Of course, we’ll guide you through the more famous highlights – the terraced salt pans of Maras, the mysterious circular terraces of Moray, and the fortress of Ollantaytambo – but we’ll also introduce you to quieter gems. Explore the pre-Inca ruins of Pikillacta, the historic sanctuary of Andahuaylillas, or venture further for a scenic hike to Humantay Lake.
Trails to Las Chullpas or the mysterious Ñaupa Iglesia reveal ancient terraces, temples, and traditional chicha breweries – all places where you can experience the Sacred Valley away from the crowds, immersed in both nature and history.
A Sacred Valley, yet Thrilling too
If you want to hike by foot along a trail of Incan terraces or venture up secluded valleys – perhaps to the Pumahuanca waterfall or Laguna Yanacocha – that’s great, but also consider the alternative of a mountain bike.
Then there’s the option of a Peruvian Paso horse, a steed to carry you through rural communities and see the hidden corners that most people miss. Later that day, it’ll be time to watch the balletic horses when you’ll see what four hooves can achieve when guided by local equine experts.
Community & Culture in the Sacred Valley
The bustling and vibrant market in Pisac is a place to start your appreciation of the beauty and range of traditional products, but you’ll be left wanting to know more. We’ll arrange private visits to artisan workshops where you’ll learn the secrets of textiles, pottery, and silverwork. We’ll take you to visit a traditional chica brewery where you can sample various indigenous beer-type drinks made from corn maize, manioc, potatoes or even cacti. It’s a drink with a tradition spanning more than 7,000 years – and that’s a good excuse to have another.
Private Train to Machu Picchu
This is the perfect way to travel with family or friends, and it’s also a memorable venue for that gathering over a gourmet meal, accompanied by a few cool glasses of fizz. The warm atmosphere of fun will be enhanced by live Peruvian music; tunes you’ll be humming later as you ascend to the citadel.
Machu Picchu from Your Door, by Rail
A leisurely awakening before a short stroll to catch the train to the ancient citadel is the kind of unrushed morning that’ll put you in the right frame of mind for what will unfold later in the day. Indeed, the leisurely journey also won’t be marred by crowds, the need to buy a ticket, or jostling for the last remaining seats.
The train that stops here is the Higham Bingham, a 1920s-style luxury train with fine dining, live music and inventive mixology to add some spice. And when you get to Machu Picchu? You’ll have a private tour and continue to have a day when arrangements seem to run on rails.
For accessing Machu Picchu and the wider Sacred Valley, we recommend the following options:For accessing Machu Picchu and the wider Sacred Valley, we recommend the following options:
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo is in Aguas Calientes, the departure point for most trips to Machu Picchu.
At the steps of its namesake site, the five-star Sumaq Machu Picchu is ideally positioned for you to explore the wonders of the remarkable Inca citadel at your leisure.
With a breathtaking location on a terrace overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this luxury hacienda and cluster of gorgeous casitas is sympathetically designed to blend in both culturally and aesthetically. From here, you can venture out to ancient sites, vibrant local communities, and places of pristine beauty.
In the Sacred Valley, with the Andes Mountains dominating the skyline, the beautiful gardens of Sol y Luna exquisitely complement the hotel’s stone casitas (“little houses”). It’s a truly magical location; the backdrop is enhanced by the orientation of the terraces and the careful planting of indigenous flowers.
We love the stylish almost Scandinavian low-rise design of this lodge, with its wooden walkways and unvarnished wooden interiors. If you are the kind of guest motivated by excellent design and the chance to engage in an active holiday, this is the place for you.
Part of The Luxury Collection, the Tambo del Inka Resort and Spa is an impressive property with striking pavilion-like buildings inspired by the stone walls found at ancient Inca sites. Great effort has gone into making this the base camp of choice, in all senses, for Machu Picchu.
In a lush and peaceful riverside setting, Belmond Rio Sagrado is a perfect place to relax while discovering the ancient sites, cultural fascination and many outdoor activities of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It also has its own train station from which you can travel in style to Machu Picchu.
Peru: Yours, the Journeysmiths Way
- We craft private and exclusive moments around Peru’s iconic destinations.
- Every personalised itinerary blends culture, adventure, gastronomy and nature, balanced to your interests.
- If you’re travelling as a family, we’ll design a trip to meet the interests and ages of your group for a time of shared discovery and delight.
- Every Journeysmiths journey has a positive impact. In Peru, we support Awamaki, connecting Andean artisans to global markets, and can arrange private visits with their leaders in the Sacred Valley for an authentic insight into textile heritage.
- You’ll have one dedicated contact, ensuring every detail of your trip is seamless—whether Peru is the focus or part of a wider journey.
Apart from the amazing hotels, stunning locations, first class service and wonderful food, the whole holiday was curated perfectly by Joanna and team. The logistics all came off without a hitch even when there were curveballs thrown at us at the 11th hour. Definitely recommend for those wishing to have a trip of a lifetime built around your own bucket-lists or adventurous desires. Peru has everything from rainforests to the Andes and the Inca trail doesn't disappoint.
Embark on an opulent Peruvian odyssey, indulging in breath taking landscapes, exclusive accommodations, and culturally immersive experiences.
Peru is the perfect place for an exhilarating adventure. Immerse yourself in thrilling activities, from trekking majestic peaks to exploring ancient ruins, for an adrenaline-fuelled experience.
Set off on a captivating family adventure in Peru, where ancient wonders and vibrant culture await. From exploring the mystical Machu Picchu to navigating the Amazon rainforest, this itinerary promises unforgettable moments that will weave the rich tapestry of Peru into the fabric of your family's cherished memories.
If your young explorers are hungry for an adventure, look no further than Peru. The diverse landscapes range from the vibrant jungles of the Amazon Rainforest to the jagged peaks of the Andes Mountains. Needless to say, you’ll have the chance to experience the unique mountain top setting of mysterious Machu Picchu.
What kind of creatures actually live in the Amazon Basin, Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, and in the Sacred Valley of the Incas?
To show you what’s possible, our Latin America travel experts have put together a list of their favourite Peruvian activities.
3 Countries in One Journey
Explore ancient citadels, wildlife-rich islands, and vibrant cities on one seamless, tailor-made holiday through Peru, the Galapagos, and Colombia.
Experience Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley in unmatched privacy. From timeless rituals and private terraces to gourmet train journeys, at Journeysmiths we craft encounters with Peru’s icons, your way.