IF YOU GO: DIVE INTO HISTORY
Getting there: Book a flight to Lima, Peru, the gastronomical capital of the Americas, and stay in the Miraflores District overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This city of 11 million people has many fantastic neighbourhoods to explore, including the bohemian Barranco district, the residential and financial San Isidro district, and the restaurant-heavy Miraflores district, where you will find many of the famous Peruvian cevicherias. If time permits, dive into Lima’s historic centre. It is very compact, which makes it great for exploring on foot. Plaza de Armas is the beating heart of the downtown, and within a two-block radius you’ll find enough sites and attractions to keep you busy for the whole day. You can start off with Lima Cathedral, which dates back to 1535. From there you can walk to the Government Palace, which is the official residence of Peru’s president. If you time your visit just right, you can watch the changing of the guard, which happens at noon. Just a few blocks from Lima Cathedral you’ll find the Monastery of San Francisco, which is one of the coolest sites with its catacombs in the historic centre. Then take a 50-minute flight to Cusco,
the ancient capital of the Incan empire and UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can see Inca sites and colonial Spanish architecture.
Andean Explorer Journeys: Peruvian Highlands (Cusco-Lake Titicaca-Arequipa): Two nights; departs Thursday mornings from Cusco. Andean Plains and Island of Discovery (Arequipa-Lake Titicaca- Cusco): Two nights; departs Saturday evenings from Arequipa. Spirit of the Water (Cusco-Puno): One night; departs Tuesday mornings from Cusco. Spirit of the Andes (Puno-Cusco): One night; departs Wednesdays midday from Puno. Prices range from $380 to $2,065 per person double occupancy. Train contact info and reservations: perurail.com/trains/belmond-andeanexplorer/
When to go: The Belmond Andean Explorer train does not run in February. Peak season is from June to August, which is during the dry season (April to November). The Peruvian Andes experience mild winter weather. It is warm during the day, dropping to the low 50s or high 40s at night. During the Peruvian summer (December-February), you can expect warm weather and occasional cloudiness and rain.
Where to stay: In Cusco, try the legendary Belmond Hotel Monasterio (belmond.com/hotel-monasterio-cusco), which was built in the 15th century and houses an impressive art collection, or the adjacent Belmond Palacio Nazarenas (belmond.com/palacionazarenas-cusco), a former convent with impressive views and an incredible pool and spa. Both hotels are equipped with oxygenated rooms for you to sleep comfortably at 11,000 feet above sea level. You should also take a 45-minute car trip from Cusco to the Sacred Valley to visit Inca historical sites such as Ollantaytambo, Moray and Pisac. Don’t forget to take the Hiram Bingham train to visit Machu Picchu. In Arequipa among the best hotels are the Casa Andina Premium, located at the heart of the city in a 16th century colonial mansion (casaandina.com/en/destinations/arequipa/ho tel-arequipa-peru(underscore)casa-andina-premium/), the Casa Andina Select at the main plaza (casaandina.com/en/destinations/ arequipa/casa-andina-select-arequipa/) and the Hotel Libertador (libertador.com.pe/en/hotel/libertadorarequipa-hotel/).