Day 1: Lima, Peru
Welcome to Peru! After you have cleared immigration and customs and claimed your luggage, you exit the Customs Hall to meet your representative from Big Five, who will be waiting to escort you to your hotel. Atemporal Hotel offers its guests an exclusive lodging experience with diligent personalized attention to detail that includes a Maître de maison, concierge on duty around the clock, house car and chauffeur for short excursions, and a 24/7 menu created with locally-sourced natural ingredients, as well as full connectivity. The hotel is entirely private, allowing only guests and those they invite exclusive use of the property, including a veranda, salon and private garden. Atemporal Hotel

Day 2: Lima
Having exploded onto the global food scene, Peru is now widely regarded as one of the world’s principal culinary travel destinations. The country’s dramatically diverse geography, rich ethnic make-up and long culinary history inspire an array of colorful dishes. This morning you set out to sample the flavors that have helped put Peru’s cuisine on the world cuisine map. Visit a local market, traditional bodegas and artisan eateries that collectively showcase some of the finest of Peru’s produce. Discover new ingredients and tastes while you learn more about Lima’s trailblazing gastronomic status. Begin at a lively local market brimming with ingredients that are central to Peruvian cuisine such as fish, crucial to the classic Peruvian Ceviche; potato, of which Peru has surprisingly more than 3,000 varieties; and Andean “super foods” such as cañihua, sacha inchi, maca and kiwicha. Then there are the native fruits such as chirimoya, mamey, and camu. After a cup of Peruvian coffee, head to a local food-haunt such as La Preferida. This particular bodega is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and is popular with locals for its wide variety of Peruvian classics. Sample mini causitas, pulpo al olivo, almejas al balsámico, cevichito mixto and choritos a la chalaca served tapas-style at the bar.

Then continue on to the artsy and bohemian district of Barranco to try home-style criollo Peruvian meals such as pan con pejerrey, papa rellena, lomo saltado, cau cau con sangrecita, escabeche and estofado.  You can also sip on a chilcano, pisco sour or an ice-cold Peruvian craft beer. If you have room for dessert, you can taste decadent chocolates or sweet Peruvian treats like picarones and suspiro a la limeña. You are bound to sample something you have never come across before during this delightful culinary exploration. The remainder of the day is free to pursue your own interests. Atemporal Hotel (B,Tapas)

Day 3: Lima / Jaen / Leymebamba
This morning, you will be transferred to the airport to catch you flight to Jaen, which takes about an hour and a half. Upon your arrival, set out on a five-hour to Leymebamba. Along this scenic route, you notice the surroundings change from fertile agricultural valleys with rice paddies and coconut groves to steep ravines as you climb into the mountains. The route follows the Marañón River briefly and then travels along the Utcubamba River for most of the journey. Depending on time, you will have opportunities to stop along the way to stretch your legs, take photos of the scenery, rivers, a waterfall and some largely hidden pre-Inca tombs in the cliff side. Today, enjoy a box lunch along the way.

Arrive at Leymebamba and Kentitambo Lodge. Your lodge is a simple and environmentally integrated lodge offering comfortable lodgings in a tranquil forested location with just three en suite guest rooms with private terraces – built from locally sourced materials. Kentitambo invites you to connect with the natural beauty of the area. The name comes from the Quechua language and means Hummingbird Inn. There is, in fact, an abundance of tiny hummingbirds attracted to the vibrant flowers and bird feeders around the property. Kentitambo Lodge (B,L,D) 

Day 4: Leymebamba
This morning, visit the Tombs of Revash high in the hills of Peru’s northern cloud forest. The collection of tombs from the pre-Incan Chachapoya civilization sit on the edge of a limestone cliff. Built with mud-set stones, they resemble houses painted red and white, and collectively form miniature villages along the cliff face. In the 1980s, archaeologists discovered 12 skeletons, along with musical instruments and tools made from bone. Along with the tombs, there are paintings of animals, people and geometric designs.

To explore the area, you drive a winding road through the hills with scenic views of the landscape to the village of San Bartolo, where you pause to register to visit the site. From there, you walk about half hour to 40 minutes along a well-maintained trail, mostly paved. It does get steeper and uneven towards the end. Your expert guide will lead you on this excursion into ancient Peru. The mausoleums were used as collective tombs for the wealthy and powerful of their society rather than individually.

Below, there is a small sheltered viewpoint offering a great perspective of the tombs above. Your guide will explain the construction and importance of the tombs, and set up a telescope so you can enjoy an up-close look at all the detailed painting and designs. You will then return to the village via the same path where your vehicle and driver will be waiting to take you back to the hotel for lunch. This afternoon explore the Leymebamba Museum in, which was established after the discovery of burial tombs and mummies on a remote cliff above Laguna de los Cóndores in the 1990s. It required an arduous ten-hour journey by mule from Leymebamba to reach the site. Also created by the pre-Inca Chachapoya civilization, this was a sacred place to honor the dead. Looters badly damaged it looking for sellable treasure, the NGO group Centro Mallqui embarked on an emergency salvage mission, removing the contents of the tombs and taking them to a lab in Leymebamba for urgent conservation work. The findings were deemed so special that the museum was created for their protection.

Today, more than 200 mummies, burial gifts and other artifacts are on display here. Enjoy an insightful tour with one of the directors of the museum. The four main rooms of the museum are home to the diverse finds from the clifftop tomb site including ceramics, textiles, wooden figures, bones, and quipus (knotted strings used for accounting) with insightful narratives on Chachapoya life and culture. Big Five’s guests are offered exclusive behind-the-scenes access to areas of the museum not usually open to the public, including the special climate-controlled depository where the famous mummies are kept and laboratories where bio-archaeologists are still carrying out important conservation and cataloging of the Laguna de los Cóndores artifacts. Kentitambo Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 5: Leymebamba / Kuelap / Cocachimba
Kuelap is the most important of the pre-Inca Chachapoya sites. It is actually one of the largest ancient stone complexes in the western hemisphere. The great fortress with more than 400 hundred interior buildings and massive exterior stone walls reaching upwards of 18 meters/60 feet in height, is also called the Machu Picchu of the north. Few travelers ever see this remarkable place due to its remote location. The imposing site is some 600 meters/1,968 feet in length and sits at 3,000 meters/9,843 feet above sea level on a ridge overlooking the Utcubamba Valley.

This morning, you drive about an hour to the village of Tingo. Then, set out via a winding, unpaved road that slowly ascends the mountains, passing by beautiful views of the valley below. A new cable car, opened in early 2017 to improve access to the site. The views are incredible on the way up. Either way, once on top, you enter the site and walk about half an hour to the archaeological site on a paved uphill path. Horses are available for those who may need assistance.

Enjoy a full tour and exploration of the impressive site led by your expert private guide, discussing the history and significance of the fortified city, and taking in the panoramic views of the Chachapoyas cloud forest in the valleys below. Along the way, you will enjoy a box lunch this afternoon.

Continue your drive about two hours to Cocachimba. On the way, you stop to see the hillside painted warriors sarcophagi of Karajia. The mummies of famous warriors were entombed inside the sarcophagi and placed on cliffs with the skulls of their enemies displayed on top. Just 60 km/37mi northeast of Chachapoyas at an altitude of 2,072 meters/6,798 feet, the site is unreachable in the limestone cliff high above the path. The funeral tombs of the “ancient wise men” stand two and a half meters/8.2 feet-tall, and date back to the 15th century. They resemble limbless torsos, with large heads and exaggerated jawlines and offer tantazling hints of an ancient world. Even though their remote location has preserved them from destruction, an earthquake destroyed one of the original eight sarcophagi in 1928. Chachapoya people, also called Warriors of the Clouds, carved these sarcophagi just before the Incans conquered their civilization in the 1470s. They mummified important individuals of their civilization in these sarcophagi, called “purunmachus,” which are painted white and overlaid with feathered tunics and male genitalia, which displays the gender of the deceased, in yellow ochre and two red pigments.

Arrive in Chachapoyas for dinner at a favorite local restaurant before traveling 45 minutes to your hotel in Cocachimba and you lodge. This eco-friendly boutique is part of a wider environmental initiative in the Chachapoyas region of northern Peru. The owners of Gocta Nature Reserve aim to help rebuild the cloud forest by focusing on bringing about sustainable economic change. The reserve runs a number of projects that include local economic solutions that are in agreement with the ecosystem – agroforestry, tree planting, payment for forest maintenance, sustainable tourism, and environmental education. In the heart of the forest, activities here include guided hikes or horseback rides to nearby Gocta waterfalls, bird watching, community visits with a local weaver and more. The property has five beautifully crafted individual cabins with en suite bathrooms. Each of the five cabins provides privacy and comfort with a private deck facing waterfalls and the mountain ridge, and are surrounded by a young forest and orchid beds. You can spend quality time there in your private space. Beds have top quality mattresses and 500-thread linens. All bathrooms have hot water, hairdryer, and amenities. Amenities include homemade meals created with natural local ingredients, a social area with a fireplace, and an outdoor eating area with a clay oven and grill. Fruited water, tea and coffee are available in your room. Gocta Natura Cabins (B,L,D)

Day 6: Cocachimba – Gocta Waterfalls – Cocachimba
Today you set out to discover Gocta Waterfalls. In 2005, an expedition led by a German explorer prompted the measurement and documentation of the falls, which then became the third highest in the world! Its official height and rank has since been contentious, and, depending on your source, the ranking seems to vary from the third to the 16th highest. Regardless of its status, it is an incredibly impressive and beautiful sight. During your hike through the cloud forest, you encounter a variety of vantage points to view the spectacular falls. The well-maintained path is easy and provides a stable and scenic journey. You should be in generally good physical condition for the hike, which at a good pace takes about two and a half hours, one-way. Some sections have steep inclines, and horses can be hired for part of the journey to the falls or can be pre-arranged for the way back if you’ve had enough walking by then.

Engulfed by the sounds, sights and smells of the cloud forest, you will enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna along the trail that crosses small streams and gorges spanned by short bridges. You will hear the thunderous falls before you actually see them. And, the volume increases the closer you get. With about a third of the way to go, the vegetation opens up, and finally you set your eyes on the falls. For the rest of the walk there are five opportunities to see the falls, getting closer and closer, until you finally arrive at the base of the falls. At a special vantage point with a view of the waterfalls, enjoy a break with snacks and a refreshing drink laid out by your guide. After taking in the views, and maybe splashing in the pool at the base of the falls (expect to get wet if you go close to the falls because of the spray), return via the same path to your hotel in time for lunch. Gocta Natura Cabins (B,L,D)

Day 7: Cocachimba / Jaen / Lima
This morning, your guide and driver meet you at your hotel to begin the three-hour journey to Jaen airport. If you have time on the return journey, you may be able to stop and stretch your legs along the way. A Big Five representative will assist you with all check-in procedures and escort you to the departure area to catch your al departure flight to Lima, where you are transferred to your hotel. Atemporal Hotel (B)

Day 8: Lima / Cusco / Urubamba (Sacred) Valley
This morning, your guide will meet you to escort you to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met by explora’s staff and be escorted by shared vehicle to the fabled Sacred Valley. Traveling directly from Cusco to the Urubamba Valley (2,900m/9,514ft) makes acclimatization easier because the valley is a lower altitude than the city. Nonetheless, it is still recommend that you take time to rest upon arrival. explora Valle Sagrado is located on an old corn plantation originally established in one of the most remote farms of the valley. It is sheltered and surrounded by mighty mountains that were once the home to the great Inca Empire. It’s 50 rooms are designed to maximize silence, privacy and blend with the surroundings to ensure a deep rest after a long day of exploration. With the exciting new explora Valle Sagrado, travelers discover traditional towns, barely touched by the forces of globalization; ancient ruins impeccably conserved over time; emerald lagoons at the foothills of snowy peaks; and immense fluvial valleys that open up between mountains. Explora Valle Sagrado – Suite (B,D)

Day 9: Sacred Valley
Today, you can explore the environment on any of the 20 different excursions offered by explora Valle Sagrado, which believes that to really engage in this destination, you should experience all three different ecosystems – the valley, the plateau, and the mountain peaks. Explorations happen on foot, by van or bike, and can take a half-day or a full day. They are designed specifically to meet each individual’s needs and interests as well as encompass the area’s must-see sites that are not usually experienced. Explora Valle Sagrado – Suite (B,L,D)

Day 10: Sacred Valley / Cusco / Sacred Valley
This morning, be prepared to discover one of the most truly remarkable and mythic sites in Latin America and, indeed, the world. This full-day exploration takes you into the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu, probably the premier expression of Incan architecture.

You depart early, about 8:00 am, from the hotel and travel to the train station at Ollantaytambo, located about 45 minutes from your hotel. Board the train for the town of Aguas Calientes. For lunch, you enjoy a snack on the train. You arrive late morning and meet your guide, who escorts you to the Machu Picchu sanctuary by bus. Discover this exceptional and magical place this afternoon. This site is believed to have been the residency of Pachacútec, the great Inca ruler. IN addition to living quarters, some of the buildings were for ceremonial and religious uses. This afternoon, you travel back to Aguas Calientes train station for the return trip to Ollantaytambo station, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. Explora Valle Sagrado – Suite (B, snack, D)

*The Machu Picchu exploration, the prime attraction of this region and a national park with restricted access, combines explora and third-party services due to the inherent restrictions of the site. This exploration has an additional cost and must be confirmed with the reservation team at least 30 days before the beginning of your stay.

Day 11: Sacred Valley / Cusco / Lima / Depart
This morning you are transferred to Cusco for a brief walking tour of Cusco. Set out along the same streets used by the Incas and the Spanish Conquistadors. Visit the Plaza de Armas, the Casa del Almirante (Archaeological Museum), the Plazuela Las Nazarenas, San Blas District, Hatun-Rumiyoc Street, cathedral and Loreto Street. You will also stop at Coricancha, the partially restored Temple of the Sun at the center of the Inca Universe, where the Conquistadors stripped the gold off the walls. Along narrow cobblestone streets, you pass walls of stone so precisely fitted that they remain in superb condition centuries later, even after enduring many earthquakes. After the visit, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Lima and connection to your flight back home (B)

Land price, per person, double occupancy:  From US$600 per person per day.