Iconic Luxe Peru: A Journey of Culture, Wild Nature and Ancient Wonders with Tanit Trails
Iconic, Luxe Peru: A Journey of Culture, Wild Nature and Ancient Wonders - Tanit Trails DMC
Yes, you can visit Peru and check off its bucket list wonders - Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Amazon. But it’s all-too easy to miss what makes this country extraordinary; its heartbeat, its spirit, its stories. Layered, vital, and laced with the sacred, this is a country that asks you to show up fully - to feel the rush of jungle heat at dawn, the crunch of ancient stone underfoot, the silence of temples built to align with the heavens.
With Tanit Trails DMC, Peru offers so much more - soulful, life-affirming travel experiences that move through the pulse of the wild Amazon, the quiet rituals of the Andes and the hospitality of its people. Owned and led by explorer Nicolas Ramirez, Tanit Trails is grounded in an ethos of mindful, meaningful, and meticulously crafted travel; their itineraries a luxurious distillation of deep relationships, decades of experience and a fierce love for Peru’s land and culture.
In this piece, we’re offering a taste of their 12-day Peru & Amazon Adventure, a trip which brings together the country's most iconic destinations: Lima, the Amazon Rainforest, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. But this is no greatest hits tour. It’s a deep dive into Peru’s textures, rhythms and soul - and it’s just as suited to couples craving reconnection and those seeking beauty and substance as it is for families ready to explore with purpose.
Short on time? Can't read further? Request a meeting HERE with Nicolas Ramirez, Tanit Trails' owner.
What can your guests expect?
They could cook with locals on ancient terraces, hike with expert guides through cloud forests alive with myths and stay in handpicked properties that echo the spirit of each landscape. They might take a scientist-led night walk in the jungle, indulge with a traditional Pachamanca feast prepared underground or ride out on horseback into highland archaeological sites.
But no matter what they choose for their own bespoke experience, Tanit Trails DMC will make sure their every moment in Peru will be personal, intentional and unforgettable.
Deep Wilderness and Amazon Wonders at Tambopata National Reserve
There are few places left in the world where guests can truly step off the map - and Tambopata is most definitely one of them. In the remote southeast of Peru, this vast reserve stretches across 700,000 hectares of pristine rainforest, and is home to more bird and butterfly species than anywhere else on Earth.
From Puerto Maldonado, guests travel first by road and then by boat - leaving civilisation behind as the river narrows and the forest begins to thicken. After crossing the confluence of the Malinowski River, they enter the most remote zone of the reserve: a vast, uninhabited wilderness where nature fully takes over. As they follow the winding Tambopata River deeper into the jungle, the wildlife becomes part of the journey - macaws flashing through the canopy, capybaras sunning themselves on the banks and monkeys moving through the trees. And then they arrive at their destination: the Tambopata Research Centre, one of the only lodges set within the untouched heart of this stunning reserve.
(Other accommodations are available closer to Puerto Maldonado - Inkaterra Property & other Rainforest Lodges properties. Tanit Trails can help your clients select perfect accommodation that best fits their requirements and budget.)
Over a 3-night stay (full board), guests here experience the Amazon at its most intimate and breathtaking. Mornings begin with the dawn chorus and a visit to the macaw clay lick - a dramatic wall of earth where hundreds of parrots and macaws gather to feed, creating a swirl of colour and sound that’s nothing short of cinematic. Through the day, daily guided hikes explore ancient trails through old-growth rainforest, where the lodge’s Rainforest masters will point out the tiniest birds hiding in the leaves, the squirrel monkeys leaping between fig trees and the flicker of a peccary disappearing into the undergrowth. At night, the jungle transforms. Now, guided nocturnal hikes reveal a whole new ecosystem - tree frogs glowing under torchlight, curious insects with otherworldly shapes and the constant voices of life hidden in the canopy. Every stay here also includes a scientist-led talk, which gives guests a fascinating insight into the lodge’s pioneering conservation work - with a particular focus on its long-term study of the indigenous macaw populations and their behaviours. And on the final evening, a sunset river cruise offers a moment of reflection, as the sky lights with the colours of fire and the sounds of the forest play out through the dusk.
Where to Stay: Tambopata Research Centre is Tanit Trails’ pick for client's looking for the most in-depth and enlightening experience.
One of the most remote eco-lodges in South America, the Centre was built to support conservation and encourage low-impact wildlife tourism, which is clean, safe and thoughtfully considered. Guests stay in a comfortable, 18-bedroom lodge - which has been recently rebuilt - with both luxury and mid-range options available, ranging from simple 21m² forest rooms to expansive 83m² suites with panoramic views. Uniquely, every room in the lodge opens to the forest on one side so that guests here can fall asleep to the sounds of nature and wake to monkeys rustling in the canopy. There’s also a jungle bar, on-site massage service and delicious daily buffet meals, all made with local ingredients. With expert guides in small groups and immersive access to the surrounding reserve, Tambopata is an idyllic choice for guests looking for a raw yet refined wilderness experience.
The Mountains, Myths and Living Culture of the Sacred Valley
Sweeping green valleys, ancient terraces etched into hillsides and snow-capped peaks - the Sacred Valley of the Incas is rightly iconic, a place where Inca ingenuity stands proud and life follows the rhythms of rituals and rivers.
Flying in from Puerto Maldonado, guests are met at Cusco and whisked away from the bustle of the high-altitude city into the calmer, more oxygen-rich setting of the Sacred Valley. Time allowing, a stop at Pisac Market is well worth it, (add in a VIP luxury picnic by Tanit Trails DMC for your most discerning clients) with the chance to browse traditional textiles, ceramics and silverwork still made and sold by Quechua artisans, before heading onto the hotel for a night of crucial acclimatisation to set them up for 2 days of exploration in ways that connect guests to the Valley’s past and its present - on horseback, on foot and at the table.
Morning sees guests saddle up on Peruvian Paso horses, a breed renowned for its uniquely smooth, ambling gait. Under the watchful eyes of their expert guide, Abizu - breeder & trainer of Paso horses - they’ll ride through spectacular open landscapes rarely seen by tourists - high plains dotted with cactus and eucalyptus and mountains silhouetted in the distance.
Their destination this morning is Moray Archeology Site, one of the Incas' most fascinating experiments. This place of concentric circular terraces was designed to create varying microclimates for agricultural testing - an incredible innovation for its time. After time to explore, the ride continues on to a charming countryside restaurant near Maras for lunch, before heading on to one of the valley’s most photographed (and still working) heritage sites - the salt pans of Maras. Here, hundreds of shallow pools climb the mountainside, filled with mineral-rich water from a natural spring. As the sun evaporates the liquid, families harvest the salt - just as their ancestors have done for countless generations.
The third day in the Sacred Valley is an unforgettable blend of heart-pumping adrenaline, culture and culinary ritual.
Tanit Trails DMC has guests heading first to the fantastic Via Ferrata - a vertical 300m route up a 1,000m cliff, which uses steel cables and iron rungs to make it accessible to non-rock climbers; just like the Ferrata routes in the European Alps that were created to help troops navigate the Dolomites in World War I. Here, this is a truly thrilling ascent, with unmatched views across the Sacred Valley below - but for adventure lovers, the best is still to come! The descent from your vantage point is by zipline - a series of 6 ziplines in fact - each ranging in length between 100 and 500m and each flying high over rivers and fields. Afterwards, the energy shifts from pure exhilaration to restful grounding.
Beginning with a trip to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca village set amongst pre-Columbian stonework, streets and ancient courtyards, guests can climb the steps of the Inca ruins for fabulous views and a better understanding of this place where the Incas won one of very few battles against the Spanish. Then they visit a working organic farm set on the ancient Inca terraces to take part in a traditional Pachamanca - a feast cooked ancient-style; buried in the earth using hot stones, layers of meat, native potatoes and fragrant herbs. And the experience ends with a visit to a local distillery, where Andean botanicals are transformed into small-batch spirits - a unique and very enjoyable expression of the land in liquid form!
Where to Stay: Explora Valle Sagrado is a beautiful luxury option in the Sacred Valley. Part sanctuary, part basecamp for Cusco, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, this all-inclusive lodge is set among cornfields and mountains, and keeps guests tucked far away from the tourist crowds. A 5-time Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Award winner, the lodge’s floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside in, while the minimalist design keeps a strong focus on nature and exploration. With its own curated menu of guided excursions, impeccable service and oh-so serene setting, it’s ideal for guests seeking both comfort and a meaningful, memorable connection to place.
Tanit Trails’ mid-range pick is the stunning, family-run El Albergue, a historic hacienda turned soulful farm lodge located beside the train station in Ollantaytambo. Charming, characterful and rooted in sustainability, El Albergue has its own organic farm, distillery and café, with guests able to tour the gardens, roast coffee on-site or just kick back in the shade of avocado trees before boarding the train to Machu Picchu - the perfect blend of warmth, hospitality and authenticity.
Discover how Tanit Trails can help guests experience the Sacred Valley with a wellness twist here…
The Unmissable Magic of Machu Picchu
Of all the legendary destinations in the world, Machu Picchu is one which never fails to exceed the weight of expectations. Living up to all its myths and more, the Lost City of the Incas is one of the most iconic sights for any traveller, surrounded by sheer green peaks and draped in mountain mists. And, while it’s undeniably busy these days, Tanit Trails’ guests don’t just see Machu Picchu and move on - they arrive and experience it in a way that’s been carefully crafted to allow them to truly take in its power and presence.
Departing from Ollantaytambo station and carrying only what’s needed for a night (heavy luggage will be transferred on to Cusco), guests first board the Vistadome train, its panoramic windows offering sweeping views of the Vilcanota River as the valley narrows into dense cloud forest.
Rather than travel immediately to Aguas Calientes, Tanit Trails likes to offer some guests a different option... Tanit Trails guests disembark the train at 104 km, the access point for a full-day Inca Trail hike guided by an expert and tailored for active travellers who want the most rewarding approach to Machu Picchu. - through the "Sun Gate"
The hike begins with the riverside ruins of Chachabamba, a small ceremonial complex hidden in the forest. From there, the trail climbs steadily through orchids, bromeliads and hanging mosses to Winay Wayna - a stunning series of Inca terraces and ritual baths set into the mountainside, and the perfect spot for a scenic picnic lunch surrounded by the sounds of rushing water and the distant call of birds. The final stretch of the hike leads through cloud forest to the iconic Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), where that first full view of Machu Picchu opens up - the soft light catching the citadel’s stone walls as the afternoon shadows stretch across the valley.
Unlike the crowded morning and early afternoons, at this time most of the tourist throngs have left, making this a moment of stillness and awe for guests - an idyllic introduction to this new Wonder of the World that offers peace, perspective and time to stand and absorb. Then, descending to the site’s edge, guests take a short bus ride down to Aguas Calientes, the riverside town at the base of the mountain, where they settle in for the night.
Guests don't want to hike at all? Tanit Trails can of course provide options:
Train all the way to Aguas Calientes
Upgrade your most VIP clients to travel on the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train
Just remember - no hike - no sun gate arrival point.
Morning begins early with a return to Machu Picchu for a full, privately guided exploration of the site itself. Built in the 15th century and never found by the Spanish, the citadel is a masterpiece of engineering, astronomy and spiritual geometry. Guests will be guided through its sacred spaces, solar temples and agricultural zones - tracing the Andean concept of duality and balance that shaped its every corner, and with time to reflect, to take pictures to cherish and to ask the deeper questions this place inspires: about legacy, impermanence and connection to the wider universe.
And in the afternoon, full of the magic of Machu Picchu, guests return by bus to Aguas Calientes, take the Vistadome train back to Ollantaytambo and are then met by private transport for the drive on to Cusco.
Where to Stay: For sunrise access to Machu Picchu before the crowds and a truly unique location Tanit Trails can book you into the famous Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Other great options down in Aguas Calientes include:
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is the place for Machu Picchu luxe. Set in lush gardens on the edge of Aguas Calientes, this unique and harmonious 5* boutique property feels more like a beautiful jungle retreat than a hotel. Guests stay in one of 83 whitewashed casitas, each one tucked away among the orchids and each offering stone fireplaces, alpaca blankets and outdoor terraces that create an atmosphere of secluded comfort as hummingbirds flit through the gardens. The property also boasts tea plantations, nature trails, a world-class spa and one of the best pisco sours in town - a destination in itself, not just a stopover.
With crisp linens, spacious communal areas and eco-conscious credentials, it’s perfect for guests who want comfort and convenience without unnecessary formality - and its central location in Aguas Calientes means it’s an easy walk to restaurants, shops and the train station, with excellent service throughout.
Cusco’s Echoes of Empire
If Machu Picchu is Peru’s headline, Cusco is its beating heart. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, where the rulers were considered god-kings, Cusco was later the jewel of Spanish colonial ambition - and today, this high-altitude city is an architectural palimpsest - its pre-Colombian foundations still holding up baroque Catholic churches, and its every stone charged with tales of two civilisations.
Arriving in Cusco in the early evening after their Machu Picchu experience, guests will by now find the altitude more manageable - ready to slot into the city’s relaxed pace, where its historic energy can be immediately felt in its cobbled streets and candlelit courtyards. After a restful night, day 11 begins with a privately guided tour that introduces guests to the layers of Cusco’s story - not just as a city, but as a symbol of Peru’s past and its ongoing evolution. Heading out from an exploration of the 16th century cathedral on Plaza de Armas, its gold-leafed altars and colonial paintings masking Inca stones beneath, guests visit the Qorikancha. Dedicated to the sun, the Qorikancha was the most sacred temple in the Inca world, its inner walls - according to legend - once covered in sheets of shining gold and set with human-sized gold statues. Now the Santo Domingo Convent, the contrast between its spiritual legacy and the Christian convent built over it is striking - and deeply moving and telling in equal measure.
The afternoon, the final one in this particular Peruvian odyssey, can be shaped to suit. For those drawn to local life, Tanit Trails can guide guests through the bustling San Pedro Market, where vendors sell coca leaves, cheeses, herbal remedies and street snacks under a swirl of colour and chatter. Art and history lovers will enjoy roaming the San Blas neighbourhood, with its narrow streets lined with artisan workshops, galleries, and hilltop cafés. And for those who just want to kick back and relax? The many exceptional local restaurants beckon, serving up leisurely lunches that reflect the delicious local cuisine.
How do you finish off such a tour in memorable style?
Heading above the city, a tour of nearby Incan archaeological sites includes a tour of the vast stone complex of Sacsayhuaman. Often mislabelled as a fortress, this dramatic Inca site is thought to have been ceremonial - a place of worship, designed with astronomical and spiritual precision. From here, Cusco unfolds below, still clearly laid out in the shape of a sacred puma, as the Incas intended.
Where to Stay: The usual suspects include Belmond's Palacio Nazarenas and Monasterio but for clients looking for something more boutique Tanit Trails love to recommend Inkaterra's, La Casona.
Housed in a former 16th century Spanish manor (and possibly the first Spanish construction in the city), Inkaterra La Casona is a refined boutique hotel offers understated grandeur just steps from Plaza de Armas.
With only 11 suites arranged around a quiet colonial courtyard, this 5* property (the first awarded 5 stars in Cusco) is an oasis of calm in the city centre, its original stone walls, antique furnishings and modern luxuries - think deep soaking tubs and fireplaces - making it ideal for guests who love an equal share of historic atmosphere and elevated comfort.
And for a more mid-range stay? Antigua Casona San Blas is an intimate boutique stay in the artistic San Blas district that blends colonial architecture with modern warmth. Here, the rooms are thoughtfully designed with artisan touches and the inner courtyard offers a peaceful retreat from the bustle of the city. A great on-site restaurant, attentive service and excellent location all combine to make it a standout for guests wanting a more relaxed yet stylish mid-range base from which to explore Cusco.
And of course, for clients heading to Peru, this inspirational itinerary is just a starting point!
Every Tanit Trails journey is tailored, and any experience here can be mixed and matched with their wider portfolio, with curated options across the entire country.
For more information on what’s available, and/or an introduction to the team behind these one-of-a-kind adventures, get in touch today.
