Backroads

Wander in awe through Q'oricancha and Sacsayhuamán, home to some of Peru's finest examples of Inca architecture. Though they may not have invented it, the Incas mastered the art of monumental stone masonry. The big question is: how on Earth did these ancient engineers integrate enormous boulders with such precision that not even a needle can fit between them?

Our walking tour of Cusco provides a rich and fascinating context for the places we'll discover and the people we'll meet during these seven unforgettable days. Our local Peruvian guide and good friend gives us a close-up look at this vivacious and colorful city caught in an intriguing tug-of-war between its ancient heritage and thriving contemporary culture.

Dive into the vibrant local market with your Trip Leaders and bargain with vendors selling every manner of wares, from brilliantly colored textiles to local produce. It's your chance to shop for ceramics, woven goods, jewelry and alpaca sweaters. We'll teach you a few Spanish bartering phrases - little English is spoken here!

Suspended between two Andean peaks at 7,700 feet is one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the ancient world: Machu Picchu. Certain to be an experience that surpasses your imagination, explore this enigmatic citadel and marvel at the magical play of sunlight, shadows and fog against perfectly constructed temples, baths and aqueducts.

Savor stunning views of mountains and glaciers while descending on foot through the famous Inca Salineras, a beautiful honeycomb of pools rising tier upon tier in the Sacred Valley. Fed by an underground river, these salt-encrusted basins have been raked and scraped clean for centuries, with families passing on their tiny plots of land from generation to generation.

In the isolated weaving center of Huilloc, resilient villagers still speak the language of their Inca ancestors and grow their crops on small terraced fields 12,000 feet above sea level. Here we visit with a local family, who invite us into their home for an intimate look at the traditional Andean way of life.

Sample ají de gallina (shredded chicken in a spicy cheese sauce), camote (sweet potato), traditional cuy (yes, guinea pig), pisco sours (the citrusy "national drink”) and ancient Andean grains such as quinoa. For dessert, indulge in custard-like chirimoya alegre, our chef's secret family recipe, and ice cream made from lúcuma,a fruit native to Peru. Get creative with an array of traditional Peruvian ingredients during a cooking lesson with our longtime local friends.