Spanish & Culture in Peru

Wake up in the capital, Lima is a sprawling coastal city with crashing surf. Get the lowdown on your cultural journey ahead, then it’s time to explore this fascinating place. Follow your guide down cobbled streets to marvel at the San Francisco Monastery and stand in awe at Plaza Mayor square. Taste fresh tacos and tropical fruits in the central market, then continue to Chinatown. Stroll past the fashionable shops of Larco Avenue, and gaze over the ocean from ‘Parque del Amor’ (Love Park). Next you’ll visit a family kitchen in Chorrillos district, and learn how to make classic ceviche (marinated raw fish) and chicha morada (a corn drink). Hungry for more? As the sun sets, you’ll join a food tour in the Barranco district. Taste ‘picarones’ donuts, ‘butifarra’ ham sandwiches, and ‘anticuchos’ beef heart kebabs.

Fly inland to the historic heartland of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Take a deep breath as you land at the dizzy height of 3,450m. Wander through characterful streets and cobblestone passages. You’ll visit the most sacred Inca building, the temple of Qoricancha, which once housed a thousand priests. At Plaza de Armas square, you’ll stop to marvel at the colonial arcades before dropping into the Casa Concha museum, this historical house has the largest collection of Machu Picchu artefacts in the world.

Hop on the transfer bus to the town of Ollantaytambo. As you near the Sacred Valley, you’ll be blown away by the views. This stunning part of the Andes has terraced slopes, Inca ruins and pretty villages, and your driver knows all the best photo stops. Get up close with Inca culture when you visit Ollantaytambo, this village’s fascinating temple ruins represent the Incan god, Wiracocha. Jump aboard a local train as you wind your way to Aguas Calientes, a modern town, near Machu Picchu. On one of Peru’s most scenic train rides, you’ll enter the Sacred Valley, descend along the Urubamba River and climb into the cloud forest to reach the town.

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for, it’s Machu Picchu time! One of the seven wonders of the world, this jaw-dropping Inca city was built without any mortar, metal tools or wheels, just how they transported those 50-tonne rocks up this 2,430-metre mountain is mindboggling. Each rock was chiselled to fit so perfectly that some are still intact more than 500 years later! Wake early and hop on the shuttle to the gates of ‘The Lost City’. Nothing prepares you for actually standing here. Listen carefully as your guide uncovers the secrets of the Inca Empire, then grab a moment to yourself to take it all in. Later, you’ll take a train back to Ollantaytambo and continue by road to Cusco.

Thought this trip couldn’t get any better? It just did. You’re about to visit the Maras Salt Pans, one of Peru’s most amazing natural sites. Here, thousands of ancient salt pans cascade down the mountainside, it’s surreal. Learn how the Incas built these terraces to capture the salty water that bursts from the ground. Find out how they harvested the salt, and discover how it’s used today. Next, we’ll head to the Moray archaeological site, where the Incas built huge circular terraces to plant their crops. They used them as an agricultural laboratory to work out the best growing conditions. Got a sweet tooth? You could join an optional chocolate workshop. Create your own chocolates and learn to make choccies the local way, from cacao bean to bar.

Discover more of Cusco then transfer back to Ollantaytambo. It’s up to you how you spend the rest of the day, so do some research and make a plan! Next it's time to experience the reality of rural life. You’ll spend the next four days living alongside a village community and contributing to an initiative that helps women from remote mountain communities to launch successful small businesses. On the way to the village, you’ll stop off at the valley’s incredible terraced fields and church. Meet your hosts, settle into your new home-from-home and find out what you can do to help out. Your tasks will depend on what’s needed most at the time. To make a positive contribution, you’ll need to listen to your hosts and pick up new skills. Seize this opportunity to experience Peruvian culture first-hand. Explore the area with an expert local guide, tuck into a traditional earth oven ‘pachamanca’ lunch, join a weaving demo and make your own bracelet. This is a side of Peru that few tourists see. Throw yourself in, stay open-minded and you’ll leave with a rare insight into another way of life.

Today, you’ll travel to the high-altitude plains of Chinchero. Along the way, gaze out of the window and try to spot colourful parrots and tiny hummingbirds. Get ready for a true cultural experience as you explore this rural area and discover its amazing traditions. You’ll see women dressed in traditional red hats that are typical of the area, and the locals are famous for their weaving skills, so you’ll also see lots of colourful textiles in the markets. Dive deeper into local culture when you enter family homes and stay for the night. Tuck into traditional dishes, like lomo saltado (spicy fried beef), causa (potato salad) and quinoa porridge. Make the most of your homestay experience by chatting with your hosts to learn as much as you can about rural life.

All too soon, it’s time to travel home, so cram everything into your backpack and head to the airport. Check in, sit back and let it all sink in, you’ve just experienced something incredible. You’ve been immersed in Peruvian culture, you’ve engaged with communities and you’ve seen this beautiful country through local eyes. Return home with a whole new perspective of the people we share our planet with, and the stunning landscapes they call home.