Terra Explorer Peru | Luxury Experiences & Adventures | Catalogue '22

Luxury experiences & epic adventures

A message from the founders

More than fifteen years ago, we: Piero, an innate explorer, and Patty, a journalist passionate about the Andean culture, decided to follow our instinct and merge our passions to create Terra Explorer with the vision of immersing you in the essence of our country in an ethical and authentic way.

Today, we are proud to be one of the most distinguished luxury and adventure travel designers in our country, understanding luxury as exceptional service and gaining access to unique and out of the ordinary experiences.

In the outdoors, whether it is hiking, paddling, mountain biking, or by helicopter, we seek to connect you with our impressive geography in a destination where the Pacific ocean and the Amazon jungle are separated from north to south by the Andes Mountains.

Renowned specialists will take you personally through our history, art, gastronomy, dance, music, and fashion. You will discover first-hand, according to your interests and needs, the true culture of Peru.

That initial adventure has transformed over time into seven ways to inspire you and connect you to Peru and, most importantly, with yourself.

Welcome!

Located in western South America, covering a territory of 1.2 million km² (463,321 mi2) with 32 million inhabitants, 47 native languages, and 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites, Peru covers 3 main regions: the desert Coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon jungle.

We have a fascinating historical legacy that began to take shape with the first precolumbian cultures, which later became the largest and most powerful empire in South America. It is a history we can access by exploring archaeological centers and traveling ancient Inca roads.

Since the Spanish conquest, we have received European, Asian, and African influences. The vagaries of destiny have made us multicultural with a millenary essence.

Peru

You will be inspired by the customs, beliefs, clothing, festivals, rituals, and expressions of popular art kept alive to this day by our people.

The Andes mountain range is our country’s backbone, dividing the Pacific Ocean coast from the vast Amazon. We are one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world. Peru has beaches, deserts, over 12,000 lakes, snow-capped peaks, the two deepest canyons in the world, and multiple scenic valleys. Spaces both mystical and remote are available to be explored by nature and adventure lovers.

A Peru for the world.

Cusco main square

Specialists who love what they do

As local experts, we have been there, seen it, and done it.

We have been exploring Peru for almost 20 years. All of us at Terra Explorer, from our team of travel designers to our partners in the field (adventure guides, wildlife specialists, archaeologists, photographers, craftsmen, and more), are grateful to be dedicating our lives to what we love.

1 2

Authentic experiences

It is our mission to make you feel part of a place and not just a spectator.

We want you to learn about local perspectives, get close to the stories, folklore, myths, and legends of a millenary culture, either by venturing into remote areas or by immersing yourself in authentic cultural experiences.

While avoiding the crowds, we want you to access unique and exclusive experiences that seek to inspire you, teach you, and satisfy your curiosity for a different world.

Our values

Bespoke experiences 3

Your journey starts from the moment you think about it, and together we can take care of the rest.

According to your preferences, needs, and interests, we will design a trip tailored especially for you. Just as we are all different, there are no two journeys alike.

We love unusual requests. For us, everything, or almost everything, is possible.

Pomacanchi

Our values

4Luxury: a passion for the essential and details

When we talk about luxury, we think of customization, exclusivity, maximum comfort, safety, and a high standard in service quality.

For us, this concept goes even further.

We can surprise you with a gala dinner in the bell tower of an old chapel in Cuzco or a relaxing massage at the foot of snowy Salkantay after a day of trekking in the Andes.

We want you to enjoy every moment without rushing and with the flexibility to go off the script.

We believe that the property does not necessarily have to be 5 stars if it gives you access to a beautiful and magical place. It is about valuing the essential. It is about feeling lucky to meet Don Julio and watch him paint his ceramic masterpieces in his house in Cusco.

It is accessing fascinating worlds and finding the exquisiteness of life.

Our values

Safety & outdoor technology

All our guides have years of experience and are certified in rescue and first aid courses.

We go out to the field with the latest in outdoor technology. We use the same tents used in the Everest base camps. The same kayaks that we paddle in a lake could go on a long sea expedition.

We have a comprehensive safety plan designed for each trip, guaranteeing your safety every step of the way, with the use of satellite phones, Spot Satellite Messenger, and the latest in GPS cartography.

5 6

Sustainable practices

We generate a positive impact in the spaces we visit. Many of our experiences are framed in actions and projects with great environmental and social purposes, from reforestation to activities that contribute to the continuity of ancestral traditions in different Andean communities. For us, taking care of our world and our legacy is an honor rather than a duty.

Health and safety protocols

We ensure your well-being and safety throughout our operational chain, applying the health and safety protocols established by the Peruvian Government and international tourism associations.

As great lovers of outdoor adventures and luxury experiences, avoiding crowds is in our DNA. Nonetheless, given the current situation, we have maximized this concern and all related health concerns, in the operation of all our adventures.

Our team

We explore, create new experiences and make them come true together with a group of experts, with whom we share the vision of bringing you closer to Peru in an authentic way through luxury experiences.

The travel designers at Terra Explorer are flexible, creative, and highly knowledgeable about our country. With total dedication, they will listen carefully to your interests, and, together with their recommendations, they will let you express your own identity through a spectacular and personalized trip.

This team includes a select network of alliances, a group of specialists we love and appreciate very much. They represent the diversity of Peru’s culture and traditions.

Renowned chefs, archaeologists, artists, and artisans, among others, will introduce you to our history and the fascinating world of the Andean cosmovision, while conservationists, kayakers, biologists, climbers, or even a Dakar legend will take you to explore our extraordinary geography.

At Terra Explorer, as explorers and adventure operators, we consider nature our home. We manage waste responsibly, use solar equipment and eco-friendly technologies for each expedition, and choose suppliers with a profound commitment to the environment.

A tree is planted in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon for every traveler who ventures to explore Peru with us; and, in partnership with REGENERA, we offset our annual water and carbon footprint.

Choquequirao Trek

Sustainability

We are committed to the well-being of the communities we work with through fair pay, health insurance, and by giving them the opportunity and means for ongoing training.

It makes us proud and happy to contribute with partners and projects that preserve our culture and millenary traditions.

As human beings, we are hosts of this wonderful planet, not guests. Caring for it is an honor, and as Terra Explorer, we are engaged in this great commitment and responsibility.

Tambopata River, Amazon

WAYS

TO EXPLORE

WAYS EXPLORE

Epic adventures

Join our unstoppable drive to explore the lands of Peru and see distant realities from up close, without giving up maximum comfort, thanks to the latest in outdoor technology.

Remote expeditions

Ours are expeditions with a high adrenaline component, for which you do not need previous experience, but you do need a great adventurous spirit.

Wellness & community

Our experiences are designed for those seeking to return home in a better physical, mental, and spiritual state and find the cultural exchange fascinating, genuine, and unhurried.

2 4

Art & culture

Outstanding curators, anthropologists, photographers, artists, and artisans of all kinds will take you through the history and art of Peru, discovering first hand our culture and traditions.

Ways to explore

5Gastronomy

Lima is the gastronomic capital of latin america. Discover through ourcuisine the identity of a country filled with fusions and flavors of pre-hispanic origin.

Motorcycle trips

Feel the freedom of the road and the roar of the KTM adventure 1190 and 1290 while you travel through exclusive routes to the most emblematic and remote places of Peru’s coastline and mountains.

Other destinations

In these trips, we broaden our horizons and combine your visit to Peru with other destinations that we consider not-to-be-missed in South America, which we have personally explored in order to design the journeys we offer you next.

EPIC ADVENTURES

ADVENTURES

Paracas, Ica

Paracas Natural Reserve by land, air and sea

3 days / 2 nights Nazca lines flight, sail in a luxury yacht, e-bikes through the reserve and visit an old wine and pisco vineyard

Easy

Learn about the fascinating worldview of ancient civilizations on the Peruvian coast, flying over the mysterious Nazca lines in southern Peru.

See how the sun dyes the dunes with fire-red at sunset and enjoy a picnic in the middle of the desert, a luxurious experience where the only protagonists will be you and nature.

Travel by land and sea, the only marine national reserve on our coastline, and get closer to its unique biodiversity.

Connect with the vine’s history in Peru by tasting the best local wines and piscos in an old vineyard south of the country.

Paragliding Lima’s coastline

Lima 15 minutes

Paragliding Easy

If you ever dreamed of paragliding, this is your chance! With a professional instructor and a good dose of adrenaline and freedom, you will rise into the sky to experience the beauty of the only capital in South America located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

From the air, witness how the sea washes against the land, creating an infinite trace of white foam, which divides nature from the big city.

Inkilltambo hike

Hike one of the most important stretches of an ancient Inca trail, and, en route, visit ancient temples and ceremonial centers.

This hike is like traveling back in time, as it is difficult not to imagine the ancient inhabitants making use of this road and its sacred spaces.

Optionally, continue walking and enter a colonial neighborhood until you reach the main square of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, and witness the passage of time and the events that shaped the history of the conquest of Peru.

Glamping, luxury in the remote

Learning about the history and culture of a new destination and connecting with its natural spaces is the essence of every trip, and the adventure doesn’t need to finish at the end of the day.

Enjoy a Terra Explorer-style glamping and explore remote areas with the sophistication and comfort of luxury accommodations.

Sacred Valley, Cusco

1 day / 1 night

Luxury outdoor stay Easy

Live a unique and environmentally sustainable experience, enjoy sleeping under a million stars in the heart of the Andes, relax with a massage on the shores of a lake and taste the best of Peruvian cuisine in a candlelight dinner.

Chinchero to Urquillos cultural hike

Sacred Valley, Cusco

4 hours

Cultural encounter with Chinchero community and hiking

Intermediate

The starting point of this adventure is the community of Chinchero, where its inhabitants proudly wear their typical costumes, speak Quechua, and the women spin as they walk.

Have the privilege of sharing a moment with them and learn more about Andean textile art and its ancient legacy.

Hike along an ancient Inca trail, through a eucalyptus forest, to the town of Urquillos. En route, explore an archaeological site, and enjoy a delicious outdoor picnic.

Capture the essence of nature and people in the Andes

Sacred Valley, Cusco

1 day

Together with renowned outdoors photographer, Diego del Río, contemplate the magic of how the first rays of sunlight color the mountains and lagoons of Lamay’s valley and capture the essence of a sunrise in the Andes.

With the Huayllafara community’s consent, photograph a day in the life of its inhabitants and fully immerse yourself in the lifestyle of the Andean people.

Have lunch in Diego’s small cafe in Lamay square while you select and edit the best photos of the morning.

Nature and community photography Local Friend

High mountain lake fishing

Together with passionate and expert fishermen and with the surrounding communities’ permission, explore lakes and streams hidden among the Andes’ majestic mountains. A scenery of impressive natural beauty and the ideal place to fish for rainbow trout.

You will learn about these fish whose habitat is in crystal clear and low temperatures waters while practicing catch and release fly fishing either from the shore or by boat.

Continue enjoying the peace and tranquility of your surroundings while having an outdoor lunch.

Sacred Valley, Cusco 1 day Catch & release fishing in remote lakes Local Friend

Rafting the Willcamayu river

Cusco

hours in total

hours physical activity

Easy, intermediate and advanced

The ancient inhabitants of the Andes named the river that rises in the heights of the Vilcanota Valley, crosses Machu Picchu, and enters the Peruvian Amazon “Willkamayu”, which means Sacred River.

Venture, along with expert rafting guides, to glide in the rhythm of its flow and observe from the water all the nature surrounding you. Access places that you would not reach otherwise in a fun and adrenaline-filled experience.

We invite you to paddle this river in any of its three sections, from a quiet one for families with small children to others with higher doses of adrenaline.

At the exit of the river, our chef will delight you with a delicious outdoor picnic lunch.

Kayaking and stand-up paddle at Huaypo lake

Sacred Valley, Cusco

4 hours in total 1.5 hours physical activity

Easy

Crossing the open fields of the Sacred Valley of the Incas brings us to Huaypo, a beautiful and solitary lake perched high in the Andes.

Explore this magical place, paddling its waters in expedition kayaks or stand-up paddles.

Learn how this lake is related to the surrounding communities and crop fields and observe the endemic birds that inhabit this area as you glide amidst the reflection of the surrounding mountains and snow-capped peaks.

On the shores of Huaypo, enjoy a delicious luxury picnic in the outdoors.

Kayak and birdwatching at Huaypo lake

Sacred Valley, Cusco 4 hours in total 2 hours physical activity

Easy

You will experience one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world when the sun awakens the day in Huaypo, a beautiful lake perched high in the Andes. In addition to supplying the surrounding communities and fields, its waters are home to a great variety of endemic and migratory birds.

From the shore and then paddling in sea expedition kayaks, with binoculars, you will observe and recognize different species by their call or plumage.

Complete your morning enjoying an exquisite outdoor brunch.

“Marvelous people that make your experience a mixture between heaven and earth.

One minute you are mountain biking between the snowy tipped Andean range. Next, you find yourself tended by chefs serving you the most exquisite cuisine, with a beautifully set white linen table, champagne going around, and the most unbelievable nature background - an unmatched experience.” - Cristina. Lima, Peru.

Mountain biking in Maras

Sacred Valley, Cusco

hours in total

hours physical activity

Easy, intermediate and advanced

Explore Maras on Specialized mountain bicycles, with 29” rim, disc brakes, and double suspension.

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Maras is home to two wonders of the Inca empire: the circular terraces of Moray, an ancient center of agricultural experimentation, and the famous salt mines of Pichingoto, an impressive conglomerate of over three thousand wells where salt has been stored from the times of the Inca Empire to the present day.

We have designed three routes that adjust to different levels of difficulty that, in equal measure, allow you to enjoy the beauty and the enigmas of this enchanting place.

Enjoy a luxury picnic in the outdoors under the deep blue sky and surrounded by the snow-capped peaks and mountains found in this beautiful place in the Andes.

Hiking Maras

Explore Moray, the circular terraces that make this center of agricultural experimentation one of the most enigmatic archaeological remains of the Peruvian Andes, and learn how far the Incas went in terms of science and technology.

Walk surrounded by the snow-capped mountains Verónica and Chicón, in green pastures and traditional villages until you reach the impressive salt mines of Maras. Over three thousand salt wells were built by the Incas on the slopes of the mountain Qaqawiñay, which are still used today.

In the middle of the visit, enjoy a luxury picnic in the outdoors.

Sacred Valley, Cusco

hours

hours

activity

Intermediate

Community of Chinchero and mountain bike

Sacred Valley, Cusco

5 hours in total 2 hours physical activity

Cultural exchange & mountain bike

Easy

Visit the home of a master weaver in the community of Chinchero. Share a morning with her family and learn about different types of local fibers and ancestral dyeing techniques. This craft has been passed from generation to generation since pre-Inca times.

From here, ride mountain bikes to Huaypo, a beautiful lake perched high in the Andes. Surrounded by majestic mountains and snow-capped peaks, cross impressive landscapes, farmlands and communities, while discovering one of the most beautiful places in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

On the shores of Huaypo lake, enjoy a luxury picnic in the outdoors.

Horseback riding in the Sacred Valley

Sacred Valley, Cusco 2 hours Horseback riding Easy

A very different and pleasant way to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas is by horseback riding on Peruvian Paso horses, an exceptional native breed.

While riding along a bridle path, alleys, and old houses, discover the tradition of ancient Andean villages. Learn about their history and observe how their people live to this day.

Somewhere along the trail, you will reach a viewpoint that offers awe-inspiring views of the Urubamba Valley.

Hike to Pumamarca

Easy

From the site of Pumamarca and facing a spectacular view of the Urubamba Valley, descend along an Inca trail in the middle of an impressive terraced path built on the slopes of these mountains, and walk along water channels to reach the village of Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is also known as the only living Inca village. Its ancient stone houses are still occupied by the inhabitants of this area, and in its canals water still flows as it did hundreds of years ago.

Hike to Vinicunca

Advanced

Surrounded by the majestic, snow-capped Ausangate, reddish mountains, herds of llamas and alpacas, native flora and fauna, we reach this colorful jewel of the Andes: The Rainbow Mountain.

Vinicunca is located in one of the most pristine ecosystems in the world. After visiting it, walk along a unique route and enjoy an exquisite luxury picnic with a magnificent view of the naturearound you.

Southern Valley of Cusco

Hike to Palccoyo

Southern Valley of Cusco

4 hours in total 2 hours physical activity

Intermediate

Walkthrough one of the least explored and most impressive places in the Southern Valley of Cusco by exploring the mountains of Palccoyo, whose colors look like a rainbow perched on the earth.

Be welcomed by the community of Palccoyo and enter the Andes surrounded by the impressive Ausangate snow-capped mountain. Cross a rock forest and feel the immensity of the universe from the top of a viewpoint overlooking the Red Valley until you reach these orange, red and turquoise blanketsof earth.

After the hike, we will surprise you with an exquisite picnic lunch in the outdoors.

Outdoor adventures in Pomacanchi

Southern Valley of Cusco 2 days / 1 nights Hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and rafting Intermediate

Pomacanchi, inserted in a cluster of several other lakes, is a little-known jewel, located in the mountains of the South Valley of Cusco.

While walking and mountain biking, cross plateaus and eucalyptus forests while watching endemic birds in the midst of epic mountains. Kayak across a lake and observe along the way local fishermen and people working their fields on the shores of these waters.

Camp in the Andes under a million stars and, finally, paddle down the Willkamayu River.

This itinerary includes a bit of everything for outdoor adventure lovers and those who find a unique satisfaction in exploring the remote.

The Temple of the Moon, the hidden gem of Machu Picchu

Who would have thought that just two hours walk from Machu Picchu, you would reach one of the most impressive and least visited temples of this historic Sanctuary?

From inside the citadel and past the summit of Huayna Picchu Mountain, continue along a stretch of an Inca trail, little-traveled and perfectly well-preserved, until you reach this remarkable Inca ceremonial temple built inside a natural cave.

Explore the Temple of the Moon, the best-kept secret of Machu Picchu.

Inca Trail, the final stretch to Machu Picchu

Picchu, Cusco

Travel the last 13 km. (8 miles) of the legendary Inca Trail that takes you to Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of Inca architecture and engineering and considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

En route, explore archeological remains, cross the “Intipunku” (Sun Gate) and enter through a cloud forest into this sacred sanctuary.

The next day, explore Machu Picchu and discover the history of Peru as you walk through squares, temples, fountains, monuments, and residences of what once was the most important religious, political, and cultural center of the Inca Empire.

Hike to Huchuy Qosqo

Sacred Valley, Cusco

days / 1 night

Advanced

Over two days, enter into the heart of the Andes. Travel along ancient Inca trails and discover stories about the great Inca Empire by exploring Huchuy Qosqo, the old palace of the Inca Wiracocha, built in the fifteenth century and today considered a National Cultural Heritage site.

It is an ideal adventure for families or people who have little time but want to experience the adventure of camping in the Andes.

Trek to Vinicunca and the red valley

Southern Valley of Cusco 2 days / 1 night

Advanced

Vinicunca, the rainbow mountain, is located in an area of unique geological formations.

During two days explore one of the most unique natural spaces of the Andes. The unique colors were formed by the oxidation of marine, lake, and river elements in the mountain range, interacting with the winds over thousands of years.

Hike through millenary communities, pristine ecosystems, glaciers, and red valleys, taking with you, as a postcard, the memory of having explored one of the most fascinating areas of the Peruvian Andes.

Trek to Lares communities

Sacred Valley & Lares, Cusco

3 days / 2 nights

Intermediate

Not often explored by travelers visiting Peru, this trek takes us to the heart of high Andean native communities and gives us the unique opportunity to learn more about its inhabitants’ lifestyle and millenary traditions.

You will cross different valleys for three days, with spectacular views of snow-capped peaks,glaciers and lakes, while traveling along ancient Inca trails.

Trek to Ancascocha Lake

Cusco 3 days / 2 nights

Advanced

Along a little-traveled route of original vestiges of an Inca Trail and among impressive snowcapped peaks with forests of native trees, discover Ancascocha, a beautiful lake nestled in the heart of the Andes.

Explore a fertile valley with abundant Andean flora, hummingbirds, river confluences, and the spectacular view of the snow-capped Veronica peak until you reach the village of Camicancha, just 20 minutes from the station from which the trains depart to Machu Picchu.

If you are interested, we can continue with a visit to the great Inca citadel.

Trek from Ancascocha to Huallabamba

For four days, immerse yourself in the mountains, glaciers, and lakes of the Andes. Hike through valleys, visit communities, and have the opportunity to get up close and share with people who live immersed in their millenary culture. Discover more about the Inca Empire by exploring small abandoned remains and other major archaeological centers located along the mythical Inca Trail.

Enjoy luxury camping in the remote Andes while learning more about our ancient culture and exploring beautiful natural scenery.

Cusco

nights

Hike to Ausangate for families

In the Andean culture, the “Apus”(Gods) are the spirits that protect life. Many are represented by mountains, such as the snow-capped Ausangate (6,372 meters/21,537 feet), one of the most impressive in the Peruvian Andes and the centerpiece of this inspiring trek.

This trail has been designed especially for families or people who prefer to cover short distances while leisurely exploring the impressive landscapes, natural viewpoints, turquoise lakes, and the beauty of the remote Andes.

Intermediate

Cusco 4 days / 3 nights

Trek to Ausangate Mountain

Cusco 5 days / 4 nights

Advanced

Explore the bases of Ausangate Mountain, a place of striking geographic beauty around one of the most significant and sacred mountains for the Andean cosmovision. This hike takes you daily across a mountain pass, to feel on top of the world accompanied by the magic of leaving one scenery to find a different one in front of your eyes.

Hike through villages stopped in time, along hot springs and lakes of impressive turquoise color. This trek represents, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding challenges in the Andes; find out why!

Trek to Choquequirao, the last fortress of the Inca Empire

Continuous descents and ascents along the slopes of one of the deepest canyons in the world will take you to the recently discovered Choquequirao Citadel, considered one of the last Inca refuges, whose structural and architectural quality is very similar to that of Machu Picchu.

Hike from extraordinary snow-capped mountains to tropical forests in a route considered one of the most demanding and rewarding of the Peruvian Andes.

Inca Trail, a legendary route to Machu Picchu

5 days / 4 nights

AdvancedMachu Picchu

Thousands of miles of Inca roads interconnect in Peru; however, the section that reaches the citadel of Machu Picchu is among the world’s most popular treks due to the natural beauty of its surroundings and because it was one of the main routes used in the time of the Incas.

This journey of 43 kilometers (27 miles), ideal for adventure and history lovers, is a perfectly preserved trail, combining different ecological zones, from high-altitude deserts to rainforests. The trail passes through important archeological centers where one can also observe incredible wildlife.

The journey ends when crossing the “Intipunku” (The Sun Gate) to reach the magnificent citadel of Machu Picchu, a masterpiece of Inca architecture and engineering, considered a world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

“The most beautiful Inca trail is via Salkantay. The campsites, food, and service are simply everything you could wish for and more.

Combine this with breathtaking scenery in a completely remote area, and a staff that makes it the best trip of your life. I can’t wait to be back for hiking, laughing, feasting and being out sleeping under Peruvian stars.”

- Lisa. Zürich, Switzerland.

Trek from Salkantay to Machu Picchu

The Salkantay Trek is considered one of the 25 best treks in the world by National Geographic Adventure Travel Magazine.

Imagine completing it with a visit to Machu Picchu, the world’s most famous Inca site.

For four days, hike from the top of the Andes Mountains to the jungle of Peru, passing through arid highlands and cloud forests. Access coffee fields among other plantations of tropical crops, and finally visit this wonder of the world.

Salkantay to Huallabamba, through millenary mountains

Dive deep into the heart of the Andes and discover its millenary magic. This trail will make you feel tiny facing the grandness of nature more than once. Once on top of its peaks, you will understand why the Incas worshipped these mountains and considered them their gods. The worship of mountains is not difficult to understand when you expose yourself to these impressive natural sceneries while walking accompanied by the sacred snowcapped Salkantay.

REMOTE EXPEDITIONS

EXPEDITIONS

Rafting expeditions

At Terra Explorer river trips are in our DNA. Piero Vellutino, our founder, is an expert kayaker and rafting guide, a certified whitewater rescue instructor, who works together with the Ministry of Tourism to regulate the practice of these activities in Peru.

Whether in a river flowing into the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans, our carefully designed expeditions will take you from the Andean highlands to the heart of the Amazon. Other adventures will introduce you to the deepest canyons of the world.

Together with the best rafting equipment and a group of experienced professional guides, you can venture with confidence to explore places you might not otherwise be able to access.

Paddling the White Canyon of the Apurimac River

Apurimac

4 days / 3 nights

Intermediate, no previous experience

For four days, experience the adventure of paddling the Apurimac River. Its waters descend through a canyon 3,000 meters (10,140 ft.) in depth, forming fun rapids. Encounter immense rock walls, a spectacular granite canyon, and beautiful beaches to camp under a million stars.

Connect with Mother Nature in her purest expression and enjoy the peace of being isolated in the wilderness surrounding one of the deepest canyons in the world.

Apurimac river for families

Descending the white waters of the Apurimac River Canyon is not an exclusive experience for grown-ups; the little ones can also enjoy this adventure paddling the calm and fun rapids of a special section for families.

For four days, connect with Mother Nature in her purest expression, camp on remote beaches, walk barefoot on the sand, and, above all, live the experience of doing a real canoeing expedition in one of the most remote places in Peru.

4 days / 3 nights

Colca, a canyon with history

9 days / 8 nights

AdvancedArequipa & Colca

The Colca has a very special place in the heart of Piero Vellutino, our founder.

In 1979 a Polish expedition arrived in Arequipa with a petition from Pope John Paul II asking for support, which they received from the Vellutino family. This is how this canyon was successfully paddled for the first time in the history of humankind.

Almost four decades later and for five days, together with Piero, a descendant of those original guides, and other expert guides, navigate the choppy white waters of one of the deepest canyons in the world and view the walls of impressive geological formations.

Cotahuasi Canyon, one of the deepest in the world

days / 10 nights

Venture to navigate the white waters of one of the deepest canyon in the world: Cotahuasi, located in the province of Arequipa in southern Peru.

This expedition is an incredible combination of culture and adventure. In 6 days, we will paddle 89 km. (55 miles) of amazing class III, IV, and V rapids.

We will camp on beaches, and hike to explore archeological sites, ancient Inca roads, and tunnels of pre-Hispanic origin preserved in perfect condition. The river is the only access to explore this area, and expeditions to this part of the world do not exceed one per year.

AdvancedArequipa & Cotahuasi

“We went with Terra Explorer Peru on an expedition to the Colca Canyon for our honeymoon, a river that is a must on the list of the best rafting trips in the world. From the moment we saw the equipment and met the guides, we felt we were in the best hands. It was a very fun and a once in a lifetime adventure.”

Shelby. Wyoming, USA.

In the heart of the Amazon

Descend four thousand meters as you paddle class III and IV rapids during a six-day descent on the waters of the Tambopata River and discover why Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries of the planet. This expedition takes you from the high Andean Plateau to the magical and mysterious heart of the Amazon, passing the pristine rainforests of the Baguaja Sonene National Park. You will experience wild nature in its purest state.

Salkantay to Ancascocha, 7 mountain passes

6 days / 5 nights

AdvancedCusco Region

Challenge your senses and explore the top of the Andes. During six days, you will hike through seven mountain passes, traveling through astonishingly remote places.

Cross different ecological levels, from arid highlands to lush valleys. Walk through ancient Inca trails, and wander through native forests and abandoned ruins with dramatic views of the snow-capped Sacred Salkantay peak, glaciers, and beautiful lakes.

WELLNESS

Biking & yoga in Lima with Hotel B

As you cycle along a beautiful boardwalk and feel the fresh sea breeze, you will visit Barranco and Miraflores, the most vibrant districts of Lima, the only capital of South America located on the Pacific coast.

Finish off with a yoga class on the rooftop of the most exclusive hotel in the capital, a wonderful opportunity to relax and connect with this space and the energies of this unique city.

Lima 3 hours

Biking & Yoga Easy

Surf in Lima, in search of the best waves

Lima 4 hours Surf Easy to intermediate

You will go searching for the best waves on Lima’s southern coast, accompanied by an expert local surfer.

Countless breakers and waves of varying intensity and difficulty make the coast of Lima, the only Southamerican capital built on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, a surfer’s paradise.

You will finish your day like a local surfer, having a ceviche for lunch on a local beach south of Lima.

“Surfing in Huanchaco and Chicama is immersing yourself in an ancestral land, with a millennial history closely linked to the sea and surfing. It is enjoying the geography of the desert on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, incredible winds and the longest waves in the world.”

Harold Koechlin - Surf coach.

Chicama dream surf trip

Lima 3 days / 2 nights

Surf the northern beaches of Trujillo Easy to intermediate

Join a renowned Peruvian surfer to ride the world’s longest wave and explore the best surfing points in northern Peru.

Slide down a ripple in the same totora reed boats the ancient Peruvians did more than four thousand years ago and discover the origins of surfing in the world.

Meet local surfers, fishermen, and ceviche experts. Experience an authentic connection with the people and culture of these lesser-known corners of Peru.

Ceremony to Mother Earth

Sacred Valley, Cusco

30 minutes

Ceremony of gratitude to mother earth

Led by a shaman (Andean priest), you will be introduced to the Andean cosmovision by taking part in a ceremony in which the earth is revered as a source of life and prosperity.

This ritual of ancestral origin links humans with their habitat, allowing you to connect your intentions and gratitude with the elements of nature surrounding you.

Take a little piece of the Andes with you in your heart.

A day in the life of Andean healers

Sacred Valley, Cusco 4 hours

Wildcrafting and Andean medicine workshop

Local friend

Together with the North American Caroline Putman and a group of native healers of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, get an authentic approach to the fascinating world of traditional Andean medicine.

Ask permission from mother earth and go wildcrafting in search of healing herbs discovering more about their properties and uses.

Assisted by the ancient wisdom of native healers, prepare your own medicine and take home a remedy made by you and for you.

Working the land with the Huama community

Sacred Valley, Cusco 4 hours

Cultural exchange & agriculture

Share with the people of Huama and learn about their customs and their traditional way of working the land.

Accompany the inhabitants of this community for a morning as they carry out their duties in the fields, which vary according to the Inca agricultural calendar. Whether harvesting, sowing, or working the land with ancestral tools, you will experience an authentic space of cultural exchange and learn more about the traditions of the Andes.

Natural dye textile workshop with Pichinku project

Sacre Valley, Cusco 2 hours

Textile workshop and cultural exchange with locals

Local friend

Meet Dana, a Hawaiian anthropologist, and Angela, Santusa, and Leonarda, three Cuzco sisters that inherited the legacy of textile art from their mother and are now extraordinary weavers.

They are the soul of Pichinku, a project that integrates the preservation of handicrafts with sustainable development practices and the empowerment of indigenous women.

They will teach you about natural dyes and ancient dyeing techniques. Immerse yourself in a world of textures, color, and laughter during a fascinating cultural encounter.

Misminay community & mountain bike

Share your morning with the inhabitants of the Misminay community. Work the land, learn about medicinal herbs or weave with a loom, just as their ancestors did.

Explore the circular terraces of Moray, an ancient and enigmatic center of agricultural experimentation. Then ride to the salt mines of Pichingoto, more than three thousand impressive salt wells that have been in use since Inca times.

Somewhere along the way, we will surprise you with a delicious luxury picnic in the open air.

Sacred Valley,

exchange & mountain bike

Amaru community and Pisac market

Sacred Valley, Cusco

5 hours

Cultural exchange and a visit to an artisan market

Easy

Visit Amaru, a community that maintains its millenary customs, despite the passage of time. They are expert farmers and skilled weavers; moreover, their connection with the land makes them outstanding connoisseurs of native medicinal plants.

Sharing a day with this community inevitably invites you to connect with the essential. In the afternoon, visit the Pisac handicraft market, famous for bringing together artisans from neighboring communities. Immerse yourself in the colorful world of Andean ceramics, jewelry, and textiles.

Mindful

Soul cooking with Daniela Mendez

Meet Daniela Méndez, for whom food is medicine and the main source of happiness.

Join her in the warmth of her home, share a morning in the garden, and feel the connection between the earth and food. While harvesting herbs and vegetables, experience moments of pure joy, smiles, and creativity while thinking about what to cook.

Learn delicious and nutritious recipes and enjoy explosions of flavor in the company of someone for whom conscious cooking is art, passion, and intuition.

friend

Valley,

Live the experience of channeling your emotions through dance, in the company of Andrea, a teacher for whom dance is a gift to life.

Join Andrea in her workshop and immerse yourself in the experience of evolving through art in movement.

A cacao ceremony invites you to open your heart and feel your emotions while the surrounding space invites you to listen to the impulses of your body, and inhabit your creative world and evolve, intuitively and creatively, through dance.

Dancing your emotions with Andrea Mindreau

Sacred Valley, Cusco

3 hours

Dancing workshop Local friend

Love ceremony with Marlis Ferreyros

In a world in which we are encouraged to return to the essential, we find in the Rainbow Ceremony of Marlis Ferreyros an opportunity to seal the love between two people in a genuine and very special way.

Taking into account the knowledge of Andean ancestral wisdom, with love, respect, and humility, this ceremony is created with your most intimate intentions, gratitude, and commitment. At the end of the ceremony you will offer all these to Mother Earth. Seal your alliance in a ceremony designed for you, surrounded by the energy of the Andes.

Sacred Valley, Cusco 2 hours Love ceremony for couples Local friend

Spiritual retreat with Melinda Cross

Sacred Valley, Cusco 2 days / 1 night Yoga, meditation, healing ceremonies, and healthy Local friend

Traveling and getting to know other destinations is, naturally, also a journey for the soul. Improve your wellbeing and awaken your consciousness with Melinda Cross.

Certified in natural healing therapies, sound and crystal healing, ashtanga yoga, and Ayurveda, she opens the doors of her center: Yoga Mandala Sacred Valley, and will accompany you, for two days, on a journey for the soul.

Participate in the rituals of ancient South American communities, meditate, eat healthy food, and fill your spirit with peace and good energy.

Enjoy two days in Huaypo, a lake located in the remote Andes and our refuge for two days.

A fusion of culture connects you with mountains and lakes by bikes, kayaks and paddleboards, to healthy food, massages, ancestral ceremonies, yoga, birdwatching, campfires, a night under the stars, and a camping experience like no other. All these ingredients make this experience a true adventure for the spirit and good food for the soul.

Community, nature, and wellness with glamping at Huaypo

Sacred Valley, Cusco 2 days / 1 night

Glamping, biking, kayaking, yoga, healthy cooking, Andean ceremony, and massages

Easy

“Extraordinary service and a complete experience. I valued their involvement at a community level.

My work is related to human rights, and I found Terra Explorer very linked to social development issues. It is a paradox that Cusco is a region with its inhabitants living in poverty. I enjoyed traveling with a company with a sustainable approach by engaging with the communities of Cusco.”

- Marilú. Lima, Peru.

Puno

Intermediate Local friend

Kayaking in Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world

Join us to discover the magic of Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and the largest in South America. For years we have been exploring this area and strengthening our relationship with its local inhabitants, your best hosts.

Visit Llachón and explore Taquile, an island stopped in time and a guardian of millenary customs, with Hector Huatta. See the Uros, the curious handmade floating islands, and paddle in kayaks the legendary waters of this lake, a ride that allows you to observe the immensity of such beauty in all its dimensions.

CULTURE

Lima’s millenary history with Alejandro Lira

Have the privilege of exploring Lima city, from its pre-Hispanic vestiges to viceregal times with Alejandro Lira, a renowned historian in love with his country and its history, and also an exceptional host.

“Lima is the oldest city in all of America, from Patagonia to Alaska. It was South America’s capital until 1700, and its oldest urban ruins are over five thousand years old. There is no such city outside Mesopotamia and Egypt. “Alejandro Lira.

Lima 8 hours Museum and Collections of Art, Architecture and Archeology

Local friend

Discover Lima’s secrets through a lens with Leslie Searles

Together with Leslie Serles, who interprets photography as the means to reveal hidden things, discover the secrets and charms of our culture, concealed in the details, imperceptible to the eyes of a mere spectator.

Let yourself be carried away by the version of reality that you want to capture in your photograph, while walking through an enigmatic square in the heart of Lima’s historic center and the fascinating world of its Chinatown. A burst of sensations will unveil Peru’s history before your eyes and will be forever recorded in your memory and photographs.

Lima 3 hours Urban photography Local friend

The identity of Lima through graffiti with Entes

Get to know Lima’s graffiti culture with renowned Peruvian artist Joan Jiménez Suero, better known as Entes, whose art is found in murals throughout Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

Walk with your host through the Callao port area, a suburb infused with art, and discover details about the history of our culture and identity as Latin American people.

Visit his private studio and share lunch with the artist in this epic place.

Lima 2 hours Visit Monumental Callao Local friend

Callao, a neighborhood known for art with Christian Declercq

Join the intrepid and fun travel photographer Christian Declercq and discover Callao, a port district filled with history and one of the most elegant areas of old Lima.

Thanks to and through art, discover how a place and its society can shift an adverse reality into inspiration and hope for the future.

“Here you breathe freedom, hope, and a promising future. You breathe the history of a rescued site, which makes it an extremely interesting space to be photographed ”. Christian Declercq

Lima 4 hours Urban photography Local friend

Join the intrepid and fun travel photographer Christian Declercq and capture, with your own lens, the vibrant district of Lima called Barranco. This is a highly recommended stop for those who want to immerse themselves in our capital’s cultural and artistic movement.

Seize the colors, vibrations, shapes, and styles from the bohemian neighborhood of this city, and discover the art of a contemporary Lima, a place filled with history and tradition.

Barranco in a postcard with travel photographer Christian Declercq

photography Local friend

“From the minute we landed, I was overwhelmed by Terra Explorer’s attention to detail and their determination to make my trip the best one I had ever taken.

All our guides were first-rate, helpful, patient, and fun. They were all excited to show us their Peru. I felt like we saw and did many things that a “run-of-the-mill-tour” traveler would not have seen or done.”

Liz. Georgia, USA.

Dancing with The Saqras

When you least expect it, colorful dancers will come out from the corners of the narrow streets of the historic center of Cusco, surprising you with their incredible energy and skills.

Dance is a cultural expression, and in this case, it will be the Saqras, little devils that represent playfulness and naughtiness, who will surround you with their magic.

Let yourself get carried away by their animal-shaped masks, large wigs, and deer antlers and dance with them for a few moments in a party full of bright and lively colors.

20 min

Join The Saqras in a local traditional dance Cusco

Ancestral music instruments with Gustavo León

Enjoy the unique experience of connecting with the past by listening to the sound of ancestral musical instruments with the acoustics inside an old monastery´s chapel.

Meet the Cuzco musician, Gustavo León, and access his private collection of pre-Incan and Incan musical instruments, handmade with clay, animal bones, and stunning seashells.

Learn more about the origins of these instruments and how they are played, and enjoy a casual private concert in an exclusive seventeenth-century venue.

Cusco 1 hour Ancestral music demonstration by Gustavo Leon Local friend

Pottery workshop with Julio Gutiérrez

Cusco 2.5 hours

Pottery making with renowned Cusco ceramist, Julio Gutiérrez

Local friend

Julio Gutiérrez, plastic artist and writer, has been selected among the four best traditional Peruvian ceramists. He has dedicated more than 30 years to teaching, researching, and preserving the colonial-style ceramics from Cusco.

It is a true honor to share a morning or afternoon with him at his home-workshop, throwing fresh clay, painting and glazing your piece, which you will take home as a memory of having known an exceptional artist.

Traveling the last stretch of an Inca Trail

5 hours

Visit archeological sites and walk an Inca road Cusco

Explore Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo and discover the history of the two most important ceremonial fortresses built by the Incas during their heyday.

Then, walk the last stretch of an ancient Inca road that will lead you directly to the main square after passing by the bohemian district of San Blas. The main square is the convergence of over thirty thousand kilometers of roads connecting the empire.

Alternatively, we can take you in a vehicle to the center of the city, after visiting the archeological remains.

Photography Safari with Diego del Rio

Join this renowned Peruvian photographer to explore Cusco city from a different perspective.

Discover details of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire through your own lens, capturing architecture, Inca stone walls, the market, and old colonial mansions.

Compare Cusco’s contemporary reality with its past, as Diego will show you the exact spots documented almost a century ago by Martin Chambi, one of the most important Latin American photographers of the early nineteenth century.

Cusco 4 hours Cultural Photography Local friend

Cusco through a camera lens

Together with the renowned Peruvian photographer, Diego del Río, explore Cusco and the secrets of the ancient Inca Empire.

While learning about composition and photographic lighting, visit an Inca fortress, ceremonial centers, and sites of offerings, until you encounter an ancient Inca trail that leads you directly to the main square, where over thirty thousand kilometers (19,800 mi.) of roads connecting the Empire merge.

Witness and capture the striking sunset, shining upon Cusco’s historic center and its Andean mountain faces, while walking around the impressive Inca stone walls and charming colonial houses.

Cusco 1 day Archeology, architecture, and nature photography Local friend

Follow the Inca Ceques on foot

Together with an expert historian, discover the “ceques”, a little-known and fascinating aspect of the Inca culture, as they are imaginary lines that start from the center of the city of Cusco and go towards the four coordinates of the ancient empire in alignment with 328 sacred sites.

In an easy and short walk you will visit four of these important archeological centers and learn more about the influence of astronomy in the religious, political, and social organization of the Inca Empire.

5 hours

Visit archeological sites Cusco

Popular religion in the Andes

Together with Jean-Jacques Decoster, renowned historian and anthropologist, immerse yourself in the popular religion of a millennial Cusco and discover the essence of a fascinating culture, accessing the depths of the imagery and thought of its inhabitants.

Visit the most representative temples of the city and a museum, and discover why they are the living manifestation of the confluence of two worlds: the European and the Andean. A journey that will take you through the cosmovision of Inca times, European influences, and today’s beliefs.

2 days

Visit iconic templesCusco

Celebrate Intiraymi: the sun festival

8 hours

Local festivityCusco

The festival originated in the fifteenth century with the Inca Pachacutec. It is celebrated every 24th of June on the winter solstice and continues to this day.

The experience starts at the Koricancha Temple, moves to the Plaza de Armas, and finally comes to the esplanade of the majestic ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Hundreds of local artists, musicians, and dancers in colorful costumes present a show illustrating the history of the empire and the worship rituals to the Sun.

Inti Raymi is a festival filled with tradition that honors the Inca cosmovision through the passing of the centuries.

Machu Picchu with Jean-Jacques Decoster

It is a privilege to invite you to explore Machu Picchu, the enigmatic Inca citadel built before the fifteenth century high in the Peruvian Andes, through the eyes of the renowned researcher, anthropologist, and ethnohistorian Jean-Jaques Decoster.

The night before boarding a luxury train that will take you to the seventh wonder of the world, share dinner with your distinguished host while listening to a masterful private lecture to learn more about Peru’s art, culture, and history.

2 days

Luxury train ride and Visit Machu Picchu with a historian Cusco

“A most outstanding itinerary was planned by Terra Explorer. I visited the highlights of Cusco and Machu Picchu.

My guides were very knowledgeable, skilled, and caring. Spectacular hotels and excellent food, including fabulous luxury picnics high in the mountains.

I would return again and again.”

- Vickie. Colorado, USA.

Chinchero´s weaving tradition in photos, with Miguel Palomino

Sacred Valley, Cusco 3 hours

Meet Miguel Palomino, a distinguished Cusco photographer. With him, visit Braulia’s house and step into the world of women weavers in the Chinchero community.

Connect with the millenary legacy of these women through their textile art, their eyes, farmworking hands, long braids, laughs, stories, and beliefs, and then remember this intimate space through photography.

With your camera, capture a day in the life of these women, and make a forever imprint on your soul of their beautiful ways of seeing and living life.

Photography Local friend

Pottery Workshop at Seminario

Visit the gallery and workshop of Pablo Seminario, for whom pre-Columbian ceramics have always been the primary source of his inspiration and constant research.

His art has marked a trend and a contribution to contemporary art. His pieces are exhibited in museums such as the Smithsonian and the Field Museum of Chicago, among others.

During a workshop, led by an instructor personally trained by Pablo Seminario, learn about tools and materials. Get in direct contact with clay and put pre-Columbian techniques into practice, thus connecting your world with Peru’s millenary past.

Pottery workshopSacred Valley, Cusco

2 hours

Native jewelry with Betania de Ugarte

Copper, gold, and silver were metals widely used by the Incas in the Central Andes region. Today, Betania de Ugarte, born in the heart of these mountains in the artisan neighborhood of San Blas, opens the doors of her magical workshop in the community of Lamay.

This sacred space is her refuge, where she connects with her favorite metal: silver. And, with the energy transmitted by her stones and crystals and with the freedom to create without limits, she is inspired by the nature surrounding her.

Together with her, dive into the world of ancient metals, tools, and the techniques of embossing, stamping, and polishing.

Sacred Valley, Cusco 4 hours Jewelry workshop Local friend

Maras in watercolors

If you have art in your veins and enjoy the colors and textures of painting with watercolors, you are ready to capture your own version of the Peruvian Andes by painting Maras, considered one of the most beautiful areas in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

With brushes and lots of colors, enjoy an exquisite picnic in the open air. In the company of a good wine, extensive fields of colorful crops, mountains and impressive snow-capped peaks, create your own view of the Andes.

Undoubtedly, this experience stimulates all the senses.

Sacred

Watercolor painting

Ollantaytambo, a village stoppped in time

2 hours

Cultural visit to an andean village

Walk around the winding cobblestone streets of Ollantaytambo, amidst old stone houses and canals in which water has been flowing for centuries. Immerse yourself in a town that seems to be frozen in time, reflecting the extraordinary urban planning of the Incan times.

Explore its impressive fortress, built right next to the village on the slopes of a beautiful mountain. This site served as a religious, agricultural, and military center during the Inca period.

Sacred Valley, Cusco

Arequipa & Colca Canyon

Arequipa & Colca Canyon

3 days

Cultural visit of Arequipa city and Colca villages.

Explore Peru’s second largest city, known as the “white city,” due to the volcanic rock used to build many of its historic buildings. Stroll through its streets, enjoy its beautiful colonial architecture, and delight yourself with its outstanding and characteristic gastronomy.

Explore the Colca, one of the deepest canyons in the world and a valley of incomparable natural wonders and remarkable history. In the skies, the flight of the majestic Andean condor reigns, the slopes of its mountains are covered with pre-Inca agricultural terraces, and its lands are populated by beautiful villages, a mixture of European architectural trends and ingenious decorative contributions of the native population.

GASTRONOMY

GASTRONOMY

Dinner at the historic mansion of Casa de Aliaga

2.5 hoursLima

Guided visit of the mansion and private dinner

In 1535 Francisco Pizarro, leader of the Spanish conquest in Peru, granted his ally, Captain Jerónimo de Aliaga, an elegant colonial house.

Five centuries later, the Aliaga family continues to inhabit this historic mansion, a tangible trace of our country’s history, including its architecture and the vast collection of art and secrets kept inside its walls.

Jerónimo de Aliaga, a direct descendant and renowned national chef, will open the doors of his home to delight your palate with an exquisite meal, served in the same dining room in which the captain dined almost 500 years ago.

The other side of Lima´s Gastronomy, with Cristina Hara

Together with Cristina Hara, a documentary and gastronomic photographer, embark on an experience that will take you to the other side of Lima’s gastronomic life.

You will visit local markets and be amazed by the variety of products. Through aromas and exotic fruits, you will witness Peru´s incredible biodiversity. Get to know the fishing terminal and document a day in the life of an artisanal fisherman.

Continue to Barranco, the bohemian district of the capital, and have a delicious ceviche for lunch at a local restaurant, while selecting the best images of the day.

Lima 3 hours Gastronomy photography of local fishing markets Local friend

Pisco tasting with Ignacio Barrios

Lima 3 hours

Local friend

Together with Ignacio, discover more about our roots through the flavors of the most famous drink in Peru: pisco, a grape distillate produced in these lands since the end of the sixteenth century.

We will visit three epic bars for this experience, each with a different approach to tasting pisco, from drinking it pure to turning it into a Pisco Sour and several other cocktails.

Among traditional, modern, and trendy bars, enjoy the company of your friendly host while delighting your senses with the best Peruvian pisco.

Pisco tasting in some of Lima’s most emblematic bars

Market day & peruvian cuisine

Together with a renowned Peruvian chef, learn more about Peru’s history through culinary arts in Lima, one of the world’s most outstanding gastronomic destinations.

Witness exotic aromas and products from all regions of the country, visiting one of the city’s most emblematic markets.

Learn to cook the famous Ceviche and Lomo Saltado, dishes that combine a pre-Columbian legacy, Spanish heritage, strong African, Chinese, and Japanese influences, and are the essence of contemporary Peruvian cuisine.

Lima 3 hours

Market visit and Peruvian culinary class Local friend

Peru in a cup of coffee

While exploring Cusco’s historic center or visiting its colorful markets, we will surprise you with the aroma of a good Peruvian coffee, coming from just around the corner.

Take a short break to replenish your energy and learn more about this delicious fruit and its history in Peru.

Sweetining the

30 min

Take a short but delicious break to awaken trying some of the best chocolate in the

Througt the flavors and aroma of this fruit, to the world of chocolate to learn how Peru.

Coffee tasting30 min

Sacred Valley & Cusco

Sacred Valley & Cusco

the soul

Chocolate tastin

awaken your sense of taste by the land of cacao.

fruit, you will take a journey how we eat and drink it here in

Peru in a bottle

In one of the city´s corners, we will surprise you with a tasting of pisco, a grape distillate produced in Peru since the sixteenth century.

Discover how a grape, brought by the Spanish with the intention of producing wine, ended up becoming the most famous distillate in the country.

Pisco tasting30 minSacred Valley & Cusco

Three bars, three cocktails

Cocktail workshop with Cusco’s finest bartenders

As soon as the sun goes down, the bars that enhance one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, automatically turn their lights on to welcome locals and travelers.

Local bartenders will be waiting for you in some of the city’s best bars. They will show you how to make their favorite cocktails, many of them made with Peru’s most emblematic drink: pisco, a grape distillate produced since the sixteenth century.

Sunset and cocktails from San Cristobal Tower

To contemplate Cusco from the bell tower of the city´s first-built church is one way to absorb and to feel the magic of this city.

When the sun sets and its rays start painting the skies with orange and gold, you will enjoy exquisite appetizers and typical cocktails of our region, while experiencing the mysticism of being inside a stone tower, built in the sixteenth century.

Watch the sunset with cocktails from a bell tower

hourCusco

Chocolate workshop in the land of cacao

Make your own chocolate bar 2 hoursCusco

Through a workshop, discover the world of chocolate and learn how we eat and drink it in Peru. Native to the Americas, cacao grows in the high jungle of Peru, where extraordinary varieties are produced, making us one of the best chocolate producers in the world.

Learn about the origin and history of cacao. Experience the process of making chocolate from the beans to a bar. In addition, try a drink prepared from this delicious fruit, just as our ancestors did.

San Francisco

Church, back to the sixteenth century

Cusco

2 hours

Visit the art collection of the convent and drink a champagne in the belltower

Access unique spaces and relics of art such as the largest canvas in South America and witness how we bring an ancient choir back to life, among other surprises kept inside the San Francisco convent. Enjoy an exhibition that will take you back to Cusco 400 years ago.

Celebrate the privilege of getting to know this enchanting place with a glass of champagne on the very top of its bell tower, overlooking the imperial city.

From the market to table

Market visit and cooking class 2.5 hoursCusco

Witness Cusco’s living culture through the aroma, products, and characters that inhabit the city’s oldest market.

With a local chef, you will buy all the necessary ingredients to cook and savor delicious and traditional dishes in the kitchen of one of Cusco’s finest restaurants.

A golden dinner experience

Private gala dinner in the golden salon of the Museum of Precolombian Art

When night falls, the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art will open the doors of its “Golden Salon” exclusively for you.

We will take you on a sensorial journey to the glorious past of a millenary culture through a 7-course dinner, prepared with outstanding ingredients from different regions of the ancient Inca Empire. In addition, you will be surrounded by an astonishing collection of ceremonial artifacts and gold jewelry.

Art & wood flavors

We love combining our land’s history, art, and flavors, which makes this experience a true work of art.

Wood will not only be present in the exhibiting art collection, but also in the menu. Indulge in an exquisite 5-course meal, prepared with ingredients from the coast, mountains, and Amazon of Peru, and inspired by the ancestral technique of wood smoke.

“It is impressive the mix of culture, history, architecture, and incredible gastronomy that Lima and Cusco cities offer. Meeting outstanding chefs, visiting markets, tasting the local cuisine and some of the best restaurants in the world was amazing.

Experiencing this magic under the excellent service and personalized approach of Terra Explorer was an unforgettable experience.”

- Pablo. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pachamanca & live Peruvian Creole music

2 hoursSacred Valley & Cusco

We invite you to a private villa in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to taste a “Pachamanca,” a traditional meal very representative of the Peruvian Andes. It consists of cooking different ingredients underground with hot stones, earth, and herbs, a millenary technique that dates back to pre-Incan cultures in the fifth century.

Accompany your lunch with a private Peruvian Creole music concert. Its origins date back to the first decades of the 20th century when Lima interpreters began to fuse musical elements such as the Viennese waltz, the Spanish jota, Peruvian pre-Hispanic melodies, and African-American rhythms.

Outdoor lunch & live music

Dinner at Ani Vellutino’s private villa

Ani Vellutino is the mother of Piero, our founder. She is the matriarch of a family that loves nature, outdoor life, and above all, good food.

She passes her days strolling through local markets, carefully selecting the finest ingredients, and later turning them into a delicious feast for her guests.

Ani, also a lover of good conversations, opens the doors of her lovely villa, located on the banks of the Vilcanota River facing the Pitusiray Mountain, to share with us her fabulous food, her personality, and the warmth of her home.

Sacred Valley, Cusco 2 hours Dinner in a private villa Local friend

South American wine tasting

Wine tasting1.5 hoursSacred Valley, Cusco

Led by a renowned sommelier, we will submit our sensory judgment to the best South American wines by tasting different varieties, appreciating their qualities, aromas, and flavors, while we learn more about their regions of origin.

If you wish, you can accompany the tasting with a multi-course lunch, which includes delicious dishes designed to be paired with specific wines.

Sacred Valley, Cusco

Virgilio Martínez and his gastronomic concept

6 hours

Visit local farmers and Moray archeological site with a lunch at MIL

Local friend

Discover the “behind the scenes” of MIL restaurant and the ingenuity of Virgilio Martínez, selected the best chef in the world more than once. Visit an ancient laboratory from the time of the Incas, and connect with the lives of local farmers, their local produce, and different healing plants.

Witness how the days’ experience is reflected in an 8-course menu that will stimulate all your senses.

The heart of Andean Cuisine

6 hours

Discover the culinary traditions and the primary ingredients used in the Peruvian highlands. Visit an organic farm and learn about local vegetables and herbs. See the guinea pigs, rodents native to this area, and the primary guest in local feasts.

Familiarize yourself with the production and roasting processes of a good coffee. Visit the distillery and prepare your own “Andean Elixir” using the best cane distillate in Peru. With the help of a local chef, prepare and taste traditional dishes without fusions, just as they have been served in the high Andean communities for a very long time.

Visit an organic farm and learn about native culinary traditions

Sacred Valley, Cusco

From the garden to the table

Sacred Valley, Cusco

Visit an organic farm and have lunch 4 hours

Get to know Organica Lamay, a farm born from the dream of providing fresh, quality vegetables, grown with respect and conscience, through the practice of organic agriculture and permaculture.

Walk around this magnificent garden. Observe all the processes from seed production, seedling formation, soil preparation, to harvesting, composting, and connecting with the natural rhythm of the earth.

Harvest the vegetables for lunch and accompany them with delicious potatoes cooked in a Watia, an ancestral way of cooking tubers with heated stones.

Manuel Choqque and the world of potatoes

Together with the distinguished agronomist, Manuel Choque, a native of the Huatata community, discover the secrets of Andean tubers, in the country with the world’s largest variety of potatoes.

Taste colorful potatoes roasted in a “Watia”, a traditional way of cooking in the Andes with the earth’s heat. Taste wines made of oca or black mashu, in exquisite combinations created by your host.

Choque’s vision has led him to win awards and work closely with the renowned Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez, considered one of the best in the world.

Sacred Valley, Cusco 3 hours

Visit the tuber and potato laboratory of a renowned agronomist Local friend

A day in Hacienda Huayoccari

Sacred Valley, Cusco

3 hours Visit an old hacienda & Marinera show with Paso horses

Local friend

Accompanied by a member of the Lambarri Orihuela family, immerse yourself in a century of history and a private collection of Peruvian art, visiting the old Huayoccari hacienda.

With a spectacular view of the Sacred Valley and surrounded by seventeenth and eighteenthcentury furniture, colonial paintings, popular art, and baroque music, enjoy a delicious lunch typical of the region.

In the afternoon, in the hacienda’s gardens, enjoy a classical dance of Marinera with Paso horses, one of the most impressive shows of the Peruvian tradition.

Amongst barley and hops

Sacred Valley, Cusco

6 hours

Visit the Sacred Valley Brewery, a local “chicheria” and the Andean Destillery

Local friend

Learn everything about the history of beer and its Andean version through the experience and stories from a local and distinguished brewmaster.

Together with him, visit a modern brewery, a millenary brewery, and the distillery that produces the only barley and Jora-based whiskey in the world, all three located in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

Enjoy a delicious traditional Pachamanca lunch, a typical Peruvian dish based on different meats and vegetables literally cooked below the earth.

Native gastronomy at Huayllafara

Sacred Valley, Cusco

6 hours

Cultural exchange and native gastronomy

Visit the agricultural interpretation center of the Huayllafara Community, where through the use of millenary calendars, they determine planting and harvesting times.

Cook with them as they have since ancient times, outdoors and by the heat of the fire. Prepare a delicious “uchucuta”, a spicy cream made from rocoto chilis and herbs, and taste a delightful “lawa” (soup in Quechua), prepared with stone-ground corns. A healthy lunch without condiments, straight from the earth to the plate.

MOTORCYCLE

MOTORCYCLE

TRIPS

Carlo Vellutino

It is an honor to have Carlo Vellutino, a Dakar legend, brother of our founder, and enthusiast for the routes in Peru, as the exclusive designer of motorcycle road trips for Terra Explorer.

Competing in the Dakar, the most extreme rally in the world, makes a national rider an historical icon; but, becoming a legend requires much more. Carlo has achieved this by having competed in over ten Dakar rallies.

KTM Adventure

Explore Peru feeling the freedom and adrenaline characterized by its ligthness and is perfect

Adventure motorcycles

adrenaline that comes from riding a KTM 1090 Adventure. This Austrian-made motorcycle is perfect fot paved roads or trails ideal for traveling the routes of Peru.

Coast and highlands on two wheels

Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca, Cusco & Sacred Valley

14 days / 13 nights

Advanced

Enjoy the most emblematic routes of the coast and highlands of Peru.

Visit the Paracas National Reserve and fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines. Then say goodbye to the Pacific Ocean and enter the mountains to explore, among routes full of volcanoes, the majestic Colca Canyon near Arequipa, followed by the Sacred Valley of the Incas near Cusco. Undoubtedly, you will be experiencing the jewels of our country.

The heart of the Andes by motorcycle

Lima, Ayacucho, Abancay & Cusco

12 days / 11 nights

Advanced

This trip immerses you in the deep and unexplored depths of our mountain ranges. Through narrow and winding roads high up in the mountains and along the shores of turquoise lakes, pass through villages frozen in time, the Sondondo Valley in Ayacucho, and the remote rock forest of Pancula, among other well-kept secrets of this fascinating route in the heart of the Andes.

It was a pleasure to enjoy the road curves, the speed, and the freedom on what

I consider the best routes in the world, while the Terra Explorer team took care of everything else 100%.”

- Carlo Vellutino. Lima, Peru.

“Extraordinary!

OTHER DESTINATIONS

DESTINATIONS

Peru and Argentina

Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, and El Calafate

20 days / 19 nights

Easy - Intermediate

In a unique way and through a series of exclusive experiences, discover the magic of Peru and the charm of Argentina.

Get to know their capitals, which are vibrant, historic, and full of art and life. Delight yourself with their outstanding gastronomy and flagship beverages, such as pisco and the best wines in the world.

Explore their imposing geographies and discover the culture and people that inhabit the Andes Mountains, whose heart is in Peru and whose beauty turns into wild nature in southern Argentina.

In Peru, you will visit Cusco, the ancient center of the Inca Empire, the main attractions in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and Machu Picchu, the seventh wonder of the world. In Argentina, you will reach Patagonian lands, sail impressive lakes, and visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, almost at the end of our American continent.

Peru and Ecuador

In Peruvian lands, discover the secrets of Lima, a pre-Hispanic, viceregal and republican city. Explore Cusco and the Sacred Valley in a unique way. Interact with communities frozen in time, and have a lunch of ancient Inca dishes in a private villa at the foot of a sacred river. Finally, walk the final and best preserved stretch of the Inca Trail which will take you to the seventh wonder of the world: Machu Picchu.

In Ecuadorian lands, explore the Galápagos Islands, one of the areas with the highest concentration of wildlife on the planet. It is noteworthy that the famous work of naturalist Charles Darwin, The Origin of Species, owes much to these isolated volcanic islands in the middle of the Pacific. Go snorkeling, walk through lush forests, enjoy the shores of paradisiacal beaches, and explore volcanic craters. Observe, under crystal clear waters, turtles and sharks, among hundreds of other fascinating species that inhabit this magical place on the planet.

Our partners

Terra Explorer operates all the experiences shown in this catalog. It all starts with our passionate travel designers, followed by the team that makes every detail a reality, and thanks to select connections that allow us to create unique and memorable trips.

In total harmony, we work in alliance with companies that, for their constant innovation, professionalism, and seriousness, complement us in offering a comprehensive experience to our travelers.

By booking them through us, enjoy the exclusive benefits and perks our partners usually grant to us.

Skylodge

Sacred Valley, Cusco

2 days / 1 night

Via ferrata, Zipline, and sleeping in hanging capsules

Intermediate

Challenge the heights and climb a via ferrata to reach, in total safety, a capsule connected to a cliff at 400 meters (1,352 ft.) in height. Spend the night, literally under the Milky Way, at the Sky Lodge, a long-time partner of Terra Explorer Peru.

Have lunch and breakfast with a breathtaking view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and descend a seven cable Zipline 150 to 500 meters (507- 1,690 ft.) in length. You will remember this 24 hours full of action forever.

Titilaka

Puno 4 days / 3 nights Nature, communities, culture

Easy

Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, with scenery of magnificent natural beauty and a cradle of ancient civilizations.

On its shores lies Titilaka. For us, in addition to a beautiful and exclusive luxury hotel, it is a refuge in which you can explore ruins, visit communities, and walk ancient trails surrounded by breathtaking scenery while enjoying a unique space, outstanding cuisine, and a fabulous spa.

Tambopata Research Center

Easy

Tambopata Research Center (TRC) emerged many years ago as an investigation hub for scientists and biologists. Then, fortunately for us, it opened its doors to the public and is now a favorite place since it is the only lodge inside the Tambopata National Reserve, making it one of the most remote lodges in South America.

Experience an unmatched opportunity to learn from experts about the wildlife in the heart of the Amazon rainforest while connecting to the energy of life in is purest and most natural state.

Madre de Dios 4 days / 3 nights Nature and wildlife

Delfin Cruise through the Amazon

Iquitos, Loreto

4 days / 3 nights Cruise journey, nature, wildlife

Easy

Aboard the Delfin, sail into the Amazon, the longest and largest river in the world.

For five days, let yourself be absorbed by the magic of the jungle in its purest, most natural, and wildest state and discover why Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet.

The Amazon takes on different forms with each sunrise, sunset, and nightfall. Enjoy every minute of being in the lungs of the world while enjoying exclusive luxury service aboard this spectacular cruise.

The first luxury sleeper train in South America

Arequipa, Puno & Cusco

3 days / 2 nights

Luxury train through the Peruvian Andes

Easy

The Belmond Andean Explorer luxury train crosses one of the highest rail routes in the world: the Peruvian Andes. Travel while enjoying breathtaking landscapes, sophisticated Peruvian cuisine, and all the comforts of this exclusive journey. Watch, from the train deck, how the landscape changes as you cross the regions of Arequipa, Puno, and Cusco the backbone of our mountain range.

Getting there

For Terra Explorer, every part of the journey is important.

We do not focus on getting to a specific place; we value each experience along the way.

Sometimes we find it appropriate to take a train, fly in a helicopter, board a private jet, or sail the Amazon on a luxury cruise. Other times we prefer to embark on a kayak trip, paddle a rafting boat, or simply walk.

We adapt to the nature of each journey, taking in the charm of the way.

Stays in Terra Explorer style

Glamping

Thanks to Terra Explorer’s Glamping, travelers can camp in remote locations with the sophistication and comfort of luxury accommodations.

Spacious Mountain Hardwear thermal domes are provided with all the necessities to provide you with the highest quality of service and comfort during your stay.

We welcome you with herbal teas and local sweets to warm and sweeten the afternoon as you watch the sunset. Enjoy a relaxing massage in the silence and peace of the Andes Mountains.

At nightfall, enjoy a fire while the sky is filled with stars. In this space, devoid of light pollution, observe the Milky Way and, with some luck, shooting stars.

Back to basics, delight your palate with a candlelight dinner and breakfast under the first rays of the morning sun.

To hike in the Peruvian Andes is to walk along little-explored trails that allow you to be in places of striking natural beauty, to access communities stopped in time, or to explore impressive archaeological remains.

Luxury camping

Once the day’s trek is over, nothing is more comforting than enjoying all the amenities of an authentic luxury camp.

Rest in spacious thermal tents equipped with the latest in outdoor technology for a warm and comforting stay. Enjoy a massage at the foot of a snow-capped mountain and delight your palate with freshly baked bread in the morning. We will surprise you with other gourmet delights along the route.

Stays in Peru

Lodging is a key factor for every trip. Therefore, we work with exquisite luxury hotels, some of them set in ancient monasteries or colonial mansions; others are boutique or designer hotels.

We have access to properties that you will not find online, thanks to our exclusive selection of private villas. Without leaving behind the amenities of a hotel, we often personalize the service by adding to your stay a renowned chef, a yoga teacher, or a band to celebrate a special occasion.

For us, luxury also means access to epic experiences, which lead us to work with people like Hector Huatta, a villager from the island of Taquile in Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake of the world. He and his family will warmly welcome us to their peaceful island home, a place with some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Outdoor catering

Enjoying nature is in our DNA, so delicious outdoor lunches always accompany our adventures.

Our picnics are assembled in exclusive locations, avoiding crowds and including details that allow us to offer an authentic luxury experience.

Basket Lunch

When we hear the word “ picnic, “ the first thing that comes to our mind is enjoying a basket of food, sitting on a blanket in an outdoor space. Our “Basket Lunch” picnic honors that concept but is adapted to our unique Terra Explorer style.

A beautiful awning, Andean blankets, Ayacucho cushions, abundant flowers, a central table with delicious antipasti, and a glass of select wine accompany a gourmet lunch made with local ingredients and lots of love.

Luxury picnics

In addition to the luxury of being isolated in remote locations, these picnics take the outdoor dining experience to another level.

Enjoy a beautifully decorated table, with an exquisite 5-course menu prepared on site by our chef. Accompany this experience with a wine tasting, for which an expert sommelier will lead us through the best selection of South American wines.