La Casitas, A Belmond Hotel

Ride out from La Casitas into the Colca Valley on horseback, guided by local experts who know the land well. The route takes you beyond familiar paths, through forested sections and open ground shaped by altitude and weather. At an even pace, you’ll cover terrain that feels remote yet accessible, with changing views across the valley and surrounding slopes. Pause along the way to rest the horses, take water and look out across the landscape before continuing the loop back.

The experience suits both confident riders and first-timers, with calm horses and close guidance throughout. You’ll return with a decent distance covered and the place understood.

Settle into the Colca Valley for an open-air lunch set among native trees and open land. A simple table is prepared outdoors, giving you time to ease down and focus on the setting and the food. The meal draws from regional Peruvian cooking, using local produce, grains and meats linked to the Andes. Dishes are served course by course, with explanations of their origins and ingredients.

Between bites, you’ll look out across the valley and surrounding slopes, taking in the scale of the landscape without distraction. The experience balances time outdoors with a sense of place, flavour and tradition before you return.

Rise before dawn and set out while the mountains are still in shadow. As daylight builds, Machu Picchu emerges from the surrounding peaks, revealing its terraces, stone structures and steep drop-offs. Being there early gives you space to take it in without the crowds that follow later in the day. A guided walk helps you understand how the site was shaped by the terrain and why its location mattered to the Incas.

You’ll pause at key viewpoints to photograph the citadel as light moves across it. After the visit, you’ll return with an idea of scale, place and history that stays with you long after breakfast.