2018 Primetime Emmy
& James Beard Award Winner

Roam

  • Empires Old and New

    Peru of the Many Dreams

    November 1-8, 2025

    ?

    Peru is a place where alternate histories live on. In the right light, looking over the same valleys as Inca Pachacutec did, you can squint and dream that the Spanish never arrived. And in Lima you can see the inevitably mestizo future, where Quechua and Japanese and Andalusians and countless other seekers arrived to tap into something deeper. To paraphrase Vargas Llosa, it’s impossible to know what’s really happening here, so stories and illusions become a refuge. We’ll follow those deep narratives and the people who tell them through this remarkable week of Peruvian food, drink, and dreams.

    Inquire Now
    Alejo Sabugo

    R&K Host

    Explorer, Fixer, Producer
    Alejo Sabugo

    Gonzalo Gil Lavedra

    Local Guide

    Scout, Gourmand, Resident of the Sacred Valley
    Gonzalo Gil Lavedra

Overview

Peru of the Many Dreams

The secret to this journey can be summed up in one word: people. We’ll be hosted by the finest people, from Quechua pachamanca masters to Peruvian-Japanese alchemists of culture, alongside artists and expats and cooks of all stripes. We’ve selected a righteous slice of this legendary country, from Lima and its dramatic coastline to the Sacred Valley and on to Cusco, avoiding the touristed, embracing our deep connections throughout the land. Our trip begins in Lima and ends in Cusco (in case some want to stay on to explore Machu Picchu), so plan accordingly.

  • Peru
  • November 1-8, 2025
  • from $14,250
Map
  • Peru
  • November 1-8, 2025
  • from $14,250
Peru of the Many Dreams Inquire Now

DISCOVER PERU:
DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY

Day
1

Welcome to Lima

  • Private transfer from Lima Airport to our Limeño homebase: Villa Barranco, a boutique luxury property in Lima’s most dynamic neighborhood, Barranco
  • Welcome cocktails with Peruvian accents at Villa Barranco with Alejo and Gonzalo. We’ll also be joined by Bibiana Melzi, a Peruvian producer, director, and former Bourdain fixer who recently worked with R&K co-founder Matt Goulding on the “Salt” episode of Omnivore
  • First-night dinner centered on botanical produce from the Peruvian Amazon at LadyBee in Miraflores, one of our favorite young creative restaurants in Lima. We’ll be joined by chef-owner Gabriela León, whom Forbes recently named one of Peru’s “50 most powerful women”
Day
2

Life in the Capital

  • Private tasting of coffee and cacao with our friends at the award-winning El Cacaotal, an extraordinary science-based “library” sourced from small producers across the country, and its sister café Ciclos
  • Lunch with the Matsufuji family, icons of Nikkei food in Peru who helped to develop and spread the cuisine, working hand-in-hand with Chef Nobu, among many others. Through a special multi-course lunch, we will learn about Nikkei’s origins, its global influence, and the family that put it on the map
  • Siesta as the waves crash on the shore below Barranco
  • Sip and savor with José ‘Pepe’ Moquillaza, the mastermind behind Peru’s most innovative wines and pisco, at his scenic Ihuanco vineyard
  • Early evening walkabout in the Plaza de Armas
  • Journey back in time with an extraordinary dinner by Pepe Moquillaza at the 500-year-old Casa Aliaga, the oldest continuously inhabited family home in all of the Americas. Created especially for this night with the freshest produce from his farm, Pepe’s menu looks back at 300 years of Lima cuisine—paired, of course, with unmatched Peruvian wine and pisco
Day
3

The Life of the Sea

  • Breakfast at our hotel
  • Lunch with Fernando Vera Horna, eponymous proprietor of Don Fernando and master of seafood-driven northern Peruvian cuisine
  • Lonche, the Peruvian version of High Tea, at the private Barranco home of the anthropologist and pisco producer Maria Elena Del Solar Dibós, featuring her artisanal pisco and butifarras
  • Dinner of Cocina Criolla, or Creole cuisine, prepared by local art scene fixture Vanadis Phumpiu at classic haunt Cafe Tostado, which is ours for the night together with friends from in and around Barranco
Day
4

Into the Sacred Valley

  • Flight! Fly into Cusco, then head straight to the Sacred Valley, with snacks at just the right spots on the way
  • Join legendary “potato whisperer” Manuel Choqque for a lunch that celebrates his vibrant, naturally cultivated tubers—blue, golden, and beetroot-hued—crafted with ingenuity and tradition in their original birthplace
  • Check into the historical boutique property El Albergue Ollantaytambo, which we have bought out for our stay in the Sacred Valley
  • Explore the small town of Ollantaytambo on foot.
  • Dinner at El Albergue Ollantaytambo, featuring fresh organic ingredients from the on-site gardens
Day
5

The Rituals of this Place

  • A full morning and afternoon with our hosts, the Weeks family, and their partner as we explore their visions of sustainable life and cuisine in the Sacred Valley, from a traditional slow-cook “earth oven” pachamanca to their incredible botanical distillery, where we will have a hands-on workshop making our own herbal liquor.
  • Siesta, because of course
  • Visit a traditional adobe-house chicheria, or local tavern, to meet with Doña Eusebia, eat her simple, hearty regional food, and drink homemade chicha, a fermented alcoholic beverage originating in the Andes and Amazonia regions
Day
6

Mil Gracias

  • Early morning check out, head across the Urubamba River and downvalley
  • Special access to the Maras Salt Mines, a surreal landscape of more than 4000 ancient salt extraction pools that date back to pre-Incan times
  • Lunch at a traditional huarique, or Peruvian family-run tavern, in Maras village
  • Arrive in Cusco, check in at the beautiful boutique hotel on the site where the legendary Manco Capac once lived
  • Meet Peter Frost, the British archaeologist and National Geographic explorer who unearthed the pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina, and hear tales of his adventures and discoveries across Peru
  • Light Peruvian tapas at Palacio Manco Capac
Day
7

Exploring Cusco

  • Long, languorous breakfast. 
  • Market visit at San Pedro market, tasting local specialties like chicharron and adobo.
  • Lunch of cuy, the huacatay-infused roast guinea pig famous of this land (yes, there will be alternatives for those who dare not).
  • Siesta, followed by the final great dinner of our trip. Eat, drink, blink back tears of joy, regret, homesickness, newfound friendships, new understandings.
Day
8

Hasta la Próxima

  • Our trip has ended, dear travelers
  • One last beautiful breakfast at Palacio Manco Capac
  • Private transfer either to Poroy (for those wishing to take the train to Machu Picchu and extend their stay) or to Cusco Airport (for those returning home or to other destinations unknown)

What’s Included

  • All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, as well as snacks and beverages between meals
  • Expertise and services of our experienced trip leaders: at least one guide and one host per trip
  • Additional guides and experts from the region
  • All transportation during the trip except for individual travel by taxi and ride app during unscheduled time
  • Transfers to and from the airport or wherever you are on the day the trip starts and ends
  • Daily Roads & Kingdoms gifts related to the themes, activities and narratives of each trip
  • All gratuities for accommodations, meals, guiding or transport

What’s Not Included

  • International airfare to and from the journey (note: some trips begin and end at different airports)
  • Personal bar tabs (when not with the group)
  • Personal laundry or spa services
  • Personal travel insurance

Meet Our Hosts

Gonzalo Gil Lavedra

Local Guide

Gonzalo Gil Lavedra

Scout, Gourmand, Resident of the Sacred Valley

We first met Gonzalo Gil Lavedra in the smoky courtyard behind a family’s butcher shop in the meat-obsessed pueblo of Temozón, Yucatán. Referred to us by Noma chef René Redzepi, Gonzalo had sweet-talked the family into taking us all behind the scenes of some of the best smoked meat in Mexico. His unassuming charm, curiosity, and ability to talk his way into and out of just about anything have made him a perfect addition to the League of Travelers and an ideal guide for this journey through his beloved Peru, the land he currently calls home.

Alejo Sabugo

R&K Host

Alejo Sabugo

Explorer, Fixer, Producer

We met Asturias native Alejo Sabugo because he worked on the “Parts Unknown” Asturias episode. A producer and fixer for Bourdain, he quickly became an integral part of the Roads & Kingdoms family and is now a frequent League of Travelers host, often joining his good compadre, Gonzalo Gil Lavedra.

Where You’ll Stay

Villa Barranco

Villa Barranco

Lima Luxury

A luxury hotel set within an old republican house dating to 1916, Villa Barranco sits steps from Lima’s Barranco Coast. Preserved architectural details include a frieze of mosaics, stuccoes, elegant balconies, and French terracotta tiles. Elegant contemporary pieces, Lima artisanal objects, and original artworks fill the interiors.

El Albergue Ollantaytambo

El Albergue Ollantaytambo

Sacred Valley Hideaway

Deep in the Sacred Valley in the mountain village of Ollantaytambo, El Albergue features red-tiled terraced Spanish galleries and incredible views of the stunning surroundings. A stone’s throw from the snowcapped peaks and terraced hillside Inca ruins that are the stuff of Peruvian legend, this historical boutique property is a dream within a dream.

Palacio Manco Capac

Palacio Manco Capac

Hilltop Palace

On the top of the hill of San Cristóbal stands the Palacio Manco Capac, a boutique hotel set within a 19th-century republican house brimming with Peruvian culture. The museum-like interiors include a large sculpture by the artist Quintanilla and vantage points for enjoying the magnificent views over Cusco.

  • The connections R&K has in the community made this trip feel like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that could not be replicated by any other company.

    Amanda C.
    CDMX Under the Volcano 2024

  • It was the savvy hosts, delicious food, curated experiences, and cooking together in a small group setting that made it magical.

    Nalini S.
    Morocco from Sky to Sea 2024

  • We’re so happy that we took a leap of faith and invested in this adventure with Roads & Kingdoms.

    Jean M.
    Asturias Unconquered 2023

DISCOVER PERU:
PAST TRIPS GALLERY

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Peru of the Many Dreams Inquire Now
R&K League of Travelers

Ready for a new adventure?

Inquire Now.

    Fill out the form to join the waitlist. We’ll reach out if space opens up.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How large are your groups?

    We have a maximum of 12 travelers for each trip. Our guiding light: how many people could cram into a perfectly-sized bar in Ginza? That’s how many we want to travel with, that’s how we came up with that number. Each trip has at least two members from the R&K team.

    Do I really have to do an interview?

    Yes! We don’t offer a way to book online, because we want the chance to talk to each of you about how you like to travel, and about what we do on our trips. That includes spouses and partners! Don’t sweat it, we have an appropriately high acceptance rate, but it is a requirement, whether by Zoom or by WhatsApp.

    Is there a solo traveler supplement?

    Yes, we have an $1800 solo traveler supplement ($1o00 for four-night trips).

    Should I get travel insurance?

    Roads & Kingdoms is a fully insured travel provider but we recommend you purchase travel insurance for yourself to cover costs you might incur through change of plans, flights, etc. We do not have a recommended provider, but there are many reputable providers available online and the signup process is not onerous.

    What is included in the price?

    Our journeys are meant to free you from any financial decision-making whatsoever during the week, if you choose. You’re responsible for your own international airfare to our starting city. But then we take care of everything else, from tipping to transportation to hotels and meals and drinks along the way. You’re only responsible for personal bar tabs (when not with the group), personal laundry, or personal spa services.

    What happens if R&K cancels a journey?

    This has not happened in the post-acute-COVID period—nor do we anticipate it happening—but we do reserve the right to cancel or postpone a trip up to 100 days before departure. In that case, you would receive a full refund, including the $1500 deposit.

    CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE VEGETARIANS?

    The short answer is yes! Any trip can be adapted, but some work better than others. Salamanca and the World of Jamón, for instance, would probably not make sense for a vegetarian, whereas Tbilisi and the Western Winelands works well. Animal products do feature heavily throughout our journeys, and many include whole-animal barbecues, ceremonial slaughter, or other traditional culinary methods that might be off-putting to those who abstain.

    Traveler Rights And Responsibilities

    The League of Travelers is meant to be that: an intimate group of travelers who accompany us to some of our favorite places to spend time with some of our favorite people. That is why we interview all potential travelers. These trips are not for everyone, and we just want to be sure the vibe matches. Mostly, for you, that means treating the people who make these trips possible, from drivers to somms to waiters to hotel staff, with decency. We will do our best to accommodate special requests, but we don’t have fulltime concierge or waitstaff on these trips, we have chefs and writers and storytellers. Our groups are a diverse bunch, so please also come with an open mind and heart for your fellow travelers. And in exchange, we pledge to open all doors we can to you. We promise we will have poured our whole selves into these journeys, and we will do everything in our power to make it a wondrous experience.

    Refund And Deposit Policy

    We require 50% downpayment to secure a spot. Second payment due 60 days after first payment. If you cancel up to 60 days before the start of the trip, the trips are fully refundable except for a nonrefundable $1500 deposit. Within 60 days we will refund everything except the $1500 deposit if we are able to replace your seat, otherwise you must contact us to see if a transfer to a later journey is possible. If we cancel a trip for any reason, the entire trip, including the $1500 deposit, is fully refundable.

    Dates

    2025

    Destinations

    Europe

    Asia-Pacific

    Latin America

    Africa