Lima, Paracas & the Amazon: A Private Peru Journey
World-class gastronomy. Pacific wildlife. Desert sunsets. The heart of the rainforest.
This is Peru at its most diverse. A private journey that moves from the culinary capital of South America through the extraordinary coastal wilderness of Paracas and the soaring dunes of Huacachina, before venturing deep into the Peruvian Amazon aboard the award-winning Aqua Nera luxury river cruise. Three completely different worlds, connected by one thread: a commitment to going further than the standard itinerary and experiencing Peru the way it was meant to be experienced. No two journeys are the same. Every detail is tailored to you.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dining at Central, Astrid y Gastón, La Mar and Mayta by Jaime Pesaque
Food tour and cooking classes
Private yacht excursion to the Islas Ballestas and Paracas National Reserve
Private luxury dune buggy, sandboarding and sunset setup at Huacachina oasis
4-night Amazon river cruise
Fully flexible, tailor-made itinerary
Suggested duration: 8–10 days
Starting from:Contact us for pricing based on group size and travel dates
Lima: The Culinary Capital of South America
Lima surprises almost every traveler who arrives expecting a stopover and stays for the city itself. The bohemian neighborhood of Barranco, where Hotel B occupies a beautifully restored 19th-century mansion on the cliffs above the Pacific, is one of South America's most atmospheric urban neighborhoods. The historic center tells the story of colonial Peru with extraordinary architectural detail. And the food scene is, by any measure, one of the greatest on earth. Two days here barely scratches the surface, but they are two days that stay with you.
Experiences may include:
VIP airport arrival with fast track
Historical Lima tour covering Plaza de Armas, the San Francisco Catacombs and Casa de Aliaga, the oldest house on the American continent, in the same family for 17 generations
Exploration of Barranco: the Bajada de los Baños walkway to the sea, street art, colonial mansions and traditional picarones at the classic restaurant Javier
Market visit at San Isidro followed by a private cooking class, learning to prepare causa, lomo saltado, pisco sour and crocante de chirimoya
Curator-led private tour of the Larco Museum, housed in an 18th-century vice-royal mansion with over 5,000 years of pre-Columbian history, gold and silver collections and the famed Moche ceramics
Pisco Sour class and tasting session
Lunch at La Mar, the flagship cebichería by Gastón Acurio, ranked No. 30 on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants
Lunch tasting menu at Astrid y Gastón in a historic 17th-century hacienda setting
Dinner at Central, where the 13-course Mundo en Desnivel tasting menu takes you through Peru's ecosystems from sea level to 4,200 metres above sea level
Dinner at Mayta by Jaime Pesaque, among the World's 50 Best Restaurants, featuring traceable native ingredients and contemporary Peruvian technique
Lima's food scene alone justifies the journey. Combined with its art, history and coastal energy, it is one of South America's most rewarding cities to experience privately and at a genuine pace.
Paracas & Huacachina: Wildlife, Desert & a Private Sunset
A three-hour private transfer south of Lima, the Paracas peninsula offers one of the most dramatic natural landscapes in all of Peru. The Pacific meets the desert at a coastline of towering cliffs, turquoise water and extraordinary wildlife. And just inland, the Huacachina oasis rises from a sea of sand dunes in a scene that looks almost impossible. Together, these two destinations make for one of the most memorable days of any Peru journey.
Experiences may include:
Private yacht excursion to the Islas Ballestas, eroded into caves and arches that shelter thousands of seabirds, Humboldt penguins, cormorants, pelicans, sea lions and dolphins
Privately guided tour of the Paracas National Reserve, a protected area of 335,000 hectares of desert coast, cliffs and ocean, including Playa Las Minas and wildlife encounters with flamingoes, penguins and sea lions
Private luxury dune buggy excursion through the Huacachina dunes with expert guide
Sandboarding down the dunes at your own pace
Private sunset setup in the dunes, toasting to the extraordinary landscape as the light fades over the desert
The contrast between a morning on the Pacific watching sea lions and penguins from a private yacht, and a late afternoon sandboarding down desert dunes at sunset, is quintessentially Peruvian. Nowhere else offers this kind of diversity within a single day.
The Peruvian Amazon: A Luxury River Cruise
The final chapter of this journey takes you somewhere entirely different: deep into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, aboard the Aqua Nera, the most celebrated luxury river cruise vessel in South America. From Iquitos, the largest city in the world inaccessible by road, the Aqua Nera navigates the convergence of the Ucayali and Maranon rivers into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the most biodiverse and untouched areas in the entire Amazon basin. Four nights here feel both like a world away and a lifetime away from anything familiar.
Experiences may include:
Early morning birdwatching along the Maranon River
Visit to an Amazonian village to interact with native ribereños and witness an Aguaje palm harvesting demonstration
Pink river dolphin spotting on the Yanayacu-Pucate River
Optional private spiritual ceremony with a Kukama Kukamiria healer with expertise in connecting with nature
Stargazing and nocturnal wildlife excursion along the Yanayaquillo River by skiff
Full day on the Samiria River including piranha fishing, canoeing, kayaking and swimming inside the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve
Jungle picnic lunch orchestrated to the sounds of the Amazon
Wildlife excursion on the black water Nauta Caño River
Jungle walk exploring medicinal trees, poison dart frogs and the different rainforest strata
Guided visit to the floating town of Belen for a glimpse of daily life in the Peruvian Amazon
Visit to the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees are rehabilitated before release into the wild
Optional private skiff for the day combining extended fishing sessions for piranha and catfish
The Amazon offers extraordinary experiences year-round. During high water season (November to June), elevated river levels make smaller creeks and lakes navigable, bringing guests closer to the jungle canopy for exceptional wildlife viewing. During low water season (June to October), jungle trails open up for deeper exploration on foot, mosquitoes are fewer and piranha fishing is guaranteed. We advise on the best season for your specific interests when planning your journey.
Aqua Nera is recommended to be booked 10 to 18 months in advance given the limited capacity of just 40 guests. We handle all logistics including domestic flights to Iquitos, embarkation coordination and pre and post cruise arrangements in Lima.
Is This Journey Right for You?
Why Choose This Journey
Three of Peru's most extraordinary and contrasting destinations in a single, seamlessly connected private journey
A gastronomic immersion in Lima that rivals any food destination in the world, with reservations at Central, Astrid y Gastón, La Mar and Mayta
Exclusive coastal and desert experiences in Paracas and Huacachina that most Peru travelers never discover
The Peruvian Amazon at its most luxurious, aboard a vessel with a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio and cuisine by one of Peru's most celebrated chefs
Fully flexible and personalized from arrival in Lima to disembarkation in Iquitos
Ideal For
Travelers who have done the classic Cusco and Machu Picchu route and want to experience a different side of Peru
Food and gastronomy travelers drawn by Lima's extraordinary culinary scene
Nature and wildlife enthusiasts seeking the Amazon at a luxury level
Couples seeking a romantic and adventurous journey combining city, coast and rainforest
Start Planning Your PERU Journey
This itinerary is fully customizable. Share your preferences and travel dates and we'll design a journey tailored entirely to you.
Explore our full Peru destination page for more experiences and inspiration.