Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(11
days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Colca Canyon - Machu
Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17
nights)
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Machu Picchu
(10
days/9 nights)
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Manu National Park
(8 days/7 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Galapagos
(11
days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Cotopaxi - Antisana
- Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2008
Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Traditional horse-drawn carriage, Quito, Ecuador.
Photo: Hotel Plaza Grande.
I fear you've spoiled us forever...
-- K. Ebel & S. Root
Welcome to Inka's Empire Tours...
"Basking in the luxurious comforts and leisurely freedom of these private excursions, you will discover no better way to experience Peru in style." So said LuxuryLink.com in a review of our tours. To find out why, read about our expert guides, masterfully designed itineraries, regal accommodations, gourmet cuisine, travel insurance and exceptional guest satisfaction,
Learn the story of Inka's Empire Tours and compare our tours to others. Get travel advice and see information on pricing, flights, reservations, tour documents and vouchers.
"Huaco" (ceremonial vessel), Mochica, 500 AC.
Photo: Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.
I can't praise the guides enough...
-- Mark & Nancy Jaffe
Expert guides
On your private journey by Inka's Empire Tours, expert guides and a masterfully designed itinerary assure an authentic experience with the people, places and cultures of the Inca Empire. Each of our guides is an English-speaking professional licensed by the Peruvian government and is accompanied by a chauffeur when needed. They will give you their personal attention from the moment of your arrival until the moment of your departure.
"Huaco" depicting
Spondylus shells, Northern Huari culture, c. 800 AD.
Museo Larco, Lima. Photo: Mylene d'Auriol
Stoessel.
We loved every one of the planned outings...
-- Martin & Judy Deggeller
Masterfully designed itineraries
We have listened carefully to our guides and our guests about every tour detail and have fine-tuned our itineraries over the past two decades. As you watch the sun rise over Machu Picchu, sail the ancient sea of Titicaca, explore the Amazon and cruise the Galapagos, you may ask yourself: "Is this real, or am I in an amazing dream?" Our three photo albums hint at what's to come. For a comparison of an itinerary by Inka's Empire Tours to that of another luxury tour company, see How We Excel.
Letters from Our Guests say in words what it's like to travel with us, while photos say it in pictures. In two letters, Monika Jensen and Giselle Barretto describe their Grand Tour of the Inca Empire. Among the photos are those of Marcia Brandes, Gaye Plunkett, Marco Pedro, and the Coleman family. To take the first step on your own journey, browse our Tour Portfolio -- or simply inquire.
"Huaco" depicting
a fisherman in a reed boat.
Lambayeque culture, c. 500 AD, Museo Larco, Lima.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
The hotels were absolutely wonderful...
-- Gregg & Ellen Hardy
Regal accommodations
Inka's Empire Tours returns guests to the "gracious, golden age of travel" with accommodations aptly described as "regal". The luxury begins with the Orient-Express hotels in Lima and Cuzco -- the Miraflores Park, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the Monasterio, a four-hundred-year-old monastery. From the Monasterio, take an Orient-Express rail excursion to the Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel next to the ruins of Machu Picchu.
Because Orient-Express hotels are not available at every destination, we have chosen the Andean-style Urubamba Villas, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas; the Hotel Libertador Puno, on its own island in Lake Titicaca; and the Villa Colonna or the resplendent Hotel Plaza Grande, colonial homes in the historic district of Quito
What's the difference between Royal Class, Imperial & De Luxe?
For our most frequent destinations, the hotel and type of accommodation provided for our Royal Class, Imperial and De Luxe categories are shown below.
De Luxe
Our De Luxe category provides these deluxe accommodations in Peru's and Ecuador's finest hotels:
Lima: An Executive Suite Ocean View in the 5-star Orient-Express Miraflores Park Hotel.
Cuzco: A De Luxe Room in the 5-star Orient-Express Hotel Monasterio.
Machu Picchu: A Mountain View Room in the 4-star Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge.
Sacred Valley: A Private Villa in the 4-star Urubamba Villas.
Lake Titicaca: A Suite in the 4-star Hotel Libertador Puno.
Quito. A Suite in the 5-star Villa Colonna.
Imperial
Our Imperial category provides these upgrades from De Lube:
Lima: A Junior Suite Ocean View in the 5-star Orient-Express Miraflores Park Hotel instead of an Executive Suite Ocean View.
Cuzco: A Junior Suite in the 5-star Orient-Express Hotel Monasterio instead of a De Luxe Room.
Machu Picchu: A Mountain View Room with Terrace in the 4-star Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge instead of a Mountain View Room.
Sacred Valley: As in De Luxe, a Private Villa in the 4-star Urubamba Villas.
Lake Titicaca: As in De Luxe, a Suite in the 4-star Hotel Libertador Puno.
Quito. As in De Luxe, a Suite in the 5-star Villa Colonna.
Even if you're not royalty, you will soon begin to believe that you are...
Royal Class
Our ultra-luxurious Royal Class, with deluxe suites, is the highest level of luxury and is unique to Inka's Empire Tours. If traveling in the Andes of Ecuador, our guests will sleep in an Inca palace. Royal Class provides these upgrades from Imperial:
Lima: A Presidential Suite in the 5-star Orient-Express Miraflores Park Hotel instead of a Junior Suite Ocean View.
Cuzco: A Presidential Suite in the 5-star Orient-Express Hotel Monasterio instead of a Junior Suite.
Machu Picchu: A Suite in the 4-star Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge instead of a Mountain View Room with Terrace. Additionally, to reach Machu Picchu, travel in 1920s' style aboard the Hiram Bingham Orient-Express.
Sacred Valley: As in Imperial, a Private Villa in the 4-star Urubamba Villas.
Lake Titicaca: As in Imperial, a Suite in the 4-star Hotel Libertador Puno.
Quito. A Plaza View Suite in the 5-star Hotel Plaza Grande instead of a Suite in the Villa Colonna.
Gold kero (ceremonial cup), Lambayeque, 700 AC.
Photo: Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.
-- Janet & Thomas Lundy
Gourmet cuisine
As well as the most memorable lodgings, an integral part of the cultural experience is traditional cookery and its nouvelle interpretations. During your tour, savor gourmet cuisine by the great chefs of South America. All meals, a 10% gratuity and any needed transportation are included. Alcoholic beverages and caviar are at additional cost and will be billed directly to you by the restaurant. Dinner is at 8 pm, unless you request otherwise at the time of booking your tour.
Details vary by country. In Peru, order a la carte from each restaurant's complete menu. In Ecuador, Chile and Brazil, choose an appetizer, entree and dessert from the prix fixe menu. Because some guests find the prix fixe menu too limited, we offer an "a la carte" option -- we reduce the tour price by $25 per meal, and you pay the restaurant directly for what you order and any gratuity. If you prefer the "a la carte" option, kindly request it at the time of booking your tour. Otherwise, prix fixe meals will be provided in all countries except Peru.
Bottled water
We provide a bottle of water with your morning excursion, lunch and your afternoon excursion. In the Andes, drinking plenty of water is recommended to alleviate altitude sickness.
Breakfast
A buffet or American breakfast is served in your hotel each morning.
Lunch
A gourmet lunch is provided each afternoon. Your guide will join you unless you request otherwise when booking your tour.
Lima: On the first day, a lunch of traditional Peruvian cuisine at the Café del Museo, directed by Peru's most prestigious chef, Gastón Acurio, and located in the gardens of the Museo Larco. On the last day of your tour, if you are returning home from Lima, a lunch in the Peruvian Criollo tradition at chef Marilú Madueño's extraordinary Huaca Pucllana restaurant, located on the grounds of a 1,500-year-old adobe pyramid built by the original inhabitants of Lima.
Cuzco: On the first day, a lunch of traditional Andean cuisine in the patio of Pachapapa, and on the second day, a lunch of Italian-Peruvian cuisine at Incanto,
Machu Picchu: On the first day, a sumptuous buffet luncheon of typical or international cuisine at the Tinkuy Restaurant, and on the second day, a lunch of typical or international cuisine in the Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge's Tampu Restaurant.
Sacred Valley: On the first day, a lunch of nouvelle Andean cuisine at 3 Keros, of chef Ricardo Behar. On the second day, a gourmet lunch of Mediterranean-Asian-Peruvian fusion cuisine in the patio of El Huacatay, a country restaurant with big-city sophistication. Indeed, Pio Vazquez de Velasco Jimenez (known simply as chef Pio) is making a name for himself throughout Peru after mastering his skills in the kitchen of Lima's culinary landmark, Astrid & Gaston. 3 Keros and El Huacatay fight for the title of the best restaurant in the Sacred Valley. The two restaurants greatly elevate the gastronomic offering of the Valley.
Arequipa: On the first day, a typical lunch at the classic, open-air Tradición Arequipeña, and on the last day, at La Cantarilla.
Orient-Express Andean Explorer: A three-course lunch of typical or international cuisine, followed by coffee in the glass-walled observation car.
Lake Titicaca: On the first day, a typical lunch with a local family in the village of Llachon. On the second and third days, a box lunch en route.
Quito: Depending on the excursion you choose, a lunch of Ecuadorian or international cuisine at El Crater, inside the crater of the Pululahua Volcano, or a lunch of Ecuadorian cuisine at Octava de Corpus, in the colonial quarter.
Dinner
A gourmet dinner is provided each night. You will dine privately without your guide.
Lima: On the first night, a welcome dinner of Criollo cuisine at chefs Gastón Acurio's and Astrid Gutsche's Astrid & Gastón, one of the highest notes in the Peruvian culinary scene. On the last night of your tour, if you are returning home from Lima, a farewell dinner of international cuisine at the Poissonnerie of chef Marco Alban.
Cuzco: On the first night, a dinner of nouvelle Andean cuisine at the MAP Café, in the courtyard of the Museo de Arte Precolombino, and on the second night, a dinner of Mediterranean cuisine at La Cicciolina.
Machu Picchu: A gourmet dinner of typical or international cuisine at the Tampu Restaurant, in the Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge, where our guests often say they enjoyed their best meal in Peru. Upon your return to Cuzco, a dinner of typical or international cuisine at the Restaurante Illariy, in the Orient-Express Hotel Monasterio. The city's most refined dining establishment, it is directed by chef Marco Alban of Lima's Poissonnerie.
Sacred Valley: Each night, a traditional Andean dinner will be prepared by your personal chef in your private villa at the Urubamba Villas.
Arequipa: On the first night, a dinner of Italian cuisine at famed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio's La Trattoria del Monasterio, and on the second night, a dinner of Arequipeño, Peruvian or international cuisine at Los Robles, in the Hotel Libertador Arequipa.
Lake Titicaca: A dinner of typical or international cuisine each night at Los Uros, in the Hotel Libertador Puno.
Quito: A fusion of Peruvian and Mediterranean cuisine at chef Rafael Osterlicht's Blu on the first night, gourmet fusion cuisine at La Belle Epoque on the second and French gourmet cuisine at Chez Jerome on the third.
Earring from the tomb of the Lord of Sipan.
Photo: Instituto Nacional de Cultura.
We received a check for the full amount...
-- Brent & Wilma Garren
Travel insurance
Inka's Empire Tours includes travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years. Over that age, there is a supplementary fee. U.S. residents are covered by AIG Travel Guard's ProtectAssist Gold policy. Depending on their province, Canadian residents receive the same or similar insurance from AIG. International residents are advised to purchase coverage in their home country and will receive a corresponding reduction in the tour price. For questions about the travel insurance and how it applies to your particular circumstances, please call AIG Travel Guard (1-800-826-4919) or the company you have selected in your own country. You may wish to consider an Air Ticket Protection Plan for your international flights. Inka's can include it for an additional cost of 5% of the ticket price. Why does Inka's include travel insurance?
Sipan mask, Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, Lambayeque.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
I've had nothing but rave reviews...
-- Peter Keller, Director, The Bowers Museum of Cultural Art
Exceptional guest satisfaction
Recommended by Travel + Leisure
Endorsed by IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network)
Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York, New York City, 212-533-6200
Sipan mask of a feline face, Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, Lambayeque.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
One of the best weeks of my entire life...
-- Chris Davis
Our story
Inka's Empire Tours is a luxury tour operator that offers private archaeological and ecological expeditions in the land of the Incas -- present-day Peru, Ecuador and Chile. Inka's was founded in the Inca capital of Cuzco in 1991, established as an American company in New York City in 1997 and incorporated in 2001.
Sican gold mask, Sican Museum, Lambayeque.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
We were very lucky to find you!
-- Dr. Lori Volkers & Taylor Poole
Compare our tours to others
First. Is the tour just for you and yours or with a group? Private service with expert guides and chauffeurs has always been the hallmark of Inka's Empire Tours.
Second. Study the itinerary -- which excursions are included and, importantly, which are not? You'd have every right to expect that well-known operators would have the best itineraries, but that's simply not true. To save time and money, they often skip important places, such as the Pisaq ruins. However, if you're not an expert, it might be hard to tell. So, ask Inka's. We will examine any itinerary and give you our honest opinion. For an example, see How We Excel.
Third. Which hotels and types of accommodation are used? Abercrombie & Kent provides a standard room (without a view) at Orient-Express' Sanctuary Lodge, at Machu Picchu, while Inka's gives you a mountain view room or better. Sometimes A & K doesn't even provide this hotel, which is the only one near the ruins. The costs vary greatly, so you should insist on knowing the hotels and types of accommodation included on your tour.
Fourth. Are all meals included? With Inka's, they are.
Fifth. Is travel insurance included? With Inka's, it is.
Sixth. How satisfied were previous guests? What do ours say? See their quotes and letters. If you like, Inka's will arrange for you to talk to them. According to one recent guest, our tours are "far and away better than anything that Abercrombie & Kent can offer..." because of our personalized approach, prices, flexibility and choices of accommodations, restaurants, tour stops, and in-country agencies.
Seventh. Analyze the price. Inka's invites you to compare our prices to those of our competitors, Artisans of Leisure and Blue Parallel. Although our itineraries are more opulent, our prices are thousands of dollars less. For example, our Ancient & Colonial Capitals is $5,895, while Artisans of Leisure's nearly identical Highlights of Peru is $7,760, and our Ancient Civilizations of Peru is $9,415, while their Journey Through Peru is $11,310. Blue Parallel is even more expensive.
Eighth. How long has the tour operator been in business? South America has become popular, and many companies are only a year or two old. In contrast, Inka's has two decades of experience.
Museo Amano, Lima.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
-- Kenneth Bachman, Esq. & Sharon Bachman
Topics are help during your tour, passports and visas, is it safe?, health, flights, baggage, arrival and departure in South America, climate, clothing, money, tipping, hotel amenities, communications, technical standards, textiles and other crafts, music and suggested reading.
Mochica "orejera"
depicting a duck, Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, Lambayeque.
Photo: Mylene
d'Auriol Stoessel.
-- Joan Huffer & Robert Dugger
Pricing
Three categories of prices are quoted: Royal, Imperial and De Luxe. In our Royal Class, stay in a deluxe suite in the finest hotel at each destination; in Imperial, a suite; or in De Luxe, a deluxe room. For details, see What's the difference?
Although the accommodations differ, all other services are identical. Prices include escorted transfers, private excursions with expert guides and chauffeurs, entrance fees, selected category of accommodations, all meals (see details), all land and water transportation, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years. Over that age, there is a supplementary fee. Any exceptions are clearly noted in the individual tour itineraries.
Land and cruise prices do not include international or intra-tour flights, South American airport taxes or Chilean reciprocity fee. Neither do they include passports, visas, vaccinations, gratuities for guides or chauffeurs nor any other item of a personal nature.
All prices are for travel during 2008 and are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. Prices are subject to change prior to purchase but are guaranteed upon receipt of your initial payment. We invite you to compare our prices to those of our competitors.
Sipan necklace with
gold and silver peanut motif.
Photo: Instituto Nacional de Cultura.
The arrangements were like clockwork...
-- Bert & Pat Hewitt
Flights
To assure perfect coordination, Inka's Empire Tours provides the intra-tour flights for Peru and Ecuador at additional cost. For Chile, it is advantageous to purchase flights directly from LAN Airlines. Guests are advised to obtain international flights from their preferred travel agent, airline or travel site.
Sipan necklace of Spondylus
shell, Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum, Lambayeque.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
-- Edwin Upson & Jessica Sklute
Reservations
Our chosen hotels are small and in high demand. Since accommodations are subject to availability at the time of booking, we suggest early reservations and maintain the right to use an alternative hotel or type of accommodation of comparable quality in case the indicated one is unavailable.
Upon your approval of the itinerary and price, each guest should fill out and send in a Tour Application. All sales are governed by the section titled "Waiver", which defines the rights and responsibilities of Inka's Empire Tours and its guests.
A deposit of 50% of the land and cruise price, intra-tour air fares and insurance supplement (if over the age of 59 years) is requested at the time of booking your tour. The balance is due at least 30 days prior to departure (60 days if the itinerary includes Chile's Hotel Explora, Chile's Hotel Awasi or a Galapagos cruise). All payments must be made in U.S. dollars. In case the reservation is made fewer than 30 days prior to departure, full payment is due immediately by bank transfer or credit card only.
We prefer payment by bank transfer and will send our banking information to you. The fee may be taken out of the amount sent. If you wish to pay by credit card, we ask that you phone in the information to assure security. If the deposit has been made by credit card, the balance automatically will be charged to the same card on the due date, unless you request otherwise. If you would like to pay by check, please inquire.
In using e-mail to submit your tour application and in using the phone to authorize a charge, you acknowledge your agreement to the Waiver and Credit Card Authorization, respectively, exactly as if you had signed and initialed the corresponding document.
Nazca wool textile with
border of three-dimensional birds, c. 300 BC.
Photo: Museo Nacional de Arqueologia,
Antropologia e Historia del Peru.
It was absolutely brilliant...
-- Linda & Elhanan Streit
Tour documents
All tour documents are delivered electronically. Upon receiving your Tour Application and initial payment, Inka's Empire Tours will send the following: Tour Itinerary (incorporating the contact information of the local representatives and hotels), Opulent Itineraries, Travel Advice, Avoiding Altitude Sickness, Insurance Confirmation and, for a few destinations, Pre-Departure Information. Importantly, since we may correct, update and improve your tour itinerary, we ask that you print a final copy a day or two before leaving home. To print, specify U.S. Letter-size paper and reduce to 80% in your page setup dialog box.
We request that you send us a copy of your international flight itinerary, including the record locator number (passengers on Continental Airlines should also provide their ticket numbers). We need this information to verify that you are on board the anticipated arrival flight and to reconfirm your departing flight, as required by the airline. Be sure to advise us of any change in the flight schedule.
Quipu, Ica culture, c. 1200-1300 AD, Museo Amano, Lima.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
We have so many wonderful memories...
-- Nancy & Joseph Costa
Vouchers
Your vouchers for services and tickets for intra-tour flights within or from Peru, Ecuador and Chile will be provided by our representative upon your arrival in Lima, Quito and Santiago, respectively. At each destination, tickets for other modes of transportation and for local attractions will be provided by our representative, who will also provide you with the exact times for your flights, other modes of transportation, transfers and excursions.
Where every tour is a tour-de-force.
© 2008 Inka's Empire Corporation, Luxury Peru Tours & Luxury Peru Travel. All rights reserved.
