Perú 2026
Join Our Peru 2026 Webinar
A 60-minute walk-through of the trip with Tara, plus live Q&A.
Monday, May 4 · 5:30–6:30 PM ET
Why Perú?
Peru is a land of contrasts and connection. From the soaring peaks of the Andes to the colonial streets of Lima, from the sacred ruins of Machu Picchu to the warm welcomes of Sacred Valley villages, every moment offers beauty, history, and discovery.
This isn't a tourist itinerary. It's an immersion experience designed to connect you to the land, the language, and yourself.
- Adventure in the Sacred Valley and high in the Andes
- Culture and cuisine rooted in centuries of tradition
- Daily Spanish practice in authentic, real-world settings
- Wellness through reflection, hiking, yoga, and nature
- Community with travelers who share your curiosity
- The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, earned not handed
Is this trip right for you?
We'd rather have twelve travelers who are truly aligned than a full group of mismatched ones.
Read carefully.
This is for you if…
- Hiking Machu Picchu is on your bucket list
- You love mountain landscapes and the outdoors
- You enjoy vibrant, locally sourced cuisine
- Spanish language and culture are meaningful to you
- You want to disconnect from technology and reconnect with people
- You care about responsible and sustainable travel
- You enjoy sharing meaningful experiences with others
- You're an adult seeking a thoughtful travel experience
This isn't for you if…
- You're not interested in hiking or active travel
- You prefer cities or beach vacations over mountains
- Food experiences are not important to you
- Spanish language and culture are not a priority
- You prefer staying constantly connected to work and devices
- You prefer large chain hotels and conventional tourism
- You prefer traveling independently without a group
- You're looking for a family or child-focused vacation
Picture yourself there
By October 25, 2026, this trip will have changed something in you. Not because Peru does that on its own, but because our trips are transformational.
You will have walked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu on your own two feet at dawn, instead of arriving by bus with a thousand other people. You will have eaten Pachamanca cooked in hot stones in the earth at El Albergue, salt harvested from a Maras pool the way it has been for six hundred years, and a three-region tasting menu in Lima that takes you from the coast to the Amazon to the high Andes in a single evening.
You will have practiced yoga at sunset in Lyzzi Wasi's yoga salon, the Andean evening settling around you. You will have sat on a hillside in Misminay learning to plant the way Quechua families have planted for generations, in Spanish, while the music of welcome drums was still in the air.
You will have used your Spanish in real situations every single day. Ordered food. Negotiated a price. Thanked a guide. Comforted a fellow traveler. Asked for help. You will have used it badly sometimes, and beautifully other times, and stopped flinching at the difference.
You will have hiked the eight hours from KM 104 to Inti Punku and looked down at Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate before the bus crowds arrived. Slept in family-run boutique hotels in the Sacred Valley and Cusco's San Blas neighborhood. Walked Cusco's stone alleys at dusk on the way to a farm-to-table dinner. Watched a marinera dance in Lima over a tasting menu of Peru's regions. Lived more of your days outside than you have in years.
You will have done all of this not alone, and not in a crowd, but inside a small group of travelers who chose this on purpose. You will have come home with their phone numbers in your phone, their faces in your photos, and Spanish no longer something you're learning, but something you're using.
That's what this trip will give you. The day-by-day below is how we get there.
Your 10-day journey
Every detail planned. Every hotel chosen with care. Every meal sourced for flavor and intention.
¡Bienvenidos a Perú!
Our Peruvian chauffeurs meet you at Jorge Chávez International Airport with a private transfer to the Holiday Inn Lima Airport. Drop your bags, take a slow breath, and gather for a welcome dinner at Restaurant Estación inside the hotel. The first time the group sits at one table together, in country, ready for what's ahead.
From the coast to the Andes
Morning flight from Lima to Cusco, then a private transfer down into the Sacred Valley. We'll stop in Chinchero for an unhurried lunch at Restaurante Merienda. Andean fusion cuisine made with fresh, local, organic ingredients. Vegetarian and vegan options are part of why we chose it. Continue to Lizzy Wasi, your boutique hotel surrounded by gardens and Andean peaks. The pace is intentional today: gentle, so the altitude lands gently too.
Salt circles and the welcome of Misminay
Morning at Moray's circular agricultural terraces, the Inca's open-air laboratory for cultivating crops at different altitudes. Then Maras: thousands of salt pools cascading down a mountainside, still harvested today by the same families that have done it for generations. After, we visit the Misminay community for music, traditional dance, a hands-on agricultural experience, and lunch made by the families themselves. Back at Lizzy Wasi, we close the day with an evening yoga class in the hotel's yoga salon.
Ollantaytambo & a Pachamanca lunch
Walk the streets of Ollantaytambo, one of the few towns where the original Inca urban planning is still alive. Stone canals running beside cobblestone paths, terraced ruins climbing the mountainside above. After exploring, we share a traditional Pachamanca lunch at El Albergue: food cooked over hot stones in an earth oven, served on picnic tables with mountain views. The Quechua word means "earth pot." It tastes like one.
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Early pickup at 5 AM. Train to KM 104, then we begin the 2-day Inca Trail hike, about 10 km and 8 hours of hiking on Day 1, ascending to the Wiñay Wayna ruins, where we'll pause for a box lunch with a view that stops conversation. We continue to Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, the official end of the Inca Trail and the place where Machu Picchu reveals itself for the first time. Descend to Aguas Calientes for dinner and rest. Max altitude on the hike: 8,792 ft.
The full Machu Picchu experience
Bus up to Machu Picchu at first light. Our private guided tour runs 2.5 to 3 hours, longer than the typical tourist tour, so you have real time to absorb the temples, terraces, and sacred geography. Bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch at Mapacho Craft Beer Restaurant, then board the Vistadome Observatory train: panoramic windows, a glass roof, and a 20-minute onboard music and dance show on the way back to Ollantaytambo. Transfer to Cusco and Casa San Blas, your boutique hotel in the artistic San Blas neighborhood.
Cusco awakens
Morning city tour: Qorikancha (the Inca temple of the sun), Sacsayhuamán (panoramic views above the city), then the bohemian streets of San Blas, and finally the San Pedro Market for tastes you've probably never had. Exotic Andean fruits, fresh juices, vivid colors. Free afternoon to wander. Evening: dinner at Nuna Raymi, a farm-to-table restaurant rooted in Sacred Valley produce and the kind of slow, intentional cooking that defines what we look for.
Back to the coast, an evening of dance
Morning flight Cusco to Lima, transfer to the historic Antigua Miraflores hotel near the Pacific. Free afternoon to rest, walk the Miraflores boardwalk, or just sit with the ocean. In the evening, a multi-course tasting menu celebrating Peru's regional cuisines (Amazonian spices, coastal seafood, Andean flavors) served alongside a vibrant traditional dance show. Marinera from the coast, Huaylas from the highlands, Afro-Peruvian zapateo, and more. Energy, history, and joy expressed through movement and flavor.
The full story of Lima
Full-day historic Lima tour. Walk the colonial center where time pauses: imposing plazas, colonial and republican balconies, centuries-old churches filled with priceless art. Lunch is at Museo Larco, a 3-course menu in one of Lima's most enchanting gardens. The afternoon is the Museo Larco itself, home to one of the finest collections of pre-Columbian gold, silver, and ceramic artifacts in Peru. The story of the country, told through what its makers left behind.
Adiós, Perú
Final breakfast together. Group photos. The hugs that come at the end of a trip like this one. Private airport transfers home, with the kind of memories you'll keep finding in your pocket for months. A phrase someone said in Spanish that you finally understood, a sunrise on the Inca Trail, a meal at Misminay, the people who walked it all alongside you.
Ready to imagine yourself there?
Reserve Your SpotWhat's included
Once you're in Peru, almost everything is taken care of. The list below shows exactly what's covered and what isn't, so there are no surprises.
Included in your trip cost
Accommodations
- 9 nights in hand-selected 3–4 star boutique hotels
- Centrally located, locally owned, full of character
Tours & Experiences
- Private guided tours before the crowds arrive
- All entrance fees, bilingual guides, transportation
- Inca Trail trek + Machu Picchu private tour
- Vistadome Observatory train return
- All tips and gratuities
Flights & Transfers
- All domestic flights: Lima ↔ Cusco
- Private airport transfers in every city
Meals
- 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 3 dinners
- Safe filtered drinking water throughout
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options accommodated
Wellness & Community
- Monthly DC-area prep hikes (Jan–Sept 2026)
- Yoga and mindfulness integrated throughout
- 24/7 trip leader support
Not included
- International flights to and from Peru
- Travel and medical insurance (required)
- Optional meals not on included list
- Personal expenses, snacks, souvenirs, laundry
In their own words
Even when things were nervous or I wasn't clear what might happen next, I never felt like I was by myself during the trip. For whatever reason, this group just clicked instantly.
It's been a mix of personalities, ages, levels of Spanish, and we all kind of just came together to embrace this experience together.
I really enjoyed the group; it has been fantastic. We're eight people, and we just hit it off from the first moment.
I felt a lot of things that I never ever would have done without this opportunity and without the encouragement of this remarkable group of people saying, "Come on, you can do it."
These past eight days have been totally amazing in terms of immersing myself in Spanish, kind of getting out of my comfort zone for the language part.
It's one thing to study Spanish in the classroom, but to actually go out there to the source is another. I was able to hear Spanish from a native speaker's mouth, and actually surprised myself by really being able to understand what they were saying.
Three ways to say yes
Your trip is all-inclusive once you're in Peru. No surprise costs. No add-on fees. Choose the payment path that fits your budget.
Pay in Full
Pay in Full
Plan
All payments to Work-Life Spanish, LLC are non-refundable.
Travel insurance with cancellation coverage is strongly encouraged to protect your investment.
Tara Pérez
Founder of Work-Life Spanish and lead guide on every WLS immersion trip.
Tara has lived in Spain, Chile, France, and England, and traveled to more than thirty countries. She has 15+ years of experience teaching Spanish to adults and a track record of building trips that deliver on their promise: meaningful immersion rather than rushed tourism, structured planning rather than logistical chaos, and authentic community rather than generic group travel.
Every WLS trip is personally led by Tara from the moment travelers land to the moment they depart.
Frequently asked
What Spanish level do I need?
Any level. The trip is designed to challenge intermediate and advanced speakers while supporting beginners through real-world practice. Our bilingual guides ensure no one is left behind, and pre-trip Spanish prep sessions help you arrive ready to use what you know.
How fit do I need to be?
The Inca Trail Day 5 hike is approximately 8 hours and 10 km, with a max altitude of 8,792 ft. Most other days involve walking 2–4 hours at altitude. We recommend joining our DC-area monthly prep hikes (Jan–Sept 2026) so you arrive comfortable with sustained walking. If you can hike a moderately challenging local trail comfortably, you can do this trip.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. All travelers must have travel insurance covering medical emergencies, evacuation, and trip cancellation. We can recommend providers if needed. Insurance protects your investment in the trip and your safety while abroad.
Can I extend my trip?
Yes. Many travelers add days before or after the official itinerary to explore on their own. If you let us know, we can arrange additional nights and hotels for you.
What if I'm traveling solo?
Most WLS travelers come solo. By the time we land in Peru, the group has already met monthly through prep hikes, meetups, and Spanish practice sessions. You won't be traveling with strangers. You'll be traveling with friends.
What is the cancellation policy?
All payments to Work-Life Spanish, LLC are non-refundable. This is why we strongly encourage travel insurance with cancellation coverage to protect your investment. Our Peru partner has additional terms (50% refund before 2 months, 25% before 45 days, 5% before 15 days) which apply to their portion of the costs.
Will you be there?
October 16, 2026, is closer than you think. Six seats remain.
