Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley Photo Expedition

Welcome to Peru! Arrive in the capital of Lima where you’ll meet your Nat Hab representative right outside baggage claim to assist you with your transfer to our hotel, just steps away from the terminal. Rest and prepare for the journey ahead, as tomorrow, the real adventure begins as we fly to the Andes and center of the ancient Inca Empire.

Fly to Cusco, heart of the once-grand Inca Empire, and meet your Photo Expedition Leader on arrival. From the Indigenous Quechua word qosq’o, Cusco means the “navel of the earth.” Set in a high Andean valley, Cusco was founded in the 12th century and thrived until Spanish conquistadors destroyed the Inca civilization in their 16th-century colonial quest. From the Cusco airport, board our new all-electric van, which will convey us around Cusco and the Sacred Valley during our trip—it's the first electric van to be used for tourism in Peru, and we're proud that our travelers are part of our pioneering sustainability initiative. Enjoy the smooth, quiet ride as we descend into the heart of the valley, following a winding route through the Andes foothills. Right away, photogenic views of farmland, village life and imposing peaks are unveiled.

At Awana Kancha, a living museum showcasing Indigenous cultural traditions, local weavers work with alpaca and llama wool while herds graze nearby. This is a perfect place to photograph Andean faces, colorful textiles and soft animal textures. Continue to Pisac, where ancient stone agricultural terraces curve along the steep mountainsides above the town. Capture wide-angle landscapes, stone temple, and the intricate patterns of Inca ruins. In the afternoon, explore quiet Andean villages surrounded by fields and mountains as we photograph daily rural life—adobe homes, farmers at work and children playing—bathed in the golden light of late day. This evening, gather at our hacienda inn near Huayllabamba for a Photo Techniques & Composition Presentation led by your Expedition Leader. This relaxed session focuses on framing, storytelling through light, and using perspective to enhance depth in mountain landscapes and village portraits. You’ll review key approaches for capturing the architecture and atmosphere of the Sacred Valley, along with nature in the Andes foothills.

Slowly, the morning sun crests the mountain ridges around us to illumine the Sacred Valley, and we photograph first light as it spills across the fields around our lodge. More treasures of the valley unfold today as we follow the Urubamba River past tawny hillsides dotted with traditional villages, small farms and Incan architectural ruins. The original vast empire of the Incas was connected by a network of 10,000 miles of stone roads woven through the imposing terrain of the Andes. Suspension bridges spanned rivers and aqueducts carried water from mountain streams to irrigate terraced fields of crops, vestiges of which we see on our journey today, backdropped by knife-edged peaks.

A highlight is a visit to Maras, the pre-Incan salt flats where salt has been harvested for over a thousand years. Mineral-rich water from subterranean streams flows into the intricate network of shallow pools, filling the pans and eventually evaporating, leaving behind crystalline layers of fine salt. The landscape is a stunning geometric patchwork, with the contrast of white salt, red earth and afternoon shadows inspiring abstract compositions. Then we visit the Urubamba farmers market, full of color and character. Capture portraits of vendors, vibrant produce, and the energy of local life. Continue to Ensifera Hummingbird Garden, where we practice high-speed shots to freeze hummingbirds hovering midair. Then, as the light softens toward sunset, we pause to photograph the layered peaks glowing in golden hues.

This morning, photograph the narrow cobbled streets, stone waterways and impressive fortress ruins of Ollantaytambo, one of the last living Inca towns. Strategically built in the 15th century as a military stronghold, ceremonial center and locus for agriculture, Ollantaytambo showcases advanced Inca engineering and irrigation systems. With massive terraces and walls, it was a force in defending the Sacred Valley, and the site of a significant victory over the Spanish conquistadores in 1537.

Then board the train for the 1.5-hour journey to Aguas Calientes, our base for photographing Machu Picchu. The clear glass vantage of our Vistadome car frames the rushing Urubamba River, steep mountainsides, and the transition from Andean grasslands to lush cloud forest. On arrival, we disembark and ride the bus up to the lost citadel. Little prepares one for the spectacle that awaits. As we ascend into the ruins, there’s a sense of wandering through a mystical city in the sky, surrounded by green mountain ramparts that soar into the clouds. The site was hidden from Western explorers until 1911, when a Quechua guide led Yale historian Hiram Bingham to the ruins, buried beneath a dense tangle of jungle.

Our Expedition Leader interprets all we see as we explore the labyrinth of granite houses, temples, walls and cisterns. Spend a full afternoon photographing the ruins in shifting light, from iconic wide shots with the imposing profile of Huayna Picchu in the distance, to detailed studies of fine stonework. Llamas wander among the terraced steps that once grew maize and potatoes for 1,200 inhabitants, adding character to your compositions. Archaeologists believe Machu Picchu may have been a royal estate and religious retreat, based on its sacred geography and astronomical orientation. Important ceremonies were conducted here, including a winter solstice rite at which a priest would “tie the sun” to a hitching post stone to prevent it from disappearing altogether.

We spend the next two nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in private casitas built of stone, tile and cedar, surrounded by the thick greenery of the cloud forest and impressive gardens surrounding the resort. More than 300 varieties of orchids grace the grounds of this secluded luxury retreat on the river, and a network of trails on the grounds invites a stroll in search of botanical shots.

Return early to Machu Picchu for a quieter, more intimate morning shoot. Explore the Royalty Route, where light filters across temples, staircases and terraces. Among the evocative ruins, take the opportunity to ponder, in Hiram Bingham’s words, the “bewildering romance” of a place that “appears to have been expressly designed by nature as a sanctuary for the oppressed.” Those who are up for a challenge may climb Wayna Picchu for spectacular aerial views of the citadel below. The imposing mountain provides the famous backdrop for the Lost City in classic photos. The Incas constructed the original trail to the top, where they built temples and farming terraces. Local myth holds that the summit of Wayna Picchu was the residence for the high priest of the ancient city. This challenging hike takes 2–3 hours and climbs approximately 1,200 feet from the base at Machu Picchu, ascending a steep face using stairs and cables for support. The hike is not recommended for those with physical limitations or those with a fear of heights. Guests who do not wish to tackle Wayna Picchu will explore elsewhere with a local guide, with a chance to photograph additional temples.

After descending, enjoy a relaxed afternoon in Aguas Calientes. The lush gardens surrounding our hotel are filled with orchids, butterflies and hummingbirds—ideal subjects for macro and nature photography. Later, stroll along the riverside path as dusk falls, capturing the soft tones of twilight and reflections in the water.

Begin the day with a peaceful walk through the lush gardens around our hotel, where hummingbirds flit between orchids and bromeliads. It’s a chance to refine macro techniques with delicate morning light. The 11-acre property is renowned in Peru for its commitment to sustainability and conserving nature and has long been a leader in the ecotourism space. More than 1,500 plant species are found on the premises, including three new types of orchid discovered here in 2023.

On our return journey to Cusco, shoot from the train windows as the Urubamba River winds through steep canyons. Snowcapped peaks occasionally appear between clouds, offering fleeting landscape shots. Once we disembark, set out on a photography walk through Cusco's historic core with our Expedition Leader. As the former capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is the main gateway to the Sacred Valley, but it also stands alone as a trove of historic treasures. Strolling through its cobblestone streets, encounter the fusion of Incan and Spanish colonial architecture, most notably the Qorikancha Temple and the Church of Santo Domingo. From the grand Plaza de Armas to narrow Inca alleys lined with carved stone walls, capture the textures, colors and people that bring this ancient city to life. Local markets hum with activity, with traditional textiles and handicrafts for sale, while the savory aromas of street food fill the air. End the afternoon as the sun dips low, painting Cusco’s red tile rooftops in golden light.

On this final morning, head just outside Cusco to photograph the striking ruins at Sacsayhuaman in the early light of day, sharing awe at one of the most impressive examples of Inca walls found in the region. The site is still enveloped in mystery, and we ponder how the Incas moved these enormous stones to this site without the advantage of wheeled carts, and how they managed to fit such large, perfectly honed granite stones together so tightly that a pocketknife blade cannot be inserted between them. Back in the city, wander on your own to document scenes in markets, doorways and lively streets—moments that capture both centuries of heritage and contemporary daily life.

Over a farewell lunch, share favorite images and memories with your fellow photographers. Then transfer to the airport for our return flight to Lima, carrying home a gallery of unforgettable images from the Andes. From Lima, continue with homeward departures.