This journey traces Peru’s elaborate textile traditions through the landscapes, communities, and private dwellings where they remain part of daily life. Guided by curators, artisans, and families who have devoted their lives to this work, the experience offers a rare immersion into the knowledge systems and techniques that have been a bedrock of Andean culture for millennia.

We begin in Lima, where two days unfold in the city’s most coveted homes, studios, and collections. On a private visit to the Larco Museum, led by its director, you’ll receive a primer on Peru’s pre-Columbian textile history that will give you a deeper understanding of what comes next.

From the coast, a short flight inland delivers you to Arequipa, the luminous Andean city built from white volcanic stone. Cirqa, located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves as a serene base for days spent moving between markets, workshops, and ateliers, where textiles—from clothing to carpets and art—are made by hand. In sessions with master weavers, backstrap looms come into focus. These tools are controlled by the body, allowing tension and pattern to be shaped through movement, and techniques refined over thousands of years to unfold thread by colorful thread.

The journey continues overland, crossing vast terrain marked by volcanoes, high plains, and wild vicuñas on the ascent to Lake Titicaca. Straddling Peru and Bolivia, the lake—revered by the Incas as the birthplace of civilization—is among the largest and highest in the world.

Along its shores and islands, Aymara and Quechua communities maintain traditions closely bound to the water. Traveling by balsas, traditional reed boats, you’ll meet skilled captains and weavers on floating islands of totora reeds before coming ashore at pyramid-like Taquile Island, whose Quechua textile traditions have also earned UNESCO recognition.

Accommodation

• 2 nights at Hotel B: Originally the summer residence of president Augusto B. Leguía, this Belle Époque villa was built in 1914 by French architect Claude Sahut. Each room is individually designed and furnished with a thoughtful mix of vintage and period pieces, lending the space a cozy, lived-in elegance.

• 3 nights at Cirqa: The 11-room boutique hotel occupies a former monastery dating back to 1540—its stone walls among the earliest built by European settlers in the region. Airy, pared-back rooms and a restrained aesthetic make a calm counterpoint to the streets, markets, and workshops of Arequipa.

• 3 nights at Titilaka: Set on the quieter shore of the lake, Titilaka combines minimalist comforts with an eco-forward design attuned to its surroundings. Earth-toned suites command wide lake views and the sense of remoteness prevails.

Deposit/Payment Schedule:

In order to confirm your reservation, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of the booking. The remaining balance will be charged 120 days prior to the beginning of the trip. For more information or to confirm your place on this journey, please contact sales@priorworld.com.

Pricing:

• Double Occupancy: USD $15,990 / person
• Single Occupancy: USD $18,985

Inclusions:

• Accommodations at Hotel B, Cirqa, and Titilaka
• All tours and admission costs throughout the itinerary
• All meals throughout the itinerary
• All transportation throughout the itinerary, including domestic flights between Lima and Arequipa
• Gratuities

Exclusions:

• Airfare, except for the internal flight between Lima and Arequipa
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Any visa or travel requirements for entry into Peru
• Travel Insurance
• Other meals and alcoholic beverages not stated in itinerary

Inquiries:

For more information, please contact sales@priorworld.com.

Terms and Conditions:

Please note: For this trip to proceed, a certain minimum number of people must reserve a place. We will provide confirmation once this number has been reached so you may proceed with booking airfare and other forms of transportation.

If you choose to book airfare in advance of final confirmation, please book refundable fares or obtain travel insurance to protect yourself against additional charges should final dates change or cancellation occurs.

PRIOR strongly recommends that each member purchase travel and cancellation insurance. In addition, we recommend purchasing a policy that covers loss of luggage, accidents, sickness, and emergency medical evacuation.

Please note: All efforts are made to provide the itinerary as presented, PRIOR reserves the right to make any changes to the final itinerary deemed necessary or due to reasons beyond our control (change in flights, cancellations, political disturbances, natural disasters/phenomena, etc.).

Photographs or video recordings of members may be used for educational and promotional purposes by PRIOR or a host group/organization.