While the country is renowned world-wide for the historical riches of the Inca Empire, Peru’s more recent past is no less intriguing.

Journey with us to this fascinating country, and discover the true spirit of Peru with our exclusive Founder’s Collection invitation to meet Peruvian politician and philanthropist Dr. Francisco Diez-Canseco Távara.

Meeting Dr. Canseco in his ancestral family home, you’ll learn about Peru’s history through the personal lens of his family heritage, as he shares anecdotes and artefacts.

Discover this on: Treasures of the Incas

Meeting Dr. Canseco

In the vibrant Peruvian capital of Lima, you’ll have the privilege of joining Dr. Canseco for a private lunch at his charming villa. As you dine, Dr. Canseco shares stories of his family’s long heritage in Peru, which includes former presidents, politicians and Spanish nobility. You’ll also be treated to an intimate tour of his ancestral home, where many notable figures have set foot before you.

The first members of Dr. Canseco’s family arrived in Peru at the end of the 17th century. Since then, his family has acquired a large collection of paintings, sculptures and other works of art with great historical value—such as Venetian tables dating from the 19th Century and important paintings of the Cusco School.

You’ll also learn about his philanthropic activities, including projects in the highland of Peru that are supporting Indigenous farmers. An acclaimed lawyer, journalist, politician and philanthropist, you’ll come away with a deep and personal insight into the history of this fascinating country.

For travel inspiration: Peru destination guide

Peru’s rich history

Peru’s rich and complex history dates back thousands of years, with the earliest inhabitants arriving around about 15,000 years ago. The oldest civilization in the Americas, the Norte Chico, settled on Peru’s coast from around 3500 BCE to 1700 BCE. And, perhaps most famously, Peru was home to the 15th century Inca Empire. Under Spanish colonial rule from 1534, the country became an independent republic in 1824.

Peru’s Republican history is also a complex and fascinating tale. And, for guests of Luxury Gold, Dr. Canseco weaves a captivating narrative as he takes you on a personal tour of his home.

Related article: Mayta in Lima, Peru named one of the world’s top 50 restaurants

A home with a story to tell

To step inside Dr Canseco’s ancestral home is to step into a living museum. With the warmest of welcomes, explore room after room filled with fascinating mementos and historical treasures, each with a story to tell.

“I will show you a lot of artefacts that have been linked to the history of Peru. And specifically, to the republican history of Peru where my family has had an important role,” Dr Canseco explains.

One such item is a piece of fine chinaware. “In 1879 Peru was defeated by Chile in a war,” Dr. Canseco tells us. “At that time General Andrés Avelino Cáceres (who later became the president of Peru) started guerrilla warfare in the Andean region. His wife, Antonia Moreno Cáceres, whose initials are on this china, brought the ammunition and guns that Cáceres needed to fight the Chileans in the Andes to this very house. And then from here she took them to the Andean region.

“This is also a very beautiful telegram that was sent by John F. Kennedy to my mother, when my stepfather Mr Manuel Seoane, at that time the Ambassador for the Alliance of Progress, died in Washington. In this text Kennedy commends Seoane, as a fighter for freedom, democracy and social justice throughout Latin America.”

Related article: Exclusive travel encounters: Founder’s Collection

Treasures of the Incas

Meeting Dr Canseco is a highlight on Founder’s Collection departures of our Treasures of the Incas tour, but there is much more in store also.

Over 12 days explore 13 cities, with magnificent hotels and exceptional dining. See the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu, arriving before it opens to the crowds of day-trippers. In Lima, take a VIP tour of artist Victor Delfin’s home. Indulge in Pachamanca feasts in the Sacred Valley. Dine in Cusco at the city’s preeminent MAP restaurant and rest in luxury accommodations such as the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel—an enchanting Andean village resort, set amongst 12 acres of unspoiled cloud forests, with winding rivers, and misty waterfalls.

Read more: Step inside Peru’s blissful Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel

With our Founders Collection, we take you even further beyond your expectations. This is our exclusive collection of intimate invitations to meet European nobility, legendary locals and celebrated icons. Available on selected Luxury Gold departures, spend time with the people who have shaped the history of the places you are visiting.

There’s no better way to discover the real India than by meeting those who know her best. And few know her like the renowned writer, scholar and local historian Rana Safvi.

Journey with us to India on a Founder’s Collection and you’ll enjoy an intimate dinner with Rana at Sana-Di-Ge, where she will teach you about her studies of Indian culture and how they relate to present day life in India. Dine on the finest seafood, share experiences and delve deep into the heart of this fascinating country.

We spoke to her to find out more about what Luxury Gold guests can expect when they dine at her side in Delhi.

Discover this on: Imperial Rajasthan

Read more: Exclusive travel encounters: Founder’s Collection

One of India’s most revered minds

Described as a ‘a schoolteacher-turned-veteran writer on premodern India,’ Rana Safvi is one of India’s most acclaimed writers and scholars.

Rana’s authored work focusses on documenting the many monuments, shrines and structures that shine a light on India’s fascinating and extensive past. Through these she tells the story of India’s heritage, with a particular focus on architecture relating to the sultanates that ruled parts of India from the 13th century onwards. “I love interacting with people and showcasing my work and my country,” Rana tells us. “So, I am very excited to be meeting with Luxury Gold guests, and to share my love for India’s monuments and the stories and history around them. This country has such a unique culture and heritage it will be a delight to share stories with guests, and to help them get to know the real India.”

Always inspired and intrigued by her country, Rana began her writing career later on in life. Inspired by her time as a teacher, of her work she has said “The idea was to write narrative history that everybody could relate to, and therefore help reduce misinformation.”

For travel inspiration: India destination guide

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Making her mark on literature

Rana first emerged as a writer in 2004 when she started her blog ranasafvi.com, which has grown into an archive of cultural, literary and historical heritage. In 2015 she published her first book ‘Where Stones Speak: Historical Trails in Mehrauli.’ The book takes you on a walk through the oldest of Delhi’s seven cities, Mehrauli,. describing the religious diversity of its monuments, each a living memory of an era dissolved in history.

Rana is also a regular contributor to various national newspapers and magazines and is a much-sought after speaker at conferences and seminars. A skilled translator, Rana has also translated original Urdu works for today’s audience.

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Unravelling India’s complex and diverse past

Through her work, Rana is always keen to communicate that India’s past was diverse and complex. She documents not only Islamic, but Hindu and Buddhist monuments, including the oldest architectural remains of the earliest rock-cut caves.

She has also documented dargahs (shrines built over the graves of revered religious figures), and Delhi’s Jain and Hindu temples. This runs against the narrative that India’s Mughal-era Muslim rulers destroyed such structures.

Rana explains that in recent years, changes to historical curriculum in schools is serving to erase premodern or medieval Indian history from the public domain. This includes the renaming of road, stations and even whole cities. She aims to counter revisionism with ‘accessible’ accounts, as she documents India’s often-overlooked Muslim, Jain and Buddhist monuments.

Culture through cuisine

Passionate about food and its links with culture, Rana is also researching the food history of her country. She’s contributed many articles on the subject, participated in conferences and is currently part of a University of Sheffield project called Forgotten Food. For this she has contributed a chapter on Qorma, Qaliya and Awadh cuisine, for a food anthology which became a bestseller.

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A deep message to take away

“If guests could take one learning home from their visit to India to share with friends and family back home it would be the country’s rich heritage and culture,” Rana says. “There are so many layers, deeper than what you can see on one visit or read in guidebooks. It is important to be open and inquisitive, and to seek out the lesser-known stories and monuments. From here you can start to uncover the true India and understand all her wonderful complexities.”

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For the opportunity to meet Rana Safvi for yourself, take a look at our Imperial Rajasthan luxury guided tour. To see more exclusive encounters that we have in store on our journeys, read about our Founder’s Collection. Spend time with the people who have shaped the history of the places you go. Meet European nobility, legendary locals and celebrated icons. Curated by our founder, the late Stanley Tollman, these are his friendships from across the globe brought to you through exclusive meet and greets.