Andean holiday experience
| country: | Bolivia, Peru |
| departures: | 2009: 21 Nov, 28 Nov, 26 Dec 2010: 16 Jan, 6 Feb, 27 Feb, 6 Mar, 13 Mar, 27 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 24 Apr, 15 May, 29 May, 19 Jun, 26 Jun, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 31 Jul, 14 Aug, 28 Aug, 4 Sep, 11 Sep, 25 Sep, 9 Oct, 30 Oct, 13 Nov |
| price: | From £1040 (21 days) excluding flights plus local payment US $870. Carbon offset donation (optional) £10 (see below for details) |
| offers: | Save 15% off all departures on Overland Expeditions until 31 December 2009. Must be booked and deposit paid by 30 November. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Discount applies to tour price only, does not include local payment |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Andean holiday experience
Experience the wonders of Peru and Bolivia on this Andean holiday experience, travelling through some of the world's most spectacular scenery. Travel through parched deserts, marvel at snow-capped mountains, trek through pristine rainforests and visit some of the oldest civilisations on earth. If you want to see the incredible diversity these countries offer then this is the trip for you.
Experience the wonders of Peru and Bolivia on this Andean holiday experience, travelling through some of the world's most spectacular scenery. Travel through parched deserts, marvel at snow-capped mountains, trek through pristine rainforests and visit some of the oldest civilisations on earth. If you want to see the incredible diversity these countries offer then this is the trip for you.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Lima. Our tour starts from Lima where a third of Peru's population live. This desert capital has a diverse range of historical buildings and monuments to explore not to mention the spectacular museums, something for everyone's taste. |
| Day 2-4: | Pisco - Ballestas Islands - Huanchaco Oasis - Nazca. A journey south along the coast to the small town of Pisco, made famous by the national cocktail, the pisco sour. From nearby Paracas a motorboat takes us to see the abundant birdlife and sea lions which inhabit the Ballestas Islands. Our journey now takes us inland via the giant dunes of Huanchaco where you can try sand boarding. Our destination is the town of Nazca where we can view one of the world's great mysteries by taking an optional flight in a light aircraft over the infamous lines and figures. The nearby Chauchilla Cemetery (optional) has a wonderful display of well preserved mummies. Next we take a pretty luxurious night bus to Arequipa |
| Day 5-7: | Arequipa - Colca Canyon The beautiful colonial city of Arequipa sits at the foot of El Misti Volcano and this will be our base from which we visit the Colca Canyon, the world's deepest. With luck we shall see the world's largest flying bird, the condor, soaring on the thermal air currents. Besides seeing the extraordinary mountain desert scenery, we also have the option to relax in hot thermal pools before returning to Arequipa |
| Day 8-13: | Cuzco - Free Time or Inca Trail - Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cuzco A short scenic flight over the Andes to the capital of the Inca Empire until 1533, to Cuzco, where some streets are still lined with perfectly preserved Inca stonework, many of which serve as foundations for colonial buildings. Plenty of free time to explore the city and its environs, before we take the train to Aguas Calientes to visit the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. If you wish, you can take a 4-day hike along the spectacular Inca Trail, a rugged trek through magnificent scenery with our local porters to share the load and prepare our meals. A day is spent exploring the ruins before returning to Cuzco by train. We then spend a full day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which includes a visit to the colourful market town of Pisac and its ruins plus the massive Ollantaytambo temple which adorns the mountainside. |
| Day 14-16: | Puerto Maldonado - Amazon jungle - Cuzco Next we travel by aircraft to the jungle town of Puerto Maldonado, where we'll be met by our local guide and taken by canoe down the Tambopata River to our lodge in the heart of the tropical Amazon rainforest. During this excursion, we travel by dug-out canoe and on foot through the jungle to see the shy wildlife with our guide explaining about this delicate ecosystem before we return by flight to Cuzco |
| Day 17-19: | Puno - Uros, Amantani & Taquile Islands An interesting bus journey to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The Indians sell food and local specialities by throwing them through the window for inspection before bargaining begins. Once at the lake we visit the Uros floating reed Islands before staying overnight with local Indians on Amantani Island. We also stopover on Taquile Island, a fascinating place to learn the traditions of these hard-working folk. Later in the day we make our way back to Puno for a possible night of traditional Andean music. |
| Day 20-21: | La Paz. We travel along the shores of Lake Titicaca into Bolivia. Our journey takes us across the high Altiplano with incredible scenery every step of the way. The view on arrival above La Paz, the world's highest capital, is simply stunning and one which will stick in your mind for years to come. The bowler-hatted women in their flared skirts selling their wares is certainly a fascinating sight, especially at the strange witches market. Due to the very high altitude, the sights in La Paz will literally take your breath away |
small group adventure holiday
Whether you are travelling alone or with friends/family its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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This Andean holiday experience aims to present the diversity of Peru and some of Bolivia to our clients. The varied modes of transport, different standards of accommodation, and variety of excursions give clients insight into the many cultures of Peru and Bolivia. The utilisation of local transport gives our tours a rustic feel while supporting the local Economy. For example, travelling to the Amantani Islands on local canoes allows clients to view their surroundings in an environmentally non – invasive manner.
Through utilising such locally owned and operated services, we ensure the money generated in the region goes straight back into the community. The operation of the canoes are governed entirely by the indigenous people. This means that this community knows how many people are on their islands at any one time and are free to make decisions in regard to this matter, always maintaining a genuine concern for their fellow inhabitants. Carbon Offset Scheme: Working in partnership with international conservation charity World Land Trust in our continuing quest to establish and maintain our position as a leader in responsible travel, we are offering a new way for our travellers to make a real contribution to the health of the planet - the Carbon Offset Scheme. World Land Trust is a not-for-profit, international conservation organisation that takes direct action to save rainforest and other biologically important lands. Since it was founded in 1989, it has helped local conservation organisations to purchase and protect over 375,000 acres of threatened habitats in Asia, Europe and Central and South America. There are many organisations offering carbon offsetting services, however we believe that World Land Trust has the most scientifically sound approach and socially responsible philosophy. When you book your tour with us you will be able to offset a portion of your share of the carbon emissions created while you are on your tour. We will calculate what clients have donated, and donate an additional 10% of the total to World Land Trust. So the more you contribute, the more we can give! We will also absorb all processing fees associated with these payments, so there’s no administration cost to World Land Trust and they can spend the money donated where it counts - protecting threatened habitats worldwide. What Will Happen to the Contributions? World Land Trust will fund projects on your behalf through their Carbon Balanced programme, which reduces the amount of damage carbon emissions are doing to the environment. We will not profit from your carbon offsetting donations. Your contributions will be made directly to World Land Trust and we will not receive any direct financial benefit or commission from these donations. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |