Inca Highlights, adventure tour
| country: | Bolivia, Peru |
| departures: | 2009: 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 16 Dec, 26 Dec, 30 Dec 2010: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 31 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 21 Apr, 1 May, 12 May, 15 May |
| price: | From £840 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment of US $640. Carbon offset donation (optional) £10 (see below for details) |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
This Inca highlights adventure tour is specially designed to offer you a rich experience of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Peru and Bolivia, in a relatively short period of time.
You will see the very best of Peru's ancient Inca monuments, Bolivia's stunning scenery and Andean culture. We include many excursions, such as the Inca Trail trek or Lares Valley trek (or visit to Machu Picchu by train for reduced tour price), Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley tour, Sacred Valley, Amazon Jungle, Uros, Amantaní & Taquile Islands.
Fifteen days in total are included in the tour price (from the arrival day until check-out time on the final day of the trip). Included in this price are 8 nights in hotels, 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail where all equipment is provided except sleeping bags. 2 nights in jungle lodge (triple share). 1 night is spent on the Island of Amantani (Lake Titicaca excursion) with local Indians. Rooms are very basic (no electricity, sheets, outside toilet only and no showers). The local families provide thick, warm blankets.
All meals are included on the Inca Trail, in the Amazon Jungle and while on Amantaní Island.
You will see the very best of Peru's ancient Inca monuments, Bolivia's stunning scenery and Andean culture. We include many excursions, such as the Inca Trail trek or Lares Valley trek (or visit to Machu Picchu by train for reduced tour price), Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley tour, Sacred Valley, Amazon Jungle, Uros, Amantaní & Taquile Islands.
Fifteen days in total are included in the tour price (from the arrival day until check-out time on the final day of the trip). Included in this price are 8 nights in hotels, 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail where all equipment is provided except sleeping bags. 2 nights in jungle lodge (triple share). 1 night is spent on the Island of Amantani (Lake Titicaca excursion) with local Indians. Rooms are very basic (no electricity, sheets, outside toilet only and no showers). The local families provide thick, warm blankets.
All meals are included on the Inca Trail, in the Amazon Jungle and while on Amantaní Island.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | Lima - Puerto Maldonado - Amazon Jungle (or free time): The tour begins in Lima, Peru's capital. Lima has many fine colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Many of the sights, including the city's two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance. If you want more time to explore Lima properly you may wish to allow a few extra days at the beginning of your trip. On Day 2 we fly to the jungle community of Puerto Maldonado, our starting point to visit the Amazon rainforest. If you choose not to visit the Amazon Jungle you will have free time in Cuzco and a portion of your tour cost will be deducted. This bustling town has many thousands of motorcycles, busy markets and shops. Upon arrival we have a short tour of the town's medicinal markets. Our journey begins here to the jungle lodge, firstly by bus and then motorised canoe, a 30km journey along the Amazon River to our jungle lodge: (Approx 2 hours total, bus & canoe). The large canoes are very safe and lifejackets are supplied. Arriving at the inviting lodge at the river's edge you will be allocated a bungalow, all of which are built from rustic and typical materials from the area, protected from mosquitoes and include a private en suite bathroom. All excursions are led by local guides who specialise in biology and ecology, and all our jungle guides are English speaking. Our jungle program begins with an introductory walk in the jungle. You will have plenty of time to enjoy marvelous landscapes and rich diversity of flora and fauna. It is possible to see a great variety of monkeys such as the ‘maquisapa', the black and the white ‘Martins', ‘Leoncito de la Selva' (Little lions), ‘Frailes' (Friars), ‘Achuñis', ‘Ronsocos' etc, as well as an array of birdlife. In the evenings it is possible to enjoy the wonderful sunset, one of the most impressive sights of the forest (weather permitting). During the evening we will travel by canoe to spot caiman and other nocturnal wildlife along the rivers edge. On day 3 we will awake to the sounds of the jungle. After a typical jungle breakfast we will set off early to walk through the rainforest along specially adapted pathways with bridges to cross the marshes. Our guide will explain the medicinal plants and delicate ecological systems of the Amazon Jungle before arriving at a hidden oxbow lake. The lake has transparent waters surrounded by wide marshes and giant trees. We take a short canoe ride observing caiman, abundant bird life and the possibility to catch a glimpse of the rare giant otter. Afterwards we will enjoy the view of the lake and observe the parrots, guacamayos, toucans, camungos, shanshos, herons, turtles and caiman (alligators) from our viewing point. Then we will return to the lodge for a well deserved lunch. A short siesta to pass the heat of the day and then it's time to visit a farming family close by the lodge, to observe the local way of life of the Amazon people. This evening our guide will take us on a short night walk to listen to the sounds and sights of the jungle. |
| Day 4-5: | Cuzco - Sacsayhuaman - Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo: On the final day in the jungle we return upriver to Puerto Maldonado for our flight back to Cuzco where you have the rest of the day free to further explore this fascinating ancient capital. Make the most of your free time to explore Cuzco's amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, many of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways. On a hill overlooking the city stands the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where some of the most spectacular Inca walls can be found, one of the stones is a massive 130 tons. This is also the location of the famous annual Inti Raymi Festival, which takes place on the 24th June. In close proximity are some other fine examples of the Inca ingenuity: Kenko, Tambo Machay and Puka Pukara. In the evening those who are trekking to Machu Picchu will have a briefing to prepare for the Inca Trail Trek. A full day is spent visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas; firstly, Pisac ruins, perched on a hilltop with incredible views of the snow-capped mountains, and down to the famous traditional Indian market of the same name, which is full of colour and atmosphere. A great place for souvenirs! After lunch, we continue along the valley to the temple-fortress of Ollantaytambo with its enormous Inca terracing constructed on the side of a steep mountain. Those on the Inca Trail Trek will have will have an early departure the following morning. |
| Day 6-10: | Take on the Inca Trail Trek or alternative Lares Valley Trek (or have free time) - Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes - Cuzco: You can trek the famous Inca Trail or the no less stunning Lares Valley Trek for an off-the-beaten-track alternative route. Both treks culminate in a visit to the Lost City of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was originally completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs. Located high above the fast flowing Urubamba River, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation that will simply take your breath away. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can't help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site. You return to Cuzco in the afternoon by train. The next day is free to enjoy Cuzco. |
| Day 11-13: | Puno - Lake Titicaca - Uros, Amantaní & Taquile Islands – Puno: Leaving Cuzco, we'll drive along roads abundant with herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas before reaching the Altiplano (high plain) where our journey takes us past hot mineral pools, snow capped mountains and through villages where you can meet local Indians selling food, fur hats and alpaca sweaters. At the highest point, the La Raya pass at 4,321 metres, you can see the research station for high altitude animals. The beautiful scenery is continual all the way to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, which at 3,855 metres above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. We'll arrive in time so you can visit the colourful market or you can visit the unique burial towers at Sillustani (optional). The next morning departing Puno for our overnight excursion we visit the floating reed islands in the Bay of Puno to see the Uros Indian's way of life and ride in a traditional reed boat before continuing our boat journey to the island of Amantaní. Here we enjoy the hospitality of the native Aymara/Quechua Indian families and sleep in their homes overnight. We usually purchase gifts for the families at the port of Puno. The next morning we visit Taquile Island, where the men stand knit distinctive woollen hats while the women work the fields. You can buy some of these unique handicrafts in the local co-operative shops, which helps to support the local economy. After lunch we board our boat for the return journey to Puno. |
| Day 14-15: | Puno - La Paz: We travel by bus across the scenic Altiplano as we make our way towards Bolivia, following the shores of Lake Titicaca. After crossing the border we continue our journey to Bolivia's capital, experiencing breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains as the road winds its way down into La Paz the highest capital city in the world at 3,636 metres. La Paz is built in the basin of a canyon with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. Our hotel is very centrally located and just around the corner from the city's colourful Indian street markets including the fascinating and suitably named "witches market'' where bowler-hatted women in their flared skirts sell such items as dead cats and llamas foetuses which are placed under new buildings to keep evil spirits away. La Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local groups of musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas and charangos. There are several non-included optional excursions available around La Paz if you are staying on for a few extra days. Our tour concludes on Day 15 in La Paz. |
travellers' tales
Swimming in the Amazon, learning about the jungle and meeting a Shaman, Salsa dancing in Cusco, staying with a local family in Armanti and folk dancing to traditional music, the colours, textiles and crafts, music, food and drink (more)
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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Travelling on local public bus, by foot and by train, this Inca highlights adventure tour allows you to meet the people of Peru and Bolivia in a small group, while minimising our carbon emissions impact on the local environment.
We encourage you to learn at least a few phrases of Spanish and interact with the locals as much as possible to enhance your experience. Language sheets are available on our website and our tour leaders are able to teach you useful phrases on the road. If you’re courageous enough to test out your language skills on public transport and start a friendly conversation you’ll learn more about the culture than you could from any travel book! Your tour leader will introduce you to many local restaurants and bars throughout the tour, helping you discover the authentic local cuisine and offering you the opportunity to support local businesses. Local guides will also lend their expertise to the journey, including the ecological, historical background and cultural significance of the places we visit. Our Inca Trail Porters policy protects the rights and conditions of porters and is strictly enforced. For other activities we choose only the best trained guides, who will help you to appreciate the importance of respecting the environment of these heritage sites and understand the conservation efforts being undertaken in various areas. Your entrance fees will help to conserve and preserve heritage sites, such as ancient ruins, while entrance fees at national parks support the conservation efforts of forest and native animal and bird species. The Inca Trail is strictly protected and a limited number of permits are issued each day. This is a necessary conservation regulation, but please be advised that this can make it difficult to obtain Inca Trail permits. We offer an alternative off-the-beaten-track trek to the Lares Valley, which is a beautiful alternative to the more famous, well-trodden trail. Your tour leader and local guides will give you a briefing on how to preserve the environment before your trek. We will visit many local shopping districts and markets along the way, giving you plenty of opportunity to support local merchants. We would encourage you to purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans rather than mass produced goods from chain stores, as you will learn more about the skill involved in the production, while also supporting the craft itself. We have a full Responsible Travel policy available on our website, which our reservations team will send you a link to when you book. It’s full of practical tips for responsible travellers and details our company’s commitment to minimising our impact on the people and the places that we visit. 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. |