Peru & Bolivia hiking holiday
| country: | Bolivia, Peru |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 31 Aug, 7 Sep, 28 Sep, 26 Oct, 9 Nov, 7 Dec |
| price: | From £1590 (19 days) excluding flights. Price includes all equipment & park fees. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Hiram Bingham's discovery of Machu Picchu high in the Andes in 1911 revealed an incredible Inca architectural masterpiece. It was a startling find that provides a highlight to our trek along the Inca Trail. Combine this with time in the Amazonian rain forest and a journey through Bolivia and you have a remarkable experience. We venture deep into the Amazonian rainforest, while in Cusco we wander the Quechua Indian markets.
On the trail, our unsurpassed expertise in organising treks in the Andes comes to the fore as we ascend from the jungle to the snow capped Andean peaks to complete our remote and spectacular approach to Machu Picchu. Travelling to Lake Titicaca, we visit the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands, before crossing the dramatic Altiplano to the thriving Bolivian capital of La Paz, the heart of traditional pan-flute music.
It is possible to terminate this trip on Day 16.
On the trail, our unsurpassed expertise in organising treks in the Andes comes to the fore as we ascend from the jungle to the snow capped Andean peaks to complete our remote and spectacular approach to Machu Picchu. Travelling to Lake Titicaca, we visit the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands, before crossing the dramatic Altiplano to the thriving Bolivian capital of La Paz, the heart of traditional pan-flute music.
It is possible to terminate this trip on Day 16.
what's included on our Peru & Bolivia hiking holiday
18 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6 dinners, internal flights in Peru valued at US$267, airport transfers, expert bilingual guide, group medical kit, comfortable and central hotels, private internal transportation, gear pack including sleeping bag, fibre filled jacket and sleeping mat, group camping equipment, porters to carry personal gear, sightseeing and site entrance fees as listed (including Machu Picchu entrance fee).day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join Lima |
| Day 2-3: | Fly to Puerto Maldonado, transfer to jungle lodge, day walks and gentle canoe trips |
| Day 4: | Fly to Cusco |
| Day 5: | Walking tour of Cusco |
| Day 6: | Drive to Sacred Valley of the Incas |
| Day 7: | Walk in Sacred Valley |
| Day 8-9: | Commence trek along legendary Inca Trail |
| Day 11: | Trek to Machu Picchu |
| Day 12: | At Machu Picchu, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, drive to Cusco |
| Day 13: | In Cusco |
| Day 14: | Transfer by private bus to Puno |
| Day 15: | Visit islands of Lake Titicaca by boat, overnight with a local family |
| Day 16: | Return to Puno and drive Copacabana |
| Day 21: | Drive to La Paz |
| Day 21: | In La Paz |
| Day 21: | Trip concludes in La Paz |
avoid disappointment - book your Inca Trail holiday in time
In the last few years, the Peruvian government has imposed increasing restrictions on tourism on the Inca Trail in order to protect it from overuse. The aim is to minimise ecological impact and erosion, mainly by having limited access and improving the quality of the operators. There are now only a very limited number of trekking permits available - 500 per day (around 200 for travellers and the rest for staff) - and they are being issued on a first-come-first-served basis. In order to avoid disappointment we recommend booking well in advance (up to a minimum of 3 months in peak season), unless you are extremely flexible over your travel dates.small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends 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.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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Our operational base in Cusco has been instrumental in raising the standards of porter conditions and welfare in the Andes. We are founding members of the Peruvian Association of Adventure Tourism Workers (ATTAP) and the Peruvian Adventure Tourism Association (APTAE). Our management team based in Peru have been instrumental in the recently introduced legislation to ensure that the numbers on the legendary Inca Trail are environmentally sustainable.
All human waste is carried off the trails by the use of PETT toilets which use 100% biodegradable bags and chemical-free cleaning agents. You will contribute to our pioneering scheme to reduce the vast numbers of plastic water bottles that are put into the waste dumps and land fills since there are no plastic recycling plants in the South Eastern Andes of Peru. We have made arrangements with all the hotels that we use to allow us to provide you with large containers of spring water and fill your bottles as necessary and avoid the need to buy water only available in plastic bottles. In 2003 alone this project has prevented more than 15,000 plastic bottles entering the environment. A proportion of the cost of this trip will pay for a team of doctors and health workers to visit the villages of the porters every year. They also take this opportunity to attend to any villagers who need immediate attention. This is a very costly procedure but makes a very big difference to the general health and well being of the villagers. |
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. |