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Inca adventure holiday

country:Peru
location:Inca Trail, Peruvian Amazon 
trip type: A small group adventure
departures:2009: 11 Oct
price:From £1040 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $300. We can arrange flights from the UK
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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introduction to Inca adventure holiday

Trekking the Inca Trail is one of the world’s great experiences. On this trip we not only get to hike through the mountains to Machu Picchu but also explore other parts of Peru’s spectacular selection of sights and scenery.

We enjoy a homestay on Lake Titicaca, providing an insight into the way of life of the Uros Indians, uncover the secrets of the Incas in Cuzco, the ancient capital, and spend two nights in a remote lodge deep in the Amazon jungle.
day-by-day itinerary
Day 1:Lima: Arrival day.
Day 2:Lima - Amazon: We fly from Lima to Cuzco and on to Puerto Maldonado, where we transfer by boat to our remote jungle lodge. (BLD)
Day 3:Amazon: A full day to explore the Amazon jungle on foot and by canoe, accompanied by a local guide who will explain about the flora and fauna. (BLD)
Day 4-5:Amazon - Cuzco: We fly to Cuzco where the rest of your time is free to explore this delightful old Incan city. There is the option to visit the Sacred Valley, home to a number of impressive Inca ruins, bustling markets and friendly villages. (B)
Day 6-9:Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: We start our hike through the mountains to Machu Picchu. The going can be tough at times but the views are spectacular and we pass Inca sites on the way. On day 9 we rise early for the last part of the hike, arriving at Machu Picchu just after sunrise. We spend the rest of the day exploring the ancient city before returning to Cuzco in the afternoon. (Day 6-8 - BLD, Days 9 - B)
Day 10:Cuzco: A further day to explore Cuzco. Wander the cobbled streets, see some of the old churches, go shopping or perhaps ride horses to one of the many archaeological sites outside the city. (B)
Day 11:Cuzco - Puno: We take the bus to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the hightest navigable lake in the world. (B)
Day 12:Lake Titicaca: We head out onto the sparkling waters of Lake Titicaca and visit the floating reed islands that have been made by the local Uros people. We spend the night with local families on one of the islands. (BLD)
Day 13: Lake Titicaca - Puno: After saying farewell to hour host families, we visit Taquile Island before returning by boat to Puno. (B)
Day 14:Puno - Juliaca - Lima: We fly back to Lima. We stay in Miraflores, a lively district of Peru's capital city. (B)
Day 15:Lima: Tour ends.
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 2007 Virgin Holidays 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
On these trips we travel around Peru to discover the wonders of this country. We use small local suppliers and guides in each one of the cities and places we visit, instead of using one of the big Peruvian operators nationwide. That way we are sure that the income that this tour produces is equally distributed to all areas of Peru, and does not remain only in Lima. At the same time in enables our travellers to enjoy the best local knowledge in each one of the areas we visit.

The accommodation used during the tour are small hotels which are privately owned by families or small local entrepreneurs. They are all simple but nice and clean, and you will feel welcome from the moment you arrive.

Again we try not to use nationwide chains, where the money does not remain in the different areas, but all goes to Lima. In Lake Titicaca we share a night with local families on the Amantani Island. The group gets divided and no more than 2 or 3 people stay at one home. A strict rotating system is carried out to make sure that all families get the same number of guests staying over a month. That way the income is equally distributed throughout the community. This is a fantastic opportunity to get close and understand the life in the countryside of Peru. You will take with you small gifts for your host, and they will share their food and their house with you, and will show you their traditions and dances in a little local party. Their hospitality will be something that you will remember long after the trip.

In an effort to reduce damage to the Inca Trail and ultimately preserve this unique corner of the earth for future generations, the Inca Trail governing body introduced new rules in 2004 limiting the number of trekkers to 500 per day (this includes travellers, guides, porters and any other crew). So as not to take up un-necessary permits, to leave as many as possible for other travellers and to reduce our impact on the trail, unlike other tour operators we do not include an individual porter for each member of the group. We enable travellers to purchase the use of 'half' a porter (ie to share a porter with another traveller) for those who need extra help.

In all cases, we do not allow our porters to carry any more weight than that permitted by the local authorities (15kg per porter), as is unfortunately common practice on the trail. We work really hard to be sure that our porters are fairly treated and paid.

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