Inca adventure, Lima to La Paz
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Weekly Friday departures available |
| price: | From £920 (21 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $450. Max group size 12 people. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
From the arid coastal plain, head deep into the Andes and on to the Bolivian capital, La Paz.
Hike along the ancient trail of the Incas to Machu Picchu and explore the colonial jewel of Cuzco, the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city. See the condors of Colca Canyon and the unique island cultures of Lake Titicaca on this exciting adventure.
Price includes accommodation (simple hotels, overnight bus, camping & homestay), meals during Inca Trail hike & homestay, and transport (public bus, plane, train, boat & hiking).
Note: The Inca Trail is a moderate 4 day hike at high altitude. Should you choose not to hike the Inca Trail, please let us know when booking as, without prior warning, local fees may apply. The traditional Inca Trail is closed for regeneration in the month of February and an alternative route is used.
Hike along the ancient trail of the Incas to Machu Picchu and explore the colonial jewel of Cuzco, the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city. See the condors of Colca Canyon and the unique island cultures of Lake Titicaca on this exciting adventure.
Price includes accommodation (simple hotels, overnight bus, camping & homestay), meals during Inca Trail hike & homestay, and transport (public bus, plane, train, boat & hiking).
Note: The Inca Trail is a moderate 4 day hike at high altitude. Should you choose not to hike the Inca Trail, please let us know when booking as, without prior warning, local fees may apply. The traditional Inca Trail is closed for regeneration in the month of February and an alternative route is used.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Lima. Take a guided walk through the Plaza Mayor. Packed with 16th and 17th century churches, houses and palaces, this area is a testament to the power of the Spanish conquistadors. |
| Day 2: | Pisco. Take a walk along the town's lively Peatonal before kicking back with a pisco sour in the Plaza de Armas. |
| Day 3-4: | Nazca Lines. Hang out with sea lions on an optional visit to the Ballestas Islands before travelling past the rolling sand dunes that lead to Nazca. This is the home of the mysterious Nazca Lines, huge patterns etched into the ground. For the best view of the lines, take an optional flight over the desert. |
| Day 5: | Arequipa. Set against the snow-capped El Misti Volcano, Arequipa is a haven of white colonial buildings, sunny plazas and sophisticated Peruvians. |
| Day 6-7: | Colca Canyon. Explore the fascinating villages and take in the breathtaking views around Colca, one of the world's deepest canyons. This is a prime place to spot magnificent condors soaring high above. |
| Day 8: | Cuzco. This is Peru's heart and soul, the Incas' homeland, and the first colonial capital. |
| Day 9: | Sacred Valley. The Incas built a string of temples and fortresses throughout the lush Sacred Valley. Climb over enormous Inca terraces and spend the night near the massive ruins of Ollantaytambo. |
| Day 10-13: | The Inca Trail. Hit the trail for the ultimate Inca experience. Trekking through stunning mountain scenery, pass ruins, villages and llamas to reach the spectacular ruins of Machu Picchu. |
| Day 14-16: | Cuzco. Back in Cuzco there are plenty of opportunities to keep the legs pumping. Head to the imposing hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuaman that watches over the city below or set off on a white water rafting or horse riding adventure. |
| Day 17: | Puno. Travel through the spectacular altiplano region to Puno and the shores of Lake Titicaca. |
| Day 18-19: | Lake Titicaca. Explore Lake Titicaca by boat. Spend the night on one of the islands and get an insight into the food, language and local customs. |
| Day 20-21: | La Paz. Our incredible journey through the homeland of the Inca comes to an end in the colourful streets, hectic markets and grand churches of La Paz. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's 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 people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
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
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We just can't get enough of the Amazon, not only as a jaw-dropping travel destination but also as a global treasure and this trip will help to ensure that the incredibly Amazon Rainforest is here for us to enjoy for generations to come! Our Amazon Fund will help support on the ground projects by our foundation's long time partners Greenpeace and WWF. By booking your Latin American adventure with us you're helping us work towards a sustainable future for the Amazon.
This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey. Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. Local guides are employed to help explain as much as possible about the cultural differences and the historically significant places that we visit. This also allows us to appreciate the importance of preserving and respecting these sites and to help us minimise the impact of our visits. When hiking, we always ensure that travellers stick to marked trails, take all their rubbish with them and follow a set of hiking guidelines for the protection of the environment. There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts. |
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. |