Inca adventure, Lima to La Paz
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs once a week most weeks throughout the year |
| price: | From £970 (21 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Head deep into the Andes and across Peru to the mountain top Bolivian capital, La Paz. Hike the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, explore the depths of the Colca Canyon, and experience the island cultures of Lake Titicaca on a homestay. Discover the diverse scenery of Peru and Bolivia on this exciting overland journey for a glimpse at the homeland of the Incas.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Lima. Get to know this vibrant city, starting with its bustling colonial centre. |
| Day 2: | Pisco. Stroll along the lively peatonal (pedestrian avenue) then relax in a local cafe. |
| Days 3-4: | Nazca. Take an optional boat tour to the Ballestas Islands, a nature reserve for pelicans, flamingos and sea lions. Learn about the ancient mummies of the Nazca Desert and perhaps splash out with a scenic flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. |
| Day 5: | Arequipa. Dazzlingly white Arequipa oozes Spanish-colonial charm. |
| Days 6-7: | Chivay/Colca Canyon. Enjoy expansive views at Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. From a base in Chivay, take short hikes to see it it all up close. |
| Days 8-9: | Cuzco. Inca-built walls line the central streets of fascinating Cuzco. |
| Day 10: | Sacred Valley/Ollantaytambo. Meet members of a Sacred Valley community then spot llamas en route to Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish. |
| Days 11-14: | Inca Trail/Machu Picchu. View the ancient ruins of Llactapata, an inn burnt to the ground by the last Inca emperor, then trek to the incomparable Machu Picchu. |
| Day 15: | Cuzco. Optional mountain biking and hiking options abound - or just rest those trek-weary legs at Plaza de Armas. |
| Day 16: | Puno. A visit to Yavari is highly recommended; learn the interesting history of this all-in-one ship, museum and bar. |
| Days 17-19: | Puno/Lake Titicaca. Set sail for the isolated Uros floating islands, built from many layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows. Stay with a local family on the lake. |
| Days 20-21: | La Paz. End the adventure in market-filled 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. |