Peru adventure holiday, Sacred Land of the Incas
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | Departs selected Wednesdays and Sundays throughout the year |
| price: | From £1100 (15 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Discover a land of contrasts as you journey from Lima’s coastal shores, through the lushness of the Amazon Jungle, and onto the snow-capped peaks, llama-filled plains and quaint colonial towns of the Andean altiplano. Get up close to wildlife while staying in a jungle lodge, embark on the trek of a lifetime along the Inca Trail and immerse yourself in the culture and history of fascinating La Paz. This insightful adventure is sure to leave you astounded by the magic and mystery of the sacred land of the Incas.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Lima. Start to unravel Lima's history on an orientation walk around the city's major sights. |
| Days 2-3: | Amazon Jungle. Fly to the frontier town of Puerto Maldonado and travel by canoe into the dense forest of the famed Amazon. |
| Day 4: | Cuzco. The heart and soul of Peru is definitely buzzing in Cuzco, a great town to explore on foot. Discover the colonial churches and the impressive Inca ruins within the city. |
| Day 5: | Sacred Valley/Ollantaytambo. Travel by local bus through this lush, terraced valley on the outskirts of Cuzco, stopping at local villages to gain insight into both modern and ancient Peru. |
| Days 6-9: | Inca Trail/Machu Picchu. Embark on a four-day trek along the Inca Trail, accompanied by porters, a cook and a local guide. Take in the sights and sounds of the ancient route, hiking across high plateaus and through dense forests, stopping to observe the ruins of ancient villages and temples along the way. After all that hard work, explore stunning Machu Picchu. |
| Day 10: | Cuzco. Browse the stalls of the central market and pick up some woollen garments back in Cuzco. |
| Days 11-12: | Puno/Lake Titicaca. On Peru's border is the mystical Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Cruise to the incredible floating Uros Islands and Taquile Island, renowned for its literally man-made knits (the craft is a strictly male activity). |
| Days 13-15: | La Paz. Travel to Bolivia's capital and take in the sight of the surreal Valley of the Moon on an orientation walk. Hit the markets to pick up some quirky souvenirs. |
travellers' tales
The two most amazing pieces of the holiday were finally arriving at Machu Picchu and the truly beautiful lodge in the rain forest. (more)
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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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. In the Sacred Valley for example we travel on public bus and stop at local communities that others simply drive past.
Travellers are encouraged to eat at local restaurants and buy goods from the smaller towns or craft makers where the goods are produced, rather than from the bigger shops in cities. 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. During this trip we stay with Local families on Lake Titicaca. You will be surprised how much you can learn from a conversation with a friendly local. The majority of our leaders are local Peruvians who we train and support in all the aspects and responsibilities involved on leading trip for international travellers. This opens many doors for them and assists them on their professional growth both Leaders are specifically trained on ways to reduce our carbon print and on how to show and encourage travellers to behave the same way (taking short showers, turning off a/c or heaters and lights when they leave the room. |
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. |