Classic tour to Peru
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Inca Trail, Machu Picchu |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holiday |
| departures: | Departs 1-3 Mondays a month throughout the year |
| price: | From £915 (10 days) including domestic flights only, as per the itinerary, based on twin share. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
In the 15th century, Peru was the heartland of the Inca Empire, with Cusco as its capital. Today, Peru is rich in both Inca and Spanish colonial culture and you can conquer it in just a few days. Lima is built on the coastal desert strip nestled between the mountains and the sea. Just a short flight away is Cusco, built on the foundations of the old Inca capital. The great cathedral dominates the city, overlooking cobblestone streets packed with ancient shops and delicious restaurants.
To the north, looming over the town, is the temple of Sacsayhuaman and out in the Sacred Valley is the market town of Pisac. A highlight of any visit to Peru is the world-renowned four-day Inca Trail trek. Arriving at the Sun Gate, the entrance to Machu Picchu, is an experience that you will remember forever. Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (6 nights comfortable hotel, 3 nights camping), transport, porterage on Inca Trail trek, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, foam mattress, kit bag), some meals (9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), sightseeing, entrance and park fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
To the north, looming over the town, is the temple of Sacsayhuaman and out in the Sacred Valley is the market town of Pisac. A highlight of any visit to Peru is the world-renowned four-day Inca Trail trek. Arriving at the Sun Gate, the entrance to Machu Picchu, is an experience that you will remember forever. Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (6 nights comfortable hotel, 3 nights camping), transport, porterage on Inca Trail trek, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, foam mattress, kit bag), some meals (9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners), sightseeing, entrance and park fees.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | (Mon) Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel. City tour of colonial centre, rebuilt after after the city was virtually destroyed by an earthquake. Many of the colonial buildings were rebuilt and we get a first-hand look at several of them on our city tour. |
| Day 3-4: | Morning flight to Cusco. Afternoon walking tour. Cusco's main sites radiate outwards from the main Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the 17th century Baroque Cathedral. It was in this very plaza that the Spanish conquistadors put to death the last Inca king, Tupac Amaru. We also take to the hills and visit the impressive ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman, before heading into the Urubamba Valley to the colourful market town of Pisac. |
| Day 5-7: | Hike the Inca Trail reaching a height of 4200 metres. Our trek begins at 'Kilometre 88' and, for four days, we follow the course of an old Inca pathway leading to the ruins of the deserted city of Machu Picchu. Our route takes us over high mountain passes and through a landscape dotted with well-preserved remnants of the Incan culture. |
| Day 8: | Arrive Machu Picchu for sunrise from the Sun Gate. Here we enjoy our first stunning views of the ruins complex of Machu Picchu, often referred to as the Lost City of the Incas. We tour the ruins with our tour guide and then have some free time to explore by ourselves. Take the bus to the small town of Aguas Calientes. Train to Cusco. |
| Day 9: | Free day in Cusco with time for optional activities. Plenty of opportunities to shop or wander around the cobbled streets, visiting museums, churches and colonial sites. |
| Day 10: | Fly to Lima where trip ends upon arrival (Wed). |
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
|
See Peru through the eyes of a local, as your Peruvian tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up his or her homeland. Wandering around historic colonial towns and cities, discovering magnificent archaeological sites, exploring valleys and mountains and uncovering secluded villages impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people living in the various regions also have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip.
Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’. To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
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. |