Peru and Inca Trail small group adventure
| country: | Peru |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 29 Nov 2010: 7 Mar, 4 Apr, 2 May, 11 Jun, 1 Aug |
| price: | From £625 (15 days) - £845 (19 days) excluding flights, plus US $375 - US $500 local payment. Price includes accommodation, most meals, transport, transfers, Inca trail to Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley Tour, Ballestas Islands Boat Tour. We can help arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This trip takes in all the best that Peru has to offer.
Travelling on a variety of public transport, from buses, trains, and even planes and staying at a variety of small, locally owned and run hotels and guesthouses our local Peruvian guide will show you the highlights of this diverse country.
From the fascinating museums of Lima, we travel to the spectacular marine reserve of the Ballestas Islands. In complete contrast we travel from here to the Ica desert and a local winery and the Oasis of Huacachina, a palm fringed lake surrounded by impressive sand dunes where there is an option to dune buggy and a chance for all to sleep out under the stars.
Our next destination is perhaps one of Peru’s most famous –the Nazca Lines, still surrounded in mystery as to their purpose. The beautiful colonial city of Arequipa is our next destination and the Colca Canyon (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an area of astounding beauty) with an option to view the giant Andean condors circling lazily in the thermals rising from the canyon floor. From here we fly to Cuzco (saving a 10 hour bus journey). This stunning city-a fascinating mix of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture has a wealth of sights to explore (if you want to, alternatively just soak up the atmosphere in a local cafe) before we visit the temples, markets and local communities of Urubamba.
No visit to Peru would be complete without our next destination-a trek along one of the Inca trails to Machu Picchu, one of the most beautiful and enigmatic sites of the ancient world. The only major Inca site to escape looting and destruction it is remarkably well-preserved and an iconic destination.
From here we take the train back to Cuzco for a day of relaxation, or, if you’ve still got the energy there’s the option to go white water rafting on the Urubamba River! Those on the 15 day trip will fly back to Lima where their trip ends. (If you would like to spend extra days in Lima or Cuzco this can however be arranged). Those on the 19 day trip will travel to Tambopata Candamo Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon Basin for a three night exploration, by foot and canoe, with local guides, of the diverse flora and fauna of this unique rainforest. A return flight to Lima marks the end of the 19 day trip although extra days accommodation can be arranged if so required.
Travelling on a variety of public transport, from buses, trains, and even planes and staying at a variety of small, locally owned and run hotels and guesthouses our local Peruvian guide will show you the highlights of this diverse country.
From the fascinating museums of Lima, we travel to the spectacular marine reserve of the Ballestas Islands. In complete contrast we travel from here to the Ica desert and a local winery and the Oasis of Huacachina, a palm fringed lake surrounded by impressive sand dunes where there is an option to dune buggy and a chance for all to sleep out under the stars.
Our next destination is perhaps one of Peru’s most famous –the Nazca Lines, still surrounded in mystery as to their purpose. The beautiful colonial city of Arequipa is our next destination and the Colca Canyon (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and an area of astounding beauty) with an option to view the giant Andean condors circling lazily in the thermals rising from the canyon floor. From here we fly to Cuzco (saving a 10 hour bus journey). This stunning city-a fascinating mix of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture has a wealth of sights to explore (if you want to, alternatively just soak up the atmosphere in a local cafe) before we visit the temples, markets and local communities of Urubamba.
No visit to Peru would be complete without our next destination-a trek along one of the Inca trails to Machu Picchu, one of the most beautiful and enigmatic sites of the ancient world. The only major Inca site to escape looting and destruction it is remarkably well-preserved and an iconic destination.
From here we take the train back to Cuzco for a day of relaxation, or, if you’ve still got the energy there’s the option to go white water rafting on the Urubamba River! Those on the 15 day trip will fly back to Lima where their trip ends. (If you would like to spend extra days in Lima or Cuzco this can however be arranged). Those on the 19 day trip will travel to Tambopata Candamo Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon Basin for a three night exploration, by foot and canoe, with local guides, of the diverse flora and fauna of this unique rainforest. A return flight to Lima marks the end of the 19 day trip although extra days accommodation can be arranged if so required.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Lima. Free day to see the many museums, historical monuments, markets, restaurants and colonial plazas. (B) |
| Day 2: | Ballestas Islands. View this spectacular marine reserve and take a boat trip to view one of the highest concentrations of rare and exotic sea birds and mammals. (B) |
| Day 3-4: | Ica Desert. Visit to the Tacama winery and try Peru's national drink, Pisco. Oasis of Huacachina - a palm fringed lake surrounded by impressive sand dunes, relax on the beach, go for a swim and then there's the option to head out on a custom made dune buggy and roar across the desert sands to the top of enormous dunes and sand board down them! Tonight, sit around our desert campfire while your guides cook up a storm, followed by a night sleeping out under the stars. (2B, 1D) |
| Day 5: | The Nazca Lines. Only discovered 75 years ago, these huge figures carved into the desert floor are best viewed by light aircraft. Chauchilla Cemetery - complete with well preserved mummies. (B) |
| Day 6-8: | Arequipa and Colca Canyon. Arequipa - explore this beautiful colonial city with its great Latin nightlife & the spectacular surrounding area or go mountain biking, hiking or horse riding. Colca Canyon - at 900m is one of the deepest in the world - an optional 1 day guided trip to view the amazing Condors circling lazily in the thermals rising from the canyon floor. Fly over the Andes to Cuzco - negating a laborious 10hr bus journey. (3B) |
| Day 9-10: | Cuzco. Cuzco - a colonial city with churches & museums built on top of original Inca stonewalls. Urubamba or Sacred Valley of the Incas - a day tour with a local guide, where you'll find temples, terraces, local communities, markets & finally our remote campsite on the edge of the Urubamba River. (2B) |
| Day 11-14: | Inca Trail. A trek of 4 days, which combines stunning mountain views and Inca ruins which anyone of reasonable fitness can master. Machu Picchu - finally we reach the world famous ruins in all their glory, well worth the trek of the previous 3 days! There are also the options to undertake a shorter hike travelling by train part of the way to the ruins, or take one of three alternative treks, the Salkantay, Lares or Vilcabamba which includes the last night in Aguas Calientes. Our route back to Cuzco for all options is by train. (4B, 3L, 3D) |
| Day 15: | 15 day trip ends. Today, you will fly back to Lima where the trip ends on arrival. Should you like to stay extra nights in Lima, we can arrange accommodation for you. (B) |
Those on the 19 day trip will travel to Tambopata Candamo Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon Basin for a three night exploration, by foot and canoe, with local guides, of the diverse flora and fauna of this unique rainforest. A return flight to Lima marks the end of the 19 day trip although extra days accommodation can be arranged if so required.
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
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. how this holiday makes a difference
|
Environment
Upon booking this trip (as with all our trips) clients receive detailed pre-departure information which includes advice on responsible travel. This information is re-emphasised by the Tour Leader at the start of the trip-clients, for example, are advised about respecting local customs, litter disposal etc. The numbers of clients we take on this tour are limited, to a maximum of twenty, thus reducing the environmental and cultural impact of a large group. Community Our aim on this trip is to put as much of the trip costs directly back into the local Peruvian community and economy as possible. All the hotels and hostels we use are small, family-run three star establishments. The restaurants and cafes we use are all locally run Peruvian establishments. We do not use large international chains. Our trips are led by Wilberth, a Peruvian, from Cusco. We spend one night of the trip as guests in the homes of a community of Uros Indian families on the islands of Amantani or Taquile. This gives our clients an opportunity to learn more about their hosts traditional lifestyles and also provides the families with an additional source of income. One of the highlights of this trip is obviously trekking the Inca Trails to Machu Picchu. This trek offers opportunities of employment to large numbers of the local community. Porters, cooks and guides are required. However, much of this employment is poorly paid and working conditions are not good. The local company we use to organise our trails has a commitment to the welfare of their porters-providing them with a professional wage and health insurance. They are also in the process of completing a house for the porters so that they have somewhere comfortable to stay the night before they start the trail, as many of them travel in from rural areas. This trip supports local transport providers-from the boatmen of Lake Titicaca to local coach provision between towns. On this trip we support a small, Peruvian charity called Pachamamas Children, based twenty minutes outside of Cusco, in the community of Tika-Tika. The charity is in the process of reconstructing a derelict school in an impoverished community. The children of the community currently have no access to formal education. Once completed the school will not only provide education to the children of the community but the plan is also to provide adult education and a basic Medical Centre. We make a regular monthly, financial contribution to this project and once the building work has been completed we hope that our clients will be able to visit the school and that we will be able to offer volunteering opportunities there. |
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. |