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Inca Discovery holiday

COUNTRY:
Peru
LOCATION:
Inca Trail, Machu Picchu
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Strenuous trekking holidays
DEPARTURES:
Departs once a day throughout the year
PRICE:
From £699 (8 days) excluding flights
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Inca Discovery holiday
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Inca Discovery holiday

Avoid disappointment - book your Inca Trail holiday in time
In the last few years, the Peruvian government has imposed increasing restrictions on tourism on the Inca Trail in order to protect it from overuse. The aim is to minimise ecological impact and erosion, mainly by having limited access and improving the quality of the operators. There are now only a very limited number of trekking permits available - 500 per day (around 200 for travellers and the rest for staff) - and they are being issued on a first-come-first-served basis. In order to avoid disappointment we recommend booking well in advance (up to a minimum of 3 months in peak season), unless you are extremely flexible over your travel dates.
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

Through our commitment to responsible tourism, we ensure minimal social and environmental impact in the places we visit by travelling in small groups, using local transportation and staying in locally-owned hotels. We also work with experienced local guides who are knowledgeable of local culture, history, flora and fauna.

In Peru we work closely with the Inca Porter Project (IPP) a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives and working conditions of porters on the Inca Trail. Together with IPP we have provided porter communities first-aid and job training workshops and ensure fair working conditions to all of our porters.

On this tour we visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the city of Cuzco and the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

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Story of the holiday provider

When Bruce went travelling after University in 1989 he realised he had limited options: he could either go backpacking or stay on a resort. Returning to Canada, he set up a company that bridged the gap and offered young professionals an affordable way to immerse themselves in the culture of different countries. Bruce gave some of the profits back to the communities he passed through. Today he has offices in 38 countries and runs a travel foundation that builds projects all over the world; he is adamant that all staff adhere to his original business model of sustainability and happiness.

Holiday provider no: 294

Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday

Inca Discovery holiday

Reviewed 12 Mar 2006 by Melissa Mundo3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Hiking through the Peruvian jungle and feeling like you were discovering the Incan ruins yourself.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


"It's cold on the top of the mountain" means snow, even in March (summer). The weather was colder and wetter than I anticipated.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


We benefited the porters who were carrying our luggage, and were pretty environmentally friendly. I wasn't sure how to take the very aggressive salespeople- I think it's better to sell something than to just ask for money, and I suppose any purchases support the sellers, but I wondered if my presence as a tourist encouraged the behavior.

4. Any other comments?


I was disappointed at the lack of communication and organization by the tour company. Different people were responsible for our group at the various cities with one guide for the Inca trail. It seemed that no one knew what was going on, and when mishaps occurred, our leaders were not present.

Read the operator's response here:

We understand that your main concerns lie with the very structure of the tour, such as the use of various local guides at different stages. Please note that this is explained in the brochure and the online dossier that you were sent prior to your departure so we apologize for any confusion in this matter.

There are local representatives upon arrival in Lima, a Local Guide only starting in Cuzco on Day 2, and a team of porters and cooks would also join you for the Inca Trail portion. This is the way the tour is structured, providing the opportunity to create jobs for many Peruvians.

I hope we have been able to address your concerns to your satisfaction and we do hope to have you join us once again on another one of our adventures.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

Read our review policy

Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
Inca Discovery holiday
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