Lake Titicaca & Peru highlights holiday
“A two week, small group tour, using internal flights, so that we can cover the greats of Lake Titicaca but also trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Staying mostly in hotels, with one homestay and three nights of camping. ”
Highlights
Lima | Arequipa | Colca Canyon | Lake Titicaca | Cusco | Trek the Inca Trail to Machu PicchuDescription of Lake Titicaca & Peru highlights holiday
This Lake Titicaca and Inca Trail holiday is a small group tour, travelling around Southern Peru to discover some of its spectacular natural heritage, and culminating in a four day trek to Machu Picchu, following the iconic Inca Trail.Using domestic flights to give us more time in the country’s hotspots, our tour starts in the colonial city of Arequipa, which we fly to from Lima. Arequipa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and colonial city that is home to stunning white rock buildings. From here we head to Colca Canyon, famous not only for the magnificent trekking in one of the world’s deepest canyons but also the condors that soar high above it.
Next we cross the Andean altiplano, a vast mountain plateau on a stunning bus trip (with stops) to Puno, gateway town to Lake Titicaca. This is the world’s most elevated, navigable lake, at 3,838m. As well as having the most magnificent location, it is also home to Taquile and Amantani Islands, where we will visit indigenous Indian communities, and the incredible Uros floating islands, made of reeds.
The final lap of this Peru holiday is the highlight for many: Cusco and the Inca Trail, where we take a four day adventure trekking up to the iconic Inca citadel at Machu Picchu. Please note that due to entry restrictions, it is highly advised to book this trip as early as possible so that we can ensure permits.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates
2020: 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct
Vouchers
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Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
To minimize our environmental impact we limit our group sizes to 12 and use public transport for most journeys on this tour. We support the local economy by using trek support staff from local communities and local mountain and cultural guides who have an in-depth knowledge of their country. We use locally owned hotels and restaurants throughout. For the trek we buy fresh local produce. In preference we choose local over imported goods, encouraging the use of Andean products in our cooking. On our treks we minimize waste by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean, leaving camp-sites cleaner than we find them. We are involved in ongoing training of our trek staff.
All our porters on the Inca Trail carry a maximum 20kg load, and are provided with tents and food. We pay and treat our staff fairly. On this trip clients have the opportunity to spend a night in the homes of islanders on Taquile, an informative cultural exchange for both parties, and of direct economic benefit to the community. Our guides hold informal talks to fully inform on all aspects of local culture.
Since 2006 we have been able to support the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the marginalised neighbourhood of Hermanos Ayar, on the outskirts of Cusco, with the help of everybody who has travelled with us. We donate USD 3000 a year to this community project.
The project has been set up by volunteer social workers and teachers to provide much needed social and educational support to the children and families of this neighbourhood. Children are encouraged to attend study and games sessions held each afternoon and participate in holiday projects. Our contributions so far have paid for educational books and games, tables and chairs, improvements to the structure of the basic community owned building and the addition of functioning toilets, materials for the children to take to school, school books, holiday programmes.
And we are planting trees as part of a reforestation project in Peru.
Environment
To minimize our environmental impact we limit our group sizes to 12 and use public transport for most journeys on this tour. We support the local economy by using trek support staff from local communities and local mountain and cultural guides who have an in-depth knowledge of their country. We use locally owned hotels and restaurants throughout. For the trek we buy fresh local produce. In preference we choose local over imported goods, encouraging the use of Andean products in our cooking. On our treks we minimize waste by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean, leaving camp-sites cleaner than we find them. We are involved in ongoing training of our trek staff.
All our porters on the Inca Trail carry a maximum 20kg load, and are provided with tents and food. We pay and treat our staff fairly. On this trip clients have the opportunity to spend a night in the homes of islanders on Taquile, an informative cultural exchange for both parties, and of direct economic benefit to the community. Our guides hold informal talks to fully inform on all aspects of local culture.
Since 2006 we have been able to support the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the marginalised neighbourhood of Hermanos Ayar, on the outskirts of Cusco, with the help of everybody who has travelled with us. We donate USD 3000 a year to this community project.
The project has been set up by volunteer social workers and teachers to provide much needed social and educational support to the children and families of this neighbourhood. Children are encouraged to attend study and games sessions held each afternoon and participate in holiday projects. Our contributions so far have paid for educational books and games, tables and chairs, improvements to the structure of the basic community owned building and the addition of functioning toilets, materials for the children to take to school, school books, holiday programmes.
And we are planting trees as part of a reforestation project in Peru.
Community
Climate
2 Reviews of Lake Titicaca & Peru highlights holiday
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 02 May 2019 by Marie Succar
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Everything was beyond my expectations
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
To be physically very fit and to check which medication is needed for the altitude dizziness
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
As much as I possibly could
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Thanks to the guide- his name is Claudio - it was impeccable he was always one step ahead, very well informed and he had answers to all our questions. He was also very well aware of all the names of places and flowers through the Inca trail hiking.
Reviewed on 04 Aug 2010 by David Rampersad
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Being amongst high Andes mountains and half uncovered Inca ruins without any other tourists around, but with good friendly helpful guide and other staff to look after us. We were able to interact with locals in a way quite different from that occurring in areas over run by tourists.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take warm clothes- it was freezing at night at altitude. Definitely include an Amazon trip as a good contrast to the mountains.
Don’t buy hats- there are loads of hats, ponchos and other warm things like fleeces cheaper than home and they make good souvenirs.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. The trekking operators packed everything in and out, used gas rather than local wood to cook and I saw them politely paying locals for services. There was a good relationship. We also were able to buy directly from local individuals rather than larger shops.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Really enjoyable, very well organised, much higher standard of transport, guiding and food than I had expected.
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