Peru holiday
“Our only 23 day guided, small group holiday to Peru that covers everything from Amazon to Andes to islands, staying in hotels and with an optional Inca Trail trek.”
Highlights
Lima | Pachacamac Fortress | Ballestas Islands | Arequipa | Colca Canyon | Lake Titicaca | Uros Islands | Cuzco | Pisac Market | Option to trek the Inca Trail | Machu Picchu | Option for train to Machu Picchu | Boat trip on Amazon to jungle lodgeDescription of Peru holiday
This is a mammoth and magnificent 23 day Peru holiday, fully guided and travelling in a small group of maximum 16 people although the average is usually around twelve. One of the unique aspects of this country wide trip is that it offers the option to include a trek on the Inca Trail up to Machu Picchu or else take the train, and see some other sights while the trekkers do their thing. If you want to trek, you need to book early as permits book out 4-6 months in advance.Starting in Lima where we take time to have a city tour, this trip takes you on a giant circuit around the country, using a mixture of air, train, boat and private bus travel and staying in hotels along the way, with the exception of jungle lodges in the Amazon. Or camping on the Inca Trail if you opt for the trek. On the coast, travelling south from Lima, highlights include the Incas coastal town of Pachacamac where the fortress ruins can still be seen. Then a sailing trip out to the Ballestas Islands, a national park which contains the highest concentration of marine birds in the world.
Heading inland, we have many different terrains to explore, starting with the desert landscapes around Arequipa, an oasis town in the middle of it, as well as Colca Canyon, a land of ancient caves, dramatic cliffs and soaring condors. From here we start to climb into more elevated, mountainous terrain to the world famous Lake Titicaca, where Puno is the main mountain town at 3,800m.
The next Peruvian landscape to take in is the great altiplano, or high plains separating the Andes from the jungles, and which take us eventually to Cusco, the UNESCO World Heritage town that is also gateway to the Inca Trail. Cuzco was the capital of the Inca Empire and has a stunning location at 3,400m surrounded by snow dusted peaks. There is also an enchanting mix of contemporary trekkers and traditional Quechua culture, with colonial architecture adding to its eclectic Andean appeal. This is where the group divides, some going off to tackle the four day trek up to Machu Picchu, and others staying in Cusco for sightseeing and alternative hikes such as the Moonstone Trek, as well as taking the iconic train journey up to Machu Picchu.
As if Machu Picchu isnt a good enough high to complete this Peruvian journey, our final leg is in the Amazon rainforest, taking a flight out to the small town of Puerto Maldonado, from where we take boat and walking trips, day and night, into the most extraordinary jungles in the world, staying at the rainforest Tambopata Reserve while we are there. After this extraordinary South American journey, we fly back over some of the terrain we have covered to pick up flights home from Lima.
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.com
Check dates, prices & availability
Date
Price per adult
Basis
Status
17 May 2020
£3694
including UK flights
8 spaces left
24 May 2020
£3694
including UK flights
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14 Jun 2020
£3789
including UK flights
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09 Aug 2020
£3989
including UK flights
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06 Sep 2020
£3949
including UK flights
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11 Oct 2020
£3849
including UK flights
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15 Nov 2020
£3849
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20 Dec 2020
£4299
including UK flights
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14 Mar 2021
£3949
including UK flights
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04 Apr 2021
£4149
including UK flights
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16 May 2021
£3999
including UK flights
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23 May 2021
£3999
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13 Jun 2021
£3999
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04 Jul 2021
£4149
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08 Aug 2021
£4249
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29 Aug 2021
£3999
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05 Sep 2021
£3999
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19 Sep 2021
£3999
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10 Oct 2021
£3999
including UK flights
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14 Nov 2021
£3999
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18 Dec 2021
£4449
including UK flights
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Vouchers
Accepted
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.
Accommodation and meals:We spend 18 nights in hotels and 2 nights in jungle lodges all with en-suite facilities. For the optional Inca Trail trek, 3 nights full service camping replace 3 hotel nights. We prefer to use small businesses for our accommodation, activities and services as these are the companies which have most direct benefit to the communities which we visit. All of our hotel managers have signed a sustainability contract which ensures they employ locals and endeavour to reduce waste, whilst our campsites are very eco-friendly in terms of energy reduction. We buy all of our food to cook on the trail from local supermarkets or even indigenous groups where possible despite this sometimes being more expensive. Where meals are not included, clients are encouraged to eat at authentic restaurants or to try snacks at markets e.g. local markets in Pucusana and Pisco.
Group size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in a unique, family-run hotel that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to its limited size.
UK office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
The Impacts of this Trip
Local Craft & Culture:
We walk through the Huayllabamba village on the first day of the trek, which is the only community inside the trail. They sell produce and various homemade snacks, so by stopping and buying something we are providing an avenue of income for these people. There is also an optional opportunity in the Sacred Valley where clients can eat a traditional meal in the village and buy handicrafts, as well as opportunities to visit local markets in Cuzco, Aguas Calientes and elsewhere. Our local guides are able to advise clients on which products to buy and which to avoid- for example, walking sticks made of wood are one to avoid as they are potentially a product of deforestation.
A Fair Deal:
Our local partners in Peru are extremely committed to staff welfare and to protecting the environment. We operate a zero-impact policy on the Inca Trail, removing all waste from campsites and separating it so that it can easily be recycled or composted. We take a toilet tent for use in camp and during lunch, removing the need to dig holes at campsites, and we never build fires at our campsites. Our camp staff (porters, cooks and mule wranglers where used) are paid a fair wage and receive all accommodation, transport and food whilst on the trek. They are also encouraged to put environmental protection practices into use in their own communities - regular training courses are held for all staff to increase their understanding of how to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
Environment
Accommodation and meals:We spend 18 nights in hotels and 2 nights in jungle lodges all with en-suite facilities. For the optional Inca Trail trek, 3 nights full service camping replace 3 hotel nights. We prefer to use small businesses for our accommodation, activities and services as these are the companies which have most direct benefit to the communities which we visit. All of our hotel managers have signed a sustainability contract which ensures they employ locals and endeavour to reduce waste, whilst our campsites are very eco-friendly in terms of energy reduction. We buy all of our food to cook on the trail from local supermarkets or even indigenous groups where possible despite this sometimes being more expensive. Where meals are not included, clients are encouraged to eat at authentic restaurants or to try snacks at markets e.g. local markets in Pucusana and Pisco.
Group size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in a unique, family-run hotel that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to its limited size.
UK office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.
Community
The Impacts of this Trip
Local Craft & Culture:
We walk through the Huayllabamba village on the first day of the trek, which is the only community inside the trail. They sell produce and various homemade snacks, so by stopping and buying something we are providing an avenue of income for these people. There is also an optional opportunity in the Sacred Valley where clients can eat a traditional meal in the village and buy handicrafts, as well as opportunities to visit local markets in Cuzco, Aguas Calientes and elsewhere. Our local guides are able to advise clients on which products to buy and which to avoid- for example, walking sticks made of wood are one to avoid as they are potentially a product of deforestation.
A Fair Deal:
Our local partners in Peru are extremely committed to staff welfare and to protecting the environment. We operate a zero-impact policy on the Inca Trail, removing all waste from campsites and separating it so that it can easily be recycled or composted. We take a toilet tent for use in camp and during lunch, removing the need to dig holes at campsites, and we never build fires at our campsites. Our camp staff (porters, cooks and mule wranglers where used) are paid a fair wage and receive all accommodation, transport and food whilst on the trek. They are also encouraged to put environmental protection practices into use in their own communities - regular training courses are held for all staff to increase their understanding of how to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
Climate
3 Reviews of Peru holiday
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on 08 Aug 2017 by David Knass
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Rainforest at the end of the trip-we booked 3 extra days
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Read all reviews for other hints and advice and decide which is relevant for you.
Take an iPod with podcasts and/or music for long bus journeys. We don't use walking poles much but we used one for the downward parts of the Inca trail. Be prepared for symptoms of altitude (which abated without any additional treatments other than common sense after a couple of days) and pack
loperamide capsules (Imodium)!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not to a big extent but tourism is said to be 2nd most important income generator in Peru after mining.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent
Read the operator's response here:
Dear David,
Firstly, thank you for your comments, we are delighted that overall you had a great trip.
Wed like to give you a little more information regarding your comments in question 3. It is certainly the case that tourism is a major contributor to income in Peru. We hope however that saw the specific efforts we make to ensure as many people as possible benefit from such an income as well as the steps we take to reduce our environmental impact.
We operate a zero-impact policy on the Inca Trail, removing all waste from campsites and separating it so that it can easily be recycled or composted. We take a toilet tent for use in camp and during lunch, removing the need to dig holes at campsites, and we never build fires at our campsites. Our camp staff (porters, cooks and mule wranglers where used) are paid a fair wage and receive all accommodation, transport and food whilst on the trek. They are also encouraged to put environmental protection practices into use in their own communities - regular training courses are held for all staff to increase their understanding of how to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in a unique, family-run hotel that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to its limited size.
We do hope that this explanation provides an adequate response to your review and offers you reassurance that we are continuously working on ensuring our trips are as responsible as possible. We hope to welcome you back to Peru one day.
Firstly, thank you for your comments, we are delighted that overall you had a great trip.
Wed like to give you a little more information regarding your comments in question 3. It is certainly the case that tourism is a major contributor to income in Peru. We hope however that saw the specific efforts we make to ensure as many people as possible benefit from such an income as well as the steps we take to reduce our environmental impact.
We operate a zero-impact policy on the Inca Trail, removing all waste from campsites and separating it so that it can easily be recycled or composted. We take a toilet tent for use in camp and during lunch, removing the need to dig holes at campsites, and we never build fires at our campsites. Our camp staff (porters, cooks and mule wranglers where used) are paid a fair wage and receive all accommodation, transport and food whilst on the trek. They are also encouraged to put environmental protection practices into use in their own communities - regular training courses are held for all staff to increase their understanding of how to protect their natural and cultural heritage.
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in a unique, family-run hotel that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to its limited size.
We do hope that this explanation provides an adequate response to your review and offers you reassurance that we are continuously working on ensuring our trips are as responsible as possible. We hope to welcome you back to Peru one day.
Reviewed on 26 Sep 2016 by Julia Glizevskaja
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Flight over Nazca lines, unforgettable Moonstine trek and obviously visit of Machu
Picchu! And at last visit of jungles with explore of all new world
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Amazing trip, rich of adventure, include city, mountain and hiking, jungles and hot weather. So correct packing is essential. Good walking shoes and boots,
plenty of warm clothes, layers type. A lot of hiking clothing and equipment you can buy in Cusco
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Not sure
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Amazing!!! All in one. I had fantastic time and really enjoyed the time, unforgettable experience in mountains. It was fantastic
Reviewed on 24 Oct 2013 by Steve Braysher
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
An option within our trip was to trek the little used Moonstone trail. What a good choice it was - amazing scenery, a real physical challenge (highest point 4850m and highest camp at 4300m)and peace and solitude - we didn't see another group during the 4 day trek. The altitude did make the going hard but our guide (Elias) was a great help and the views and sense of achievement upon reaching the highest point were tremendous. Camp 2 was a stunning spot, on a slightly raised area in a huge bowl surrounded by mountains with the 19,000', snow capped Mt Veronica peeping above them and catching the early morning sun - a truely magical place. Waking on the last day to look down into a cloud filled Sacred Vally with the sun throwing long shadows and the same Mt Veronica glinting in the background was also rather fine.
Watching Condors soar along the magnificent Colca Canyon, meeting the Uros Indians on the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, being the only Europeans in a weekly market where some local people still travel for several days to barter their goods and marvelling at Inca technology have got to be up there too! And I almost forgot, experiencing the sounds and sights tropical rainforest with our local guides.
In reality everyday had it memorable moments and somedays were just jam packed with them!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
This is more a travel experience than a holiday. There are lots of early starts and long days - but if you enjoy discovering new places these minor hardships are well worth it.
There can be extremes of weather (sub zero at night on the Moonstone trail - a down jacket would be a good idea here) to the steamy heat of the jungle so be prepared for this and don't be put off by the gloomy overcast weather of Lima - it soon disipates when you move inland!
Be prepared for the impact of altitude - most of our group suffered from headaches etc - despite a very sensible itinerary that provided fairly gentle acclimatisation - if doing a high level trek it might be worth talking to your GP about Diamox, not everybody used it but those who did seemed to cope fairly well.
If treking make sure that you get your kitbag from the operator before departure!
Be prepared to go with the flow and make the most of what ever happens - even the almost total chaos in Cusco airport when a number of flights have been cancled - although that is the sort of thing better appreciated after the event!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
All the hotels/lodges used during our trip were locally owned, as far as we could tell all managers were Peruvian and there was clear eveidence that local people were employed. During the trek we were able to establish that all staff were from local villages and there was a real willingness to tell us that both the guides and the support staff liked working for the operator because they were paid well by them. During the trek there was an emphasis on leaving each campsite (they were all 'wild camps') as they had been found.
We were also taken to vist a number of community projects set up to benefit local people - small scale chocolate producers, dying and weaving, corn beer production etc.
The lodge we stayed in in the rainforest has a monkey rescue and release to the wild programme and the 10000 ha area it controls is managed for conservation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was a fantastic experience, we thoroughly enjoyed it. The country is full of contrasts and the people are fantastic. If you are interested in bird life this is a superb destination. The trip lasts 3 weeks - I could happily have spent double that time in country - and still only scratched the surface. We did have one or two minor admin issues but these were resolved and they didn't really detract from the overall experience of Peru.
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