Essential Peru - Discovery Holiday

The highlights of Peru on our best-value two week trip

A spectacular journey through Peru's varied landscape encompassing coastal desert, snowy Andean peaks, the high altiplano and lush cloud forest.

We visit the most famous sites including the mysterious Nazca Lines, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu in its incredible mountaintop setting, Lake Titicaca, where we spend the night in an island homestay, and the stunning 3000m deep Colca Canyon.

On this Peru adventure holiday we encounter traditional indigenous groups, condors, llamas, and a warm welcome from the Peruvian people. Free time is included in this tour, giving us the opportunity to choose how to make the most of our visit: rafting, hiking, history, shopping or just relaxing in beautiful Cuzco.

The trip can also be extended with a journey deep into the Tambopata Reserve in the Amazon Basin, offering the chance to see a completely different side to this incredibly diverse country.

What makes this trip responsible?

The Rainbow Centre, Kiya Survivors
Kiya Survivors is a registered Peruvian charity providing safe and loving educational and rehabilitation centres for children with special needs. It is the first school dedicated to special-needs children in the Sacred Valley and now 40 children attend regularly. Since the centre opened, Kiya Survivors has provided support to over 200 children as well as providing help on many social issues to other members of the local communities in which it works. Kiya Survivors at the Rainbow Centre is available to visit on almost all our trips that pass through Cuzco.

For more information, please visit our Project page.

Itinerary

[detailed itinerary...]

Countries visited: Peru

Day 1

Fly to Lima.

Day 2

Drive south along the coast and sail out to the Ballestas Islands, home to highest concentration of marine birds in the world. Overnight in Ica.

Day 3

On to incredible Nazca Lines; visit viewing platforms.

Day 4

Turn inland from coastal desert, climbing high into Andes.

Day 5

Drive to Cuzco, on the way visit Inca sites.

Day 6

Free day to relax, shop or explore the many Inca ruins and Spanish churches.

Day 7

Train to Machu Picchu and tour of ruins.

Day 8

Free morning or option to return to Machu Picchu for sunrise; afternoon train to Cuzco.

Day 9

Optional rafting and tours to Sacred Valley.

Day 10

Drive to Lake Titicaca, stopping at the sights along the way; boat to Amantani Island for native homestay.

Day 11

Explore the island; afternoon boat to Puno visiting the floating islands of the Uros.

Day 12

Spectacular drive across the altiplano to Colca Canyon.

Day 13

Morning condor viewing; afternoon drive past huge volcanoes to the White City of Arequipa.

Day 14

Morning visit to Santa Catalina Convent; afternoon fly to Lima.

Day 15

Evening depart.

Day 16

Arrive London.

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Exodus images from ESSENTIAL PERU

Note: Click on a thumbnail to enlarge.

Inca life continues fairly unchanged in Ollantaytambo

Llamas and ruins of Machu Picchu

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