Discover Peru

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9 Days Excluding Flights From

16 Days from

£ 2299

Culture

Activity Level

Moderate

Comfort Level

Classic

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group

Activity :

Culture

Group Size :

5 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

APS

Carbon Footprint :

59.4kg CO2e per person per day

Experience authentic Peru, from Cuzco and Lima to Lake Titicaca and the great Inca ruins of Machu Picchu

Peru may be vast and wonderfully varied, but this compact adventure gets to the heart and soul of the country in a relatively short time, thanks to a finely tuned itinerary based on years of local knowledge. Join your expert tour leader to explore the great cities of Cuzco and Lima, meet villagers living on Lake Titicaca’s floating reed islands, and travel deep into the Andean mountains to discover magnificent Inca ruins, including Machu Picchu, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

Highlights

Experience authentic Peru with the insight of an expert tour leader
Explore the landmarks of Cuzco and Lima on guided tours
Meet the villagers living on Lake Titicaca’s floating reed islands
Marvel at the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu after the morning crowds have gone
Delve into Peruvian cuisine on a private market tour and cooking class
Discover crumbling Inca towns in the Sacred Valley

Key Information

Accommodation: 8 Classic nights (hotels)
Travel by internal flight, train, boat and private bus
Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Combine this trip with Essential Bolivia

Countries visited: Peru

What's Included

All breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival and departure transfers

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations

Sustainability and Impact

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

TRIP

APS - Discover Peru

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Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

For flights call us on 0203 733 5948 or enquire when booking online

Regional flights available

Competitive flight prices

Specialist Flight Support

ATOL protected

Itinerary

Cuzco Lima

Begin your adventure in Cuzco, the sky-high heart of the Inca empire.

Around 5pm-6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Peruvian welcome by arranging dinner at the hotel.

Want more time in Cuzco? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: San Agustin El Dorado Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Dinner

Explore Cuzco, seeing the highlights both in and above the city. We start from the hotel, walking to the Twelve Angled Stone at the Inca Roca Palace, before visiting Qoricancha (the Sun Temple) and the Plaza de Armas to marvel at the beautiful cathedral façade.

Then, we leave the city and head to the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman, a grand ceremonial site overlooking the city. The afternoon is free to continue exploring Cuzco on your own with optional activities available.

Accommodation: San Agustin El Dorado Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we travel (1hr 15min) through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the outskirts of Cuzco, as we head up to the traditional weaving community of Chinchero. Along with amazing views of the valley and Vilcabamba mountains, Chinchero offers the unique cultural opportunity to enjoy a traditional Andean pachamanca lunch, which is hosted by (and supports) the local community. This is a real culinary treat, in which the food is wrapped, then buried underground with hot stones to cook it slowly.

After lunch, explore the ancient salt ponds near the village of Maras, where springs emerge from the hillside and the Incas built terraces to harvest salt. Also visit Moray, where the Incas built huge circular agricultural terraces on limestone sinks. We arrive at Ollantaytambo around 6pm, with the chance to see the site from the outside.

Accommodation: Tunupa Lodge Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a deluxe superior room with jacuzzi today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

For most, the highlight of the trip is visiting one of the greatest ruins in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu. This is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, in a mountain setting of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham.

We catch a train (1hr 45min) to Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu), where we have free time to explore and find a spot for lunch.

In the afternoon, we take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a two-hour guided exploration.

As we tour the ruins, our guide tells us all about the Inca society that once lived in this incredible mountain setting, while visiting in the afternoon tends to be quieter than the mornings and the mist that shrouds the ruins at dawn has usually dispersed.

Accommodation: Hatun Inti Classic Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Head back to Cuzco today, catching the 1hr 45min train back to Ollantaytambo, then transferring (six to seven hours) through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

In the afternoon, we learn more about Peruvians (and Peruvian food!) in a private cooking class that shares the secrets of traditional dishes passed down over the generations.

We start in the kitchen, before heading to a market to explore a huge variety of fruits, vegetables and fiery spices, and maybe pick up some ingredients. Returning to the kitchen, we have a hands-on class, learning how to prepare a full menu and pisco sour (the iconic national cocktail) from a Peruvian chef. At the end of the tour, we enjoy our creations for an early dinner!

Accommodation: San Agustin El Dorado Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a junior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Journey to another of Peru’s magnificent wonders today, Lake Titicaca, travelling nine hours from Cuzco to Puno.

Our route takes across the altiplano, where we can enjoy views of Andean peaks towering over the deep valleys, and across the rolling Andean plains, where we may spot vicuñas and alpacas.

We also make numerous stops, including at the 17^th-century Andahuaylillas church, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, and the Inca archaeological site of Raqchi, also known as the Temple of Wiracocha. Our stop at La Raya pass gives us a wonderful view over the Chimboya Glacier and we enjoy a box lunch.

We should arrive in Puno around 5pm, with the rest of the evening free to relax.

Accommodation: Casona Plaza Puno Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite room with jacuzzi today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Jump in a boat for an adventure on Lake Titicaca, visiting two floating islands close to Puno. These human-made structures are crafted from dried reeds (totora) and have provided a home to the indigenous Uro people for centuries.

First stop is Uros, where we are welcomed by the residents and learn about their daily life. Next is Amantani, one of the largest Lake Titicaca islands. First, we walk uphill for around 30 minutes to enjoy a traditional lunch in a family home. Next, we walk (one hour) to the summit of Pachamama, with the chance to explore ancient ruins and enjoy incredible views – it is often possible to see the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Real in the distance. Finally, we walk (1hr 30min) back down to the harbour, where we take a motorboat to Puno.

Accommodation: Casona Plaza Puno Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite room with jacuzzi today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included: Breakfast

We fly (1hr 25min) this morning from Juliaca Airport to Lima, the bustling capital of Peru which combines history, a world-renowned food scene and plenty of culture.

In the afternoon, we join our tour leader for an exploration of the historic centre, including the main square, colonial balconies, Jirón de la Unión street and catacombs, followed by the bohemian Barranco district to see colonial mansions. Our total time in the vehicle today is seven hours, including airport transfers and the Lima city tour.

It ends at Bar Juanito, an icon of the city, for a Peruvian cocktail and butifarra sandwich, a classic street food meal in Lima.

Accommodation: El Tambo Dos Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

The adventure ends in Lima and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay or exploring the Amazon Rainforest.

Meals included: Breakfast

Extend Your Trip

Amazon Rainforest Add-on Tour (from Cuzco)

Discover Peru

Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Cuzco, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife, plus countless plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to navigate dense forests.

The detailed itinerary can be found here, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Post-trip Extensions

Amazon Rainforest Add-on (post-tour, from Lima)

Discover Peru

Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Lima, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife and plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to explore dense forests.

The detailed itinerary can be found here, or speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Info

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Suitability: Cuzco and many of the Inca sites (including Machu Picchu) are built on hillsides and sightseeing often involves walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps or terraces. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness.

Machu Picchu: Exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps.

Journeys: The size of Peru means there are some long drives (the longest is nine hours) and early starts. The private buses used are comfortable and the scenery is outstanding, plus there are several stops to break up long journeys. Strikes are not uncommon in Peru and while these are generally peaceful protests, they can result in roadblocks and disruption to travel. In this event, your leader will amend your itinerary if necessary to minimise the impact.

Altitude: Although graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate), the altitude can make physical activity feel more tiring than at sea level. As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness.

The tour allows for gradual acclimatisation, with the highest location being Lake Titicaca at 12,467ft (3,800m) above sea level. Please ensure your travel insurance covers you up to this altitude. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall). You should bring appropriate clothing.

Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: San Agustin El Dorado Hotel, Av. El Sol 395, Cuszo 08002
Phone: +51 84 231232
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm at the start hotel.
Airport: Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

We provide free departure transfers for all customers to Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Cuzco
Location end: Lima

Vaccinations and Health

There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis A. Zika virus, a mosquito‐borne viral disease, is a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available. We therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your doctor for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a yellow fever vaccination. Dengue fever and chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Peru

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Peru. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/peru
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/peru
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/peru/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Peru.html

Food & Drink

Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavours and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry), and various hearty soups including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.

Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. We cannot guarantee that wheat- or gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food from home. Where lunch and dinner are not included, we’ll visit local cafes and restaurants.

The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Free drinking water will be provided in large containers, so please bring a refillable bottle with you.

Weather

The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions. Lima falls within the coastal desert region of Peru, with a mild climate and very little rain all year. From April to November, the sky is almost always grey and cloudy and the air is humid. Average daytime temperatures in Lima remain between about 18C-24C (64F-75F) during this period, with July and August typically being the coolest. Nights are also mild, typically 15C-18C (59F-64F). From December to March, the Lima skies are clear and temperatures at their warmest, but elsewhere in the country this is the rainy season.

Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season; characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (around 20C/68F on average) but night times only 5C-10C (41F-50F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, however, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid, unexpected changes.

Lake Titicaca is high (12,460ft/3,800m above sea level). The sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You will need to bring warm layers and a waterproof or windstopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest with large amounts of precipitation all year round as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August.

Peru is affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.

TRIP

APS - Discover Peru

Departure Date

Number Of Passengers*

Message*

To enquire about an existing booking click here

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

Keep me up to date with news and offers from Exodus by email.

Thank you for contacting Exodus Travels.

Find out more about how we use your data

Request a Brochure

Trip Notes

Click on the button below for detailed Trip Notes containing all the particulars about this trip, including kit lists and practical information.

Note: these can vary by departure; you can check out the specific Trip Notes for your chosen adventure on the dates & prices page.

View Trip Notes

Hotels

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Upgrade your room on Days 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we pair solo passengers together in a room. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.