- Discover Machu Picchu by train with guided tour
- Enjoy a homestay on the traditional island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca
- See Colca Canyon and its soaring condors
- Wander through the colonial city of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Convent
- Drive deep into the Andean highlands and the Apurimac Valley
Essential Peru
15 Days
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16 Days
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Culture
Discover Peru
Itinerary
Lima Lima
Fly to Lima
Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. There will be a notice board in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held.
Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)
Start Lima
Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. There will be a notice board in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held.
Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)
Drive south to Paracas and tour the Ballestas Islands; to Ica
We set off early this morning (around 5.30am) and drive south from Lima until we reach the port of Paracas (a four to five-hour drive). The Ballestas Islands lie a short distance off the coast here and are home to one of the highest concentrations of seabirds in the world – we visit them by boat.
On the outward journey, we pass the curious pre-Inca Candelabra geoglyph, a huge (more than 490ft/150m high) three-pronged trident shape etched into the sandy hillside, the origin and purpose of which remains unknown (although there are many theories). Upon reaching the islands we explore the caves and rock archways by boat and observe the sea lion and fur seal colonies as well as humboldt penguins and an array of birds such as cormorants, pelicans, tendrils, and Peruvian blue-footed boobies.
We take open-top motorised boats, which are shared with non-Exodus clients (occasionally the sea is too rough and the boats can’t operate). Take heed of seabirds above – it is advisable to wear a hat. The boat trip lasts around two hours. Back on dry land, we drive for an hour or so to Ica, the heart of the Peruvian wine-growing region, where we spend the night.
Accommodation: Hotel Villa Jazmin (or similar)
On to Nazca; see the Nazca Lines; optional scenic flight
We drive towards Nazca, stopping to visit the viewing platforms overlooking the Nazca Lines. These are one of the great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous drawings and patterns etched in the desert sand.
In the afternoon, there is usually time to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines (additional cost), weather permitting. Due to the small planes used, this is not suitable for those with a fear of flying or who suffer from travel sickness. As an alternative, your leader can help arrange optional visits to the nearby burial grounds, Antonini Museum or the planetarium.
Accommodation: Casa Andina Hotel/Alegria (or similar)
Turn inland from coastal desert, climbing high into the Andes
We turn inland from the coastal desert today, climbing high into the Andes on a long (around 12 to 13 hours) but spectacular drive. We’ll pass through the largest vicuña reserve in the country, so look out for these smaller wild relatives of the llama. This region has only recently become easily accessible to tourists due to an upgrade of the Abancay/Chalhuanca road. The altitude here can make physical exertion difficult; the highest point we reach today is Negro Mayu, a pass at 15,092ft (4,600m) above sea level. We recommended that you rest in the evening. Tonight, we stay in Abancay on the road to Cuzco.
Accommodation: Hotel de Turistas Abancay (or similar)
Drive to Cuzco, visiting Inca sites on the way
We set off towards Cuzco this morning, stopping to visit the Inca Saywite stone and Tarawasi ruins. The glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the descent into the Apurimac River valley demonstrate the dramatic contrasts of the Andes; expect stunning scenery throughout today’s roughly seven to eight-hour drive.
It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m).
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)
Free day to explore Cuzco
To help you acclimatise, we embark on a relaxed walking tour this morning, which takes in the historic buildings and winding streets of Cuzco. The rest of the day has been left free for exploring on your own. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and the Koricancha Sun Temple in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.
Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the conquistadors. A combined entrance fee (tourist ticket) for these sites and many others is recommended – please see the Optional Excursions section below for prices. Sightseeing excursions to places outside Cuzco, including the Sacred Valley of the Incas, are also available. Please ask your tour leader.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)
Train to Aguas Calientes; tour of Machu Picchu
For most people, the highlight of the trip is the visit by train to 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 remains a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham.
We transfer (approximately two hours) to Ollantaytambo railway station to catch a train to Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu). The railway line follows a beautiful route through the Urubamba River valley. In the afternoon, we take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins. Visiting in the afternoon tends to be quieter than the mornings and the mist that shrouds the ruins at dawn has usually dispersed.
Please note that exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps.
Accommodation: Terraza de la Luna/Inti Punku Machu Picchu (or similar)
Free morning or optional second visit to Machu Picchu; afternoon return to Cuzco by train and by road.
We have a free morning to sleep in, relax and enjoy the buzz of this little town in the jungle below the ruins.
Should you wish to visit Machu Picchu again this morning, you need to purchase a second entrance ticket in advance. This will allow you further time to explore the Lost City on your own – for the second visit it is not mandatory to have a guide. Please contact your sales representative for details.
In the afternoon, we board the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue by minibus to Cuzco, arriving in the late evening.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)
Free day for optional excursions
We have a final chance to enjoy the sights and shopping of this beautiful city. If you would like something more active, there is an array of optional activities available from Cuzco that your leader can organise. These include paddleboarding on a lake, mountain biking, or a combination of via ferrata and zip-lining in the Sacred Valley.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)
Drive to Lake Titicaca, with stops en route; boat to Amantani Island for homestay
Today we travel for eight to 10 hours along the Vilcanota River and onto the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it is quite a long drive, the views are often spectacular. There are scheduled stops at interesting sites to help break up the day and we will get to appreciate the immensity of the Andean landscapes. This afternoon, we arrive at the shores of Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m above sea level) and board a boat for our trip to Amantani Island. A hike around the island offers great views across the lake, while the night spent with a local family is a fantastic cultural insight into lives very different to our own. A packed lunch is included today.
Accommodation: Amantani Island homestay (basic)
Explore the island; afternoon boat to Puno visiting the floating reed islands
We explore the island in the morning before boarding our boat for the three-hour journey to Puno on the lakeshore. On the way, we visit Uros Island. The Uros have been living on reed rafts for centuries, and although many have now moved to the mainland there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they also still fish the lake and barter with mainland communities for daily essentials.
Accommodation: Casona Plaza Hotel (or similar)
Drive across the altiplano to Colca Canyon
Today we head across the altiplano again. This time we cross to the southwest, heading back towards the coast to the high Colca Canyon (a five to six-hour drive). En route, we see vicuñas and possibly flamingos, crossing the Patapampa Pass (15,781ft/4,810m) before descending into what is considered the second-deepest canyon in the Americas (the deepest, the Cotahuasi Canyon, is also in Peru). There is time in the evening for an optional visit to the hot springs near the main town of Chivay (11,926ft/3,635m) – a warming pleasure after the chill of Lake Titicaca.
Accommodation: Hotel Pozo del Cielo (or similar)
Morning condor viewing; afternoon drive past huge volcanoes to the White City of Arequipa
Rise early to view condors soaring on the morning drafts rising out of the canyon. We then ascend out of the canyon and cross Patapampa Pass on our way to Arequipa, which is known as the White City due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of its colonial buildings. The picturesque city has a year-round pleasant climate and is surrounded by towering volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti.
Accommodation: Su Majestad Hotel (or similar)
Morning visit Santa Catalina Convent; afternoon fly to Lima
In the morning we visit the huge, serene convent of Santa Catalina. Built in 1580 and only opened to the outside world in the 1970s, it offers a rare insight into the lives led by the nuns and has changed little through the centuries. There are still around 20 nuns living in the northern corner of the complex. In the afternoon or evening we fly to Lima where we will transfer to our hotel in Miraflores.
Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)
Depart Lima
There is time today for optional tours of Lima including visits to the Gold Museum and tours of the historic downtown before we are transferred to the airport in the afternoon for the overnight flight to London.
End Lima
Today we start our return journey home, although there may be time for optional tours of Lima, including visits to the Gold Museum and tours of the historic downtown. You could also join our optional trip extension to the Amazon rainforest, where you explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of incredible wildlife.
Arrive London
The group flights arrive in London this afternoon.
Extend Your Trip
Amazon Rainforest extension (Pre-tour, from Lima)
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.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Code: XPLA
Price per person: £ 899
Post-trip Extensions
Amazon Rainforest extension (Post-tour, from Lima)
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.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Code: XPL
Price per person: £ 899
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Hotels and Titicaca homestay
The properties selected for this Peru exploration are a blend of three-star quality and comfort, often within easy walking distance of the local attractions. Our Lima hotel is a welcome escape from the city bustle, while our Cuzco hotel is centrally located in the historic centre. A highlight of this tour is our ‘live like a local’ Amantani island homestay, which allows us to experience Andean warmth and hospitality. Below are some of the standout places we stay:
Lima: El Tambo 1
El Tambo 1 (uno) is our three-star Lima hotel in the lively tourist district of Miraflores. It has a restaurant and lovely small bar near the courtyard garden, where you can enjoy a drink. El Tambo has easy access to local sites, such as Kennedy Park, the Larcomar Shopping Center and the Miraflores clifftop promenade where you can enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean.
Ica: Hotel Villa Jazmin
Surrounded by dunes and pisco distilleries, Hotel Villa Jazmin is an oasis of comfort in Ica. After a day of touring in the desert sun, Villa Jazmin invites you to relax by the pool and enjoy a cold drink from the bar (we recommend a pisco sour made with locally produced pisco – highly recommended).
Cuzco: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha
Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha is built around two 18th-century manor houses and is located in the heart of historic Cuzco, three blocks from the main plaza. The hotel and rooms feature local décor and textiles reflecting local Andean designs.
Amantani island: Homestay
Our trip includes an unforgettable homestay with a local family on Amantani island. This wonderful community project has guests staying with multiple families; the hosts share in the proceeds, which benefits both the Amantani community and the visitors who enjoy and learn from this unique cultural experience.
Colca Canyon: Hotel Pozo del Cielo
Experience the charm of Hotel Pozo del Cielo as we visit Colca Canyon and the surrounding communities. With an inviting ambiance, panoramic views and warm hospitality, this comfortable hotel welcomes us with cosy rooms, a relaxing bar and a restaurant serving Peruvian delicacies.
Worth knowing
- On our way from Nazca to Cuzco, we overnight in Abancay. Our Hotel de Turistas Abancay hotel is basic, yet functional for a restful overnight stay.
- Amantani homestay: The rooms are basic but clean and the beds have sheets and plenty of blankets to keep you warm. Toilets and washbasins are located outside.
- Single rooms can be booked for single supplement, subject to availability at the time of booking. This supplement covers single rooms throughout the trip, except for the homestay on Amantani island.
Trip Experts
Ubaldo Quispe
Expert Leader: Peru
Reviews
Add your own reviewPeru
In summary, the trip, the organisation, and the itinerary was extremely good.
Leo, our guide, was excellent.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Machu Pichu and also stopping at an Oasis. The scenery was also stunning.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Leo was excellent. He was knowledgable, caring, answered all questions, and was extremely well organised. He made local stops, such as to an Oasis and also to a Road side stop on one of the long journey days, that had excellent coffee and shopping, and really should be included in the itinerary.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The altitude caused ALL of us problems, from mild headaches to full sickness and needs to be more strongly emphasised. The weather was MUCH warmer than suggested in the Trip Notes and ALL of us had brought too many warm clothes and not enough light clothing. The bus stays are much longer than suggested, with few stops and often unanticipated holds ups meaning extremely long travelling days with little time to do anything on arrival except eat and sleep. The Hot Springs at Chivay shoukd be avoided- 1 overcrowded pool with blaring music and lots of loud teenagers.
Suggestions
The first very long bus journey (day 4) was made even longer by a road closure for 2 hours. This was too long on a bus with very few stops and the route should be changed or a stop over en route, made. The Hot Springs in Chivay, mentioned in the Itinerary was dreadful. Only 1overfull, very loud pool with blaring music. Neither relaxing nor pleasant. In contrast, the Hot Springs in Machu Pichu, which was not mentioned in the Itinerary, was in beautiful scenery, multiple pools, no music, and, while also busy with school children, they were all kept to 1 pool, leaving the other pools free for adults and relaxation.
Fantastico!
Outstanding full-on tour of southern Peru, with its wonderful variety of scenery and historical attractions. Overall organisation and itinerary were excellent. There were some very long drives but not tiring as there was so much to see. Food (huge portions) and drink were very good, reasonably priced and quite varied (nice to see lots of craft beers). Hotels were very good. There were only 3 of us, luckily we got on very well! Others had cancelled, doubtless scared off by the civil disruption early in 2023. People were friendly and we encountered no problems, in fact Peru felt safer than some southern European countries…
Most Inspirational Moment
So many highlights, Machu Pichu, Cusco, condors in Colca Canyon, Reed islands in Lake Titicaca, festivals at Cusco and Raqchi.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour leader Leo was excellent. He was highly competent and patiently attended to our needs including arranging great restaurants for dinners.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go. When you book, check that the flights selected are the best for you. KLM really messed up my arrangements by changing and cancelling my flights.
Fantastic experience
So much to see and do. Quite tiring, with early starts and some long drives, but I loved it all. We saw so many wonderful sites, met great local people and tried lots of different foods and drinks. Arrangements and support in Peru were brilliant, particularly the lead guide, William.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around the corner of the top path to see Machu Picchu below me - so emotional after wanting to see it for almost 50 years.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. He really made the trip, because all of his advice and support was great. He even took us to places in his own time and made great suggestions for places to eat and visit. He was also a really lovely man and interesting to talk to.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take or buy snacks for the long journeys. Always top up with water/drinks. Sort and pack luggage into small bags, so it is quick and easy to find what you need.
Suggestions
Enjoy every experience. I was not a great outdoor person and a little nervous of the home stay and food, but embraced it all and had a truly memorable holiday.
Expectations exceeded!
This trip fulfilled my long-held ambitions to see Machu Picchu and condors flying over the Colca Canyon while also giving us the chance to visit the Nazca Lines and Lake Titicaca. I loved all these experiences but there was so much else to enjoy, including time spent relaxing in Cusco, pisco tasting in Ica and the Lima tour on our last morning. The local guides we had at Lake Titicaca and in Arequipa and Lima were all superb. My only disappointment was seeing so few birds and no penguins on the Ballestas Islands boat trip. It was upsetting to see the effect of bird flu and El Niño on the wildlife there.
Most Inspirational Moment
I'll never forget looking down on Machu Picchu and up at condors. Not quite in the same league but particular highlights for me were the Koricancha Sun Temple and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Cusco and the Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was a brilliant leader. He worked hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly and everyone's requirements were met and he was particularly conscientious when it came to checking that no-one was badly affected by the altitude. He was a great guide at Machu Picchu and the other archaeological sites and very helpful in identifying the birds and other wildlife we encountered. Above all he's a really friendly and cheerful person who enjoyed taking and sharing photos and who was happy to chat about anything, even Peru's failure to qualify for the last football World Cup!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If in doubt, please go for it!. Our leader and local guides were very grateful that we'd made the trip and asked us to encourage others to visit. After the double whammy of the pandemic and this year's political unrest the Peruvian tourist industry needs support.
Essential Peru
An unforgettable trip of a lifetime. After so many trips, this was probably one of the most impressive and perfectly organised 2-week round trip I have ever experienced, with a very nice and friendly tour group and our guide Luis, who did an excellent job of informing us about the history, geography as well as current events of Peru, including the continent. Every day was full of sights to discover, every day was interesting and full of news, although we made a long journey and it was sometimes exhausting. But no stretch, no tiredness was in vain, because thanks to the professional drivers and local guides, it was the earth of Peru itself, with its diverse colours, areas, people, climate and dreamlike landscapes, that always surprised, amazed and sometimes moved you between speechlessness and tears of unique beauty. From the legendary Machu Picchu to the fiery red rocks of Cola Canyon, from Lake Titicaca, the warm-hearted people and the lovely host family on the island of Amantani to the magical volcanic area, from the region of Ica and many, many places, this beautiful country of Peru is always worth a trip, no matter if it is a round trip or just regional. No matter which region or city I mention, none of it would have been so perfectly possible without our professional tour guide Luis, whose narrations on the bus I kept wishing would never stop, as he not only shared historical facts and local peculiarities with us, but also answered every conceivable question from fellow travellers clearly, precisely and absolutely understandably. Luis, you remain for us an unforgettable, wise, very intelligent and funny tour guide. I would also like to thank the Exodus team for the excellently planned itinerary, even though the planned time in Aguas Caliente proved too long for such a small place. Whomever Luis is assigned as tour guide, he can be sure that he is in good hands and travelling with a very experienced and friendly soul. The many drivers and local guides may forgive me for not remembering their worthy names, but they all did their best, from day to night, from the mountains to the dry and hot areas all over Peru. Thank you. Muchas Gracias. Sulpayki.
Most Inspirational Moment
Simply Peru as a whole, the landscape, people, food and all the colours.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luis Gonzales is unbeatable and simply the best in his way, being professional, objective, patient and smart.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't hesitate. Just go for this trip: Essential Peru.
Suggestions
Enjoy every day in Peru.
Fantastic experience
So much to see and do. Quite tiring, with early starts and some long drives, but I loved it all. We saw so many wonderful sites, met great local people and tried lots of different foods and drinks. Arrangements and support in Peru were brilliant, particularly the lead guide, William.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around the corner of the top path to see Machu Picchu below me - so emotional after wanting to see it for almost 50 years.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. He really made the trip, because all of his advice and support was great. He even took us to places in his own time and made great suggestions for places to eat and visit. He was also a really lovely man and interesting to talk to.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take or buy snacks for the long journeys. Always top up with water/drinks. Sort and pack luggage into small bags, so it is quick and easy to find what you need.
Suggestions
Enjoy every experience. I was not a great outdoor person and a little nervous of the home stay and food, but embraced it all and had a truly memorable holiday.
A trip of a lifetime
The trip was very tiring due to many early starts and very long bus journeys and the high altitude, but oh my goodness it was so worth it. Overall the trip far exceeded my expectations and ranks amongst the best experience of my lifetime.
Most Inspirational Moment
It was, as it was always going to be, the visit to Machu Picchu. This fulfilled a very long held bucket list item for me. I did wonder whether it would turn out to be a disappointment, and I half expected it to be too busy. But the moment when we first stood at the viewpoint above the site was every bit as inspiring and emotional as I had hoped, and the numbers of people there were far less than I had anticipated. Having said all this, the condors at the Colca Canyon came a very close second to this. That exceeded my expectations by so much.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was a fabulous your leader. I am sure that I would not have enjoyed the tour half as much as I did had it not been for his excellent leadership. His knowledge and enthusiasm for his country and the sites that we visited was inspirational. He helped us tremendously in identifying wild of the wildlife we saw, which is a great interest to us. On the one night that I struggled with altitude sickness he answered how phone immediately when I rung him in the middle of the night and was so sympathetic and helpful. I cannot thank William enough for all his assistance throughout the holiday
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't worry too much about the altitude sickness. I had heard so many horror stories about it beforehand that I got quite anxious about it, but in the end it was no big deal. Don't be fooled by the guidance given in various sites about the cost of meals in Peru. We found that in average they were over twice as expensive as we had expected. Bring plenty of currency. Don't worry too much about the home stay. I can't honestly day that I was looking forward to that, but it turned out to be a rewarding experience.
Suggestions
Thank you William and all at Exodus for helping make it such an unforgettable trip. It ranks amongst the best experiences of my lifetime and will remain long in the memory.
Wonderful and varied trip
This is really varied trip, which allows you to see different regions and terrains of Peru , from coastal islands to deserts, to the Andes mountains and Machu Picchu, to the islands and communities of Lake Titicaca. A fantastic choice if you want to see more of the country than just Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many. Personally I loved Nazca and the deserts around there. But mostly it was the scenery crossing the Andes. Yes the journey was long, but we got to see amazing scenery, which would have been missed by flying directly into Cuzco. Machu Picchu lives up to the hype and is breathtaking. But visiting the communities living on the reed islands of Lake Titicaca was equally memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luis was incredible, combining a passion for his country with enthusiasm for making sure everyone had a good time. He worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make sure our trip ran smoothly, and dealt amazing with some hiccups along the way. He was a fantastic leader, and you'll be lucky if he is leading your future trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As many have said.....take layers. It gets cold, esp on Lake Titicaca. A good gift for the communities is something from your local country (even something like a tea towel), as the family we visited had used these as wall hangings in their house. Headaches from altitude were helped by taking electrolytes (either in drinks or powder sachets); I used rehydration sachets and didn't experience too many problems at all. The optional tour around Cuzco and the 4 ruins was a really great first day in Cuzco to get a sense of the history of the area. You might need more spending money than you think - Peru is not a cheap country, and some ATMs had a cap on how much you could withdraw each time, so maybe take some dollars with you to exhchange as well as relying on ATMs (this worked well for me).
Suggestions
Nazca is under-rated I think. I'm not a fan of flying, and so didn't do the scenic flight with the rest of the group, and yet the alternative option was such fun and one of the highlights of the trip (we visited the burial grounds surrounding Nazca, ancient monuments and an aqueduct, crossing the desert in a dune buggy, which was completely exhilarating).
Terribly let down by Exodus
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Machu Picchu for the first time. But there were many amazing moments.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Holgar (Olie) was an excellent tour leader with great knowledge of his country and with very good command of English. He has a kind and friendly personality and went out of his way to help us and to make the trip a memorable one for us. His organisation skills were outstanding and he made sure that everything flowed smoothly. As I suffered from altitude sickness his kindness and help was invaluable to me.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Ask Exodus all the details such as the air line you will be booked on (if you are booking with flights) etc before you book the trip. Do not trust Exodus to make the right decisions for you. From what I gathered from some members of the group, Exodus offers better prices and a better service if tours are booked through third parties such as Trailfinders. It might be better not to book directly with Exodus and better still, book with another tour operator.
Suggestions
Peru is a beautiful country, well worth travelling to.
Reply from Exodus
We would like to thank Jinny for her review, although we are incredibly sorry that her trip was soured by the service she received on her flights with Air Europa. We understand that, as Jinny made her booking later than other clients on this trip, flights with KLM would have incurred a large supplement, and so our Sales team looked to book her onto flights with alternative airlines which offered her a better price. We would mention that Air Europa are an established, full-service airline who we have used for many years on different routes to Spain and South America without issue; they are not considered a ‘budget’ carrier, and are a member of the SkyTeam alliance alongside KLM. Consequently, our team were confident they would provide a similar level of service, but we are shocked to hear of the experience Jinny had on her journey to and from Peru, and are so sorry to hear that she became ill following her flight home. Our Aviation team has been made aware of Jinny’s experience and will closely monitor feedback we get from clients who fly with this airline in the future; should this prove not to be a one-off, we will strongly consider removing Air Europa from our list of preferred carriers.
We are also sorry that Jinny feels that Exodus offer better prices should our trips be booked through third parties, which we can assure her is not the case. In this instance, the members of her group who booked through Trailfinders did so far in advance, and so avoided any supplementary charges, which are reflective of the costs Exodus incurs in making a later booking. However, we are heartened to read that Jinny found Peru to be a beautiful and worthwhile destination, and are particularly pleased that she singled out our tour leader, Holger, for praise.
Troy Glennon, Product Manager
Best guide and best trip
Absolutely fell in love with Peru and its people. The tour was extremely varied, covering so many different aspects for example the food, culture, history and wildlife. Spectacular scenery in addition to the views of Machu Picchu. All of this was enhanced by the enthusiasm, knowledge, professionalism and superb organisational skills of our guide – Holger (Olli). There were some long days on the coach, but it was very comfortable, and we would not have wanted to miss any of the stunning and constantly changing landscapes.
Most Inspirational Moment
The first view from above of Machu Picchu. That said there were many close competitors for this heading e.g., the boat trip to Ballestas Islands, the Pyramid near Nasca and the Floating Islands on Lake Titicaca.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Holger was the best guide we have had, and our other guides have been pretty good. I repeat our comments from the summary -"All of this was enhanced by the enthusiasm, knowledge, professionalism and superb organisational skills of our guide - Holger (Olli)." Nothing was too much for him. His focus was to ensure we enjoyed Peru to the maximum.
Suggestions
Unfortunately 4 of our group caught Covid halfway through the trip. The uncertainty of their return to the group once cleared by Peruvian doctors and the following instruction from Exodus London certainly meant that for us personally the end of the trip was tarnished. This is not to say that Covid should not be taken seriously but the instructions from Exodus London were at odds with the guidelines in place in Peru and generally very confusing.
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Friday Friday
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This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
03 May 2024 03 May 2024
Friday Saturday
17 May 2024 18 May 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Limited) Only 1 space left!
Adult Price From £ 2,495 £ 3,895 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+£ 545
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
21 Jun 2024 21 Jun 2024
Friday Saturday
05 Jul 2024 06 Jul 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,495 £ 4,075 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
09 Aug 2024 09 Aug 2024
Friday Saturday
23 Aug 2024 24 Aug 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,395 £ 4,145 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
13 Sep 2024 13 Sep 2024
Friday Saturday
27 Sep 2024 28 Sep 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,395 £ 3,845 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
27 Sep 2024 27 Sep 2024
Friday Saturday
11 Oct 2024 12 Oct 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,395 £ 3,845 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
18 Oct 2024 18 Oct 2024
Friday Saturday
01 Nov 2024 02 Nov 2024
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Adult Price From £ 2,395 £ 3,845 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
01 Nov 2024 01 Nov 2024
Friday Saturday
15 Nov 2024 16 Nov 2024
Availability Guaranteed (On Request) Only 2 spaces left!
Adult Price From £ 2,795 £ 4,295 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 2 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
15 Nov 2024 15 Nov 2024
Friday Saturday
29 Nov 2024 30 Nov 2024
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,395 £ 3,895 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 545
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
04 Apr 2025 04 Apr 2025
Friday Saturday
18 Apr 2025 19 Apr 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,675 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
25 Apr 2025 25 Apr 2025
Friday Saturday
09 May 2025 10 May 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,795 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
02 May 2025 02 May 2025
Friday Saturday
16 May 2025 17 May 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,645 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
16 May 2025 16 May 2025
Friday Saturday
30 May 2025 31 May 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,575 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWednesday Wednesday
18 Jun 2025 18 Jun 2025
Thursday Friday
03 Jul 2025 04 Jul 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 3,095 £ 4,545 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 600
Inti Raymi Festival Departure
Inti Raymi Festival Departure
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
08 Aug 2025 08 Aug 2025
Friday Saturday
22 Aug 2025 23 Aug 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,995 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
29 Aug 2025 29 Aug 2025
Friday Saturday
12 Sep 2025 13 Sep 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,945 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
05 Sep 2025 05 Sep 2025
Friday Saturday
19 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,845 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
19 Sep 2025 19 Sep 2025
Friday Saturday
03 Oct 2025 04 Oct 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,845 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
03 Oct 2025 03 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
17 Oct 2025 18 Oct 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,895 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
17 Oct 2025 17 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
31 Oct 2025 01 Nov 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,895 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
31 Oct 2025 31 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
14 Nov 2025 15 Nov 2025
Availability Available
Adult Price From £ 2,595 £ 3,975 Book with 25% deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 575
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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