Best of Peru - Premium Adventure

Experience Overview

Prepare to be captivated by the dramatic scenery of Peru. Discover the incredible mountaintop setting of Machu Picchu, the floating reed islands of Lake Titicaca and the colossal Colca Canyon. Our itinerary takes in the absolute best of Peru, discovering the culture, people, history and diverse landscapes of the Andes from the comfort of handpicked, premium accommodation. A highlight is the One-Day Inca Trail trek, which takes us into cloud forest to link up with the final section of Inca Trail that brings trekkers to Machu Picchu. Our adventure also includes two nights deep in the Amazon Rainforest. Discover the amazing variety of life here with an expert naturalist who can interpret the sights and sounds of the jungle.
Profile
— Accommodation: 15 Premium nights (hotels and lodges) — Travel by internal flights, train, boat and private air-conditioned bus — Time spent at altitude
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 15 Premium nights (hotels and lodges) — Travel by internal flights, train, boat and private air-conditioned bus — Time spent at altitude
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. This is a busy itinerary encompassing the main highlights of southern Peru. The size of Peru means this trip involves some long drives and early starts. The private buses used are comfortable and the scenery is outstanding. There will be several stops along the way to help break up the long journeys. Although graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate), the altitude can make physical activity feel more tiring than at sea level, especially on the 1 Day Inca Trail Trek (Moderate).  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. Please note, it is essential you read the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall), and you will need to bring appropriate clothing. Cuzco, Arequipa 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. This program includes the 1 Day Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu – a permit is required for this trek.  We will need your full passport details at the time of booking in order to purchase and process your permit.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, nine lunches and six dinners are included. The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Free drinking water will be provided in large containers; please bring a refillable bottle with you. 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. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that wheat-/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 a variety of local cafes and restaurants. Peruvian cuisine has developed a reputation for exceptional flavours and originality and it’s well worth trying a few of the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (a spicy dish of seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry) and various hearty soups such as the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig) and Alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.
Transportation
A variety of transport is used during this tour and vehicle types may vary depending on group size: travel is by train, boat, minibus/coach and internal flights. Airport transfers are by private car or minibus. The main road journeys are by private minibus or coach with heating/air-conditioning and may or may not have a toilet on board. We travel by train (with Peru Rail/Inca Rail) from Ollantaytambo to the start of the one-day Inca Trail in expedition/executive class and from Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu) back to Ollantaytambo in the 360-degree service. Seating is four seats to a table and the carriages have panoramic windows and there is air conditioning/heating. The boat on Lake Titicaca is private to our group, and there will be a local guide from one of the Lake Titicaca island communities. The boat is enclosed as it can get cold at this altitude but there are large windows on all sides and an outside deck to the rear. Life jackets are provided.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Casa Andina Select Miraflores Phone: +51 1 4167500 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately. Airport: Lima Airport (LIM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides 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 Exodus provides 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.
Weather Information
The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between regions. Lima and Paracas fall 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 the air humid. Average daytime temperatures in Lima are about 18C and 24C (64F and 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 skies in Lima are clear and temperatures at their warmest but elsewhere in the country this is 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 (approximately 20C/68F on average) but nights only 5C-10C (41F-50F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or just below, freezing. In the Andes, however, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid and unexpected changes. Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon are high (at 12,470ft/3,800m and 11,810ft/3,600m above sea level respectively), so the sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You should bring warm layers and a waterproof or wind-stopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest and as such attract large amounts of precipitation all year 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 weather phenomenon known as El Niño, 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.
Spending Money
It is a good idea to take enough money with you to last the first few days because you set off early on Day 2. However, the bus can stop at an ATM en route if needed. Food, drinks and similar incidentals can vary in price enormously in Peru and are relatively expensive compared to other developing nations. Allow about US$15‐US$20 per meal (where meals are not included) to eat at good restaurants, price noted does not include alcohol. Cheaper food is abundant at small local cafes, although sanitary conditions at these places cannot be guaranteed. Bottled water and soft drinks are readily available for around US$1‐US$2 each. Please note, there is a possibility the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism may increase entrance fees to archaeological sites at any time. If this happens, we will inform you of the increase and the additional amount will be payable locally. Peruvian airport taxes are included in the price of your flight ticket, and there will be no need to pay these locally. Peruvian Passport or Identity Card Holders Please note, the cost of Exodus holidays in Peru is based on the assumption you do not hold a Peruvian passport or resident’s card. If you are officially resident in Peru or are a Peruvian passport holder, you will be liable to an additional 18 percent tax on most services, and this extra sum will be payable locally to our local partner. Other nationalities are exempt from this tax. Please notify us at the time of booking if you are legally resident in Peru or hold a Peruvian passport so we can advise you of the total cost of these taxes. Optional Excursions Your tour leader can tell you about the full range of optional excursions available throughout your holiday; however, the most popular are: Cuzco: City tour and four ruins (five hours): From US$48 per person (based on four participants), excludes BTG. This includes visits to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucará plus a city tour, which includes the Plaza de Armas, where the cathedral is located; Koricancha ‘Sun Temple’ (entrance included); and San Pedro Market. Cuzco: Sacred Valley tour (eight hours): From US$58 per person (based on four participants), excludes BTG. Drive to the Sacred Valley, stopping at El Mirador viewpoint en route. Visit Pisac Market and fortress and Ollantaytambo; return to Cuzco. Stand-up paddleboarding (four hours): From US$82 per person (based on two participants). Includes private transfer, specialised guide, fruit, water and hot drinks. Price can vary if there are more participants. Zip-line (eight to nine hours): From US$60 per person. Includes transport, security equipment, specialised guide, and box lunch. Via ferrata (eight to nine hours): From US$60 per person. Includes transport, security equipment, specialised guide, and box lunch. Via ferrata and zip line (eight to nine hours): From US$100 per person. Includes transport, security equipment, specialised guide, and box lunch. Mountain biking excursion in the Sacred Valley (seven hours): From US$130 per person (based on two participants). Includes private transfer, security equipment, specialised guide, and box lunch. White-water rafting (eight hours): From US$140 per person (minimum of two participants). Drive to the Chiquicahuana area of the Southern Valley to start rafting in Vilcanota river. Spend two to three hours rafting and experiencing rapids level III and III+. Finish your adventure with a picnic lunch before heading back to Cuzco. Activity available from April to December. Excursion prices vary depending on the number of people taking part. The prices given within these Trip Notes are based on four participants (unless otherwise stated) and are intended as a guideline only. Actual prices will differ depending on group sizes. All tours use private transport and there will be an English-speaking guide. Please note, cash is the preferred method of payment for the optional activities.  For some activities, a minimum number of participants may be required. Some activities may not always be possible due to weather, seasonality, national holidays or unforeseen circumstances.
Tipping
On this Premium Adventure, tipping for any local support staff is included and will normally be taken care of by your tour leader (or in some cases through our local agent). So no need for any tipping kitty contributions, or to make your own tips during the trip. Our ‘included tips’ will normally cover drivers, local specialist guides, certain hotel staff, and serving staff for included meals. Amounts will be in line with the local standard. Of course, if you wish to make a further tip for some extra special service you may do so. Tips for the tour leader are not included. Whether to tip at all and the amount is entirely at your own discretion, but as a starting point we suggest around US$6 (25 Peruvian soles) per person per day for the duration of the trip.

Highlights