Adventurous Peru

Trip information peru.jpg

Start: Lima
Finish: Cusco
Trip Type: Cultural/Adventure
Physical Rating: 4/5
Group Size: 4-10 people

£1880

Been dreaming about visiting Machu Picchu and experiencing the thousand year old traditions Peru has to offer?
This two week trip discovering Peru’s south has it all: stunning ancient ruins, off the beaten path adventures, delicious traditionally prepared foods and newly discovered natural wonders. We have put together a trip with all our favourite experiences from our travels in the region. Peru is already quite explored and attractions can be very touristy. That is why, except for Machu Picchu of course, we will venture away from the usual tourist activities.

By the way, be prepared to be a bit exhausted. This is not a trip to relax, but to get to know the real and authentic south of Peru. The country is about five times bigger than the UK. The bus rides can be long, but nothing a Pisco Sour can’t fix. Pack your puffer jacket and join us on a trip to the home of the Inkas!

Highlights

  • Meet the women of a local Quechua community

  • Sleep under the stars in the Peruvian desert

  • Sand-board right next to an Oasis

  • Visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu

  • Enjoy relaxing hot springs in lush nature

  • Take scenic train ride through the Andean mountains

  • Navigate the highest lake in the world

  • Experience an ancient Inka barbecue

  • Visit a new Rainbow mountain (4 actually!)

  • Today you arrive in Lima. You'll receive more information on the airport transfer in our WhatsApp group the week before the trip starts.

    In the evening we will head out for a Welcome Dinner and enjoy some delicious food and drinks together.

    Included meals: Dinner

    Included transport: Airport transfer

  • Lima is famous for its cuisine and you can find some of the best Peruvian ceviche here. After a free morning, we head to the district of Chorillos, somehow a fisherman's village inside the city of Lima. We willnot only sample some authentic ceviches, but also have a sneak peek in the kitchen and see how it is prepared.

    After that, the afternoon is for exploring historic centre. From the prestigious Plaza de Armas you can explore the cathedral, the monastery or the close by catacombs and stroll around the bustling streets. When it's getting dark, we will be heading over to Circuito Magico del Agua and enjoy the indulgence of the illuminated fountains.

    Included meals: Breakfast & lunch

    Included transport: Taxi to Chorillos, to the centre & to the fountains park

    Included activities: Ceviche in Chorillos, Circuito Mágico del Agua

  • Today we make our way to the desert of Ica, South of Lima. The bus journey is around 4-5 hours. Here we will be picked up and transferred to our campsite in the middle of the desert. Don't worry, you will sleep on actual mattresses tonight!

    First, we ride on sand buggies through the dunes and then we will enjoy some sandboarding with a view of the city of Ica. Before going back to the camp, you will see one of the best sunsets in the middle of the dunes.

    Back at the campsite, a delicious barbecue awaits us. We will enjoy our meal and some drinks before dancing the night away by the bonfire. Oh, and there is also a surprise waiting for you!

    Included meals: Breakfast & dinner

    Included transport: Bus to Ica, buggy to the campsite

    Included activities: Dune buggy ride, sandboarding, sunset in the dunes, camping in the desert

  • After a good night's sleep under the stars of the desert, we head through the dunes to the oasis of Huacachina. Here we will enjoy breakfast with a relaxing day in the oasis ahead of us. We will be based in a hostel with a pool during the day. So you can either just relax by the pool, venture out and explore the big dunes around the area or you can sit back and enjoy the waters of the oasis.

    In the evening we will then take a night bus from Ica to the city of Arequipa. Don't worry, the night bus seats recline 180 degrees and make for quite comfy beds.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Transport to Huacachina & night bus to Arequipa

  • We arrive in Arequipa in the morning, so you have the whole day to relax and explore the city by yourself. Known as the white city, Arequipa has undoubtedly stunning architecture and in our opinion the most beautiful Plaza de Armas in Peru.

    Next to its beauty, Arequipa has to offer so much more. You can visit the monastery, head up to the viewpoint, and enjoy an incredible view over the city and the volcanos around, or enjoy the delicious food the city has to offer.

    Included meals: Breakfast

  • Today, you'll have the chance to explore a bit more of this beautiful city before taking a night bus that will take us from Arequipa to Puno, a town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Night bus to Puno.

  • We'll arrive in Puno early in the morning, and after a warming breakfast, we'll hop onto our boat and make our way to the island of Taquile. There, we'll spend a night in the home of a welcoming local family. But before that, we'll make a stop at the Uros islands, where we'll immerse ourselves in the fascinating lifestyle of the people who reside on these floating islands.

    Prepare to be amazed by the simplicity and groundedness of the people living on the lake. Their connection with nature is truly inspiring and integral to the life that thrives around Lake Titicaca.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included activities: Lake Titicaca boat tour

  • Today we will wake up very early to make our way to Cusco. Not going to lie, this will be a long day on the bus. But you will be rewarded with views of mountains and the beauty of the capital of the Inkas at night.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Bus to Cusco

  • Once the centre of the Inkan Empire, Cusco is the base for everyone who wants to visit Machu Picchu and in general a city worthwhile exploring.Today, you will have the whole day to acclimatise to the altitude and wander through the ancient streets of Cusco.

    There are many things to see: the scenic Plaza de Armas, bustling San Pedro Market, and the hip district of San Blas with incredible views of the city.

    Included meals: Breakfast

  • After breakfast, we will embark on our two-day journey to Machu Picchu. This is going to be an early morning. We will be leaving the hostel at around 6am and take a bus for about 5 hours.

    After a late breakfast we will take a short taxi and enjoy some hot springs in the middle of lush nature before heading to Hidroeléctrica , where we embark on our 2 hour hike along the train treks to Aguas Calientes. The route is scenic and at some point, you can even see parts of the Machu Picchu ruins.

    We will arrive in Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. So you have some time to take a look around, have some dinner and get an early night, as we will get up quite early the following morning.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Bus and taxi to Hidroeléctrica

    Included activity: Hot springs, hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes

  • Today is the day! We will get up quite early at around 4 am and start our hike up to Machu Picchu. We will arrive at the entrance about at 6 am and enjoy the morning by exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site first by ourselves and during the later morning also with our guide.

    Shortly before lunchtime, we will make our way back to Aguas Calientes, where you have time for lunch and exploring the town before we take the most scenic train back to Cusco. Be prepared for the views!

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Train and bus to Cusco

    Included activity: Machu Picchu with guide, scenic train ride

  • Take in the experiences from the last days and relax during a free day in Cusco.

    You can either go and get a massage or, if you still want to see more ruins, explore Sacsayhuamán - a complex with lots of temples. One of the temples is dedicated to the sun god Inti and was used as a location for Inkan ceremonies.

    Included meals: Breakfast

  • This is another early morning. We will be picked up at around 3.30 am by a private minivan and make our way about four hours south of Cusco. Shortly before the end of our car journey, we stop at a pre-Inkan bridge, where we can enjoy the sunrise while having some coffee, tea and breakfast.

    Another hour later, we will arrive at our destination: the Palcoyo rainbow mountains. Compared to the better known Vinicunca, Palcoyo only sees a hand full of tourists every day but is equally as stunning and instead of one, you will see 4 rainbow mountains! On the 45-minute hike, you can observe scenic mountains, watch alpacas graze and will even get a view of the snowy Ausangate mountain.

    We will enjoy our packed lunch before heading back to Cusco, where we return at around 3-4pm. So you have enough time for some rest before dinner time.

    Included meals: Breakfast & lunch

    Included transport: Transport to & back from Palcoyo

    Included activity: Hike to Palcoyo rainbow mountains with a local guide

  • Today is for food lovers! After breakfast, we will be picked up and make our way to a small Quechua community in the Sacred Valley. Some of the women of the community will show us how to prepare Pachamanca an 8000-year-old cooking technique.

    This barbecue is traditionally used for special occasions, like weddings or big birthday celebrations. Hot rocks are heated up over hours and then potatoes, meat and vegetables are cooked covered with the hot stones.

    While the stones are doing their magic, we will get to know our hosts and learn about their traditional dresses, how they make the garments and what a day in the life of a Quechua woman looks like.

    Back in Cusco, we will have some time to rest before heading out to a goodbye dinner at our favourite restaurant in the city.

    Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

    Included transport: Bus to & back from local Quechua community

    Included activity: Pachamanca Inkan Barbecue

  • This is goodbye! Today you depart at any time. If you don't leave too early, we can still have breakfast together.

    We hope you had an incredible two weeks filled with adventures and insights into the Peruvian culture and people.

    Included meals: Breakfast

    Included transport: Airport transfer

  • Accommodation

    11 Nights in a hostel
    1 Night in tent
    2 Sleeper buses (180° and 160° incline seat)

    Food

    14 breakfasts
    4 lunches
    4 dinners

    Activities

    Welcome Lunch & Goodbye Dinner
    Ceviche Food Experience
    Sandboarding & Dune Buggies
    Camping with BBQ in the desert
    Boat & Island Tour at Lake Titicaca
    Machu Picchu with Guide
    Palcoyo Rainbow Mountains
    Pachamanca Inkan BBQ
    Relaxing at Hotsprings
    Train back from Machu Picchu

    Transport

    Airport transfers
    All transport between cities and to and from activities.

  • International Flights
    Visa fees (If you require a visa for Peru)
    Any meals not mentioned in the included section
    Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
    Personal expenses
    Travel Insurance

Next Dates

Sun 02 Jun 2024 Sun 16 Jun 2024 Sold Out £1880 / $2350

Sat 31 Aug 2024 Sat 14 Sep 2024 Sold Out - Waiting List £1880 / $2350

Sat 08 Sep 2024 Sat 22 Sep 2024 8 Spots Available £1880 / $2350

Sat 14 Sep 2024 Sat 28 Sep 2024 5 Spots available £1880 / $2350

Sat 12 Apr 2025 Sat 26 Apr 2025 10 Spots available £1880 / $2350

Sat 19 Apr 2025 Sat 03 May 2025 10 Spots available £1880 / $2350

Sat 03 May 2025 Sat 17 May 2025 10 Spots available £1880 / $2350

    • Can I sign up as a solo traveller?

    Of course! You can sign up for our trips whether you are solo or with a group of friends. Our groups are a mix of open-minded people, who usually become friends within a second.

    • Does the tour include flights?

    As people will join our tour from different parts of the world, we decided it is easier to not include the flights in the tour. We are happy to help you find the best flight deal for your trip. Just let us know in the notes section, when booking the tour and we will get in touch with you to help you find your flights. In general, we usually use Skyscanner to find the best deals.

    • If my flight has a layover in the USA or Canada, do I need a visa?

    US: Even when transiting through the US, you still need ESTA. Make sure to apply in advance as it may take up to 72 hours for the application to be processed. Check the official ESTA website for more information: https://esta-center.com/en/transit/index.html

    Canada: For Canada you don’t need to apply for the normal visa, but will need a certain kind of transit visa depending on your country of origin. Check for more information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/transit.html

    • Do I need to purchase travel insurance before the trip?

    Yes, it is obligatory for everyone who joins us to have travel insurance before departing. We can help you find the right travel insurance for you. Just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    • Airport transfers: how does it work?

    When you book your flight, let us know your flight number and the time you arrive as soon as possible. That way we can stay on track for any delays of your flight. When you arrive at the destination airport, one of us will be there to welcome you and bring you to the car that will take you to the hostel. At the hostel, there will also be one of us to help you with the check-in.

    • What type of luggage should I bring?

    To make the trip easier for you, a backpack or duffle bag is a must. We are heading to some quite remote locations, where access with rolling suitcases is quite hard. Think of minivans with little space, 4x4s, motos or even boats. Ideally, this bag should not be bigger than 40l, which is also hand luggage size and will save you some money on your flight to the destinations.

    • Is it a tiring trip?

    We guess you know you are not signing up for a two-week spa holiday with us. Peru is an incredibly beautiful country but it is also incredibly big, so you will have a couple of longer bus journeys, for example between Ica and Arequipa or between Copacabana and Cusco. But we promise: every long bus is totally worth the journey!

    • How is the accommodation throughout the trip?

    We are going to stay at hostels because of the more social atmosphere. Unless you book private accommodation, you will be in a 6-bed dorm with mainly private bathrooms and only with people from our group. (The room capacity may differ depending of the place we're staying at). If you want to know more about the accommodation, just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    • Can you provide me with a list of the hostels we will be staying at?

    Sure, just get in touch via Email or WhatsApp and we can send you a list of the hostels. In very rare cases it might happen though that we will stay in another hostel. If you wish, we can also inform you about any changes, if they come up.

    • Is Peru a safe country?

    Peru is a safe country to travel. As everywhere in the world it is important that you take the usual safety precautions. Especially in bigger cities, as there is always the risk of pickpocketing.

    • Can I drink the tap water?

    In Peru it is advised not to drink any tab water at all throughout the country. Bottled water is easily available in supermarkets, corner shops, hostels and even from street vendors.

    • What should I pack?

    To make it easier for you to know what to bring, we have put together a packing list for this trip here.

    In case you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact us via Email or WhatsApp.