.jpg?ext=.jpg "Arequipa")
Peru In Depth and the Inca Trail
19 Days Starting in Lima, Peru and ending in Cusco, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Puerto Chala, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Taquile Island, Puno, Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco
Tour operator:
Tour code:
PE
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
16-
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Peru, exploring its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage. This comprehensive tour takes you from the bustling streets of Lima to the serene beauty of Lake Titicaca, offering a unique blend of adventure and discovery. Walk the iconic Inca Trail to the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, and experience the vibrant local life with a night on Taquile Island. Travel through the diverse terrains of Peru by private vehicles, public buses, and trains, enjoying scenic drives along the Panamerican Highway and through the Andean mountains. Stay in a variety of accommodations, from comfortable hotels to camping under the stars along the Inca Trail. This tour promises an immersive experience, combining historical exploration with the natural wonders of Peru.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Join Tour Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mariel Hotel
Join tour Lima
Day 2 : Visit Pachacamac. Drive To Paracas National Park
Location: Paracas
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Paracas Sunset Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Visit Pachacamac. Drive to Paracas National Park
Day 3 : Optional Boat Trip To Islas Ballestas. Continue To Nazca
Location: Nazca
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Majoro
Meals Included: Breakfast
Optional boat trip to Islas Ballestas. Continue to Nazca
Day 4 : Follow Coastal Road To Puerto Chala
Location: Puerto Chala
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casona Plaza Colonial
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Follow coastal road to Puerto Chala
Day 5 : Journey Through The Andean Mountains To Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casona Plaza Colonial
Meals Included: Breakfast
Journey through the Andean mountains to Arequipa
Day 6 : Explore Peru's 'White City'. Visit Santa Catalina Convent
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casona Plaza Ecolodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
Explore Peru's 'White City'. Visit Santa Catalina Convent
Day 7 : Ascend To The Altiplano And Town Of Chivay
Location: Colca Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casona Plaza Ecolodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
Ascend to the Altiplano and town of Chivay
Day 8 : Walk By Colca Canyon. Drive To Lake Titicaca
Location: Colca Canyon
Accommodation Name: Hotel Hacienda Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walk by Colca Canyon. Drive to Lake Titicaca
Day 9 : Boat To Taquile. Stay In Island Village House
Location: Taquile Island
Accommodation Name: Taquile Guesthouse
Meals Included: Breakfast
Boat to Taquile. Stay in island village house
Day 10 : Island Walk. Return To Puno By Boat
Location: Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Hacienda Puno
Meals Included: Breakfast
Island walk. Return to Puno by boat
Day 11 : Drive Through Mountains To Ollanta Via Sillustani Funeral Towers
Location: Ollantaytambo
Accommodation Name: Hotel Tikawasi Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive through mountains to Ollanta via Sillustani funeral towers
Day 12 : Free Day In Sacred Valley. Optional Whitewater Rafting
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Hotel Tikawasi Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast
Free day in Sacred Valley. Optional whitewater rafting
Day 13 : Commence Inca Trail. Walk To Llaqtapata Ruins
Location: Ollantaytambo
Accommodation: Camp, ing
Accommodation Name: Campsite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Commence Inca Trail. Walk to Llaqtapata ruins
Day 14 : Follow River To Wayllabamba Village. Continue To Llulluchapampa
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Campsite
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Follow river to Wayllabamba village. Continue to Llulluchapampa
Day 15 : Cross 'Dead Woman's Pass' (4200M). Through Cloudforest To Phuyupatamarca
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Camp, ing
Accommodation Name: Campsite or Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cross 'Dead Woman's Pass' (4200m). Through cloudforest to Phuyupatamarca
Day 16 : Arrive To Machu Picchu Through The Sun Gate
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: El Mapi Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Arrive to Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate
Day 17 : Revisit Machu Picchu. Return To Ollantaytambo By Train.
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Hotel -Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Revisit Machu Picchu. Return to Ollantaytambo by train.
Day 18 : Walking Tour Of Cusco. Visit To Sacsayhuaman
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Hotel -Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Walking tour of Cusco. Visit to Sacsayhuaman
Day 19 : Tour Ends
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Tour ends
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay in a variety of accommodations including the Mariel Hotel in Lima, Paracas Sunset Hotel, Hotel Majoro in Nazca, Casona Plaza Colonial in Arequipa, and more. Experience local hospitality with a night in a village house on Taquile Island and camping along the Inca Trail.
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Transport
Travel through Peru by a combination of private vehicles, public buses, and trains. Enjoy scenic drives along the Panamerican Highway, through the Andean mountains, and along the Sacred Valley. Experience a boat ride on Lake Titicaca and a train journey to Machu Picchu.
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Meals
The tour includes 18 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 3 dinners.
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Guided Tours
Guided tours are included in Lima, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Taquile Island, Machu Picchu, and Cusco.
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Inca Trail
Walk the classic Inca Trail route to Machu Picchu with a fully licensed and experienced trekking guide and the usual crew of porters.
What's Not Included
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions such as the boat trip to Islas Ballestas, hot springs in La Calera, and traditional Peruvian farm visit are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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Flights
International and domestic flights are not included in the tour package.
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Entry Fees
Entry fees for optional activities and sites not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
Meals
Breakfasts: 18
Lunches: 6
Dinners: 3
Mode of Transport
Travel through Peru by a combination of private vehicles, public buses, and trains. Enjoy scenic drives along the Panamerican Highway, through the Andean mountains, and along the Sacred Valley. Experience a boat ride on Lake Titicaca and a train journey to Machu Picchu.
Check out our Q&As
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What types of transportation are used during the tour?
The tour uses a combination of private vehicles, public buses, and trains. There are scenic drives along the Panamerican Highway, through the Andean mountains, and along the Sacred Valley. Additionally, there is a boat ride on Lake Titicaca and a train journey to Machu Picchu.
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What kind of accommodations can I expect on this tour?
Accommodations vary throughout the tour, including stays at the Mariel Hotel in Lima, Paracas Sunset Hotel, Hotel Majoro in Nazca, and Casona Plaza Colonial in Arequipa. There is also a night in a village house on Taquile Island and camping along the Inca Trail.
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Is there an opportunity to see wildlife during the tour?
Yes, there are opportunities to see wildlife, such as varied birdlife in Paracas National Park and a large colony of sea lions, seabirds, and penguins during an optional excursion to the Ballestas Islands.
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What is the highlight of the Inca Trail portion of the tour?
The highlight of the Inca Trail portion is arriving at Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate, offering a sudden and fantastic view of the Lost City set in a grandiose landscape.
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Are there any cultural experiences included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes cultural experiences such as staying in a local village house on Taquile Island, where the islanders still speak Quechua, the language of the Inca. There is also a visit to the community of Misminay in the Sacred Valley, where you can learn about traditional weaving techniques and local life.
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I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?
It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.
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Should I get travel insurance?
Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us
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How long has the tour company been trading?
At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.
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What is the accommodation like?
We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.
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Do I need to be very fit to book with you?
All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o
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Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel
It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Free Date Changes
Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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