Trips

Lima

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru.  With colonial charm, ancient Inca history and llamas around every corner, Peru is a destination with a difference. You'll be met at the airport and driven to your hotel. Your adventure officially begins with a Welcome Meeting at 5pm today. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. It’s important that you attend, as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you’re going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. If you arrive early, be sure to take a stroll around Miraflores. Go from Central Park (Parque Kennedy) to LarcoMar via Larco Avenue. Alternatively, go to Parque del Amor (Love's Park) and check out its mosaics and El Beso statue. Pachacamac, home to the Temple of the Sun, is also well worth the trip (approximately 30 km from downtown Lima). Limenos (Lima's residents) are friendly, and there are plenty of great restaurants and cafes at which to sample delicious ceviche, a local seafood specialty.

Cusco

Explore Lima with a guide today, checking out all the major sites. Along the way you'll visit the infamous catacombs underneath the San Francisco church. Here you'll find the bones of an estimated 75,000 bodies arranged in ornate patterns in stone pits. While it can get a little claustrophobic down there, it's a fascinating display. The church itself is also quite a sight, built in the boroque style of the late 17th century. Later on, catch a flight to Cusco (approx. 1.5 hours).

Cusco

Approach your day at a nice easy pace, taking time to acclimatise to the city's altitude (3,450 m). You will enjoy a half-day city tour in which a guide will show you some of Cusco's excellent sights and activities. This city is really the heart and soul of Peru. The city itself is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city and was the home of the Incas for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. Today Cusco is a fascinating combination of both cultures, and it's a dream to walk around. Inca-built walls line the central streets, and many of the elegant colonial buildings are built on or around Inca foundations.  While you're here, you'll visit the local Coricancha archeological site, the Inca Museum, Cusco Cathedral, the ruins of the most opulent temple in the Inca Empire as well as the 4 main archaeological sites near the city: Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay.

Cusco

The day is yours to explore the city as you please. Armed with a full boleto turistico (tourist ticket), you'll have access to almost all of the best museums and sights in town. Perhaps start your day at the local market – a great chance to mingle with the locals, sample some street food or some pastries, and browse for some strange items such as 'Dragon's Blood' (medicinal tree sap). Some great museums to visit are The Pisco Museum, the Museum of Inca Culture and the Museum of Popular Art. There are also many adventure activities on offer in the gorgeous surrounding hills, from trekking and mountain biking to via-ferrata climbing and zip-lining.

Sacred Valley

Venture into the Sacred Valley. With its warm climate and fertile soil, this valley was considered the greenhouse of the Incas, who built many towns and agricultural terraces along it. Small farming hamlets dot a landscape of patchwork fields, and many are still ploughed by oxen and other beasts of burden. En route you will reach the village of Pisac (2,950 m), where you can stop and browse the stalls of the traditional market. There are also some fascinating Inca ruins to explore – your first taste of Inca architecture. The ruins stick out on a pinnacle overlooking the valley while steep terraces sweep around the hillside. Your hotel for tonight is located in the heart of the valley (2,800 m) in a quiet farming village. Today you will explore the Pisaq inca site and walk down to Pisaq town. Stop in the historic colonial town to browse the stalls of the traditional market.

Chinchero

Today you will start to prepare for the Classic Inca Trail or Moonstone trek, with a walk up to the village of Chinchero. Leaving the Sacred Valley behind, follow a newly reopened section of Inca road up the Urquillos Valley, climbing 900 m (approx. 4 hours) to reach the high-altitude plains of Chinchero (3,760 m). This route is rarely walked by tourists, so enjoy the ambience. You will take in amazing views of the Vilcanota range and, with some luck, spot some parrots and hummingbirds along the way. At Chinchero, the villagers are famous for their skills in weaving, and you might see them in their traditional dress, tending their fields. In the afternoon you can explore the village where the people of Chinchero offer their textiles at a colourful local market. You'll also check out the painted church and investigate the Inca ruins. Enjoy the hospitality of a local family who will welcome you into their home for the night.

Ollantaytambo

After breakfast you'll be collected from the homestay and taken to your private transport bound for Moray and its archaeological site. This was an experimental centre of agriculture in Incan times. From here you'll begin your cycling adventure. We start biking along a mild-intermediate section of trail, pause for some included snacks and then continue onto the Salt Flats of Maras. The ride covers about 30-35km (22 miles) depending on the group and the pace.You will be provided with adjustable helmets (mandatory), full-fingered gloves, elbow and knee pads (mandatory on certain downhill sections). The group will have a support vehicle for those wishing not to ride the whole way. The salt flats of Maras are a great spot to drink in the views and take some pictures. Then it's an intermediate downhill stretch that brings you to Pichingoto on the route to Ollantaytambo. Your bike trip ends at this point. Transfer to a private vehicle and head to Ollantaytambo. The town of Ollantaytambo, built over an ancient Inca city, is a traditional village laid out on a grid plan (one of only four surviving examples), overlooked by the magnificent fortress of Ollantay.

Classic Inca Trail or Moonstone Trek

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be hiking the ancient trails of one of the following routes to Machu Picchu: the Classic Inca Trail or the Moonstone Trek. For the duration of either hike you'll camp in a spacious tent and be accompanied by a support crew consisting of porters, a cook and a helper who will take care of all camp chores. A toilet tent is provided at camp and at each lunch stop. Classic Inca Trail: Travel by minivan (approx. 45 mins) to the 82 kilometre marker and meet your crew of local porters, cook and guide. The first day includes uphill trekking to the campsite, which is at 3,100 metres above sea level. On the way you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Mountain. In the evening, unwind at the campsite near the hamlet of Huayllabamba with a nourishing meal. Expected walking: 11km/7miles (6-7 hours) Moonstone Trek: Transfer (approx. 2 hours) by private bus to the starting point of the Moonstone Trek, stopping to visit Killarumiyoc, a religiously important Inca site, along the way. Begin the trek and make your way along the dusty path to Huata, another ancient site that served as a check point. Enjoy the valley views while you rest for lunch, before continuing on to the village of Chillipawa where we will set up camp. The camp is located at approximately 3,700 metres above sea level. Expected walking: 11km/7 miles (6-7 hours)

Classic Inca Trail or Moonstone Trek

Classic Inca Trail: Set off along the course of the Cusichaca River, ascending a broad valley to the village of Wayllabamba (3,000 m). This is the last place of human habitation on the Inca Trail. Your porters will go ahead and prepare lunch, which will be waiting for you at a spot that's close to the summit. The trail steepens through fertile cloud forest and eventually onto high-altitude grassland. Finally you will reach the highest point of the entire trail, called Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman's Pass) (4,200 m). At this point you can pause to rest and enjoy the views, perhaps snapping a photo or two of the lush surrounds from this vantage. Then you will begin the steep descent into the valley below. Your camp is located at Pacaymayo (3,700 m). Expected walking: 10km/6.5 miles (6-7 hours) Moonstone Trek: Brace yourself for a climb today as the path continues to steepen and increase in elevation. You’ll break for lunch to soak in the expansive views of the surrounding landscape before tackling the final summit to the Accoccasa Pass. At 4,600 metres above sea level it is the highest point of the Moonstone Trek and offers unbeatable views of snow-capped Veronica Mountain (5,800 m) and the Urubamba mountain range. Take some time to congratulate yourself before following the path downhill to your campsite Chancachuku (4,300 m). Expected walking: 9 km/5.5 miles (6 hours)

Classic Inca Trail or Moonstone Trek

Classic Inca Trail: A second ascent leads past a fine set of ruins to Runkuracay Pass (3,998 m). From here, you'll be pleased to discover, the trail is mostly downhill! The vegetation gradually changes as you walk through part of the cloud forest, skirting the outer edges of the Amazon Jungle. Cross the Aobamba River, from where you can see the Sayacmarca ruins sitting on a rocky spur up above. A final, easy ascent over a lower pass takes you to the campsite, which is perched above the ruins of Phuyupatamarca. On this final stretch you'll take in many incredible vistas out across the vast mountains and jungle. Expected walking: 12km/7.5 miles (5-6 hours) Moonstone Trek: Breathe easy today - most of the trekking is downhill. After breakfast, follow a stream into a narrow canyon where the path navigates high above a deep valley. This is arguably one of the most spectacular sections of the trek. Along the way you’ll notice an old Inca aqueduct carved into the cliffs, which was used to transport water through the region. Take a steep but short climb up to a flat meadow and enjoy some lunch before making your way to the ridge top shrine of Wayraqpunku (the gate of the wind). Continue downhill, passing the Inca site Choquetacarpo before arriving at tonight’s campsite for a well-deserved rest. Expected walking: 12km/7.5 miles (6-7 hrs)

Classic Inca Trail or Moonstone Trek

Classic Inca Trail: The final day of the trek starts with an amazing view, and after breakfast you'll set off on one of the most scenic parts of the whole trail. It's all downhill for the first 2.5 hours until you reach your lunch stop at the Inca site of Winay Huayna. From here, it is just 2 more hours until you reach the highlight of today: Machu Picchu. The toil of the day is forgotten at a stroke as you are treated to an out-of-this-world view of Machu Picchu before you. After lingering to admire this panorama, catch a bus to Aguas Calientes. Here you can check into your accommodation, stretch your legs and take a long-awaited hot shower. Expected walking: 9 km/5.6 miles (6-7 hours) Moonstone Trek: Make sure you’ve saved some camera battery for today, as sunrise over Veronica Mountain is a highlight of this trek! Wake early to catch the show and enjoy breakfast before beginning your final descent into the valley below. Wander by ruins on your way to the town of Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. From here, take the train to Aguas Calientes and check into your hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and catch up with members of your group who hiked the Inca trail. Tonight you will enjoy the comforts of a bed. Expected walking: 7km/4 miles (3-4 hours)

Machu Picchu/Cusco

It's an early one this morning - head out on a bus to Machu Picchu at 5.30am. The journey will take 30 minutes. Once you arrive, enjoy a two-hour guided tour of this incredible site. You will then have free time to explore the ruined city by yourself. While it is thought Machu Picchu was built around 1440 as a country retreat for Incan nobility, there is evidence that it had been a sacred site for much longer. Another school of thought is that it was an astronomical observatory. Decide for yourself as you wander around the many temples, palaces and living quarters. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a bus back to Cusco.