HIGHLIGHTS OF PERU (FURTHER DETAILS)

General information:
This is a guided walking holiday where you move from hotel to hotel.

All the main highlights are included Arequipa, Colca, Cuzco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, also while you are visiting these areas you will stay in high quality hotels.

Walks and excursions are all spectacular, and many are well off the beaten track, especially:

Arequipa – Valleys and Volcanoes Walk day 3

School visit in Sumbay on day 4,

meeting local shepherding children Uyo Uyo ruins day 6

High Valley Walk day 7

Cuper Valley Walk day 11

Patacancha Valley (alternative to Inca Trail) day 12

All of these walks are on really unusual and remote trails – the chances of seeing anyone but locals on these days is practically nil, and we will have the trails to ourselves.

Location:
There are three distinct areas that we visit on this tour:

Peru's desert region - a northern extension of the Atacama Desert. We go to the high desert oasis city of Arequipa (2400m).

From here we drive to the fertile and even higher Colca Canyon (3500m). Here we see rural Peru with amazing Inca terraces and tiny villages.

We then fly up to the central high sierra of the Andes – Cuzco is the gateway city. This region has massive mountain peaks of 6000m, steep canyons, and extraordinary archaeological sites like Machu Picchu, and of course the old Inca capital Cuzco.

Peru's third great region is the dense Amazon Rainforest beneath the eastern slopes of the Andes. This is offered as an optional add-on. It is accessible by air from Cuzco – you fly to Puerto Maldonaldo (45 minutes), and then take a boat transfer (1 hour each way) to a lodge in the forest.

Who would this holiday appeal to?
Everyone will love Peru! The varied and spectacular landscape is incredible, the hotels charming and comfortable or gorgeously luxurious.

The main concern for most people will be the altitude – Acclimatisation is built into the itinerary, walks on the first few days at altitude are shorter and easier than later in the holiday. Guides and vehicles carry oxygen in case anyone needs it to alleviate headaches at altitude.

Similar to which other holidays?
Anyone who likes South America will love this tour. The Chile or Ecuador tours are similar to this holiday.

We think this is a truly unique experience, with a varied and interest packed tour that will really thrill people with its variety.

Possibility of non-standard departures?
This is guided holiday, so we are unable to arrange non standard start dates, however you may like to enjoy extra nights at the start or end of the tour.

Other details:
We include continental breakfast, 11 lunches and 9 evening meals on this holiday.

Free time is built into the itinerary to give time to explore (in Cuzco and Machu Picchu)

There is a great balance between cultural visits to cathedrals/temples/museums and the walking during the tour.

There are opportunities to explore and eat out in Arequipa and Cuzco on their own rather than in a group.

We provide knowledgeable, qualified local guides with masses of information on each place.