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Highlights Of Peru
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A Exploring Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, The Sacred Valley and the beautiful mountain heartland of the Inca Empire |
Ref: EX-DWP
15 days
from £1899 (minimum 6 passengers)
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Destination:
Peru
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Go Back
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Exploring Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, The Sacred Valley and the beautiful mountain heartland of the Inca Empire
A trip to southern Peru with all the highlights included: The Sacred Valley; Cuzco, the Inca capital; Machu Picchu, the lost city; and Titicaca, the sacred lake; this is a comprehensive trip to the Inca heartland where we can stay in fascinating surroundings. Starting with a brief look at the sights of Lima, we go on to our first highland destination, the Sacred Valley. This was the granary of the Incas, and the enchanting fertile valley is home to some fine Inca remains. We explore Pisac and visit the famous Indian market to buy the colourful traditional clothing and handicrafts. Ollantaytambo, at the northern end of the valley, has a hugely impressive fortress to explore. For most people the highlight of the trip is the visit to arguably the greatest ruin in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu, hidden in the beautiful jungle-covered eastern slopes of the Andes. From our hotel below the Lost City we have plenty of time to explore the whole area. Cuzco, the beautiful Inca capital, is a fascinating blend of Inca and colonial Spanish. It provides opportunities for some serious souvenir shopping as well as the awesome site of Sacsayhuaman fortress on the hills above the town and the Temple of the Sun near the old centre. Our final leg takes us on an exciting journey through some stunning scenery across the Altiplano to the famous deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca at almost 4,000 metres above see level, a final high before our flight back to Lima.
Extend your stay: Extra nights accommodation can be booked at the Hotel Jose Antonio, Lima £50 per twin room and £42 per single occupancy, plus a £5 booking fee in each case.
Further Information
Special equipment required: warm jacket, water bottle, walking boots or comfortable shoes for walking. Waterproofs are advisable at all times.
Extra Expenses: allow around £150 for main meals not included. Allow extra for tips, soft drinks etc. A visit to the Gold Museum is approximately $28. There is an international departure tax from Lima of US$28, and a national tax of US$5 for domestic flights, payable in dollars at the time of flying.
Meals Included: all breakfasts and 2 lunches (days 4 and 5).
Transport: airport transfers and local sightseeing are by minibus. Transfers between Lima and Cuzco are by air, and the journey back from Machu Picchu to Cuzco is by train.
Children: this trip is not available to children under 16. Families can book this holiday as a private group. Please call exodus (00 44) 0870 240 5550 or email: sales@exodus.co.uk for further details.
Joining locally: the local joining point is the Hotel Jose Antonio, Lima. A fixed-price prepaid taxi bookable within the airport to the hotel costs approx US$25 and takes approx 45 mins. You can join in the afternoon or evening of Day 2.
Group & Staff
Min. 6, max. 16, plus leader, driver and local guides.
Accommodation
The Jose Antonio Hotel in Lima is in the smart Miraflores district near good restaurants and the seafront. All rooms have air-conditioning; the hotel has a bar and buffet breakfast is served in the restaurant. In Cuzco the Don Carlos Hotel is centrally-located, a short walk to the Plaza de Armas, with modern rooms and good service. The Hatuchay Tower, near Machu Picchu, is on the Urubamba River in the town of Aguas Calientes and has comfortable rooms. Pakaritampu Hotel is located in Ollantaytambo with beautiful gardens and views of the Sacred Valley and Inca ruins. All hotels are 3 star with twin and single rooms and en-suite facilities.
Food
Typically breakfast is buffet style, with fruit, meats, breads, cheese, juices and cereals. Packed lunches consist of bread, cheese/cold meat and fresh fruit. Peruvian cuisine is extremely varied, owing to the diversity of ingredients available in the different climatic regions. The frequent use of garlic, onion and different kinds of chili and red peppers has given Peruvian food a well-deserved reputation for being highly spiced. The most famous Peruvian drink is pisco, a potent grape brandy found it many cocktails - don’t drink too many or you’ll never finish the trip!
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Day 1 | Depart London Heathrow in the morning, arriving in Lima in the evening. Those booking land-only arrangements should meet at the hotel in Lima. | Day 2 | Free morning to relax; afternoon city tour of Lima to visit colonial Lima, the Plaza de Armas, Convent of San Francisco and new Lima, the seafront and Miraflores. | Day 3 | Short, scenic flight to Cuzco then drive to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. The afternoon is free to relax or take a walk through low and wide andenes (Inca terraces). | Day 4 | Visit the colourful Tuesday market in Pisac village; drive to the roadhead and walk up to the spectacular Inca remains on the steep hillsides. Return to Ollantaytambo to explore the main ruins and narrow cobbled streets. | Day 5 | Drive up the steep sides of the Sacred Valley and onto the Altiplano and the Inca site of Moray, two deep, terraced amphitheatres thought to have been a testing station for crop production. Walk back towards the Valley, and the huge salt-pans of Maras. After lunch is free time or optional rafting on the Urubamba. | Day 6 | By train to the lost city of Machu Picchu, set amid an overwhelming landscape of mountains and jungle. There will be a guided tour, and time for individual exploration. | Day 7 | Return to Machu Picchu early to avoid the crowds before the train from Cuzco arrives mid-morning. | Day 8 | Chance to visit some of the more virgin jungle areas in the valley bottom. Mid-afternoon train back to Cuzco. | Day 9 | Leisurely morning walking tour of the beautiful city of Cuzco. We then move to the sites on the hills, including Sacsayhuaman fortress. | Day 10 | A free day in Cuzco to explore the markets. | Day 11 | Bus ride across the Altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungles, to Puno, a high, chilly town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. A long but spectacular drive. | Day 12 | Morning exploring Lake Titicaca, visiting the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds. Afternoon is free to visit the markets of Puno. The altitude is tiring but the air is clear and the views magnificent. | Day 13 | Fly to Lima. The final evening in Peru can be spent in one of Lima’s excellent seafood restaurants. | Day 14 | Fly to London. Those with land only arrangements end the trip in Lima. | Day 15 | Arrive London. |
Departures Between | Price from | 05 Feb 05
19 Mar 05
23 Apr 05
28 May 05 | *£1899 | | *Prices subject to confirmation |
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FLIGHT INCLUSIVE PRICE
Local payment US$160 (approx. £105)
Single room supplement £285
Insurance £77
**Land-only 14 days Sat to Fri
This holiday is operated by Exodus Travels Ltd. ATOL 2582.
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Highlights Of Peru
A Exploring Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, The Sacred Valley and the beautiful mountain heartland of the Inca Empire
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