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Compare Essential Peru by Exodus Travels vs Classic Inca Trail 7-day by Adventure Unbound

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Duration 15 days 7 days
Price From $ 3,595 $ 2,635
Price Per Day $ 240 $ 376
Highlights
  • Discover Machu Picchu by train with guided tour
  • Enjoy a homestay on the traditional island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca
  • See Colca Canyon and its soaring condors
  • Wander through the colonial city of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Convent
  • Drive deep into the Andean highlands and the Apurimac Valley
  • Visit the town of Pisac
  • Enjoy Incan palace, a colonial church and impeccable cultivation terraces of Chinchero
  • Explore the mysteries of Machu Picchu
  • Climb Huayna Picchu to experience even more panoramic views
  • Explore Cusco’s ancient Incan and Spanish Colonial monuments
Trip Style Small group tour Small group tour
Lodging Level Standard Standard
Physical Level
  • 3- Moderate
  • 2- Easy
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • National Parks
  • Festivals & Special Events
  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Lake Titicaca
  • Lima
  • Machu Picchu
  • Nazca
  • Cusco
  • Inca Trail
  • Lima
  • Machu Picchu
  • Ollantaytambo
  • Sacred Valley
  • Santo Domingo
  • Urubamba
Flights & Transport Ground transport included Ground transport included
Activities
  • Culture
  • Festivals & Special Events
  • History
  • Nature
  • Culture
  • Hiking
  • Nature
  • Ruins & Archaeology
Meals Included All breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner (at the homestay) are included. The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Free drinking water will be provided in large containers, so please bring a refillable bottle with you. Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffet-style affairs, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that wheat- or gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food from home. Where lunch and dinner are not included we'll visit a variety of local cafes and restaurants. Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavours and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry), and various hearty soups including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.

5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches and 1 Dinner

Description

Journey through the vastly contrasting visual and cultural landscapes of Peru, including coastal desert, snow-capped Andean peaks, the altiplano and cloud forest. Along the way, visit world-renowned highlights, including: the mysterious Nazca Lines; Machu Picchu; Lake Titicaca, where we spend the night in an island homestay; and the 9,843ft (3,000m) deep Colca Canyon. We also encounter traditional culture, condors, llamas, and a warm welcome from the Peruvian people.Discover the highlights of southern Peru, from Nazca to Arequipa

Trek through history with Peru Unbound as you explore the lost Incan cities of Machu Picchu, the Secret Valley, Cusco and Lima. This 7-day journey takes you through the Peruvian capital of Lima into the heart of the Incan Empire. Trek through Peru’s stunning natural landscapes with hikes through high sierras and shallow fields. Experience local Andean culture and delve deep into the mysteries of cultures lost to time. Take a scenic train ride through Peru’s scenic countryside and taste dishes that have been passed down throughout the ages. It’s Peru along the Inca Trail—it’s Peru on the path of the Incas.

Itinerary: Essential Peru

Day 1 Start Lima

Welcome to Lima, the busy capital of Peru. There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel.  You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima. There will be a notice board in the hotel reception with details of where and when the group welcome briefing will be held. Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)

Day 2 Drive south to Paracas and tour the Ballestas Islands; to Ica

Day 3 On to Nazca; see the Nazca Lines; optional scenic flight

We drive towards Nazca, stopping to visit the viewing platforms overlooking the Nazca Lines. These are one of the great archaeological mysteries, consisting of enormous drawings and patterns etched in the desert sand. In the afternoon, there is usually time to take a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines (additional cost), weather permitting. Due to the small planes used, this is not suitable for those with a fear of flying or who suffer from travel sickness. As an alternative, your leader can help arrange optional visits to the nearby burial grounds, Antonini Museum or the planetarium. Accommodation: Casa Andina Hotel/Alegria (or similar)

Day 4 Turn inland from coastal desert, climbing high into the Andes

We turn inland from the coastal desert today, climbing high into the Andes on a long (around 12 to 13 hours) but spectacular drive. We’ll pass through the largest vicuña reserve in the country, so look out for these smaller wild relatives of the llama. This region has only recently become easily accessible to tourists due to an upgrade of the Abancay/Chalhuanca road. The altitude here can make physical exertion difficult; the highest point we reach today is Negro Mayu, a pass at 15,092ft (4,600m) above sea level. We recommended that you rest in the evening. Tonight, we stay in Abancay on the road to Cuzco. Accommodation: Hotel de Turistas Abancay (or similar)

Day 5 Drive to Cuzco, visiting Inca sites on the way

We set off towards Cuzco this morning, stopping to visit the Inca Saywite stone and Tarawasi ruins. The glaciated summits of the Vilcabamba mountain range and the descent into the Apurimac River valley demonstrate the dramatic contrasts of the Andes; expect stunning scenery throughout today's roughly seven to eight-hour drive. It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 6 Free day to explore Cuzco

To help you acclimatise, we embark on a relaxed walking tour this morning, which takes in the historic buildings and winding streets of Cuzco. The rest of the day has been left free for exploring on your own. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and the Koricancha Sun Temple in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs, such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the conquistadors. A combined entrance fee (tourist ticket) for these sites and many others is recommended – please see the Optional Excursions section below for prices. Sightseeing excursions to places outside Cuzco, including the Sacred Valley of the Incas, are also available. Please ask your tour leader. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 7 Train to Aguas Calientes; tour of Machu Picchu

For most people, the highlight of the trip is the visit by train to one of the greatest ruins in the world, the lost city of Machu Picchu. This is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world, in a mountain setting of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, so Machu Picchu remains a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. We transfer (approximately two hours) to Ollantaytambo railway station to catch a train to Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu). The railway line follows a beautiful route through the Urubamba River valley. In the afternoon, we take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins.  Visiting in the afternoon tends to be quieter than the mornings and the mist that shrouds the ruins at dawn has usually dispersed. Please note that exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. Accommodation: Terraza de Luna (or similar)

Day 8 Free morning or optional second visit to Machu Picchu; afternoon return to Cuzco by train and by road.

We have a free morning to sleep in, relax and enjoy the buzz of this little town in the jungle below the ruins. Should you wish to visit Machu Picchu again this morning, you need to purchase a second entrance ticket in advance.  This will allow you further time to explore the Lost City on your own – for the second visit it is not mandatory to have a guide. Please contact your sales representative for details. In the afternoon, we board the train back to Ollantaytambo and then continue by minibus to Cuzco, arriving in the late evening. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar)

Day 9 Free day for optional excursions

Day 10 Drive to Lake Titicaca, with stops en route; boat to Amantani Island for homestay

Today we travel for eight to 10 hours along the Vilcanota River and onto the altiplano, the high plains separating the Andes from the jungle. Although it is quite a long drive, the views are often spectacular. There are scheduled stops at interesting sites to help break up the day and we will get to appreciate the immensity of the Andean landscapes. This afternoon, we arrive at the shores of Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m above sea level) and board a boat for our trip to Amantani Island. A hike around the island offers great views across the lake, while the night spent with a local family is a fantastic cultural insight into lives very different to our own. A packed lunch is included today. Accommodation: Amantani Island homestay (basic)

Day 11 Explore the island; afternoon boat to Puno visiting the floating reed islands

We explore the island in the morning before boarding our boat for the three-hour journey to Puno on the lakeshore. On the way, we visit Uros Island. The Uros have been living on reed rafts for centuries, and although many have now moved to the mainland there are still a couple of thousand who remain on the islands. A reasonable amount of their income is now provided by strictly regulated tourism, but they also still fish the lake and barter with mainland communities for daily essentials. Accommodation: Casona Plaza Hotel (or similar)

Day 12 Drive across the altiplano to Colca Canyon

Today we head across the altiplano again. This time we cross to the southwest, heading back towards the coast to the high Colca Canyon (a five to six-hour drive). En route, we see vicuñas and possibly flamingos, crossing the Patapampa Pass (15,781ft/4,810m) before descending into what is considered the second-deepest canyon in the Americas (the deepest, the Cotahuasi Canyon, is also in Peru). There is time in the evening for an optional visit to the hot springs near the main town of Chivay (11,926ft/3,635m) – a warming pleasure after the chill of Lake Titicaca. Accommodation: Hotel Pozo del Cielo (or similar)

Day 13 Morning condor viewing; afternoon drive past huge volcanoes to the White City of Arequipa

Rise early to view condors soaring on the morning drafts rising out of the canyon. We then ascend out of the canyon and cross Patapampa Pass on our way to Arequipa, which is known as the White City due to the pale volcanic stone used to construct many of its colonial buildings. The picturesque city has a year-round pleasant climate and is surrounded by towering volcanoes, including the near-perfect cone of El Misti. Accommodation: Su Majestad Hotel (or similar)

Day 14 Morning visit Santa Catalina Convent; afternoon fly to Lima

In the morning we visit the huge, serene convent of Santa Catalina. Built in 1580 and only opened to the outside world in the 1970s, it offers a rare insight into the lives led by the nuns and has changed little through the centuries. There are still around 20 nuns living in the northern corner of the complex. In the afternoon or evening we fly to Lima where we will transfer to our hotel in Miraflores. Accommodation: Hotel El Tambo 1 (or similar)

Day 15 End Lima

Today we start our return journey home, although there may be time for optional tours of Lima, including visits to the Gold Museum and tours of the historic downtown. You could also join our optional trip extension to the Amazon rainforest, where you explore lakes, rivers and jungle trails in search of incredible wildlife.

Itinerary: Classic Inca Trail 7-day

Day 1: Welcome to Peru!

Accommodation: Lima Hotel

Fly into Lima, where our Peru Unbound guides welcome you and take you to your hotel for the evening.

Day 2: Lima, Cusco & The Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sacred Valley Hotel

Wake up and enjoy breakfast before heading to the Lima Airport, where you board your flight that takes you over the scenic Andes to the heart of the Inca Empire: Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport in Cusco and escorted to your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route, visit the town of Pisac, a picturesque Andean Village best known for its traditional market. The market’s main day is Sunday, when locals from all over the region congregate at Pisac to sell their products.

After visiting Pisac, continue our journey to Urubamba, were you enjoy lunch and a Peruvian Paso Horse presentation. Up next we tour Ollantaytambo, known for featuring the Inca’s distinct urban planning. Visit the religious, astronomical and military complex and marvel at huge boulders weighing nearly 60 metric tons which the Incas moved to this site.

This evening, continue to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Note: For this day we recommended flights that arrive to Cusco until 11:00 am.Note:  For this day we recommended flights that arrive to Cusco until 11:00 am.

Day 3: Chinchero, Maras & Moray

Meals : Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sacred Valley Hotel

Today we begin our day with a journey to the town of Chinchero, where we visit the remains of an Incan palace, a colonial church and impeccable cultivation terraces. We then continue to the  town of Maras, known for its "trabajos de sal”—a large number of small saltwater pools. During the dry season, workers fill the pools with saltwater that comes from natural springs at the top of the Maras complex; when the waters evaporates from the pool, the salt is left for collection.

Nearby, we discover the experimental agricultural terraces of Moray. It is believed that the Incas created their own microclimate here to adapt certain plans to this altitude. Enjoy the views, learn about the Inca’s fascinatingly advanced culture and relax with a picnic lunch.

Day 4: Sacred Valley, KM 104 to Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Aguas Calientes Hotel

Today is Machu Picchu day! After breakfast, travel to the Ollantaytambo train station to hop on your train. Upon arrival, we begin a trek up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna. As you walk, witness tumbling waterfalls, native flora and soaring birds. Take a break with a picnic lunch and for some exploring—you can find houses, terraces, towers and a local museum here.

Our day’s journey also takes us to Inti Punku, the Inca Gate of the Sun, where we get our first sight of Machu Picchu. Cross a bridge leading up to Machu Picchu and experience the transcendent sight of one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries. Discover and explore the mysteries of Machu Picchu before traveling down to Machu Picchu town. Spend the night here and enjoy the Peruvian views.

Day 5: Machu Picchu and Cusco

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Cusco Hotel

After a hearty breakfast, begin the day’s journey to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Learn about the Incan culture as you explore the sights. You also have the opportunity to climb Huayna Picchu to experience even more panoramic views.

We take a break for lunch before continuing our adventures with an afternoon train ride to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, continue on to Cusco—our final stop of the day. Spend the evening explore the sights and discovering delicious Peruvian dishes.

Day 6: Cusco City Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Cusco Hotel

Spend the morning exploring Cusco’s ancient Incan and Spanish Colonial monuments such as the Main Square—known in Inca times as Huacaypata, or the Warrior’s Square—which saw many key events in Cusco’s history. We also visit the Cathedral. Originally built on the site of the old temple of Suntur Wasi (House of God),  the building is now the church of El Triunfo. Look upon the choir cloisters, pulpit, and altar engravings as you explore the historic monument.

Continue onto the Convent of Santo Domingo, a Spanish church belonging to the Dominican Order. The Spanish built it upon the foundations of the Inca temple of Koricancha, or Temple of the Sun. Koricancha (meaning “site of gold” in Quechua) was the Inca’s main religious building dedicated to the worship of the Sun. Its walls were supposedly plated with sheets of gold., and stunning blocks of finely carved stone were used in its construction.

After, visit the surrounding ruins of the city of Cusco and Sacsayhuamán, a huge Incan fortress which is built on three large, overlapping platforms.

Day 7: Cusco, Lima, Home

Enjoy a final morning in Cusco before traveling to the airport to meet your return flight.

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