Compare Essential Peru by Exodus Travels vs Extension - Arequipa & Colca Canyon Explorer by Adventure Unbound
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 15 days | 4 days |
Price From | $ 3,595 | $ 593 |
Price Per Day | $ 240 | $ 148 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Small group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
Activities |
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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. | N/A |
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 |
Travel from the white-washed colonial city of Arequipa into the breathtaking landscapes of the Colca Canyon on this 4-day Peru extension itinerary. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center of Arequipa on an evening walking tour, travel through the Aguada Blanca National Reserve where wild vicuña roam, soak in the hot springs of Chivay and witness condors riding high on the thermals from the spectacular Cruz del Condor. |
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.
Day 1: Arrive to Arequipa, City Tour
Accommodation : Arequipa Hotel
Arrive at Arequipa’s airport, where you’re met with your guides and transferred to the tour hotel.
This evening, explore the sights of Arequipa on a history-filled city sightseeing tour. Stroll through the colonial districts of St Lazarus and Yanahuara before visiting the Monastery of St Catherine. This stunning site was closed to the public for nearly 400 years as it housed Dominican nuns. Open today, stroll through a tranquil plaza, narrow alleyways and fragrant gardens reminiscent of ancient Seville or Granada. Next, our tour takes you to Arequipa’s main square – Plaza de Armas – to see the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, which has a history that dates back to the 1500s. Although the structure has been rebuilt several times due to natural hazards, it’s still replete with history. Lastly, you visit the Iglesia de los Jesuita (Church of the Society of Jesus), founded in the 17th century by Jesuits and known for its cloisters and St. Ignacio Dome.
Return to the hotel this evening and enjoy a delicious dinner.
Day 2: Explore Colca Canyon
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Colca Canyon Hotel
Early in the morning, depart on a wonderful bus tour of the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest Canyons in the World. Travel across the Pampa Cañahuas in the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, inhabited by herds of vicuñas and alpacas. As we journey, look out for pre-Columbian terraces still cultivated by native Collaguas.
Our travels eventually take us to Chivay town, where we have a leisurely afternoon. Visit the hot springs, explore the Andean village or rest at the hotel before enjoying a delicious dinner.
Day 3: Condor & Canyon Viewing from Cruz Del Condor
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation : Arequipa Hotel
In order to see the mighty condor in flight, we will pick you up early in the morning to drive towards the “Cruz del Condor,” a natural lookout point where you can see condors flying over the canyon.
Along the way to Cruz del Condor, enjoy spectacular views of the canyon bordered by hundreds of ancient agricultural terraces carved onto the slopes of the mountains. The people from these regions dedicate their life solely to agriculture, so expect to see fields full of crops if you visit in season. While driving along the edge of the Colca Canyon, observe the great Colca River as well as small communities nestled along the banks. Later, return to the village of Chivay for lunch. This afternoon, travel to Arequipa, where you can explore and discover local eateries at your leisure.
Day 4: Retrun Home
After breakfast, travel to Arequipa’s airport to catch your return flight.