Peru
Destinations and Activities
We know that there is always a chance that our core trips might not necessarily fit everybody's schedule, or match everybody's idea of their perfect visit to Peru. With the ideas of flexibility and keeping satisfied customers in mind, we'd be happy to tailor an adventure to the desires and interests of your group. From a personalized departure date to a full-blown custom trip. Below is a small sample of destinations and activities to consider including in your customized experience:
Manu National Park: Experience one of the wildest, most remote places anywhere, with incredible birds, wildlife, and jungle flora. Manu is reached via a short flight from Cuzco followed by boating up the Madre de Dios River for as much as a half day, depending on where in the park you are staying. Options include seasonal camps with large canvas tents for sleeping and dining, and simple showers, or permanent lodges. Most guests visit Manu for a three to five day trip, and spend the days hiking rainforest trails with expert naturalist guides, birding, or canoeing on oxbow lakes viewing giant river otters (they’re up to six feet long!).
The four day Inca trail hike: Hike the famous Inca trail with our guides and porters, among incredible mountains, cloud forest, and Incan ruins that most tourists never see. This is an active, challenging hike that goes over a pass at almost 14,000 feet elevation; a total of nearly 30 miles in four days. In addition to views of 19,000 foot snow-capped mountains along the way, the hike visits numerous Inca sites that are not accessible by roads so are visited only by Inca trail hikers. Notable sites include Sayaqmarka and Winaywayna. On the fourth day we rise early to reach the sun gate at dawn and view Machu Picchu with the rising sun. We then descend to the lost city for a guided tour to learn the history of the spectacular site, high above the valley below.
Lake Titicaca: The world's highest navigable lake is known for the floating islands of Uros, constructed from the reeds that ring large parts of the lake. Visit the floating islands or Isla Taquile by boat, or for the more adventurous, by kayak. This part of Peru has far fewer visitors than Cuzco and Machu Picchu, and for those travelers who want to get even further off the beaten path, we offer memorable homestays in small communities in Llachon, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, or on Isla Taquile. Both provide a glimpse into a simple way of life; Taquile has no roads, no cars, and almost no electricity (just a few solar panels), while Llachon feels almost as remote. Dinner at the guesthouse on Isla Taquile is by candle light. As night settles in the temperature drops, and on a clear night the stars at this elevation are stunning. Most guests adopt a schedule similar to the islanders, going to bed early under the thick blankets used to ward off the high elevation chill.
Cuzco: The ancient city of the Incas is a stop on any trip to Machu Picchu, but many travelers stay for only a day or two on their way to the Amazon or the Sacred Valley. Others choose to stay in Cuzco for several days, enjoying the culture of its lively streets, history, Inca and colonial ruins, museums, excellent restaurants, and much more. Parts of the city still contain the original Inca stonework, which along with the narrow streets and alleys, and mix of indigenous and Spanish cultures, make Cuzco a world-renowned destination.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas: Another part of Peru that is too often passed through quickly by tourists on their way to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley contains the fascinating archaeological site of Moray, This is a captivating, unique ruin; a fabulous amphitheatre of terracing that was used as an agricultural experimental site by the Incas by taking advantage of the microclimates produced by the varying altitude to breed new varieties of their crops. Another site in the Valley, the salt pans of Maras are an unforgettable site—people from Maras have diverted a salt-laden spring coming out of the hillside, evaporating the water to collect salt, as their ancestors have done for centuries. Another town, Ollantaytambo, is more commonly visited for its Inca ruins and lively town square.
If a custom trip sounds intriguing to you, please feel free to contact us directly for more details or with any questions.
