Get expert help to tailor your journey now!

Tour Code : APDA
The journey is provided by
Exodus Adventure Travels
Destinations : Peru
Tour Starts : Lima
Tour Ends : Lima
Group Size : 5 - 18
Ages : 16+
Activity :
16 days from
NOK 40 900

Overview

Discover southern Peru and attend the Festival of the Sun

Combine a visit to the centuries-old Inca festival of Inti Raymi with a highlight-packed journey through the spectacular landscapes of Peru, including coastal desert, snow-capped Andean peaks, the altiplano and cloud forest. Along the way, we visit world-renowned highlights, including: the mysterious Nazca Lines; Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World; 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.

Highlights
  • Attend Inti Raymi (the Festival of the Sun), when Cuzco is awash with dancing and processions
  • Discover Machu Picchu with a 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
Key Information
  • 14 nights in hotels, one night in a homestay with basic shared facilities
  • Travel by train, boat, private minibus/coach and one internal flight
  • Time spent at altitude
  • Several long drives and early starts
Included
  • All breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner
  • All accommodation
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Inti Raymi Festival ticket
Not included
  • Travel insurance
  • Single accommodation (available on request)
  • Visas or vaccinations

Itinerary

Show All

Important Information

The trip destination
  • 14 nights in hotels, one night in a homestay with basic shared facilities
  • Travel by train, boat, private minibus/coach and one internal flight
  • Time spent at altitude
  • Several long drives and early starts
Food
All breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner are included. The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Free drinking water is provided in large containers, so please bring a refillable bottle with you. Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffets, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. 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 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.
Weather

The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions. Lima and Paracas fall within the coastal desert region of Peru, with a mild climate and very little rain all year. From April to November, the sky is almost always grey and cloudy and the air is humid. Average daytime temperatures in Lima remain between about 18C-24C (64F-75F) during this period, with July and August typically being the coolest. Nights are also mild – typically 15C-18C (59F-64F). From December to March, the skies in Lima are clear and temperatures at their warmest, but elsewhere in the country this is the rainy season.

Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season, characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (around 20C/68F on average) but night times only 5C-10C (41F-50F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid, unexpected changes.

Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon are high (12,460ft/3,800m and 11,810ft/3,600m above sea level respectively). The sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You need to bring warm layers and a waterproof or windstopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest with large amounts of precipitation year-round as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August.

Peru is affected by El Niño, a weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. A strong El Niño event occurred in 2014-16. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.

Is this trip for you?

These departures have been scheduled to coincide with Inti Raymi in Cuzco. Translated as the Festival of the Sun, it is the most important of all Andean festivals. During this time, Cuzco is filled with colourful processions and other festivities including traditional dances and even animal sacrifice. Cuzco itself will be very busy during the festival season.

Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip.

This is a busy itinerary encompassing the highlights of southern Peru. You should be aware that the size of Peru means this trip involves some long drives and early starts. The longest is between Nazca and Abancay and takes around nine to 10 hours. The private buses used are comfortable and the scenery is outstanding. There are several stops to break up long journeys. The road between Nazca and Cuzco becomes increasingly winding as we climb higher into the mountains, and this (combined with the increase in altitude) may affect you if you are prone to travel sickness.

Although this trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate), the altitude can make physical activity more tiring than at sea level. As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness. The tour allows for gradual acclimatisation, visiting Abancay (7,874ft/2,400m) before moving onto Cuzco (11,155ft/3,400m), then Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m) and Colca Canyon (11,926ft/3,635m). Although we do not linger there, the maximum altitude visited on this trip is at the Patapampa Pass (16,109ft/4,910m), which we drive over near Chivay, Colca Canyon. Please ensure your travel insurance covers you up to this altitude. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall), so bring appropriate clothing.

Cuzco, Arequipa and many of the Inca sites (including Machu Picchu) are built on hillsides and sightseeing often involves walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps or terraces. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness.

Strikes are not uncommon in Peru and, while these are generally peaceful protests, they can result in roadblocks and disruption to travel. In this event, your leader will amend your itinerary if necessary to minimise the impact.

Prices / Dates

By accepting our offer in writing, you/you confirm that our terms and conditions have both been read and understood and that cancellation fees may apply if the trip is cancelled.

Adult
Children
AVAILABLE DATES PRICE (1 ADULT) PRICE (1 CHILDREN) Single room supplement TRAVEL STATUS
Tue, 18 Jun 2024 / Wed, 03 Jul 2024 NOK 40 900 On request NOK 8 330 Available
AVAILABLE DATES PRICE (1 ADULT) PRICE (1 CHILDREN) SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT TRAVEL STATUS
Tue, 18 Jun 2024 / Wed, 03 Jul 2024 NOK 40 900 On request NOK 8 330 On request

We will get back to you with an offer on the requested trip / package within 48 hours. All offers are non-binding and are usually valid for 7 days. Please note that reserved services can be canceled within these 7 days and that price may change until a final order is received.

SEND REQUEST
BOOK THIS TRIP SEND REQUEST