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This eight-day adventure in Peru takes us to the Sacred City of
Machu
Picchu as well as Lake Titicaca. We'll cruise across this highest
of navigable lakes and visit the floating islands and the island of Taquile,
where native ways and traditions have changed little in the past 1000
years. And as on all Southern Crossings tours, you're taken care
of from beginning to end: airport transfers are included!
8 days:
US$2195 / UKŁ1095
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Day |
Location |
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1 |
Arrive
Lima |
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2 |
Cuzco |
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3 |
Machu
Picchu |
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4 |
Puno |
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5-6 |
Lake
Titicaca |
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7 |
Lima |
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8 |
Departure Day |
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Want more time in Peru? Add days anywhere or check out our
14-day
Ruins and
Rainforest
or 22-day
Peru
Explorer
TRIP
ITINERARY
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Day |
Activity/Location |
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1 |
Arrive in Lima and transfer to our hotel. If
arriving during the day, your hotel will be in the neighborhood of
Miraflores, with good shopping and restaurants, and you'll have an
included city tour in the afternoon. If arriving late at
night, you'll be close to the airport for a bit more sleep before
your next day's flight, and you'll have a tour of Lima upon your
return.
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2 |
Morning flight over the Andes to Cuzco.
After checking into our hotel, we'll head to the Plaza de Armas, the center of old Cuzco, then climb up to the
ruins of Sacsayhuaman above town for great afternoon views over the
city. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time for
shopping or more sightseeing in the afternoon.
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3 |
A beautiful morning
train journey across the high plain above Cuzco then down the Urubamba Valley to Machu Picchu.
After a guided
tour, take time for independent exploration of this magnificent site.
Return train journey to Cuzco in the afternoon.
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4 |
This morning we head to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the
world's highest navigable lake at 12,500 feet above sea level. The
trip there is beautiful, as we pass by Andean villages, herds of
llama and alpaca, and high snowcaps. And our journey today is
also a guided tour, stopping at the Inca site of Raqchi, the old
colonial church at Andahuaylillas and the Pukara Culture
Archaeological Museum. A buffet lunch is also included.
Late afternoon arrival in Puno.
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5 |
Boats are the transport theme today as
our Lake Titicaca trip begins and we
head out across the water. Our first stop is the
islands of Uros, completely constructed out of totora reeds and
floating on the surface of the lake. We'll take a walk across the
spongy surface of these unique islands and go for a ride in a reed
boat before continuing on to the island of Amantani, where we'll
spend the night with a local native family. A soccer
game with the locals, an amazing sunset, and a music and dance fiesta in
native garb are all on the agenda on Amantani today.
Please note: our
Lake Titicaca family stay is a truly authentic experience which includes
being cooked for by and dining with the local family and staying in a
room at their house. There is often just candlelight, no
electricity, and the bathroom is an outhouse. This is a great
experience which is the highlight of many people's trip, but which can
certainly be described as "basic" or "roughing it".
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6 |
This morning we head to the
island of Taquile. The native culture of Taquile is the most
intact in probably all of the Andes, with its inhabitants
maintaining the same customs and dress as they have for over 1000
years. You will truly feel as though you have gone back in time as
you walk the ancient stone paths of the island and observe it's
people. Afternoon boat ride back to Puno.
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7 |
After a morning
flight to Lima, we'll have the day free to enjoy the capital city's
many sights, including the Presidential Palace, the catacombs
beneath the San Francisco church, and the National Archaeological
Museum.
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8 |
Departure
Day |
TRIP
DETAILS
8 days:
US$2195 / UKŁ1095
Daily
departures
Is this trip for me?
Peru: Islands Express
is an eight-day adventure tour which includes a family stay on Lake
Titicaca, some public transport and high-altitude walks of 20-30 minutes. The rooms with the family are
twin-share and very clean, but also very basic, often with no
electricity and always with the bathroom outside the house. As always, a certain patience is required for the
inconsistencies and delays of developing-world travel.
Joining the tour and Trip
Briefing
You will be given the name, address and phone number of our joining hotel
before departing, but that won't be necessary.
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by
one of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who
will accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being
ripped off by airport taxis!
What's included in the trip
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Airport pickup at
the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip
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Southern Crossings bilingual
guide
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All other
internal transport (excluding transport to optional
restaurants, bars, sights and excursions)
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Internal
flights, Lima-Puno, Cuzco-Lima
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Six
nights of hotel accommodation,
one night family stay on Lake Titicaca
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Breakfast
included with all hotel stays
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Machu Picchu
excursion, including bilingual guide, return train fare,
transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to
the Machu Picchu sanctuary
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Lake Titicaca
excursion, including three meals with local family
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Guided tour between
Puno and Cuzco, including buffet lunch
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Cuzco city tour
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Lima city tour
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Southern Crossings T-Shirt or Cap
What's not included
International flight to/from Lima,
airport departure taxes, pre-
& post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance,
meals except where specified above, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, tips while
on optional excursions and other items of a personal nature.
Travel insurance is not included
through Southern Crossings though we do require that you have a policy.
Check www.travelguard.com to
purchase a policy for your trip.
Extra Accommodation
We
will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you
before or after your trip:
In Lima: $110 double/$90 single
In Cuzco: $95 double/$70 single
Single
Person Supplement: $380
Please add this to your total
payment if you will be travelling alone or wish to have private
accomodation
Pre-Trip Planner
Required documents
All travelers
to Peru are required to have a passport valid for at least six months
from date of entry. Visas are not required for E.U., U.S.,
Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport holders. For other
nationalities, please consult the nearest Peruvian embassy or
consulate. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required at
entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s checks,
currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the
internet, are sufficient for proof of funds.
Required immunizations
No
immunizations are required of travelers to Peru. Travelers may
wish to receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all
other standard vaccinations. The rainforest area of Peru (approx. 3500
ft. and below, east of the Andes) is a malarial and yellow fever zone,
and travelers may wish to receive a yellow fever vaccination and take
malarial prophylaxis. Please consult your physician or local health
department for more information.
Things to bring
Our trip will
be a backpacker-style adventure which includes a 10-day remote trek. One
should come well prepared for outdoor activity at temperatures ranging
from 30 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and for extremes of sun and the
possibility of rain. A list of things to bring would include:
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Passport and, if necessary, visa
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Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
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Airline ticket
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Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
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Wearable pouch for documents and money
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Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
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Smaller, comfortable day pack
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Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in
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Sandals or flip-flops
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Rain poncho or jacket
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Waterproof pants
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Sun hat
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Hat for cold weather
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Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
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Scarf and gloves
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T-shirts
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Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best), undergarments
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Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
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Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
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Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
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Sunscreen
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Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
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Lip balm
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Earplugs
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Alarm clock or watch
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Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
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Camera and film/digital memory cards
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Camera batteries
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Playing cards, games, reading material
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Prescription medications
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Toiletries
Note that
common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such toiletries as
toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine hygiene
items are available in Peru.
It is best to bring from home such items as prescription meds, eyewear
and care, extra large clothing, shoes, unusual film and camera
batteries. Also note that most digital camera memory cards can be
downloaded and burned onto a CD in internet cafes in any large city.
Climate
Rain is
possible at any time of year, especially in high mountains and cloud
forest, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will
visit is as follows:
Cuzco:
days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in
Cuzco. We are traveling in the dry season but no guarantees!
Lima:
warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
Lake
Titicaca: similar to Cuzco with stronger sun and colder nights
Money guide
The unit of
currency in Peru is the nuevo sol. Current currency conversion
1 U.S. dollar =
2.8 nuevos soles
1 GB pound =
6.16 nuevos soles
Automatic cash
points are available in Lima and Cuzco. Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and
Cirrus are the most common usable types of cards. Traveler's checks
(American Express is best!) or a Visa or MasterCard for cash advances
are also options. Do not bring MoneyGrams or International Money
Orders, as they are extremely difficult to exchange. Banks and exchange
houses are available in Lima and Cuzco. For currency, U.S. dollars are
recommended and most easily exchanged. Please
note that cash must be untorn. It can be older-looking, but even the
slightest tear on an edge will make it un-changeable. Acceptable bills
come out of the ATMs in country.
Expect to spend
about US$5-10 on a meal, US$2 on a beer, water or soft drink in Peru.
Shopping prices are usually lower than people expect. Alpaca sweaters,
for example, run between $5 and $30.
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