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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, as well
as the local San Pedro Market and the Inca temple of
Q'oricancha, before ascending by private transport 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 travel 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.
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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"
, "authentic" and
"roughing it".
If you do not wish to spend the night
on the islands, Taquile and the Floating Islands can
be visited on a day trip.
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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$2650
per person
Currency Converter
Depart any day!
Is this trip for me?
Peru: Islands Express
is an eight-day tour which includes a family stay on
Lake Titicaca, some public transport and high-altitude walks of
30-45 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
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
·
Airport pickup at the beginning of trip and drop
off at end of the trip
·
Southern Crossings bilingual guide
·
All other internal transport
(excluding transport to optional restaurants,
bars, sights and excursions)
·
Internal flights,
Lima-Cuzco, Lake Titicaca-Lima
·
Six nights of hotel accommodation,
one night family stay on Lake Titicaca
·
Breakfast
included with all hotel stays
·
Machu Picchu excursion,
including bilingual guide, round trip train fare, transportation
to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to the Machu Picchu
sanctuary
·
Lake Titicaca excursion, including three meals
with local family
·
Guided tour between Cuzco and Puno, including
buffet lunch
·
Cuzco city tour
·
Lima city tour
·
Southern Crossings T-Shirt or Cap
What's not included
International flight to/from Lima, airport
taxes (approx. US$39), 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. Medical 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: $120 double/$100 single
Single Person Supplement: $450
Please add this to your total payment if you will be travelling
alone or wish to have private accommodation
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 these areas of Peru.
Travelers may wish to receive
hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other
standard vaccinations. No areas visited on this trip are
malarial or yellow fever zones. Please consult your physician
or local health department for more information.
Things to bring
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:
· Passport and, if necessary, visa
· Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
· Airline ticket
· Photocopies of airline ticket and documents
· Wearable pouch for documents and money
· Large, sturdy backpack or suitcase
· Smaller, comfortable day pack
· Trekking/walking boots, comfortable and worn-in
· Sandals or flip-flops
· Rain poncho or jacket
· Waterproof pants
· Sun hat
· Hat for cold weather
· Good, warm clothing for cold weather (think layers!)
· Scarf and gloves
· T-shirts
· Socks (thin wool or biking socks are best),
undergarments
· Towel and swimsuit for hot springs
· Camelback or Nalgene bottle (optional)
· Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
· Sunscreen
· Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
· Lip balm
· Earplugs
· Alarm clock or watch
· Sanitizing hand wipes or gel
· Camera and film/digital memory cards
· Camera batteries
· Playing cards, games, reading material
· Prescription medications
· 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.
Baggage
For your international flights, please check with
your airline. Within Peru, you are allowed 20 kilos (44 lbs)
of checked baggage, as well as one carry-on and another small,
purse-like item. The carry-on size regulations are the same as
international carry-on size regulations.
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
Currency Converter
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.
