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Visit
all the extremes and wonders of Peru, from steaming jungle to high,
windswept Andean passes on Ruins and Rain Forest.
Tour colonial
Cuzco, trek the
Inca Trail, explore Machu Picchu and other
ancient Inca sites in Cuzco and the
Sacred Valley, visit the islands of
Lake Titicaca, and embark on a
rain forest adventure to an
Amazon lodge. And as on all Southern
Crossings tours, you're taken care of from beginning to end:
airport transfers are included!
Depart any day!
15 days:
US$3485 / UKŁ1760
including guides, transfers and internal flights!
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Day |
Location |
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1 |
Arrive
Lima |
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2-4 |
Lake
Titicaca |
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5 |
Journey to
Cuzco |
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6 |
Cuzco city and ruins tour |
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7 |
Sacred
Valley |
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8-11 |
Inca
Trail, Machu Picchu |
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12-13 |
Rainforest
lodge |
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14 |
Lima |
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15 |
Departure
Day |
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Add-ons available: Nazca Lines |
Amazon Beaches
Want more or less time in Peru?
We can customize a trip for you, or check out our
5 day,
8 day,
or 22 day
trips
RUINS AND RAINFOREST TOUR
ITINERARY
Depart any day
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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, you'll have a guided tour of the city
before being transferred to the airport next morning for your flight
to Lake Titicaca. Otherwise you'll have a guide in Lima upon
your return.
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2 |
A short flight over the Andes brings us to Lake
Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at over 12,000 ft.
We'll visit the ruins of Sillustani, huge Inca and pre-Inca funeral
towers, before enjoying a dinner of traditional Andean cuisine.
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3 |
Boats are the transport theme today as we
head out across the waters of Lake Titicaca. 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.
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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4 |
The native culture of Taquile Island, which we'll
visit today, 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. Boat ride back to Puno.
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5 |
This morning we head to Cuzco, the Capital of the Inca Empire. 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 Pukara Culture Archaeological
Museum, the old colonial church at Andahuaylillas and the Inca site of Raqchi. A buffet lunch is also included.
Late afternoon arrival in Cuzco.
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6 |
Today on our included City Tour, we'll visit the main plaza, the
colonial cathedral, an Inca temple and the colorful local market
before heading up to the
ruins of Sacsayhuaman above town for great views over the
city.
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7 |
This morning we take a short
and scenic ride in our private transport to Pisac and Ollantaytambo,
two important Inca ruins in
the Sacred Valley. After visiting the site of Pisac, we'll head down
to the colonial town below and visit its famous crafts market.
We then continue on to Ollantaytambo. Besides the huge and fascinating ruins above the
town, Ollantaytambo is the only Inca village still inhabited today.
Walk its narrow streets and peer through huge Inca doorways into
courtyards where life has changed little in over 500 years. Early to
bed, as our trek along the Inca Trail begins tomorrow!
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8 |
A morning bus trip brings us to kilometer
82, start of the world-famous Inca Trail. Our first day is an easy
one to get acclimated, as we gently climb through Andean valleys to the village of
Huallabamba, making our first camp just above it. Along the entire
trek we are well taken care of by our team of porters and cooks,
freeing us up to fully enjoy the vistas and Inca sites unfolding
before us.
For those
booking after Inca Trail spaces have been filled, Cuzco
accommodation and two of the following options (your choice) or
an alternative trek will be included
in the tour for the days you are in Cuzco instead of hiking the Inca
Trail. Cuzco activities:
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Horseback riding in the
hills above Cuzco
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Whitewater rafting in
the Sacred Valley
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Mountain Biking in the
hills above Cuzco
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Extra day at Machu
Picchu
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Tour to the Inca sites
of Tipon and Raqchi
- meeting the Inca Trail hikers at Machu Picchu
on day 10
OR
Cuzco is an amazing and
beautiful area - don't fret missing the Inca Trail!
Click here for Lares Valley Trek info |
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9 |
Up up up to Dead Woman's Pass, near the
top of the world at 4200 meters (14,000 ft.). The air is thin, but
the view is not to be believed. We then continue on to Runku Rakay,
tonight's campsite and the first Inca ruins along the trail.
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10 |
Today we continue trekking on original Inca road past three of the
most beautiful Inca sites anywhere in Peru: Sayacmarka,
Phuyupatamarka, and Winyaywaina. We camp at the Inca terraces of
Intipata or at the nearby youth hostal.
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11 |
A pre-dawn departure brings us to the Gate
of the Sun to watch the first rays of sunlight strike the sacred
city of Machu Picchu. We'll descend to the ruins and have a tour by
our guide before setting off for independent exploration. In
the afternoon we'll catch a train back to a hot shower and the other
comforts of Cuzco.
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12-13 |
And now for something
completely different.....our rain forest adventure begins today! After a short flight, we arrive in
the city of Puerto Maldonado and transfer to a motorized dugout
canoe for the trip upriver to our jungle lodge. Our cabins at
the lodge have modern bathrooms and
comfortable beds with mosquito nets, and the food here is great.
Take an afternoon walk through the rainforest with an experienced
naturalist guide, come back for dinner, then set off again for a
nocturnal jungle canoe ride to spot caiman!
The next day's
activities will include a visit to an oxbow lake to look for giant
river otters, monkeys, macaws and other wildlife as well as jungle
walks led by an experienced, English speaking guide. You'll
witness an array of medicinal and otherwise interesting flora and
fauna, as well as gain some insight into native Amazonian peoples
and traditions.
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14 |
All good things must come to an end, and
today we fly back to Lima and the end of our journey. Day free in Lima to visit any of the sites missed the first time
around...
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15 |
Departure Day
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RUINS AND RAIN FOREST TOUR
DETAILS
15 days:
US$3485 / UKŁ1760
Departs any day!
Is this trip for me?
Ruins and Rainforest is a 15-day adventure tour which includes a
four-day, moderate trek and some public transport. No trekking
experience is required, but one should be in average physical shape and
not suffer from any heart or respiratory conditions. As always, a certain patience is required for the
inconsistencies and delays of developing-world travel.
Joining the tour
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!
Trip briefing
Upon purchase of this trip, we will send you via email, fax, or regular
mail (your choice) a trip briefing, which includes joining instructions
with a map to the hotel in Lima, a list of things to bring, and a
climate/currency/visa guide.
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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Internal
flights, Lima-Lake Titicaca, Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado,
Puerto Maldonado-Lima
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Eight
nights of hotel accommodation, three nights of camping (on the Inca Trail), two
nights jungle lodge accommodation, one
night simple lodging on Taquile Island (Lake Titicaca).
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Four day Inca
Trail excursion, including bilingual guide, food, cooks, porters,
tent, sleeping bag and mat.
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Two-day Lake
Titicaca excursion
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Three day rainforest lodge
excursion
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Six
breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners while on Inca
Trail, rainforest and Taquile Island excursions
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Breakfast
included every morning with your hotel stay.
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The Cuzco
Visitor's Ticket, which
includes entrance to the ruins in and around Cuzco and the Sacred
Valley, and many churches and museums in Cuzco
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Machu Picchu
costs, including bilingual guide, return train fare,
transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and entrance to
the Machu Picchu sanctuary
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Lima city tour
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Cuzco city tour
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Southern Crossings T-Shirt or Cap
What's not included
International flight to/from Lima,
international airport departure taxes (US$25 from the Lima airport), 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 Accommodation
supplement: $580
Please add this amount to the payment
if you are traveling alone or wish to have private accommodation throughout the trip.
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. 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:
Please
note: During our trek, porters will accompany us to carry most of our
things, including all the camping gear. Each passenger is allowed 15
pounds of personal items which will also be carried by the porters. Such
items would include warm clothing for camping, toiletries, a book, CD
player, or other entertainment, etc. During the day we’ll be using a
daypack and will just need to carry water, snacks, rain gear, and a
layer or two for changing weather conditions. Of course most people
also carry a camera.
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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
chilly in
Cuzco.
Lake
Titicaca: similar to Cuzco but colder.
Lima:
warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
Amazon
basin: hot and humid year-round. We recommend light clothing
(in weight and in color) that fully cover arms and legs to avoid
mosquito bites.
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$3-10 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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