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Day Location
1 Arrive Lima. City tour today or upon your return
2-3 Flight to Amazon Lodge. Excursions by boat and on foot to view flora and fauna
4-5 Flight to Cuzco. City and ruins tour, then free day or optional activity.
6 Sacred Valley tour – Pisac and Ollantaytambo
7-10 Inca Trail/Machu Picchu
11 Free day in Cuzco
12 Journey to Lake Titicaca
13-14 Lake Titicaca islands tour – Amantani, Taquile and the floating islands
15 Travel to Colca
16-17 Colca Canyon tour, Arequipa city tour
18 Flight to Lima. Free day or city tour
19-20 Nazca overflight and south coast tour
21 Departure Day

Next date with permits available Sep 27, 2012 Next open date with full moon:
Sep 30, 2012

Peru Explorer
Econoclass

21 days: US$4590 per person
with domestic flights included
(What’s Included)

best of peru tripPeru has it all, from deserts to high mountains to pristine Amazon rainforest, along with the remains of some of the most fascinating and mysterious cultures anywhere in the world. And our 21-day adventure covers it all. From Lima we fly to Puerto Maldonado and take a dugout canoe to a jungle lodge deep in the tropical rainforest. Then we explore the imperial city of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley, trek the Inca trail to Machu Picchu (or spend three more marvelous days in and around the city of Cuzco), cruise across the world’s highest navigable lake, Titicaca, and view condors in the Colca Canyon. Then after flying back to Lima, we head down the coast to fly over the Nazca lines. And as on all Southern Crossings tours, you’re taken care of from beginning to end: airport transfers and domestic flights are included!

Depart any day and customize your tour at no extra charge! Discounts for groups.

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PERU EXPLORER TRIP ITINERARY

Day Activity/Location
1 Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. If arriving during the day, you’ll have a guided tour of the city. Otherwise you’ll have a guide in Lima upon your return.
2-3 We’re off to the Amazon basin this morning! 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.
4 Early rise to catch a canoe back to Puerto Maldonado. We’ll fly to Cuzco, capital of the old Inca Empire. This afternoon on our included city tour we can explore Cuzco’s markets and visit the ruins above town, the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsaywaman.
5 Free day in Cuzco to take in the city’s many markets, cafes, churches, museums and old Inca walls. Cuzco is one of the most beautiful colonial cities on the planet, and you won’t tire of spending time in it.
6 Today we head to the Sacred Valley to visit the ruins and market of Pisac and then 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! (If you’re not into the Inca Trail, there is plenty to do around Cuzco, walking the ancient streets, sampling the many cafes and restaurants, shopping for Andean goods, or trying some other activities such as horseback riding, biking or rafting. Our Cuzco representative will be available during your stay and help you plan these activities)
7 A short bus trip brings us to kilometer 82, start of the world-famous Inca Trail. Our first day is an easy one, 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 Inca sites and vistas unfolding before us.
8 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. Camping in one of the next valleys.
9 Today we continue trekking past three of the most beautiful Inca sites anywhere in Peru: Sayacmarka, Phuyupatamarka, and Winyaywaina. Camping adjacent to the ruins of Winyaywaina.
10 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 evening we’ll catch the bus to a hot shower and the other comforts of Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu.
11 This morning we catch the train back to Cuzco. An extra day in Cuzco to shop, visit more museums, churches and Inca sites, participate in an optional activity such as horseback riding or mountain biking, or just chill out with a coffee on a plaza balcony.
12 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.
13 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 Taquile, 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 the island 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”. If you do not wish to spend the night on the islands, Taquile and the floating Islands can be visited on a day trip.
14 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 back to Puno.
15 A morning journey by private transport to Colca to spend the night and relax.
16 Early morning departure for the Colca Canyon. Keep a lookout for condors as we skirt the side of the canyon. This area also has some of the most extensive Inca and pre-Inca terracing in all of Peru. In the afternoon there is a chance to soak in the town’s thermal baths before heading to your hotel in the village of Chivay.
17 A morning journey by private transport to Arequipa. Arequipa is a charming colonial city at the foot of El Misti volcano, with the Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest, just a few hours away. On our included city tour, we’ll visit the huge and beautiful Santa Catalina Monastery as well as the Museum of Juanita, the Inca Ice Mummy.
18 This morning we fly back to Lima and have the day there for sightseeing, shopping or museum-hopping, or an included city tour if you haven’t already had one.
19 Morning departure for Nazca. On the way we’ll visit a wine and pisco vineyard and distillery and go sandboarding and dune-buggying at the Sahara-like oasis of Huacachina!
20 Morning flight over the Nazca lines. We have the afternoon free to visit the nearby Nazca cemetery and aqueduct system. You’ll be transferred to the bus station in Nazca for the return journey to Lima and back to the hotel.
21 Departure Day

21 days: US$4590 with domestic flights included
Departs any day. Discounts for group travel.

TRIP DETAILS

Is this trip for me?
Peru Explorer: Econoclass is a 21-day tour which includes a four-day, moderate trek (optional), some public transport and a basic family stay on Lake Titicaca (also optional). 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 Lima 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 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

  • Private airport pickup – at the beginning of trip and drop off at end of the trip
  • Southern Crossings bilingual guide
  • Domestic flights – Lima-Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Maldonado-Cuzco, Arequipa-Lima
  • Fourteen nights of 2 star hotel accommodation, three nights of camping (on the Inca Trail), two nights 3 star comfortable jungle lodge accommodation, one night simple lodging on Taquile Island (Lake Titicaca)
  • Small plane flight – over the Nazca Lines
  • Three-day Amazon rainforest excursion
  • Group two-day guided excursion to the Colca Canyon
  • Four day Inca Trail excursion – including bilingual guide, cooks, porters, tent, sleeping bag and mat
  • Group two-day Lake Titicaca excursion
  • All meals while on Inca Trail and at rainforest lodge
  • 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
  • Machu Picchu excursion – including bilingual guide, round trip train fare, transportation to/from ruins/Aguas Calientes, and two-day entrance to the Machu Picchu sanctuary
  • Group Cuzco city tour
  • Group Lima city tour
  • Group Arequipa city tour
  • 24 hour customer support line while on tour

What’s not included
International flight to/from Lima, airport taxes (approx. US$32), 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, cancellation insurance is advisable.  Any medical insurance is acceptable, we recommend Travel Guard.  Click on the logo below for a quote:

Extra Accommodation
We will gladly arrange additional accommodation for you before or after your trip:
In Lima: $80 double/$60 single
In Cuzco: $80 double/$60 single

Single Person Supplement: $400
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
A yellow fever vaccination and certificate is required to travel to the Amazon. 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. The yellow fever vaccination with the official certificate is required, and travelers may wish to take malarial prophylaxis. 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. Please note: We provide a sleeping bag, foam mat, and of course tent. While hiking the Inca Trail, 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. Most people also carry a camera.

· 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 (15-30% 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.

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 and Arequipa: days are warm if sunny, slightly chilly if cloudy. Nights are cold in Cuzco.
Machu Picchu: similar to Cuzco, but warmer and with more chance of rain.
Lima: warm to hot days, cool evenings, almost never any rain. Often overcast.
South coast: same as Lima
Lake Titicaca: similar to Cuzco with stronger sun and colder nights
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.

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.

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$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 in markets, for example, run between $5 and $30.


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