Cheap Peru Tour 9 - 14 days

Trip style – Moderate Leisure, long bus journeys, some strenuous walking at high altitude, suitable for healthy over 60s and under 12s.

Day 1: Lima

Arrival in Lima. Pick up and transfer to your lodge, the Hotel or similar, located in downtown central Lima. This is a beautiful colonial home in the colonial heart of Lima and a great base to explore the museums and historical sites of the capital.

Day 2: Lima (B)

After a good breakfast, a free day to explore Lima at your leisure. Alternatively you have the choice of an optional extra guided tour of Lima, (additional price per person US$30).

The details of the optional extra tour are as foloows: We will pick you up for a city tour of colonial Lima, the world heritage city. Tour in an air conditioned bus with an English speaking guide. The tour will include a visit to the Cathedral, Main Square and the San Francisco Convent with its eerie Catacombs housing thousands of skeletons and bones. Return back to your hotel. Free afternoon to explore Lima at leisure.

Day 3: Lima - Nazca (B)

Today is quite a long day travelling to one of the highlights of Peru, the incredible Nazca Lines. We will therefore have a relaxing morning with a good breakfast before we get picked up for the transfer to the bus terminal for the 6 hour public bus journey to Nazca, south of Lima. The journey will take us along the coastal desert strip before arriving at the small town of Nazca. Transfer to the Nido del Condor Hostel, or similar. Relax and enjoy the pool before retiring for the night.

Day 4: Nazca - Arequipa (B)

Today is one of the longest days of your adventure in Peru starting with an incredible fly over tour of the enigmatic Nazca Lines. These gigantic drawings and geometrical figures were engraved in the desert of Peru nearly 2000 years ago. After the tour, return for breakfast before taking the public bus to Arequipa in the south of Peru, the most beautiful city in Peru. Arrival late at night to Arequipa. Pick up and transfer to your hostel for a welcome shower and sleep. Accommodation at the Posada de Sancho or similar.

Day 5: Arequipa (B)

After breakfast, a free day at leisure to explore the shops and sample some of the delicious local cuisine. You also have the choice of an optional extra of a half day city tour of Arequipa (additional price per person US$40) . The Misti Volcano stands as a sentinel behind this colonial city. Overnight accommodation.

Day 6: Arequipa - Colca Canyon (B)

After an early breakfast, we will be picked up for our drive through some wonderful scenery towards the Colca canyon, the second deepest gorge in the world. You will see groups of wild alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos in their natural habitat. Arrival to Chivay, the main town of the canyon in time for lunch. Transfer to your lodge, the Pozo del Cielo, or similar. Free afternoon for personal leisure.

Day 7: Colca Canyon Arequipa (B)

A very early start to visit the Colca canyon to see the huge condor, the world’s largest flying bird soaring on the thermals. Return to Arequipa. Overnight accommodation.

Day 8: Arequipa – Puno (B)

After breakfast, we shall take the public bus across the wild and desolate altiplano to Puno, which is situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. The journey will take us around 5 hours.

Pick up at the bus terminal and transfer to your hostel, or similar. Located at 3860m/12,400ft, we must catch our breath and take things easy this evening.

Day 9: Islands of Lake Titicaca (B & L)

After a light, home prepared, continental breakfast, you will be picked up for your full day visit to the islands of Lake Titicaca, Uros and Taquile. Uros, a group of islands made entirely of Tortora reeds is home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. We shall spend some time with these local inhabitants before we continue on to Taquile, an island whose culture is more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia.

We shall enjoy a locally prepared lunch on the island before visiting the local cooperative shop and witnessing at first hand the skill of the local weavers. Return to Puno and to your lodge.

Day 10: Puno – Cusco (B)

After breakfast, we shall take the public bus to Cusco, ancient capital of the Incas. The journey will take us around 5 hours. Heady Cusco (3400m or 11,000 feet) will feel quite normal after your days in Puno. We will pick you up and transfer you to your lodge, the Hostel or similar, located in the centre of Cuzco. This lovely lodge for example is located in the San Blas region of Cuzco and is the ideal starting point for your visit to the ancient capital of the Incas.

Day 11: Cusco (B)

Free morning at leisure. In the early afternoon, you will start a fully guided visit with an English speaking guide to the four ruins outside of Cusco, the Sacsayhuaman Fortress; Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay. Also included in the tour will be the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha Sun Temple. Free evening to enjoy Cusco, its bars and restaurants and its bustling nightlife.

Day 12: Sacred Valley (B & L)

A healthy breakfast before pick up for your full-day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The tour is best on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (because the markets are busier) although this tour runs every day of the week. Our first visit will be to Pisac, founded during Colonial times. Free time to shop or simply watch the locals going by their everyday lives. After the visit, we will have a great buffet lunch with emphasis on locally grown organic produce in the Urubamba. After lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, the ancient Inca town with impressive ruins built into the mountain side. Return to Cusco. Free evening.

Day 13: Cusco - Machu Picchu – Cusco (B)

An early start today as we take the train to Aguas Calientes for our unforgettable trip to Machu Picchu. This 3 ½ hours train rides takes us to the bustling market town of Aguas Calientes from where we catch the bus up to the awesome Machu Picchu ruins. Recently declared one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, this will be a day to remember. A tour with an English speaking guide of this fabulous lost city of the Incas rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. With houses and temples surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side, this is truly an awe inspiring site. Return in the afternoon by train to Cusco. Pick up at the train station and transfer to your hotel.

Day 14: Cusco –Lima (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight to Lima and connecting flight home or if you have several hours spare, we can arrange a transfer into Lima for you (enquire about this when booking).

End of services.

Golden Destinations Price

Tour Price: US$1050.00 per person (Initial payment) based on 2 sharing a double room.

(Single Supplement: US$340.00)

Land Payment Cost per person: US$200 per person payable in cash upon arrival.

Flight tickets: Cusco- Lima to be quoted on the day of enquiry (prices vary from US$100 - US$175 per person depending on the season)

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN GOLDEN DESTINATIONS’S INCREDIBLE PRICES?

13 night’s of accommodation in twin/double rooms at recommended lodges/hostels with private bathroom with breakfast & local taxes.

All pick-ups and transfers and tours as indicated in group service with English speaking guides.

Nazca flight tour.

Meals indicated (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)

Train tickets: Cusco - Machu Picchu – Cuzco.

All entrance fees.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN GOLDEN DESTINATIONS’S INCREDIBLE PRICES!

International air tickets to Peru and airport taxes (US$32 per person)

Meals not indicated.

Domestic airport taxes (US$6 per person per route) including the Nazca flight.

Additional expenses such as telephone bills, laundry, etc.

Personal Travel Insurance.