Peru is known for its amazing variety of landscapes (coastal ecosystems, desert, high mountains, jungles), beautiful historical cities and archaeological sites, monuments of ancient civilizations, but also for its extraordinary traditions of local culture, costumes, language and music.
With this journey we attempt a comprehensive acquaintance with the country, visiting its most important places, all interspersed with short or long routes that bring us to the back of any famous showcase.
We included therefore the Ballestas Islands, flying over the geoglyphic figures of Nasca, observing condors in the Colca Gorge, a day trip to Lake Titicaca, hiking exploration of the Rainbow Mountains, getting to know the archaeological sites of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, hike the last part of the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, climb the impressive Huayna Picchu peak and explore the Amazon jungle in Puerto Maldonado, but also some of its most important cities, Lima, Arequipa, Puno and Cuzco.
A trip that offers the fullest possible insight into this charismatic country, so that you return with a sense of completeness without leaving behind unfulfilled gaps.
Hightlights
Early morning departure at 6:00 a.m. on a KLM flight via Amsterdam to Lima.
Arrival in Lima at 15:25 in the afternoon. Transfer to our hotel in the Miraflores area for overnight stay at the Casa Andina Select Miraflores 4* hotel.
The rest of the day is free for sightseeing and dinner.
Early in the morning, we depart by bus for Paracas, a small coastal town on the Pacific coast.
Here, a private boat awaits us for a two-hour cruise to the rocky Ballestas Islands.
Returning from the islands, we depart for Nazca, where we will spend the night at the Casa Andina Standard Nasca 3* hotel.
Day's drive: 484 km, 8 hours
Early in the morning, we head to Nazca airport for a flight in a small plane over the famous figures. We return to the hotel for breakfast and later depart to visit the Chauchilla cemetery in the Nazca desert, linked to the Nazca culture, which contains mummies from the period 200 to 900 AD. The cemetery was used as the setting for the movie "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
We then follow the Pan-American Highway south until we reach Puerto Inca, one of the most important ports of the Inca era. Accommodation at the Puerto Inca Resort 3* hotel. Seafood dinner included.
Day's drive: 190 km, 4 hours
We continue our journey with our destination for the day being Arequipa, one of the most beautiful cities in Peru, at an altitude of 2,300 m.
After checking into the Casa Andina Standard Arequipa 3* hotel, next to the city's main square, we have the afternoon free to stroll around the market and the central square, Plaza de Armas, where locals go for a walk, chat, or enjoy dancing in the evenings.
In the shops around the square, we will have the opportunity to buy souvenirs or have our dinner.
Driving distance for the day: 412 km, 8 hours
Free morning for sightseeing tours of the city, the Santa Catalina monastery complex, the Casa del Moral museum, the cathedral, and various other churches with elaborate architecture.
In the afternoon, we depart for Chivay, a small town at an altitude of 3,650 meters in the Peruvian Andes. During our journey, we will reach an altitude of 4,887 meters, realizing with difficulty that we have already surpassed the White Mountain of the Alps. Accommodation at the Pascana Hotel or similar.
Day's drive: 161 km, 4-4 ½ hours
Early in the morning, we depart for the Colca Canyon, where the famous Andean condors frequent. The condor is the second largest bird in the world, with a wingspan of up to 3.5 meters, and in the Colca Canyon we can observe it from very close distances, sitting on a nearby rock or gliding above us.
We then depart for Puno, a city of 145,000 inhabitants on the western edge of Lake Titicaca, at an altitude of 3,860 m.
Accommodation at the Sol Plaza Hotel 3*, located in the city center and market.
Day's drive: 380 km, 7-8 hours
Early morning departure for a full-day excursion to Lake Titicaca. First, we will visit the famous floating islands of Uros, which the inhabitants of the lake created by weaving reeds and on which they built their houses.
The islands no longer have the glamour of the past due to tourism, but they remain an important attraction of Titicaca.
The excursion continues to Taquile Island, where we will have the opportunity to wander along some of its paths with the lake as a backdrop. In the main village of the island, we will visit the handicraft center to admire the unique knitted and embroidered handicrafts produced by the island's inhabitants, both men and women.
We will have lunch at a local restaurant in the village and in the afternoon we will return to Puno to spend the night at the same hotel.
Leaving Puno, we visit the archaeological site of Sillustani next to the small lake Umayo.
We continue westward across the vast Altiplano of the Andes, an endless plateau that is a continuation of Titicaca, at an average altitude of 3,750 m.
On our way, we will travel parallel to the Urubamba River, stopping at various points of interest and archaeological sites, such as the village of Pukara, the Raqchi archaeological park, and a suspension bridge from the Inca period over the river.
In the afternoon, we arrive at the village of Cusipata, where we will spend the night at the Cusipata River Lodge, next to the Urubamba River.
Day's drive: 333 km, 6-7 hours
We depart from the hotel very early in the morning for the famous Rainbow Mountains. First, we will hike to the famous spot with rainbow-colored rocks, which attracts many visitors. then we will enter the Red Valley, an amazing valley dominated by red rocks and visited by very few tourists. The program also includes an ascent to the summit of Hatun (5,069 m). We then depart for Cuzco to spend the night at the Casa Andina Standard Cusco Cathedral 3* hotel, next to the Cathedral and the main square.
Day's drive: 132 km, 4 ½ hours
Ascent: 3 ½ km, +305 m, 2 hours
Walk in the Red Valley: 5 km, +100 m, - 440 m. 3-4 hours
A day dedicated to getting to know the wonderful city of Cusco and its nearby archaeological sites.
We will visit the Sacsayhuaman fortress, where you will be amazed by the giant rocks used in its construction, some of which weigh more than 300 tons!
We will also visit the golden palace of Qoricancha and the monastery of Santo Domingo, a perfect example of the fusion of Inca culture with Christianity, the underground temple of Quenqo (meaning labyrinth) with its impressive rock carvings and syringes, dedicated to the worship of Mother Earth, the Puka Pucara (Red Fortress) fortress, which was the entrance gate and military control point to Cuzco, the Tambomachay (Temple of Water), dedicated to the worship of water, fertility, and longevity, and finally, the central cathedral with its colonial architecture and stunning paintings from the Cusqueña school.
The afternoon is free to relax in the cafes and restaurants of this picturesque city.
Overnight stay at the same hotel.
After breakfast, we leave Cusco behind to explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First, we visit the colonial town of Chinchero and the Moray agricultural laboratory, a peculiar construction consisting of circular terraces that descend into a 150-meter-deep crater, where each terrace maintained its own climatic conditions, making it suitable for different types of crops, with the deepest level being used for ceremonies dedicated to Mother Earth.
We continue to the Maras salt mine, where mineral salt has been collected from the mysterious natural source of salty water since the time of the Incas. From here, we will take a 45-minute walk down to the Urubamba River and the town of the same name, where we will stop for lunch.
Continuing on, we arrive at Ollantaytambo, a beautiful little town built on the ancient walls of the Incas, preserving their urban characteristics, divided into blocks (canchas) that remain almost intact. Each cancha has only one entrance (usually a huge stone gate) leading to a central courtyard, and the houses are built around the courtyard with their outer walls giving the cancha a fortress-like structure. It is built at the foot of a slope with some spectacular Inca ruins, the most important of which is the temple at the top, built with huge carved boulders, perfectly fitted together, the likes of which cannot be found even at Machu Picchu.
Accommodation at the Tunupa Lodge Hotel
Day's drive: 87 km, 2 ½ hours
We depart very early in the morning by train for the 104 km journey. From here we begin a beautiful hike on the last leg of the famous Inca Trail, passing through a series of impressive archaeological sites and enjoying wonderful views of the Urubamba River valley. Visit to the archaeological sites of Chachabamba (2270 m), Wiayhuayna (2650 m), Sun Gate Inti Punku.
As we approach Machu Picchu, we get our first impressive view of it as we pass through the Sun Gate.
Upon reaching the upper part of the archaeological site, we will have the opportunity to admire the ruins from above and take some of the famous photos.
In the afternoon, we descend to the village of Aquas Callientes to spend the night at the Andino Machu Picchu 3* hotel or similar.
Day's walk: 12 km, 6 hours
Early in the morning, we head back up to Machu Picchu to visit the archaeological site and climb the steep peak of Huayna Picchu via a built path, with panoramic views of the archaeological site.
Since the site was accidentally discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, a whole series of theories have been developed about its historical significance. Undoubtedly, the excellent condition of the ruins is evident due to the fact that the site was abandoned before the arrival of the Spanish and was never looted. The ruins include stairways, terraces, temples, palaces, towers, fountains, and the famous sundial.
In the afternoon, return to Cuzco by train and bus for an overnight stay at the same hotel.
Day's hike: 2 km, +260 m, - 260 m, 3 hours.
Day's drive: 58 km, 1 ½ hours.
Free morning in Cusco.
Later, on an afternoon flight, we return to Lima and transfer to the Casa Andina Select Miraflores 4* hotel for the night.
The morning is devoted to getting acquainted with the city's most important sights, the colonial center of the capital, and the pre-Columbian Huaca Pucllana.
In the evening, transfer to the airport for the return flight. The flight departs a few minutes after midnight with Delta Airlines via Atlanta.
Arrival in Atlanta at 8:14 a.m.
Those who are interested can take a walk around the city, with free time for sightseeing and lunch until our afternoon flight to Athens, departing at 5:15 p.m.
Arrival in Athens at 11:00 a.m.
End of program.
📢 Early Bird price for bookings made by 15 March:
€4.650/person for 12 to 15 participants
Standard price after the Early Bird period:
€4.900/person for 12-15 participants
Single supplement: €520
To reserve a place, you must first read the terms and conditions of booking and, if you accept them, follow the online booking procedure in the relevant section of our website, paying the deposit at the same time using a card or the IRIS app.
Another €2,000 must be sent by May 30, and the trip must be paid in full by June 15.
The deposit and final payment should be sent to the ALPHA BANK bank account with IBAN number: GR1001407960796002002013550, in the name of OUTDOORS TRAINING IKE.
When transferring or depositing money, please note your name and the name of the trip, PERU, in the REASON field.
Important note: Tickets to the Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and Huayna Picchu summit are issued in limited numbers each day, can only be issued to a specific name and passport number, and are non-refundable in case of cancellation. In order to ensure ticket availability, travel reservations must be completed by May 30 at the latest.
In case of cancellation, the following cancellation fees apply
Transportation
Local transportation is provided by an 18 + 1 seat sprinter bus. As luggage space is relatively limited, we recommend that your luggage be a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, and that it not exceed 70 liters in size. Please note that luggage will be carried from the bus to the rooms by each individual, and we therefore recommend that you limit yourself to only the essentials.
Please contact us for more details.
Accommodation
Accommodation is provided at the hotels listed in the detailed itinerary or similar, in twin
rooms with bathroom and breakfast.
Accommodation in single rooms is available at an additional cost, subject to availability.
For this reason, we recommend that you book your trip well in advance.
Please note, however, that accommodation on August 8 in a single room at Cusipata River Lodge may not be possible as the lodge has
a limited number of rooms available
Meals
Food is not included in the price, except for breakfasts and two dinners, as shown in the detailed description. During the hikes, we recommend that you buy snacks from the local market and not bring them with you from Greece.
Change of programme
Our office representative or local guide has the discretion to modify the program if weather or other local conditions
(strikes, political unrest, etc.) require it, with the main criteria being the smooth running of the program and the safety of the participants. Any costs arising from such changes are covered by the participants.
Currency
The local currency is the Peruvian New Sol (PEN). The exchange rate is 1€ = 4.16 PEN (September 2024 exchange rate). Hotels and lodges usually accept Visa and Mastecard credit cards with a commission fee, and the best currency is the dollar. However, bring new currencies with you as often currencies printed before 2005 are not accepted. Euros are accepted at hotel reception desks, banks and bureaux de change.
Tips
Tipping is an optional extra that is usually skipped even by happy travellers. However, such a meaningful reward to a consistent attendant who has gone above and beyond to provide the best possible service to the participants helps the attendant to enjoy his or her work and to maintain his or her cheerfulness and energy.
Similarly we should provide for a tip to the bus driver and local guide where used.
Geography
Peru is located in the Southern Hemisphere, just below the equatorial line and includes three zones, the coastal zone, the mountainous zone and the jungle.
The coastal zone is 2,500 km long with a maximum width of 200 km (in the north) and a minimum of 40 km (in the south). The highest concentration of population is in the south of this zone.
The mountainous zone consists of part of the largest mountain range in the world, the Cordillera de los Andes, with the highest peak reaching an altitude of 6,768 m.
The jungle extends to the northeast and is part of the world's largest jungle, the Amazon jungle, the least populated area of Peru.
Climate
Peru's climate is influenced by many different factors (jungle, Andes, Humboldt currents), presenting a huge diversity of microclimates that include 28 of the 32 climate types found worldwide.
The climate in the coastal zone from April to September (winter) is the coldest period. In the summer period, from December to March, it is hot and clear during the day, but the skies can be chilly at night. Rainfall is scarce and does not exceed 150 mm per year.
The Andean climate is characterised by two separate seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season lasts from November to March, with frequent and intense rainfall, usually of short duration, mainly in the afternoons. Although it is summer, the temperature is not warm due to the altitude.
In the dry season there are clear skies with cool temperatures. Although none of the seasons of the year are prohibitive to visit Peru, however the best season is from May to September. For the trekking routes included in the itinerary the daytime temperature will range from 13o to 23o C, while in the evening we can expect temperatures to drop below zero.
Economy
The services sector provides more than 50% of the country's GDP and employs a similar proportion of the active population.
Industry, mining and construction provide 1/3 of the output and employ 15% of the active population
Agriculture and livestock farming provides less than 15% of GDP, but employs one third of the labour force.
Market
In the Peruvian market you will find a wide variety of decorative and utilitarian objects, folk crafts, textiles, woolen goods, etc.
Note that it is strictly forbidden to export pre-Columbian objects, even if you can buy them in certain areas.
It is also not a good idea to take coca leaf with you, although it is not specifically prohibited, and within the country it is legally sold for making a drink or chewing.
Currency exchange
The main international currencies (euro, dollar, pound sterling) are accepted at all currency exchanges or banks. Dollars, however, give more flexibility in small towns or in emergency situations. To see the official exchange rates visit https://www.forex.com.pk/
Your travel companion can help you through this process.
Greek citizens do not require a visa to enter Peru. Passports must be valid for 6 months after the date of entry.
Travel documents / visa
To depart from Atlanta Airport in the United States, those who do not already have a visa or ESTA can apply for an ESTA, which is valid for two years and allows up to 90 nights' stay. Our office will handle the application process for those participating in the trip and provide it free of charge. Please note, however, that those who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen since March 1, 2011, are not eligible for ESTA. They will need to apply for a 10-year non-immigrant visa, for which they will need to submit a separate application and attend a personal interview at the US Embassy. The issuance of this visa takes more than 2 months, so the procedures must be started immediately. The cost of this visa is not included in the package price and is $185.
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