Essential Peru - Inti Raymi Festival Departure

Experience Overview

Combine a visit to the centuries-old Inca festival of Inti Raymi with a highlight-packed journey through the spectacular landscapes of Peru, including coastal desert, snow-capped Andean peaks, the altiplano and cloud forest. Along the way, we visit world-renowned highlights, including: the mysterious Nazca Lines; Machu Picchu, one of the New Wonders of the World; Lake Titicaca, where we spend the night in an island homestay; and the 9,843ft (3,000m) deep Colca Canyon. We also encounter traditional culture, condors, llamas, and a warm welcome from the Peruvian people.
Profile
— Accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 13 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (homestay) — Travel by train, boat, private minibus/coach and one internal flight — Time spent at altitude — Several long drives and early starts
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 13 Classic nights (hotels), 1 Simple night (homestay) — Travel by train, boat, private minibus/coach and one internal flight — Time spent at altitude — Several long drives and early starts
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us. These departures have been scheduled to coincide with Inti Raymi in Cuzco. Translated as the Festival of the Sun, it is the most important of all Andean festivals. During this time, Cuzco is filled with colourful processions and other festivities including traditional dances and even animal sacrifice. Cuzco itself will be very busy during the festival season. Please note, it is essential you read the Machu Picchu regulations in the Important Information section of the Trip Notes before you book this trip. This is a busy itinerary encompassing the highlights of southern Peru. You should be aware that the size of Peru means this trip involves some long drives and early starts. The longest is between Nazca and Abancay and takes around nine to 10 hours. The private buses used are comfortable and the scenery is outstanding. There are several stops to break up long journeys. The road between Nazca and Cuzco becomes increasingly winding as we climb higher into the mountains, and this (combined with the increase in altitude) may affect you if you are prone to travel sickness. Although this trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate), the altitude can make physical activity more tiring than at sea level. As this trip spends considerable time at altitude, we ask you to refer to the Altitude Warning within the Trip Notes for more information and advice on how to limit the effects of altitude sickness. The tour allows for gradual acclimatisation, visiting Abancay (7,874ft/2,400m) before moving onto Cuzco (11,155ft/3,400m), then Lake Titicaca (12,467ft/3,800m) and Colca Canyon (11,926ft/3,635m). Although we do not linger there, the maximum altitude visited on this trip is at the Patapampa Pass (16,109ft/4,910m), which we drive over near Chivay, Colca Canyon. Please ensure your travel insurance covers you up to this altitude. It can be cold at these altitudes, particularly from May to August (although these months benefit from lower rainfall), so bring appropriate clothing. Cuzco, Arequipa and many of the Inca sites (including Machu Picchu) are built on hillsides and sightseeing often involves walking up and down steep streets or on uneven steps or terraces. As such, you should have a good level of mobility and a reasonable level of fitness. Strikes are not uncommon in Peru and, while these are generally peaceful protests, they can result in roadblocks and disruption to travel. In this event, your leader will amend your itinerary if necessary to minimise the impact.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner are included. The tap water in Peru is not safe to drink. Free drinking water is provided in large containers, so please bring a refillable bottle with you. Hotel breakfasts are normally simple buffets, usually including bread/toast and jam, cereal, sometimes eggs or a cooked dish, sometimes fruit, tea/coffee and fruit juice. We cannot guarantee that wheat- or gluten-free products will be available for breakfast in all locations – if you have an intolerance you may wish to bring your own breakfast food from home. Where lunch and dinner are not included, we visit a variety of local cafes and restaurants. Peruvian cuisine is loved for its flavours and originality; it’s well worth digging into the local delicacies. Among these are ceviche (seafood or fish marinated in lime juice), lomo saltado (a Peruvian take on a beef stir-fry), and various hearty soups including the delicious quinoa soup. Other dishes include roasted cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steak. To drink, there’s pisco sour, the national beverage.
Transportation
A variety of transport is used during this tour and vehicle types may vary depending on group size: travel is by train, boat, minibus/coach and one internal flight. Airport transfers are by private car or minibus. The main road journeys are by private minibus or coach with heating/air-conditioning and may or may not have a toilet on board. We travel by train (with Peru Rail/Inca Rail) from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (the town below Machu Picchu) and back in expedition/executive class. Seating is four seats to a table and the carriages have panoramic windows and there is air conditioning/heating. The boat on Lake Titicaca is private to our group, and there is a local guide from one of the Lake Titicaca island communities. The boat is enclosed as it can get cold at this altitude but there are large windows on all sides and an outside deck to the rear. Life jackets are provided.
Joining Instructions
Key information Start hotel: Hotel El Tambo Uno, Avenida la Paz 1276, Miraflores 15074, Lima Phone: +51 1 2194080 Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately Airport: Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) Getting to the start hotel The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers.  If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative. Catching your return flight Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) from the end hotel. Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Weather Information
The diverse geography of Peru results in a very varied climate between different regions. Lima and Paracas fall within the coastal desert region of Peru, with a mild climate and very little rain all year. From April to November, the sky is almost always grey and cloudy and the air is humid. Average daytime temperatures in Lima remain between about 18C-24C (64F-75F) during this period, with July and August typically being the coolest. Nights are also mild – typically 15C-18C (59F-64F). From December to March, the skies in Lima are clear and temperatures at their warmest, but elsewhere in the country this is the rainy season. Cuzco and the Andes have a temperate climate. December to March is the rainy season in Cuzco/the Andes and April to November is the dry season, characterised by clear skies and strong sunshine in the mornings, sometimes clouding over as the day progresses. Daytime temperatures are usually pleasant (around 20C/68F on average) but night times only 5C-10C (41F-50F), except for May, June, July and August when days are cooler and nights are often close to, or a few degrees below, freezing. In the Andes, anything is possible at any time of year, including cloud, rain or even snow, and rapid, unexpected changes. Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon are high (12,460ft/3,800m and 11,810ft/3,600m above sea level respectively). The sun is strong but the air can be cold, and nights can be close to freezing. You need to bring warm layers and a waterproof or windstopper. Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are in the cloud forest with large amounts of precipitation year-round as clouds move up from the Amazon Basin. Rain here can be heavy but is seldom prolonged. Cold fronts sometimes occur from July to August. Peru is affected by El Niño, a weather phenomenon where warming of Pacific Ocean surface water off South America drives a shift in the atmospheric circulation resulting in abnormally high levels of rainfall over parts of South America. These events occur at irregular intervals of two to seven years, and last nine months to two years. In El Niño years, temperatures in Lima can be much warmer than described above but it still rarely rains in Lima.
Spending Money
It is a good idea to take enough money with you to last the first few days because you set off early on Day 2; however, the bus can stop at an ATM en route if needed. Food, drinks and similar incidentals can vary in price enormously in Peru and are relatively expensive compared to other developing nations. Allow about US$15‐US$20 per meal not included to eat at good restaurants. Cheaper food is abundant at small local cafes, although sanitary conditions at these places cannot be guaranteed. Bottled water and soft drinks are readily available for around US$1‐US$2 each. Please note, the Peruvian Ministry of Tourism may increase entrance fees to archaeological sites at any time. If this happens, we will inform you of the increase and the additional amount is payable locally. Peruvian airport taxes are included in the price of your flight ticket, so there is no need to pay these locally. Peruvian passport or identity card holders Please note, the cost of Exodus trips in Peru is based on the assumption you do not hold a Peruvian passport or resident card. If you are officially resident in Peru or are a Peruvian passport holder, you are liable to an additional 18 percent tax on most services, and this extra sum is payable locally to our local partner. Other nationalities are exempt from this tax. Please notify us at the time of booking if you are legally resident in Peru or hold a Peruvian passport so we can advise you of the total cost of these taxes. Optional excursions Your tour leader can tell you about the full range of optional excursions available throughout your trip. However, the most popular are: Prices of excursions vary depending on the number of people taking part. The prices given within these Trip Notes are based on four participants and are intended as a guideline only. Actual prices are more for smaller group sizes and less for larger group sizes. All tours use private transport and there will be an English-speaking guide. Please note, cash is the preferred method of payment for any of the optional activities. For some activities a minimum number of participants may be required. Some activities may not always be possible due to weather, seasonality, national holidays or unforeseen circumstances. — Lima: City tour (three hours): From US$43 per person (based on four participants). Visit Pucllana Pyramid, the colonial centre including the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Government Palace, City Hall, and other important monuments. Later, visit the Convent of San Francisco with its catacombs (entrance included) and continue to the modern Miraflores district. — Nazca: Nazca Lines scenic flight (around a 35-minute flight): from US$100 (plus 25 soles airport tax and 77 soles tourist ticket). Please be aware that there can be up to four hours waiting to board your scenic flight. Please also note that anyone over 198lb (90kg) might be charged for a second seat due to weight restrictions and regulations. Please note that Peruvian sol is the preferred currency for this payment. A partial tourist ticket (BTG) is required for entrance to the sites in and around Cuzco and the Sacred Valley – this is not included in the excursion prices below but can be purchased locally from approximately US$17. — Cuzco: City tour and four ruins (five hours): From US$48 per person (based on four participants), excludes BTG. This includes visits to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucará, plus a city tour, which includes the Plaza de Armas, where the cathedral is located, Qorikancha Sun Temple (entrance included) and San Pedro Market. — Sacred Valley tour (eight hours): From US$58 per person (based on four participants), excludes BTG. Drive to the Sacred Valley, stopping at El Mirador viewpoint en route. Visit Pisac Market and fortress and Ollantaytambo; return to Cuzco. — Cuzco: South Valley tour (seven hours): From US$66 per person (based on four participants), excludes BTG. Visit the little-known valley to the south of Cuzco, including the terraces at Tipon, the pre-Inca ruins of Pikillaqta and the Sistine Chapel of the Americas in Andahuaylillas (entrance included); return to Cuzco.
Tipping
In Peru, it is customary for local staff to receive tips, which can be an important source of extra income for hard-working crew. Whether and how much to tip should be a personal decision. As customers often ask us for a suggestion of how much is appropriate for different individuals, we have prepared some guidelines together with our local partner – your leader will provide a handout which we hope is useful to your group. Please note, Peruvian soles are the preferred currency for tips. Tipping kitty: We recommend running a tipping kitty, which means we tip as a group, and individuals don’t need to worry about giving out small tips to various people (ie drivers, local guides, boatmen, hotel staff). We suggest a contribution of 25 soles (US$6) per person per day. Tour leader: Leaders are fairly paid for their role but are always grateful for recognition of their skills and hard work. Tips should be based on their performance and engagement with the group. If you are happy with their work, we recommend somewhere around 25 soles (US$6) per person per day, but customers are encouraged to contribute what they feel happy giving – either less or more than the amount suggested above.

Highlights