Ultimate Adventure Peru

14 Day Example Itinerary

rafting Biking 1 Day Inca Trail Rainbow Mountain

For adventure enthusiasts, there is no country quite like Peru in South America! With raging rivers, towering Andean peaks and literally thousands of kilometers of Inca Trails through mountains, deserts and steamy cloud forest to explore, the opportunities are endless. Hike, bike, raft and paddle – this itinerary combines Peru’s finest adventures and culminates with the classic one day Inca Trail and the iconic, multi-coloured Rainbow Mountain.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Raft the Apurimac
  • Bike the Andes
  • Hike the 1 Day Inca Trail
  • Marvel at the multi-coloured Rainbow Mountain
  • Explore the “Horned Fortress” of Waqrapukara

What’s included

  • Private tours for most included activities
  • Meet & greet airport service
  • Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
  • Expert guides in each destination

flexibility

This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.

13

Nights

Price Guide

from $TBA pp

Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more

Day 1

Arrive Cusco

plan line
Day 2

Cusco – The Inca Capital

Fly to Cusco and spend two days acclimatising to the altitude. There is so much to see and do in the Incan capital from the traditional highlights of the Cathedral and Korikancha Temple of the Sun to food tours, pottery classes and bean-to-bar chocolate workshops. No trip to Cusco is complete without heading into the hills to tour the huge fortress of Sacsayhuaman and neighbouring sites of Tambo Machay, Qenqo and Puka Pukara.

Day 3-5

Rafting the Apurimac

The adventure begins in earnest today with a spectacular drive into the Apurimac canyon to enjoy four days of the finest white-water rafting in the country. The adventure combines excellent class III and IV rapids through steep-sided gorges with relaxing floats and the chance to explore tumbling waterfalls and colonial bridges. Each night is spent under canvas on deserted beaches enjoying great food and camaraderie around the campfire. After two days of rafting, you will be ready for the thrilling finale as you take on Space Odyssey, the Gates of Purgatory and Tres Maria rapids!

Day 6-7

Sacred valley – Mountains, Markets & Ruins

Returning to land via a break in the canyon walls, you will pack up the rafting equipment for the transfer out past the Salkantay mountains into the picturesque Sacred Valley. Breadbasket of the Inca, the Sacred Valley is a fascinating region of markets, ruins and Inca trails, the perfect setting for adventure! Time and energy allowing, you will browse the region’s most colourful and authentic Sunday market at Chinchero before setting off along a forgotten Inca pathway to reach the indigenous community of Huayllabamba. What better way to round off your day than with a traditional Pachamanca pitbake!

Day 8-9

Bike the Andes

Experience the peace, tranquility and regional colour of the Sacred Valley with two days of e-biking or “electric-assist mountain bikes”. Your first day takes you from the bustle of Pisac market, across Urubamba River as you follow a lovely undulating track through local villages and haciendas to reach the formidable fortress town of Ollantaytambo. E-biking now mastered, for your second day, enjoy a wonderful 1300m descent from the heights of the Lares Valley past traditional villages (and hot-springs!) to reach the town of Calca.

Day 10

The 1 Day Inca Trail

The first glimpse of Machu Picchu from the heights of the Inti Puncu Sun Gate is truly magical and reserved only for those walking either the 4 day or 1 Day Royal Inca Trail! From the Sacred Valley, you travel by train through the Vilcabamba Mountains and alighting at km104 just outside Aguas Calientes, you join an ancient stone pathway – the Royal Inca Trail – that takes you high into lush cloud-forest. Passing the impressive ruins of Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna, it is only at the Sun gate that the scale and beauty of Machu Picchu is finally revealed! Tour the magnificent citadel with your guide before returning by train to the Scared Valley.

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Day 11

Sacred Valley Adventure

Today you can do as much or as little as you like. For those looking for a fresh challenge, you can hike up to the breathtaking and extensive ruins of Huchuy Qosqo for spectacular panoramic views across the valley. Alternatively, why not visit the Inca site of Moray and dazzling pre-Inca salt mine of Maras or even enjoy a day paddle-boarding on Lake Huaypo?

Day 12

Magical Rainbow Mountain

The striking image of Peru’s Rainbow Mountain adorns many travel brochures and is one of Peru’s most iconic sites, perched high in the Vilcanota Mountain, at over 5000m above sea-level. After reaching the small village of Checacupe, a slow 500m ascent leads you through the multi-hued mountains to the summit where on a good day, you can enjoy magnificent views across the Ausangate, Mariposa and Nevado del Inca Mountains. Returning to the vehicle, you are driven to Lake Pomacanchis to make camp for your final adventure Waqrapukara!

Day 13

Sacred Valley Adventure

A morning paddle across the crystalline waters of Lake Pomacanchis sets you up nicely before you are driven higher into the Andes to reach Pitumarca, the starting point for your trek to Waqrapukara. The “Horned Fortress” Waqrapukara towers above the Apurimac Canyon, accessed via an ancient Inca trail set against the distant backdrop of the Ausangate Mountains. Once a ceremonial centre dating back to the Chanca culture, Waqrapukara’s eye-catching shape and sweeping views are still relatively unknown to the outside world and a fitting climax to your epic adventure!

Day 14

Return to Cusco for onward connections

A note on price

The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.

Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).

Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.

Price Guide from $ per person

When to travel

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec

The best time to visit Peru is during the dry season from April to November when there are bright sunny days and an average temperature of around 20° though dropping to just above zero at night due to the altitude. The Amazon is hot and sticky all year round though marginally more oppressive and wet between the months December and March.

Add on’s

A short flight south of Cusco, the Amazon is the ideal extension to this adventurous itinerary with a number of excellent wildlife lodges nestled deep in the rainforest. Alternatively, for a more relaxing jungle experience, fly north to Iquitos and join a traditional Amazon riverboat cruise. Lake Titicaca is also in easy reach via one of South America most scenic rail journeys which in turn would lead you nicely on to the awesome landscapes and swooping condors of the Colca Cayon.

Further afield, Peru combines nicely with Rio de Janeiro and Iguassu in Brazil as well as Quito in Ecuador, gateway to the wildlife extravaganza of the Galapagos. Otherwise, if you are looking to wind-down, take a flight north to the colonial gem and surrounding beaches of Cartagena in Colombia or, better still, to Cancun where you can enjoy some well-deserved rest on the plam-fringed beaches of the Riviera Maya.

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