This tour starts in Lima, Peru’s bustling capital where on day 1 we will meet at our hotel in the historic centre where you can check in from 14H00 onwards. 

At 18H00 we will have a quick pre-departure meeting after which you will be invited to attend a group welcome dinner to meet your fellow travellers, tour leader and driver.

Please note that this tour departs Lima the day after the tour starts so if you would like more time here you may want to arrive a couple of days early. Lima is an easy city to navigate on your own.

This morning before departing Lima we will embark on a half day guided tour of the historic centre of Lima to visit the most impressive sites of the city including the tranquil Plaza San Martin, unmissable Jiron de la Union Street, facade of La Merced Church, buzzing Plaza de Armas, huge Presidential Palace, beautiful Lima Cathedral, inspiring Santo Domingo Convent and perhaps the most interesting site in Lima, the San Francisco Monastery and its fascinating internal catacombs!

After lunch we will depart Lima and head south to Paracas where we will stay overnight in a hotel in this small coastal town and prepare for our trip to the Ballestas Islands the following morning. 

Try the fresh ceviche in Paracas, it is some of the tastiest food Peru has to offer!

This morning after breakfast we will board a boat to visit the national marine reserve of Paracas and Ballestas Islands,  home to sea-lions, penguins and thousands of seabirds. During the trip you will also get to see the Paracas Candelabra, a huge geoglyph drawn into the sand 2500 years ago which has never been erased. Its meaning remains a mystery to this day!

After our 2 hour boat trip ends we now continue to Huacachina, a desert oasis where we have lunch with views over the green lagoon waters up to the high, rolling sand dunes where the adventurous can take an afternoon dune buggy trip and go sandboarding.

In the late afternoon we now reach Nazca where we check into our hotel and get some rest before our morning flights over the Nazca Lines.

This morning you will take an exhilarating flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines for an aerial view of pictures of whales, monkeys, spiders, hummingbirds and even spacemen etched into the desert floor by the Nazca Culture more than 2000 years ago. The meaning of these geoglyphs is still a mystery.

Close to Nazca we now take the afternoon to visit the mummified remains of ancient tribesmen at Chauchilla Cemetery and also the Cahuachi Pyramids, once an important ceremonial centre for Nazca Culture.

In the late afternoon we will arrive at Puerto Inca, an archaeological site where 800 years ago the Incas would send fresh fish to Cusco using runners! Today you can visit the crumbling ruins of this once thriving port and fall asleep to the crashing waves as we spend the night in bungalows overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Today we will take a drive along the beautifully rugged Pacific coastline before arriving at the charming city of Arequipa where we will spend the following 2 nights in a hotel near the city centre.

Arequipa boasts beautiful churches, colonial plazas, lively markets and mouth-watering cuisine for us to enjoy during our stay.

On your free day in Arequipa you have the option to join our half day guided tour where your first stop will be at the Santa Catalina Monastery, an imposing masterpiece founded in 1580 which still holds its authentic charm and is well worth exploring for a couple of hours.

The tour will continue to Santuarios Andinos Museum where the most famous person here is Juanita, the frozen mummy of a 12 year old Inca girl that was sacrificed to the Gods in the 1450’s and is today known as the Ice Maiden.

The tour ends in the Plaza de Armas, the main square that remains unblemished with beautiful volcanic rock architecture, a huge cathedral and impressive colonnaded balconies where you can enjoy a leisurely drink and watch the world pass by.

This evening you will be invited to attend a group dinner at Zigzag Restaurant where you can sample some of the finest Andean cuisine including various meat dishes cooked on volcanic stone!

This morning we will have a leisurely start to the day and after breakfast set off on a journey up into the Andes with the dormant Misti Volcano as our backdrop to a region where the guanaco roam free and can be seen grazing on the high altitude plains.

Winding roads now lead us to the small Andean town of Chivay where you will have the afternoon to enjoy the town's attractions such as La Calera Hot Springs where you can soak away your aches and pains in the water heated by a nearby volcano.

This evening you have the opportunity to visit the local Colca Planetarium where the unpolluted mountain air allows for clear views of the Milky Way through the lens of a powerful telescope.

Tonight we will stay in a local hotel and get some rest in preparation for our early morning start to Colca Canyon and its high flying condors.

This morning we will rise early and take a cliff-hugging track up to Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. From here you will get to see condors riding the early morning thermals, flying by at eye level providing great photo opportunities. The scenery here is stupendous!

In the afternoon we will arrive at the town of Puno situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This is a great little authentic Peruvian town where you will find some fantastic restaurants offering cheap local food.

In Puno we stay at a hotel in the city centre where you can get a good night's rest before our trip to Lake Titicaca and the Uros Islands the following day.

Today we will be visiting Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. As we travel around the lake by boat you will visit several local communities of the Uros Islands, man-made floating islands made from totora reeds.

Originally made to protect themselves from invading Incas 500 years ago, today there are more than 120 islands with over 1300 Uros people living on them, many of whom have never set foot on land! 

Tonight we will stay overnight on one of the islands, meet the native inhabitants, eat with the locals and sleep in a reed hut on a bed made from reeds, an unforgettable experience!

Upon your arrival back in Puno we will now start making our way towards the Rainbow Mountains along a scenic route through the Andes.

Tonight we stay at a hotel in the town of Pitumarca, the gateway to the Rainbow Mountains that we will visit the following morning.

This morning we will take small cars along a snaking mountain track to visit the beautiful Rainbow Mountains, a multicoloured marvel of nature. At a staggering 5036 metres above sea level these mountains display 7 vibrant colours made from the mineral rich deposits of this region.

This afternoon we will continue to the Sacred Valley and the town of Pisac where we find one of Peru's gems, the stunning Pisac Ruins. This is one of the most well-preserved Inca archaeological sites where you will discover a temple complex constructed from exquisitely carved pink granite and featuring the sun temple, water channels and ceremonial altars.

Pisac is also well known for its artisan and food market where you can wander through the myriad of stalls selling local produce and souvenirs at bargain prices.

Tonight we will stay at a charming hotel in Pisac giving you a free evening to enjoy the traditional Peruvian food at the local restaurants.

Today we will travel along the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit some of the most impressive sites Peru has to offer including the Maras Salt Pans, a series of shimmering bright-white salt rocks contrasted magnificently against a backdrop of green mountains.

At the nearby Inca ruins of Moray we find a series of circular terraces that look more like a Roman Amphitheatre than the ancient agricultural laboratory that it was centuries ago, a testament to how advanced the Incas were.

In Ollantaytambo we discover the former Inca administrative centre and the last stronghold against the Spanish invaders. The main attraction here is the Fortress, a series of huge terraces that lead to the Temple Complex that includes many finely crafted stone pieces and beautiful views over the Sacred Valley.

This evening we will stay at a local hotel in Ollantaytambo and get ready for our train journey and half day hike to Machu Picchu in the morning.

This morning we will take a train to km 104, the entrance to the Inca Trail, and start our 6 hour hike to Machu Picchu. Those not wanting to hike can carry on to Aguas Calientes by train and visit Machu Picchu the following morning without any hiking involved.

Along our hiking route we will stop for lunch at the beautifully preserved Inca site of Winay Wayna and enjoy incredible views of the valleys surrounding us.

In the late afternoon we will arrive at the Sun Gate and get our first views of the iconic site of Machu Picchu. This time of day is great for that iconic photo looking down over Machu Picchu as the light is fantastic and the majority of tourists have left. 

This evening we will stay at a hotel in the small town of Aguas Calientes and get ready for an early start to visit Machu Picchu the following morning for a guided tour of the site.

This morning we will wake up early in order to get to Machu Picchu for the opening time of 06H00 and enjoy the sunrise over this incredible site.

Your guide will then give you a 2 hour tour of Machu Picchu after which you will have free time to explore the site on your own and those serious hikers who have pre-booked tickets have the option to climb the nearby Huayna Picchu for amazing views over the main Inca complex.

After lunch in Aguas Calientes this afternoon we will now take a train to Ollantaytambo and continue by bus to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco where we will arrive in the early evening, check into our hotel and have the rest of the night to enjoy a well-earned meal and relax.

Cusco is our final destination on this tour where you now have 2 days to enjoy this colonial town's beautiful squares, plentiful nightlife and wonderful restaurants, all which make it a great place to explore and live it up a little!

On the first day in Cusco you will have the option to join a guided tour which will include visiting the Great Cathedral, Coricancha Temple and the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a stunning example of unique Inca architecture where the llamas graze amongst ancient stone walls and arches.

The second day in Cusco is completely free for you to relax, wander the cobbled streets, get in some last minute shopping and have a beer overlooking the impressive Plaza de Armas.

On the final evening of the tour you will be invited to attend a group dinner to say goodbye to your fellow travellers, driver and guide who have accompanied you on this magical tour of Peru!

This tour ends in Cusco after breakfast on the last day of the trip so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly. There are regular cheap daily flights from Cusco to Lima.

If you would like to extend your tour and visit the Amazon Jungle we offer a 3 day/2 night extension to this tour where you will fly to Puerto Maldonado and visit the Tambopata National Reserve to discover the fauna and flora that call the Amazon home including macaws, jaguars, caiman, harpy eagles and monkeys.

Please contact us for details if this extension interests you.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your tour preparations.

TOUR PAYMENT

The Tour Payment of £2953 is the complete payment for your tour and is payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). There is no Local Payment or Kitty to pay on this tour. In order to reserve a place on this tour you must pay a £300 deposit. Eight months prior to the tour start date a further payment of £1200 must be paid to secure your booking. The final balance of your Tour Payment £1453 must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date. If you book between 4 to 8 months prior to the tour start date a deposit of £1500 should be paid upon booking. If you book within 4 months of the tour start date the full Tour Payment of £2953 should be paid upon booking.

The Tour Payment can be paid by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Credit and Debit Card Payments (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

You can use the following link to pay by credit or debit card:

Dragoman Tour Payment

Or feel free to call us on +44 7858 468 953 in order to make a credit or debit card payment over the phone.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Revolut (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Revolut offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Revolut account? Create one now - www.revolut.com 

Wise (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now - www.wise.com

Paypal (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now - www.paypal.com

INCLUDED

Services of your Dragoman tour leader and driver

Transportation in our custom built Dragoman overland truck

Use of all equipment on the truck

Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle

Local transportation costs

16 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 evening meals

All accommodation costs (100% hotels and guest houses)

National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle

Half day guided tour of Lima historical centre

Ballestas Islands boat tour

Nazca lines flight

Half day guided tour of Arequipa

Colca Canyon

Lake Titicaca boat tour

Rainbow Mountains

Sacred Valley tour

Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu 

Cusco highlights guided tour

NOT INCLUDED

International and domestic flights

Airport transfers

Personal travel insurance

Personal spending money (£150 – £200 per week recommended)

Visas (free for most nationalities)

15 lunches and 14 evening meals

Accommodation upgrades

Entrance fees to optional sites and national parks

Any optional activities and excursions

Amazon Jungle add-on

Tips (USD $25 per crew member recommended)

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Dragoman so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Prices are shown in USD.

Huacachina sandboarding and dune buggy tour $30

La Calera Hot Springs $10

Colca Planetarium $10

Huayna Picchu ticket $60

You will spend 100% of the time on this tour staying in clean and comfortable locally owned hotels and guest houses. There is no camping on this tour.

Accommodation is provided on a twin share basis so if you are travelling alone be prepared to share your room with another member of the tour, of any gender. Your tour leader will always strive to put you in a room with a suitable partner. Couples can request a room with a double bed.

There is a single supplement fee of £480 if you are a solo traveller and prefer to have a private room just for yourself.

We will be travelling in a custom-built Dragoman overland vehicle 90% of the time on this tour. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 24 travellers and 2 crew. The other 10% of the time during the Sacred Valley section of the tour we take a train to Machu Picchu and a bus back to Cusco.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe.

We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, barbecue grate, tables, etc. should we ever decide to make our own breakfast or lunch on a travel day.

Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for food only. For drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

We provide 16 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 evening meals during this tour.

Breakfast is usually provided at the accommodation we stay at.

For lunch we usually stop at a local restaurant giving you the chance to taste the local fare. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget eat what the locals eat and you will be sure to get a real flavour of the country at a cheap price.

In the evening after we have checked in to our accommodation you are free to choose where you want to eat. Restaurants in Peru are generally quite cheap so you can expect to eat delicious local food for a reasonable price. We do however include 2 evening meals during the tour, usually the welcome dinner in Lima and farewell dinner in Cusco.

On rare occasions we may prepare breakfast or lunch on the truck if we have an early start or are in a remote area.

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 driver on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will arrange local guides to give you information about the important sites that we visit along the way. Please bear in mind that your tour tour leader is not a guide and will not be giving you the history of the sites we visit. Specific sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the sites we visit.

Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman and will have experience of overland travel but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping the crew at the end of your tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $25 each at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of £120 – £150 per person per week to live comfortably during this tour. This budget should cover day to day things like the meals that are not included, snacks, soft drinks, the odd few beers, etc.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying souvenirs you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring 1/4 of your money in cash US Dollars and the rest of your money on your credit/debit card. 

They generally accept all major currencies for exchange but US Dollars are accepted everywhere.

ATM’s are widely available for you to draw local currency using your credit/debit card.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipad/camera/laptop safe we recommend you purchase a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to a fixed feature of the vehicle when travelling and also attached to a fixed feature in your hotel room when off the vehicle.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports according to the most recent information we have from previous tours. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only and if you are unsure please check with your local consulate. Dragoman is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport in order to accommodate the entry and exit stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Peru visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and EU countries a visa is not required to enter Peru. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate. 

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their travel clinics in various locations in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not necessary to be vaccinated against covid to join this tour.

A Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is not required to enter Peru unless you have arrived from a Yellow Fever risk area.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicles to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. The longer hikes are optional so you do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on this tour, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

FIRST AID KIT

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit aboard the vehicle but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Dragoman obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for people based in the UK seeking a comprehensive and reliable policy that includes Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, http://www.campbellirvine.com/Madventure

Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Dragoman and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company named Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible make sure your policy includes Medical Repatriation.

Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 litre volume. 

Day bag: You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 litre volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack or under your seat on the expedition vehicle with you.

Pacsafe: In order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to a fixed feature on the back of the expedition vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed feature in your hotel room when off the vehicle.. 

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone:  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home.

E-sim: Airalo has an affordable digital E-sim that you can use while travelling abroad which means you can stay connected and be online without having to constantly buy local physical sim cards to connect to the internet. Just make sure your phone is E-sim compatible before buying any E-sim.

Camera: Completely up to you but most people use their phone.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Passport: Please ensure you have 1 blank page in your passport to accommodate all the visas and stamps required on this tour, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes, trainers or boots

7 x socks

7 x underwear

4 x t-shirts

1 x lightweight long sleeve top

1 x fleece top or fleece jacket

1 x waterproof jacket

2 x zip-off  trousers which can be worn long or short

1 x swimwear

1 x thermal beanie or woolly hat

1 x baseball cap

OVERVIEW

This Dragoman tour is for travellers seeking an adventurous yet comfortable vacation where your tour leader does all the planning and you get to enjoy yourself as much as possible. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 24 travellers of all ages and nationalities. We use our custom-built overland expedition vehicle, local trains and buses to reach our destinations safely and we stay in clean and comfortable locally owned hotels and guest houses to ensure your comfort at all times. This tour is meticulously planned to ensure you visit the highlights of Peru at a leisurely pace and we also visit a couple of harder to reach destinations. So if you are looking for a true adventure shared with a group of like-minded travellers then this Dragoman overland tour may be the trip for you!

At Dragoman we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our small group adventures. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our overland tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 24 travellers and 2 crew of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. 

WEATHER

This overland tour visits Peru in the dry season from June to October which is the best time for sightseeing, trekking and exploring the Andes under clear skies with minimal rainfall. The tour starts on the coast where temperatures can be warm during the day but we also visit many places in the high Andes where temperatures can drop to 0°C at night, so be prepared for warm days near the ocean and cool nights in the mountains and you will enjoy this trip.

ALTITUDE

We travel up to 5200 metres above sea level on this tour so if you suffer from altitude sickness be prepared for it and have altitude-sickness tablets with you.

HYGIENE

As wonderful as Peru is, some places do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone smells bad or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone aboard the vehicle.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

On this expedition we include most of the main activities in the tour price so excursions such as the Ballestas Islands boat trip, Nazca Lines flight, Colca Canyon tour, Lake Titicaca boat trip and Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu are arranged and paid for by Dragoman.

We do however understand that you won’t want to visit every site or take part in every activity along the way so we have left some of the activities as optional and therefore kept the tour price to a minimum. If there are any activities that require forward planning and/or a guide your tour leader will arrange this and let you know all the options before arriving at a destination. Your tour leader however is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or ask the local guides that we provide for you. Apart from the excursions and guides that need to be organised by the tour leader in advance, we leave most of the optional activities for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

On this tour you are completely free to do as you choose and you can be as active or inactive as you like.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

When we are in Peru things generally go to plan but if something unexpected does delay us or force us to change our itinerary please understand that sometimes things happen that are simply out of our control and we may have to make alternative arrangements. Please be prepared to expect the unexpected and accept that things might go wrong from time to time. 

These instances are usually the stories that remain with everyone so enjoy the experience. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

We have designed this tour so that we travel by day and arrive at our destinations before nightfall. On this tour there are a few full day drives but it’s usually only a few hours between destinations and you have plenty of time to look around the sites. 

We always strive to arrive at our destinations on time but our itinerary can change if an area of our route becomes off-limits for any reason, so in the unlikely event that we do experience any delays we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in Peru and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

You need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. You need to be able to carry your bags from the vehicles to the hotels, do the short walks to the sites we visit, etc. The longer hikes are optional so you do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on this tour, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your tour leader knows how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

ACCOMMODATION

You will spend 100% of the time on this tour staying in clean and comfortable locally owned hotels and guest houses. There is no camping on this tour.

Accommodation is provided on a twin share basis so if you are travelling alone be prepared to share your room with another member of the tour, of any gender. Your tour leader will always strive to put you in a room with a suitable partner. Couples can request a room with a double bed.

There is a single supplement fee of £480 if you are a solo traveller and prefer to have a private room just for yourself.

TRANSPORT & EQUIPMENT

We will be travelling in a custom-built Dragoman overland vehicle 90% of the time on this tour. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 24 travellers and 2 crew. The other 10% of the time during the Sacred Valley section of the tour we take a train to Machu Picchu and a bus back to Cusco.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe.

We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, barbecue grate, tables, etc. should we ever decide to make our own breakfast or lunch on a travel day.

Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for food only. For drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

MEALS

We provide 16 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 evening meals during this tour.

Breakfast is usually provided at the accommodation we stay at.

For lunch we usually stop at a local restaurant giving you the chance to taste the local fare. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget eat what the locals eat and you will be sure to get a real flavour of the country at a cheap price.

In the evening after we have checked in to our accommodation you are free to choose where you want to eat. Restaurants in Peru are generally quite cheap so you can expect to eat delicious local food for a reasonable price. We do however include 2 evening meals during the tour, usually the welcome dinner in Lima and farewell dinner in Cusco.

On rare occasions we may prepare breakfast or lunch on the truck if we have an early start or are in a remote area.

CREW

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader and 1 driver on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. 

Your tour leader will arrange local guides to give you information about the important sites that we visit along the way. Please bear in mind that your tour tour leader is not a guide and will not be giving you the history of the sites we visit. Specific sites require the specialist knowledge of a local guide.

Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the sites we visit.

Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman and will have experience of overland travel but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping the crew at the end of your tour is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $25 each at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.