- Discover Machu Picchu by train with guided tour
- Enjoy a homestay on the traditional island of Amantani in Lake Titicaca
- See Colca Canyon and its soaring condors
- Wander through the colonial city of Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Convent
- Drive deep into the Andean highlands and the Apurimac Valley
![Essential Peru](https://res.cloudinary.com/enchanting/q_80,f_auto,c_lfill,x_w_mul_0.42,y_h_mul_0.67,g_xy_center,w_360,h_270/exodus-web/2017/10/Lake-Titicaca-Peru.jpeg)
Essential Peru
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- Essential Peru
Extend Your Trip
Amazon Rainforest extension (Pre-tour, from Lima)
Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Lima, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife and plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to explore dense forests. The detailed itinerary can be found here.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Code: XPLA
Post-trip Extensions
Amazon Rainforest extension (Post-tour, from Lima)
Easily accessible via a short flight to Puerto Maldonado from Lima, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and home to an astonishing array of wildlife and plant species. Spending three nights at a lodge in the incredibly rich Tambopata Reserve, we use motorised canoes to explore lakes and rivers, and follow jungle trails to explore dense forests. The detailed itinerary can be found here.
Please ask your sales representative for more details. Prices listed are starting prices.
Code: XPL
Reviews
Add your own reviewEssential Peru
I have enjoyed every Exodus trip I have done and this was no exception. It was a busy trip with several long travelling days in a very comfortable coach, but the journey was always broken up with numerous stops and the scenery was amazing.
Most Inspirational Moment
Machu Picchu was iconic but the highlight was watching the condors in the Colca Canyon. Awe inspiring!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Renzo was an excellent group leader, personable, professional and knowledgeable. He was always available, took us to some excellent restaurants and had a lovely sense of humour. Very much like every Exodus leader I have travelled with and there have been numerous.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don’t be put off by the long days, this is a brilliant way to see the amazing sights in Peru.
Life changing!
This was a trip of a lifetime, from start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very get up and go, so if this isn’t your sort of trip then I don’t think it would be for you.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Machu Picchu for the first time was really incredible, no one can explain to you how it feels when you're standing there, you have to see it with your own eyes. I also really loved the sand dunes which our leader took us to!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Leo was incredible, he was thoroughly organised, kind, patient, sensible, careful - everything you want in a tour leader. I noticed how he waited in reception all times of the day in case anyone needed him, so he could be found easily. He really made the trip for a lot of us.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If it is approaching summer/spring in Peru - ensure to pack shorts, t-shirts etc as the weather is very unpredictable and it was VERY hot for us! Also very strong sun cream, as well as a travel pillow for long journeys, ear plugs and face mask which helped me.
Peru
In summary, the trip, the organisation, and the itinerary was extremely good.
Leo, our guide, was excellent.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing Machu Pichu and also stopping at an Oasis. The scenery was also stunning.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Leo was excellent. He was knowledgable, caring, answered all questions, and was extremely well organised. He made local stops, such as to an Oasis and also to a Road side stop on one of the long journey days, that had excellent coffee and shopping, and really should be included in the itinerary.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The altitude caused ALL of us problems, from mild headaches to full sickness and needs to be more strongly emphasised. The weather was MUCH warmer than suggested in the Trip Notes and ALL of us had brought too many warm clothes and not enough light clothing. The bus stays are much longer than suggested, with few stops and often unanticipated holds ups meaning extremely long travelling days with little time to do anything on arrival except eat and sleep. The Hot Springs at Chivay shoukd be avoided- 1 overcrowded pool with blaring music and lots of loud teenagers.
Fantastico!
Outstanding full-on tour of southern Peru, with its wonderful variety of scenery and historical attractions. Overall organisation and itinerary were excellent. There were some very long drives but not tiring as there was so much to see. Food (huge portions) and drink were very good, reasonably priced and quite varied (nice to see lots of craft beers). Hotels were very good. There were only 3 of us, luckily we got on very well! Others had cancelled, doubtless scared off by the civil disruption early in 2023. People were friendly and we encountered no problems, in fact Peru felt safer than some southern European countries…
Most Inspirational Moment
So many highlights, Machu Pichu, Cusco, condors in Colca Canyon, Reed islands in Lake Titicaca, festivals at Cusco and Raqchi.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our tour leader Leo was excellent. He was highly competent and patiently attended to our needs including arranging great restaurants for dinners.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go. When you book, check that the flights selected are the best for you. KLM really messed up my arrangements by changing and cancelling my flights.
Fantastic experience
So much to see and do. Quite tiring, with early starts and some long drives, but I loved it all. We saw so many wonderful sites, met great local people and tried lots of different foods and drinks. Arrangements and support in Peru were brilliant, particularly the lead guide, William.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around the corner of the top path to see Machu Picchu below me - so emotional after wanting to see it for almost 50 years.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. He really made the trip, because all of his advice and support was great. He even took us to places in his own time and made great suggestions for places to eat and visit. He was also a really lovely man and interesting to talk to.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take or buy snacks for the long journeys. Always top up with water/drinks. Sort and pack luggage into small bags, so it is quick and easy to find what you need.
Expectations exceeded!
This trip fulfilled my long-held ambitions to see Machu Picchu and condors flying over the Colca Canyon while also giving us the chance to visit the Nazca Lines and Lake Titicaca. I loved all these experiences but there was so much else to enjoy, including time spent relaxing in Cusco, pisco tasting in Ica and the Lima tour on our last morning. The local guides we had at Lake Titicaca and in Arequipa and Lima were all superb. My only disappointment was seeing so few birds and no penguins on the Ballestas Islands boat trip. It was upsetting to see the effect of bird flu and El Niño on the wildlife there.
Most Inspirational Moment
I'll never forget looking down on Machu Picchu and up at condors. Not quite in the same league but particular highlights for me were the Koricancha Sun Temple and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art in Cusco and the Santa Catalina Monastery in Arequipa.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was a brilliant leader. He worked hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly and everyone's requirements were met and he was particularly conscientious when it came to checking that no-one was badly affected by the altitude. He was a great guide at Machu Picchu and the other archaeological sites and very helpful in identifying the birds and other wildlife we encountered. Above all he's a really friendly and cheerful person who enjoyed taking and sharing photos and who was happy to chat about anything, even Peru's failure to qualify for the last football World Cup!
Advice for Potential Travellers
If in doubt, please go for it!. Our leader and local guides were very grateful that we'd made the trip and asked us to encourage others to visit. After the double whammy of the pandemic and this year's political unrest the Peruvian tourist industry needs support.
Essential Peru
An unforgettable trip of a lifetime. After so many trips, this was probably one of the most impressive and perfectly organised 2-week round trip I have ever experienced, with a very nice and friendly tour group and our guide Luis, who did an excellent job of informing us about the history, geography as well as current events of Peru, including the continent. Every day was full of sights to discover, every day was interesting and full of news, although we made a long journey and it was sometimes exhausting. But no stretch, no tiredness was in vain, because thanks to the professional drivers and local guides, it was the earth of Peru itself, with its diverse colours, areas, people, climate and dreamlike landscapes, that always surprised, amazed and sometimes moved you between speechlessness and tears of unique beauty. From the legendary Machu Picchu to the fiery red rocks of Cola Canyon, from Lake Titicaca, the warm-hearted people and the lovely host family on the island of Amantani to the magical volcanic area, from the region of Ica and many, many places, this beautiful country of Peru is always worth a trip, no matter if it is a round trip or just regional. No matter which region or city I mention, none of it would have been so perfectly possible without our professional tour guide Luis, whose narrations on the bus I kept wishing would never stop, as he not only shared historical facts and local peculiarities with us, but also answered every conceivable question from fellow travellers clearly, precisely and absolutely understandably. Luis, you remain for us an unforgettable, wise, very intelligent and funny tour guide. I would also like to thank the Exodus team for the excellently planned itinerary, even though the planned time in Aguas Caliente proved too long for such a small place. Whomever Luis is assigned as tour guide, he can be sure that he is in good hands and travelling with a very experienced and friendly soul. The many drivers and local guides may forgive me for not remembering their worthy names, but they all did their best, from day to night, from the mountains to the dry and hot areas all over Peru. Thank you. Muchas Gracias. Sulpayki.
Most Inspirational Moment
Simply Peru as a whole, the landscape, people, food and all the colours.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luis Gonzales is unbeatable and simply the best in his way, being professional, objective, patient and smart.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't hesitate. Just go for this trip: Essential Peru.
Fantastic experience
So much to see and do. Quite tiring, with early starts and some long drives, but I loved it all. We saw so many wonderful sites, met great local people and tried lots of different foods and drinks. Arrangements and support in Peru were brilliant, particularly the lead guide, William.
Most Inspirational Moment
Walking around the corner of the top path to see Machu Picchu below me - so emotional after wanting to see it for almost 50 years.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was excellent. He was extremely knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. He really made the trip, because all of his advice and support was great. He even took us to places in his own time and made great suggestions for places to eat and visit. He was also a really lovely man and interesting to talk to.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take or buy snacks for the long journeys. Always top up with water/drinks. Sort and pack luggage into small bags, so it is quick and easy to find what you need.
A trip of a lifetime
The trip was very tiring due to many early starts and very long bus journeys and the high altitude, but oh my goodness it was so worth it. Overall the trip far exceeded my expectations and ranks amongst the best experience of my lifetime.
Most Inspirational Moment
It was, as it was always going to be, the visit to Machu Picchu. This fulfilled a very long held bucket list item for me. I did wonder whether it would turn out to be a disappointment, and I half expected it to be too busy. But the moment when we first stood at the viewpoint above the site was every bit as inspiring and emotional as I had hoped, and the numbers of people there were far less than I had anticipated. Having said all this, the condors at the Colca Canyon came a very close second to this. That exceeded my expectations by so much.
Thoughts on Group Leader
William was a fabulous your leader. I am sure that I would not have enjoyed the tour half as much as I did had it not been for his excellent leadership. His knowledge and enthusiasm for his country and the sites that we visited was inspirational. He helped us tremendously in identifying wild of the wildlife we saw, which is a great interest to us. On the one night that I struggled with altitude sickness he answered how phone immediately when I rung him in the middle of the night and was so sympathetic and helpful. I cannot thank William enough for all his assistance throughout the holiday
Advice for Potential Travellers
Don't worry too much about the altitude sickness. I had heard so many horror stories about it beforehand that I got quite anxious about it, but in the end it was no big deal. Don't be fooled by the guidance given in various sites about the cost of meals in Peru. We found that in average they were over twice as expensive as we had expected. Bring plenty of currency. Don't worry too much about the home stay. I can't honestly day that I was looking forward to that, but it turned out to be a rewarding experience.
Wonderful and varied trip
This is really varied trip, which allows you to see different regions and terrains of Peru , from coastal islands to deserts, to the Andes mountains and Machu Picchu, to the islands and communities of Lake Titicaca. A fantastic choice if you want to see more of the country than just Cusco and Machu Picchu.
Most Inspirational Moment
There were many. Personally I loved Nazca and the deserts around there. But mostly it was the scenery crossing the Andes. Yes the journey was long, but we got to see amazing scenery, which would have been missed by flying directly into Cuzco. Machu Picchu lives up to the hype and is breathtaking. But visiting the communities living on the reed islands of Lake Titicaca was equally memorable.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Luis was incredible, combining a passion for his country with enthusiasm for making sure everyone had a good time. He worked tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make sure our trip ran smoothly, and dealt amazing with some hiccups along the way. He was a fantastic leader, and you'll be lucky if he is leading your future trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
As many have said.....take layers. It gets cold, esp on Lake Titicaca. A good gift for the communities is something from your local country (even something like a tea towel), as the family we visited had used these as wall hangings in their house. Headaches from altitude were helped by taking electrolytes (either in drinks or powder sachets); I used rehydration sachets and didn't experience too many problems at all. The optional tour around Cuzco and the 4 ruins was a really great first day in Cuzco to get a sense of the history of the area. You might need more spending money than you think - Peru is not a cheap country, and some ATMs had a cap on how much you could withdraw each time, so maybe take some dollars with you to exhchange as well as relying on ATMs (this worked well for me).
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Friday Friday
13 Sep 2024 13 Sep 2024
Friday Saturday
27 Sep 2024 28 Sep 2024
Availability
Guaranteed (On Request)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 €
Optional Single Supplement +654 €
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
27 Sep 2024 27 Sep 2024
Friday Saturday
11 Oct 2024 12 Oct 2024
Availability
Sold Out
Land Only Trip Price 2 875 €
Optional Single Supplement
+654 €
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
18 Oct 2024 18 Oct 2024
Friday Saturday
01 Nov 2024 02 Nov 2024
Availability
Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € 3 115 €
Optional Single Supplement
+654 €
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
01 Nov 2024 01 Nov 2024
Friday Saturday
15 Nov 2024 16 Nov 2024
Availability
Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price 3 355 € 3 355 €
Optional Single Supplement +654 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
15 Nov 2024 15 Nov 2024
Friday Saturday
29 Nov 2024 30 Nov 2024
Availability
Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price 2 875 € 2 875 €
Optional Single Supplement
+654 €
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
04 Apr 2025 04 Apr 2025
Friday Saturday
18 Apr 2025 19 Apr 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
25 Apr 2025 25 Apr 2025
Friday Saturday
09 May 2025 10 May 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
02 May 2025 02 May 2025
Friday Saturday
16 May 2025 17 May 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
16 May 2025 16 May 2025
Friday Saturday
30 May 2025 31 May 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWednesday Wednesday
18 Jun 2025 18 Jun 2025
Thursday Friday
03 Jul 2025 04 Jul 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 3 715 € Book with 928 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +720 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
08 Aug 2025 08 Aug 2025
Friday Saturday
22 Aug 2025 23 Aug 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
05 Sep 2025 05 Sep 2025
Friday Saturday
19 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
19 Sep 2025 19 Sep 2025
Friday Saturday
03 Oct 2025 04 Oct 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
03 Oct 2025 03 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
17 Oct 2025 18 Oct 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
17 Oct 2025 17 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
31 Oct 2025 01 Nov 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesFriday Friday
24 Oct 2025 24 Oct 2025
Friday Saturday
07 Nov 2025 08 Nov 2025
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price 3 115 € Book with 778 € deposit
Optional Single Supplement +690 €
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesWould you like to include flights with your booking?
- ATOL protected
- Competitive flight prices
- Full refunds in the event of FCDO cancellations or major disruption at your UK departure airport
- Specialist support to rearrange flights and transfers
- Regional flights available from many UK airports
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