OVERVIEW
Do you remember the much-loved bear that ended up at Paddington Station from ‘Darkest Peru’? This trip will take you to his home country, don’t expect to see bears walking around donning a blue duffle coat and a large floppy hat but you will feed the intrigue of what wonders, this little known home country of Paddington Bear holds.
In the forest brow of Peru lies Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Lost City of the ancient Inca civilisation has been magnetising people from the world over and even though it is a must visit on any itinerary, it does not reflect the magnitude of the country. We have brought out other wonders out of the shadow to be able to comprehend what this country entails.
Renowned as the culinary powerhouse of South America, this adventure will take you on a gastronomic journey in the coastal capital. You will witness otherworldly landscapes from snow-peaked mountains of the Andes to the 7 different coloured contours of Rainbow Mountain and wondrous ‘other’ sites in the Sacred Valley. Often missed, you will visit the Ollantaytambo Inca Fortress which sits in a charming village with mazy, stone byways, the Maras Salt Mines which is carved into the mountainside and the hedonistic Agricultural Terraces of Moray.
Come and let Peru take your breath away.
SAMPLE ITINERARY AT A GLANCE
- DAY 1: Arrive in Lima and Welcome Drinks
- DAY 2: Cookery Class and Bohemian Barranco
- DAY 3: Sandboarding, Dune Buggy Riding and Desert Glamping
- DAY 4: Peruvian Galapagos
- DAY 5: Maras Salt Mines and Moray Agricultural Terraces
- DAY 6: Ollay Fort and The Vistadome Train
- DAY 7: The Sacred Machu Picchu
- DAY 8: Historic Cusco
- DAY 9: Rainbow Mountain Hike
- DAY 10: Depart from Cusco
SAMPLE FULL ITINERARY
DAY 1: BIENVENIDOS A PERU
Welcome to Peru!
Your Tour Leader will be waiting for you at the airport to whisk you to your boutique hotel in Miraflores. After freshening up, you will meet your fellow Offbeaters for welcome drinks and briefing overlooking the spectacular views of the cliffs and Pacific Ocean on all the excitement to come! You may also want to pinch yourself as this photo comes to life.
MEALS INCLUDED: WELCOME DRINKS
DAY 2: COOKERY CLASS AND BOHEMIAN BARRANCO
Today will take you on a gastronomic journey through Peru via the bohemian neighbourhood of Barranco.
The food will be instagram worthy but we want to go deeper than that, pit of your stomach deep (yes, we love a good pun). Peru’s cuisine has evolved through the fusion of indigenous Peruvian cultures and historical integration of African, Japanese and Chinese which has led to unique and delicious food cultures and cuisines.
You will visit a local market to select your ingredients and will have a cookery class with a private chef.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH
DAY 3: DESERT GLAMPING
People don’t normally associate Peru with desert which is why the Huacachina desert oasis has made it to the itinerary. Expect to sandboard, take a dune buggy ride and then watch the spectacular sunset over the sand dunes before retiring to the glamping site in Paracas for dinner by the campfire and to enjoy stargazing in the desert with a drink and your new friends!
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 4: THE PERUVIAN GALAPAGOS
The morning will be spent in Paracas, sometimes referred to as ‘the poor man’s Galapagos’, the islands are home to sea lions, Peruvian boobies and even penguins. You will visit the expansive UNESCO Marine Reserve that juts out into the bay, forming the Paracas peninsula.
Following a short scenic flight to Cusco, the day will end in the quaint village of Ollantaytambo, also known as Ollay in the Sacred Valley.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, DINNER
DAY 5: THE SACRED VALLEY
Today you will be hopping from one iconic Inca site to another; enjoying the extraordinary views of Maras Salt Mines which is strategically dug into the mountainside mined by local families for their special Peruvian pink salt, hearing the tales of espionage at the ancient town of Maras and the agricultural terraces at Moray.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 6: OLLAY & THE VISTADOME TRAIN
You will start the day with the Inca site right on your doorstep; the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo – the site of the last battle between the Incas and the Spanish and normally missed by travellers.
What will remain a story for some is going to start becoming your reality. It’s time. You will start your journey to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, Machu Picchu on the Vistadome train. The panoramic windows and glass ceilings will allow you to immerse into the spectacular scenery before you arrive at Agua Calientes for the night so you can reach Machu Picchu at the optimal time in the morning.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 7: THE NATURAL WONDER
This morning, Machu Picchu will have you gushing with emotion as a dream is turned into reality.
Following a stop at Aguas Calientes for lunch and a spot of Hot Springs, you’ll make your way to Cusco by train and private transfer to get some rest ahead of more excitement to come.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 8: HISTORIC CUSCO
Discover the magic of Cusco through a local; you will roam the cobblestone streets and bargain your way through artisan markets, drinking plenty of coca tea with a backdrop of the surreal highland scenery – it will be the perfect introduction to the former capital of the Inca Empire.
Free afternoon/Altitude adjustment.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
DAY 9: 'ALTERNATIVE' RAINBOW MOUNTAIN HIKE
Your destination will be Palcoyo, the less crowded counterpart of Vinicunca which unfortunately now attracts busloads of instagrammers each day with long queues to take a photo.
Palcoyo will offer you an entire mountain range which are beautifully contoured with 7 colours. At 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) above sea level, the altitude is more than half that of Mount Everest and sure to leave you breathless (we did warn you we like a good pun).
We settle for the final supper and dance to celebrate a phenomenal adventure and new friends.
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST, LUNCH
DAY 10: HASTA LUEGO
In just 10 days you have experienced some of South America’s finest culinary cuisine, visited Peru’s Galapagos, glamped amongst the sand dunes and the stars, discovered the hidden gems of the Sacred Valley, caught a Vistadome train to the Natural Wonder, Machu Picchu, hiked Rainbow Mountain and cornered Cusco!
Thank you for allowing us to take you on this adventure, have a safe onwards journey, until next time Offbeater!
MEALS INCLUDED: BREAKFAST
ACCOMMODATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
International Flights
For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below. We strongly recommend that before booking any flights in relation to this trip that you first check with us that this trip has been guaranteed if you are unsure.
We also recommend that you book flights that are flexible and ideally refundable. Due to the landscape in Latin America and strict adherence with UK Government advice, our tours can be subject to change even though these instances are rare. For more information please refer to our booking conditions.
Suggested Flights
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
| TBC | TBC | TBC |
Key Information
Is Offbeat Horizons for me?
Offbeat Horizons’ tours are not for everyone. All our trips require a reasonable level of fitness; check the day by day Itinerary carefully and then decide if this trip is suitable for you. If you have any concerns about not being able to participate in certain aspects of the tour then get in touch with our office to discuss.
Trip Pace
Anyone with a reasonable fitness level, a sense of discovery, thirst for learning and broadening their horizons would be a great fit on this trip. The trip will move along at a steady pace and be prepared to be active and engaged everyday. There are several hikes on the trip but nothing above what a reasonable level of fitness can handle. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch with our office to discuss.
Travelling Offbeat
Travelling offbeat can throw up the occasional bump in the road (sometimes literally) but we will endeavour to follow the stated itinerary as close as we possibly can. However, from time to time we may have to make some changes to our stated itinerary or the services we are able to offer. One of the exciting and often rewarding aspects of travelling offbeat is its unpredictability. This can lead to unexpected highlights and experiences that are the essence of travelling offbeat. This is also what makes it so addictive, the thirst for more of the unexpected really can enhance your experience.
If this sounds right up your street that’s great but if you have any concerns over the occasionally unpredictable nature of offbeat travel then please consider if this type of trip is for you. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch with our office to discuss.
Solo Travellers and Single Supplements
Almost all of our Offbeaters are solo travellers so you will have plenty of people to connect and enjoy new experiences with!
All of our prices are based on twin-share accommodation with the option of purchasing a single supplement and having your own room. It is not compulsory to purchase a single supplement on any of our trips. If you are happy with twin-share accommodation we will always pair you with a member of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
On this trip the single supplement covers all nights of accommodation as per the itinerary. Please be aware that the single supplement entitles you to a single occupancy room. In many cases this will be the same size as a double room/twin room but on occasion the room may be smaller.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance that covers you for emergency repatriation in mandatory on all of our trips. We strongly recommended that you purchase a travel insurance policy that covers you for all of the activities stated in the itinerary of this trip. For more details on our mandatory requirements for travel insurance please visit our Safety and Security Hub.
General Information
Tour Price
All of our trips are priced on a tour only basis (no International Flights), giving you the ability to decide how you get to and depart from this trip.
Deposit
A special introductory deposit of £100 (or equivalent) is required to book your place on this trip.
What’s Not Included
We want to be completely up front about you with our pricing. No hidden charges, no hidden fees, no activities that bump up the price. Please see below for what we don’t include in the tour price:
International flights: Please ask us for advice on the flights from your location. Obligation free of course!
Visas and Travel Insurance: Visas will be country/nationality dependent but travel insurance is always mandatory.
Airport Transfers: We provide complimentary airport transfer if arriving on the suggested group flight.
Drinks, Snacks and Items of a Personal Nature: Including souvenirs or any other costs you may incur at your choosing.
Why Offbeat Horizons?
To understand what makes us unique as a tour provider. Visit our Why Offbeat Horizons page to get to know us just a little bit better.
Entry Requirements
For some destinations we travel to visas may be required.
UK Passport holders are strongly recommended to check Government Travel Advice for up to date entry requirements.
For non-UK passport holders and non-UK residents we strongly recommend you check with your relevant embassies for visa requirements.
Government Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Other Popular Activities
If you wish to extend your trip and continue your adventure, drop us a message and we can set-up a call to discuss other popular activities.
“As humans, we spend a lot of our mental lives living in the future. Our future-mindedness can be a source of joy if we know good things are coming, and travel is an especially good thing to have to look forward to.”
Prof. Matthew Killingsworth
“Travellers end up talking to people more about their experiences than they talk about material purchases. Compared to possessions, experiences make for better story material.”
Prof. Amit Kumar
“Taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle is essential for your mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. What better way to do so than to pack your bags and cross wanderlust-worthy destinations off your bucket list?”
Dr. Tamara McClintock Greenberg