Volun-tour in Peru

Travel Dates: 16 – 27 May 2012

Help promote sustainable tourism by visiting Machu Picchu, one of the modern wonders of the world, and lend a helping hand to the communities who live beside it.

Spend 12 days touring the best of Peru, staying in charming hotels and experiencing amazing Peruvian sights and communities. You'll discover the modern capital city Lima, the breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu, the fascinating history of Cusco, and the friendly people of the Sacred Valley.

Itinerary at a glance

• Day 1: Arrival to Lima
• Day 2: Lima City Tour
• Day 3: Arrival to Sacred Valley
• Day 4: Sacred Valley Tour
• Day 5: Machu Picchu Tour
• Day 6: Machu Picchu Free Day
• Day 7: Return to Sacred Valley
• Day 8: Volunteer with Crooked Trails
• Day 9: Volunteer with Crooked Trails
• Day 10: Arrival to Cusco & City Tour
• Day 11: Cusco Free Day
• Day 12: Departure from Cusco

Why Peru and Why Now?

Your travel money can stretch further in Peru, right now, than in most places. And the amazing photos you bring home will explain why Peru continues to be one of South America’s top destinations. Cusco and Machu Picchu are an unforgettable mix of ancient ruins, Andean towns and picturesque mountains adjacent to glacial lakes and valleys.

You'll see some of the most amazing sites in Peru, including the vibrant capital Lima, breathtaking Machu Picchu and the ancient Sacred Valley, as well as Cusco, the former Incan capital.

Our photos can give you a thumbnail sketch of the magnificence of Peru, but they can't describe the gratification you'll feel seeing the smiles of the Peruvian people. You'll be amazed at their friendliness, openness, and eagerness to share their beautiful country with you. This is a peace mission, so in addition to seeing breathtakingly beautiful sights, we'll also be giving back, working with local adults and children to make the world a better place. Picture yourself experiencing all of this:

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 (Wednesday, May 16): Arrival to Lima

• Our tour begins in the Lima airport where we will all meet and welcome each other to Peru before meeting a Peru For Less representative who will take us to our confirmed hotel in Lima.
• During this trip, you will be given freedom in your travels and have time to discover the wonders of this beautiful country on your own and at your own pace. Once you are checked in, you will have the rest of the day to start exploring Lima.

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Day 2 (Thursday, May 17): Lima City Tour

• Today you’ll enjoy a half-day city tour of Lima with an expert English-speaking guide. This Lima tour takes you to the main political and religious sites of the city. You’ll start in Lima’s historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will admire the Plaza Mayor (the central square), which is surrounded by 5 important buildings: the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop´s Palace, the Municipal Palace, and the Palace of Lima.
• You’ll then travel a few blocks to the San Francisco Monastery, famous for its catacombs where over 250,000 bones rest. Your Lima tour will end with a picturesque panoramic view from Muralla Park.
• After the tour, you will have the remainder of the day to explore the city on your own and take advantage of its wonderful array of shops, restaurants, and bars.

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Day 3 (Friday, May 18): Arrival to Sacred Valley

• After a filling breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your transfer to the Lima airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco, you will be transferred to the magnificent Sacred Valley.
• After checking in to your comfortable Sacred Valley hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax, enjoy your magnificent surroundings, and acclimatize to the high altitude.

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Day 4 (Saturday, May 19): Tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas

• The Sacred Valley is probably one of the most picturesque destinations in Peru, and is home to breathtaking scenery as well as amazing archeological sites from the Inca period. After a generous breakfast at your hotel, you will set out on a full day tour of the Sacred Valley. The tour begins with a drive through the rolling green landscapes of Pisac, a small Andean town famous for its bustling handicrafts market and archeological treasures.
• We will stop in the quaint town of Urubamba for lunch, and then continue on toward Ollantaytambo, an ancient town inhabited since the 13th century and home to the ruins of an impressive fortress beautifully built on the hillsides.
• In the late afternoon, we will return to your Sacred Valley hotel where you’ll be able to rest and have the remainder of the day to explore the area on your own or with your fellow travelers.

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Day 5 (Sunday, May 20): Machu Picchu Tour & Overnight

• Today we will rise early for breakfast before departing on an exciting full day tour of the world famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven World Wonders and highlight to any trip to Peru. You will be transferred to the train station in Ollantaytambo and board the train for a spectacular ride through the mountains to Aguas Calientes, where we will catch the bus (20 minutes) taking us up to Machu Picchu, secluded on top of a mountain amid clouded forests.
• You will enjoy a guided tour of the ruins followed by some free time to explore this awe-inspiring site on your own. Later in the afternoon, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will have the evening free to rest and spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

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Day 6 (Monday, May 21): Machu Picchu Free Day

• Today will be free for you to explore the area at your leisure. Sleep in before taking the bus back to Machu Picchu to enjoy further explorations of these fascinating ruins, or wake up early to climb Wayna Picchu for breathtaking views of the citadel from above, or hike the various trails around the site.
• Back to your hotel in Aguas Calientes, you’ll have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure, perhaps soaking in the nearby thermal hot springs.

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Day 7 (Tuesday, May 22): Return to the Sacred Valley

• After enjoying breakfast at your hotel, you will have some time to explore Aguas Calientes on your own before taking the train back to the Sacred Valley. Here, you’ll check into your comfortable hotel and have the rest of the day to explore the area on your own.

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Day 8 (Wednesday, May 23): Volunteer with Crooked Trails

• After enjoying a filling breakfast at your hotel, we will have an orientation briefing before we depart for Chinchero where you will participate in a volunteer project to help improve the lives of the local community. Crooked Trail is a non-profit community-based organization that organizes projects to help people understand other cultures through responsible tourism.
• For the next 2 days, we will be living in the picturesque village of Chinchero in the heart of the Sacred Valley, about 45 minutes away from Cusco. Once you are settled in the community guesthouse, you will enjoy lunch with your delightful hosts, Paulino and Vilma, who will tell us more about the project and life in the Chinchero community. After resting and exploring Chinchero, you will be taken to nearby Usabamba where we will meet the local community members with whom we will be working the next day.
• In the evening, you will be treated to a fantastic demonstration of the incredible weaving techniques of the skilled workers of Chinchero. Our hosts have started a weaving cooperative in the village that strives to keep the marvelous Inca traditions alive. Enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers and share your stories around a cozy fire, preparing for the next day’s exciting adventures.

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Day 9 (Thursday, May 24): Volunteer Project with Crooked Trails

• After breakfast with our hosts, we will depart for Usabamba to get started on our volunteering project, where you will build an adobe stove system with the help of the families from the community. This is the perfect time to learn more about the fascinating Andean culture and share your own with the locals. You will enjoy a picnic-style lunch on the site.
• After a full and rewarding day’s work, we will head back to Chinchero where you’ll be able to rest and clean up before spending a relaxing evening with your hosts, getting to know the native Quechua culture and enjoying their warm hospitality.

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Day 10 (Friday, May 25): Arrival to Cusco & City Tour

• After a generous breakfast, it will be time to say adios to your charming hosts in Chinchero before meeting your transfer back to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco, a Peru For Less representative will take us to our comfortable hotel where we can rest before venturing out on an afternoon tour of the ancient and colonial sights of the city. No doubt you will be enthralled by the impressive Cathedral, the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuaman, as well as the fascinating Inca ruins of Q’enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.
• You’ll have the evening free to keep exploring Cusco at your leisure and take advantage of its myriad excellent restaurants and bars.

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Day 11 (Saturday, May 26): Free Day in Cusco

• Enjoy a free day in beautiful Cusco. Sleep in or wake up early to enjoy the city at its most quiet moment. Explore the narrow streets, admire the exquisite colonial architecture and discover some of Cusco’s hidden treasures. Don’t forget to stop in the San Blas district filled with artisan workshops displaying wonderfully intricate handicrafts and art.
• For your last evening in Cusco, make sure to treat yourself to a special dinner and try some of the most exotic Peruvian dishes, such as the cuy (guinea pig), served grilled, fried or baked with various garnishes, and rocoto relleno (stuffed hot pepper).

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Day 12 (Sunday, May 27): Departure from Cusco

• After a delicious breakfast at our Cusco hotel, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight back to Lima. We will say our goodbyes in Lima as we all separate and continue onward to catch our return flights home.

Tour Price & Discounts
Tour price (per person, sharing double room)	$2446
Early Bird Special submit your deposit by March 31, 2011	–$100
Returning Volun-tour travelers discount	–$50

Included

• Excellent quality hotels based on U.S. standards
• 2 hotel nights in Lima, 3 hotel nights in Sacred Valley, 2 hotel nights in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), and 2 hotel nights in Cusco; 2 in Chinchero family guesthouse
• All breakfasts in hotels
• All tours stated in the itinerary
• All transfers and entrance fees
• Multilingual, professional tour guides
• Roundtrip Train Ollantaytambo-Machu Picchu-Cusco
• All meals at homestay and partial donation
• Flight-Lima-Cusco-Lima*

*flight prices may fluctuate based on booking date and will be confirmed upon booking

Optional Excursion To Puno and Lake Titicaca

May 27: Arrival to Puno

• After breakfast at your Cusco hotel, a Peru For Less representative will transfer you to the bus station for your journey to Puno.  Along the way you will stop to admire ruins, churches, and museums, as well as stop for lunch. Upon arrival in Puno, another representative will take you from the bus station to your comfortable Puno hotel.

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May 28: Tour of Lake Titicaca

• Following breakfast you will undertake a full day’s tour of Lake Titicaca. The incredible deep blue and green waters make up the highest navigable lake in the world, situated at 12,379 ft above sea level. The lake is host to an abundance of wildlife such as flamingos, ducks, and many rare species of fish.
• During your tour you will visit 2 to 3 of the Islands of Uros. There are an estimated 32 islands of Uros populated by islanders – some friendly to tourists, others more isolated. The islands themselves are constructed from many layers of totora reeds, an ancient process continued today. These islands float around Lake Titicaca and are truly a wonder to view. On some of the islands you will be given the chance to pick up some traditional local handicrafts.
• Following this tour you will be led to the Island of Taquile which is located about 45km from Puno and is home to numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins. The local islanders still maintain many ancient traditions. Interestingly on this island it is the men, not the women, who have historically woven material. You will be guided around the island to all of the most important sites, such as a museum of traditional costumes, and the ruins at the highest point of the island where you might catch an incredible sunset.

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May 29: Departure from Puno

• After breakfast a Peru For Less representative will take you to the airport for your flight back to Lima, and onward to your next destination or back home.

Occupancy	Price
Double	$344

To explore the possibilities, call our Peru for Less representative

Rylee McGowan
Peru For Less Travel Advisor

Tel: 415-269-7444
Email: rylee@latinamericaforless.com

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