Peru

The group leader on this Peru group tour will be one of our U.S. or South America based group leaders. His/her job is to ensure the safety and well being of everyone on the trip and, of course, to show everyone the most amazing time ever! While he/she will have a basic knowledge of the history, culture and customs of Peru he/she may not an expert in the matter. However, you will have a local Peruvian guide on days 2, 3 and 5 to teach you all about the Incas and Peru!

A passport is required for this Peru trip. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity (from the time you leave Peru). If you hold a U.S. passport you will not need a visa for entry to Peru as long as you are not staying more than 90 days.

You will be staying in boutique, independently owned 3 star hotels (4 nights) and a B&B (3 nights) for the duration of this Peru group travel trip. The hotels/B&B are all clean, safe and in central locations. In Ollantaytambo you will stay just a 5 minute walk from the central Plaza de Armas, in Aguas Calientes you will stay in the center of the town and in Cusco you are centrally located being just a 10 minute walk away from Plaza de Armas.

In order to budget properly please consider the following items which are not included in this Peru group trip:

• Meals: You are responsible for 6 lunches and 5 dinners. Budget around $225 for meals not included.
• Tipping
  • Local drivers, guides and restaurant staff: Tipping is not compulsory but can make a big difference to individuals in the local hospitality industry in Peru. Therefore, we recommend budgeting around $50 for these services.
  • Group leader: Tipping your group leader is completely discretionary. For outstanding service you may consider tipping your group leader ~$10/day.
• Travel insurance: Travel insurance covering our minimum requirements ($100k+ in medical coverage including emergency evacuation) is compulsory for all participants. Budget anywhere from $50 to $130 for travel insurance (from a 3rd party) depending on your specific coverage inclusions.

The single room supplement on this Peru group tour is $399. You will be able to select your preference for a single room supplement when filling out the application. If you are applying for this trip within 3 months of the departure please contact us for single room availability before applying.

Your group leader will be waiting for you at the airport in Cusco! Upon meeting your group leader he/she will get you set up with your airport transfer. After arriving in Ollantaytambo you will have free time until around 6pm upon which you will meet the group in the lobby of the hotel. Then you will walk to a nearby spot for drinks/dinner as you begin to get to know one another!

While you will not physically meet your group mates until the evening of the first day you will be in contact with everyone well ahead of time in the group WhatsApp chat and, in addition, we will provide you with everyone’s traveler bios so you’ll already know each other a little before physically meeting!

On day 7 (in Cusco) you will have the opportunity to tailor the trip to your style by selecting an optional excursion. You will be able to select the optional excursion during the application process and, after, you’ll be sent an invoice to pay.

• Rainbow Mountain: $110
• ATVing: $100
• Paragliding: $150
• Cooking Class: $70

You can read more about the optional excursions here.

We recommend bringing a combination of cash and credit/ATM card (assuming your credit card does not have foreign transaction fees). You will be able to use a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) at many shops and restaurants in Peru but local markets will be a cash only affair.

You may bring any size luggage that you wish.

Yes, you will have WiFi access at all the hotels and most restaurants. Please note the WiFi signal in Ollantaytambo (where you will spend the first 3 nights) can be spotty at times.

In Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes the nightlife options are very chill with your only options being restaurants and bars. In Cusco there are more nightlife options such as clubs, dives, and pisco sour bars. The decision to go out at night or not is completely up to you!

Our Peru group travel tour occurs in the Sacred Valley region of Peru where you will experience elevations ranging from ~9,000 to ~11,000 feet above sea level (and even up to 17,000 feet above sea level if you opt into the Rainbow Mountain optional excursion). Therefore, if you’ve never been in a high altitude environment before we recommend consulting your doctor to see if high altitude medication might be a good fit for you. Please note this Peru trip begins in Ollantaytambo (~9,000 feet above sea level) and not Cusco (~11,000 feet above sea level) where you have 3 nights to acclimate to the environment.

There is light hiking on day 2 and day 3 which is not very physically strenuous aside from the fact these light hikes occur in high altitude. The hiking day at Machu Picchu (day 5) is medium difficulty and individuals that do not regularly participate in physical activity at home might find it difficult. Lastly, the optional Rainbow Mountain hike (day 7) is considered difficult especially given the fact that it occurs in the highest altitude on this trip (14,000+ feet above sea level).

You will need proper hiking gear (clothes), hiking shoes, and a light hiking day backpack for this Peru group trip. Layers are key! We will provide you with a detailed list of everything you need to bring once you join the trip.