QUOTE
Experience Peru – 11 Day Tour
Prepared for:
Buckingham Friends School | Laura Downs
Proposal Date: September 22, 2023
Valid until: October 22, 2023
EMPOWERING STUDENTS THROUGH TRAVEL SINCE 2006
Explore a country with vibrant cultural heritage and four distinct geographical zones – coast, desert, mountain, and jungle.
Activities & Attractions
- Explore Lima’s colonial historic quarter
- Discover limeño flavours in a local cooking class
- Explore Incan ruins surrounding Cusco
- Travel through the breathtakingly beautiful Sacred Valley
- Buy souvenirs in Ollantaytambo
- Visit one of the human-made wonders of the world, Machu Picchu
- Learn about pre-Incan salt mines at Maras
- Aid in the construction of greenhouses with the Andean Alliance NGO
- Explore the market in Puno
- Take a boat trip across Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world
- Stay with a family for a unique homestay experience on Amantaní Island, including a hike up Pachamama Mountain, a home-cooked meal, and an evening of entertainment
- Visit Huaca Pucllana in the centre of Miraflores, Lima, to learn more about pre-Incan civilizations
Trip Details
Accommodations
- 9 nights’ accommodations at 3 star hotels
- 1 night Homestay
- Double occupancy for participants
- Night 1, 2: Lima
- Nights 3, 4, 5, 6,7: Cusco
- Night 8: Puno
- Night 9: Amantaní Homestay
- Night 10: Puno
- Night 11: Lima
Meals
- Breakfasts and dinners are included while in Peru
- Participants will have opportunity to buy extra snacks or meals on their own
Transportation
- Roundtrip coach airfare from PHL to Lima
- Coach airfares within Peru as needed
- Private coach bus as needed for duration of tour
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
- Boat trip on Lake Titicaca to Amantaní Island
Additional Personnel
- 2 Evolve Tours Director for duration of tour
- Local guides and staff as needed
Exclusives
- Creative trip programming and leadership activities
- Pre and Post Trip Curriculum
- Forever Green by Evolve Tours- Carbon Offset this whole trip (ask for details)
Insurance
- Insurance Medical, Cancellation, Baggage and Interruption. Travelers can opt for CFAR, cancellation for any reason insurance which covers students up to 75% of their costs no matter the reason. The costs would be $187 for the general coverage or $280.50 for CFAR.
Package Price is based on
Students
12
Chaperones
2
Price per student
4945
- Prices subject to availability and change until contract signed
- Total Package price may vary if number of paying customers changes
- Does not include airline baggage fees if applicable
- Tips for drivers and guides are appreciated
- This quote expires September 30 203
- Happy with what you see? Sign a 2-year contract with Evolve and pay the same rate for two years. Ask us for more information. *Based on same group size
Itinerary
Day 1:
Travel to Peru
Depart on our flight to Lima, the capital of Peru founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and now one of the biggest cities in the Americas. Arrive just after midnight and transfer to our hotel for the night.
Day 2:
Lima
| Morning | In the morning, dive straight into the city center to take a guided tour of Lima’s historic quarter. See monuments and sites of importance such as the Convent of San Francisco, the vast Plaza Mayor, Lima Cathedral and more. Learn about the colonial charm of the city and the multiple different stages of its historical development. |
| Afternoon | Head to a cooking class with Sky Kitchen to make causa, ceviche, lomo saltado and more. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most diverse in the world and is becoming as famous as French, Chinese and Indian given its distinct flavours and delicious recipes. Lima is a great place to experience this given the prominence of seafood and the original fusion dishes popular in the city. |
| Evening | In the evening, enjoy a quiet stroll around Barranco, a picturesque area with views over the Pacific and large houses with picturesque balconies and interesting street art. After dinner, head back to the hotel. |
Day 3:
Cusco
| Morning | Wake up bright and early to board a flight to Cusco, imperial city and centre of Tawantinsuyu, the Incan Empire which reigned for three centuries before the Spanish invasion. Cusco, with its extensive archaeological remains and historic buildings, tells many stories of the Incan past, the Spanish conquest, and the modern history of cultural fusion. |
| Afternoon | Explore the many sights of this historic city: visit Barrio de San Blas, a picturesque neighborhood filled with artisans and craft shops, the Arzobispo Palace, the Main Cathedral and Plaza San Francisco’s Botanical Gardens. After visiting the remains of the Temple of the Sun at Qorikancha, now the site of Spanish church Santo Domingo, head next door to the Centre of Traditional Textiles, with its informative and engaging exhibits about weaving traditions and natural dye techniques in Cusco. |
| Evening | In the evening, head to San Cristobal church overlooking the iconic red tiled roofs of the city for wonderful views right down the valley. Enjoy a delicious dinner of Andean staples like potato, corn, and (if you’re feeling brave!) guinea pig. Settle into the hotel after a busy day of sightseeing. |
Day 4:
Machu Piccu
| Morning | Wake up bright and early: today we will visit one of the “New” Seven Wonders of the World and a prominent UNESCO World Heritage Site; Machu Picchu.
We’ll travel from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes. En route, our train journey will take us alongside the Urubamba River, with incredible scenery of towering mountains and colourful forests. |
| Afternoon | When we arrive in Aguas Calientes, or Machu Picchu town, we’ll opt to take a short bus ride up along the switchbacks to the Machu Picchu citadel and begin our day visit. After an introductory walking tour, the morning is free for exploration and discovery of this magnificent site, which was built on a mountaintop and surrounded on three sides by the Urubamba River. |
| Evening | Take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and enjoy lunch and shopping time before jumping in the train back to Ollanta and a further transfer to Cusco. Enjoy a good rest after a busy day. |
Day 5:
Cusco
| Morning – Afternoon | This morning, head to Maras. Take a short walk through the countryside to the seldom-visited town of Maras and its pre-Columbian salt mines– still in use today with salt being collected with traditional techniques- as well as the Incan agricultural terraces of Moray. We will learn about how methods from the ancient past remain relevant to food production today in this private tutorial. See the salt pools up close, and bring some mineral-rich salt back home with you. After, explore the textile centres in Chinchero before heading back to Cusco. |
| Late Afternoon | Once we return to Cusco, enjoy some more time in the city centre and then head to a chocolate making workshop with ChocoMuseo, where we will learn about the cacao bean and its production from bean to bar. |
| Evening | In the evening, enjoy a delicious dinner with our own homemade chocolates for dessert. Return to the hotel |
Day 6 and 7:
Andean Alliance Project
| All day | We will wake up early and eat breakfast. Transfer to a rural community to participate in a community service project. We will aid in supporting the Andean Alliance, an NGO project whose main focus is create sustainable community development solutions to grow and produce food locally. We will help in building greenhouses in rural communities of the Lares Valley. Through the building of greenhouses, the Andean Alliance hopes to decrease malnutrition which is prevalent in many of these communities. The NGO supports community led development and is focused on a ‘bottom up’ approach. The Alliance takes on a partnership role, enlisting the local community and the local government to share in the responsibility of building sustainable projects. The Andean Alliance fosters the relationship and overseas the building of projects in an effort to foster partners who are accountable. The participation of all stakeholders is integral to success, as this helps empower the community, leading to project ownership and resulting in one that is sustainable. Your contributions could include: Helping to erect/repair a greenhouse, Playing sports or creating a “fun day” or camp program for local children, and/or Site visits to communities and projects with hiking and discussion. |
| Evening | We will return to Lares after a fulfilling day. After having dinner as a group, we will take time to reflect on our day and participate in team-building activities. |
Day 8:
Cusco > Puno
| Morning – Afternoon | Today we will travel south through Peru via private vehicle from Cusco to Puno, the town on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. Upon arrival, we will get to explore the town and have late lunch or early dinner as a group. |
| Evening | Check into your hotel after a long travel day. |
Day 9:
Amantaní Island
| Morning | Transfer to the port this morning for the scenic boat ride across Lake Titicaca. Stop at the Islas Uros, floating reed islands inhabited by members of the Aymara-speaking community. |
| Afternoon | Arrive on the beautiful island of Amantaní in time to meet our host family, walk the narrow trails through fields and adobe houses and have a freshly-prepared lunch of quinoa soup and vegetables with rice.
We will spend the afternoon climbing to the top of Pachamama or Pachatata mountains, which are sacred to the community. From here, we will feel like we are on top of the world looking out to Bolivia’s distant mountains over the lake that extends like an ocean. |
| Evening | This evening, we will learn about the traje or traditional dress used in Peru at a dance and music show which will showcase amantaneño entertainment. |
Day 10:
Amantaní > Puno
| Morning | We will have time this morning to go for another early morning walk and enjoy conversation with our generous hosts.
Afterwards, travel by boat back to the mainland, with a possible stop en route at Taquile Island. |
| Afternoon | Back in Puno, visit the market to peruse the fresh ingredients and souvenirs. |
| Evening | Check in to our Puno accommodation and enjoy an Evolve-led activity. |
Day 11:
| Morning | Take a morning flight back to Lima from Juliaca, where there will be some more time to explore the neighbourhood of Miraflores and enjoy its outdoor patios and cafes. |
| Afternoon | In the afternoon, head to Huaca Pucllana, the impressive pre-Incan archaeological site used as an administrative and religious centre of the Lima culture between 200 and 700 AD, as well as by later civilizations such as the Wari. Enjoy the guided tour over this extensive site and learn more about the many different cultural traditions that ruled through the eras on this land. |
| Evening | In the evening, enjoy some time to shop and relax before returning to the hotel and packing for the next day’s flight. |
Day 12:
Depart for home
| Morning | Optional Activity |
| Afternoon | Arrive at Lima airport for the trip back to Ontario, ready to share the many details of what we learned about Peruvian history and culture. |
| Evening | Stopover |
| Arrive back at home |
