Peru Active Adventure
17 days from £4,500 pp
Our Peru Active Adventure is a 17-day tailor-made adventure holiday for travellers who like to earn their views: cycle Lima’s clifftop seafront and the Andean plateau to Moray, kayak a high-altitude lagoon, hike the classic four-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, climb Huayna Picchu, walk a stretch of the great Inca road and spend a night with a family on Lake Titicaca. Prices start from £4,500 per person, including flights within Peru, hand-picked hotels, three nights’ camping on the Inca Trail, private guides and transfers. It’s adventure travel in Peru at its best for the active traveller, with free days built in to rest and acclimatise.
Trip Highlights
- Hike the classic four-day Inca Trail to the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu
- Climb Huayna Picchu for the view down over the citadel
- Cycle to the circular Inca terraces of Moray, and kayak Piuray Lagoon
- Stay overnight with a family on Amantaní Island, Lake Titicaca
Our Expert Tip
”Give walking poles a try for support whilst trekking the Inca Trail. These are especially handy on the downhill sections!”
Sam, Founder
Peru Adventure Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1-2: Lima
Two nights at Souma Hotel or similar ease you into Peru. On your first full day, get straight on a bike: a short guided ride takes you along the clifftop boardwalk of Miraflores, past seafront parks, to the old seaside district of Barranco, where colonial mansions sit among colourful murals, finishing with a scoop of artisanal ice cream. Evenings are for ceviche and pisco sours.
Day 3-6: The Sacred Valley
Fly to Cusco and head down into the Sacred Valley for four nights at La Casona de Yucay, where the lower altitude helps you prepare for the trek. On your first active day, cycle across the high plateau to Moray, whose giant circular terraces may once have been an Inca crop laboratory, before a warm welcome from the Misminay community. Next day, browse the Chinchero market and paddle Piuray Lagoon with a guide, framed by snowy peaks. Keep the last day free to rest, pack and get ready for the trail.
Day 7-10: The Inca Trail and Machu Picchu
Your trek begins at Kilometre 82, near Ollantaytambo, following the Urubamba River past the ruins of Llaqtapata to your first camp at Huayllabamba (about 12 km). Day two is the big climb, over Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,215 metres, the highest point of the trail. Then come cloud forest, Inca stairways and some of the trail’s most beautiful ruins, before you rise before dawn on the final morning to walk through the Sun Gate and see Machu Picchu below you. After a guided tour of the citadel, swap your tent for a bed at Casa del Sol or similar in Aguas Calientes.
Prefer not to camp? Ask us about the one-day Inca Trail, with more time for biking and kayaking in the Sacred Valley, or walk between comfortable mountain lodges on the Salkantay trail with our Peru walking holiday.
Day 11-13: Huayna Picchu and Cusco
Return to Machu Picchu for one more challenge: the steep stone stairways of Huayna Picchu, the peak behind the citadel, for the classic view looking down over the ruins (about 2 km and 3 hours, climbing to 2,720 metres). Then head back to Cusco. A private guide shows you the San Pedro market, where Cusco does its daily shopping, the Koricancha, the Incas’ Temple of the Sun with a church built on its foundations, and the giant stone walls of Sacsayhuamán. Your last day here is free to rest your legs and explore at your own pace.
Day 14-16: Lake Titicaca
Head south towards Lake Titicaca with a private guide, stopping at the painted church of Andahuaylillas before lacing up your boots near the village of Quea for a 2.5 km walk along the Qhapaq Ñan, the Great Inca Trail that once linked Cusco with the lake. Stay at GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca or similar, on the lakeshore. Next day, take a boat to the floating reed islands of the Uros and on to Amantaní, where you’ll spend the night with a local family, sharing their home and meals. The following morning, climb to the top of Taquile for views across the lake to the snowy peaks of the Bolivian Andes, before returning to Puno for your final night.
Day 17: Depart
Transfer to Juliaca airport for your flight to Lima and on home. Want to add Ecuador and the Galapagos? It’s all possible: see our Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos Adventure.
When to Go
Best time for a Peru adventure holiday
The best time for this trip is May to September, Peru’s dry season, with the best trekking conditions on the Inca Trail and clear views at Machu Picchu. April and October are good shoulder months. The Inca Trail closes every February for maintenance, and permits and Huayna Picchu tickets are limited, so we recommend booking several months ahead.
Why Book With Travel Differently
Passionate and experienced
- Each member of the team has over a decade of experience in the industry
- Our 5* client reviews reflect our service & standards
- We are a fully independent & owner-run tour operator
- Our holidays include full financial protection & ATOL coverage
- We are destination experts, ensuring authentic & reliable advice
Committed and Responsible
Tailor-made and Personal
- No two trips are the same, our holidays are 100% bespoke
- We design personal, genuine cultural connections & experiences
- From planning to travel, you’ll have one dedicated point of contact
- Our support is available around the clock during your holiday
- We take care of the details, so you don’t have to
Need More Inspiration?
Want to combine multi-countries, take less flights, or include a hike in Patagonia? Thinking of a longer sabbatical holiday, or staying in some luxury yurts? It’s all possible; all our holidays are tailor-made with a focus on responsible travel. Take a look at more ideas below, and contact our experts.
