Peru adventure vacation, private departure

Planet

All of our trips take a slow travel approach. We encourage our guests to fly on vacation less often and, where flying is unavoidable (such as reaching Peru), to make the trip a fully immersive and meaningful adventure.

As well as the community visits described in the People section, you'll explore on foot, by bike and by raft or kayak, in places as different as bustling Lima, Lake Titicaca and the historic and cultural sites of the Sacred Valley. On the trails, that means taking all rubbish out, sticking to marked paths and keeping a respectful distance from wildlife.

The trip includes just one domestic flight, and only to avoid a drive that would take at least two full days by private car. We also encourage our guests to fly abroad on vacation less often and, when they do, to stay for longer.

People

This itinerary, like all our trips in Peru, has a strong focus on community-based adventure tourism.

On the way to Cusco, you'll join the Inka Routes Experiential Tourist Association for a cultural hike. Experiences like this are interesting, fun and eye-opening, and they give local communities a real way to earn a living without giving up their culture or leaving home.

You'll also spend several days in the Sacred Valley, getting to know its colourful living culture alongside the famous Inca history. This includes a full day with the Misminay community, which helps fund local education and health facilities and provides income.

There are optional days here too, either with an agricultural community, where the money goes directly to the small farmers and villagers who host you, or at a reforestation project that is helping to bring parts of the valley back to its original habitat.

Throughout the trip we choose Peruvian-owned hotels (small independent ones where possible) so more money stays locally rather than going to international chains. We work with a single ground agent known for its "community first" approach: they work directly with local people on how they want tourism to run in their own region. The result is a fairer, warmer and more authentic experience.