Peru: Women's Expedition
Peru: Women's Expedition
Peru: Women's Expedition
8 Days Starting in Lima and ending in Cusco
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GGSF
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Physical rating:
Low, Low
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Learn about the lives and legacy of Peru’s women on an illuminating 8-day adventure. Meet a woman running a food stall in downtown Lima and hear how her business supports her children’s education, get to know the women of the Umasbamba community and find out what weaving means to them, and dine at Mama Seledonia's restaurant, providing employment and training to single mothers. With your local female leader at the helm, take on the iconic Inca Trail, a truly rewarding experience, then explore the spectacular site of Machu Picchu. This expedition will introduce you to extraordinary Peruvian women open to sharing their way of life.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lima, Peru. Your Women’s Expedition begins with a 2pm welcome meeting at your hotel, where you’ll meet up with your local female leader and fellow female travellers. After your meeting, head out to explore downtown Lima on a walking tour with your leader. This part of the city is full of historic buildings, manor houses and grand churches – the perfect place to see historic and modern Lima play out side by side. From here, continue to Alameda Chabuca Granda park, home to inviting food stalls run by Lima’s local women. Pick up some tasty snacks, then meet one of the women to hear how she has made a living for herself and supported her children's education through her food stall business. This evening is free for your own discoveries of Lima – the city is known for its fantastic food scene so be sure to ask your leader for tips on where to grab a bite to eat.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Say goodbye to Lima this morning and board a flight bound for Cusco (approximately 1.5 hours). The former centre of the Incan Empire, the city of Cusco is like a history book come to life. On arrival, take some time to settle in then head out to get to know the city on a walking tour with your leader. Check out the spectacular Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city, flanked with colonial buildings and ornate churches. Your dinner tonight is certainly a special one. Dine at Mama Seledonia’s, a restaurant that supports single mothers from underprivileged backgrounds by providing them with employment while teaching culinary and hospitality skills. Specialising in delicious and traditional Cusco dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients, this is sure to be a meal you won’t forget.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Ollantaytambo
Location: Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfastlunch
Travel from Cusco to the Sacred Valley (approximately 1.5 hours), famed for its Inca ruins and fertile farmland. Here you will visit the Umasbamba community, made up of around 32 families. The community relies on the production of textiles for income, so while here you’ll meet the talented female weavers who skilfully craft colourful pieces. Check out the Umasbamba Textile Museum, opened by the community to give visitors insight into their customs, practices and craft. Join your hosts for a tasty homecooked lunch where you’ll have the chance to try guinea pig, a staple ingredient for communities in the Andes. Bid farewell to your newfound friends and continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, home to well-preserved Inca remains. Explore the site and see examples of the Incas’ engineering skills, from ancient aqueducts to irrigation canals and dams. This evening will be spent in the village of Ollantaytambo.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Inca Trail (3100M)
Location: Inca Trail
Accommodation: Camp, ing (with basic facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfastlunchdinner
The next four days will be spent following in the footsteps of the Inca as you complete the famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. First, travel by minivan to the 82-kilometre marker and meet your trekking crew, including female porters and a cook. Your first day is an uphill trek to the campsite, sitting 3100m above sea level. Pass by the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, and take in unforgettable views of Veronica Peak dusted with snow. When you arrive at the campsite, take the chance to put your feet up, tuck into a good meal and catch up with your travel buddies.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Inca Trail (3650M)
Location: Inca Trail
Accommodation: Camp, ing (with basic facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfastlunchdinner
Today marks the most challenging day of your trek, but with your female guide and porters leading the way, you should have all the encouragement you need! Climb a long, steep path (approximately 5 hours) before reaching the highest point of the Inca Trail. Known by the ominous moniker of ‘Dead Woman’s Pass’, this section of the trail can be tough, but is equally rewarding. Sitting at a height of 4200m, the views over the valley below are simply unbeatable. From here, descend towards your campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 metres.
Day 6: Inca Trail (2650M)
Location: Inca Trail
Accommodation: Camp, ing (with basic facilities)
Meals Included: breaksfastlunchdinner
Begin the day by climbing through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay pass (3980 metres). Awe-inspiring views of the snow-capped peak of Cordillera Vilcabamba make every step worth it. From here, spend the next two to three hours descending towards the ruins of Sayacmarca, then continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3850 metres), also known as 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the two-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site.
Day 7: Machu Picchu (2430M) - Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Get ready for the most scenic day of trekking, and the greatest finish line you could imagine – the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Rise bright and early at 4am and fuel up with breakfast. Say goodbye to the porters who have accompanied you this far as they descend to the train station, then begin your final day of walking by 4.30am. The final checkpoint opens at 5am, at which point you’ll get back on the Inca Trail and complete the last leg of the trek. The walk to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) takes around two-and-a-half hours. Weather permitting, enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ as you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Here you’ll link up with a local guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of its history and the ancestral people of the region from a female perspective. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, as no historical records of the complex exist, but most archaeologists believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of Emperor Pachacuti. After exploring one of the world’s most spectacular sites, return to Cusco by train.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, your Women’s Expedition comes to an end after breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (4 nights), Camping with basic facilities (3 nights) -
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners -
Lima - Alameda Chabuca Granda tour and tastings
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Lima - Downtown walking tour
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Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
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Cusco - Dinner at Mama Seledonia
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Sacred Valley - Community workshops visit
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Sacred Valley - Home-cooked lunch
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Cusco - 3 Night/4 Day Inca Trail
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Machu Picchu - Guided tour
Transport
- Taxi , Private vehicle , Plane
Accommodation
- Hotel (4 nights), Camping with basic facilities (3 nights)
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip visits places that are at high altitude, which can cause altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details on travelling at altitude and ensure you are familiar with signs of AMS.
This trip involves a lot of walking to see the sites, as well as the Inca Trail hike. The trip is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Please bring comfortable footwear suitable for hiking. See the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
While hiking the Inca Trail you will be camping with basic facilities. It's not exactly luxury, but the rewards of the trek make it worth it!
According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only, and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Please refer to the itinerary for details. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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COVID Protection
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and other Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination remains a requirement. Please refer to the Essential Trip Information of your chosen tour for more details.