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Peregrine Travel Centre

Peru: Women’s Expedition

Peru: Women’s Expedition

From $ 3,240 AUD

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Description

Join a women-only adventure through the valleys and off-the-beaten-track villages of Peru and gain insight into the lives of Peruvian women. Start this eight-day trip in Cusco, the former centre of the Inca Empire. Meet female entrepreneurs at a local market and during hands-on mixology and bracelet-making workshops. Savour authentic Andean flavours at a female-owned restaurant and take a chocolate-making class at a social enterprise empowering vulnerable local women through employment. Hike the less-trodden Chinchero to Urquillos trail and visit the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and Pumamarca with the support of a crew of female porters. Celebrate your Inca adventure at a chicheria (bar) in Ollantaytambo, then end your journey with a bang at Machu Picchu, all with a group of women and a female leader by your side.

Trip Name
Peru: Women's Expedition
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
8
Capacity
12
Highlights
  • Hike the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos route on an old Inca road – away from more popular tourist routes, you can soak up the sight of the Poc Poc waterfall. Then, hike to the Pumamarca ruins, supported by an all-female crew of porters.
  • Experience an Andean healing ceremony performed by a female shaman. You’ll be guided through rituals that have been handed down between Andean healers over centuries, said to cleanse the spirit and give thanks to the Pachamama.
  • Indulge your sweet tooth during a hands-on chocolate-making workshop at a social enterprise that trains and employs vulnerable local women. Turn cocoa beans into your own moreish delights as your workshop leader shares her inspiring story of resilience and hardship.
  • Tick a visit to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, off your bucket list. Take a guided tour of the archaeological ruins, then explore the nearby town of Aguas Calientes at your own pace.
  • Dine on bold, authentic Andean flavours at Nuna Raymi – an award-winning, female-owned restaurant that works closely with organic, family-run farms in Cusco.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., DEMONSTRATIONS & STRIKES: Demonstrations and protests, often in response to local labour or social issues, occur regularly in Peru. National strikes can be called at short notice and can cause disruption to road networks leading to inevitable itinerary changes. We will do everything possible for these changes to be at little or no extra cost; however in such circumstances we find that travellers may need to use their contingency funds to cover the costs of itinerary changes.

Day 1 - Cusco
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. Your women’s expedition begins in Cusco – the former capital of the Inca Empire. Sitting at 3400 m (11,150 ft), this city is the perfect place to acclimatise to the high altitude before your day hikes later in the trip. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your group leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe head out to explore Cusco’s streets – this city’s distinctive combination of Inca and colonial influences makes for intriguing architecture where sophisticated Inca stonework stands side by side with baroque convents and churches. After the welcome meeting, join your group for a welcome dinner at Nuna Raymi. This award-winning, female-owned restaurant focuses on plating up authentic Andean flavours using organic, local produce.
Day 2 - Cusco
After breakfast, go on a guided orientation walk around Cusco with your leader. Start in the heart of the city – the Plaza de Armas, bordered by colonial arcades and four churches including the grand Cathedral of Cusco. See the Stone of Twelve Angles at Inca Roca Palace – this stone epitomises masterful Inca stonework. Then, visit a traditional market filled with the aromas of local food and the colours of traditional handicrafts. Meet a female juice vendor, sample some fresh juice and hear her story of entrepreneurship. The last stop on your walk is Qorikancha – considered the most sacred temple of the Inca Empire. Return to your hotel, then visit Casa Intrepid this afternoon for a mixology workshop with a female bartender. Learn how to make Peru’s national cocktail, the Pisco sour, and get to know this drink’s history. Enjoy a free evening to explore the city at your leisure – ask your leader for recommendations for the best spots for dinner!
Day 3 - Cusco
Board a private vehicle after breakfast and head to the Temple of the Moon. This ancient Inca temple was built into an open-faced cave on the Huayna Picchu mountain in worship of Mama Killa (the moon goddess). Stretch it out in a yoga session amid the temple’s ruins, led by a skilled female instructor – an experience sure to be far from your standard yoga class! After, begin an easy, downhill acclimatisation walk back to your hotel with your trip leader to help prepare for tomorrow’s hikes. On the way, stop at Sacsayhuaman. This huge fortress overlooks Cusco and is said to have taken 10,000 workers 50 years to build. You’ll also stop at the Cristo Blanco statue (AKA the ‘protector’ of the Inca city) for panoramic views of Cusco. Your afternoon is free for you to relax back at the hotel or keep exploring Cusco at your own pace.
Day 4 - Sacred Valley
Today, venture into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Located on the outskirts of Cusco, this fertile valley was known as Wilcamayo to the Incas. Look out over the maize crops lining the river, stopping at the best spots for photos along the way. Then, continue into the Sacred Valley to meet a local Andean community. Hear about their lives here and learn about traditional textile techniques, then make your own bracelet with the local women. Next, take part in an Andean healing ceremony performed by a female shaman. The shaman will guide you through this ritual using ceremonial tools such as Coca Leaf readings, seeds and chicha. These rituals are intended to purify the spirit and give thanks to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). Begin another easy hike on an old Inca trail, starting in the off-the-beaten-track town of Chinchero and heading to Urquillos. A boxed lunch will be provided. After, drive back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Day 5 - Sacred Valley
Today’s one for those with a sweet tooth! After breakfast, take part in a chocolate workshop at AMA – a restaurant and social enterprise providing job training and employment to vulnerable local women. Turn cacao beans into chocolate in this hands-on workshop led by one of these women – a devoted mother of four who has overcome challenges to create her own opportunities. Later today, go hummingbird watching at the Ensifera Camp Hummingbird Garden in the Mantanay Private Conservation Area. You’ll be accompanied by a naturalist guide who will teach you about the different hummingbird species (there are more than 10!) flittering around you. Return to the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the day. Maybe relax at the hotel, admiring the surrounding gardens and mountains. Or, if you’re looking for something more active, maybe try some paddleboarding or kayaking.
Day 6 - Pumamarca Hike to Ollantaytambo
Rise and shine for an early breakfast, then transfer from your hotel in the Sacred Valley to a nearby local community. From here, you’ll begin your hike to the lesser-known Pumamarca ruins. During the hike, exchange stories with the female porters joining your group for today. Learn about Pumamarca’s history and see the ruins of this hillside fortress that once guarded the entrance to the Sacred Valley. Continue your hike with a moderate descent following a route along ancient aqueducts and arrive at Ollantaytambo. Make sure your camera is charged – the upper terraces of this village offer a great angle for photos of the town down below. Explore the village, then celebrate three days of Sacred Valley hiking with a traditional chicha (Inca beer) at a local chicheria. Your guide will share the story behind this ancient beverage and how it’s made. Salud! The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.
Day 7 - Machu Picchu to Ollantaytambo
After breakfast, get ready to tick off a quintessential bucket list item – it’s Machu Picchu day! Board the Voyager train to Aguas Calientes on a scenic train journey. Pass the Sacred Valley, then descend along the Urubamba River until you reach the cloud forest. Disembark in Aguas Calientes, then take a short bus ride up the zigzagging road to Machu Picchu. When you arrive, explore the site on a guided visit led by your trip leader. Learn about the 200 or so buildings that scatter the site as you look down at the city and imagine what life would have been like here during the height of the Inca Empire. Return to Aguas Calientes by bus and have some free time to explore the town. Maybe visit the open-air market, which is full of Andean curios. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo before driving back to Cusco.
Day 8 - Cusco
With no further activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to extend your stay in Cusco, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
19-09-202626-09-2026AUD $ 3,240-
10-10-202617-10-2026AUD $ 3,240-
07-11-202614-11-2026AUD $ 3,240-
05-12-202612-12-2026AUD $ 3,240-
06-03-202713-03-2027AUD $ 3,240-
10-04-202717-04-2027AUD $ 3,240-
08-05-202715-05-2027AUD $ 3,240-
05-06-202712-06-2027AUD $ 3,240-
10-07-202717-07-2027AUD $ 3,240-
07-08-202714-08-2027AUD $ 3,240-
04-09-202711-09-2027AUD $ 3,240-
09-10-202716-10-2027AUD $ 3,240-
04-12-202711-12-2027AUD $ 3,240-

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Transport

Private Vehicle, Train, Bus

Map

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