Hidden Flavors of Peru & Bolivia

We will be walking over variable terrain, including vineyards, rocky paths, and cobblestones with uneven surfaces. Some of the historic buildings and colonial plazas we visit have narrow and steep staircases and uneven flooring.

We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. At altitude, even just a walk up a flight of steps can make you feel a bit breathless. A brisk 30- to 45-minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your pre-trip conditioning. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water when you are at altitude, even if you do not feel thirsty. Hiking, swimming, biking, or other cardiovascular exercises are good preparation for travel, especially to higher altitudes. Make sure your walking shoes are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.

Being close to the equator, Peru has only two climate seasons: a dry season from April to October and a wet season from December to March. Altitude is the main factor controlling the climate. In the mountains (Cusco and the Sacred Valley), you’ll encounter sunny days with daytime temperatures ranging between 65°F and 70°F, dropping to the 40s and lower at night. The sun is very strong at high altitude and it can often be warm. However, it can also get extremely cold even in the daytime if the sun slips behind a cloud. Lima, by contrast, lies in a coastal desert where rainfall is rare and temperatures are usually warm (70s and 80s). In Bolivia, the days can be brilliantly sunny but nights at high altitudes are always cold. Daytime temperatures in La Paz and Sucre range from highs of 65°F to lows of around 40°F. In Tarija, the warmer season is October to early February, with an average daily high of 75°F. The cooler season in Tarija is from mid-May through August with an average daily high around 70°F.

The hotels we use on this trip are the best available. They have comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms and have been chosen for their ambiance and location. Since they are sometimes in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.

The new cuisines of Bolivia and Peru feature a creative, modern touch applied to traditional indigenous and Spanish dishes. Meals are sourced from ingredients in the lush Amazon, with its tropical fruits and unique fish, and the high Andes, noted for tubers and nutritious native grains such as quinoa and amaranth. We will enjoy a bounty of memorable meals on this trip. Most lunches and dinners will be at local restaurants we’ve chosen for their contribution to the culinary arts of Bolivia and Peru. For our finer dining, suits and dresses are not necessary, but we recommend bringing casual-smart dinner attire. Please note that in Latin America, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 pm.

Our van will transport the group’s luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack for items you need during the day (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day’s activity and remain at the hotel (if we are not transferring that day) or travel to the next destination in the support vehicle.

This trip takes place at high elevation. It is not uncommon to experience headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleeplessness, shortness of breath, and fatigue at altitude. Symptoms can occur when you first arrive at higher elevations and usually decrease in severity with time. We have designed this itinerary to allow for appropriate rest and acclimatization, but for your own enjoyment, we recommend that you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. While on the trip, be sure to drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty, and avoid pushing yourself too hard, however physically fit you may be or feel. You may want to consult with your physician about bringing medication to prevent altitude sickness, such as Diamox. You can learn more about altitude and how to prepare for it in our video linked here.