Peru
Go Solo: Peru’s Sacred Valley, Lima & Machu Picchu
Program No. 25140RJ
Get an introduction to the sites, cities and people of Peru alongside other solo travelers on this learning adventure that begins in the capital of Lima and ends in Cusco.
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Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
9 days
8 nights
17 meals
7B 6L 4D
4
Sacred Valley, Moray, Maras Community & Salt Mines
Sacred Valley
5
Bus & Train to Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu
Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu
9
In Transit From Program
In Flight
At a Glance
Much like the textiles that are woven from traditional Andean techniques, Peru’s culture is a colorful mesh of ancient influences and modern industry. Experience this vibrant country firsthand exclusively alongside other solo travelers on this exciting learning adventure. Discover Peru’s mountain communities, bustling cities and age-old ruins as you journey from the capital city of Lima to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cusco. Along the way, meet local residents who introduce you to their villages, weaving traditions and music and make connections with your fellow solo Road Scholars!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles a day over varied terrain; overnight stays at high elevations up to 11,200 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Thrill in the vast beauty and ancient history of Machu Picchu, a ceremonial and administrative epicenter for the Inca, as you experience it with other solo Road Scholars.
- Feel the fibers of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas in your fingertips as you learn about Andean weaving traditions.
- Meet local families in Maras and attend a traditional Pachamama ceremony led by a local shaman.
General Notes
Note: This is a special solo only learning adventure.
Suggested Reading List
(19 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Go Solo: Peru’s Sacred Valley, Lima & Machu Picchu
Program Number: 25140
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
The classic tale of Franciscan missionaries in 18th-century Lima, Peru by the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. First published in 1927.
Conquest of the Incas
This classic prize-winning history of the Inca struggle against the Spanish invasion weaves wide-ranging, scholarly material into a gripping narrative.
The Peru Reader, History, Culture, Politics
Lively and literate, this meaty anthology ranges from historical accounts to modern analysis.
The Incas
Morris and von Hagen trace the rise and rule of the Inca with authority in this region-by-region survey, reconstructing the finely built palaces and temples of Cusco and life at lavish royal estates like Chinchero and Machu Picchu. With 150 mostly black-and-white photographs and illustrations, including extensive site plans.
The Heights of Macchu Picchu
An indispensable contribution to 20th-century poetry, Neruda’s ode to Machu Picchu celebrates the Incan civilization while abhorring that the ancient estate was built by slave labor.
Lima, A Cultural History
An erudite guide to the cultural gems and literary history of Peru's capital city. James Higgins, who specializes in Peruvian literature, covers the scope of the city's history from its pre-Columbian museums, to its conquistador heritage, to its dynamic present.
A Sacred Landscape, The Search for Ancient Peru
Head-over-heels in love with the adventure, intrigue and bonhomie of archaeology, Hugh Thomson (The White Rock) explores Moches, Chavin, Nasca and other ancient civilizations of Peru. His tale is bracketed by an account of his discoveries with Gary Ziegler at Llactapata, a newly excavated observatory barely two miles from Machu Picchu.
Turn Right at Machu Picchu
What happens when an unadventurous adventure writer tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu? A fascinating and funny account of his journey through some of the world's most historic, and remote landscapes guided only by an Australian survivalist.
Insight Guide Peru
Panoramic in scope, this illustrated overview brings Peru to life in hundreds of color photographs and vivid essays by a team of experts writing on history, archaeology and culture.
Peru, The Cookbook
A panoramic view of traditional Peruvian cooking, featuring 500 recipes, full-color illustrations and expert information on the roots of Peruvian cuisine. Author Gaston Acurio is a Peruvian celebrity chef and restaurateur.
Art of the Andes, from Chavin to Inca
This authoritative and concise illustrated survey of Andean art and architecture covers not only Machu Picchu and additional Inca monuments, but also Chan Chan, Nasca and other archaeological sites and cultures.
Stone Offerings
Torrey captures the dramatic setting, solitude and intricate construction of the Inca site of Machu Picchu in 100 striking color photographs taken over a few days at summer and winter solstice.
Lost City of the Incas
This first-rate adventure story by the man who brought Machu Picchu to the attention of the world is not just a gripping tale of exploration and archaeology, it also sets the scene for any visitor to the site.
Peru, Travellers' Wildlife Guides
Featuring 500 illustrations of the birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and insects of the Amazon, Andes and Pacific Coast.
Peru, Birds of the Forest
A handy, double-sided laminated card depicting 100 commonly encountered par-rots, motmots, hummingbirds and other forest birds of Peru.
The Incas
Featuring archival drawings and photographs, a chronology and chapters on Atahualpa, the Conquistadors and Hiram Bingham, this handy book illuminates the daily lives, monuments and history of the Incas.
Inca Trail: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Map
This fact-filled map shows the whole of the Sacred Valley, from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, on one side and, on the reverse, the area surrounding the sanctuary in splendid, topographic detail (1:50,000).
The Great Inka Road
An astute collection of essays on the "Qhapaq Nan" (the Great Inca Road), covering its engineering, practical uses and the great civilization that built it. Includes more than 225 full-color illustrations.
Machu Picchu, Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas
Burger and Salazar vividly evoke the art, architecture, culture and society of Machu Picchu in this illustrated, up-to-date survey. With Hiram Bingham's original report, archival and modern photographs and excellent chapters on recent archaeology at the site.
