Archive for the ‘Machu Picchu’ Category

Hiking the Inca Trail

It happens every year, but 2012 seems even earlier than usual. Only 500 permits per day are issued for people to hike on the Inca trail into Machu Picchu, and already permits are sold out for almost the entire month of July. As of this writing in March, there is still good availability for August, but that is likely to change dramatically in the next few weeks.

Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the highlight of most travelers’ exploration of Peru, and hiking in on the Inca Trail, whether on our 5-day trek, or the so-called “Inca Trail Express” a one-day hike that culminates at the Gate of the Sun, is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for years. If you’ve been thinking of joining us in Peru this summer, please don’t delay and risk disappointment – let us know now if you are considering a trip so we can keep you in the loop!

Peru: The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu

Still available for 2012…

with the Inca Trail Express: August 19-26; October 7-14, December 23-30

without the Inca Trail Express: July 8-15

Or, consider Boundless Journeys’ Private Collection departures, available on the dates that work for you:

Peru: Land of the Incas

Peru: Trekking the Hidden Inca Trail

Peru: Lima, Cusco, & Machu Picchu

Peru: Into the Amazon

Peru: Lake Titicaca

About Boundless Journeys
Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator. With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.

Global Traveler Announces 7th Annual Reader Survey Award Winners

BEST TOUR OPERATOR: BOUNDLESS JOURNEYS

The GT Tested Reader Survey names the top in the travel industry.
The results are in! For the seventh consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 25,000 people responded. Over the past seven years, Global Traveler’s consistent, unbiased reporting has placed the GT Tested Reader Survey among the most highly regarded in the industry.

This year, Global Traveler‘s distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 62 categories. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2010 issue.

Highlights from this year’s roster of highly regarded winners include: (the complete list may be found here).

Best Tour Operator: Boundless Journeys

Best Airline in the World: Singapore Airlines
Best Airline for First Class: Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Airline for Premium-Economy Class: Virgin Atlantic
Best Airline in Central/South America: Avianca
Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India: Jet Airways
Best International Hotel Chain: Park Hyatt
Best Domestic Hotel Chain: Marriott Hotels and Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in Asia: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Best International Business City: Bangkok
Best Frequent-Flyer Program: United Mileage Plus

“The success of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards has been staggering,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. “Each year, more and more responses are received. Our readers certainly value the airlines, hotels and products they honor year after year. Big congratulations to the 2010 winners, a truly impressive list of travel providers and, without a doubt, some of the best in the industry.”

About Boundless Journeys
Boundless Journeys is an award-winning small group adventure tour operator. With a diverse collection of locally guided, small group itineraries and Private Collection trips around the world, Boundless Journeys offers “The World’s Great Adventures.” The adventure trips for 2-16 guests are active, ranging from leisurely cultural explorations and wildlife safaris to challenging trekking in remote regions ― with plenty of easy to moderate walking and sea kayaking in between.

Boundless Journeys’ Annual Charity Event, An Ideal Way to Help Those in Need

At a time when many avid travelers are scaling back due to guilt brought on by the impression that adventure travel is indulgent and insensitive to others who may be struggling to get by, Boundless Journeys’ annual charity event offers the ideal solution: incorporating meaningful community service into an amazing travel adventure.

Boundless Journeys is offering its August 2-9, 2009 Peru: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu trip as a special charity event to benefit the Instituto Machu Picchu and a community school in the village of Huanca. This 2009 event follows our successful 2008 event, a Tanzanian safari benefitting the Foundation for African Medicine and Education (FAME). The 2008 charity event trip resulted in a donation of $6,000 to FAME and the participation of 10 Boundless Journeys clients in a well-child check at a Karatu, Tanzania orphanage.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Peru and its iconic archeological site, Machu Picchu. Peru is truly one of the world’s great travel destinations, but very few visitors get off the beaten path and truly connect with the people and places they are there to experience. As Karen Cleary, Peru Trip Manager notes, “It is part of Boundless Journeys’ mission to plan an annual charity event trip as one aspect of our commitment to sustainable tourism. The Huanca community school is in need of renovation and restoration. Our donation to the project of approximately $4,900 USD, plus the time our guests will spend working, will allow the community to accomplish this important goal.”

Along with the popular walking and hiking tour including important sites in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Boundless Journeys guests who participate in the August 2-9 charity event will have the opportunity to:

• Spend a day working side by side with Huanca villagers, assisting electricians, carpenters, painters, and masons to complete the community school renovation project (no construction experience is necessary, just a desire to help out and a willingness to get a little dirt under your nails).
• Spend the night camping in the Huanca community, giving participants time to get to know the villagers better, and enjoying a traditional party to celebrate the completion of the project.

Group size is limited to 16, and reservations are currently being taken for Boundless Journeys’ Peru: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu charity event. The August 2-9, 2009 trip cost is $4295 per person (not including international airfare).

For more information please call toll-free 1-800-941-8010, or e-mail Peru destination manager Karen Cleary.

Inca Tail Trek to Machu Picchu

More and more, travelers who want to trek to Machu Picchu are seeking out alternative, less crowded and sustainably managed routes, where porters are more likely to be supported properly and the experience is an authentic wilderness trek away from the crowds of the ‘traditional’ Inca Trail.

Boundless Journeys’ 11-day/10-night Peru: Trekking the Hidden Inca Trail trip follows ancient footpaths through the Andes on a 5-day trek to Machu Picchu. Choosing this alternative, and no less stunning route, allows Boundless Journeys’ groups to use horses to carry packs, food, and camping equipment, rather than human porters (horses are not allowed on the traditional Inca Trail). The local arrieros (horse handlers) are gainfully employed, while working under humane conditions. Boundless Journeys’ trekkers benefit from the luxury of being able to bring a bit more along, without overworking the support staff. Of course, trekking on an exclusive route that rarely sees foreigners is a compelling reason in itself for choosing Boundless Journeys’ Hidden Inca Trail trek.

But as always, it’s important to plan ahead for a trekking adventure to Machu Picchu. The Peruvian government places strict limits on the amount of trekkers on the Inca Trail at any given time, and for our final day of hiking into Machu Picchu, we need to obtain trekking permits for our guests. These trekking permits may sell out several months ahead of time. Your best bet to be able to hike into Machu Picchu on foot is to plan your trip about 6 months ahead of time. Feel free to call Boundless Journeys Peru Manager, Karen Cleary, at 1-800-941-8010 at any time with questions.

Peru: Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu tour to Benefit the Instituto Machu Picchu and Huanca Community

Boundless Journeys is offering its August 2-9, 2009 Peru: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu trip as a special charity event to benefit the Instituto Machu Picchu and a community school in the village of Huanca. This 2009 event follows the company’s successful 2008 event, a Tanzanian safari benefitting the Foundation for African Medicine and Education. The 2008 charity event trip resulted in a donation of $6,000 to FAME and the participation of 10 Boundless Journeys clients in a well-child check at a Karatu, Tanzania orphanage.

Founded in 1999 by Alfredo Ferreyros, IMAPI is a natural extension of the philosophies and practices that made him a 2007 winner of the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A Peruvian nonprofit association dedicated to the conservation of natural and cultural resources in the Machu Picchu Sanctuary and Cusco region, IMAPI’s primary goal is to promote and execute projects related to the sustainable development of tourism, agriculture, cottage industries, education, and scientific research.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Peru and its iconic archeological site, Machu Picchu. Peru is truly one of the world’s great travel destinations, but very few visitors actually get off the beaten path and truly connect with the people and places they are there to experience. As Karen Cleary, Peru Trip Manager for Boundless Journeys notes “It is part of Boundless Journeys’ mission to plan an annual charity event trip as one aspect of our commitment to sustainable tourism. The Huanca community school is in need of renovation and restoration. Our donation to the project of approximately $4,900 USD, plus the time our guests will spend working, will allow the community to accomplish this important goal.” Along with the popular walking and hiking tour including important sites in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Boundless Journeys guests who participate in the August 2-9 charity event will have the opportunity to:

• Spend a day working side by side with Huanca villagers, assisting electricians, carpenters, painters, and masons to complete the community school renovation project (no construction experience is necessary, just a desire to help out and a willingness to get a little dirt under your nails).
• Spend the night camping in the Huanca community, giving participants time to get to know the villagers better, and enjoying a traditional party to celebrate the completion of the project.