Day 1 Lima

Arrive at any time.

Arrive in Lima at any time. There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and enjoy the city.

Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.

Note: If you have pre-booked the Peru Culinary Bundle, the Lima cooking class will be Day 1 and the Cusco cooking class will be on Day 2. As this pack does not include extra on-trip time in Lima, it is necessary to bundle it with a pre-trip stay.

Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting

1h19:00

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour.

Accommodation

La Castellana Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Lima/Cusco

Early flight to Cusco. Free day for shopping and exploring the city. Optional city tour.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring this fascinating city, and getting used to the altitude.

The flight to Cusco usually departs early, it may be necessary to leave the hotel as early as 4:00am.

Plane

Lima ? Cusco2h30m572km

Free Time

CuscoFull Day

Slip on a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!

Optional Activities – Day 2

Accommodation

Hotel Prisma (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 Cusco/Ollantaytambo

Full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins along with a visit to a G Adventures-supported women’s weaving project in a local community. Visit the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco, an indigenous village, for lunch. Shopping opportunities at a local market.

Travel through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas, visit a G Adventures-supported women’s weaving co-op, the impressive Pisac ruins, the colourful artisan market (market days only), and explore the large ruin site of Ollantaytambo.

The small town of Ollantaytambo is the first taste of what lies ahead on the Inca Trail?catch your breath and prepare for the next adventure.

Private Vehicle

Cusco ? Ollantaytambo 2h 30m 95km

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Ccaccaccollo Community and Women’s Weaving Co-op visit

Ccaccaccollo

See local weaving and dyeing techniques used to create garments and souvenirs, and learn how the Planeterra weaving co-operative has impacted the community and those who visit it. This includes the purchase of alpacas to provide a steady supply of wool, looms, and sewing machines as well as several training courses on production, sales and small business management.

Pisac Ruins Guided Tour

Pisac

Tour the fascinating hilltop citadel of Pisac, an Incan ruin with plunging gorges, a ceremonial centre, and winding agriculture terracing that’s still in use today. Be captivated by this truly amazing site sitting amid sweeping green valleys and mountain peaks. Explore the back of the site to see a pocketed cliff across Kitamayo Gorge, which once contained hundreds of Inca tombs.

Ollantaytambo Ruins Guided Tour

Ollantaytambo

Tour the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo with a local guide. Take a step back in time at this Inca archaeological site; it still shows signs of its former glory, including agricultural terraces, a Temple Hill, and storehouses. Learn how the area, overlooking the Urubamba River Valley, was an important stronghold during warfare between the Spanish and Incas.

Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley

Lamay

Contribute to sustainable tourism in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families in the Sacred Valley, by eating at the Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn how the resident-run restaurant was kickstarted by G Adventures and the Multilateral Investment Fund, to become a successful farm-to-table program that boosts the local economy and several spin-off microenterprises.

Accommodation

Hotel Inka Paradise (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 4 Ollantaytambo/Wayllabamba Camp

Depart Ollantaytambo by van to km 82 where the hike begins.

Trek through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons, passing several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.

A crew of local porters, cooks, and guides will take care of all the details for the duration of the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear so you?ll only need to carry a small daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc.

Private Vehicle

Ollantaytambo ? Inca Trail45m

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Hike Inca Trail

Inca Trail KM 82 ? Wayllabamba Camp5h-6h11km

Get your blood pumping on this first day of hiking the Inca trail. The trekking is fairly easy and serves as good training for the next few days. Pass rambling rivers and a small village, and enjoy scenic mountain views; it?s just a taste of what?s to come.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 5 Wayllabamba Camp/Paqaymayo Camp

Start early to climb the long steep path to Warmiwa?usca, better known as Dead Woman?s Pass. This is the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769 ft). Most hikers reach camp by early afternoon, with ample time to rest and relax.

Hike Inca Trail

Wayllabamba Camp ? Paqaymayo Camp 6h-7h 12km

Trek over progressively spectacular and steeper terrain on your way to Warmiwa?usca (aka Dead Woman?s Pass), the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769ft). Be prepared to face strong Andean weather (blazing sun or cold winds) around the pass. Take the hike slow, and drink lots of water along the way ? amazing views are waiting as a reward. Enjoy some ample time to rest and relax after reaching the camp; most campers arrive around early afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 6 Paqaymayo Camp/Wi?aywayna

Cross two more passes and ruins along the way. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Hike through cloud forest on the gentle climb to the second pass of the day, walking through original Incan constructions. The highest point of the pass is 3,700m (12,136 ft). On a clear day, enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba Valley.

At 3,650m (11,972 ft), reach the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the “town above the clouds.” Camp here or go another 1.5 hrs to the Wi?ay Wayna ruins (“forever young”) located at 2,650m (8,694 ft).

Hike Inca Trail

Paqaymayo Camp ? Wi?aywayna 9h 16km

Cross two passes and more ruins along the Inca Trail on the last full day of hiking. Traverse Runquraway at 3,950m (13,113 ft), and then reach the second pass at 3,700m (12,136 ft). Spot the gorgeous Cordillera Vilcabamba and the Urubamba Valley in the distance on a clear day. Camp at either the Phuyupatamarca ruins or the Wi?ay Wayna ruins.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 7 Wi?aywayna/Cusco

The final day of the hike starts pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Wake up around 03:30 and walk to the checkpoint. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu on a clear day. Hike down to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the site and free time to explore. Opt to visit the Inca Bridge, if time allows.

Catch the bus to Aguas Calientes to meet any non-hiking members of your group. Eat and relax before your train back to Cusco in the afternoon.

Hike Inca Trail

Wi?aywayna ? Machu Picchu1h30m4km

Wake around 03:30 to reach the Sun Gate as early as possible. Head to the checkpoint and join the lineup to wait for the gate to open. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu (fingers crossed for a clear day). Hike down to Machu Picchu (about 45 mins) for a 1.5 hr guided tour of the site, and free time to explore. Opt to visit the Inca Bridge (a 15-min walk one way) for no additional charge, if time allows.

Catch the bus outside the Machu Picchu gate after your visit for a 25-min downhill ride to Aguas Calientes. Eat and relax before the train ride back to Cusco this evening.

Machu Picchu Guided Tour

Machu Picchu 1h 30m-2h

Rise and shine ? the best time to see the Lost City of the Incas is in the early morning light. Follow the local guide to Machu Picchu to learn about its history at a leisurely pace. Gain local insight into the Inti Mach?ay cave, Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Water, the Temple of the Condor, and the Room of the Three Windows. Take time to sit and feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World (in a worldwide Internet poll).

Train

Aguas Calientes ? Ollantaytambo 1h 30m 118km

Climb aboard, take your seat, and enjoy the ride.

Private Vehicle

Ollantaytambo ? Cusco2h

Stretch out and scan the scenery from the comfort of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Hotel Prisma (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 Cusco

Free day to explore Cusco or relax. Active options include whitewater rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking.

Free Time

CuscoFull Day

Spend the day enjoying the city or the surrounding landscape.

Optional Activities – Day 8

Accommodation

Hotel Prisma (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 Cusco/Tambopata

Fly to Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized boat to our comfortable, intimate and exclusive G Lodge Amazon.

Fly to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Amazon jungle.

After a brief stop in town, depart for the lodge by motorized canoe. Look out for a variety of bird species, including Black Skimmers and Capped Herons, during the boat ride. The Tambopata Rainforest holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area. Later, head out on scenic hour-long walk through the rainforest to a lake and take a short canoe ride to the other side.

Plane

Cusco ? Puerto Maldonado1h320km

Motorized canoe

Puerto Maldonado ? Tambopata 3h

Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.

Walking

Tambopata1h

Lace up your shoes and get to the next stop under your own power.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10 Tambopata

Enjoy guided excursions by expert naturalists to spot wildlife at nearby oxbow lakes and along jungle trails.

Use of rubber boots is included while at the lodge.

Jungle Excursions

Tambopata

Enjoy visits to oxbow lakes to learn about the jungle and its inhabitants. Be introduced to the area?s rich flora and fauna by expert naturalist guides, who can teach extensive uses for medicinal and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques. Be prepared to go early morning or evening to avoid the heat of midday. Enjoy a leisurely pace ? the trip requires some walking, but nothing too strenuous.

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 11 Tambopata/Lima

Fly back to Lima and opt for a final dinner and night out.

Motorized canoe

Tambopata ? Puerto Maldonado3h

Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.

Plane

Puerto Maldonado ? Lima1h30m-2h

Accommodation

La Castellana Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12 Lima

Depart at any time.

Departure Day

Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast

Itinerary Notes

This trip is designed for groups travelling with teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17. Your group must have a child in order to book a Family tour, and anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The itinerary has been designed with the needs of the whole family in mind.