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Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures (Inca Trail)

35 Days Quito to La Paz
Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures (Inca Trail)
Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures (Inca Trail)
Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures (Inca Trail)

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on G Adventures 35 Day Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures (Inca Trail). Really discover what South America is all about on this epic five-week journey through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This adventure truly has it all – the Pacific coast, the awe-inspiring Amazon, and the archeological highlights and cultural treasures of the Andean highlands. Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, tear it up on mountain bikes, raft wild rivers, catch big waves, and get your adrenaline pumping on exciting optional excursions. With local transportation and authentic read more accommodation, this adventure offers an intense blend of included activities and free time to explore on your own.
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Trip Length
Trip Length

35 Days

Trip Starts
Trip Starts

Quito

Trip Ends
Trip Ends

La Paz

Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
Operator
Operator
G Adventures
Trip Style
Trip Style

18-to-Thirtysomethings

Budget
Budget

Affordable

Age Range
Age Range

18-39 Years

Max. Group Size
Max. Group Size

18

Pace
Pace

Challenging

Guide Style
Guide Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code
Tour Code

SEQL

Itinerary

Arrive at any time. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers over a few drinks at a downtown bar. Say cheers with a local craft beer and get excited for the adventure of a lifetime. Spend the first day of your trip wandering Ecuador’s capital city. Meet the group in the evening at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Air Suites
Included Experiences
  • Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
  • Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
Optional Experiences
  • Quito City Tour & Equator Line: Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.
  • Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day: Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the early evening.

Travel overland to the jungle city of Tena, located on the edge of the Amazon. Hop into the back of a pickup truck and head to the local community of Pimpilala where you will stay in rustic wooden huts. Enjoy the hospitality of a Quichua family and experience life in the jungle first-hand.
Accommodation: Cabanas Pimpilala
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
  • Amazon Jungle Experience: Learn about local traditional beliefs and customs on this cultural jungle experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon close to Napo River. Stay in rustic wooden huts with a local Quichua family as hosts near the community of Cando. They've introduced countless visitors to local living and a completely different way of doing things — one that may give you a different perspective on life. Take part in a number of amazing activities. Hike through the rainforest, plunge into waterfalls, and learn the uses of tropical plants. Experience local tradition, and learn about Quichua history and culture.

Venture out on nature walks and become immersed in the jungle around you. Learn about uses of traditional plants, and the cultural beliefs and local traditions in the Amazon jungle. You can also choose to take a tour of an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre.
Accommodation: Cabanas Pimpilala
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Amazon Jungle Experience: Learn about local traditional beliefs and customs on this cultural jungle experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon close to Napo River. Stay in rustic wooden huts with a local Quichua family as hosts near the community of Cando. They've introduced countless visitors to local living and a completely different way of doing things — one that may give you a different perspective on life. Take part in a number of amazing activities. Hike through the rainforest, plunge into waterfalls, and learn the uses of tropical plants. Experience local tradition, and learn about Quichua history and culture.
Optional Experiences
  • Guided Waterfall Walk: Make your way through the jungle, learning more about the lush greenery and insects and animals that call it home. Walk to a series of waterfalls, suit up in a harness, and climb your way to the top for beautiful views.
  • AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue Centre Visit: Take a guided tour of amaZOOnico, a rescue and rehabilitation centre that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking. See large cats and reptiles up close, and learn all about the important work of this sanctuary.

Wake up and cycle to the nearby community of Shandia and discover the beauty of the Amazon with a member of the community as your guide. Learn about traditional uses of cacao by watching a chocolate-making demonstration, eat meals made of fresh local ingredients, and stay at the G Adventures-supported community lodge.
Accommodation: Shandia Lodge
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Shandia Community Lodge: Stay overnight at the Shandia Indigenous lodge located in the Ecuadorian Amazon. With the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, the community has developed new culturally immersive tours led by the village’s youth. The community lodge is seen by the community as a way to rescue their Indigenous culture and provide opportunities for the future. Watch a chocolate making demonstration and learn about their cultivation of cacao and their traditional agriculture practices. Meals of local ingredients grown in the village are prepared by women who were provided with culinary training through the project. Leave Shandia community knowing your visit is creating opportunities for a whole new generation of people in this community to improve their lives, and the lives of their children and grandchildren.
  • Shandia Biking & Community Experience: Cycle to the Indigenous Shandia community, a rural village surrounded by rivers and lush Amazonian landscapes. With the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, the community has developed new culturally immersive experiences led by the village’s youth. Spend 40 minutes cycling from Shandia lodge stopping along the way to take in the beauty of the Amazon. These cultural tours are seen by the community as a way to rescue their Indigenous culture and provide opportunities for the future. This provides an economic opportunity for youth who traditionally would have left the community to find work. Leave Shandia community knowing your visit is creating opportunities for a new generation in the community and contributing to the preservation of their culture.

Travel to Baños and get your adrenaline pumping. Try out horseback riding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, or rafting in the surrounding mountains.
Accommodation: Hotel La Floresta
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Pickup Truck: Hop into the back and ride along to the next destination.
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
  • Free Time: Get out and explore Baños and its beautiful surroundings.
Optional Experiences
  • Mountain Bike Rental: Hop on your bike and explore the amazing scenery surrounding Baños. Pass by mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and changing vegetation – depending on what path you take. Enjoy the cool wind on downhill stretches, but be sure to bring sunblock; the sun can be strong.
  • Horseback Riding - Baños: Hop in the saddle and explore Baños’ beautiful countryside by horseback. Check out the unique vegetation in the region, and, perhaps, trot over to Tungurahua Volcano for amazing views.
  • Hot Springs - Baños: Soak weary muscles in the thermal baths that Baños is famous for. Head to hot springs at the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means “little hell” in Quichua, or try some of the baths fed by the melt waters of Tungurahua's glaciated flanks. Rise before the sun for an early soak – watching the sun peak over the mountains while relaxing in the warm waters is definitely worth the early start.

The day is yours to explore what Baños has to offer. Check out the swing at the end of the world or relax in nearby hot springs.
Accommodation: Hotel La Floresta
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out there and get exploring.
Optional Experiences
  • Mountain Bike Rental: Hop on your bike and explore the amazing scenery surrounding Baños. Pass by mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and changing vegetation – depending on what path you take. Enjoy the cool wind on downhill stretches, but be sure to bring sunblock; the sun can be strong.
  • Horseback Riding - Baños: Hop in the saddle and explore Baños’ beautiful countryside by horseback. Check out the unique vegetation in the region, and, perhaps, trot over to Tungurahua Volcano for amazing views.
  • Hiking - Baños: Head to the mountains for some amazing treks; Baños provides the perfect natural setting for outdoor adventure.
  • Hot Springs - Baños: Soak weary muscles in the thermal baths that Baños is famous for. Head to hot springs at the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means “little hell” in Quichua, or try some of the baths fed by the melt waters of Tungurahua's glaciated flanks. Rise before the sun for an early soak – watching the sun peak over the mountains while relaxing in the warm waters is definitely worth the early start.
  • Baños Ziplining Adventure Bundle: Buckle up your harness, put on your helmet, and prepare to launch. Glide along a zipline suspended 850m above the canyon below, dare to let go and reach top speeds as you zip past stunning scenery. Forget your fear as you cross Tibetan Suspension Bridge above Pastaza River. Rock climb up to a second zipline to finish off this adrenaline-filled adventure. Please keep in mind this is a level 3/5 physical activity. Good mobility, no fear of heights, and a strong fitness level are required for you to have an enjoyable experience.
  • Baños Canyoning Adventure: Jump, slide, rappel, swim and float around Cascadas de Chamana on this canyoning adventure, while enjoying the stunning scenery near Sangay National Park. Please keep in mind this is a level 4/5 physical activity. Good mobility and a strong fitness level are required for you to have an enjoyable experience.

Soak up the scenic views en route to the town of Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest town. Explore art galleries, museums, and admire its colonial architecture. Visit national parks, take walks in the breathtaking countryside, or check out the country's only Inca ruin site.
Accommodation: Hotel La Casona
Included Experiences
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Choose your own adventure today. Wander through charming cobbled streets to discover the sights and sounds of Cuenca. From colourful homes with red-tiled roofs, to flower markets and picturesque plazas, the photo ops are endless in this town. (Prepare to have your camera roll filled with Cuenca!) Later, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Mancora.
Accommodation: Qema Mancora
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Enjoy free time to explore colonial Cuenca and its surroundings.
  • Border Crossing (Ecuador - Peru): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
  • Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
Optional Experiences
  • Cajas National Park Visit: Head out for an excursion from Cuenca with a visit to Cajas National Park. Tour this natural outdoor playground that combines stunning scenery and wildlife with excellent areas for hiking. The terrain is quite stark, mostly above 4,000m (13,120 ft) in the páramo (grassy highlands), with many clear lakes. Try some of the variety of treks in the park’s vast 28,000 ha, and keep an eye out for oncillas, wild llamas, pumas, and a wide variety of birds, including toucans!
  • Day Trip to Ingapirca Ruins: Visit the ruins of Ingapirca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is approximately an hour and a half drive north of Cuenca, through some of Ecuador's most beautiful countryside. Although it is a major Inca site, not a lot is known about its history.
  • Cuenca Mud Baths & Hot Springs: Slather volcanic muds on your face and body and relax in the natural hot springs.
  • Gualaceo and Chordeleg Day Trip: Explore the countryside near Cuenca, visit nearby towns well-known for handicrafts, weaving, and textiles. Learn about the weaving process and pick up a shawl, guitar, or straw hat directly from the people who make them.

Wake up in the seaside town of Mancora, a village populated by fishermen and surfers. Chill out and breathe in the salty air.
Accommodation: Qema Mancora
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Chill out in this Peruvian fishing village, head to the beach or give surfing a try.
Optional Experiences
  • Surfing: Jump up on a board and catch a wave!

A lazy beach day is just what the doctor ordered. Unless you want to or take a surf lesson or join a yoga class. Totally up to you as you enjoy a free day in Mancora.
Accommodation: Qema Mancora
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Enjoy a free day to relax or get active.
Optional Experiences
  • Surfing: Jump up on a board and catch a wave!

Didn't get to do everything you wanted yesterday? No worries – more time in Mancora today. Later, relax and get some sleep on an overnight bus to Trujillo.
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out and enjoy this beachside town.
  • Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
Optional Experiences
  • Surfing: Jump up on a board and catch a wave!

Bienvenidos a Trujillo! You can visit the impressive Chan Chan sandstone archaeological site today, snap a photo at the yellow colonial church, or head to Huanchaco for some more beach time.
Accommodation: Hotel Orbegoso
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out and explore the city!
Optional Experiences
  • Chan Chan Ruins Visit: Hop in a taxi and travel to the ruins of Chan Chan, the capital of Peru's largest pre-Inca empire, located 5km (3.1 mi) away from the city of Trujillo. Abandoned in the 1470s after the Inca army overran the city, it is now approximately 5,000 acres of eroded adobe.

Enjoy another full day in Trujillo before boarding a night bus to Lima.
Included Experiences
  • Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
  • Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like before an overnight bus in the evening.
Optional Experiences
  • Chan Chan Ruins Visit: Hop in a taxi and travel to the ruins of Chan Chan, the capital of Peru's largest pre-Inca empire, located 5km (3.1 mi) away from the city of Trujillo. Abandoned in the 1470s after the Inca army overran the city, it is now approximately 5,000 acres of eroded adobe.

Discover the lively city of Lima today. Visit the trendy Barranco neighbourhood with your CEO to get a taste of bohemian-cool, try some ceviche, or sip pisco sours after exploring the colourful mansions and palm-studded streets.
Accommodation: Hotel Gemina
Included Experiences
  • Barranco Neighbourhood Visit: Dubbed Lima's coolest neighbourhood, once full of summer homes for Lima's elite now an area full with art boutiques, trendy bars, converted mansions, and cool vibes.
  • Free Time: Get out and enjoy a first taste of Lima, the capital of Peru.
Optional Experiences
  • Lima Cooking Class (4hrs): Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan. Please note that if you are travelling with a family there is no age restriction on this activity and the cooking class is acceptable for children.
  • Full Day Lima Experience: Experience the highlights Lima along with its important eras in history such as, the Pre-Hispanic Oracle of Pachacamac. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the bohemian district of Barranco and visit the colonial convent of San Francisco and its latest addition, the Magic Water Park.
  • Bike Miraflores and Barranco: Head out on a bike tour through Miraflores and Barranco visiting iconic districts in Lima along the way. You will bike a total of 13km or about 8 miles on this particular tour. Take in the colourful atmosphere as you pass by historic house in the Bajada de Baños district and visit the famous Puente de los Suspiros.
  • Lima City Tour: Discover Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights on this half-day guided tour. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, walk around Plaza de Armas, marvel at the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and get to know some of Lima's lovely neighbourhoods. Stop to enjoy some authentic Peruvian tapas and be introduced to Pisco Sours during a demonstration and tasting.

Enjoy the day exploring the city. Opt to pre-book the Lima Cooking Class and learn how to cook some classic Peruvian dishes using ingredients from the local market.
Accommodation: Hotel Gemina
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out and get exploring!
Optional Experiences
  • Lima Cooking Class (4hrs): Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan. Please note that if you are travelling with a family there is no age restriction on this activity and the cooking class is acceptable for children.
  • Lima City Tour: Discover Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights on this half-day guided tour. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, walk around Plaza de Armas, marvel at the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and get to know some of Lima's lovely neighbourhoods. Stop to enjoy some authentic Peruvian tapas and be introduced to Pisco Sours during a demonstration and tasting.
  • Bike Miraflores and Barranco: Head out on a bike tour through Miraflores and Barranco visiting iconic districts in Lima along the way. You will bike a total of 13km or about 8 miles on this particular tour. Take in the colourful atmosphere as you pass by historic house in the Bajada de Baños district and visit the famous Puente de los Suspiros.
  • Full Day Lima Experience: Experience the highlights Lima along with its important eras in history such as, the Pre-Hispanic Oracle of Pachacamac. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the bohemian district of Barranco and visit the colonial convent of San Francisco and its latest addition, the Magic Water Park.

Travel along Peru's breathtaking coast to the oasis of Huacachina where you can sandboard on the desert dunes while watching the sun go down.
Accommodation: Viajero Huacachina
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
  • Sunset Sandboarding & Dune Buggies: Get your adrenaline pumping in a dune buggy on the desert dunes, ride the ups and downs in these desert mountains. Strap on a board and try out sandboarding, just like it sounds like snowboarding, but on sand. Enjoy the softer landings and the warmer temps. After, head back to the oasis of Huacachina through the stunning dunes and watch the sunset in the distance.

Wake up and make the most of your time in Huacachina before your adventure continues on to Nazca. There is time in the morning for an optional excursion to the Ballestas Islands, home to a lively colony of sea lions, pelicans, and other varieties of birds. Later, catch a bus to Nazca. Stop along the way at a Pisco winery and try the country's national drink!
Accommodation: Hotel Hacienda San Marcelo
Included Experiences
  • Huacachina Winery Visit: Learn about the wine and pisco production in the area and enjoy a tasting of different varieties, which are all available for purchase.

Choose to soar over the iconic Nazca Lines today with a pre-bookable flight, or take a tour of the Nazca Desert Cemetery and Pottery Studio. For lunch today experience pachamanca, a traditional way to prepare Andean foods by slow cooking them in an underground oven. Tonight, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Arequipa.
Included Meals: Lunch
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Enjoy some free time during the day.
  • Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
  • Pachamanca: Enjoy a traditional meal. Assist in the preparation of a thousand-year-old tradition: "Pachamanca," an ancient ceremony akin to the Polynesian meal of burying a variety of delicious treats wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooking them with pre-heated rocks buried in the ground.
Optional Experiences
  • Nazca Desert Cemetery and Potter's Studio Guided Tour: See remains of the Nazca culture during an included tour of the ancient Pre-Inca desert cemetery site of Chauchilla. Spot 1500-year-old mummies, bones, and pottery on the desert floor. The entire desert area was also once home to the ancient Paracas and the Nazca cultures, which preceded the Incas by more than half a millennium. Stop for a visit at an artisan’s workshop, where modern masters create Nazca style pottery.
  • Flight over Nazca Lines: Take to the skies for the best view of the enigmatic Nazca Lines, a series of patterns and pictures etched in the ground, crisscrossing a wide area of flat desert. Marvel at the lines measuring up to 10km (6 mi) in length, yet, remaining perfectly straight. See depictions of birds, insects, and animals only recognizable from the air. Decide for yourself the origin of the lines – who drew the lines, and why, remains a mystery. Current beliefs suggest that they may be part of complex agricultural calendar. Please note that this activity does not include a tourist ticket fee of S/.47 PEN per person, payable directly by each traveller at the airport in Nazca.

Welcome to Arequipa! Take the day to explore what is known as the 'white city.' If you're into history and architecture, visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, where you'll get a unique glimpse into a bygone way of life. For spicy food lovers, visiting one of the 'picanterías' is a must. Satisfy your craving with a variety of local regional foods: alpaca, shrimp, pork, lots of soups, and spicy sauces.
Accommodation: Terra Mistica Casa Consuelo
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Make the most of your time here.
Optional Experiences
  • Juanita Museum: Visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos, also known as the Juanita Museum for the well-preserved mummy of a young Incan girl sacrificed to the Incan Gods in the 1500s. Juanita remained preserved on the top of Mt Ambato until quite recently, she was discovered in the mid-90s and was briefly displayed in the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.
  • Arequipa City Tour: Get out and explore "the white city" on this walking tour, stop at picturesque viewpoints to capture the surrounding volcanoes, marvel at the white volcanic sillar rock architecture, and visit one of the most stunning colonial buildings in the country, Santa Catalina Monastery.

Enjoy a full-day tour of the spectacular Colca Valley and venture to the impressive Colca Canyon — one of the deepest canyons in the world — on an overnight excursion. With a little luck, you'll spot some unusual Andean animals such as vicuñas, and alpacas. Give your body some much needed relaxation by taking an optional dip in the the hot springs.
Accommodation: Vita Colca Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Colca Canyon Guided Tour: Spot condors on this guided tour, and keep your eyes peeled for other unusual animals. Look for three different species of camelids: alpaca, llama, and vicuña, which are all typical of Peru.
Optional Experiences
  • Hot Springs: Soak your weary bones in steaming hot water pouring from the earth and relax.

Get an early start to be on the look out for condors. Travel from Chivay town to a condor viewpoint to get a glimpse of these magnificent birds in the air. On the way back, stop in local villages, and see old terraces. Later, head out for a drink in the Calle Zela area – restaurant, bar, or club, there's something for everyone!
Accommodation: Terra Mistica Casa Consuelo
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Colca Canyon Guided Tour: Spot condors on this guided tour, and keep your eyes peeled for other unusual animals. Look for three different species of camelids: alpaca, llama, and vicuña, which are all typical of Peru.

Explore Arequipa – take a city tour if you want or check out a monastery or museum. Later, sit back and relax on an overnight bus to Cusco.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out and explore more of this beautiful colonial city.
  • Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
Optional Experiences
  • Santa Catalina Monastery Visit: Visit this 16th-century monastery (over 20,000 sq m) for its beautiful architecture built in the Mudéjar style. Travel back in time wandering its small streets lined with colourful walls, and take some time to learn about its captivating history.
  • Juanita Museum: Visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos, also known as the Juanita Museum for the well-preserved mummy of a young Incan girl sacrificed to the Incan Gods in the 1500s. Juanita remained preserved on the top of Mt Ambato until quite recently, she was discovered in the mid-90s and was briefly displayed in the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Explore the city on your own today or choose from a variety of activities that will help you discover the magic of Cusco. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets and plazas or choose to take a half-day tour of the city. Or, pre-book the Cusco cooking class if you want to learn to prepare delicious local specialties!
Accommodation: Hostelworld Viajero Cusco
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Make the most of your time in Cusco.
Optional Experiences
  • La Merced Visit: Enjoy a visit to this historic church and convent, first built in 1536 and rebuilt in 1675 (it was destroyed in the 1650 earthquake). Take in the wonderful architecture here, including Baroque Renaissance cloisters and beautiful wood carvings. There's also an ornate monstrance on display; made of gold and covered with gemstones, it's a must see.
  • Inka Museum: Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
  • Cusco Cooking Class: Channel your inner chef and get a taste of Peruvian cuisine. Learn all about the essential ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes with a local expert
  • Cusco City Tour: Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsaywaman.

Today is another free day to explore all that Cusco has to offer. Feeling active? Take on the Rainbow Mountain trek or go mountain biking. Prefer to stay local? Take it easy with a visit to the Inka Museum and hit up some of the many great cafes, restaurants and bars.
Accommodation: Hostelworld Viajero Cusco
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Make the most of your time in Cusco.
Optional Experiences
  • Inka Museum: Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
  • Cusco Cooking Class: Channel your inner chef and get a taste of Peruvian cuisine. Learn all about the essential ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes with a local expert
  • Cusco City Tour: Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsaywaman.
  • Rainbow Mountain Hike - Full-day Trip: Lookout over these colourful Andean mountains striped with maroon, turquoise, lavender, and gold. The sediment, elevation, and proximity to the ocean create a landscape that has to be seen to be believed. Get started early to drive around 3 hours approximately to the starting point of this challenging, yet rewarding full-day hike. Reaching 5,029m (16,500 ft) this 8 km hike is no walk in the park, but these unique mountains do not disappoint. The ascent takes approximately 1.5 hours.

Head into the Sacred Valley today to visit the G-Adventures supported women's weaving co-op in the Ccaccaccollo community. Learn about weaving, and meet the adorable resident llamas. If you see a knitted item you like, buy it — a perfect keepsake from your journey. Stop and sample some craft beer at a brewery on your way to Ollantaytambo.
Accommodation: Las Orquideas Ollantaytambo
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit: Visit the Ccaccaccollo community centre which G Adventures travellers' donations helped create in 2005, thereby enabling local women to sell traditional textiles to travellers. 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.
  • Sacred Valley Brewery: Delight your tastebuds and sample high-quality beer with the breathtaking Sacred Valley as a backdrop. This craft brewery uses local ingredients to make award-winning brews and gives back to the surrounding communities. What's not to like?

Depart Ollantaytambo by van to km 82 where your trek begins. Hike through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons. You'll see several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.
Accommodation: Campsite Wayllabamba
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Inca Trail Hike : 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.
  • Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products: Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products, for use on our treks. This G Adventures for Good project empowered local Cusqueña women to start their own business in order to reduce the environmental impact of treks in the region. Planeterra provided $10,000 of seed funding for two young entrepreneurs to register their biodegradable products in order to sell them to the tourism industry. "Esencia Andina" is now a successful business that produces biodegradable soaps, detergents, and natural products for travellers, guides, porters, and cooks on our treks.

Get an early start today to climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, 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 some much needed R&R.
Accommodation: Pacaymayo Campsite
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Inca Trail Hike: Trek over progressively spectacular and steeper terrain on your way to Warmiwañusca (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.

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, you 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 Wiñay Wayna ruins (""forever young"") located at 2,650m (8,694 ft).
Accommodation: Wiñaywanyna Campsite
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Inca Trail Hike : 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 Wiñay Wayna ruins.

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. Catch the bus to Aguas Calientes before your train back to Cusco in the afternoon. Tonight, dance the night away at a popular night club.
Accommodation: Hostelworld Viajero Cusco
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Inca Trail Hike : 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. 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: Set off with the local guide to explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Learn about the history and gain insights into this massive mountaintop citadel while wandering through ancient dwellings, stone temples and along sculpted terraces. 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: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
  • Big Night Out: Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.

Today is another free day to get the most out of Cusco and to do anything you may not have done yet. Continue to explore and be active or relax and watch the world go by from one of they many bars and restaurants on the main plaza.
Accommodation: Hostelworld Viajero Cusco
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Free Time: Get out there and see it all – or just chill out to your heart's content.
Optional Experiences
  • Cusco Tourist Ticket: This ticket allows admission at 16 sights of the city of Cusco including many popular museums and cathedrals, the ticket also provides entrance to Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, and sights in the South Valley of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
  • Inka Museum: Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
  • Cusco City Tour: Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsaywaman.

Sit back, relax, and soak in the impressive views as you travel by bus through the Altiplano on your way to Puno on Lake Titicaca.
Accommodation: Hostal Milagros Inn
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

This morning, you will board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island. Opt to have lunch in a local restaurant and shop in the afternoon at the local weaving cooperatives. Later, cruise to another village for an overnight homestay to live like a local on the shores of the lake. Learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and create unforgettable memories with the family and fellow travellers.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
  • Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour Day 1: Board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island for an optional delicious Peruvian lunch at a restaurant followed by some shopping at the local weaving cooperatives. Taquileños are known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing, men are taught how to knit around age five and they create the majority of the textiles. After, enjoy an overnight stay with a host family and a chance to learn about life on the islands.
  • Lake Titicaca Homestay: Accommodation on the islands may be multi-share.

Say goodbye to your homestay family and stop at the Uros Islands on your way back to Puno. If you want, you can check out the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site. Or kayak on Lake Titicaca.
Accommodation: Hostal Milagros Inn
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Experiences
  • Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour Day 2: Spend the morning with the homestay families, then depart after lunch. Visit the floating islands of Uros on the way back, and learn about the unique lifestyle of the locals. Meet residents and learn how they built the islands with totora reeds, which are also used to make their homes, boats, crafts (and are also edible!).
  • Free Time: Make the most of one last afternoon in Puno.
Optional Experiences
  • Sillustani Burial Towers Entrance: Take a guided tour of the Sillustani burial towers known as "chullpas." Be awed by these fantastic ruins located outside Puno – their remarkable towers stretch up to 12m (39 ft) in height.
  • Lake Titicaca Kayaking: Take to the waters of the highest navigable body of water in the world, Lake Titicaca, and paddle out to Laquina Island. Get a glimpse into local island life before heading back across the lake to Puno.

Today, enjoy a full-day drive around the picturesque lake and through the Altiplano to La Paz. Cross over into Bolivia and catch your breath before a night out in the highest city of the trip. Check out the area of Sopocachi for cool bohemian vibes.
Accommodation: Hotel Las Brisas
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Experiences
  • Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
  • Border Crossing (Peru - Bolivia): Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Optional Experiences
  • La Paz City Tour: Explore the city on a guided tour. Check out stunning cathedrals, impressive museums, and lively markets, learning more about the history of this fascinating city. Look for majestic Mt Illimani in the background.
  • Valley of the Moon Tour: Tour the lunar landscape of the Valley of the Moon, observe the clay formations carved into the landscape by years of erosion.
  • Witches' Market Visit: Learn more about the pre-Columbian Aymara beliefs at the Witches' Market. You can witness locals buying products such as dried frogs, potions, and talismans for use in rituals and offerings.

Depart at any time.
Optional Experiences
  • La Paz City Tour: Explore the city on a guided tour. Check out stunning cathedrals, impressive museums, and lively markets, learning more about the history of this fascinating city. Look for majestic Mt Illimani in the background.
  • Valley of the Moon Tour: Tour the lunar landscape of the Valley of the Moon, observe the clay formations carved into the landscape by years of erosion.
  • Witches' Market Visit: Learn more about the pre-Columbian Aymara beliefs at the Witches' Market. You can witness locals buying products such as dried frogs, potions, and talismans for use in rituals and offerings.

Trip Inclusions

  • Experience traditional life in a local community in the Amazon.
  • Witness colonial cities and volcanoes.
  • Sandboard the dunes of Huacachina.
  • Spot condors at Colca Canyon.
  • Conquer the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
  • Settle in with the locals at a homestay on Lake Titicaca.
  • Get adventurous in Baños.
  • Relax on the beach with free time in Mancora.

  • Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Community Lodge, Shandia
  • Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Biking & Community Experience, Shandia
  • Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo
  • Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
  • Your G for Good Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay, Lake Titicaca
  • Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Local Living Moment: Amazon Jungle Experience, Tena
  • Your Discover Moment: Baños
  • Your Discover Moment: Lima
  • Your Foodie Moment: Pachamanca, Nazca
  • Your Discover Moment: Cusco
  • Your Foodie Moment: Sacred Valley Brewery, Ollantaytambo
  • Your Big Night Out Moment: Cusco
  • Amazon Jungle excursion to a local community
  • Beach time in Mancora
  • Sunset sandboarding & dune buggies (Huacachina)
  • Pachamanca-style dinner (Nazca)
  • Colca Canyon excursion
  • Guided tour of Machu Picchu
  • Inca Trail hike with a local guide, cook, and porters (4 days)
  • Lake Titicaca excursion
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Public bus, boat, truck, motorized canoe, train, hiking
  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer), specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike, local guides

  • Simple Hotels (19 Nights), Hostel (4 Nights, Multi-share), Overnight Buses (4 Nights), Camping (3 Nights), Homestay (3 Night), G Adventures-supported Community Lodge (1 Night)
  • Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure. Some nights on this tour will be multi-share. This may involve 4-6 group members sharing a room. The majority of accommodation will have shared bathroom facilities.
  • Where we use multi-share hostels, rooming requests of any kind cannot be taken.
  • 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. For private accommodation please see tours in our Classic Travel Style.

  • 20 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.

Operator

G Adventures
G Adventures came from a desire to deliver authentic and responsible small group travel adventures that were equally life-changing for travellers and the communities they visit. And we’re been doing just that for almost 30 years. Our award-winning trips span seven continents and over 100 countries, giving you meaningful more experiences with people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife, as well as offering you the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own.

On all of our tours, you get to know locals every step of the way, from the places you visit and stay to where you eat and drink. You’ll also get to experience our ‘G for Good’ social impact initiatives on-trip, including our industry-leading ‘Ripple Score’. This score measures, as a percentage, the amount of money that stays in the local community through on-trip services like accommodation, restaurants and transport.
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Trip Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings

Built for young travelers ready to break free from the everyday grind, these trips bring together a safe and supportive group of like-minded people in their twenties and early thirties.

Connect on the First Night Out, explore with a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), enjoy free time, and celebrate unforgettable moments with new friends - without breaking the bank. Travel confidently, respectfully, and affordably.

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Dates & Pricing USD USD

Saturday 25 Apr 2026 25 Apr 26 Quito
Friday 29 May 2026 29 May 26 La Paz
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Sunday 26 Apr 2026 26 Apr 26 Quito
Saturday 30 May 2026 30 May 26 La Paz
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
US$4,889
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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