Journeys: Inca Explorer

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Arrive in Lima at any time. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Please note that if you booked the Lima Cooking Class it does not include extra time in Lima and we highly recommend booking pre-trip accommodation. You will be picked up from your hotel at approx 10:00 am (10:30 from Aug-Dec) and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. You will return to your hotel around 13:00. 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.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

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.

Drive south from Lima to the district of Lurín for a visit to a cooperative of migrant artisans, whose handicrafts preserve their ancestral traditions and techniques in the creation of ceramics, textiles and retablos. Meet the artists, hear of their stories and the significance of their crafts, and then sit down for a ceramic painting workshop. Continue the journey to the sun-soaked coastal down of Paracas, which serves as the starting point for trips to the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening at leisure, opting to enjoy fresh seafood and pisco sour–Peru’s national drink. Enjoy a drive down the coastal desert to Paracas, a sleepy fishing village that serves as the starting point for all tours to the Ballestas Islands. Stop along the way at a G for Good artisan community project for a hands-on ceramics workshop. There is little to do in town, but for those that love seafood and are looking to try Peru's national drink, the Pisco Sour, it's heaven.

Included Experiences

• Ichimay Wari: Visit & Handicraft Workshop: Enjoy a hands-on visit to the Ichimay Wari Artisan Association, where you will have the chance to meet and interact with these migrant artisans before sitting down alongside them for a ceramic painting workshop. These talented individuals have migrated from Ayacucho and found a new home in Lurín. Through their craftsmanship they are working to preserve their ancestral traditions while also sharing Ayacucho’s rich cultural heritage with the world. Every piece they make tells a story of resilience, while serving as a testament to the remarkable talent and creativity of their artisan community. Upon arrival, travellers will be welcomed by the community members who will share their experiences and the significance of art in their personal lives. Then, the artisans will explain and demonstrate the ceramic creation process, from mold making and shaping, to the colourful final details. These discussions will reveal the meaning and history behind each piece. Travellers will then be invited to take a seat at the work tables and will be guided by the local community members on how to bring their selected pieces to life. You will depart with a deeper appreciation for the art work you see here as well as a stronger connection to those pouring their talents into making them.

Embark on a boat tour of the impressive Ballestas Islands, a group of rocky islets that provide refuge to sea lions, marine otters, penguins, and hundreds of species of seabirds. Next, we’ll visit one of South America’s oldest wineries. Learn about the history of wine production in Peru with a resident expert, and enjoy a tasting of pisco. After lunch, drive towards Nasca, stopping at the oasis town of Huacachina to view its soaring sand dunes. The Ballestas Islands are often referred to as "the poor man's Galapagos." Home to hundreds of sea lions and many species of marine birds, including the Humboldt penguin, incredible wildlife spotting is pretty much guaranteed. Continue south by land to Nazca with a stops to visit a winery and see the Huacachina sand dunes along the way.

Included Experiences

• Ballestas Islands Trip: Get ready to do some amazing wildlife watching on this trip to Ballestas Islands (aka Lima's Little Galapagos) on the Peruvian Coast. Spot playful sea lions, Humboldt penguins, boobies, pelicans, and more than 200 species of sea birds. Be sure to bring a camera to capture some amazing pics.
• Pisco winery visit and tasting: Located in the Ica Valley, visit one of South America's oldest and most picturesque wineries. Take a guided tour of its vast grounds and learn about the production of wine and spirits in Peru. Round off your visit with a taste of pisco, the local spirit made from grapes.
• Huacachina Sand Dunes: Choose to explore the magical sand dunes in the pleasant town of Huacachina. Opt to climb to the top of the huge dunes and be rewarded with amazing views; the dunes surround a beautiful turquoise lagoon lined with palm trees, and rolling sand dunes decorate the horizon. Try to reach the summit for sundown when the landscape is washed with amazing colour. You can also take advantage of trying a new sport while you’re there and choose to wax up a sandboard to take the fast way down. It’s something like snowboarding (but on sand, of course).

The Nasca province of Peru is named for the mysterious Nasca civilization that flourished here between 200 BC and 600 AD. Venture to a Nasca cemetery in the desert to see ancient mummies, cloth fragments, and pottery; then visit a nearby pottery studio for a demonstration of traditional pottery making techniques. For dinner tonight, we’ll enjoy a spread of delicious dishes cooked in the style of a pachamanca, an ancient technique of burying food in an earthen oven, lending a hand with the preparation. Nazca is home to one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries, the Nazca Lines. The entire desert area was also once the home for the ancient Paracas and the Nazca cultures, which preceded the Incas by more than half a millennium.

Included 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.
• 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.

Set off on a full day drive along the coast to the beautiful, volcano-framed town of Arequipa. Settle into your hotel and enjoy a restful evening after the day’s long journey. Embark on a very long drive, which will include rest stops and lunch at Oasis Camana.

Discover the sights of Arequipa, nicknamed the “white city” for its buildings made of white sillar—a type of volcanic rock. On a guided walking tour, explore the lanes of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center, including a visit to the 16th-century Santa Catalina Monastery. Later, dig into Arequipa’s renowned cuisine with a cooking class led by a chef at a picantería, a traditional lunchtime restaurant. Try local favourites such as guinea pig, stuffed spicy peppers, and chicha—a local beer typically made from fermented maize. Peru’s second most important city after Lima, Arequipa maintains a traditional colonial style and more laid back pace in comparison with the capital. Spectacular mountains surround Arequipa, the most famous of which is El Misti Volcano. Standing at 5822m (19096 ft), it has a beautiful snow-capped peak.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• Santa Catalina Convent Visit: Tour the Convent of Santa Catalina during the city tour, offering a brief respite from the outside world and a unique view into a by-gone way of life. Those with an interest in history, culture, and architecture will definitely enjoy the visit.
• Arequipa Cooking Class: Ready to dig in to Arequipa’s renowned regional cuisine? Head to a popular local restaurant for a gastronomic adventure. Located amongst charming cloisters in the city centre, the restaurant is a traditional “picantería” serving up local delicacies like “cuy” (guinea pig) and fried cheese with native potatoes. Learn from the best with a cooking class led by one of the chefs before sitting down to a delicious three-course meal. Be sure to try the rocoto relleno (stuffed spicy peppers) and sample a glass of “chicha.”

Fly to Cusco, once the capital of the great Inca Empire and a designated World Heritage site. Settle into your hotel and explore the charming city on your own. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; venture to the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; discover a stunning array of artifacts at the Inca Museum; and more. Every year Cusco attracts thousands of travellers who come to delve into its noble but tragic past. It is the perfect base for optional explorations around the city and area as well as a range of outdoor activities. Relax and explore this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Drive to the scenic Sacred Valley for a full day of exploration with a local guide. Tour the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also visit the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, an indigenous village.

Included Experiences

• Pisac Ruins Guided Tour: 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: 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: 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.
• Traditional Andean Experience: In Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Inca, six communities of approximately 6000 indigenous people are working together to preserve over 700 species of potato – a cornerstone of life here. As part of an experience exclusive to National Geographic Journeys travellers – and part of our G Adventures for Good program – visit this area, named “Parque de la Papa” (“Potato Park”), to learn about life in an Andean agricultural community. Walk through the park here with a local guide, dropping by the seed bank (which has direct ties to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway) and then head out to the fields to watch the planting or harvesting process, depending on the season. After, enjoy some of the delicious varieties of potato and visit the small stone hut where traditional weaving takes place. Learn about the natural dyeing process and witness alpaca wool strands being transformed into beautiful textiles through a centuries-old backstrap weaving style. Your visit to this special community means this local enterprise can continue earning an income that supports their development and conservation goals.
• Parque de la Papa (Potato Park): Parque de la Papa (meaning "Potato Park") serves two important purposes for the community of Pampallacta: the preservation of agricultural biodiversity and economic opportunity. National Geographic Journeys travellers visit the park to learn about life in a rural agricultural Andean community and take a tour of the seed conservation program, which is preserving heritage potato species. They also learn about traditional planting, harvesting and indigenous weaving practices. With G Adventures' support, the community is able to create jobs in the area and invest in local businesses, which helps the community preserve their culture.

Travel by train through the lush Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled beneath Machu Picchu. The afternoon is free for optional excursions. Take a relaxing soak in the local hot springs, visit a botanical garden, or wander the handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the following day to go up to Machu Picchu. Board a morning train that winds through the spectacular Sacred Valley to the end of the line: the village of Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled in the hills beneath Machu Picchu. This is the closest town to Machu Picchu, making Aguas Calientes an ideal night stop. To best enjoy this area, take advantage of the opportunity to visit the butterfly house, botanical gardens, or hot springs. Opt for a day hike to Mandor Gardens to see orchids and a waterfall, enjoying the lush, green scenery en route.

Please bear in mind that the town has several amenities, but is also geographically remote meaning services are sometimes more basic than one would assume. As the only option for travellers visiting Machu Picchu, the development of infrastructure has happened quite quickly, much without proper planning, and the focus on providing quality service may not be up to the standards experienced in other parts of the country.

Included Experiences

• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Free Time: Enjoy some free time for optional activities or just relax.

Optional Experiences

• Butterfly House Visit: Learn about the four stages of a butterfly’s life at this learning centre and breeding project. Observe varied species of butterflies, some unique to the area.
• Mandor Gardens Visit: This botanical garden boasts a beautiful waterfall, varied wildlife and lush scenery. Walk along one of the trails and admire the many orchids.
• Hot Springs Visit: Soak your sore muscles in the local hot springs for which the town, Aguas Calientes, was originally named.
• One-Day Inca Trail Hike: Traverse cloud forests while enjoying spectacular views on this '1-day Inca Trail' trek. Start by disembarking the train at km 104. Follow the local guide as the trail rises steeply up into the mountains and winds past the archaeological sites of Wiñay Wayna and Inti Pata. Gain insight into the fascinating culture of the Incas en route to the trek's culmination at the Sun Gate. Enjoy a packed lunch along the way, and reach the Sun Gate in the late afternoon. Enjoy free time to explore a bit of Machu Picchu before the guided tour the following day. After, take one of the blue buses from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes to spend the night in a hotel in town. Opt to visit nearby hot springs to soak sore muscles, if time permits. **Please note this must be pre-booked as it requires an Inca Trail permit. Travellers completing this trek will be assigned Circuit 3 for their guided visit of Machu Picchu, but will also have access to the panoramic viewpoint upon arrival via the Sun Gate. Please speak to your GCO or travel agent for more information.

This morning, embark on a guided tour of Machu Picchu—the 15th-century Inca citadel famously introduced to the world by archaeologist Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. After being taken through the temples and terraces of this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, return to Cusco by train. Rise early to take advantage of viewing Machu Picchu in the early morning light. This is the best time to view the "lost city of the Incas." Join our local guide for a detailed interpretation of the site and Inca history without the pressure of other tour groups that arrive at midday. Later in the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy and then transfer by van to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• 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.

Discover the cultural treasures of Cusco on your own today, or opt for a white-water rafting, horseback riding, or mountain biking excursion. Alternatively, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class, picking out fresh ingredients at the market and learning to prepare an array of Peruvian specialities. This evening, visit the Cusco Planetarium for a presentation on the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, and learn about the vital role that astronomy played in the lives of the ancient Inca. Weather permitting, peer through the planetarium's telescopes for a dazzling look at the stars. Take in the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore a city steeped in tradition. There are numerous optional activities including horseback riding, mountain or motor biking, rafting, hiking or visits to Inca ruins or museums around town.

Please note if you pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class, on day 11 you will be picked up from your hotel at approx 12:30 and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. You will return back to your hotel around 16:00

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Free time to wander around Cusco. Take in the sights on horseback or rent a motorbike for a more thrilling ride. Looking to learn more about Cusco? Head to one of the many museums in the city.
• Cusco Planetarium: Look to the night sky for a different view of the city. Explore the Cusco Planetarium surrounded by the serene nature of the Llaullipata Ecological Reserve. Enjoy a presentation on the southern sky, contemporary astronomy, and the ancient Incas’ relationship with the cosmos. Check out the on-site museum and use the telescopes to admire the stars (weather-permitting).

Optional Experiences

• Cusco Cathedral Visit: Enjoy a visit to this beautiful cathedral; its construction began in 1559 and continued for another hundred years. Be sure to check out its excellent collection of colonial art, and the vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega.
• 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
• Inka Museum: Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.

Head south on a scenic drive to Puno, perched on the western shore of Lake Titicaca. The journey will take us through the Altiplano, a vast, windswept landscape of plateaus and plains that counts among the planet’s most extensive highlands. Arrive in Puno, the region’s commercial hub, and settle into your hotel. The trip to Puno takes the better part of the day, and includes stark, beautiful scenery en route as you travel through the high Altiplano region.

Located at 3830m (12,566 ft) above sea level, Puno is the highest night stop on the tour. As a result the weather can be extreme with very cold nights and a strong sun during the day. You also should take some time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Set out to explore Lake Titicaca—one of the highest navigable lakes in the world and the second largest lake in South America. On a guided boat tour, visit the floating Uros Islands—built entirely of reeds—and step ashore Taquile Island, home to a thriving indigenous textile industry. For lunch, we’ll head to the small rural community of Luquina Chico. Enjoy a traditional meal in the home of a local family while taking in sweeping views of Lake Titicaca and its picturesque isles. Later, opt for a tour of Sillustani, a fascinating pre-Inca burial site. In the morning, board a comfortable 35-foot fully equipped speed boat to explore the lake. Stop at various islands to enjoy the lake's scenic splendor and to meet the friendly people of these communities.

Included Experiences

• Day Trip to Lake Titicaca: Head out for a day on beautiful Lake Titicaca. Travel to Taquile Island to visit the community and check out the spectacular views. Do some shopping at the local weaving cooperatives and learn about the Taquileños, known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing. Continue on to the floating islands of Uros. Learn about the totora reeds that grow in the shallows of Lake Titicaca used to make everything from the islands themselves to the boats the islanders use for transportation (if constructed well, they last up to six months). Find out from locals how the islands are constructed; as the layers closest to the water start to rot, they are replaced with fresh reeds on top.
• Luquina Chico Community Visit: Enjoy a visit to the community of Luquina Chico on Lake Titicaca, where 40 families have been working to preserve their traditions, and with the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, are creating opportunities for future generations to thrive. Connect on a deeper level with the local community members whom call this place home, and learn more fascinating details about their unique ways of adapting to life away from the mainland.
• Lake Titicaca Community Home Lunch: Visit the Luquina Chico community on the shores of beautiful Lake Titicaca and take in sweeping views of the lake and its islands. During lunch in the home of a local family, get a personal view of everyday life in rural Peru.

Transfer to the Juliaca airport to catch a flight back to Lima. Spend your last evening in Peru at leisure opt to explore the streets of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic center and enjoy mouthwatering Peruvian tapas. Time for some last-minute shopping in Puno before the flight back to Lima and the final stop on the journey. Enjoy one last night out on the town.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Depart at any time.