Journeys: Treasures of Peru & Bolivia

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Get ready for a very busy tour exploring the best of Peru in a week. We recommend booking a pre-night in Lima (in particular if your flight arrives into Lima in the evening) to recover from international flights and rest up before the excitement.

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.
• 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.

Board an early flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca empire, then drive to Urubamba through the scenic Sacred Valley. Explore the terraced salt pans of Maras, which have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, and tour the Inca site of Moray—believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where priests would test soils and crops. Later, we’ll enjoy a meal of local specialities, prepared in a pachamanca, or underground stone oven.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Moray Ruins Guided Tour: Explore the ancient site of Moray, which archeologists believe was used to conduct agricultural experiments. Walk down through the great circular terraces and notice how the temperature shifts with the depth – sometimes as much as 15°C (27°F)!
• Las Salineras Pre-Incan Salt Pans Guided Tour: Visit the pre-Incan salt pans of Las Salineras – still in use today. Marvel at the terraced pools set amongst the beauty of the Sacred Valley.
• Dinner at Huacatay Restaurant: The thousand year-old tradition of pachamanca involves baking an assortment of meat and vegetables in an oven of hot stones, earth, and grass. Meat is usually seasoned with local spices and wrapped in a banana leaf before it’s placed on the hot stones and can include lamb, pork, chicken or guinea pig. Savour this traditional meal prepared by an experienced chef.

Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to 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 with a local guide to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also tour the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

Included Experiences

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Catch an early transfer to the Ollantaytambo station and board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Ride through lush Andean scenery, enjoying breathtaking views of ancient ruins and everyday life. Settle into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, and choose from a variety of optional activities: take a relaxing soak in the local hot springs, visit a beautiful 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.

Included Experiences

• Train: Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

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, which is on request and subject to availability. 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.

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.

Spend the day exploring charming Cusco. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; or some of the city’s museums and ornate churches. This evening, we’ll head to the Cusco Planetarium to learn about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather permitting, look out at the glittering, starry sky through telescopes. Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: 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 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.
• 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.

Fly back to Lima. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in the Peruvian capital. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic center, and descend into its famed catacombs. Wander across Plaza Mayor, the city’s oldest public square, and enjoy Peruvian tapas and a tasting of pisco sours before returning to your hotel.

Included Experiences

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

Optional Experiences

• Huacas and Larco Museum by Night: Tour three different Huacas in the city which were built during pre-Inca times in the middle of Lima. Then, visit the Larco Museum where you will enjoy a 3-course dinner in the restaurant there.

Fly to Juliaca this morning and travel across the Bolivian border to Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca. En route the group will stop at the Luquina Chico Community, taking in the sweeping views of the lake and its islands. Join a local family for a delicious lunch in their home, where you’ll experience a personal perspective of everyday life in rural Peru. You’ll also learn about Inca culture, Quechua language and meet other local families. Continue on to Copacabana for a Chief Experience Officer-led walk through town before enjoying dinner and the rest of the evening on your own.

Included Experiences

• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
• Boat: Climb aboard and get your float on.
• 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.
• 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.
• Copacabana Orientation Walk: Enjoy a Expedition Leader-led orientation walk around Copacabana and get to know this Bolivian city.

The day begins with a boat tour of Isla del Sol—known as the birthplace of the sun and the Inca bloodline. On the island, you’ll explore Inca ruins, learn traditional weaving techniques and take in some of Lake Titicaca’s most stunning vistas. Afterwards, take a boat ride back to Copacabana and continue to La Paz.

Included Experiences

• Boat: Climb aboard and get your float on.
• Tour to Isla del Sol: Enjoy a day trip to one of the most sacred islands in South America—Bolivia's Isla del Sol—and explore the said birthplace of the Inca bloodline and the sun. Wander the ruins, witness ancient weaving techniques, and breathe in the fresh air while looking out over the panoramic views of Lake Titicaca.

Catch a flight to charming Sucre, then enjoy an orientation walk around the main square. This afternoon, relax at a local café, explore on your own, or opt to take an immersive tour of Sucre with a local expert that focuses on the city’s stunning colonial architecture and historic sites, best viewed from the ubiquitous rooftop terraces.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy free time to explore, relax at a cafe or take a specialized walking tour.
• Sucre Orientation Walk: Enjoy a walk with your Expedition Leader around Sucres's centre and main square. For more in-depth information, a specialized guided tour is offered on option this afternoon.
• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Optional Experiences

• Sucre Guided City Tour: Enjoy a guided tour exploring the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Learn about the history, culture, and preserved colonial buildings that earned the city its' UNESCO designation. Visit the main square and the Dinosaur Park before ending with a cocktail and a panoramic view of the city in the Recoleta area.

Enjoy free time this morning before travelling into the southern highlands to our historic hacienda. Surrounded by lush agricultural fields and rolling hills, this working farm offers unique opportunities for cultural exchanges with the resident family. Get a glimpse into daily life here while lending a hand at the dairy and in the fields, and step back in time during visits to the property’s private rooms, chapel, and museum. Cap off your experience with an authentic farm-to-table dinner featuring an array of local specialities.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Make the most of your time in this beautiful city.
• Bolivian Hacienda Experience: Down a winding dirt road, snaking through the stunning Southern Highlands we find our remote Hacienda. Surrounded by lush farmlands, rivers and rolling hills, this historic “working” farm offers a unique cultural interaction with a welcoming local family. Dating back to the 1500s, we step back in time with visits to private museum rooms, the chapel and library. Also, immerse ourselves into the hacienda’s daily life including demonstrations at the dairy and a visit to the fields, Finish with an authentic farm-to-table dinner featuring local specialities from the area.

Make the short drive to the centre of Potosí and enjoy a guided tour of the Casa Nacional de la Moneda, the old silver mint and now a museum dedicated to Bolivian art and history. Take a scenic drive to Uyuni, gateway to the world's largest salt flat. Learn about the industrialization of salt and the geographical history of the region while driving across this mirror-like landscape.

Included Experiences

• Casa de la Moneda : Learn about the first global currency at this renowned National Mint museum.
• 4x4: Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.

Journey deeper into the salt pans to explore their varied geographical features. Along the way, stop for a visit to the small community of Coquesa, located at the base of the Tunupa Volcano on the edge of the Salar. After this, have lunch on the salt flat before continuing our exploration of the desert and its pans. Cap off the day with a sunset picnic on the salt flats before returning to the hotel.

Included Experiences

• 4x4: Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
• Bolivian Salt Flats Experience: Accompanied by a local expert guide explore the stunning landscape of the Bolivian Salt Flats by 4x4. Enter a landscape unlike anything you've ever seen as we drive across (or around) the world's largest salt flat; the piercing blue sky contrasts against the blinding white of the flat salt beds.
• Coquesa visit & Incahuasi Island Lunch: Visit the small community of Coquesa at the base of the Tunupa Volcano and on the edge of the Salar. Take a walk to a scenic viewpoint over the flats and then enter a cave where there are several very well-preserved mummies that have been there for over 500 years. Continue to Incahuasi, an island in a sea of salt covered with giant Trichocereus cacti. Have lunch here amid the island's panoramic views of the salt flat surrounding it. Then, enjoy time to wander around the area admiring the strange desert plant life.
• Excursion and sunset Picnic on the Salt Flats: Enjoy a picnic amidst this spectacular landscape, while the local expert guide describes the cultural and geographical history of the area, watch the sky come alive as the sun sets over the expansive salt flats.

Catch a flight to La Paz and enjoy free time to explore before joining the group for an optional dinner.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy some time to explore on your own.
• Plane: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Awake in lofty La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. Spend the morning at leisure, or opt to take an excursion to see the stunning maze of canyons and spires in the Valley of the Moon. This afternoon, set out by foot, van, and cable car to discover this sky-high city with your guide. Explore vibrant squares, historical landmarks, and lively markets, learning about the balance of old and new along the way. In the evening, enjoy an interactive culinary experience at a popular local restaurant, including demonstrations on how traditional foods such as quinoa are integrated into modern fusion dishes. With a local chef as our guide, we’ll sample a variety of dishes and discuss the growing popularity of La Paz as a culinary destination.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy the morning to explore on your own or opt to take a Moon Valley tour.
• La Paz Culinary Experience: Embark on an interactive culinary experience at a popular local restaurant. Enjoy demonstrations on how traditional foods such as quinoa are integrated into modern fusion dishes. With a local chef, we sample a variety of modern dishes based on traditional foods and learn about the growing popularity of La Paz as a foodie destination.
• 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.

Optional Experiences

• 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.

Depart at any time.