Absolute Peru
From AUD $5159 Was AUD $6449
Small Group
Demanding
Rating
(21 reviews)
Absolute Peru
21 days
Small Group
Budget
Demanding
English
Experience Overview
Scan the canopy for wildlife from the comfort of our intimate and exclusive G Lodge Amazon, contemplate mountain vistas or take an optional flight over the Nazca Lines – this epic journey explores the geography, culture, and history of Peru, offering you the perfect blend of guided excursions and free time. Hike the Lares Trek, which rewards those willing to break a sweat with stunning views of ruins, mountainscapes, and cloud forest. And because we run our own treks, we can ensure the fair treatment of our porters and the quality of food, service, and equipment.
Highlights
- Hike the Lares Trek en route to Machu Picchu
- Search for wildlife at our exclusive G Lodge Amazon
- Spot condors at Colca Canyon
- Experience local life at a homestay on Lake Titicaca
- Explore the mysterious Nazca Lines
Trip Details
21 days
Public bus, private van, plane, train, boat, canoe.
Small Group
English
Lima, Peru
Lima, Peru
Budget
Classic
Demanding
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Day 2: Lima/Paracas
Take the morning to explore more of Lima before journeying down the coast to Paracas. Walk the town's lively peatonal (pedestrian avenue) and find a café to sample some Peruvian food, such as ceviche or papa a la huancaina (potatoes with a chili cheese sauce).
Try your first Pisco sour while staying in Pisco's neighbour of Paracas.
Day 3: Paracas/Nazca
There is time in the morning for an optional excursion to the popular Ballestas Islands, an excellent chance to view a lively sea lion colony, pelicans, penguins, and other varieties of birdlife. Pre-book by adding the Ballestas Islands Wildlife Tour on the checkout page or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Back on land, catch a bus south to Nazca. On the way, pass by the pleasant colonial town of Ica.
Ica enjoys a dry, sunny climate year-round and is known for its huge sand dunes. Located around the nearby oasis of Huacachina, the dunes are perfect subjects for photography and for a favourite local past time: sandboarding. Apart from the dunes, Ica is famous for its wines and there are several wineries and distilleries in the area.
Day 4: Nazca/Arequipa
Travel south to one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries, the Nazca Lines. The lines consist of patterns and pictures etched in the ground, crisscrossing a wide area of flat desert. From the ground, we can make out very little, and the best view is from a light aircraft, which can easily be arranged.
Opt to pre-book your Flight over Nazca Lines on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Remains of the Nazca culture are still visible during our included tour of the ancient Pre-Inca desert cemetery site of Chauchilla, with 2000-year-old mummies, bones, and pottery on the desert floor. The tour also includes a visit to an artisan's workshop, where modern masters create Nazca style pottery.
Later, board a night bus to Arequipa.
Day 5: Arequipa
Explore Arequipa, the 'white city'. Interested in history and architecture? Opt to visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery, offering a brief respite from the outside world and a unique view into a bygone way of life. Pre-book by adding the Arequipa City Tour & Santa Catalina Monastery on the checkout page or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
For those spicy food lovers, checking out one of the “Picanterías” is a must. Arequipa holds a variety of regional food— alpaca, shrimp, pork, lots of soups, and spicy sauces waiting for you to dig in.
Day 6: Arequipa/Colca Canyon
Travel a rough, rutted road through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve. Along the way there are chances to see vicunas, alpacas and llamas. Stop at Mirador de Patapampa lookout, the highest point on the tour at 4,910m with views of nearby volcanoes.
Day 7: Colca Canyon/Puno
Climb over the mountains today, descending at Puno, which is on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Titicaca is also the largest lake in the world above 2000m, and the views from its Islands are stunning.
Day 8: Puno/Lake Titicaca
Head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the community on the Taquile Islands and opt to have lunch in a local restaurant with spectacular views.
After, cruise to another village for an overnight homestay on the shores of the lake. This experience provides an opportunity to learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and to participate in local traditions.
Day 9: Lake Titicaca/Puno
Leave the homestay families late morning and visit the Uros Islands on the way back to Puno. A popular optional activity in Puno is to visit to the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site only a short drive away.
Opt to get out on the water today and pre-book the Lake Titicaca Kayaking on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 10: Puno/Cusco
The trip from Puno to Cusco takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery en route as you travel through the high Altiplano region. Check out a bit of Cusco, find a spot for dinner, or get prepared to head into the Sacred Valley.
Day 11: Cusco
Pre-book the Rainbow Mountain excursion or the Cooking Class on the checkout page to include these optional activity on your tour, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 12: Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Travel through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting a G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op. Meet the women and learn about traditional weaving and dyeing. Opt to pick up some handmade souvenirs and textiles directly from the women who made them.
Have lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn about the G Adventures for Good project and eat a delicious buffet-style lunch. Proceeds of this meal go directly back to the remote community.
Day 13: Lares Trek
The Lares Trek is a scenic, less touristic route to hike through the Andes. It is one day shorter than the Inca Trail but higher in elevation. Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products for use on the Lares Trek.
Day 14: Lares Trek
Day 15: Lares Trek/Aguas Calientes
Day 16: Machu Picchu/Cusco
Rise early to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu with your guide. Enjoy a guided visit to the ruins, then head back down by bus to Aguas Calientes to meet up with the rest of the group. Take the scenic train back to Ollantaytambo to meet the van for the ride back to Cusco.
Day 17: Cusco
Day 18: Cusco/Tambopata
Fly to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Amazon Jungle.
After a brief stop in town to store large luggage, drive to the pier and travel by covered motorized boat to the jungle lodge. En route, see birds typical of the river or forest edge. The Tambopata Rainforest Area holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.
Local community members make up the majority of the lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides. Here you have the opportunity to learn from them not only about the area's rich flora and fauna, but also about their extensive practical uses for medicinal plants and other forest plant resources, through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting.
Day 19: Tambopata
Head out early to catch the jungle at its wildest (and coolest). Walk slowly through the forest searching for wildlife before heading out on an oxbow lake by canoe. Search for anaconda, the elusive giant river otter or black caiman. Even if you don't spot these shy creatures, there are plenty of other birds, interesting plants and other animals to discover.
Day 20: Tambopata/Lima
Have a final delicious Amazonian breakfast before heading back towards the airport by motorized boat and van. Fly to Lima and opt for a final night out for dinner or Pisco Sours.
Day 21: Lima
- Flights to and from origin and destinations
- Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
- Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
- Recommended gratuities/tipping
- Optional activities/tours
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.
You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.
Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.
If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).
If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.
Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
- Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
- Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
From
AUD $6449
Duration: 21 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Demanding
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 03 Jan 2026
Customer Reviews
12/29/2023
This was my second trip with G Adventures and both have been great. Very well organized and I don't need to worry about anything.
12/15/2023
Great local guides, good accommodation and travel options, pace of tour, emphasis on supporting local
Tour Operator
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
12/29/2023
This was my second trip with G Adventures and both have been great. Very well organized and I don't need to worry about anything.
12/15/2023
Great local guides, good accommodation and travel options, pace of tour, emphasis on supporting local
12/15/2023
I would explain that a lot of time would be spent on the road. That you get to see a lot of things but that it is at a very fast pace
12/15/2023
Amazing knowledge of guide and everything ran so smoothly. Able to pack in more activities than a standard holiday
12/15/2023
Good trips, well organised
12/15/2023
Going with G Adventures makes your life so much easier and you get to see so much
12/01/2023
This was a kind of trip I usually plan for myself (filled with activities and experiences to the maximum), but highlighting 'this style of travel'. Not all of my friends and family would enjoy it
12/01/2023
Complete active package
11/01/2023
First hotel not up to standard Facilities good but not too clean
11/24/2023
The whole trip was very well organized. Having accommodation, transportation and tickets sorted out for us was extremely convenient, especially in a country like Peru where it's not as accessible to get transportation. Another reason is that that whole trip was very well thought through and we got to see so many things and experience different regions, and climates. There was enough time to get accommodated with the high altitude so this was again another major plus. Our CEO was amazing, caring, and fun, he always knew what was next and how to answer our questions. Booking this trip definitely erased all the hassle and stress of trying to research and book on our own. We were very lucky because our group was small (8 people) and we all had fun and interacted very well with each other.
11/24/2023
Other than a few issues, I am overall happy
11/24/2023
It is an amazing trip and we enjoy it.
11/24/2023
The whole trip was very well organized. Having accommodation, transportation and tickets sorted out for us was extremely convenient, especially in a country like Peru where it's not as accessible to get transportation. Another reason is that that whole trip was very well thought through and we got to see so many things and experience different regions, and climates. There was enough time to get accommodated with the high altitude so this was again another major plus. Our CEO was amazing, caring, and fun, he always knew what was next and how to answer our questions. Booking this trip definitely erased all the hassle and stress of trying to research and book on our own. We were very lucky because our group was small (8 people) and we all had fun and interacted very well with each other.
11/17/2023
The tours are set up well Collected by G Adventures
11/17/2023
Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
11/17/2023
I love the style of this group travel. The CEOs are excellent. It takes me to places I wouldn't go.
11/10/2023
Well planned, perfectly executed.
11/10/2023
Everything was really well organised for us and Freddie went out of his way to ensure we were all catered for and enjoyed the experience.
11/10/2023
Amazing tour guide - Freddy. Comfortable travel, amazing experiences.
11/10/2023
Everything was really well organised for us and Freddie went out of his way to ensure we were all catered for and enjoyed the experience.
11/10/2023
Well planned, perfectly executed.
Family trips cannot be booked online.
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