Peru: Ancient Cities & the Andes

G Adventures · 14 days

5.0

27 Reviews

Duration

14 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Basic

Physical Rating

Demanding

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Take the scenic train to the cloud forest citadel of Machu Picchu, dine the traditional way at a ceremonial Pachamanca feast, or take an optional flight over the Nazca Lines—the adventure is yours to choose!.

Includes

Activities

Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Foodie Moment: Pachamanca, Nazca Your Discover Moment: Cusco Your Local Living Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community Homestay, Ccaccaccollo Your Big Night Out Moment: Cusco
Pachamanca ceremony (Nazca)
Overnight Colca Canyon excursion
Visit the Maras salt pans and ruins of Moray
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Homestay experience and visit to a G Adventures-supported women's weaving project (Ccacaccollo)
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Simple hotels (10 nts), overnight bus (2 nts), homestay (1 nt).

10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Hiking, local bus, train.

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Highlights

Take the scenic train to Machu Picchu
Meet the locals at an Andean homestay
Spot soaring condors at Colca Canyon
Visit the beautiful Sapantiana waterfalls
Sip pisco sours and eat ceviche.

Trip Details

Duration

14 days

Transportation

Hiking, local bus, train.

Guide Language

English

Starts

Lima, Peru

Finishes

Cusco, Peru

Accommodations

Basic

Travel Style

18 - 39 Year Olds Only, Budget

Physical Rating

Demanding

Itinerary

Day 1: Lima

Arrive at any time. Get to know your group tonight as you head out to one of the many bars and restaurants in the bohemian neighbourhood of Barranco. Enjoy a local craft beer with your fellow travellers as you get excited for the adventure to come.
There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and enjoy the city. (Check-in time is approx 3pm.)

After the welcome meeting, head out for an optional dinner at a nearby local restaurant. If you arrive late, no worries, the CEO will leave you a message at the front desk.

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - In the late afternoon, meet with your fellow group members to go over the details of the trip. Check the notice board (or ask reception) to see the exact time and location of this group meeting.Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Accommodation - Hotel Gemina

Day 2: Lima/Nazca

Catch a local bus and drive down the coast through the desert to Nazca.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Hotel Hacienda San Marcelo

Day 3: Nazca/Arequipa

Free time to explore Nazca; Opt for a flight over the famous Nazca Lines or take a tour of the Nazca Desert Cemetery and Potter's Studio. Enjoy a traditional "Pachamanca" lunch, then later catch the overnight bus to Arequipa.

Meals included: Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy some free time during the day.Activity - 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.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Day 4: Arequipa

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.

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Make the most of your time here.Accommodation - Terra Mistica Casa Consuelo

Day 5: Arequipa/Colca Canyon

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 Andean condors soaring over the majestic Andes. Keep a lookout for other unusual animals! Give your body some much needed relaxation by taking a dip in the the hot springs.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - 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.Accommodation - Vita Colca Hotel

Day 6: Colca Canyon

Get an early start–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. Catch an overnight bus to Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - 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.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Day 7: Cusco

Free day in Cusco to explore. Choose to pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class. Opt to go mountain biking or just relax in a café.

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Make the most of your time in Cusco.

Day 8: Cusco/Ccaccaccollo

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. Get further immersed in the local life of the Ccaccaccollo community during an overnight homestay.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - 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. Activity - Get further immersed in the local life of the Ccaccaccollo community during an overnight homestay. Meet your Quechua family and take part in a number of community activities. Get a crash course in Quechua culture and tradition and help prep a typical meal, assist in the garden, and play a game of soccer. Accommodation - Homestay Ccacaccollo

Day 9: Ccaccaccollo/Ollantaytambo

Travel through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas. You can choose to take a Sacred Valley tour and visit the impressive Pisac ruins, the colourful artisan market (market days only), and the large ruin site of Ollantaytambo that lies adjacent to the town of the same name. Catch your breath at Ollantaytambo and prepare for the hike the next morning.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Las Orquideas Ollantaytambo

Day 10: Ollantaytambo/Cusco

Enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before visiting the Ollantaytambo ruins where you'll walk up the 200 stone steps to reach the top. Return to the Sacred Valley with your G representative to explore the sites of the Maras Salt Mines and the ancient Incan agricultural terraces of Moray. Continue on a scenic drive through small villages and stunning views of the Andean countryside. Then visit the Chincheros ruins. Known to the Incas as the birthplace of the rainbow, this site offers stunning views of the Andean countryside. Return to Cusco for the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Explore this ancient site right in the heart of Ollantaytambo city. Learn about the principles of Incan architecture and get a first taste of climbing around a massive ruins site.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Tour the unique Inca ruins of Moray, consisting of circular terraces and a sophisticated irrigation system located at 3500m (11483 ft). Learn about the history and study of this fascinating site – speculation has it that it was an Inca agriculture experiment station. Then visit the impressive Maras Salt Mines and see thousands of individual ancient salt pools spilling over a hillside. Learn about the different varieties of salt, and try the renowned pink salt, famous worldwide.Activity - Set out on a scenic drive above the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop along the way to look out over small farms carved into the hills and small villages dotted along the landscape. Enjoy the views and have lunch near Maras, opt to relax, explore the surroundings.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Chincheros is known to the Incas as the birthplace of the rainbow. This typical Andean village has Inca ruins, a colonial church, and sweeping mountain views. Explore the ruins and check out the impressive architecture of this ancient place.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Cusco Plaza Nazarenas

Day 11: Cusco

Fill up on breakfast at your hotel in Cusco before walking to the Cusco Cathedral where your guide will meet the group for your walking tour of Cusco's colonial side. The group will see the colonial architecture and influence visible in Cusco and visit the beautiful Sapantiana waterfalls before having lunch at Nuna Raymi in the city. Afterwards, the group will walk back to the hotel and can enjoy free time for the rest of the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Spend time on a group walking tour of the colonial areas in Cusco. Start in Cusco City and finish with a visit to the Sapantiana waterfalls before having a delicious lunch at a restaurant near the main plaza.Free_time - Spend more time getting to know this fascinating city and surrounding area. Free time is yours to explore any way you want.Accommodation - Cusco Plaza Nazarenas

Day 12: Cusco/Aguas Calientes

After breakfast at the hotel in Cusco, the group will travel by van to Ollantaytambo to catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes. After enjoying a quick orientation walk around the town of Aguas Calientes the group will have free time for optional activities. Opt to visit the Machu Picchu Museum, the Mandor Waterfalls, and the butterfly garden. Or consider taking a dip in some thermal baths to relax those muscles.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - The group will arrive at Aguas Calientes with their assistant guide or CEO and they will have an orientation walk through the town of Aguas Calientes. Your CEO can then help you coordinate any optional activities you may want to try during your time here.Accommodation - Hotel Wiracocha Inn

Day 13: Aguas Calientes/Cusco

Wake up ready to discover the magic of Machu Picchu today with a guided tour. Later, head back down to Aguas Calientes to meet with your group and board a train back to Cusco. Tonight, dance the night away at a popular night club.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - 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.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.

Day 14: Cusco

Depart at any time.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
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.

Important Information

Meals

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 will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

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.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

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.

Sightseeing

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.

Visas

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.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

From
AUD $3799

AUD $3,039

(Tour only)

Offer ends 01 Apr, 2026 Per Person Standard

Duration: 14 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 05 Jul 2026

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

William D.

Traveled, July 2024

07/18/2024

A great experience that I would highly recommend to anyone. The Inca trail is fantastic if you feel fit, but the alternative Cusco stay sounded amazing too and the beautiful Machu Picchu can still be seen. Peru is a wonderful country that has something f...

5.0

Friedemann H.

Traveled, July 2024

07/17/2024

There is one last thing that I want to say about Roger (did not know where to put it). We had one passenger in our group who got sick for days. I do not think he handled the situation well. The passenger were transfered to a hospital in Arequipa and then...

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

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