Classic Peru
Experience Overview
This compact tour of the archaeological highlights and cultural treasures of the Andean highlands has it all. Cruise Lake Titicaca and immerse yourself in rural life with a homestay in a small village. Wander the cobblestoned streets of Cusco before breaking a sweat hiking mountain passes along the Lares Trek on your way to Machu Picchu. Because we run our own treks, we can ensure the fair treatment of our porters and the quality of food and equipment, which means you’re free to enjoy the beauty of the region.
Highlights
- Feel like a local at a Lake Titicaca homestay
- Hike the Lares Trek en route to Machu Picchu
- Sample the seafood in Lima
- Explore ancient ruins and villages
Trip Details
Product Code: 2707
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Public bus, private van, plane, train, boat, hiking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: PPC.B
Starts: Lima, Peru
Finishes: Cusco, Peru
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay, Lake Titicaca Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products Your G for Good Moment: Cuncani Community Campsite, Cuncani Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Cusco
- Floating islands of Uros visit
- Lake Titicaca guided tour and homestay
- Sacred Valley guided tour
- Pottery making demonstration
- Lares Trek guided hike with cooks and porters (3 days)
- Machu Picchu guided tour
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/guesthouses (8 nts), camping (2 nts), homestay (1 nt).
- 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Public bus, private van, plane, train, boat, hiking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, specialist Lares Trek CEO on the hike, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,659 ($222 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: Lima/Puno
Fly to Juliaca and transfer to Puno. Take it easy in the afternoon, wandering the markets and exploring the city.
Fly to Juliaca then take a short bus ride to Puno, 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 3: Puno/Lake Titicaca
Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca and a homestay in a small village.
Head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the community on the Taquile Islands and enjoy a local lunch with spectacular views.
Afterwards, cruise to the another village (this can vary based on community availability) 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. Eat with the family, learn some Quechua and Spanish language skills, try on traditional costumes, and help out with daily chores around the village.
Day 4: Lake Titicaca/Puno
Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno. Opt to visit to Sillustani burial site.
Leave the homestay families late morning and visit the Uros Islands on the way back to Puno. A popular optional activity in Puno is a visit to the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site only a short drive away.
Opt to 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 5: Puno/Cusco
Hop on the bus for a full day's drive to 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 6: Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley. Stop at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op before visiting a local pottery making community. Break for lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco. After lunch, opt to head out on a hike to the Ollantaytambo storehouses and look out over the ruins. Or, wander around the cobblestone streets and visit a local Chicheria (corn beer bar).
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 7: Lares Trek
Depart Ollantaytambo by van to Lares town where the hike begins. Spend the first night at a G Adventures-supported campsite in Cuncani.
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 8: Lares Trek
Start early to hike from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain to its high pass (4,800m/15,748 ft), providing scenic views of lagoons and the snow-capped Chicon Mountain. Celebrate after reaching the highest point by making an offering of coca leaves to the Andean gods. After the morning hike, stop to rest and take in the amazing view. Continue hiking downhill to our second campsite near the stream for the night.
Day 9: Lares Trek/Aguas Calientes
Enjoy the last few hours of hiking before travelling by van to Ollantaytambo and train to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a good night's rest at your hotel.
Day 10: Machu Picchu/Cusco
Rise early and enjoy a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Later, travel back towards Cusco by train.
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 11: Cusco
Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco or relax. Choose to pre-book the Rainbow Mountain hike or the Cusco Cooking Class, or opt for other active options like mountain biking.
Pre-book the Rainbow Mountain hike or the Cusco Cooking Class on the checkout page to include these optional activities on your tour. or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 12: Cusco
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
David S. - Traveled, November 2023
Great guides, trip and experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Adrian J. - Traveled, November 2023
Everything was very proffesional from top to bottom it also helped been in with a great groupof tourist as well
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Ryan R. - Traveled, November 2023
This was my first time traveling with a group in this style and it was an experience of a lifetime. Everything was taken care of for us as described which made for a stress free, easy to enjoy vacation. The tour guides, porters, etc. were all all friendly and our CEO, Katerina Escobar, was especially friendly and helpful. 10/10 experience - I've already recommended G Adventures to friends/family
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Cori J. - Traveled, November 2023
G Adventures offers the best organized tours
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Martin J. - Traveled, November 2023
Really enjoyed the trip and it was well planned out.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Lucy B. - Traveled, November 2023
Guide Katrina was amazing. The instructions for packing was confusing. I spent money on stuff you asked us to bring that I did not use. The packing list should be split according to what activities the customer is participating in.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Daryl J. - Traveled, November 2023
Well organized, efficient and focused on the experience and adventure. The guides are knowledgeable and helpful, always friendly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Scot L. - Traveled, November 2023
Beyond fun
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
David F. - Traveled, September 2023
Everything was very well organised from intial pickup to final dropoff. Our guides Lucho (main guide), Oswaldo (Titicaca), Nick and Melqui (Inca Trail) were all outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble and it felt like we were in good hands throughout. Communication was excellent all the way through. And the tour was good value for money.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/11/2023
Lawrie S., - Traveled, October 2023
Well-organized, well-priced, low stress travel option at various pricing levels based on budgets. CEO made the overall experience easy and the local guides added specific expertise, especially in a country where I didn't speak the language.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/11/2023
Morwenna C. - Traveled, September 2023
Overall it was very good. It would have been useful to have had more information before the tour started.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/06/2023
Debbie E. - Traveled, September 2023
Your CEO have all the answers and if they'don't...they find out for you! Hotels are always adequate in that some are better than others but always clean, tidy with good service and often provide a good selection at breakfast. Location of hotels are usually spit on with easy access to all the best bits! Affordable, safe travelling for solo travellers as well as couples and groups
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/06/2023
Vada S. - Traveled, September 2023
Good mixture out of the most touristic spots and specials ones like a homestay at a local family.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/04/2023
Taylor S., - Traveled, September 2023
Great itinerary and organization
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/04/2023
Anita L. - Traveled, September 2023
I was satisfied with the trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2023
Brynna S. - Traveled, September 2023
I think G Adventures is great but there is no guarantee that the group you end up with will want to travel exactly like you do
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2023
Bartosz T. - Traveled, September 2023
I had the best time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2023
Sophie H. - Traveled, September 2023
Our CEO Yuri made the experience more fantastic than I could have imagined. Really went above and beyond to make sure everyone got the most out of their trip. I was also very pleased to learn G Adventures pay their staff and porters fairly which is something other companies do not do
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/29/2023
Dayna N. - Traveled, September 2023
I had an excellent and seamless experience. The itinerary was thoughtfully crafted to create highlight after highlight. The CEO took care of all the logistics so that I could focus on being in the moment and having fun. All the guides were knowledgeable, compassionate, and enthusiastic.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/27/2023
Jolene R. - Traveled, September 2023
I had a really great time, the people were great, there was no stress, everything was takem care of. Overall great experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/27/2023
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