Absolute Peru: Amazon Jungle & Machu Picchu by Train

With a perfect balance of guided adventures and free time, this trip lets you soak up Peru’s diversity at your own...

Peru

Absolute Peru: Amazon Jungle & Machu Picchu by Train

DAY 1 Lima

Arrive at any time.

Administrative

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

1

Optional Activities - Day 1Show

Accommodation

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Lima Wasi Hotel

Hotel
DAY 2 Lima/Paracas

Enjoy a free morning in Lima before travelling by bus to 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.

Free Time

LimaMORNING

There's not a lot of time to explore this morning as the bus to the station picks up around midday.

Bus

Local Bus

Lima- Pisco4h250kmAFTERNOON

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Bus

Minibus

Pisco- Paracas0.5h

It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

Accommodation

Hotel Refugio del Pirata

Hotel
DAY 3 Paracas/Nazca

Optional visit to Ballestas Islands before travelling to Nazca. En route, stop at a winery and at the Oasis of Huacachina. 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.

Free Time

ParacasMORNING

Make the most of some free time.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Paracas- Ica1h60km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Cuisine

Huacachina Winery Visit

Huacachina0.75h

Learn about the wine and pisco production in the area and enjoy a tasting of different varieties, which are all available for purchase.

Nature

Huacachina Oasis visit

Huacachina2h

Stop by this beautiful oasis and opt to try your hand at the favourite local sport: sandboarding. The oasis is also a great place to walk around and explore.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Ica- Nazca3h140km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

2

Optional Activities - Day 3Show

Accommodation

Hotel Alegria

Hotel
DAY 4 Nazca/Arequipa

Take a guided tour of the Nazca desert cemetery and potter's studio. Opt for a flight over the Nazca Lines before the overnight bus to 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.

Land Tour

Nazca Desert Cemetery and Potter's Studio Guided Tour

Nazca2.5h-3h

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.

Bus

Overnight Bus

Nazca- Arequipa9h

This comfortable double decker bus has toilet facilities on board.

1

Optional Activities - Day 4Show

DAY 5 Arequipa

Enjoy a free day in Arequipa. Opt for a city tour or visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery. 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.

Free Time

ArequipaFULL_DAY

Make the most of your time here.

2

Optional Activities - Day 5Show

Accommodation

Hostal El Solar

Hotel
DAY 6 Arequipa/Colca Canyon

Travel to Chivay, a village near Colca Canyon, relax or take an optional dip in the thermal baths. 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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Arequipa- Chivay4.5h-5h165km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

1

Optional Activities - Day 6Show

Accommodation

Vita Colca Hotel

Hotel
DAY 7 Colca Canyon/Puno

Rise early for a tour of Colca Canyon to spot condors. Continue by bus to Puno. Arrive with a little time to wander the markets and explore the city. 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.

Bus

Local Bus

Colca Canyon- Puno6h250km

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Land Tour

Colca Canyon Guided Tour

Colca Canyon

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

Puka Kantuta Hostal

Hotel
DAY 8 Puno/Lake Titicaca

Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca with a homestay in a small village. 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.

Water Tour

Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour Day 1

Lake Titicaca

Board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island for an optional delicious Peruvian lunch at a restaurant followed by some shopping at the local weaving cooperatives. Taquileños are known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing, men are taught how to knit around age five and they create the majority of the textiles. After, enjoy an overnight stay with a host family and a chance to learn about life on the islands.

Landmark

Your G for Good Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay

Lake Titicaca

In the aymara community of Luquina Chico on Lake Titicaca, 40 families welcome you to experience their way of life. Thanks to the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, the local families here have strengthened their communities, preserving traditions and creating opportunities for future generations. Split into smaller groups and get a taste of local life firsthand as we move into family homes for the night. Play soccer with the children, enjoy some dancing, watch dinner being made, learn about regional cuisine, and dress up in local clothes for an unforgettable evening with the whole village, enjoying traditional music and dancing. Lend a hand the next morning, and help out with chores like feeding animals, harvesting local produce, or bringing back buckets of water from the well.

DAY 9 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 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.

Water Tour

Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour Day 2

Lake Titicaca

Spend the morning with the homestay families, then depart after lunch. Visit the floating islands of Uros on the way back, and learn about the unique lifestyle of the locals. Meet residents and learn how they built the islands with totora reeds, which are also used to make their homes, boats, crafts (and are also edible!).

People

Uros Floating Islands Visit

Lake Titicaca

Take a tour of these unique islands. Learn about the buoyant 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.

Free Time

PunoAFTERNOON

Make the most of one last afternoon in Puno.

1

Optional Activities - Day 9Show

Accommodation

Puka Kantuta Hostal

Hotel
DAY 10 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.

Bus

Local Bus

Puno- Cusco7h-8h

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Accommodation

Cusco Plaza Saphi

Hotel
DAY 11 Cusco

Take advantage the day to choose from a wide variety of optional activities like the Rainbow Mountain hike, a cooking class, or simply explore the city by foot and relax in a café. 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.

Free Time

CuscoFULL_DAY

Enjoy a full day to explore all that Cusco has to offer!

5

Optional Activities - Day 11Show

Accommodation

Cusco Plaza Saphi

Hotel
DAY 12 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. See the colonial and Inca architecture visible throughout the city and visit the Sapantiana staircase waterfall aqueduct before having lunch near the main plaza. Afterwards, walk back to the hotel and enjoy free time for the rest of the evening.

Land Tour

Cusco Colonial Side Walking Tour

Cusco6h

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

CuscoAFTERNOON

Take advantage free time to further explore this lovely city.

1

Optional Activities - Day 12Show

DAY 13 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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Cusco- Ollantaytambo1.75h94km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Planeterra

Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit

Ccaccaccollo

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.

People

Cuyo Chico Pottery Making Demonstration

Pisac- Urubamba

In the rural village of Cuyo Chico in the Sacred Valley, a group of families joined together to create a small business based on their traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Using clay from their surroundings, they mold bowls, plates, and all manner of decorations. Learn about the ceramics process as well as the traditional adobe brick-making that forms the basis of houses throughout the valley, all while taking in a spectacular view of the Pisac Ruins. After the demonstration, peruse the items for sale directly from the artisans in their shop.

Planeterra

Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley

Lamay- Ollantaytambo

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.

DAY 14 Ollantaytambo

Enjoy the Sacred Valley with your G representative today. 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 Ollantaytambo for the evening.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Ollantaytambo- Moray1h20km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Nature

Maras Salt Mines and Moray Visit

Maras- Moray

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.

Land Tour

Scenic Andean Drive and lunch near Maras

Moray- Maras1h-1.5h

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Maras- Chincheros0.5h23km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Chincheros Ruins Visit

Chincheros0.75h-1h

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Chinchero- Ollantaytambo1.5h-1.75h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

DAY 15 Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes

After breakfast visit the Ollantaytambo ruins where you'll walk up the 200 stone steps to reach the top. Then, 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.

Landmark

Ollantaytambo Ruins Visit

Ollantaytambo1h-1.5h

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.

Rail

Train

Ollantaytambo- Aguas Calientes1.5h

Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Aguas Calientes Orientation Walk

Aguas Calientes0.5h-0.75h

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.

Free Time

Aguas Calientes

Spend free time getting to know the area. Maybe visit the local hot springs for a nice rejuvenating soak.

5

Optional Activities - Day 15Show

DAY 16 Machu Picchu/Cusco

Rise early to enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu. After, catch the train towards 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.

Bus

Local Bus

Aguas Calientes- Machu Picchu0.25h

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Land Tour

Machu Picchu Guided Tour

Machu Picchu1.5h-2h

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.

Rail

Train

Aguas Calientes- Ollantaytambo1.5h-1.75h31km

Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Ollantaytambo- Cusco1.5h-1.75h60km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Cusco Plaza Saphi

Hotel
DAY 17 Cusco

Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco or relax. Opt to go mountain biking or get a massage.

Free Time

CuscoFULL_DAY

Make the most of your time in Cusco.

3

Optional Activities - Day 17Show

Accommodation

Cusco Plaza Saphi

Hotel
DAY 18 Cusco/Tambopata

Fly to Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized boat to the comfortable and intimate G Lodge Amazon. 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.

Air

Plane

Cusco- Puerto Maldonado1h

On arrival, take a private vehicle to the lodge's office in Puerto Maldonado town to store large luggage. You will be provided with duffels to bring only what you need into the jungle. From there, travel about 1 hr to reach the boat landing.

Watercraft

Motorized Canoe

Puerto Maldonado- Tambopata2h-3h

Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.

Nature

Wildlife-spotting Night Walk

Tambopata

Get the lowdown on local flora and fauna, and grab a flashlight to discover what’s living around lodge grounds. Receive help from the talented, expert naturalist guide to locate heaps of hidden creatures! Keep an eye out for snakes, tarantulas, owls, and poison dart frogs, just to name a few.

Accommodation

Tambopata Lodge

Lodge
DAY 19 Tambopata

Enjoy guided excursions by expert naturalists to spot wildlife at nearby oxbow lakes and along jungle trails. Spend some time relaxing in a hammock, enjoying the local swimming hole or visiting a nearby plantation. Go for a caiman-spotting cruise after dinner. 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.

Nature

Jungle Excursions

Tambopata

Enjoy visits to oxbow lakes to learn about the jungle and its inhabitants. Be introduced to the area’s rich flora and fauna by expert naturalist guides, who can teach extensive uses for medicinal and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques. Be prepared to go early morning or evening to avoid the heat of midday. Enjoy a leisurely pace – the trip requires some walking, but nothing too strenuous.

Free Time

TambopataAFTERNOON

Spend time around the lodge or further afield.

Animal

Caiman-Spotting Cruise

TambopataEVENING

Head out after dark by motorized canoe to search for caimans on the river banks. Enjoy a lesson on caimans from the expert guide. Take advantage of the keen eyes of the expert naturalist guides – they are truly spectacular at spotting these elusive smaller cousins of alligators hiding on the muddy banks.

Accommodation

Tambopata Lodge

Lodge
DAY 20 Tambopata/Lima

Fly back to Lima for an optional final dinner and night out. 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.

Watercraft

Motorized Canoe

Tambopata- Puerto Maldonado3h

Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.

Air

Plane

Puerto Maldonado- Lima1.5h-2h

Take a van from the pier to pick up stored luggage before heading to the Puerto Maldonado airport. Make a brief stop in Cusco en route to Lima. A private vehicle will be waiting to take the group to the Lima hotel.

Accommodation

Lima Wasi Hotel

Hotel
DAY 21 Lima

Depart at any time.

4

Optional Activities - Day 21Show

Day
chat