From USD 2,349 per person
INFO | Delve into the historical mysteries and cultural treasures of Peru on this compact adventure. Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites—including the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu and historic Cusco—alongside knowledgeable local guides. Travel across the snowcapped peaks of the Andes, and get a glimpse of the ancient traditions that continue to endure in the misty valleys. |
PACKAGE CODE | SPENG |
SALES VALIDITY | Up to 30 June 2023 |
INCLUDE | Traditional Andean Experience, Urubamba Cusco Planetarium, Cusco Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), Pisac Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Two-day Sacred Valley tour including Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Pisac ruins and pre-Inca salt pans. Traditional pachamanca-style dinner. Scenic train and guided tour of Machu Picchu. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. |
MEALS INCLUDED |
7 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners Allow USD255-335 for meals not included. |
Day 1 - Lima
Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
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 CEO 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.
Hotel
Hotel Antigua Miraflores (or similar)
Day 2 - Lima/Urubamba
Plane
Private transfer to the Lima airport to catch a flight to Cusco.
Private Vehicle
Times includes all stops and visits enroute through the Sacred Valley.
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.
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.
Traditional Pachamanca Dinner
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.
Hotel
Hotel San Agustin Urubamba (or similar)
Day 3 - Urubamba
Private Vehicle
Times includes all stops and visits enroute through the Sacred Valley.
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.
Hotel
Hotel San Agustin Urubamba (or similar)
Day 4 - Urubamba/Aguas Calientes
Please bear in mind that the town has several amenities, but is also geographically remote meaning services are sometimes more basic than one would assume. As the only option for travellers visiting Machu Picchu, the development of infrastructure has happened quite quickly, much without proper planning, and the focus on providing quality service may not be up to the standards experienced in other parts of the country.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Hotel
Hotel Taypikala Machupicchu (or similar)
Day 5 - Aguas Calientes/Cusco
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Rise and shine – the best time to see the Lost City of the Incas is in the early morning light. Follow the local guide to Machu Picchu to learn about its history at a leisurely pace. Gain local insight into the Inti Mach’ay cave, Inti Watana, the Temple of the Water, the Temple of the Condor, and the Room of the Three Windows. Take time to sit and 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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Hotel
Taypikala Hotel Cusco (or similar)
Day 6 - Cusco
Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.
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).
Hotel
Taypikala Hotel Cusco (or similar)
Day 7 - Cusco/Lima
Plane
Private transfer to the Cusco airport to catch a flight to Lima. Private transfer to the Lima hotel.
Hotel
Hotel Antigua Miraflores (or similar)
Day 8 - Lima
Your CEO can help arrange an optional transfer to the airport.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
- Sales period: up to 30 June 2023
- Travel period: up to 30 December 2023
- Subject to availability.
- Price displayed based on per person, in USD, on twin sharing basis, land arrangement only.
- Price displayed based on lead-in, low season, applicable on selected departure dates.
- Price may vary depending on actual travel dates selection.
- Price displayed are indication and is dynamic, subject to change without prior notice.
- Program and inclusions as listed. Optional tours expense not included.
- Package does not include air ticket, tipping, travel insurance, personal expenses and any other incidental costs.
- Price subject to change without prior notice.
- G Adventures booking terms conditions apply. Visit www.gadventures.com/terms-conditions/booking-terms/ for full details.
- Other terms & conditions apply. Visit www.cit.travel/terms or more terms & conditions.