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Inca Discovery—Lares
8 days, Lima to Cusco
Itinerary
Day 1Lima
Arrive at any time.
Arrive in Lima at any time. There are no planned activities so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
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.
Day 2Lima/Cusco
Rise early for a flight to Cusco. Enjoy a free day for shopping and exploring the city. Opt to take a city tour.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco (the flight usually departs early, and we may leave the hotel as early 4:30 am). Spend the day relaxing and exploring fascinating Cusco.
Our best advice for exploring Cusco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map, and set off to explore!
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Cusco, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like visiting Museo Inka, Museo de Historia Regional, and whitewater rafting. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Coricancha and Santo Domingo Visit
Explore magnificent Corincancha, once the Incan Empire's richest temple and the main ruin site within the city of Cusco. This ruin forms the foundation of the colonial church of Santo Domingo and provides a fantastic glimpse into ancient history as well as a cross section of religion and architecture.
La Compañía Visit
Enjoy a visit to this beautiful church famous for its architecture and considered one of the best examples of colonial Baroque style in the Americas. Admire its stone facade and beautiful wood and gold leaf altar.
La Merced Visit
Enjoy a visit to this historic church and convent, first built in 1536 and rebuilt in 1675 (it was destroyed in the 1650 earthquake). Take in the wonderful architecture here, including Baroque Renaissance cloisters and beautiful wood carvings. There's also an ornate monstrance on display; made of gold and covered with gemstones, it's a must see.
San Francisco Visit
This charming colonial era church is named after Viceroy Francisco de Toledo, who built it in 1572. The church, like many around it, was damaged in the earthquake of 1650 and had to be restored. Admire the beautiful stone masonry here.
Inka Museum
10PEN per personGet ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
Cusco Cathedral Visit
40PEN per personEnjoy a visit to this beautiful cathedral; its construction began in 1559 and continued for another hundred years. Be sure to check out its excellent collection of colonial art, and the vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega.
Cusco City Tour
45PEN per personEnjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsaywaman.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins along with a visit to a G Adventures-supported women's weaving project in a local community. Visit the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco, an indigenous village, for lunch. Opt for some shopping at a local market.
Travel with our local guide through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit a G Adventures-supported women's weaving project in a local community, the impressive Pisac ruins, and the colourful artisan market (market days only). The day trip finishes in the picturesque village of Ollantaytambo, site of another large Inca ruin. Here, we catch our breath and prepare for the hike ahead.
We will have the chance to visit Huchuy Qosco, an indigenous village previously bypassed by the tourism industry, now running the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant and tour in their own village.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit
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.
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.
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.
Your G for Good Moment: 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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 4Ollantaytambo/Cuncani
3-day guided Lares trek to Ollantaytambo, spending the first night at a G Adventures-supported campsite. In Ollantaytambo, board the train to Aguas Calientes. Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products for use on the Lares Trek.
The Lares Trek is one day shorter than the Inca Trail, but higher in elevation (33km/20.5 mi, with a high point of 4,600m/14,928 ft). The 3-day hike starts with a van ride from Ollantaytambo to the trekking start point and returns back to Ollantaytambo by van from the trekking end point. From there, hikers will take a scenic train to Aguas Calientes for one overnight stay.
NOTE: The locations and distances may change on this hike as we will camp in different locations depending on pace, ability, and weather. We will stay in a newly established community-owned and managed campsite in an indigenous village previously bypassed by the tourism industry. In most cases, your CEO will hike the Lares Trek with you.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Lares Trek (Lares-Cuncani)
Start early and drive (3 hrs) to Lares town where the hike will start with a leisurely pace through the valley of Cuncani. Hike 4km (2.5 mi) to Chancachaca then stop for lunch. Be sure to rest and rehydrate because the altitude here is around 3480m (11,417 ft).
Continue trekking along rocky mountain paths 4.7km (3 mi) to the isolated village of Cuncani. Camp here for the night at 3872m (12,703 ft) at the G Adventures-supported community run campsite.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Cuncani/Kuyoc
Day 2 of the Lares Trek.
Lares Trek (Cuncani - Kuyoc)
Hike from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain 12.2km (7.6 mi) to its high pass at 4,800m (15,748ft), 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.
Hike downhill another 2.2km (1.3 mi) to QuencaPata, for lunch and to take in the amazing view.
Continue hiking downhill another 2.6km (1.6 mi) to our second campsite near a stream. Sleep tonight at about 4,114m (13,497 ft) elevation.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6Kuyoc/Aguas Calientes
Day 3 of the Lares Trek.
Lares Trek (Kuyoc - Punta Carretera)
Follow the trail to see typical Andean flora and fauna, llamas and alpacas. Descend through the valley of Pumahuanca and meet friendly local Quechua people and explore some Inca storehouses along the way. Trek 3-4 hrs to reach the town of Pumahuanca. Enjoy lunch then hop a van to Ollantaytambo. Continue by train to Aguas Calientes.
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.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Aguas Calientes/Cusco
Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Opt to visit the Inca Bridge before returning to Cusco in the evening.
From Aguas Calientes, take the bus to Machu Picchu early the next morning for a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
There is free time to explore on your own after our tour, and the opportunity to climb Wayna Picchu, providing the chance to see Machu Picchu and its surroundings from a more exclusive vantage point. Catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes and take the train back to Cusco with the rest of the group.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
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.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Inca Bridge Visit
FreeUse any leftover energy from your Machu Picchu hike to visit the Inca Bridge site nearby (thought by some to be a secret back entrance to Machu Picchu). Trek up to the bridge that's cleaving to a 579m (1,900 ft) cliff, and soak in amazing views of cloud forest along the way.
Day 8Cusco
Depart at any time.
Note: Return flight to Lima can be arranged if requested.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.