Peru Multisport
15 days, Lima to Lima
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.
Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon, and the desert coastal area. In this trip, we concentrate on the Andes region of south-central Peru and the ancient Inca capital of Cusco.
We suggest arriving early to experience everything Lima has to offer. A full day tour will be available to book during your trip check-out process.
If you booked the Lima Cooking Class it does not include extra time in Lima and we highly recommend booking pre-trip accommodation. You will be picked up from your hotel at approx 10:00 (10:30 from Aug-Dec) and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. You will return back to your hotel around 13:00.
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.
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.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Lima Cooking Class (4hrs)
Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan.
Please note that if you are travelling with a family there is no age restriction on this activity and the cooking class is acceptable for children.
Lima City Tour
40USD per personDiscover Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights on this half-day guided tour. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, walk around Plaza de Armas, marvel at the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and get to know some of Lima's lovely neighbourhoods. Stop to enjoy some authentic Peruvian tapas and be introduced to Pisco Sours during a demonstration and tasting.
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.
Hotel Santa Cruz (or similar)
Day 2Lima/Cusco
Early flight to Cusco. Free day for shopping and to explore the city. Choose to pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class. Optional city tour.
Transfer early in the morning to the airport for the flight to Cusco; the flight usually departs early – we may leave the hotel as early as 4:30. Spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring this fascinating city, and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
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!
Please note if you pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class you will be picked up from your hotel at approx 12:30 and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. You will return back to your hotel around 16:00.
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
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 Cooking Class
Channel your inner chef and get a taste of Peruvian cuisine. Learn all about the essential ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes with a local expert
Accommodation
El Puma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Begin two days of guided biking excursions through the Sacred Valley, in the Maras, Moray, and Pisac areas, using Ollantaytambo as a base. Visit the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op and Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.
We start the day by stopping at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op before travelling by private transport to Abra de Corao, on the edge of the Sacred Valley, where we will begin our biking excursion. Visit the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, an indigenous village, for lunch.
After lunch, we continue by bicycle to the majestic Inca ruins of Pisac, where we will enjoy a guided tour of the site before transferring to Ollantaytambo for the night.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Sacred Valley Mountain Biking Excursion
From our starting point at 3,700m (12,139 ft) above sea level, we descend on our bikes into the Sacred Valley, eventually arriving at Taray (2,800m/9,186 ft above sea level), enjoying magnificent views along the way. We will also pass through rural areas where we can see the traditional farming and agricultural activities.
Throughout the bicycle excursion, we will be able to rely on an expert local guide as well as a support vehicle.
Total Distance: 21.2km
Total Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes
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.
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.
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Lilium Valle Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 4Ollantaytambo
Our second day biking in the Sacred Valley. Expore the town of Maras, the archaeological site of Moray before heading down to the Salt mines (Las Salineras), ending in Urubamba.
We rise early and travel to Chinchero. After the obligatory safety briefing by the local guide, we will continue our bicycle adventure. We'll have lunch here before returning to Ollantaytambo for a free evening to relax our sore legs.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Sacred Valley Mountain Biking Excursion
Today's journey takes us past Huaypo Lake and the picturesque town of Maras, where we will enjoy great views of the Sacred Valley. We will visit the archaeological site of Moray and then descend to the Salt mines (Las Salineras), eventually finishing our excursion in Urubamba.
Total Distance: 16km
Total Duration: 2 hours
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
Lilium Valle Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 5Ollantaytambo
Free day in Ollantaytambo for optional activities like visiting the ruins, a hike up to the ancient storehouses, or relaxing before embarking on the Inca Trail.
Ollantaytambo is your first taste of what lies ahead on the Inca Trail. We spend the night in this small town before heading out for the start of the hike the next morning.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time in this charming area.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Ollantaytambo Ruins Visit
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.
Accommodation
Lilium Valle Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Ollantaytambo/Cusco
After breakfast visit 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.
Leave the hikers to start their trek and head out to explore Moray and Maras ancient Incan ruins. Enjoy a scenic drive through Andean farmland on the way.
Ollantaytambo Ruins Visit
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Maras Salt Mines and Moray Visit
Drive a little more than an hour to get to the Moray archaeological site. Tour these unique Inca ruins, 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.
Visit the impressive Maras Salt Mines, after Moray. 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.
Scenic Andean Drive and lunch near Maras
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Chincheros Ruins Visit
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.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Accommodation
El Puma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Cusco
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.
Cusco Colonial Side Walking Tour
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.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
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.
Accommodation
El Puma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 8Cusco/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.
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.
Aguas Calientes Orientation Walk
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.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Machu Picchu Museum Visit
7USD per personGet an in-depth look at Inca history and learn more about Hiram Bingham, the American archaeologist and explorer that discovered Machu Picchu. The museum holds the largest collection of Inca artifacts excavated from Machu Picchu. Your guide will point out items of interest so you walk away feeling like an explorer yourself.
Machu Picchu Thermal Baths
6USD per personAfter Machu Picchu, the biggest tourist attraction in the town of Aguas Calientes are its thermal baths. Temperatures vary from 38ºC. (100.4 ° F) to 44ºC. (111.2 ° F). The waters come from a natural spring of volcanic origin that is yellowish in colour due to the presence of sulfur.
Mandor Waterfalls Optional Visit
20PEN per personThis botanical garden boasts a beautiful waterfall, varied wildlife and lush scenery. Walk along one of the trails and admire the many orchids.
Machu Picchu Butterfly Garden
20PEN per personThis sanctuary is located inside the National Park of Machu Picchu. There are more than 100 different endemic species here and you'll have the opportunity to see them on this visit to the House of Butterflies.
Accommodation
Seven Machu Picchu Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Machu 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.
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.
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.
Accommodation
El Puma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Cusco
Free day to explore Cusco or relax. Active options include the Rainbow Mountain hike and mountain biking.
Today is free to relax, explore, and shop in Cusco, or discover its surroundings on any number of optional excursions.
Among the more adventurous optional activities available in Cusco are a visit to nearby archaeological sites, such as Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara; white water rafting on the Urubamba River; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting an Inca ruin along the way.
Opt to visit and hike the famed Rainbow Mountain, pre-book on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
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 10 HideShow
Rainbow Mountain Hike - Full-day Trip
Lookout over these colourful Andean mountains striped with maroon, turquoise, lavender, and gold. The sediment, elevation, and proximity to the ocean create a landscape that has to be seen to be believed. Get started early to drive around 3 hours approximately to the starting point of this challenging, yet rewarding full-day hike. Reaching 5,029m (16,500 ft) this 8 km hike is no walk in the park, but these unique mountains do not disappoint. The ascent takes approximately 1.5 hours.
Accommodation
El Puma Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11Cusco/Puno
Spend the day travelling from Cusco to Puno by bus.
Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside on this full day of travel from Cusco to Puno, through the high Altiplano.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Accommodation
Balsa Inn (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Puno/Lake Titicaca
2-day kayaking excursion on Lake Titicaca, visiting Uros, Taquile, and Amantaní islands, including a homestay in a small village.
Enjoy an unforgettable kayak adventure, paddling to Taquile & Amantani and exploring the beauty of Lake Titicaca. This trip will give you the chance to get in contact with the nature, culture, & traditions of the islands from up close. The expert local guides will make you a direct participant in the local culture and not just an observer. Visit 3 different islands on this trip, and get a wide perspective of life in Lake Titicaca.
Motorboat
Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.
Lake Titicaca Kayak Excursion
Begin your journey early in the morning by transfering from the hotel to the port, then head out by motorboat to the base camp at the Peninsula of Capachica, a 2.5 hr trip. Learn about sea kayaking from our guide and paddle towards Taquile Island and enjoy the beauty and serenity of the moment. Hike to a village upon arrival and enjoy lunch with the locals. Continue on by motor boat to Amantani Island to meet your hosts for the night.
Motorboat
Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.
Your G for Good Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay
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.
Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow
Football Match
Enjoy watching a football match with locals.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 13Lake Titicaca/Puno
Kayak to Llachon and visit the Uros islands before returning to Puno. Opt to visit a Sillustani burial site.
Lake Titicaca Kayak Excursion
After breakfast, we say good bye to our host families and kayak onto Llachon, paddling for about 2.5 hrs. The kayaks are two person, sit-on-top kayaks, which can be piloted with limited experience after a short introductory briefing. It is a great kayak experience with the fresh morning winds. Upon arrival back to the base camp, enjoy a hot drink before continuing.
Uros Floating Islands Visit
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.
Optional Activities - Day 13 HideShow
Sillustani Burial Towers Entrance
59PEN per personTake a guided tour of the Sillustani burial towers known as "chullpas." Be awed by these fantastic ruins located outside Puno – their remarkable towers stretch up to 12m (39 ft) in height.
Accommodation
Balsa Inn (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 14Puno/Lima
Fly back to Lima and enjoy a free evening for exploring or sampling some yummy seafood.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Spend time exploring this fantastic city and be sure to sample the fantastic seafood here.
Accommodation
Hotel Santa Cruz (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 15Lima
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Optional Activities - Day 15 HideShow
Lima Cooking Class (4hrs)
Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan.
Please note that if you are travelling with a family there is no age restriction on this activity and the cooking class is acceptable for children.
Lima City Tour
40USD per personDiscover Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights on this half-day guided tour. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, walk around Plaza de Armas, marvel at the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and get to know some of Lima's lovely neighbourhoods. Stop to enjoy some authentic Peruvian tapas and be introduced to Pisco Sours during a demonstration and tasting.
Full Day Lima Experience
150USD per personExperience the highlights Lima along with its important eras in history such as, the Pre-Hispanic Oracle of Pachacamac. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the bohemian district of Barranco and visit the colonial convent of San Francisco and its latest addition, the Magic Water Park.