19 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners

16

Eating is a big part of traveling. G Adventures understands the importance of breakfast to start your day, we strive to include a basic breakfast wherever possible. A typical breakfast may include toast, coffee and tea, however this may vary depending on the city. Should breakfast not be included, your CEO can suggest some local options.

Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other’s company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. While trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients.

For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

1. MACHU PICCHU CIRCUITS

Machu Picchu regulations require all visitors to follow a pre-determined circuit within the site as a way to prevent overcrowding. The circuit-specific entrance tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. At the time of booking, you may select your preferred circuit, subject to availability. If no selection is made, we will book a circuit based on availability at the time of booking. All circuits offer the opportunity to enjoy the beauty, history, and impressive ingenuity of this ancient site. TO NOTE: Travellers completing the Inca trail and 1-day Inca Trail will be assigned Circuit 3 for their guided visit of Machu Picchu, but will also have access to the panoramic viewpoint upon arrival via the Sun Gate.

2. INCA TRAIL REGULATIONS

The rules and regulations controlling the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu are continually changing. Before embarking on your adventure to Peru it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the Inca Trail booking policies and guidelines as described in a document available on our website, at the following URL address .

3. MACHU PICCHU REGULATIONS

Current and correct passport details are required at time of confirmation. For more details please see the following page . Please note that regulations have been implemented for all visitors to Machu Picchu which require that different circuits be followed within the site as a way to relieve crowding. The new circuit-based entrance tickets are available on a first come first serve basis. We will do all that is possible to get everyone traveling in a group on the same route, but be aware that it is possible that members of the same group might be visiting Machu Picchu on a different circuit and not be together during this visit. Rest assured that regardless of the circuit you will enjoy the beauty and grandeur of the site. Travellers completing the 4 day, 3 night Inca Trail will be on Circuit 5 upon reaching the site of Machu Picchu.

4. MACHU PICCHU BY TRAIN – OPTIONAL

Please advise at time of booking if you do not wish to hike the Inca Trail. Instead, you will have 2 nights in Cusco, travel by train for a night in Aguas Calientes, and join the hikers for the tour of Machu Picchu.

5. INCA TRAIL MAINTENANCE

Portions of the Inca Trail will be closed for general maintenance during the month of February each year. Also, closures may occur at various times throughout the year due to inclement weather or other conditions beyond our control. During these periods, any tour affected will hike the Lares Trek.

6. COMBO TRIP

Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

7. PORTERS

In our continued effort to support the rights of the porters on the Inca Trail, we would like ensure that they never exceed the weight limit for their packs as set out by the Peruvian authorities. Porters are allowed to carry no more than 6kg of personal belongings per hiker (for all other Peru treks the limit is 7kg). That means that including your sleeping bag, toiletries, clothing, etc, you are allowed a total weight of 6kg for the hike which will be carried in a duffle bag provided by our local office. Any additional weight must then be carried by you in your day pack. To help achieve this goal we recommend that you carry travel sized toiletries, that you bring sport sandals that can be worn with socks (which are lighter than running/walking shoes) and that you limit electronics to those that you are willing to carry. Any additional baggage can be left in Cusco, but is advised that you bring anything of value (eg. money, passport, credit cards, camera, etc) with you on the trek.

If at the end of your trek you felt your trekking guide and support team did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, please see the Tipping section for guidelines.

8. YELLOW FEVER

It may be required to show a Yellow Fever certificate upon entering the country visited. Please check in with your local health expert for advice on Yellow Fever and other inoculations required for this area.

9. WET SEASON

Please be advised during the wet season (Jan – April) if there are periods of severe rain some of the campsites on the Inca Trail may become unusable. In the interest of your safety, there may be changes made locally to the trekking itinerary if the conditions of the campsites are assessed to be unsafe. 

10. GROUP DYNAMICS

Please note, in most cases, the entire group will not be hiking the Inca Trail together. Members of the group may choose to hike the Lares Trek or spend additional time in Cusco and the Sacred Valley instead of hiking. If you have chosen the Lares Trek or Cusco Stay you may be paired with members of other G Adventures groups for the trek, transportation, and activities included.

11. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

12. Wifi

Please note that there will be no wifi and limited cellular service available for much of the trek.

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike, expert jungle guide in Amazon.

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.

Most people automatically assume that the weather is hot in South America, but because of the higher altitude in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold, especially at night.

We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage.

All other camping equipment for the Inca Trail hike is provided and included in the cost of the excursion. Porters carry the gear, so you will only be responsible for carrying your daypack. But please be aware there are weight limits on what the porters can carry, thus every passenger is limited to 6kg, including sleeping bags.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Explore Arequipa’s baroque sillar stone facades and colonnaded squares before entering the city-within-a-city of Santa Catalina Monastery. Stroll cloistered lanes painted cobalt and terracotta, with quiet courtyards perfumed by geraniums.

Hear tales of nuns and novitiates, admire simple cells and chapels, and frame vistas against the volcanic skyline beyond the rooftops. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Paddle Lake Titicaca in stable kayaks with a local guide, skimming along totora reed margins and quiet coves near Puno. Feel the crisp air and wide-open horizons of the world’s highest navigable lake.

Learn about birdlife and shoreline communities as you glide across high-altitude waters. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, with all gear provided.

Board a small aircraft for a flight over the Nazca Lines, banking gently so each side sees the vast figures etched into the desert—the hummingbird, condor and monkey among them. Your pilot and guide point out shapes emerging from the tawny pampa.

Learn current theories about their creation and purpose, from celestial markers to ceremonial pathways. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, weather and visibility permitting.

Join a culinary guide through the bustling San Pedro Market to discover tubers, cheeses, Andean grains, and jungle fruit. Back at the studio, transform Andean ingredients into regional favorites during a hands-on cooking class.

Practice knife skills, balance ají heat, and plate dishes with chef tips you can bring home. Cap it with a toast to Cusco’s food scene. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Taste the coast’s heritage at a traditional bodega, where you’ll learn how grapes become Peru’s signature spirit and sample regional wines and artisanal pisco. See rustic presses and copper stills, then compare flavor notes during a guided tasting led by local specialists.

Walk the palm-fringed shore of the Huacachina Oasis, framed by towering desert dunes. Capture sweeping sandscapes and watch boarders arc down golden slopes. The oasis’ mirror-like lagoon and warm desert air make this a uniquely photogenic pause between coastal towns.

Visit the stark desert site of Chauchilla Cemetery, where ancient tombs still reveal 1,500–2,000-year-old mummies, ceramics, and textiles preserved by the arid climate. Your guide explains burial practices and the Nazca culture’s connection to the surrounding pampa.

Continue to a local workshop to see Nazca style pottery shaped and painted using time-honored techniques. Watch natural pigments meet hand-coiled forms before kiln firing, as artisans interpret iconography inspired by desert creatures, water, and the night sky.

Explore the vast Colca Canyon on a guided tour through terraced valleys and highland villages. Stop at famed viewpoints like Cruz del Condor to watch these majestic birds ride thermal currents above one of the world’s deepest canyons.

Learn how ancient agricultural terraces still sustain local communities and scan the skyline for volcanoes like Misti and Chachani. Keep an eye out for alpaca and vicuña herds as you traverse misty mountain passes and dramatic Andean scenery.

Board a boat for a panoramic Lake Titicaca crossing to Taquile, where stone paths climb to viewpoints of cobalt waters and distant Bolivian peaks. Explore village plazas and admire terraces carved into the mountainside.

Meet master weavers known for intricate handwoven textiles—on Taquile, men traditionally knit distinctive chullo hats from fine wool. Shop cooperatives for high-quality pieces and enjoy the quiet rhythm of island life along Taquile Island’s breezy ridge.

Experience everyday life with Aymara hosts in lakeside Luquina Chico during a warm, community-run homestay. Share simple meals, learn a few Aymara phrases, and help with light chores as you settle into the gentle pace of the altiplano.

In the evening, join neighbors for traditional music and dance and hear how this Planeterra-supported community sustains local culture through tourism. Wake to highland light over Titicaca and the sound of shorebirds skimming the reeds.

Cruise among the floating islands of Uros, a remarkable world built entirely from totora reeds. Step onto springy surfaces and learn how families anchor, layer, and continuously renew their buoyant homes.

Meet islanders who navigate the lake in elegant reed boats, craft with natural fibers, and share stories of adaptation to this high-altitude environment. Observe how fresh reed layers replace older ones as part of the islands’ living maintenance.

Travel through the Sacred Valley to the Ccaccaccollo co-op to see ancestral techniques at the Ccaccaccollo Women’s Weaving Co-op. Watch natural dyeing with cochineal and muña, and observe backstrap-loom weaving that turns alpaca fiber into heirloom textiles.

Sit down to a farm-to-table feast at the Parwa Community Restaurant, then visit Cuyo Chico for a hands-on pottery-making demonstration. Learn how adobe bricks and local clay shape daily life, with valley vistas and Pisac’s terraces on the horizon.

Discover how locally made, biodegradable soap products support cleaner treks and empower women entrepreneurs near Cusco. Hear the story behind a small social enterprise born to reduce environmental impact on Andean trails.

See how botanicals like muña and native herbs become effective cleansers through traditional know-how and modern quality standards, and meet the team driving this women-led enterprise forward.

Embark on the classic Inca Trail guided hike, tracing original ancient stone steps through cloud forests, high passes, and orchids dripping from mossy trees. Your expert guides, cooks, and porters provide hearty meals, camp comfort, and trail insight.

Explore atmospheric ruins like Llactapata and Runkurakay and challenge yourself over Dead Woman’s Pass at 4,198m. Feel the hush of cloud forest valleys and the thrill of piecing together the Incas’ mountainous highway toward a hidden citadel.

Enter through the storied Sun Gate for a sweeping first look at terraces spilling toward jungle peaks, then join a Machu Picchu guided tour to decode temples, fountains, and dwellings. Llamas graze as clouds lift from the granite ridgelines.

Hear how stonemasons aligned walls with seismic precision and managed water with terraces and channels—an ode to Inca engineering framed by a soaring Andean backdrop. This UNESCO-listed masterpiece rewards an unhurried wander and quiet moments of reflection.

At dawn, canoe a secluded oxbow lake as mist lifts over mirror-calm water. Watch hoatzin rustle in shoreline thickets, scan for capybara, and listen for the splash of elusive giant river otter while macaws wheel overhead.

On forest walks with an expert naturalist guide, meet strangler figs and buttress roots, learn about medicinal plants, and trace animal tracks along wildlife-rich waterways. The dense Amazon rainforest hums with life at every step.

After dusk, set out on a guided night walk to encounter the rainforest’s hidden cast—glittering spiders, tree frogs, and nocturnal insects revealed by careful torchlight under a moon-washed canopy.

Drift along the river on a caiman-spotting cruise, scanning the banks for the shimmering eye-shine of black caiman. Savor the hush of the rainforest after dark as constellations reflect off the ink-black water.

Cruise the Ballestas Islands on a fast launch to see raucous sea-lion colonies, wheeling seabirds, and dapper Humboldt penguins perched on guano-whitened rock arches. Guides share insights into the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current that fuels this marine haven.

Along the way, pause offshore to view the enigmatic Candelabra geoglyph etched into a coastal hillside. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to weather and sea conditions.

Travel to windswept shores to see the monumental Sillustani chullpas, cylindrical tombs raised by pre-Inca Colla and later Inca elites. Your guide explains funerary rites as you walk among silent sentinels overlooking Lake Umayo.

Examine fine stone joins and lizard-carved reliefs, and take a moment to pause for photos and reflection where sky and water meet the altiplano. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Set out to hike Rainbow Mountain, where iron-rich and mineral-striped slopes ripple in reds, golds, and teals. Trek across open puna with alpaca herds and Andean vistas, cresting a 5,000 m pass for jaw-dropping panoramas.

Guides pace the ascent and share geology behind the mountain’s striped mineral slopes. Dress warmly and allow for thin mountain air. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Head out with a chef to visit a local market, eyeing citrus for ceviche, purple corn, and ají peppers. Back in the kitchen, prepare ceviche, lomo saltado, and other staples while learning about Peru’s coastal-Andean-Amazon pantry.

Finish by shaking a Pisco Sour and tasting your creations as the chef shares regional nuances and home-style techniques. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Meet your group and meet your CEO and group in Lima for a relaxed briefing that sets the tone for the journey ahead. Get practical tips on Lima, currency, safety, and local etiquette, and hear how the itinerary blends iconic sites with meaningful community visits. Expect a friendly, small-group atmosphere from the very start.

Learn how your trip supports responsible travel initiatives and discover ways to connect respectfully with local traditions. One evening, choose to join your fellow travellers for a first taste of Peruvian cuisine or a classic Pisco Sour in the city’s vibrant neighborhoods.