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11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners

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. This will typically 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.

G Adventures Representatives in Lima and Cusco, specialist Inca Trail CEO (Chief Experience Officer) 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.

3 Nights Camping

If your trip includes the Inca Trail or Lares Trek, we use three-person tents to accommodate two travellers, leaving room for your sleeping mats and sleeping bags (not provided, but available for rent). There are a few places along the trail with permanent (very basic) toilet facilities and we also set up private toilet tents for the use of G travellers.

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.

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.

Glide silently across mirror-calm oxbow lakes by canoe as guides scan reedbeds and overhanging branches for hoatzin, herons, and elusive mammals. With luck, watch ripples betray a giant river otter family on patrol or a basking black caiman.

Your expert naturalist guides interpret jungle ecology—floating vegetation, fish nurseries, medicinal plants—revealing how seasonal floods sculpt these wildlife havens. Gentle walking on surrounding trails complements time on the water.

Visit the Andean village of Ccaccaccollo to meet artisans at a thriving women’s weaving co-op. Watch demonstrations of backstrap-loom techniques and the natural dyeing of alpaca fibers using local plants and cochineal. Engage with the weavers about motifs that record Andean myths and daily life.

Learn how the Planeterra-supported initiative creates stable income and preserves heritage skills. Browse textiles directly from the makers, knowing your visit helps fund training, alpaca husbandry, and small-business development in the community.

Explore the highlands on a day-long journey as you join a guided tour through the Sacred Valley, tracing the ribbon of the Urubamba River past patchwork fields and traditional Quechua hamlets. Take in sweeping views of Inca agricultural terraces carved into the mountainsides and admire the valley’s living culture.

Hear how ingenious irrigation and microclimates sustained the Inca heartland and still shape village life today. Local guides share context on farming traditions and seasonal festivals, inviting you to pause for photos and reflection at scenic lookouts along the route.

Witness an intimate pottery-making demonstration in the farming village of Cuyo Chico, where families craft utilitarian and decorative wares. See clay sourced from nearby hills shaped by hand and simple wheels, then fired in rustic kilns—techniques passed down through generations.

Hear how adobe ceramics echo the architecture of Andes homes while designs reflect crops, constellations, and daily rhythms. The setting overlooks the terraces near the Pisac Ruins, adding a dramatic backdrop to this celebration of hands-on artistry.

Savor a farm-to-table lunch at the Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo, where seasonal Andean ingredients—quinoa, native potatoes, corn, and aromatic herbs—anchor a regional menu. Dishes highlight valley flavors while supporting local growers and kitchen staff.

Learn how this community-run initiative channels tourism into micro-enterprises and training. Hosts share stories of sustainable agriculture and culinary heritage, turning lunch into a meaningful exchange between travelers and the Sacred Valley families who welcome them.

Begin your adventure as you hike the Inca Trail past river gorges, bromeliad-clad slopes, and the early archaeological site of Llactapata. Follow stone paths that once linked the imperial road network, moving between meandering streams and terraced hillsides toward Wayllabamba camp.

Guides interpret flora, Andean birdlife, and trail etiquette while porters and cooks handle camp logistics. Settle into the rhythm of the mountains as Andean scenery shifts with elevation, preparing body and mind for the passes to come.

Challenge yourself on the steep stone stairways to Dead Woman’s Pass, the trek’s high point at 4,198m (13,769 ft). Pace your breathing, sip water, and watch condors ride thermal currents as the Apus (sacred peaks) ring the horizon.

At the crest, misty mountain passes unfold in layers of silver and blue. Celebrate the achievement with your group, taking time to absorb the scale of the Andes before descending into a valley shaped by ancient glaciers and cloud-forest winds.

Traverse mossy paths through orchids and tree ferns as you cross Runqurakay Pass, then follow superb original paving toward the ceremonial complex of Phuyupatamarca, the “town above the clouds.” Descend carved stairways to the elegant terraces of Wiñay Wayna.

Guides illuminate Inca engineering—ritual baths, water channels, and precisely cut stone—within this humid cloud forest environment. With every turn, the trail reveals new sightlines toward the Urubamba Valley and the final approach to the Lost City.

Arrive at dawn to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) and watch light spill over Machu Picchu, its soaring stone terraces stepping down to the cloud-brushed ridge. Walk the final stretch into the citadel as llamas graze on emerald lawns.

Join a local expert for a comprehensive tour of temples, neighborhoods, and astronomical alignments at this UNESCO World Heritage site. Learn how the 15th-century sanctuary blended sacred geography, hydrology, and imperial power—an enduring testament to Inca mastery.

Settle into the exclusive G Lodge Amazon, reached by boat along the Tambopata River. Fall asleep to a chorus of tree frogs and wake to macaws over the canopy, with days shaped by outings led by local naturalist guides.

Experience an intimate base designed with eco-friendly practices, from solar-heated water to low-impact construction. Between explorations, sway in a hammock, listen for howler monkeys, and absorb the rainforest’s rhythm far from city noise.

Venture out on a guided night walk, flashlight in hand, to discover the rainforest’s after-dark cast. Witness leaf-cutter ants at work, search for stick insects and katydids, and tune into the layered chorus around you.

Guides reveal adaptations of nocturnal rainforest life—bioluminescence, camouflage, and keen senses—while helping spot creatures like tarantulas and tree frogs. The forest’s scents and sounds feel amplified beneath a sky riddled with southern stars.

Drift along the river on a caiman-spotting cruise by motorized canoe. Sweep the banks with a guide’s spotlight to catch the glowing eyes of these stealthy reptiles and listen for splash and rustle along the riverbanks of Madre de Dios.

Between sightings, learn about caiman behavior, river food webs, and conservation challenges. The night air is cool, the sky bright with stars, and the forest hum carries across the dark water.

Discover a locally led biodegradable soap project in Cusco, where the Esencia Andina team crafts trek-friendly detergents and soaps from plant-based ingredients. See how innovation and tradition meet to reduce waste on popular trails.

Hear how this women-led enterprise creates dignified jobs while helping reduce environmental impact on the Inca Trail. Products used on your trek reflect a wider effort to keep Andean waterways pristine for communities and wildlife.

Join a Lima cooking class and visit a local market with a chef to explore the city’s cornucopia of chilies, citrus, and Andean tubers. Back in the kitchen, prepare traditional Peruvian dishes that showcase seasonal ingredients and coastal-highland fusion.

Learn plating tips and culinary history as you taste the results together. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; availability may vary and pre-booking is recommended for popular time slots.

Explore highland flavors on a Cusco gastronomic workshop that pairs a guided walk through a neighborhood market with hands-on prep in a local kitchen. Discover native herbs, ají peppers, and Andean grains before you prepare traditional Peruvian dishes under expert guidance.

Share a convivial meal while discussing culinary influences from Inca to Spanish colonial. This class is at additional cost and bookable on tour; spaces are limited and early reservation is advised.

See the imperial capital from multiple angles on a panoramic city tour. Admire cyclopean stonework at Sacsayhuamán, examine Inca-Spanish layering at Qorikancha, and take in the architectural drama of the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas.

Guides connect pre-Columbian foundations with baroque facades, tracing Cusco’s evolution from sacred center to vibrant Andean city. This excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to site hours and local conditions.

Tackle a high-altitude trek to Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), where mineral bands streak the slopes in red, ochre, and teal. Walk across puna grasslands with alpaca herds, gaining views toward Ausangate as you approach the 5,036m (16,522 ft) viewpoint.

Guides brief on acclimatization, weather, and cultural significance of the peaks considered Apus. This is a challenging high-altitude trekking experience at additional cost and bookable on tour; suitable clothing and fitness are essential.