Quito to La Paz: Amazon & Ancient Cultures

Arrive at any time. Tonight, get to know your fellow travellers over a few drinks at a downtown bar. Say cheers with a local craft beer and get excited for the adventure of a lifetime.
Spend the first day of your trip wandering Ecuador's capital city. Meet the group in the evening at the hotel.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - 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.Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Accommodation - Hotel Air Suites

Travel overland to the jungle city of Tena, located on the edge of the Amazon. Hop into the back of a pickup truck and head to the local community of Pimpilala where you will stay in rustic wooden huts. Enjoy the hospitality of a Quichua family and experience life in the jungle first-hand.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - Learn about local traditional beliefs and customs on this cultural jungle experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon close to Napo River. Stay in rustic wooden huts with a local Quichua family as hosts near the community of Cando. They've introduced countless visitors to local living and a completely different way of doing things — one that may give you a different perspective on life. Take part in a number of amazing activities. Hike through the rainforest, plunge into waterfalls, and learn the uses of tropical plants. Experience local tradition, and learn about Quichua history and culture.Accommodation - Cabanas Pimpilala

Venture out on nature walks and become immersed in the jungle around you. Learn about uses of traditional plants, and the cultural beliefs and local traditions in the Amazon jungle. You can also choose to take a tour of an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Learn about local traditional beliefs and customs on this cultural jungle experience in the Ecuadorian Amazon close to Napo River. Stay in rustic wooden huts with a local Quichua family as hosts near the community of Cando. They've introduced countless visitors to local living and a completely different way of doing things — one that may give you a different perspective on life. Take part in a number of amazing activities. Hike through the rainforest, plunge into waterfalls, and learn the uses of tropical plants. Experience local tradition, and learn about Quichua history and culture.Accommodation - Cabanas Pimpilala

Wake up and cycle to the nearby community of Shandia and discover the beauty of the Amazon with a member of the community as your guide. Learn about traditional uses of cacao by watching a chocolate-making demonstration, eat meals made of fresh local ingredients, and stay at the G Adventures-supported community lodge.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Stay overnight at the Shandia Indigenous lodge located in the Ecuadorian Amazon. With the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, the community has developed new culturally immersive tours led by the village’s youth. The community lodge is seen by the community as a way to rescue their Indigenous culture and provide opportunities for the future. Watch a chocolate making demonstration and learn about their cultivation of cacao and their traditional agriculture practices. Meals of local ingredients grown in the village are prepared by women who were provided with culinary training through the project. Leave Shandia community knowing your visit is creating opportunities for a whole new generation of people in this community to improve their lives, and the lives of their children and grandchildren.Activity - Cycle to the Indigenous Shandia community, a rural village surrounded by rivers and lush Amazonian landscapes. With the support of G Adventures and Planeterra, the community has developed new culturally immersive experiences led by the village’s youth. Spend 40 minutes cycling from Shandia lodge stopping along the way to take in the beauty of the Amazon. These cultural tours are seen by the community as a way to rescue their Indigenous culture and provide opportunities for the future. This provides an economic opportunity for youth who traditionally would have left the community to find work. Leave Shandia community knowing your visit is creating opportunities for a new generation in the community and contributing to the preservation of their culture.Accommodation - Shandia Lodge

Travel to Baños and get your adrenaline pumping. Try out horseback riding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, or rafting in the surrounding mountains.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Hop into the back and ride along to the next destination.Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Free_time - Get out and explore Baños and its beautiful surroundings.Accommodation - Hotel La Floresta

The day is yours to explore what Baños has to offer. Check out the swing at the end of the world or relax in nearby hot springs.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out there and get exploring.Accommodation - Hotel La Floresta

Soak up the scenic views en route to the town of Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest town. Explore art galleries, museums, and admire its colonial architecture. Visit national parks, take walks in the breathtaking countryside, or check out the country's only Inca ruin site.


Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Hotel La Casona

Choose your own adventure today. Wander through charming cobbled streets to discover the sights and sounds of Cuenca. From colourful homes with red-tiled roofs, to flower markets and picturesque plazas, the photo ops are endless in this town. (Prepare to have your camera roll filled with Cuenca!) Later, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Mancora.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy free time to explore colonial Cuenca and its surroundings.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list. Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.Accommodation - Qema Mancora

Wake up in the seaside town of Mancora, a village populated by fishermen and surfers. Chill out and breathe in the salty air.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Chill out in this Peruvian fishing village, head to the beach or give surfing a try. Accommodation - Qema Mancora

A lazy beach day is just what the doctor ordered. Unless you want to or take a surf lesson or join a yoga class. Totally up to you as you enjoy a free day in Mancora.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a free day to relax or get active.Accommodation - Qema Mancora

Didn't get to do everything you wanted yesterday? No worries – more time in Mancora today. Later, relax and get some sleep on an overnight bus to Trujillo.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and enjoy this beachside town.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Bienvenidos a Trujillo! You can visit the impressive Chan Chan sandstone archaeological site today, snap a photo at the yellow colonial church, or head to Huanchaco for some more beach time.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and explore the city!Accommodation - Hotel Orbegoso

Enjoy another full day in Trujillo before boarding a night bus to Lima.


Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.Free_time - Do as much or as little as you'd like before an overnight bus in the evening.

Discover the lively city of Lima today. Visit the trendy Barranco neighbourhood with your CEO to get a taste of bohemian-cool, try some ceviche, or sip pisco sours after exploring the colourful mansions and palm-studded streets.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Dubbed Lima's coolest neighbourhood, once full of summer homes for Lima's elite now an area full with art boutiques, trendy bars, converted mansions, and cool vibes.Free_time - Get out and enjoy a first taste of Lima, the capital of Peru.Accommodation - Hotel Gemina

Enjoy the day exploring the city. Opt to pre-book the Lima Cooking Class and learn how to cook some classic Peruvian dishes using ingredients from the local market.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and get exploring!Accommodation - Hotel Gemina

Travel along Peru's breathtaking coast to the oasis of Huacachina where you can sandboard on the desert dunes while watching the sun go down.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - Get your adrenaline pumping in a dune buggy on the desert dunes, ride the ups and downs in these desert mountains. Strap on a board and try out sandboarding, just like it sounds like snowboarding, but on sand. Enjoy the softer landings and the warmer temps. After, head back to the oasis of Huacachina through the stunning dunes and watch the sunset in the distance.Accommodation - Viajero Huacachina

Wake up and make the most of your time in Huacachina before your adventure continues on to Nazca. There is time in the morning for an optional excursion to the Ballestas Islands, home to a lively colony of sea lions, pelicans, and other varieties of birds. Later, catch a bus to Nazca. Stop along the way at a Pisco winery and try the country's national drink!


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Learn about the wine and pisco production in the area and enjoy a tasting of different varieties, which are all available for purchase. Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Hacienda San Marcelo

Choose to soar over the iconic Nazca Lines today with a pre-bookable flight, or take a tour of the Nazca Desert Cemetery and Pottery Studio. For lunch today experience pachamanca, a traditional way to prepare Andean foods by slow cooking them in an underground oven. Tonight, catch some z's on an overnight bus to Arequipa.

Meals included: Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy some free time during the day.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.Activity - Enjoy a traditional meal. Assist in the preparation of a thousand-year-old tradition: "Pachamanca," an ancient ceremony akin to the Polynesian meal of burying a variety of delicious treats wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooking them with pre-heated rocks buried in the ground.

Welcome to Arequipa! Take the day to explore what is known as the 'white city.' If you're into history and architecture, visit the Santa Catalina Monastery, where you'll get a unique glimpse into a bygone way of life. For spicy food lovers, visiting one of the 'picanterías' is a must. Satisfy your craving with a variety of local regional foods: alpaca, shrimp, pork, lots of soups, and spicy sauces.


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Make the most of your time here.Accommodation - Terra Mistica Casa Consuelo

Enjoy a full-day tour of the spectacular Colca Valley and venture to the impressive Colca Canyon — one of the deepest canyons in the world — on an overnight excursion. With a little luck, you'll spot some unusual Andean animals such as vicuñas, and alpacas. Give your body some much needed relaxation by taking an optional dip in the the hot springs.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Spot condors on this guided tour, and keep your eyes peeled for other unusual animals. Look for three different species of camelids: alpaca, llama, and vicuña, which are all typical of Peru.Accommodation - Vita Colca Hotel

Get an early start to be on the look out for condors. Travel from Chivay town to a condor viewpoint to get a glimpse of these magnificent birds in the air. On the way back, stop in local villages, and see old terraces. Later, head out for a drink in the Calle Zela area – restaurant, bar, or club, there's something for everyone!

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Spot condors on this guided tour, and keep your eyes peeled for other unusual animals. Look for three different species of camelids: alpaca, llama, and vicuña, which are all typical of Peru.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Terra Mistica Casa Consuelo

Explore Arequipa – take a city tour if you want or check out a monastery or museum. Later, sit back and relax on an overnight bus to Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out and explore more of this beautiful colonial city.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Explore the city on your own today or choose from a variety of activities that will help you discover the magic of Cusco. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets and plazas or choose to take a half-day tour of the city. Or, pre-book the Cusco cooking class if you want to learn to prepare delicious local specialties!


Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Make the most of your time in Cusco.Accommodation - Hostelworld Viajero Cusco

Today is another free day to explore all that Cusco has to offer. Feeling active? Take on the Rainbow Mountain trek or go mountain biking. Prefer to stay local? Take it easy with a visit to the Inka Museum and hit up some of the many great cafes, restaurants and bars.
To arrange the hike to 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.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Make the most of your time in Cusco.Accommodation - Hostelworld Viajero Cusco

Head into the Sacred Valley today to visit the G-Adventures supported women's weaving co-op in the Ccaccaccollo community. Learn about weaving, and meet the adorable resident llamas. If you see a knitted item you like, buy it — a perfect keepsake from your journey. Stop and sample some craft beer at a brewery on your way to Ollantaytambo.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - 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. Activity - Delight your tastebuds and sample high-quality beer with the breathtaking Sacred Valley as a backdrop. This craft brewery uses local ingredients to make award-winning brews and gives back to the surrounding communities. What's not to like? Accommodation - Las Orquideas Ollantaytambo

Depart Ollantaytambo by van to Lares town where your hike begins! Spend the first night in a G Adventures-supported campsite in Cuncani.
The Lares Trek is a scenic, less touristic route to hike through the Andes. It is one day shorter than the Inca Trail but higher in elevation. Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products for use on the Lares Trek.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - 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. Activity - Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products, for use on our treks. This G Adventures for Good project empowered local Cusqueña women to start their own business in order to reduce the environmental impact of treks in the region. Planeterra provided $10,000 of seed funding for two young entrepreneurs to register their biodegradable products in order to sell them to the tourism industry. "Esencia Andina" is now a successful business that produces biodegradable soaps, detergents, and natural products for travellers, guides, porters, and cooks on our treks.Accommodation - Cuncani Camp Site

Wake up and get an early start today to hike from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain to its high pass (4,750m/15,583 ft), 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. After the morning hike, stop to rest and take in the amazing view. Continue hiking downhill to our second campsite near the stream for the night.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - 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.Accommodation - Suttoq Pacchaq Camp Site

Enjoy the last few hours of hiking before travelling by van to Ollantaytambo and train to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a good night's rest at your hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - 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.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Machu Picchu Inn

Enjoy a guided visit to Machu Picchu. Later, travel back to Cusco. Tonight, dance the night away at a popular night club.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - 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.Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a bonfire on the beach, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.Accommodation - Hostelworld Viajero Cusco

Today is another free day to get the most out of Cusco and to do anything you may not have done yet. Continue to explore and be active or relax and watch the world go by from one of they many bars and restaurants on the main plaza.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Get out there and see it all – or just chill out to your heart's content.Accommodation - Hostelworld Viajero Cusco

Sit back, relax, and soak in the impressive views as you travel by bus through the Altiplano on your way to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Hostal Milagros Inn

This morning, you will board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island. Opt to have lunch in a local restaurant and shop in the afternoon at the local weaving cooperatives. Later, cruise to another village for an overnight homestay to live like a local on the shores of the lake. Learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and create unforgettable memories with the family and fellow travellers.

Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Board a boat on Lake Titicaca and head to Taquile Island for an optional delicious Peruvian lunch at a restaurant followed by some shopping at the local weaving cooperatives. Taquileños are known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing, men are taught how to knit around age five and they create the majority of the textiles. After, enjoy an overnight stay with a host family and a chance to learn about life on the islands.Activity - Accommodation on the islands may be multi-share.

Say goodbye to your homestay family and stop at the Uros Islands on your way back to Puno. If you want, you can check out the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site. Or kayak on Lake Titicaca.

Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Spend the morning with the homestay families, then depart after lunch. Visit the floating islands of Uros on the way back, and learn about the unique lifestyle of the locals. Meet residents and learn how they built the islands with totora reeds, which are also used to make their homes, boats, crafts (and are also edible!). Free_time - Make the most of one last afternoon in Puno.Accommodation - Hostal Milagros Inn

Today, enjoy a full-day drive around the picturesque lake and through the Altiplano to La Paz. Cross over into Bolivia and catch your breath before a night out in the highest city of the trip. Check out the area of Sopocachi for cool bohemian vibes.

Meals included: Breakfast

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Accommodation - Hotel Las Brisas

Depart at any time.


Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.