Experience Overview
Really discover what South America is all about on this epic five-week journey through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This adventure truly has it all – the Pacific coast, the awe-inspiring Amazon, and the archeological highlights and cultural treasures of the Andean highlands. Take the train to Machu Picchu, tear it up on mountain bikes, raft wild rivers, catch big waves, and get your adrenaline pumping on exciting optional excursions. With local transportation and authentic accommodation, this adventure offers an intense blend of included activities and free time to explore on your own.
Highlights
- Experience traditional life in the Amazon
- Witness colonial cities and volcanoes
- Sandboard the dunes of Huacachina
- Spot condors at Colca Canyon
- Visit the salt pans of Maras and the ruins of Moray
- Discover Machu Picchu with a local expert
- Set in with the locals at a homestay on Lake Titicaca.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2785
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Public bus, boat, truck, motorized canoe, train, hiking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: 18 - 35 Year Olds Only
Supplier Code: SEQL.C
Starts: Quito, Ecuador
Finishes: La Paz, Bolivia
Duration: 35 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Biking & Community Experience, Shandia Your G for Good Moment: Shandia Community Lodge, Shandia Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Local Living Moment: Amazon Jungle Experience, Tena Your Discover Moment: Baños Your Discover Moment: Lima Your Foodie Moment: Pachamanca, Nazca Your Discover Moment: Cusco Your Foodie Moment: Sacred Valley Brewery, Ollantaytambo Your Big Night Out Moment: Cusco Your Local Living Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay, Lake Titicaca
- Amazon Jungle excursion
- Beach time in Mancora
- Sunset sandboarding & dune buggies (Huacachina)
- Pachamanca-style dinner (Nazca)
- Colca Canyon excursion
- Visit the Maras salt pans and ruins of Moray
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Lake Titicaca excursion and homestay
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Simple (20 nts), hostel (6 nts, multi-share), overnight buses (4 nts), homestay (3 nts), G Adventures-supported community lodge (1 nt).
- 20 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
Transport
- Public bus, boat, truck, motorized canoe, train, hiking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer), local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 5499 (CAD 157 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito
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.
Day 2: Quito/Tena
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.
Day 3: Tena
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.
Day 4: Tena
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.
Day 5: Tena/Baños
Travel to Baños and get your adrenaline pumping. Try out horseback riding, canyoning, hiking, mountain biking, or rafting in the surrounding mountains.
Day 6: Baños
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.
Day 7: Baños/Cuenca
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.
Day 8: Cuenca
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.
Day 9: Máncora
Wake up in the seaside town of Mancora, a village populated by fishermen and surfers. Chill out and breathe in the salty air.
Day 10: Máncora
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.
Day 11: Máncora/Trujillo
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.
Day 12: Trujillo
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.
Day 13: Trujillo/Lima
Enjoy another full day in Trujillo before boarding a night bus to Lima.
Day 14: Lima
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.
Day 15: Lima
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.
Day 16: Lima/Huacachina
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.
Day 17: Huacachina/Nazca
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!
Day 18: Nazca/Arequipa
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.
Day 19: Arequipa
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.
Day 20: Arequipa/Colca Canyon
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.
Day 21: Colca Canyon/Arequipa
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!
Day 22: Arequipa/Cusco
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.
Day 23: Cusco
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!
Day 24: 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.
Day 25: Cusco/Ollantaytambo
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.
Day 26: Ollantaytambo/Cusco
Enjoy a breakfast at your hotel before visiting the Ollantaytambo ruins where you'll walk up the 200 stone steps to reach the top. Afterwards, return to the Sacred Valley with the CEO to explore the sites of the Maras Salt Mines and the ancient Incan agricultural terraces of Moray. Stop in Piuray and opt to grab lunch before visiting 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.
Day 27: Cusco
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. The group will see the colonial architecture and influence visible in Cusco and visit the beautiful Sapantiana waterfalls before having lunch at Nuna Raymi in the city. Afterwards, the group will walk back to the hotel and can enjoy free time for the rest of the evening.
Day 28: Cusco/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.
Day 29: Aguas Calientes/Cusco
Wake up ready to discover the magic of Machu Picchu today with a guided tour. Later, head back down to Aguas Calientes to meet with your group and board a train back to Cusco. Tonight, dance the night away at a popular night club.
Day 30: 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.
Day 31: Cusco/Puno
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.
Day 32: Puno/Lake Titicaca
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.
Day 33: Lake Titicaca/Puno
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.
Day 34: Puno/La Paz
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.
Day 35: La Paz
Depart at any time.
Similar Experiences
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Nico M. - Traveled, June 2024
I was stunned by the great organization. The trip completely surprised me in a positive way. I made amazing experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/06/2024
Angus J. - Traveled, May 2024
A five week adventure I will never forget. I met incredible people and felt I got to understand these countries a little better. It's a hell of a lot of busses and you sometimes wish for more time but overall it's worth it to experience these pla...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2024
Andrea J. - Traveled, April 2024
We've it all: the beaches, the desserts the Andes and the jungles. An amazing adventure that takes you from 0 up to 4200 meters above sea level.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2024
Christina V. - Traveled, April 2024
Thank you! It was an awesome experience and a new mode of travel for me. I am thankful for the memories, the amazing people I met and will always remember this trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/14/2024
Scarlett A. - Traveled, March 2024
I personally loved every second on the tour, i had so much fun and the friends i made in my group are definitely lifelong friends now. My CEOs were good and helped when we needed them too. 10/10!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/14/2024
Sophie A. - Traveled, February 2024
First box
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/04/2024
Scarlett A. - Traveled, February 2024
I personally loved every second on the tour, i had so much fun and the friends i made in my group are definitely lifelong friends now. My CEOs were good and helped when we needed them too. 10/10!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/04/2024
Ditte B. - Traveled, February 2024
Live laugh have fun
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/24/2024
Roberto R. - Traveled, February 2024
The tour was very interesting and the CEOs couldn't be better. :)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/22/2024
Beau J. - Traveled, January 2024
The best experience I’m so glad I did it with gadventures, especially accessing the home stays as that’s truly an experience I could never have got without them
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2024
Rosie L. - Traveled, January 2024
It was great to meet such amazing group of people I can now call friends. It allowed me to meet 2 individuals who I decided to travel on with. It was an unforgettable experience I will never forget.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/26/2024
Sarah E. - Traveled, January 2024
Brilliant!! So much fun, I learned so much and saw and experienced so many things that I never have before. Also exhausting but mostly in a good way!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/16/2024
Benjamin H. - Traveled, January 2024
Overall, G-adventures made my first trip to South America an extremely enjoyable experience. I felt supported, safe and well informed throughout. All of the ceos were very professional and fun to be around. They made navigating the countries extremely...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/16/2024
Luke M. - Traveled, January 2024
It was an epic experience. Had a blast, it was so much fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/07/2024
Charles R. - Traveled, January 2024
My experience ran smoothly, in a continent where the unexpected is the norm. This was possible through the tireless work of both my CEOs: Elmer and, in particular, Fredy.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/06/2024
Emily N. - Traveled, December 2023
An incredible experience, expertly planned with tailor made opportunities to make the most of your holiday.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/03/2024
Jack S. - Traveled, December 2023
Had an amazing time with amazing people. Everything was perfectly organized and was able to do and see so much in the time available!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/16/2024
Maja L. - Traveled, November 2023
35 days of absolutely everything!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2023
Ludwig H. - Traveled, November 2023
Very pleased with the whole experience and will certainly remember the trip for a long time in the future.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2023
Thomas L. - Traveled, November 2023
Unforgettable. The trip of a lifetime!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/24/2023
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