This trip takes travelers across Peru through a range of cultural and outdoor activities, including exploring Lima, seeing the Nazca lines in the desert, hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in the Andes mountains, and experiencing the history and culture of Cusco. Stretching from the Pacific coast through the Andes and into the Amazon rainforest, Peru is a nation of ancient civilizations and traditions rooted in indigenous cultures. This Inca Trail Tour begins in Lima and finishes in Cusco. In Lima, travelers will explore the city and enjoy its nightlife and local cuisine before taking a bus to Nazca in the southern desert. In Arequipa, known as the White City for its distinctive architecture, travelers will experience a traditional Pachamanca dinner, a meal cooked underground and warmed by volcanic stones. Participants can visit the Santa Catalina Monastery and enjoy the local cuisine, including alpaca, shrimp, pork, and soup. The next day includes a full-day tour and an overnight excursion to the Colca Valley and Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world, and an excellent venue to see Andean condors flying. In Cusco, travelers will explore the Sacred Valley, the site of the Ccaccaccollo community center, and the women’s weaving cooperative, where they can see local garment weaving and dying techniques. Travelers stay overnight in local community homestays before journeying through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Here, they can take a Sacred Valley tour to visit the Pisac ruins, a local market and the Ollantaytambo ruins. The next three days are spent hiking the Inca Trail. It passes through Warmiwanusca, known as Dead Woman's Pass, the highest point of the Inca Trail and named for its notable rock-formed silhouette of a woman lying down. The trail traverses two more passes to the Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the "town above the clouds," an archaeological site named for its high altitude. The final day begins before dawn with a hike to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel and UNESCO Heritage site, and an impressive testament to the Inca Empire’s power. The tour concludes with a bus journey to Aguas Calientes and a train ride back to Cusco. For travelers interested in cultural experiences and hiking the Inca Trail, this trip provides the balance of outdoor activity and historical and cultural learning. Travelers should be in good physical health to hike the trail and cope with the higher altitudes in the Andes.
This 14-day trip costs $1762. It is a G Adventures “18-Thirtysomethings” trip catering to travelers ages 18-39. G Adventures is a sustainable, small group tour company that has been leading travelers for 35+ years. They have been pioneers in community tourism and their trips directly benefit the local communities they visit. They have a responsible travel effort called G For Good and partner with the nonprofit Planeterra, dedicated to ensuring communities touched by tourism benefit from it. They were rated one of CATALYST PLANET’s 8 Best Sustainable Travel Companies.