Classic Peru Itinerary
12 Days / 11 Nights
What Classic Peru has to offer:
This compact tour of the archaeological highlights and cultural treasures of the Andean highlands has it all. Cruise Lake Titicaca and immerse yourself in rural life with a homestay in a small village. Wander the cobblestoned streets of Cusco before breaking a sweat hiking mountain passes along the Inca Trail on your way to Machu Picchu. Because we run our own treks, we can ensure the fair treatment of our porters and the quality of food and equipment, which means you’re free to enjoy the beauty of the region.
Tour Includes:
G for Good Experiences
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Lake Titicaca Homestay
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Ccaccaccollo Community and Women’s Weaving Co-operative Visit
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Parwa Community Restaurant Experience, Sacred Valley (Lamay)
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Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products Initiative
Included Activities
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Cusco exploration
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Floating Islands of Uros visit, Lake Titicaca
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Guided tour of Lake Titicaca
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Guided tour of the Sacred Valley
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Pottery-making demonstration
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Guided Inca Trail hike with cooks and porters (4 days)
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Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Transportation
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Internal flight included
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All transportation between destinations
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Transfers to and from all included activities
Meals
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11 breakfasts
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5 lunches
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4 dinners
Group Leadership & Support
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Chief Experience Officer (CEO) accompanying the group throughout
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Specialist Inca Trail CEO during the hike
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Local guides for destination-specific experiences
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Lima
Arrive at any time, if you arrive early opt in to the activities below!
Welcome Moment – Meet Your CEO and Group (1 hr)
Meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and fellow travellers. Learn more about the tour and review key details. You may choose to join the group for a local meal afterward. Please check the hotel lobby notice or ask reception for the official meeting time and location.
Accommodation:
Hotel Santa Cruz (or similar) – Hotel
Optional Activities:
Lima Cooking Class (4 hrs) – Lima
Experience Peruvian cuisine by visiting local markets, sampling exotic fruits, selecting fresh ingredients, and preparing traditional dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan.
Note: No age restrictions. Suitable for families and children.
Lima City Tour – Lima
Half-day guided tour exploring Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights. Visit Santo Domingo Monastery, walk through Plaza de Armas, see the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and explore local neighbourhoods. Includes Peruvian tapas and a Pisco Sour demonstration and tasting.
Day 2 – Lima/Puno
Fly to Juliaca, then continue by road to Puno, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca—the largest lake in the world above 2,000m. Enjoy scenic views along the way.
Meals Included:
Breakfast
Transportation:
Plane – Lima to Juliaca (1h 30m)
Transfer to the airport in Lima by van (approx. 45 minutes), followed by a short flight to Juliaca.
Private Vehicle – Juliaca to Puno (1 hr)
Travel by private vehicle and take in the surrounding scenery en route to Puno.
Free Time:
This afternoon, take time at leisure to acclimatize and explore Puno. Consider visiting viewpoints overlooking Lake Titicaca.
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To help acclimatize:
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Take it easy during the first 1–2 days
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Stay well hydrated
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Limit alcohol and cigarette consumption
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Avoid overexertion
Day 4 – Lake Titicaca/Puno
Depart the homestay community late morning and return to Puno by boat, visiting the Uros Floating Islands en route.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour
Spend the morning with your homestay family before departing after lunch. Travel across the lake with a stop at the Uros Islands to learn about the unique lifestyle of the local communities.
Uros Floating Islands Visit
Explore these man-made islands constructed from totora reeds. Learn how the islands are built and maintained, and how reeds are used for homes, boats, and crafts (they are also edible). Meet local residents and gain insight into their traditional way of life.
Free Time-Afternoon
Enjoy free time in Puno to explore the city or relax at your leisure.
Optional Activities
Sillustani Burial Towers Entrance – Puno
Visit the pre-Inca archaeological site of Sillustani. Explore the “chullpas” (funerary towers), some reaching up to 12m (39 ft) in height, on a guided tour just outside the city.
Lake Titicaca Kayaking – Lake Titicaca
Paddle on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, and travel toward Laquina Island. Experience local island life before returning to Puno. Optional activity can be pre-booked or arranged through your CEO or travel agent.
Accommodation
Pukara House (or similar) – Hotel
Day 3 – Puno/Lake Titicaca
Travel by boat across Lake Titicaca, visiting Taquile Island and continuing to a local lakeside community for an overnight homestay.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
Lake Titicaca Guided Boat Tour
Board a boat to Taquile Island. Opt to enjoy a traditional Peruvian lunch at a local restaurant with scenic views. Visit local weaving cooperatives—Taquileños are renowned for their handwoven textiles, with knitting taught to men from a young age. Time for shopping and cultural interaction before continuing onward.
Lake Titicaca Homestay
Stay overnight in a community on the shores of Lake Titicaca (location may vary based on availability). Experience daily life in the Peruvian highlands with a local family. Activities may include:
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Sharing meals with your host family
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Learning basic Quechua and Spanish phrases
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Participating in daily chores
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Trying on traditional clothing
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Enjoying local music and dancing
In the Aymara community of Luquina Chico, approximately 40 families participate in this initiative, supported by G Adventures and Planeterra.
Experience Overview
This immersive homestay offers a unique opportunity to engage with local culture and traditions. Guests are welcomed into family homes, often in small groups, and encouraged to take part in community life.
Day 5 – Puno/Cusco
Travel by bus from Puno to Cusco, passing through the scenic high-altitude Altiplano region. Enjoy striking landscapes along the journey.
Meals Included
Breakfast
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Transportation
Local Bus – Puno to Cusco (7–8 hrs)
Board a comfortable bus and enjoy the day-long journey through the Andes.
Free Time
Upon arrival in Cusco, take time to explore the city, find a place for dinner, or prepare for the next stage of your journey into the Sacred Valley.
Accommodation
Cusco Plaza Saphi (or similar) – Hotel
Day 6 – Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, connecting with local communities and experiencing traditional crafts, cuisine, and culture.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch
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Transportation
Private Vehicle – Cusco to Ollantaytambo (approx. 1h45)
Included Activities
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. (Approx 1 hr)
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Cuyo Chico Pottery Making Demonstration
In the rural village of Cuyo Chico in the Sacred Valley, a group of families joined together to create a small business based on their traditional adobe ceramic crafts. Using clay from their surroundings, they mold bowls, plates, and decorative items. Learn about the ceramics process as well as traditional adobe brick-making that forms the basis of houses throughout the valley. (approx. 45 min–1 hr)
Contribute to sustainable tourism in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families in the Sacred Valley, by dining at the Parwa Community Restaurant. Enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch, with proceeds going directly back to the community.
Accommodation
Lilium Valle Hotel (or similar) – Lodge
Day 7 – Inca Trail
Begin the Inca Trail trek through diverse Andean scenery, passing changing flora and smaller archaeological sites such as Llactapata.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Important Trek Information
A team of local porters, cooks, and guides supports the trek throughout the journey. Porters carry the majority of equipment, so travellers only need to carry a small daypack containing essentials such as water, rain gear, snacks, and a camera.
Transportation
Private Vehicle – Ollantaytambo to Inca Trail (45 min)
Travel by private vehicle while taking in the surrounding scenery en route to the trailhead.
Included Activities
Inca Trail Hike (Day 1) – KM 82 to Wayllabamba Camp (5–6 hrs)
Begin the Inca Trail trek with a moderate hike ideal for acclimatization. Follow rivers, pass small villages, and enjoy mountain views as you make your way to the first campsite.
Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products (G Adventures for Good Initiative)
Accommodation
Wayllabamba Campsite (or similar) – Campground
Day 8 - Inca Trail
Begin early with a challenging ascent to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass), the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769 ft). Most hikers arrive at camp by early afternoon, allowing time to rest and recover.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
Inca Trail Hike (Day 2) – Wayllabamba Camp to Paqaymayo Camp (6–7 hrs)
Trek through increasingly steep and spectacular terrain as you climb toward Dead Woman’s Pass. Experience rapidly changing Andean weather conditions, including strong sun or cold winds. Take the hike at a steady pace, stay hydrated, and enjoy panoramic mountain views along the route. Arrive at camp with ample time to rest in the afternoon.
Accommodation
Paqaymayo Campsite (or similar) – Campground
Day 9 - Inca Trail
Cross two mountain passes and pass multiple Incan archaeological sites on the final full day of trekking.
Meals Included
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
Inca Trail Hike (Day 3) – Paqaymayo Camp to Wiñay Wayna (approx. 9 hrs)
Trek across Runquraqay Pass at 3,950m (13,113 ft), with potential views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba on clear days. Continue through cloud forest and original Incan pathways to a second pass at 3,700m (12,136 ft), with views of the Urubamba Valley.
Descend to Phuyupatamarca (“town above the clouds”) at 3,650m (11,972 ft), before continuing toward Wiñay Wayna (“forever young”) ruins at 2,650m (8,694 ft). Overnight camping is either at Phuyupatamarca or Wiñay Wayna ruins, depending on itinerary and conditions.
Accommodation
Wiñay Wayna Campsite (or similar) – Campground
Day 10 - Machu Picchu/Cusco
Reach the Sun Gate before sunrise and take in your first unforgettable views of Machu Picchu before exploring the legendary citadel.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Inca Trail Hike (Day 4) – Wiñay Wayna to Machu Picchu (approx. 2–3 hrs)
Wake around 03:30 to reach the Sun Gate as early as possible. Head to the checkpoint and join the lineup to wait for the gate to open. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu (fingers crossed for a clear day). Hike down to Machu Picchu (about 45 mins) for a 1.5 hr guided tour of the site, and free time to explore.
Catch the bus outside the Machu Picchu gate after your visit for a 25-min downhill ride to Aguas Calientes. Eat and relax before the train ride back to Cusco this evening.
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Machu Picchu Guided Tour (approx. 1.5–2 hrs)
Set off with a local guide to explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Learn about the history and gain insights. Feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Transport
Train – Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo (approx. 1h40)
Private Vehicle – Ollantaytambo to Cusco (approx. 1h40)
Accommodation
Cusco Plaza Saphi (or similar) – Hotel
Day 11 - Cusco
Enjoy a full free day in Cusco or enhance your experience with optional cultural or adventure activities.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Included Activities
Free Time in Cusco (Full Day)
Make the most of your time in Cusco. Spend the afternoon shopping, visiting museums, or simply exploring the city at your own pace.
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Cusco Culinary Bundle (Optional Pre-booked Activity)
If you pre-book the Cusco Culinary Bundle, you will be picked up from your hotel at approx 12:30 and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. You will return back to your hotel around 16:00.
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Optional Activities
Rainbow Mountain Hike (Full-day Trip)
Look out over these colourful Andean mountains striped with maroon, turquoise, lavender, and gold. Get started early to drive approximately 3 hours to the starting point of this challenging yet rewarding full-day hike. Reaching 5,029m, this 8 km hike.The ascent takes approximately 1.5 hours.
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Cusco Cooking Class
Channel your inner chef and get a taste of Peruvian cuisine. Learn all about the essential ingredients and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes with a local expert.
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Mountain Biking
Take to two wheels and head out into the hills around Cusco for some nature-meets-adrenaline fun. Try a trip to the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting an Inca ruin along the way.
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Horseback Riding
Hop in the saddle and explore Cusco’s archaeological sites by horseback on a 3.5-hour tour—no previous experience needed.
Accommodation
Cusco Plaza Saphi (or similar) – Hotel
Day 12 - Cusco / Departure
Depart at any time following breakfast, or continue exploring Cusco with a selection of optional cultural experiences.
Meals Included
Breakfast
Optional Activities
Inka Museum
Get ready to explore the artifacts from the Inca Empire, including mummies, jewelry, skulls, and ceramics at this museum of archaeology.
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Cusco Tourist Ticket
This ticket allows admission to 16 sights in the city of Cusco, including many popular museums and cathedrals. The ticket also provides entrance to Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, as well as sites in the South Valley of Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
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Cusco City Tour
Enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco's main sights. Walk around the Plaza de Armas (main square) and explore this city steeped in one of the world's most alluring and ancient cultures. Visit Qenqo, Koricancha, the Cathedral, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman.