16 days tour

Explore Ecuador & Peru National Geographic Journeys

Explore Ecuador & Peru National Geographic Journeys

This tour includes:

Meals

15 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Private van/bus, boat, plane, train, walking.

Accommodation

Hotels (11 nts), historic hacienda (1 nt), jungle lodge (2 nts), hot springs resort (1 nt).

Others

Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Otavalo Weaving Lesson, Otavalo Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Amazon Home Experience, Tena Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Visit the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park, Baรฑos Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Andean Experience, Urubamba Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium, Cusco Your G for Good Moment: Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), Pisac Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Your Wellness Moment: Papallacta Hot Springs Visit, Papallacta Your Discover Moment: Cusco. Arrival transfer. Community local lunch. Overnight in an historic hacienda. Explore the Otavalo handicraft market. Cloud forest reserve visit. Three-day (2 nts) at an Amazon lodge with jungle excursions. Excursion to Cotopaxi National Park. Two-day Sacred Valley tour including Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Pisac ruins, and pre-Incan salt pans. Traditional pachamanca-style dinner. Scenic train ride and guided tour of Machu Picchu. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

Hygieneprotocol

As of October 1, 2021 G Adventuresโ€™ Vaccinated Tours Policy applies:  All travelers must meet the G Adventures requirements for joining their tours. The majority of tours require travelers to be fully vaccinated and the full/final COVID-19 vaccination must be at least 14 days before the first day of the tour. There are some tours and departures that are only โ€˜Travel-Readyโ€™ which means all travelers must be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test within 96 hours before the first day of the tour. Please, double check with the G Adventures Support Team about the requirements of your tour and departure date.

Guide

Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.

Not included:

Others

Papallacta - Hiking Excursion Baรฑos - Horseback Riding (25USD per person) - Hot Springs (20USD per person) - Hiking (Free) - Mountain Biking (10USD per person) - Baรฑos Ziplining Adventure Bundle - Whitewater Rafting (70USD per person) - Baรฑos Canyoning Adventure Aguas Calientes - Butterfly House Visit - Hot Springs Visit (3USD per person) - Mandor Gardens Visit Inca Trail - One-Day Inca Trail Hike Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu Visit (75-120USD per person) - Inca Bridge Visit (Free) Cusco - Cusco Cooking Class - Cusco City Tour (45PEN per person) - Inka Museum (10PEN per person) - Horseback Riding (150PEN per person) Urubamba - **Whitewater Rafting Urubamba (165PEN per person) Lima - Lima City Tour (65-85USD per person)

Insurance

Flights

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Explore Ecuador & Peru National Geographic Journeys

  • Day 1 Day 1: Quito
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Quito

      Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer included.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Mercure (or similar).

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Quito

      Included Activities:
      - Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting

      Additional Notes: Booking pre- or post-trip accommodation is highly recommended to fully experience the city and take advantage of the optional activities available.
  • Day 2 Day 2: Quito/Otavalo (1B, 1L)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Quito/Otavalo (1B, 1L)

      Spend a night in the Otavalo area and visit its world famous handicrafts market, the largest in South America. Villagers from the surrounding countryside come here every week to sell handmade goods as well as livestock, fruits, and vegetables.

      One of the most obvious signs of the Otavaleรฑosโ€™ cultural integrity is their traditional dress. This is not just worn for the tourists at the Saturday market, but is worn throughout their daily life.

      Otavalo is famous both for its friendly people and its Saturday animal market. The market dates back to pre-Inca times when jungle products were transported from the eastern lowlands and traded for highland goods. Todayโ€™s market has two different functions: the local market for buying and selling animals, food, and other essentials, and the crafts market for the tourists and other interested people.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Pinsaqui (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 02:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Peguche Community Visit
      - Otavalo Handicrafts Market Visit
  • Day 3 Day 3: Otavalo/Papallacta (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Otavalo/Papallacta (1B)

      Visit the home and studio of Don Miguel to learn how the Indigenous people of the Otavalo region have used the backstrap loom to create their woven goods. Continue to the Papallacta Hot Springs Resort for a dip in hot springs, optional spa treatments, and hiking excursions. There is plenty of time to soak, relax, and enjoy the mountain views.

      Accommodation:
      - Termas de Papallacta (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Otavalo to Papallacta 02:00 - 03:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Otavalo Weaving Lesson
      - Papallacta Hot Springs Visit
  • Day 4 Day 4: Papallacta/Tena (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Papallacta/Tena (1B, 1L, 1D)

      The lodge is located along the bank of the Arajuno River approx. 40min. from Tena. We stay in comfortable cabaรฑas next to the river, which have private bathroom with hot water in the rainfall-shower, electricity and a balcony. From your balcony, you can relax in a hammock or deck chair and observe hummingbirds, shore river birds and butterflies. In the evening, listen to the night music of the multitude of frogs and other nocturnal creatures. The Lodge also has an open-air lounge with pool and full service bar, all connected by a raised and roofed boardwalk to guests rooms.

      The lodge is dedicated to protecting the pristine jungle environment and has a dedicated recycling program, energy conservation program and offer biodegradable amenities including shampoo and shower gel in the bathrooms.

      Accommodation:
      - Itamandi Lodge (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Papallacta to Tena 02:00 - 03:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Guango Cloud Forest Excursion
      - Amazon Night Walk
  • Day 5 Day 5: Tena (1B, 1L, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Tena (1B, 1L, 1D)

      Depart early by canoe to visit a parrot clay lick (Saladero). With our naturalist guide, view parrots and parakeets who gather to eat the mineral-rich clay which helps them digest fruit and seeds. Return to the lodge for breakfast then continue on to visit AmaZOOnico, an animal rescue centre that rehabilitates, reintroduces, and cares for animals who are victims of illegal trafficking. Later, enjoy a unique cultural experience at a local familyโ€™s home. Meet the family to learn about their traditions and what daily life is like in the Amazon.

      Accommodation:
      - Itamandi Lodge (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch
      - Dinner

      Included Activities:
      - Parrot Clay Lick Excursion
      - AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue Centre Visit
      - Amazon Home Experience
  • Day 6 Day 6: Tena/Baรฑos (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Tena/Baรฑos (1B)

      Baรฑos is one of the most popular spots in the country. Many Ecuadorian families vacation here. One look at this delightfully green mountain town and you will know why. Baรฑos means โ€œbathsโ€ and this is precisely what the town is famous for. Some are thermal springs from the base of Tungurahua Volcano, which means โ€œlittle hellโ€ in Quichua. Other baths have melt water running into them from Tungurahuaโ€™s glaciated flanks. Locals swear that the baths are good for your health; itโ€™s definitely worth rising early to watch the dawn creep over the mountains from a hot spring vantage point.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Sangay (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Tena to Baรฑos 02:00 - 03:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Visit the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park
  • Day 7 Day 7: Baรฑos (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Baรฑos (1B)

      The town is the perfect setting for outdoor pursuits. Activities include horseback riding, canyoneering, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and rafting on the River Patate.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Sangay (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Optional Extras to chose from:
      - Baรฑos Canyoning Adventure
      - Baรฑos Ziplining Adventure Bundle
  • Day 8 Day 8: Baรฑos/Quito (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Baรฑos/Quito (1B)

      Drive back to Quito along the scenic Avenue of Volcanoes with a visit to Cotopaxi National Park en route. Enjoy stunning views of the perfectly shaped volcano (itโ€™s one of the highest active volcanoes in the world).

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Mercure (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle 07:00 - 09:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Cotopaxi National Park Visit
  • Day 9 Day 9: Quito/Lima (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 9: Quito/Lima (1B)

      Catch a flight to Peru and transfer to our hotel in Lima.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Antigua Miraflores (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
  • Day 10 Day 10: Lima/Urubamba (1B, 1D)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 10: Lima/Urubamba (1B, 1D)

      Board an early flight to Cusco then head to the scenic Sacred Valley. Explore the pre-Inca salt pans of Las Salineras and tour the Maras and Moray ruins. Enjoy a traditional pachamanca-style meal of local specialties.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel San Agustin Urubamba (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Dinner

      Transport:
      - Plane: Lima to Cusco 01:00 - 01:30 Hr(s)
      - Private Vehicle: Cusco to Urubamba 06:00 - 08:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Moray Ruins Guided Tour
      - Las Salineras Pre-Incan Salt Pans Guided Tour
      - Traditional Pachamanca Dinner

      Additional Notes: There are some very early morning starts on this trip to make the best use of our time and see as much as we can of Peru in a week.
  • Day 11 Day 11: Urubamba (1B, 1L)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 11: Urubamba (1B, 1L)

      Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the โ€œParque de la Papaโ€ (โ€œPotato Parkโ€). An exclusive experience for Journeys travellers and part of G Adventures for Good, youโ€™ll walk through this rural community with a local guide to learn about potato cultivation, weaving, and the importance of both to Andean culture. Also, explore the Ollantaytambo and Pisac ruins and visit the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel San Agustin Urubamba (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast
      - Lunch

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Urubamba 07:00 - 08:00 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Traditional Andean Experience
      - Parque de la Papa (Potato Park)
      - Pisac Ruins Guided Tour
      - Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley
      - Ollantaytambo Ruins Guided Tour
  • Day 12 Day 12: Urubamba/Aguas Calientes (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 12: Urubamba/Aguas Calientes (1B)

      For serious archaeology buffs, there is time for an optional independent visit to Machu Picchu before the guided tour the following morning.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Taypikala Machupicchu (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Private Vehicle: Urubamba to Ollantaytambo 01:00 - 02:00 Hr(s)
      - Train 01:30 Hr(s)

      Optional Extras to chose from:
      - 1 Day Inca Trail Hike Permit Request

      Additional Notes: Please bear in mind that the town has several amenities, but is also geographically remote meaning services are sometimes more basic than one would assume. As the only option for travellers visiting Machu Picchu, the development of infrastructure has happened quite quickly, much without proper planning, and the focus on providing quality service may not be up to the standards experienced in other parts of the country.

      Those who have chosen the option in advance to hike the "1-day Inca Trail" will disembark the train at km 104 to begin the trek. The trail rises steeply up into the mountains and will take hikers past the archaeological sites of Wiรฑay Wayna and Inti Pata, where the local guide will provide insights into the fascinating culture of the Incas en route to the trekโ€™s culmination at the Sun Gate. Enjoy a packed lunch along the way and reach the Sun Gate in the late afternoon with a chance for a preliminary exploration of Machu Picchu before the guided tour on Day 5. Transfer by bus from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes to rejoin the group and spend the night in a hotel. If time permits, take an optional visit to the nearby hot springs to soak your sore muscles.
      1-day Inca Trail option:
      Approximate Distance: 11 km
      Estimated hiking Time: 5-6 hours
  • Day 13 Day 13: Aguas Calientes/Cusco (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 13: Aguas Calientes/Cusco (1B)

      Enjoy a guided tour of the Machu Picchu ruins. Get free time to explore on your own or take an optional visit to the Inca Bridge before returning to Cusco by train.

      Accommodation:
      - **Hotel Taypikala (CEO with Group) (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Local Bus 00:15 Hr(s)
      - Train: Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo 02:00 - 03:00 Hr(s)
      - Private Vehicle: Ollantaytambo to Cusco 02:00 - 02:30 Hr(s)

      Included Activities:
      - Machu Picchu Guided Tour
  • Day 14 Day 14: Cusco (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 14: Cusco (1B)

      Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.

      Accommodation:
      - **Hotel Taypikala (CEO with Group) (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Included Activities:
      - Cusco Planetarium

      Additional Notes: Please note: if you pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class 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. Return back to your hotel around 16:00.
  • Day 15 Day 15: Cusco/Lima (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 15: Cusco/Lima (1B)

      Fly back to Lima and spend an afternoon in Peruโ€™s bustling capital.

      Accommodation:
      - Hotel Antigua Miraflores (or similar).

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Transport:
      - Plane: Cusco to Lima 01:30 - 02:00 Hr(s)
  • Day 16 Day 16: Lima (1B)
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 16: Lima (1B)

      Depart at any time.

      Meals Included:
      - Breakfast

      Included Activities:
      - Departure Day

      Additional Notes: Your CEO can help arrange an optional transfer to the airport.
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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Average

There are several physical activities that last from 2 to 6 hours in easy terrains, low altitude flats, or water experiences. Please ask if youโ€™re not sure this applies to you.

Age range

Age range

Min: 12 / Max: 99

Age range allowed for this experience.

Select a country to define if the visa is required