Compare Family Peru by Abercrombie & Kent vs Iconic Peru by G Adventures

Day 1: Arrive Lima, Peru

Accommodation: Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport

Arrive in Lima this evening and transfer to your hotel. Founded in 1535 by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro, this “City of Kings” is a mélange of colonial structures, pre-Columbian sites and modern conveniences.

Day 2: Cusco/Sacred Valley | Andean Weaving

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Sol y Luna

Fly to Cusco and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering Novo Andino cuisine, before driving to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit members of the camelid family (llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vichunas) and learn about the fabrics made from their shaggy coats using ancient weaving techniques. Meet with locals wearing their colorful traditional clothing and learn from your guide how it differs between communities. Receive a lesson in the Quechuan language. Tonight, join the chef at your hotel for a Chef’s Table experience, as he demonstrates the preparation of a variety of Peruvian dishes.

Day 3: Urubamba | Kayak in the Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Sol y Luna

Prepare for a unique Sacred Valley adventure on the drive to Huaypo, a beautiful lagoon perched in the Andes. Admire the view of the mountains as you paddle around the lagoon in sea kayaks — a ride that reveals the natural beauty of Peru. Enjoy an outdoor picnic on the banks of Huaypo. Join an A&K Young Explorers Guide on a visit to a local house in the town of Maras. Learn how to play the traditional Sapo game and experience Peruvian home life in this remote Andean village. Enjoy leisure time at the hotel and a fun family pizza night with stargazing (weather permitting).

Day 4: Machu Picchu | The Lost City of the Incas

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

When school is in session, visit the Kuychi Center to meet the underprivileged children at Niños del Arco Iris (Children of the Rainbow), a project supported by A&K Philanthropy. Explore the fortress of Ollantaytambo, a formidable structure of massive stone terraces that hug the mountain slopes. Next, journey deep into the Andes toward Machu Picchu aboard the glass-topped Vistadome train, gazing out at the spectacular Peruvian countryside passing by. Discover this breathtaking Incan citadel, following an expert guide who paces the trek for young explorers. Imagine those who once dwelled here and marvel at their stonework.

Day 5: Machu Picchu | Sunrise at the Ruins

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Rise early to see Machu Picchu at sunrise or choose from guided hikes to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) or to Huayna Picchu. After lunch, return to Cusco.

Day 6: Cusco | The Immense Stone Marvel of Sacsayhuaman

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Discover Cusco, visiting the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church built on the foundations of the Koricancha, the Incas’ principal religious building. Later, explore Sacsayhuaman, a stunning testament to Incan architectural skill. Compiled of massive stones, the largest of which may weigh as much as 200 tons, its walls were cut and placed together with incredible precision and without a single drop of mortar. Later, visit San Pedro market, and then spend your afternoon at leisure. This evening, dine at one of the city’s finest local restaurants.

Day 7: Lima | In the City of Kings

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park

Fly to Lima and check in to your hotel. Tour the city, starting with the grid-like Plaza Mayor. View the marvelous, historic Cathedral and the colorful guards before the Presidential Palace, followed by a visit to the Church of San Francisco. Continue with a journey into the past, exploring Casa Aliaga, Lima’s oldest colonial mansion. Later drive to modern Lima to see pre-Incan ceramics at the Larco Herrera Museum, with special activities for younger guests.

Day 8: Lima | Swimming with Sea Lions

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Belmond Miraflores Park

Set out on an excursion to Palomino Island, a huge sea lion rookery. Wearing wetsuits and life vests, jump into the water and share the ocean with these friendly animals. After an afternoon at leisure, see the impressive Huaca Pucllana archaeological site before a farewell dinner of contemporary Peruvian cuisine at the on-site restaurant.

Day 9: Depart Lima

Meals: Breakfast

This morning, transfer to the airport and depart.

Day 1 Lima

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Please note: if you booked the Lima Cooking Class it does not include extra time in Lima, and we highly recommend booking pre-trip accommodation. You will be picked up from your hotel at approx 10:00 am (10:30 from Aug-Dec) and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. Return back to your hotel around 13:00. Also, hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control. 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 as we can.

Day 2 Lima/Tambopata

Fly to Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized canoe to our comfortable lodge, situated near the Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon rainforest. Spot local bird species along the lush shores of the Tambopata River en route to the lodge, and set off on an evening walk with a naturalist guide before dinner, keeping an eye out for some of the rainforest’s nocturnal creatures.

After a brief stop in town to store large luggage, drive to the pier and travel by covered motorized boat to the jungle lodge. En route, spot bird species typical of the local river and forest edge. The Tambopata Rainforest area holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area. Local community members make up the majority of lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides. Take the opportunity to learn about the area’s rich flora and fauna and locals' extensive use of medicinal plants and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting. Enjoy a welcome drink and orientation. Before dinner, head out for a night walk around the lodge grounds.

The lodge itself combines native architectural style and materials with low-impact, eco-friendly technology. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito netting for individual beds, flush toilets, showers (with solar-heated hot water), and candles for lighting (no electricity).

Day 3 Tambopata

Spend the day exploring the thriving ecosystems of the rainforest with our lodge’s naturalist guides. Scan the treetops for toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths, and glide along oxbow lakes on canoes for a chance to glimpse river otters, turtles, and, if we’re lucky, anacondas. After dinner, embark on a river tour by motorized canoe on the lookout for caimans, the smaller cousins of alligators, which are often found hiding near the muddy banks.

Head out early to catch the jungle at its wildest (and coolest). Walk slowly through the forest searching for wildlife before heading out on an oxbow lake by canoe. Search for anaconda, the elusive giant river otter, or black caiman. Even if you don't spot these shy creatures, there are plenty of birds, interesting plants, and other animals about.

Day 4 Tambopata/Cusco

Travel out of the jungle by boat and catch a flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, soaring above the Andes into Peru’s Inca heartland. This evening, visit the Cusco Planetarium for a presentation on the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, and learn about the vital role that astronomy played in the lives of the ancient Inca. Weather permitting, peer through the planetarium's telescopes for a dazzling look at the stars.

Afternoon arrival into the Inca capital. Time for strolling around the plazas and markets. Admire the cobblestones streets, and visit some museums and Cathedral.

This adventure travels to high altitude, medically defined as anything over 8,000 ft (2,440m).

Day 5 Cusco/Urubamba

Drive to the scenic Sacred Valley for a full day of exploration with a local guide. Tour the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also visit the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

Day 6 Inca Trail

Set out on the iconic Inca Trail, departing Urubamba by van to the starting point of the trek. Immerse yourself in the enchanting Andean countryside, hiking along meandering streams and crossing remote mountain villages and ancient ruins as we get warmed up for the more challenging days ahead.

Trek through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons, passing several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.

A crew of local porters, cooks, and guides will take care of all the details for the duration of the hike. Porters carry the majority of the gear so you’ll only need to carry a small daypack with water, rain gear, snacks, a camera, etc.

Day 7 Inca Trail

Today, we ascend the long, steep path to Warmiwañusca, better known as Dead Woman’s Pass—the highest point on the Inca Trail, at 4,198 meters (13,769 feet). Enjoy stunning views of the Sacred Valley as you make your way up the rugged terrain, and aim to reach our camp by early afternoon. Rest and relax at camp the remainder of the day.

Day 8 Inca Trail

Today we’ll cross two spectacular passes. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, one can catch a glimpse of the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Continue through cloud forest on a gentle climb to the second pass, and arrive at the misty Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 3,650 meters (11,972 feet), known as "the city above the clouds.” We will either camp here or settle at a further spot, near the beautiful terraces of the Wiñay Wayna ruins, at 2,650 meters (8,694 feet).

Day 9 Machu Picchu/Cusco

The final day of our hike begins before dawn. Reach the Sun Gate—the last checkpoint on the Inca Trail—in time to witness daybreak over Machu Picchu. This 15th-century Inca citadel was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and excavated with support from National Geographic. Hike down for a guided tour of this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site before catching a bus to the frontier town of Aguas Calientes, where we’ll have free time for lunch. Continue by train to Cusco.

Day 10 Cusco

Free day in Cusco — explore this city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at your leisure. Choose to pre-book the Cusco Cooking Class. Opt to visit museums and ruins or try rock climbing.

Cusco is considered the mecca of Peru and rightly so. This beautiful colonial town offers nearby ruins, cobblestoned streets, museums, churches, and a lively atmosphere. The more adventurous optional activities available in Cusco include horseback riding around archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay, and Puca Pucara; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting an Inca ruin along the way.

Please note: if you pre-booked 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. You will return back to your hotel around 16:00.

Day 11 Cusco/Puno

Head south on a scenic drive to Puno, perched on the western shore of Lake Titicaca. The journey will take us through the Altiplano, a vast, windswept landscape of plateaus and plains that counts among the planet’s most extensive highlands. Arrive in Puno, the region’s commercial hub, and settle into your hotel.

Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside on this full day of travel from Cusco to Puno, through the high Altiplano.

Day 12 Puno

Set out to discover Lake Titicaca—one of the highest navigable lakes in the world and the second largest lake in South America. On a guided boat tour, visit the floating Uros Islands—built entirely of reeds—and step ashore Taquile Island, home to a thriving indigenous textile industry. For lunch, we’ll head to the small rural community of Luquina Chico. Enjoy a traditional meal in the home of a local family while taking in sweeping views of Lake Titicaca and its picturesque isles. Later, opt for a tour of Sillustani, a fascinating pre-Inca burial site.

In the morning, board a comfortable 35-foot, fully equipped speed boat to explore the lake. Stop at various islands to enjoy the lake's scenic splendor and to meet the friendly people of these communities.

Day 13 Puno/Lima

Transfer to the Juliaca airport to catch a flight back to Lima. Spend your last evening in Peru at leisure, opt to explore the streets of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic center and enjoy mouthwatering Peruvian tapas and pisco sour—the country’s national drink.

Day 14 Lima

Depart at any time.