Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. Enjoy a walking tour of downtown Lima, including the city's historical centre. Flanked by streets of ornate colonial mansions, palaces and churches, Plaza Mayor is the best place to start any exploration of Lima. Take a walk through the old streets to get a feel for colonial life. If you arrive early, we recommend you take a walk around Miraflores. Go from Central Park (Parque Kennedy) to LarcoMar via Larco Avenue. Alternatively go to Parque del Amor (Love's Park) for a nice view of Lima's beaches. Other great things to see and do include a tour to Pachacamac (around 30 km from downtown Lima), the Museo de la Nacion and the Gold Museum. Limeno...

When you arrive, the lodge staff will take you to their office in town. Here you can leave most of your luggage in safe storage and continue travelling with a small pack with just the necessary items for your next two nights in the jungle. Then you'll take a motorised canoe upriver to your jungle lodge in the Madre de Dios area. Once you arrive at the lodge there is time to unpack and unwind before a short orientation and briefing on the lodge. Enjoy dinner at the lodge tonight before heading out on an optional night jungle walk.

Head into the jungle with your local multilingual guides. Along the way, you'll encounter magnificent fauna and flora in their natural habitat. We may spot everything from macaws and monkeys to peccaries, jabirus, otters and thousands of butterflies. The guides can also teach you about the medicinal properties and practical uses of the plants. Your lodge is eco-friendly and combines low-impact architecture with traditional native style. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with flush toilets (ensuite), showers (cold water only), mosquito nets, and kerosene lamps for light.

Fly from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco, the true heart and soul of Peru (approximately 35 minutes). Take the time to acclimatise to the city's 3,450-metre altitude and enjoy a walking tour with your local leader. You'll visit the Coca Museum, where you can learn more about the infamous plant that has been an essential part of life in the Andes for centuries. You'll also visit the local San Pedro market. You'll see that the grandiose cathedral, built on top of an Inca palace, dominates the Plaza de Armas. There are several impressive Inca ruins within the city, but the most easily accessible is Coricancha, which was the Inca empire's richest temple. For lunch, perhaps head to Yanapay restaurant on Ruinas Street, which not only offers delicious food but is an excellent cause supporting underprivileged children. Notes: The Boleto Tur...

Head to Ollantaytambo, visiting a local community en route. When you arrive in Ollantaytambo you'll see it's a magnificent example of Incan urban planning. It's one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish. Ollantaytambo's archaeological site is located to the east of the Plaza de Armas. The upper terraces of this site offer great photo opportunities of the squared grid town below. Visit Hearts Cafe for a bite to eat – it's part of a project supported by the Intrepid Foundation and the coffee there is excellent.

During the next four days, you'll do one of the following, depending on what you've arranged: Route 1: Hike the Classic Inca Trail; Route 2: Hike the Inca Quarry Trail; Route 3: Take the train to Aguas Calientes, after staying in Cuzco for two extra days. While away from Cuzco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Inca Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave Cuzco you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. Please note that you won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave m...

Route 1: Classic Inca Trail This is the most challenging day of the trek as you ascend a long steep path (approximately 5 hours) to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4,200 metres above sea level, giving amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3,650 metres. Route 2: Quarry Trail This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A three-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa (approximately 4,370 m high). After enjoying picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, make the two-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4,450 meters. From here, descend to the sacred site the Incas called Intip...

Route 1: Classic Inca Trail Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay pass (3,980 m). Enjoy beautiful views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending to the ruins of Sayacmarca (approximately 2–3 hours). Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3,850 m), also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site (approximately 2 hours). Route 2: Quarry Trail Today’s hike is all downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Around midday, your trek comes to an end. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll...

Route 1: Classic Inca Trail This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu. The day starts before dawn, with breakfast at 4.30 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking by 5.30 am. Walk to Intipunku, aka the Sun Gate (approximately 2.5 hours). Weather permitting, enjoy unforgettable views over Machu Picchu, ‘Lost City of the Incas’, as the sun rises (and before it’s crawling with visitors). Route 2: Quarry Trail Depending on weather conditions, take a bus at 5.30 am along the winding road to Machu Picchu (approximately 30 minutes). At Machu Picchu, join up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Classic Inca Trail. If the skies are clear, enjoy a spectacular sunrise over the ancient city from the Sun Gate before going on a guided walk around the r...

Enjoy free time to relax, shop and explore more of Cuzco's sights. Perhaps rest you weary legs at a cafe on Plaza de Armas. For those who can't get enough active adventure, why not try mountain biking in the hills that surround Cuzco?

Travel by local bus through the dramatic scenery of the high altiplano to Puno, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca (approximately 6 hours). You'll be at an altitude of 3,820 metres. There will be a couple of stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers. Take in glorious views of the seemingly endless water stretching into the horizon. This place is a melting pot of Aymara and Quechuan Indian culture and traditional Andean customs, and it wears its traditions on its sleeve. If you're lucky your trip will coincide with one of the many cultural festivals here.

Embark on a tour of the lake by slow motor boat, stopping off to visit the Uros floating islands. The Uros originally built their islands to isolate themselves from rival tribes. The islands are built from many layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake. To get a closer look at daily life in the Lake Titicaca region, you'll be welcomed into local homes for an overnight stay with the community. Make the most of your visit by helping your host family with their daily activities or trying to chat in the local language, Quechua. A game of soccer is also a great way to make local friends. Notes: Your homestay tonight is a mud brick house. Rooms have beds and many blankets, and there are shared drop-toilets but no showers.

This morning after breakfast you'll board the boat again and head to Taquile Island (approximately 1 hour). Here, the tradition of knitting is strictly a male domain, and women do the spinning. It's a great place to pick up some high quality, locally knitted goods. An uphill trek (approximately 1 hour) brings you to the main area of the island. After the visit, you will descend about 500 steps back to our boat. Then travel back to Puno by boat (approximately 3 hours). Puno is the hometown of Kusimayo, a terrific local organisation that works towards improving the living condition of children and adults affected by poverty and malnutrition in this part of the world you have now come to know so well. Take a look at this short video for more information on this wonderful project: https://vimeo.com/154422813 Kusimayo is supported ...

Kamisaki! Welcome to Bolivia. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. At around 3,600 m, La Paz feels like the top of the world. It's not far from it!  Although Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia, La Paz is the centre of commerce, finance and industry. Despite the abundance of colonial archi...

Perhaps hop on a local bus out to the Moon Valley to experience this extraordinary natural landscape on the outskirts of La Paz or visit the Coca Museum and learn about this infamous plant that has for centuries been an essential part of life in the Andes. If you want to discover more about the region’s fascinating history, enjoy a half-day tour to the Tiwanaku ruins outside of La Paz. Another great optional activity is a full-day tour to the coffee and coca plantations of Coroico, situated in the rainforest below the city. Please note this trip is part of a combination trip. As such, some of your fellow travellers may have started their trip in Lima, 15 days ago on the Peru and Bolivia Uncovered (GGSUC)

Today we travel to Uyuni by private transport (approx. 9 hours), with stops along the way to stretch legs and enjoy the scenery. Arriving in Uyuni feels a bit like you've reached the end of the road, which in many ways is true. This remote small town sits on the edge of the high altiplano, a wilderness that extends for hundreds of kilometres towards the border with Argentina and Chile. So it's hardly surprising that the town has a bit of a wild west feel about it. Uyuni is best known for its proximity to the Bolivian salt flats known locally as the Salar de Uyuni. Tonight we stay at a hotel in Uyuni Town. The hotel is basic however it’s clean comfortable and has hot water (make the most of this as you may not have a shot shower for the next couple of days)

Uyuni is the starting point of our 3-day 4WD excursion into Salar de Uyuni and the Andean desert. This morning we have an included visit to the train cemetery. The Train Cemetery is located 3 km outside of Uyuni Town and is connected to it by the old train tracks. The town served in the past as a distribution hub for the trains carrying minerals on their way to the Pacific Ocean ports. In the 1940s however the mining industry collapsed, partly due to the mineral depletion. Many trains were abandoned thereby producing the train cemetery. The remainder of the day is spent mostly on the salt lake itself. We will also visit Isla Inca Wasi, a hilly and rocky outcrop of land and former island in Bolivia situated in the middle of Salar de Uyuni. The island is filled with Cactus's and large coral like structures. We will spend tim...

Today is spent driving through amazing landscapes. This is the beginning of the Andean dessert with many volcanoes & lakes. During this drive we reach an altitude of approximately 4900mtrs above sea level. We stop by Laguna Colorada (red lake), a rich red lake vividly colored by algae and rich minerals. One of the strangest sights in such arid and inhospitable land is be the abundant wildlife. Spot llamas, flamingos, vizcachas and foxes. Accommodation in the desert is basic. There are showers however it’s likely the water will be cold. During the winter months or in the morning when cold it’s also possible for the pipes to freeze, meaning it will not be possible to take a shower. Electricity is generated by solar panel so not enough to charge electronic devices. The Desert is at high altitude and can experience extremely co...

Apart from providing geysers and snow-capped volcanoes, the volcanic landscape also gives us the chance to relax in the region's thermal baths. This morning before returning to Uyuni we stop at the thermal baths for a soak.

A journey by local bus takes us to Potosi (approx 3-4 hrs). The highest city of its kind in the world, Potosi has had a turbulent past, centred mostly around its mining successes and failures. During the Spanish colonial days, the extensive mining of Potosi's silver rich Cerro Rico was said to have kept Spain running for 300 years. During this time, Potosi briefly celebrated life as one of the richest cities in the world. In the 1800s, the supply of silver declined as did the market price and the city started to suffer. Working conditions in the mines were appalling and huge numbers of indigenous people died. African slaves were brought in to replace them and it's said that as many as 8 million people died in the mines during the Spanish era. POTOSI MINE TOURS: We strongly recommend against doing a tour that enters the mine and...

A journey by local bus takes us to Sucre (approx 3-4 hrs). Bolivia's official capital, Sucre was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1991. Most of the town's colonial buildings have been whitewashed, earning its nickname - the 'White City'. For great views of the city head up to Recoleta, an old convent on top of the hill.

The next two days are free to explore the town or partake in some of the optional activities available. Please speak to your leader for more information. Head to the Plaza 25 de Mayo to mingle with Sucre's well-heeled residents and have a look at the beautiful interior of the Iglesia de la Merced. For something completely different, compare shoe sizes with a dinosaur at Cal Orcko, where 60 million-year-old footprints have been discovered.

Take a short flight to La Paz (approx 40 mins). Your afternoon is free to rest or explore more of the city.

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.