Staff Travel: Peru & Costa Rica with G Adventures

Part 1: Stacey's G Adventure to Peru

​​One Summer I got the crazy idea that I was going to hike the Inca Trail in Peru. Better yet, my more outdoorsy friend Paige convinced me that I was going to hike the Inca Trail. 

Paige and Stacey in the Plaza De Armas in Cusco, Peru

​

---

​​Our first step was finding the right company to do this with. There are only 500 trail permits admitted each day for the trail so you need a licensed guide for the trek. G Adventures was the right choice for us because we wanted a small group tour that was reputable and fit our needs. After about 50 trips to REI, I had all of the right gear to hike but I still needed the support of a great company to get me there. 

The Inca Trail

Morning View!

Stacey with new friends

Plaza De Armas- Cusco, Peru

​I was more than impressed with how amazing the porters, cooks, and guides were along the trek. I still am not sure how the 5 ft tall porters could break down camp, pack up our tents, carry their body weight on their back, run past me on the trail, and have the next camp set up all before I arrived after carrying about 5 lbs on my back! The cooks prepared some delicious meals and even a cake for a Honeymoon couple on our trip! 

Talented Chefs

Our fantastic guides!

​Hiking the Inca Trail was truly an incredible experience for me. I know that this is not everyone's style of traveling so G Adventures also offers trips in more of a comfort level such as trips for younger travelers only, itineraries paired with National Geographic, family options and even Marine cruises. 

Parwa Community Restaurant at the Sacred Valley

Ccaccaccollo Community & Women's Weaving Co-op

​What I enjoyed most about traveling with G Adventures was the small group experience and the special local touches. We visited the Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op where we saw the traditional ways of clothing making. We also had a beyond delicious lunch at the Parwa Community Restaurant in the Sacred Valley.  ​These places were unexpected highlights made possible by G Adventures! 

Paige and a llama at Machu Picchu

Paige also has lots of stories and pictures to share of our incredible adventure to Peru with G Adventures.   
​
Read her blog at For the Love of Wanderlust.  

Our group at Machu Picchu

Part 2: Emily's G Adventure to Costa Rica

​​In March 2014, I went on the G Adventures 16 Day Costa Rica Adventure tour.  Our adventure started and ended in San Jose.  We got to hang out in the quaint little Caribbean town of Viego de Talamanca and the beach was beautiful. 

The following day we headed to Tortuguero where we kayaked through the mangroves and saw some wildlife in the jungle.

In Monteverde and La Fortuna I zip lined across the longest zip-line in Latin America…which was a blast!!         I did some whitewater rafting and even did the extreme hike up the volcano.  We also enjoyed a guided tour of Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. 

​This was a great tour because we got to see a lot of different areas of Costa Rica and meet people from all over the world.  We traveled by small vans, a tractor, boats and a public bus.  I loved all the adventure that was available during the trip.  

Emily and her friend Bridget, a long time Air Force friend and travel buddy.

Emily enjoying her time at the beach in Costa Rica.

​

---

​​​We took a tractor to the beautiful Sarapiquí Valley where we did a night walk through the rainforest and relaxed on hammocks at the lodge.  We also got to do a Coffee Cooperative Tour.

A highlight from their extreme hike was a view of this spectacular waterfall.

The Caribbean town of Viego de Talamanca.

Cerro Chato Volcano

Contact Stacey & Emily to begin planing your own G Adventure: 
Email Stacey or call 314-439-5700 ext. 128 
Email Emily or call 314-439-5700 ext. 107