Wildlife & History Adventure (Private)
11 Days 10 Nights
Lima, Peruvian Amazon, Cusco, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu
Overview:
Get a taste of the Peruvian Amazon, through its wildlife, vegetation and nature combined with the history of the Incan empire. This trip includes the main Incan sites, such as Cusco, the Sacred Valley and the wonders of Machu Picchu.
Day By Day Itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Peru (Private)
Upon arrival into Lima Airport, you can be assured that we will have a private transfer waiting to take you to your hotel in Lima. Your driver and English speaking representative will welcome you into Peru ensuring you with a comfortable and safe ride.
Overnight in Lima. (Altitude: Sea Level)
Day 2: City of the Kings with the Larco Museum (Private) (B,L)
Today in the morning, your private tour guide and driver will take you for a tour of the City of the Kings. You will visit the colonial part of Lima, visiting the Plaza de Armas (Plaza Mayor), San Martin Plaza, San Francisco Church, its catacombs and Larco Museum. We will take you to the San Martin Plaza, where you will walk through the busy and fascinating pedestrian only Union Street (Jiron de la Union) that leads to the Plaza de Armas. Along this street are a number of shops and restaurants set in a mixture of old and new buildings. We will then make a quick stop at the Plaza de Armas before heading to San Francisco Church, which is said to be one of the most attractive churches in Lima, due to its seventeenth century construction with stone front walls and towers. According to experts in its Catacombs Museum you can find the skulls and bones of seventy thousand people. After visiting the colonial part of Lima, we will take you to the Larco Museum, where you will see one of the world´s largest collections of Peruvian pre-Columbian art. Within this museum, you will also be able to see its well known collection of pre-Columbian erotic pottery. The Larco Museum is one of Lima´s must see attractions. After your cultural tour, we will take you to lunch at the Rosa Nautica Restaurant, where you can enjoy some exquisite Peruvian cuisine. We will take you back to your hotel, where you will have the day at leisure.
Overnight in Lima. (Altitude: Sea Level)
Day 3: Trail System & Twilight River (Private) (B,L,D)
In the morning, your private driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to Lima Airport in time for your hour domestic flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival at the airport, your representative will take you to the river port, where you will board a private boat and have a short journey to the Reserva Amazonica. You will then take part in the Trail System adventure, where you will discover the incredible realm of the Amazon forest. You will see exotic rainforest trees and Amazonian lizards, birds and insects. You will then return to the Reserva Amazonica and enjoy a fantastic lunch. During the afternoon you will enjoy a private Twilight River boat ride and witness the enchanting transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment. You will learn and search for nighttime species, such as nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans. We will then return you to your hotel in time for some exquisite Peruvian cuisine.
Overnight in the Reserva Amazonica. (Altitude: 400m, 1300ft)
Day 4: Sandoval Lake, Canopy Walkway & Anaconda Walk (Private) (B,L,D)
Today after you have enjoyed your appetizing breakfast your private tour guide will take you on an excursion to the Lake Sandoval. First you will ride on a boat for 30 minutes to the Tambopata National Reserve before taking a short walk to reach Lake Sandoval. Upon arrival a wooden canoe will be ready and waiting to take you in search of some giant otters and other species such as red howler monkeys, macaws, pre-historic hoatzins and anacondas. After spotting some Amazonian species we will return back to the Reserva Amazonica in time for lunch. After lunch we take you to the Canopy Walkway, where you will literally walk through Amazon treetops on suspension bridges linked to observation platforms that give spectacular views. After this you will experience the Anaconda Walk along the 200m wooden bridge over the Aguajales Swamps whilst being able to see many difference Amazonian species. From here you will return to the lodge to enjoy another tasty dinner.
Overnight in the Reserva Amazonica. (Altitude: 400m, 1300ft)
Day 5: Butterfly House, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco & Sacred Valley (Private) (B)
Today after breakfast we will take you to visit the Butterfly House, where you will see and learn the diverse characteristics of this wonderful specie. After this we will take you to Puerto Maldonado Airport in time for your hour domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival into the Inca Empire, you will make your way via a private van to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which is located at lower elevation and will help with acclimatization. Along the way you will make a number of stops to some fascinating and photographic view points. One of the stops will be to an animal recovery centre, which houses a number of beautiful animals to include: condors, pumas, macaws, llamas and tortoises. During your time here you can enter into the condor cage and see the flight of this large bird. Another stop will be to a llama and alpaca farm, where you will be able to get real up close and personal with these wonderful creatures and even be able to feed them. At this farm, they also produce high quality pieces from the wool, which you are able to purchase. You will then continue along the Sacred Valley where your hotel is located.
Overnight in Sacred Valley. (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)
Day 6: Sacred Valley of the Incas (Private) (B,L)
In the morning, your tour guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for your private Sacred Valley tour. We will first drive to the Pisaq town, where on Sundays is the big market day when local villagers come from the mountains and sell their home-grown vegetables. In this market it is still possible to see how people practice the trade system used in the Incan times. Here, you will be able to get great prices for goods and souvenirs. We will also have the opportunity to visit the Incredible Pisaq Ruins and then drive to Urubamba to enjoy lunch in one of the best local restaurants in the Sacred Valley. After lunch, we will head to Ollantaytambo, one of the last Inca refuges, where you will notice that the houses and building still preserve a big part of the Inca Architecture. You will enter into an Inca house and see how they used to live. We will then take you to visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, temples and terraces. You will get to witness the abandoned stones and unfinished walls, due to the invasion of the Spaniards. This tour also includes a visit to a ´Chicheria`, where you will learn the old Incan technique of producing the most popular drink in the Andes. Here you will also get to see how locals farm guinea pigs in their homes which after a few months becomes a delicious dish. Finally we will return you back to your hotel.
Overnight in Sacred Valley. (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)
Day 7: Maras & Moray Tour & Peruvian Paso Horseback Riding (Private) (B,L)
In the morning your private tour guide and driver will drive you off the beaten path to Maras, a typical Andean village. Here you will walk around the streets and get the sense that you have stepped back into time, due to the traditional clothing of the locals and old style buildings. We will then visit the very impressive San Francisco Church to include visits to the baptism room and bell tower, where you will have a great view of the village and its surrounding snow capped mountains. If you have young children, we will surprise them with a short donkey ride around the town. We will then drive you to the incredible Circular Terraces of Moray, which was used an Inca laboratory to acclimatize their crops. After that we will have a picnic lunch at a nearby strategic point with great views of the glaciers and mountains. Then we will head to the Salt Terraces of Maras to see and learn about an ancient pre-Incan method of producing salt. After this visit, you will enjoy a short hour trek to the Vilcanota River where our Peruvian Paso Horse will be waiting to take us for a 2 hour riding adventure in the Sacred Valley. This noble animal, unique in its breed gives a very smooth and elegant ride, where no experience is needed. On this ride, you will get to see Peru close-up passing some typical small villages and along the riverside with great views of glaciers and stunning sceneries.
Overnight in Sacred Valley. (Altitude: 2900m, 9500ft)
Day 8: Machu Picchu - Wonder of the World with Vistadome (Private) (B,L)
In the morning your private tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Sacred Valley and transfer you to Ollantaytambo Train Station. From here, you will board the Vistadome Train for an hour and a half journey to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you will transfer to the ruins and have your tour of Machu Picchu, ´The Lost City of the Incas`. As there are not many people in the afternoons, it is more peaceful and enjoyable. You will learn about the history of this Incan sacred site and the tour will include visits to some temples such as the Sun and the Condor. You will also visit, whilst learn some interesting facts about the Incan sacred terraces, aqueducts and houses. After a nice sunset you will transfer back to Aguas Calientes.
Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (Altitude: 2000m, 6500ft)
Day 9: Machu Picchu - Wonder of the World with Vistadome & Cusco (Private) (B,L)
Today you have another chance to visit Machu Picchu where you have plenty of time to explore this truly magnificent site on your own. There are many short trek options, such as a the one to the Sun Gate for an impressive view of Machu Picchu or a visit to the Incan Bridge, a secret entrance for the Inca Army. The most adventurous should not miss the Wayna Picchu ´young mountain climbing, which requires a very early start (5.30am) as only 400 people are permitted on this climb each day. If you prefer not to return to the Machu Picchu ruins today, you also have some trekking options around Aguas Calientes such as the easy walk to the Wandor Falls or the really challenging Putukusy Mountain climb for an impressive view of the Machu Picchu citadel. In the afternoon you will take the hour and a half Vistadome Train to Ollantaytambo, where your private driver will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco. (Altitude: 3400m, 11150ft)
Day 10: Cusco City Tour (Private) (B,D)
In the morning your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel to begin your private city tour of this wonderful city. You will visit the well-known and beautiful Incan temple of Sacsayhuaman, where you will be amazed with the great construction work of the Incan empire and there is still mystery of how they managed to move and fit each large and heavy stone so perfectly into each other. As part of your city tour, you will also visit Cusco Cathedral, which has an UNESCO World Heritage status and is located in Plaza de Armas. Here you will see many holy Christian artifacts and artwork derived from the `Escuela Cuzquena´ (Cuzco Art School). Your tour will then take you to the Temple of the Sun, ´Koricancha`, located in the Avenida Sol. This Incan site was one of the most worshipped and most respected temples of the city. Finally we will let you experience the local life by taking you to the San Pedro market, where you will see a whole range of goods, such as gifts, crafts, clothes, meats, juices, fruits, vegetables and more. You will then return to your hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure. During the evening you will be invited to a farewell dinner in a local restaurant to enjoy some exquisite cuisine. Overnight in Cusco. (Altitude: 3400m, 11150ft)
Day 11: Cusco to Lima (Private) (B)
Today your private driver will pick you up at your hotel 2 hours before your domestic flight to take you to Cusco Airport. You will take an hour flight from Cusco to Lima in time for your international flight.
Your Cultural Immersion Peru Package Includes:
- All domestic flights in Peru
- All private transfers and transportation
- All private excursions and tours
- All site and attraction entrance tickets
- A professional English speaking tour guide tour with all excursions
- A professional driver with all transfers
- Meals as indicated (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- All accommodation based on double occupancy
- Round trip train to Machu Picchu
- Local taxes
Your Cultural Immersion Peru Package Does Not Include:
- International flights
- Airport taxes (US$6 upon arrival, US$30 upon international departure)
- Additional add on activities
- Tips and extras
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