Amazon Cruise & the Incas (Private)
13 Days 12 Nights
Lima, Iquitos, Peruvian Amazon, Cusco, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu
Overview:
This adventure combines a deep discovery of the Peruvian Amazon with the exploration of the Incan Empire. All of this with top class style on the luxury Aqua Cruise that will allow you to visit the wildlife of the Amazon in the comfort of your own suite. As part of the cruise, you will enjoy daily boat excursions allowing you to explore deeper into the jungle.
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: Lima to Iquitos & Amazon River Explorer Cruise (Private) (B,D)
Today you will begin your Amazon River Explorer Cruise. From your hotel in Lima, we will transfer you to the airport, where you will have an hour and a half domestic flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival at Iquitos Airport, your tour guide and driver will be waiting to take you to Nauta, an hour and a half away where you will check in and board your cruise ship. You can have a few moments to settle into your very comfortable suite before enjoying a welcome dinner with fellow travellers.
Overnight on the Amazon River Explorer Cruise (Altitude: 105m, 350ft)
Day 3: Jungle Walk & Amazon Exploration (Private) (B,L,D)
Early in the morning, we will set off to explore the Ucayali River, where you will be able to see many interesting wildlife, such as iguanas, orioles, horned screamers and many Amazonian birds. You can then enjoy breakfast before starting the jungle walk of Magdalena, a small community of only ten families. After meeting the community people, your tour guide will lead you through the jungle to a beautiful lake that is home to the world famous Victoria Regia giant water lily. We will then return to the cruise ship for lunch in preparation for the exploration of Ucayali and discovery of Puinahua. Whilst cruising along the Ucayali River, you will be able to see the native fishermen who will demonstrate their skills by letting you see their catch. Something worth looking out for are the ´banana balsero´s`, which are rafts loaded with hundreds and hundreds of clusters of bananas drifting down the river to market. During your time here, you have chance to see woodpeckers, parrots, macaws and toucans. You will then return for some exquisite cuisine onboard.
Overnight on the Amazon River Explorer Cruise (Altitude: 105m, 350ft)
Day 4: Jungle Walk & Pacaya River Exploration (Private) (B,L,D)
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we set off for a walk near the village of Hatum Posa. You will be introduced to native people, who will explain to you how they learned to cultivate wild plants and trees. Once you are deep in the primary forest, your tour guides will show you the wealth of the fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle. We will then return to the cruise ship for lunch in time to explore the Pacaya River. In the late afternoon, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya River and head toward Yanayacu Lake, being able to view the abundant life hidden in the deep rainforest. You have the opportunity to see saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys and the easier to spot howler monkey leaping from tree to tree. During the dark night, we will use special spotlight torches to locate night creatures. After exploring we will return to the cruise ship and enjoy dinner onboard.
Overnight on the Amazon River Explorer Cruise (Altitude: 105m, 350ft)
Day 5: Pacaya River & Puinahua Village (Private) (B,L,D)
Today, early in the morning we will board our skiffs and enjoy spotting parrots, macaws, toucans and many different types of monkeys. We will then take you to a dolphin feeding spot along the Pacaya River, where you will enjoy a light breakfast and some fresh juice. After breakfast with poles and bait, we will take you a magnificent spot where more than 3,000 species of tropical fish live in the Amazon Basin. Look out for piranhas, the small carnivorous fish with a fearsome reputation. We will then return to the cruise ship to enjoy an appetizing and satisfying lunch. In the afternoon you have an optional excursion into a native riverside village, where you will see the way of life of the community fishermen and farmers. During the late afternoon, we will sail downstream all night, making our way back to Iquitos. During the evening you will enjoy a gourmet dinner in the cruise ship´s dining room.
Overnight on the Amazon River Explorer Cruise (Altitude: 105m, 350ft)
Day 6: Belen, Amazonian Indian Market & Iquitos (Private) (B,L)
Today after breakfast, you have an opportunity to see how people live along the Amazon by visiting the lively riverside of Belen via skiff in Iquitos. Here during some months, the houses and shops actually float on the river. After seeing the bustling food market of the entire Peruvian Amazon we will return to the cruise ship, where you have some time to pack and enjoy a light lunch. During the afternoon, we will arrive at the remote Iquitos, which is only accessible by river or air. En-route we will visit the Manatee Rescue Centre, where you will see how these animals are cared for and are prepared to be re-introduction into their natural habitat. We will then visit the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market for a last chance to shop for local crafts. After this we will take you to Iquitos Airport in time for your domestic flight back to Lima. Upon arrival you will transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Lima. (Altitude: Sea level)
Day 7: Lima to Cusco & Sacred Valley (Private) (B)
In the morning you will transfer from your hotel to Lima Airport in time for your hour domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival into the Inca Empire of Cusco in the morning, 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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 12: 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 13: 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
