Ocean, Mountains & Rain Forest of Perú (18 Days / 17 Nights)
FOREWORD
A comprehensive 18-day journey of spectacular attractions, from Colonial Lima and the enigmatic Nazca Lines to the magnificent Colca Canyon, Machu Picchu, the floating islands on Lake Titicaca and the rainforest. This package is designed to enchant you with Peru’s history, archaeology and living tapestry of culture. It includes private tours with our guides and delicious meals featuring traditional Peruvian cuisine
ITINERARY
Nazca Lines, Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Titicaca Lake, Cusco, & Puerto Maldonado.
DAY 1: LIMA
Arrive to Lima
Transfer to your hotel, optional city tour.
DAY 2: LIMA PARACAS
Pick up from your hotel in Lima and transfer to the bus station, where we will take a bus to Paracas Bay. The trip from Lima to Paracas takes 3 hours, in the route we will visit Tambo Colorado a pre inca archeological site.. Arrival in Paracas, transfer to hotel indicated. Afternoon free to relax in the hotel or stroll along the nearby beaches. Overnight in Paracas.
DAY 3: PARACAS / NAZCA
Visit the Ballestas Islands. – Enjoy this fascinating excursion by boat to the Ballestas Islands in Paracas Reserve. Our boat ride will take you to the enigmatic figure of Candelabrum, which is located at the foot of a small hill and is clearly visible from the sea. In Ballestas Islands can see up close a variety of sea creatures as large colonies of sea lions on the beaches and rocks. You can also see groups of Humboldt penguins in small caves. At the top of the islands can also see hundreds of birds, such as cormorants, boobies, pelicans, gulls, and many other species.
In the afternoon we will get on the road to Nazca direct to the airport to have the experience of flying over the remarkable “Nazca Lines”. Upon arrival at the airport we will see an informative video of the lines so that you can get a better idea about these archaeological remains, and also become acquainted with the designs you will see from the air. The type of aircraft that we will use are small, with a capacity of 3 and 5 passengers, each with a seat by the window so they can appreciate the figures correctly. The flight takes about 35 minutes, during which time you will see perfect representations of large animals such as birds, including a condor, a hummingbird, a pelican, a parrot among others. As for the other species, you will see a large monkey, a spider, a whale, a lizard, and a design known as the famous astronaut. Apart from the designs will also see hundreds of lines that run throughout the desert and large geometric shapes that resemble huge runways. After the flight, Transfer our designated hotel in Nazca.
DAY 4: NAZCA TO AREQUIPA
After our breakfast we have a full day drive on the Panamerican highway to the City of Arequipa. This is a very interesting ride that gives us the possibility of experience the coastal desert of Peru with the fertile valleys formed by a few rivers coming from the western slopes of the Andes. We pass thru places like, Ocoña and Camana where we can enjoy fresh fish and see food in local restaurants. Late in the afternoon we arrive in Arequipa which is the second largest city in Peru.
DAY 5: AREQUIPA
DAY City Tour. – Today we will take the tour bus to see the other side of Arequipa. We first visit the Plaza de Armas, then the viewpoints of Carmen Alto and Yanahuara from which you have an excellent view of volcano Misti and of the city as well as its countryside. We also visit an outlet Alpaca Store before continuing to Tingo and Sachaca two typical districts from Arequipa. In the afternoon we will visit the Monastery of Santa Catalina which is a convent which occupies two blocks in the center of Arequipa. Its license for foundation dates back from 1575. In 1970 the convent was opened to the public. In the monastery you can see how the nuns lived and that each one had its own private house within the Monastery. It really seems a small city within the city of Arequipa the way it was in the 16th century.
After the city tour we return to the hotel. At night you can enjoy dinner and walking through Arequipa.
Meals: Breakfast.
DAY 6: AREQUIPA – CHIVAY
Arequipa – Colca Canyon.- Today we leave Arequipa at 08.00 a.m. to go to the Colca Canyon. On the way we can see the volcanoes Chachani and Misti and the Valley of Arequipa. We arrive at the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas where we get to see vicuñas and llamas and alpacas.
On this route to Chivay we visit the small villages of Callali, Sibayo and Tuti where you see the traditional houses and dresses of the Colca people. We will arrive around 16.00 p.m. at the hotel where you can relax and enjoy dinner.
Meals: Breakfast.
DAY 7: COLCA – PUNO.
After an early breakfast we head off to the Cruz Del Condor viewpoint where we hopefully get to see the majestic Condor. During our tour in the Colca Canyon you can admire the impressive terraces and irrigation systems from the Collahua period. We visit the villages of Maca and Pinchollo. After the lunch in chivay, we will take the bus to Puno, in the route we will visit different places of historic wich Patapampa (4900 msnm), Patahuasi, Pampa Cañahuas and Lagunillas.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast,
DAY 8: PUNO – UROS ISLAND AND TAQUILE ISLAND (Full day)
After the breakfast, transfer to the port of Puno to take a tourist motor boat and to direct towards the wonders floating islands of the Uros to us, those millenarian inhabitants who in spite of the time today remain living in artificial islands of totora, known as the tribe the water, because they must construct its own Islands periodically, adding new layers of “Totora”. Its homes and boats are made of that same material. After view we will continue the route to the Island of Taquile, place where the form of typical and rustic experience was appraised, the place is colorful and landscaping, where they even maintain its customs, ritual, religious and folkloric traditions, in the town of Taquile we will taste of a typical lunch with fresh fish (Pejerrey), in hours of afternoon we will return to the city of Puno. Transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch,
DAY 9.- PUNO – CUSCO
7:00 am Transfer to the bus station.
This day in the route we will visit different places
We will visit Pukara, La Raya, Raqchi or Wiracocha temple and Andahualillas Church.
These places had different functions: Andahuaylillas is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches built under Spanish influence in the Americas, also known as the “ Sistine Chapel of the America”, Raqchi was the temple dedicated to Wiracocha, has wall up to 15 meters high and therefore is unique in the whole of the Inka empire, La Raya with 4335 meters above sea level, this is the highest point of the route, Pukara was a great pre-hispanic city, characterized by large pyramids. Transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 10: CUSCO .- FREE DAY
DAY 11: CUSCO – CITY TOUR AND NEARBY CHEAOLOGICAL SITES
dAY8:30 hrs we will have a full day tour of the City and nearby archeological sites.
We will start our excursion visiting the PLAZA DE ARMAS (Main Square) which in the Inca time was called HUACAYPATA. In this square many important events have taken place during its long history. In pre Hispanic times many religious and sacred ceremonies were held here. Between the years 1560 and 1654 the Cathedral was built. This monumental architectural jewel from the XVI century is formed with three Churches with a very rich art collection having more than 1200 pieces of art in exhibition.
We will also visit KORICANCHA known as the Temple of Sun where now exits a Church and a Dominican Convent. This pre Hispanic religious icon according to the Andean cosmology is situated in the center of the world.
We will walk the ancient Inca streets of Cusco and them visit the San Pedro market them we will have lunch.
After we are going to the nearby archeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Q’enqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Sacsayhuaman are ancient sanctuary with great monolithic walls build with stones that weigh over 130 tons. Here, yearly on the 24th of June a celebration takes place called INTIRAYMI or Sun Festival. We will continue to Q’enqo or the Labyrinth which dates back to 1500 BC. Here were held ceremonies to the Sun the Moon and the Stars. Puca Pucara has enclosures, squares, interiors, aqueducts and paths. This could have been a Tambo for storage and a place of rest for the Inca. TAMBOMACHAY had an important religious function related to the water and the earth. After finishing the excursion we will return to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12: CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY TO MACHUPICCHU
Full day tour leaving Cusco at 8:30 am towards Pisaq where we will visit the ruins and the local market. Here we will have the opportunity of buying typical art and weavings from Cusco. We will continue down the Valley to Urubamba where we will have our lunch at a country side restaurant. After our lunch we will visit the town of Ollantaytambo which has maintained through the years the old Inca design and street layout. It is an example of urban Inca organization. Here we will also see agriculture areas with ancient irrigation systems still working as in the Inca times. Finally we will visit the archeological site build by the Inca Pachacutec. It was constructed using enormous stones brought from quarries from the other side of the mountain. After finishing the excursion transfer to the select hotel in Urubamba.
DAY 13: SACRED VALLEY.-
Our tour begins with the gathering at the hotel at 9:00 a.m to board our private transportation. We will visit the community of Maras, the Salt Mines of Maras and the site of Moray.
MARAS. – Located in the province of Urubamba to 3300 meters above sea level. There we will be able to appreciate the snow-covered mountain range of the Vilcanota with its summits of Chicón (5530 meters above sea level) and Veronica (5682 meters above sea level). Maras is an attractive colorful town of the pre-Hispanic, colonial and republican period, emphasized in the towns colonial streets adorned with shields of the noble and caciques of centuries XVII and XVIII.
MORAY. – It is located about 7 km to the southwest of Maras; it is a unique archaeological site in the region. It contains enormous terraces that are superimposed concentrically in a gigantic hole. These beautiful terraces served in the Inca time as an agricultural laboratory “Prototype as
Conservatory”. In this place incredible advances in agriculture were achieved.
SALINERAS or “SALT MINES”. – Located to the northwest of the town of Maras are constituted for about 2000 small wells with an area average of about 5 m2, operated from the time Inca, Colonial time and still even continues being operated by the villagers. Salt from inside the mountain is delivered by water to fill to the wells in form of “irrigation” every 3 days during a month, so that it is solidified gradually, and then has the process for the consumption of the region.
At the end of the afternoon we will go the train station of Ollantaytambo to take the tourist train to Machupicchu which is situated in a cloud forest of extreme natural beauty. We will arrive first to the village of Aguas Calientes town where we will spend a night at the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast and lunch.
DAY 14: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Early in the morning we will depart by bus to Machupicchu for begin to ur guide for the visit to the different areas of this amazing archeological site such as temples, royal residence, agriculture zone and the Intihuatana (Sun Dial). After the guided tour we have free time to visit at our leisure different places like the Sun Gate or the Inca Bridge. After a hearty lunch we will take the train back to Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 15: CUSCO – PUERTO MALDONADO WITH HACIENDA CONCEPCION LODGE.
Start your journey arriving to Puerto Maldonado and checking-in at the INKATERRA LOUNGE (BUTTERFLY HOUSE).Immerse yourself in the rainforest navigating on an outboard dugout canoe along the Madre de Dios River to Hacienda Concepción (approximately 25-minute navigation). Taste a buffet LUNCH with organic ingredients and native flavors. After lunch, take a walk at CONCEPCIÓN TRAILS, our inside property nature trails, where you will discover and learn about primary and secondary rainforest, its components, uses, transformations by the human being, and its relevance for the world. At dusk navigate on canoe in the TWILIGHT RIVER excursion. Sailing on the Madre de Dios River, you will learn about its ecosystems, Amazon creeks, nocturnal animals’ behavior, and the southern constellations. In the evening enjoy a nice DINNER at our main house.
DAY 16:
New experiences are ahead and after taking a nutritious buffet BREAKFAST, get ready for a long trek through terra firma in the Tambopata National Reserve to LAKE SANDOVAL. Here you will understand why Madre de Dios is called the biodiversity capital of the world, while learning about the reserve’s conservation efforts and the lake’s formation. Travel across this mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter (Pteronurabrasiliensis), blue and yellow macaw (Araararauna), red howler monkey (Alouattaseniculus), black caiman (Melanosuchusniger), and one of the world’s biggest fresh water fishes, the paiche (Arapaima gigas). Back to the lodge for LUNCH because later on the INKATERRA CANOPY WALKWAY& ANACONDA WALK await for you. Take a 20-minute outboard-dugout canoe ride to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center where you will learn about its construction and the conservation projects of ITA-Inkaterra Association (NGO). Ascend one of the two 98-foot towers (30 meters.) and cross the 7 hanging bridges that connect the treetopsat91 feet high (28 meters.). Enjoy the breathtaking vistas and get the chance to watch white-throated toucans (Ramphastostucanus), woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys (Saimiriboliviensis) and the three-toed sloth (Choleopushoffmani). After descending keep on feeling the incredible primary rainforest vibe going for about 30 minutes along the 200-meter wooden bridge over the aguajales swamps. You will learn about the fauna and flora of these flooded ecosystems. Return to the lodge and enjoy a nice DINNER.
DAY 17 :
The sun rises once again and after BREAKFAST, get ready for the COCHA excursion. Enjoy a canoe ride on the Hacienda Concepción cocha. Try native fishing applying the “catch and release” techniques, as you enjoy the scenery observing hoatzins (Opisthocomushoazin), a diversity of fly catchers, and gray-necked wood rails (Aramidescajanea). Disembark at the remains of Fitzcarrald steam boat, and learn about its history. Getting back to Hacienda Concepción you will have LUNCH. In the afternoon prepare yourself for your next excursion at the RIVER ISLAND, known as “Rolin”. Take a boat ride and walk through the island. Learn about this flooded ecosystem and vegetation succession while enjoying bird watching. Later on explore our INLAND COLLPA. Walk 15 to 20 minutes toward one out of four clay licks that we have in Hacienda Concepción. Learn about this mammal inland collpa activity and the difference between collpas according to their location, while looking for footprints and traces of animal activity on the clay lick walls, such as the agoutis’, monkeys’, and peccaries’ among others. Back to the lodge relax and have a delicious dinner.
DAY 18: PUERTO MALDONADO – LIMA
After BREAKFAST buffet, take an outboard dugout canoe ride back to Puerto Maldonado. Arrive at the INKATERRA LOUNGE (BUTTERFLYHOUSE) where you may wait for your flight back home or to your next destination.
END OUR SERVICE
INCLUDE
- All transfers from airport, hotels and train station.
- 17 hotel nights according to the program with breakfast.
- Bus Ticket ( Lima – Paracas )
Ballestas Islands tour. - flying over the remarkable “Nazca Lines” ( 30 minutes )
- Half Day City tour in Arequipa
Colca Canyon Tour 2d /1N - Full day Uros & Taquile Islands
- Bus Tickets. ( Puno – Cusco. )
City tour and nearby ruins (5 hours approx.) - Two full day Sacred Valley tour with lunch at country side restaurant.
- Machupicchu tour with all services included.
- Excep Lunch and Dinner.
- 04 Days Rainforest trip ( Puerto Maldonado )
- Professional English speaking guides .
- All entrance fees for sites visited.
NOT INCLUDED
- Tips
- Flight tickets (Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Lima )
- Alcoholic beverages
- Baggage excess
- Medical expenses