Latin American Journey

Discover Peru #25

11 Days / 10 Nights Lima, Puno, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Pisac Indian Market
and Ollantaytambo Fortress, Amazon Adventure at Posada Amazonas

  • Arrival in Lima. In the afternoon Tour of Modern and Colonial Lima and Larco Museum.

Day 1 – Arrival in Lima

Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. In the afternoon City Tour of Lima and Larco Museum - This half day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.

  • Transfer to the airport for your flight to Juliaca. Half day excursion to the Burial Towers of Sillustani en route. (B)

Day 2 - Lima / Juliaca / Puno

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Juliaca. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. Half Day Excursion to Sillustani Burial Towers en route - These burial towers (Chulpas), are ancient and impressive tombs from the pre-Inca period and they were built from a mixture of stone and adobe, and served as burial places for chiefs and important people. (B)

  • Full Day excursion to the floating island of the Uros Indian and Taquile Island. (B,L)

Day 3 - Puno

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit to the Uros Indian and Taquile Island at Lake Titikaka - This full day excursion will take you to the highest navigable lake in the world, to visit the floating islands of the Uros Indians, considered themselves Lords of the Lake, and they were convinced they had black blood because they did not feel the cold of the lake and the winter. Continuing to Taquile where a native community of about 400 families still lives with the traditions of the XIV century that respect the principals of an Incan way life. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titikaka for its a archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities, their rituals and for the daily life of the inhabitants which is dedicated to farming, textile production and fishing. (B,L)

  • Bus to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. (B,L)

Day 4 - Puno / Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Bus journey through the Peruvian Andes from Puno - Today one of South America's most extraordinary overland trips takes you by bus to Cusco passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages. Upon your arrival in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and help you to register. (B,L)

  • Free morning. In the afternoon Tour of Cusco and its Ruins. (B)

Day 5 - Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Free morning. Tour of Cusco and its Ruins - This afternoon's tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere includes important landmarks of enchanting Cusco and also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cusco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas. (B)

  • Full Day excursion to Machu Picchu. (B,L)

Day 6 - Cusco / Machu Picchu / Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to Machu Picchu - Early wake up for a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. All transfers are included. Lunch is at the Orient Express' Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel. Afternoon return to Cusco. (B,L)

  • Full Day excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and Ollantaytambo Fortress. (B,L)

Day 7 - Cusco / Sacred Valley / Cusco

Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where a unique Indian Market takes place daily. The variety of products offered is overwhelming, from pottery with reproductions of archaeological pieces, to all kinds of textiles, jewelry and Peruvian handicrafts. During your visit to this bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the artisans and indigenous traders. Grab the items you like, you will hardly see the same one again.

Continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River. (B,L)

  • Free day in Cusco for independent activities. (B)

Day 8 - Cusco

Breakfast at your hotel. Free day in Cusco for independent activities - Wandering through this lovely city, exploring the astonishing narrow streets of this tile roof colonial town will be your unforgettable experience. Great buys are the traditional Peruvian handicrafts, alpaca-wool sweaters and rugs, ponchos, pottery, gold and silver jewelry, leather goods, etc. Because there is such a variety of products, we strongly suggest that when you like any particular item, you should buy it - you may not find the same item in other store. (B)

  • Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Motorized canoe ride to Posada Amazonas, the river trip is a good opportunity to observe caiman, turtles, and riverside bird life. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - Cusco / Puerto Maldonado / Posada Amazonas

Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival from Lima, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light. Puerto Maldonado to Tambopata River Port. Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business. Boxed Lunch.
Tambopata River Port to Posada Amazonas. The forty five minute boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada Amazonas will take us into the Community´s Primary Forest Private Reserve.
Orientation. Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.
A twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. From atop you obtain spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest cut by the Tambopata River winding through the middle. Now and then toucans, parrots or macaws are seen flying against the horizon, or mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you. Dinner. Ecotourism Lecture. A daily presentation on the Infierno ecotourism project is available every night from a staff member. Overnight in Posada Amazonas. (B,L,D)

  • Visit the parrot and macaw clay lick, excursion to Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake in search of giant river otters and other aquatic wildlife and visit eagle-nesting sites. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Posada Amazonas

Breakfast. Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake: Tres Chimbadas is thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas. Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers.
Parrot clay lick: This clay lick is only a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas. From a blind located about twenty meters away you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend on most clear mornings to ingest the clay on a river bank. Species such as Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazon, Blue-headed Parrot and Dusky headed Parakeet descend at this clay lick. The clay lick is most active at dawn and during the late mornings and mid-afternoons. Lunch.
Ethnobotanical Tour: A twenty minute boat drive downriver leads you to a trail designed by the staff of the Centro Ñape. The Centro Ñape is a communal organization that produces medicines out of forest plants and administers them to patients who choose their little clinic. They have produced a trail which explains the different medicinal (and other) uses of selected plants.
Dinner. Night walk. You will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories. Overnight in Posada Amazonas. (B,L,D)

  • Transfer from hotel to the airport for your flight to Lima and then take your connecting flight to home. (B)

Day 11 - Posada Amazonas / Puerto Maldonado / Lima / Home

Breakfast. Transfer Boat - Posada Amazonas to Tambopata River Port. Transfer Tambopata River Port to Pto Maldonado Headquarters. Transfer Pto Maldonado Headquarters - Airport. We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado for our flight to Lima and then take your connecting flight to home. (B)

Tourist Class Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $2227 $2926 $2479 $2227 $2004 $1932 $1882 $1839 $1831
Triple Room $2178 $2430 $2178 $1955 $1883 $1832 $1790 $1782
Single Room $3455 $2724 $4946 $3423 $2976 $2724 $2502 $2430 $2379 $2336 $2328
Tourist Superior Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $2343 $3042 $2595 $2343 $2120 $2048 $1998 $1955 $1947
Triple Room $2480 $2732 $2480 $2258 $2186 $2135 $2092 $2084
Single Room $3715 $2984 $5206 $3683 $3236 $2984 $2762 $2690 $2639 $2596 $2588
First Class Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $2332 $3031 $2584 $2332 $2110 $2038 $1987 $1944 $1936
Triple Room $2324 $2576 $2324 $2102 $2030 $1979 $1936 $1928
Single Room $3611 $2987 $5102 $3686 $3239 $2987 $2764 $2692 $2642 $2599 $2591
First Class Superior Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $2444 $3143 $2696 $2444 $2222 $2150 $2099 $2056 $2048
Triple Room $2588 $2840 $2588 $2366 $2294 $2243 $2200 $2192
Single Room $3835 $3211 $5326 $3910 $3463 $3211 $2988 $2916 $2866 $2823 $2815
Deluxe Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3200 $3899 $3452 $3200 $2978 $2906 $2855 $2812 $2804
Triple Room $3287 $3539 $3287 $3064 $2992 $2942 $2899 $2891
Single Room $5307 $4603 $6798 $5302 $4855 $4603 $4380 $4308 $4258 $4215 $4207
Luxury Hotels SIB Premium Private Services
Min 1 Min 2 1 2 3 / 4 5 / 9 10/14 15/19 20/24 25/29 30 up
Double Room $3896 $4595 $4148 $3896 $3674 $3602 $3551 $3508 $3500
Triple Room $4402 $4654 $4402 $4179 $4107 $4056 $4014 $4006
Single Room $6700 $5996 $8191 $6695 $6248 $5996 $5774 $5702 $5651 $5608 $5600
  • Tour includes:
  • All airport transfers listed in the itinerary
  • Baggage handling at airports and at hotels
  • All tours and excursions indicated in the itinerary
  • All entrance fees and transfers needed to operate tours and excursions
  • All train tickets, bus tickets and boat services needed to operate tours and excursions
  • Service of a bilingual licensed tour guide for all tours and excursions
  • All meals indicated in the itinerary. B for breakfast, L for lunch. D for dinner
  • Hotel accommodation and hotel service charge
  • Hotel taxes are exempt for foreigners visiting Peru
  • When domestic airfare within Peru is specified as included: Airfare includes all queues, security fee, fuel surcharges and 18% Peruvian sales tax.
  • Not included:
  • Extra expenses in case of modifying the itinerary due to flight cancelation, strikes or blocking of roads and train tracks by demonstrators or political activists. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
  • When staying overnight in Machu Picchu, the entrance fee for the 2nd day in Machu Picchu is not included. This can be added to the itinerary upon request
  • Expenses such us beverages on meals, tips, laundry, phone calls and other personal expenses are not included
  • When a cruise to the Galapagos Islands is part of the itinerary, the Galapagos National Park Tax is not included. It is payable upon arrival at the Galapagos Islands
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