Inca trail, culture & amazon in Peru – 14 days

Day 01: Arrival in Lima

Arrival, reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Lima.

Day 02: Palomino Islands – float with sea lions

Breakfast at the hotel. Then we pick you up from your hotel to head towards the Callao Islands. We will get in touch with nature and discover the flora and fauna of the Palomino Islands on a half-day tour. We will visit La Punta, Chucuito, El Camotal, Isla San Lorenzo and El Frontón. We will arrive at Cavinzas Island, guanera island where we will see a large colony of birds and the most curious rock formations. Then to Palomino Island where we can swim with sea lions, more than 5 thousand specimens, in their natural state (30 minutes free). Transfer to appreciate the habitat of Humboldt penguins. The tour is ending at approximately 14:00 hours. At the end, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Lima.

Day 03: Lima – Ica (Sand Skiing – Huacachina) – Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning, transfer to the bus station to board the bus that will take us to the city of Ica, upon arrival you have the option to take the overflight activity to the Nasca lines from the Airport of Pisco (for an additional cost).

Free time for lunch. Then we will move to the Hucacachina, starting point of the adventure in tubular, we start the tour of the beautiful dunes of 5 to 10 meters we continue through those of 20, 50, going up and down them until we reach a high part where we will have an impressive panoramic view. There we can walk in the sand, play, take photos videos, after a few minutes we continue the tour through dunes from 80.90 to 150 meters to practice sandboarding (skiing in the sand) we will give you the equipment and instructions for your safe practice.

At approximately 7:00 p.m. we will board the bus back to Lima. Reception at the bus station and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Lima.

Day 04: Flight from Lima to Cusco – City tour in Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport to board your flight from Lima to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco, reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

In the afternoon, guided tour of the city of Cusco and 4 nearby archaeological sites. We will start visiting the Cathedral, located in the Main Square, on the façade and inside the Renaissance style predominates, with an interior decoration very rich in cedar and alder carvings. Then we will visit the Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo (Dominican) and Qoricancha (Inca temple). We will continue to the outskirts of the city, starting with Sacsayhuaman, which would have actually been a construction of religious character, but due to its location and style was considered by the Spaniards and chroniclers as a military building, follows Qenko or “labyrinth” is considered a sacred place in which ceremonies were officiated in honor of the Sun, the Moon and the stars then, Puka Pukara would have served as a tambo or place of rest and accommodation and finally visit to the Tambomachay Fortress that would have fulfilled an important religious function linked to water and the regeneration of the land. At the end of the tour, we will return to your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco

Day 05: Excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas – with overnight stay

Breakfast at the hotel. At approximately 8.00 AM, you will be picked up at your hotel for our full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will visit the town of Pisac, known for its artisan market and Inca archaeological sites among which you can see an irrigation system, an astronomical observatory, a sundial or Intiwatana and terraces. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, we will visit the archaeological center of Ollantaytambo. Built during the Inca era as a fortified area that includes a temple, platforms and an urban sector. Two sectors can be distinguished, one linked to worship and religion; and the second set dedicated to housing. It was an important administrative center that probably also fulfilled military functions, as shown by its walls and towers. After the visit to the archaeological complex transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in the Sacred Valley.

Day 06: Inca Trail – KM 104 – Wiñayhuayna

Transfer from the hotel to the train station to board the train towards kilometer 104, start of the Inca Trail, on this Inca Trail route we will know better the archaeological complex of Chachabamba 2270m., then we ascend to the highest part of this route, where Wiñayhuayna 2650m is located. This is the most important archaeological complex within the network of Inca trails, after Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail network continues to the Puerta del Sol or Inti Punku, place to observe Machu Picchu 2400m. in all its natural charm, then we descend to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu, we only pass since we should continue in descent to the town of Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu – Pueblo).

• Walking time 06 hours.
• Box-lunch included.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes – town of Machu Picchu.

Day 07: Machu Picchu town (Aguas Calientes) – Sanctuary of Machu Picchu – Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning I pick up from your hotel to board the bus that will take you to the citadel of Machu Picchu where we arrive after 30 min. We will make our guided tour around 2.30hrs., where you can get to know the agricultural area, the sacred square, the main temple, the temple of the three windows and all the magnificence of the enigmatic city. Bus down to Aguas Calientes. Lunch at local restaurant. On return, show up at the train station 30 minutes before the train’s departure. Return to Cusco, arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 08: Free day

Breakfast at the hotel. We will have the day off to rest and tour a little the historic center of the city on our own.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 09: Excursion to the Rainbow Mountain – Vinicunca

Early in the morning we will pick you up from your hotel in the city of Cusco, and then start the excursion to the Southeast of Cusco passing through Cusipata (3339 masl.) until we reach the hamlet of Llactoc, where we will appreciate herds of alpacas and llamas and a flora of the area, here we start our walk for approximately 2 hours and a half, continuing, we appreciate in the distance snowy mountains and wonderful landscapes, finally we reach the Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca), after a tour and photographic shots at the top, we start the descent for 1 hour and a half until we reach Llactoc, to take our transport unit and return to Cusipata where we will have a lunch (included), then we board our transport and return to Cusco, arriving in the city around 5:30 p.m. Transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 10: Cusco – Amazon Reserve

At the appropriate time, transfer from the hotel to the airport to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado.

Arrive into Puerto Maldonado, coined the Capital of Biodiversity. Transfer by road to the pier and begin your Amazon adventure with a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River that splices through the rainforest. The motorized wooden boat hugs the meandering riverbanks to reach your eco-lodge, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, in the middle of the rainforest. After a short briefing, settle into your palm-thatched cabaña set within Peru’s first ever private ecological reserve. After lunch, retreat to your rustic-luxury cabin for a nap or a swing in your hammock before choosing from the widerange of à-la-carte guided excursions with your expert Explorer Guide. We recommend walking along the Trail System for an immersive introduction into the intricate biodiversity of the Amazon basin and the layers of the rainforest. Walk along towering trees, like the Shihuahuaco, as your ears tune in to the croaks, rustles and calls of the exotic wildlife inhabiting this rich ecosystem. There are excellent opportunities for birding and observing an abundance of flora. Keep your camera ready just in case sloths or monkeys appear on the treetops.

In the late afternoon, we highly recommend taking our gentle Twilight River excursion to witness the jungle transform from a diurnal to a nocturnal world: where daytime animals and birds give way to species specially adapted to the darkness of the night. You may also be able to spot the likes of nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans lurking on the riverbanks. Amazonian-inspired dinner is served in the main dining room from 19:00-22:00 where we invite you to enjoy a complimentary Pisco Sour cocktail. Back in your comfy cabaña, listen to the intriguing sounds of critters that inhabit the rainforest surrounding the lodge.

Day 11: Amazon Reserve – Canopy

The sunlight squeezes through the dense trees as jungle inhabitants awake from their slumber. Optionally join them in the early hours, with buffet breakfast served from 05:30. Visit Lake Sandoval this morning, a glassy, ox-bow lake located inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve, reached via a sun-dappled rainforest trail. Board a dug-out wooden canoe to quietly paddle through a stream and glide onto Lake Sandoval, flanked by picture-perfect palms. This serene lake is home to many species of birds, the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles, black caimans amongst others. Return to Reserva Amazonica in time for lunch.
In the afternoon, we recommend climbing the exhilarating Canopy Walkway. The Canopy Walkway is a sophisticated and safe 344 metre (1,135 feet) network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation
platforms above the forest floor. This is an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its size. Ascend the first vertiginous tower 38 metres (124 feet) above ground, keeping an eye out for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth.
After descending, enjoy a 30-minute Anaconda Walk that follows a 200-meter (656 feet) raised wooden platform over a flooded aguajales
swamp. In this lush ecosystem you may observe various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant flora and interesting trees.
Back at the lodge, you can opt to enjoy a daily nature presentation in the Eco Centre or book yourself an indulgent spa treatment. À-la-carte dinner is served from 19:00.

Day 12: Flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima

Enjoy your last morning in this natural wonderland as parakeets chatter away in the trees and agouti mammals scurry between the cabañas. Check-out is at 10:00; embark your ready-waiting boat for the 45-minute return trip along the snaking Madre de Dios River until arriving at the airport. Please note that this three-day journey is a suggested itinerary. Activities and excursions can be chosen on an à la carte basis on arrival at the lodge and are subject to change depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit, until arriving at the airport.

Day 13: City tour in Lima – Magic Water Circuit & Dinner Show

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will have an overview of the most important attractions of the city of Lima. The route includes the observation of a Pre-Inca site in Miraflores and the Historic Center including visiting a colonial convent, climbing its tower and enjoying the changing of the guard. On the way to the Historic Center, we will observe the archaeological complex Huaca Pucllana (not entered). We will visit the Bodega & Quadra Museum, where you can see the wall of Lima built in the seventeenth century and with an exhibition of objects showing the society and development during the viceroyalty. We will visit the convent of Santo Domingo, proof of the importance of Catholicism during the viceroyalty and possibility of climbing the tower to observe the city. Observation of the Changing of the Guard. (subject to the programming of the Government Palace).

In the afternoon, we will visit the Magic Circuit of the Waters (unique in its kind), after an hour of lights, sound, and lots of water, we will go to a restaurant to have a delicious buffet dinner with live show. At the end, return to the hotel.

Overnight in Lima.

Day 14: Return home

Breakfast at the hotel, at the appropriate time transfer to the airport and farewell.