Peru explore the culture with Amazon rainforest 9 days

In the morning, we will head out on a tour of down town Lima where we will visit the historical sites in the center, spanning the 3 historical periods.

MODERN LIMA: We will then make a stop off at the Intihuatana Park, found in Miraflores, with a spectacular backdrop of The Pacific Ocean. We will begin our tour in the modern, residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro. We will be able to see the Huaca Pucllana, a ceremonial temple in the form of a pyramid, which managed to survive the urban expansion of the city of Lima. We will then continue to the Olivar Park and the financial centre of San Isidro.

COLONIAL LIMA: Our tour will then take us to the historical center of Lima, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. This was the administrative center of the Spanish Invaders on their arrival in the 16th century and where they built their first buildings in Peru. We will visit the Plaza San Martín, with its stunning balconies and colonial architecture, the Plaza Mayor and its most important buildings such as the Government Palace, The cathedral, The Archbishops palace, The Municipal palace and The Desamparados Train Station, amongst others.

THE SANTO DOMINGO CONVENT : We will then head to one of the most important convents of the 17th Century, where important relics of Peru´s most worshipped Saints are found, Santa Rosa of Lima, San Martin de Porres and San Juan Macías. To finish this remarkable tour of Lima, we can visit the Indian market to buy handicrafts from all parts of Peru, head to Larcomar, or return to your hotel for the evening.

• Overnight: Hotel in Lima
• Meals: Breakfast

Our staff will be waiting for you at the Cusco Airport, to take you to your hotel, just let us know your exact arrival time and flight number. Here, you will be welcomed with a hot cup of the famous coca tea. You will have a free afternoon to acclimatize, as the city of Cusco is at an altitude of 3,399 m (11,151 feet).

IMPORTANT ADVICE ON ARRIVAL TO CUSCO

Please be prepared for the fact that the high elevation, will make you feel more tired than normal on your arrival, so we recommend that you take the afternoon easy. If you are feeling fine, then have a cup of coca tea, which will help you acclimatize quicker. It is recommended to take a light walk, maybe to see The Plaza De Armas, to see the incredible colonial buildings, built on top of Inca foundations. It is important to drink a lot of water at high elevation, which will help you with the process of acclimatization. For the first few days at high elevation, it is also important toe at light meals as your digestion will be slower and later on you will have the opportunity to try the famous Guinea pig, a dish which was revered by the Incas and is still a national dish of The Andes and is eaten on special occasions and celebrations. One thing you must not miss on one of your free days is a visit to the “Centro QOSQO” of native art a show which demonstrates traditional dances, costume and music of the region. The show begins at 6pm, but we recommend that you arrive 40 minutes earlier and wait in line, as many people want to go to the see this unique spectacular. If you have the “Boleto Turistico” included in your package, you will have free access to this incredible show.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Check in: 12:00pm / Check out: 09:00am
• Meals: none

NOTE: If your arrival time is earlier than the check-in time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.

Today, we will visit some of the most interesting sites in Cusco and the surrounding area. We will begin with a visit to the Cusco cathedral found on the Plaza De Armas and is the principal church in this imperial city. It was built on the foundations of the temple of The Inca Wiracocha. The cathedral displays over 300 paintings belong to the Cusco school of art. We will then head on to the Qoricancha which is the Quechua Word for “Temple of Gold”. This was the first temple to be constructed by The Incas, and was originally covered with large amounts of silver and gold. We will next head out of Cusco City to the close by ruins of Sacsayhuaman, famous for its enormous megaliths and giant stones, that weigh over 150 tonnes. During Inca times, it was considered the “Temple of lightening”, in honour to the deity Illapa. We will then head to the nearby ruins of Q’enqo, a religious site dedicated to the Mother Earth where you can still see carved stones and constructions. There is also a sacrificial altar where the Incas were thought to make offerings and sacrifices to The Mother Earth. After this, we will visit the to the impressive Inca fortress of Puka Pukara, which means “Red Castle” in the ancient Inca language of Quechua. Our final visit will be to Tambomachay, where we can appreciate a sacred temple dedicated to an ancient water cult which probably also functioned as a purification bath for the Inca governors. We will then return to Cusco City, where we Will drop you off at your hotel or in the central “Plaza de Armas”.

• Overnight: Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: Breakfast

Today you will discover the incredible Sacred Valley of the Inca, also called the Vilcanota Valley after the river that flows through it. After breakfast, we will first head to the artisan centre of Awanacancha, where we can see up close the famous llamas. You will also have the opportunity to chat with the local craftsmen and learn about the techniques and appreciate the intricacy of their Peruvian textiles and artwork. This is the perfect place to buy souvenirs for your loved ones back home and contribute to local craftspeople and artisans of The Andes, as well as purchase an intricate and authentic piece of fine textile, with an original beauty that can only be found in this region. We will then head to the archaeological site of Pisaq, situated on the mountain top. This magnificent site is composed of many sections of terraces and archaeological structures, built on the hillside of the high mountain. The perfect example of stunning countryside and impressive stonework, which combine to make this spectacular site. We will then head down to the town of Pisaq and its famous handicraft market, where local people sell their variety of handmade products, using techniques dating back to ancestral times. We will then head along the Sacred Valley to the town of Urubamba, where we will stop for lunch and where we will have the opportunity to sample some of the local delicacies, of the Peruvian kitchen including salads, soups, ceviche a variety of main courses and delectable desserts. After lunch, we will visit the impressive archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, quite probably constructed to monitor the entrance into this part of the valley and protect the Incas from possible invasion. We will have the opportunity to walk through its narrow, cobbled streets and gain a better idea about how this site functioned during Inca times, as a strategic military outpost as well as a religious and cultural centre. After the visit, we will then board the train that will take us to Aguas Calientes, at the base of Machu Picchu. On arrival, the hotel representative will be waiting for us to take us to the hotel.

• Overnight: Hotel in Aguas Calientes
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch

In the morning, according to the scheduled time, our guide will pick you up at your hotel to go to the bus station where you will climb 400m along a winding path for 20min to reach the incredible wonder of the world “The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu”, also known as “The Lost City of the Incas”. Upon arriving at the Machu Picchu citadel with our guide, we will pass through the entrance and begin the tour of the entire citadel. For around 2h30m we will visit the main places in Machu Picchu.

We return to the town of Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, where you will have free time to enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants (lunch not included). After lunch, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo (depending on train departure time availability). The return will follow the same route as the departure. Upon arrival in Ollantaytambo, the train representative will be waiting to take you to the bus heading to your hotel in Cusco.

• Overnight : Hotel in Cusco
• Meals: breakfast 

Depending on the time of your flight, we will collect you from your hotel and take you to the Cusco airport.

AT THE MOMENT YOU BUY YOUR AIRLINE TICKETS, YOUR FLIGHT SHOULD ARRIVE IN PUERTO MALDONADO NO LATER THAN 1 PM

When you arrive in Puerto Maldonado, the capital city of biodiversity in Peru, we will be there to welcome you at the airport. We will start our program with a bus tour of the city, followed by a trip to Puerto Capitanía where we will board a motorized riverboat to navigate the Madre de Dios River. This will be an exciting opportunity to immerse ourselves in the stunning natural environment, where we may be fortunate enough to witness various animal species in their natural habitats, including Ronsocos, Caimans, Turtles, Herons, Cormorants, and others.

Once we arrive at the Lodge, we will be served to a delicious welcome drink and settle into our cozy bungalows before enjoying a lovely lunch together.

After lunch, our expert guide will lead you along a marked trail to the Caimán Cocha, a petite lake teeming with specimens of Black Caiman (Melanosuchus Niger) and Caiman (Caiman Crocodilus).

As the afternoon draws to a close, you will marvel at the breathtaking sunset over the Amazon, an encounter that promises to be a sensorial feast, bursting with vivid colors.

Once you return to the Lodge, you will enjoy a delectable dinner, followed by some leisure time to create memories to last a lifetime at the bar, complete with an excellent game room and an endless supply of beverages.

• Overnight: Bungalow in Puerto Maldonado
•  Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

We will ultimately arrive at the magnificent Lake Apu Victor, surrounded by marshes and towering trees with crystal clear waters.

Subsequently, we will ascend to the Observation Deck, where we can savor a panoramic view of the lake, marveling at the numerous animals, including parrots, macaws, toucans, camungos, shanshos, herons, caimans, turtles. With a stroke of luck, we may even see the Giant Otter, one of the most striking animals in the rainforest.

After a few hours of exploration, we will return to the Lodge for a delightful lunch.

In the afternoon, our expert guide will accompany us on a visit to Monkey Island – a unique destination situated in the heart of the Madre de Dios River, just a five-minute boat ride from the Lodge. Our hike towards the island will offer breathtaking views of the landscape, including a lush and diverse flora, which provides shelter to a variety of monkey species, such as Maquisapas, Capuchins, Small Lion Monkeys, Frailes, Cotos, as well as other fascinating creatures, including Coatis, Sloths, and a wide range of birds.

At the conclusion of our island visit, we will witness a truly spectacular sunset – one of the most breathtaking sights the jungle has to offer. Upon returning to the Lodge, we will have a delectable dinner to round out an unforgettable day.

• Overnight: Bungalow in Puerto Maldonado
• Included meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Following a peaceful night’s sleep, the start of the day is greeted by the pleasant melodies of charming avian creatures in the idyllic Amazonian haven. Our dining area is ready to serve a final breakfast before setting off on the journey back to Puerto Maldonado Airport.

This marks the end of our services.

• Check in: 12:00 check out : 9:00 am
• Included meals: breakfast

NOTE: If your arrival time is after the hotel check-out time, you can use the hotel’s common areas while you wait.