PERU HIGHLIGHT TOUR

19 DAYS: LIMA,PUERTO MALDONADO, CUSCO, URUBAMBA, MACHU PICCHU,
PUNO, COLCA, AREQUIPA, LIMA, NASCA, PARACAS

Day 01 LIMA

Arrival in Lima. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon visit to Colonial and Modern Lima. Guided city tour through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martin and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and visit the Convent of San Francisco and its catacombs, a religious building from the end of the XVI century. Drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.

Day 02 LIMA – PUERTO MALDONADO – WASAI TAMBOPATA

Note: This 4 days-3 nights program can be also provided at the “Posada Amazonas Lodge” or “Reserva Amazonica Lodge”. You can choose one of the lodges of your preference, depending of availability.

Transfer to airport for flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception at the airport and transportation to the Wasai Maldonado Lodge, where you will receive a welcoming tropical fruit beverage. You will embark for a 4 hour motorboat trip up the Tambopata river to Wasai Tambopata Lodge & Research Center (box lunch on route). During the trip we will be able to observe the local farms, while groups of birds pass over the boat. Opportunity to see families of Capybaras, the largest rodents in the world. Reception, accommodation at the lodge. After a short rest we will have a brief introductory walk in the forest nearby to learn basic principles of ecology and hear some wildlife natural history. Return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner we will make our first visit to the forest to observe the nocturnal life of insects, frogs of various colors, and an occasional encounter with nocturnal mammals. We will enjoy the diverse sounds of the jungle which will accompany our first night in Amazonia. Sleep in the lodge. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner).

Day 03 WASAI TAMBOPATA

Wake early (4.30 am) and travel up the Tambopata River for an hour to the Bahuaja- Sonene National Park. You will see a magical sunrise and it is a great opportunity to see animals such as capybaras, tapir, jaguar, and deer in the surrounding virgin forest. We will observe (from a save distance) one of the greatest spectacle of the rainforest: Hundreds of parrots, parakeets and macaws of various species, enjoying their diet of mineral salts on a river bank. We will have a hot drink and a snack whilst watching birds and go for a short walk to look for animals such as monkeys. We will return to the lodge to have a late breakfast. Ethno botanical trekking through one of the trails learning about medicinal plants. After lunch we will enter the verdant jungle on a special trail to observe wild life. We will then enter the territory of peccaries, deer, and others, with the possibility to hear or see the tracks of them, or discovering a troop of monkeys travelling through the forest in search of food. Time permitting; we will be able to enjoy a relaxing swim in the cascade of the cat. After dinner we can make another trip through the jungle, search for caimans or relax in our lodge surrounded by exotic nocturnal sounds. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)

Day 04 WASAI TAMBOPATA – WASAI MALDONADO

After breakfast we will make a trip in boat to the Wasai Maldonado Lodge, in Puerto Maldonado where we will relax in our bungalows and enjoy a tasty lunch. After lunch we will leave and travel for thirty minutes on the Madre de Dios River, to the access trail to Lake Sandoval, a beautiful typical rainforest lake. 3 km hike to the banks of the lake. There we will board a canoe to paddle around the lake enjoying the beauty of the landscape and observing the wildlife, such as kingfishers, herons, hoatzins (unique pre historic looking birds) , monkeys, etc. If we are lucky we could see the family of giant otters which live at the lake. We will have the opportunity to swim in the lake. It is time to begin our return hike to the Madre de Dios River to return to Puerto Maldonado. There we will stay in the modern and comfortable bungalows of Wasai Maldonado Lodge. After dinner we will be able to rest or go around the city on foot or on bicycle. We can enjoy the pool and its cascade surrounded by verdant vegetation. Rest of the night free to enjoy the night life of this welcoming city. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner).

Day 05 PUERTO MALDONADO – CUSCO

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure to adjust to the high altitude ( 11,000 feet ). (Breakfast).

Day 06 CUSCO

Afternoon city tour and nearby ruins. Visit Main Square , the Cathedral and its religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo or Koricancha. Includes visits to Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara fortresses, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko and the water shrine of Tambomachay. (Breakfast).

Day 07 CUSCO – URUBAMBA

Full day bus excursion to the village of Pisac. Visit the authentic and traditional Indian Market, where Indians barter their products. Continue through the Urubamba Valley to Ollantaytambo, favorite residence of the Incas, with its terraces running up the steep slope to the top where a carved stone throne allowed the ruler a magnificent view of his holdings. You will also see the fabulous Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo. Lunch included. Overnight at one of the nice countryside hotels in the area. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 08 URUBAMBA – MACHU PICCHU

Transfer to the station for a morning train ride to the unparalleled, Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”. Machu Picchu was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marches of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stonework of the Cusco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. Machu Picchu was associated with the earth cult revolving around the Coca leaf, which was a privilege restricted to the Inca Royal family and priests. Guided tour. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in Machu Picchu Pueblo. Overnight at one of the hotels in the area. (Breakfast – Dinner).

Day 09 MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Morning at leisure. You may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. Mid afternoon departure by train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast).

Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Please advise if you go back to the ruins or hike the Wayna Picchu at time of booking (subject to availability)

Day 10 CUSCO – PUNO

Transfer to the station to take the bus or *train to Puno (approx. 9 hours). Reception and transfer to your hotel. (Breakfast – Lunch).

*PERURAIL TITICACA TRAIN from Cusco to Puno (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday): Fantastic train ride that takes a gentle climb to higher and cooler altitudes. The first half of the journey is dominated by the magnificent Andean mountains which tower over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River. It then reaches the gentler, rolling Andean Plains, where vicuña and alpaca can be seen. The glass-walled observation car provides the perfect opportunity to view the beautiful scenery. The journey is broken by a scenic stop at La Raya, which is also the highest point on the route. Three-course lunch included. Restaurant and bar service is available at an additional cost.
Train leaves Cusco at 07:50 and arrives in Puno at 17:50

Day 11 PUNO – UROS – TAQUILE – PUNO

Full day boating excursion on Lake Titicaca visiting the floating islands of the Uros Indians. Continue to Taquile (solid ground), where its hospitable inhabitants have preserved their centuries-old way of life. Lunch on the island. Possibility of staying for overnight at one of the islanders’ homes. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 12 PUNO -SILLUSTANI

Visit the Necropolis of Sillustani. These ruins are located about 32 km from Puno, on the road to Juliaca and are one of the most importanta in the region. These circular stone towers, the Chullpas, which overlook a small lake, are huge funerary monuments built by the Collas to keep their mortal remains. Each structure is at least 12 meters high. The way they were built, with a smaller diameter in the base than at the top challenges the laws of equilibrium. (Breakfast).

Day 13 PUNO – COLCA – CHIVAY

Transfer to the station for departure Puno by bus to town of Chivay in Arequipa. Stop in Lagunillas for bird-watching and seeing little lakes. Stop in Pampa Cañahuas, stop in Patapampa for seeing volcanoes. Mid day arrival in Chivay for lunch. Accommodation at your hotel.

Day 14 CHIVAY- COLCA VALLEY & CANYON-CONDOR CROSS-CHIVAY-AREQUIPA

Early morning drive to the Cruz del Condor Overlook to see the majestic Andean Condor and the spectacular canyon. Return to Chivay for lunch. Afternoon continue to Arequipa ending at your hotel for overnight. (Breakfast – Lunch).

Day 15 AREQUIPA – LIMA

Morning city tour. Visit Main Square, the Cathedral, La Compañía Church and its cloisters, the San Francisco complex. Also included is a visit to the Santa Catalina Monastery, a miniature walled town within the city, complete with squared streets, church and museum. It remained unchanged since 1580 and has been recently opened to the public after centuries of cloistered religious life.

Transfer to airport in time for the flight to Lima. Arrival in Lima. Transfer to your hotel. . (Breakfast).

Day 16 LIMA – ICA – NASCA

Transfer to the station to take your bus to Ica. Upon arrival, visit to the city including the Regional Museum of Ica, housing a great collection of fossils, mummies, Paracas mantles, Nazca ceramics, and Colonial and Republican art pieces, the Lagoon of Huacachina and a winery where you will be able to observe the process of Pisco-making, the typical Peruvian drink and ingredient of the famous Pisco Sour. Afternoon transfer to your hotel in Nasca. Opportunity to visit the Maria Reiche Planetarium. (Breakfast).

Day 17 NASCA – PARACAS

Morning flight over the Nasca Lines. It is an area of approximately 500 km (310 ml) of Pampa, where the mysterious lines were discovered in 1927. The real dimension of these lines can be fully appreciated by air. They represent diverse animal figures, as a spider, a monkey, a dog, a lizard, a humming bird, and a condor. The dimensions of these figures vary from 15 to 300 m. each (50 to 1,000 ft.) high. Continue with Archaeological tour of Nasca including Chauchilla Pre-Inca cemetery. You will also be able to appreciate the process of artisan gold extraction. Transfer to your hotel in Paracas Bay for overnight. (Breakfast).

Day 18 PARACAS – LIMA

Morning cruise to the Ballestas Islands, where you will see sea lions, penguins, and more than 60 species of sea birds. You will also see the huge “Candelabrum” drawn in a sand slope. Return by bus to Lima and transfer to your hotel. Evening farewell dinner at La Rosa Nautica. This restaurant is located on a pier on the shores of the Pacific Ocean with amazing views. (Breakfast).

Day 19 LIMA – HOME

Transfer to the airport for your international departure flight. (Breakfast).

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