 Day 1 - September 19th - Saturday
USA / Lima, Peru
Depart from the U.S.A. on regularly scheduled flight. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Crowne Plaza Hotel
Day 2 - September 20th - Sunday (B, L)
Lima
Tour of the "City of the Kings".Visit the historic Plaza Mayor surrounded by the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the Casa Aliaga, America's best preserved colonial mansion, occupied by the same family since 1535. Proceed to the San Francisco Monastery, a masterpiece of Colonial architecture. Drive through the residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Ocean Pacific. Proceed to a local restaurant where the chef will show you how to prepare a typical Peruvian dish as well as one of our best typical beverages. After demonstration, you will taste them and will also be served a “piqueo” and a dessert made with local fruits.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Day 3 - September 21st - Monday (B)
Lima / Ica
Morning departure from Lima in private transportation. Four hours south on the PanAmerican Highway to Ica, the wine capital of Peru. Take a 45-minute flight by high-wing light aircraft over the desert and the mysterious Nasca Lines (also known as the Nasca markings), which can only be appreciated from the air. Made centuries ago, the reason they were made still remains a mystery. Then visit the regional museum in Ica, where you will be able to see its great collection of archaeological remains, including ceramics, mummies and textiles. These materials have been gathered from the Paracas, Nasca , Wari, Ica-Chincha and Inca civilizations. Hotel Las Dunas
Day 4 - September 22nd - Tuesday (B)
Ica (Nazca Lines) / Ballestas Islands / Arequipa
Morning departure northward to the Paracas Peninsula, embarkation point for the yacht cruise to the Ballestas Islands, inhabited by boobies, pelicans, sea lions and Humboldt penguins. The still unexplained Candelabro Marking Lines can be seen on the way. Return along the Pacific Coast to Lima. Transfer to the airport with assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Arequipa, assistance at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Hotel El Cabildo
"I liked the balance between archeology, culture and nature: the experience
of being in a developing country. The guides were all superb! It was like
living inside a National Geographic for two weeks. I have always wanted to
visit Machu Picchu. Ancient civilizations fascinate me. A trip of a
lifetime!"
Peru - C. Larsen, CT
|
Day 5 - September 23rd - Wednesday (B, L, D)
Arequipa / Colca
Early morning departure for a two-day overland trip to the awesome Colca Valley. Drive across Pampa Canahuas within the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, the habitat of vicunas. Admire beautiful pre-Columbian terraces still being cultivated by native Collaguas. Box lunch included. Dinner at your hotel. Colca Lodge
Day 6 - September 24th - Thursday (B, L)
Colca / Arequipa
Morning departure to Condor's Cross Observation Point (9,800 feet), from where the great Andean bird may be spotted. Impressive panorama of Colca Canyon, one of the deepest in the world. Lunch at Casa Andina Hotel . Early afternoon return to the hotel in Arequipa. Hotel El Cabildo
Day 7 - September 25th - Friday (B, L)
Arequipa / Pisac (Near Cuzco)
Transfer from hotel to the airport, assistance on departure flight. Assistance at the airport on arrival flight. Overland transportation to the 'Sacred Valley of the Incas'. Drive through the valley and bargain with vendors at a typical market in Pisac. Lunch at the hotel. Sol y Luna Hotel
Day 8 - September 26th - Saturday (B, L)
Pisac
Drive to Ollantaytambo, the Inca Fortress, and walk through the quaint streets of the nearby town. Lunch at Casa Hacienda Cossio. In the afternoon, excursion to Maras, a salt production center during Colonial times.
Sol y Luna Hotel
Day 9 - September 27th - Sunday (B, L, D)
Pisac / Machu Picchu
Morning transfer to Ollanta Station. Board the railcoach for a one-and-a-half hour train ride to Machu Picchu. Then take a 25-minute motor coach ascent to "The Lost City of the Incas" with a guided tour of the marvelous Citadel, an awe-inspiring experience. Stroll by the archaeological site before enjoying buffet lunch at Machu Picchu Santuary Lodge.
Machu Picchu Santuary Lodge
Day 10 - September 28th - Monday (B, L, D)
Machu Picchu / Cuzco
Wake up early to admire Machu Picchu, stroll by these extraordinary Inca remains or hike up the Huayna Picchu. Afternoon motorcoach/railcoach transportation to Cusco. Upon arrival, transfer to you hotel.
Monasterio Hotel
 Day 11 - September 29th - Tuesday (B)
Cuzco
Morning city tour including the Santo Domingo Convent Monastery - the legendary Koricancha 'Site of Gold', the most important temple devoted to worship of the sun and whose walls were plated with sheets of gold; the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. After seeing the most interesting sites of the city, you will drive out into the countryside outside Cuzco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area: the cult center of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko, the Inca Baths of Tambomachay and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara Proceed to visit a local market where you will have the opportunity to learn about of some of the products that are used in the preparation of the typical Peruvian dishes. Then you will be transferred to a typical restaurant for lunch. The chef will explain you about the preparation of the dishes that you will delight.
Monasterio Hotel
Day 12 - September 30th - Wednesday (B)
Cuzco / Lima
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Drive to the modern district of Monterrico to visit the renowned Gold Museum and admire its priceless pre-Columbian gold artifacts.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Day 13 - October 1st - Thursday (B)
Lima / USA
After breakfast you will be transferred with assistance to the airport for your departure to the U.S.A.
JUNGLE EXTENSION #1
PUERTO MALDONADO
Day 12 - September 30th - Wednesday (B, L, D)
Cuzco / Lima / Puerto Maldonado
Transfer from the hotel to the airport. Assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, assistance at the airport and transfer to the pier. Two-hour motor boat trip up the Tambopata river to the Posada Amazonas Lodge at the Ese'eja native community. Box lunch on board. During the trip, several bird species typical of the river and forest edge may be spotted. Afternoon arrival. Time to hike the nearby trails before dinner.
Posada Amazonas Lodge
Day 13 - October 1st - Thursday (B, L, D)
Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, ecology walk through primary forest passing by the side of a hill where the different forest strata can be clearly seen, ending on a seasonal floodplain forest where a huge ceiba tree stands. return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, walk around the nearby trails. After dinner at the lodge, optional night walk to observe the nocturnal wildlife, especially amphibians and insects.
Posada Amazonas Lodge
Day 14 - October 2nd - Friday (B, L, D)
Puerto Maldonado
After an early breakfast, take a ten minute walk to visit another parrot clay lick where parrots, parakeets and large macaws of different species gather to eat clay. An opportunity to spot some other spectacular wildlife active at that time of the day. After lunch at the lodge, visit to a native slash and burn farm to learn how is it that this agriculture system thought to be wasteful can be sustainable over the long term.
Posada Amazonas Lodge
Day 15 - October 3rd - Saturday (B, L, D)
Puerto Maldonado
After an early breakfast, take a fifteen minute-boat trip followed by a half-an-hour walk to the tres chimbadas oxbow lake canoe ride along the edge to admire its fauna, especially giant otters, turtles and hoatzin birds. Time to explore the surroundings or swim at the lake. After lunch at the lodge, time to hike the nearby trails or relax enjoying the lodge facilities.
Posada Amazonas Lodge
"All the guides were professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and accessible.
They were essential in making this a terrific learning experience. This was
an once-in-a-lifetime trip, I was grateful to have seen so much of Peru with
such knowledgeable guides. For those who enjoy group travel/planned tours
this is a marvelous, wonderful trip. I'm so glad I went."
Peru - R. King, AZ
|
Day 16 - October 4th - Sunday (B)
Puerto Maldonado / Lima
After an early breakfast, return trip to Puerto Maldonado and the airport. Assistance on departure flight. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Drive to the modern district of Monterrico to visit the renowned Gold Museum and admire its priceless pre-Columbian gold artifacts.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Day 17 - October 5th - Monday (B)
Lima / USA
After breakfast you will be transferred with assistance to the airport for your departure to the U.S.A.
JUNGLE EXTENSION #2
MANU LODGE
Day 12 - September 30th - Wednesday (B, L, D)
Cuzco
 Day at leisure to explore Cuzco.
Monasterio Hotel
Day 13 - October 1st - Thursday (B, L, D)
Cuzco / Manu
Transfer with assistance to the airport for departure flight to Manu. Take a 35-minute flight in a radar-equipped, twin-engine plane from Cuzco to the landing strip at Boca Manu. Here you transfer to a motorized canoe for the 90-minute journey down the Madre De Dios River to Manu Wildlife Center, where you lunch. In the afternoon, explore some of the 30 miles (48 kilometers) of clear forest trails that surround the lodge in the hopes of seeing some of the area's ten species of monkeys. These include acrobatic Spider Monkeys, intelligent Brown Capuchins, White-Fronted Capuchins, chattering Squirrel Monkeys, Saddleback Tamarins, Dusky Titis, Nights Monkeys, Red Howlers, Strange Monk Sakis, and spectacular Moustachioed Emperor Tamarins. Birders delight at the large game birds such as Razor-Billed Curassows and Pale-Winged Trumpeters, which commonly are seen within 200 yards (180 meters) of the lodge. After dinner leisurely walk 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) in 60-75 minutes on a wide, clean trail to the world's largest known Tapir clay lick. Relax, read, or sleep while waiting for the lumbering Tapirs to arrive. With large flashlights observe and photograph these humorous, horse-like, wiggle-nosed beasts, which at 500 pounds (230 kilos) are the largest land animals in South America. Tapirs generally are considered even harder to see than Jaguars. Over the past 12 months, more than 90% of the 150 people who waited at the lick saw a Tapir before midnight at 40 feet (12 meters) for 10-20 minutes or more on their first try. Tapirs are not yet 100% guaranteed, but data suggests that in two or three nights of waiting until midnight at the lick, you have a 95%-99% chance of seeing a Tapir. For comparison, only one out of every 500-1,000 tour groups in the Ecuadorian Amazon or near Manaus, Brazil, see a Tapir, and there at great distances and for a very brief instant.
Manu Wildlife Center Lodge
Day 14 - October 2nd - Friday (B, L, D)
Manu
The lush and misty cloud forest is perhaps the most fragile and threatened type of rainforest. This forest which starts from 1,000 feet, and continue down to about 5,000 feet of elevation, cover the eastern slopes of the Andes, before yielding to the vast lowland forest of the Amazon. This is a kingdom of moss, lichens, ferns, and orchids. Early excursion to a nearby platform and blind strategically located to see a 'lek' where the brightly red-colored Cocks of the Rock display daily for the females. Afterwards we return to our for a hearty breakfast. Later in the morning, we will have the opportunity to explore the serene beauty of the Cloud Forest. This is a good chance to try our luck and see Woolly Monkeys, Emerald Toucan, Torrent Duck, Golden headed Quetzal, Gray breasted Mountain Toucan, Amazonian Umbrella bird, blue banded toucan, fruit eating, etc. Our journey continues by ground transport to the mid-elevation forest and to witness how the last Andean foothills yields to the vast Amazon basin. We will reach the Amazon river port of Atalaya at about noon. Upon arrival we will have a chance to experience a short dugout canoe ride down the fast-flowing Upper Madre de Dios River in order to spend the rest of the afternoon walking mid-elevation rainforest trails in the company of our guide. This type of habitat is very special as several upland and lowland species of birds mingle at this elevation. For example we may have the chance to see the Military Macaw, an endangered species of parrot that lives only at this elevation. Overnight in a jungle lodge in the vicinity of the powerful Upper Madre de Dios River.
Manu Wildlife Center Lodge
Day 15 - October 3rd - Saturday (B, L, D)
Manu
Rising at dawn, take a 25-minute boat ride downriver to the only accessible macaw and parrot clay lick in the Manu area. From a floating catamaran, marvel at the medium-sized, emerald green and electric blue parrots and the large blazing red-and-green macaws that arrive in two shifts to eat the clay. NOTE: In some years macaw and parrot licks in SE Peru are less active in May, June, and early July than during the rest of the year. September, August, and October (in that order) probably are the best months for maximum parrot numbers and diversity at this lick. This lick currently is the world's best for photography and close-up viewing. The catamaran gets you within 60-100 feet (20-30 meters) of the "sensurround" spectacle of the macaw lick. Returning for lunch, the afternoon is spent visiting the two Oxbow Lakes found in the area. These lakes have populations of a variety of water birds, including the prehistoric-looking Hoatzin, and also harbor giant otters. After dinner back at the center there will be another opportunity to visit the Tapir clay lick.
Manu Wildlife Center Lodge
Day 16 - October 4th - Sunday (B, L, D)
Manu
Rising at dawn, explore the forest trails with the emphasis on visiting the fruiting trees that researchers and native guides have been monitoring. Here you can hope to encounter more monkey species as well as numerous species of birds, or have an early visit to one or both of the lakes before exploring the forest trails. After lunch at the center there is a further opportunity to explore more of the forest types in the area. Alternatively, you may wish to spend time in special blinds to observe and perhaps to photograph the brilliantly-colored dancing birds called Manakins. After dinner, once again you can visit the Tapir clay lick.
Manu Wildlife Center Lodge
Day 17 - October 5th - Monday (B)
Manu / Cuzco
Today you will be transferred to the airport where a safe, 30 minute, jet-flight will take you back to Cuzco. Rest of the day at leisure.
Monasterio Hotel
Day 18 - October 6th - Tuesday (B)
Cuzco / Lima
After a brief stop the plane continues for another hour to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Drive to the modern district of Monterrico to visit the renowned Gold Museum and admire its priceless pre-Columbian gold artifacts.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Day 19 - October 7th - Wednesday (B)
Lima / USA
After breakfast you will be transferred with assistance to the airport for your departure to the U.S.A. |
