Adventure to Machu Picchu & Amazon

AM: Today you shall arrive to Lima airport, a member of our team will welcome you here and drive you to your chosen hotel! You need to rest very well and start getting ready for your unforgettable adventure starting on the following day!

AM: After having a delicious breakfast in your hotel you will be privately transferred to take your domestic flight to Puerto Maldonado from Lima airport. Once you arrive to Puerto Maldonado, a member of our team will be waiting to welcome you, collect your luggage and explain all the essentials you need to know for the following days in the Peruvian amazon!

After being privately transported to the port you completely leave behind the city and your excursion through the jungle begins! You shall travel deep into the jungle by boat, the forest getting thicker, bird cries becoming more noticeable. During your river journey you will be able to see all the wildlife located in Tambopata National Reserve as well as the communities along the way, while this occurs your guide will explain all the area details about flora and fauna, all of this will ensure a great experience for you!

PM: A box-lunch will be enjoyed en route, and upon arrival to the lodge you will receive an orientation, where you will be given a safety briefing and a short presentation on what to expect during your time in the Peruvian jungle.

After this, we’ll head into the forest for a twilight excursion, armed with flashlights and headlamps. This will mainly consist on watching the transformation of the wildlife into a nocturnal world. You will learn about all the treasures of natural life hidden here during your walk.

AM: After waking up early in the morning and having a delicious breakfast served in our lodge, we shall start today’s journey and head to Oxbow Lake. All the wildlife we can find in the midst of Tambopata National Reserve is unique! The very best time to arrive to Oxbow Lake is just at dawn, in order to watch wildlife on its best: the giant river otter’s families, caimans, hoatzins and horned screamers.

Afterwards, we will go on a walk through the forest to get to a canopy observation tower where we shall find a series of platforms of 25 meters (82 feet) height. In here we will likely get to watch toucans, macaws and raptors. Binoculars cannot miss on this one!

PM: For our afternoon, we are going to spend it visiting Don Manual’s Amazonian farm, learning about the ethnobotanical plants used in local medicine – the benefits if each plant are multiple!

By the end of the day, we are going to return to our lodge to have a delicious dinner, and then some relaxing time during this evening!

AM: Today you need to get ready for real, because the upcoming adventure for this day has no comparison! At dawn we’ll take a quick 15-minute boat ride, or a 60-minute walk through the jungle to a clay lick! In here you will be able to see these colourful birds, they are mostly active during the first minutes of daylight each day, many tropical birds of all shapes and sizes arrive here in order to take the nutrients found in the clay. You will definitely be amazed by all the types of wildlife located here!

PM: Then, for our afternoon, we are going to go on a 15-20 minute walk towards one of the mammal clay licks in the area. You will get all the information and details about this by your bilingual naturalistic guide along the tour, you shall learn about their needs, behaviour, locations and so forth!

We shall then return to our lodge in the Amazonian jungle, have some dinner, and have some rest to refill our energies for the next day!

AM: After eating a delicious breakfast in our lodge, today in just a few hours, you will already be in the Andes Mountains! Crazy right? In just so little time one can be in the jungle, and then in the Andes!

We will take our domestic flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, and in the airport we’ll enjoy of a box-lunch, then, before you can even feel the altitude, we’ll be getting to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

PM: Just 45 minutes outside of Cusco, the true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, cows and sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. The landscapes you are able to catch during our journey are just breathtaking, the Andes steep peaks are easy to appreciate! We will first go to Awanakancha Living Museum, where we shall see traditional weavers at work and come face to face with llamas, alpacas and other Andean camelids.

Our final stop for today will be in our hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas!

AM: Today, once we have had some delicious breakfast in our selected hotel our experience delving into heart of the Sacred Valley will begin!

Our first stop is the traditional market of Pisac where vendors come from miles around to peddle their wares: plant-based dyes and pigments, hand-made clothes and ceramics, and locally forged silver jewerly. You can buy your favourite ones in here! Next, we shall continue up the mountain to the ruins located in Pisac! We will learn about the complexity of the Incan agricultural system, their methods of cultivating thousands of varieties of corn and potatoes, and much more!

PM: Then, we are going to have lunch in a traditional Peruvian restaurant in the town of Ollantaytambo which is one of the few ones with such Incan urban architecture. You will be amazed by the beauty of its streets and halls from house to house, the still-functioning street canals, the multi-family houses with secret interior courtyards and iconic Incan trapezoidal doors! Here we will visit a famous place: the Incan fortress perched on the mountainside overlooking this sleepy pueblo. You have to get used to learning so much in our expeditions, in here we shall learn about the stone quarries and the pivotal Incan battle that took place here.

Once all our exploration is done, we shall return to our hotel to have a relaxing evening!

AM: Today after having breakfast, your guide and driver will bring you up to the highlands overlooking the Sacred Valley. As your car winds through beautiful countryside, soak in the spectacular views of the Sacred Valley’s snow-capped peaks. You’ll have a brief safety orientation, strap on your helmets, and then you’re off!

First, you will ride to the Inca ruins at Moray. Some experts still believe these ancient amphitheatres served as an agricultural laboratory, though nobody has been able to confirm their true purpose! Form your own hypothesis as you peer into these beautiful concentric circles. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at the ruins site and refuel for your afternoon ride.

PM: You will continue through the small town of Maras, before heading downhill to the unbelievable salt pans. Still in use today, each of thousands of flat white pools that terrace the hillside has been passed down from generation to generation since pre-Incan times. The intricate network of waterways and white evaporation pools seem like a work of modern art.

Finish your mountain biking journey with a final downhill leg to the small town of Pichingoto, where your car will collect you and your gear for a relaxing journey back to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

AM: Today you will have an adventure like no other, we will on a one day trekking on the Inca Trail! You shall have the full experience of the Sacred Valley itself!

We will take you from your hotel very early in the morning and start our way to Ollantaytambo station, where we are going to board the Vistadome train.

You and your guide will disembark the train at the Inca Trail trailhead found at Kilometer 104, and from here you will walk the lovely uphill path to the ruins of Wiñaywayna. As you walk, your guide will point out orchids and other jungle plants, the Urubamba River will rush below you, and you’ll marvel at the Inca’s strength and ingenuity. When you reach the ruins of Wiñaywayna, you’ll rest up, explore, and enjoy a delicious al fresco lunch. Then you’ll hit the trail once again! A walk of approximately two hours brings you to Inti Punku, the famous Sun Gate.

You’ll approach this stone construction up one last flight of stairs, catch your breath, and then lose it again as you see Machu Picchu, nestled and hidden between steep peaks below you.

PM: Descend triumphantly over ancient paving stones to the lost citadel, and relish in the audacity of a construction of this calibre in this stunning location before catching the bus to Aguas Calientes and checking in to your hotel. Your guide will then leave you to rest, refresh, and enjoy a delicious and well-earned dinner on-site.

AM: Today we will enjoy of Machu Picchu at its fullest! Right after having breakfast in our hotel, we will have go to board our bus from Aguas Calientes Town up to Machu Picchu ruins.

Once we arrive to the entrances of the Ancient Citadel, we shall start our private tour, we will then ascend stone steps, through heavy tree cover to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu! Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city, introducing you to the history of this spectacular citadel and showing you the most important temples and ceremonial sites.

Optional: The ones who are more adventurous can choose to hike the Huayna Picchu peak in order to get a full view of Machu Picchu – Huayna Picchu is just in front of Machu Picchu for the ones who do not know. In here, you shall reach the highest point. Also you have to consider that this is subject to availability, the hikes are limited and require advance notice.

PM: After completing your Machu Picchu visit you will descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch and your return Vistadome train. We will be waiting to collect you in the Ollantaytambo train station and will bring you to your hotel for the evening.

AM: After having breakfast, your private guide will proceed to illuminate Cusco’s rich tapestry woven by its inviting cobblestone streets, charming neighbourhoods, and astounding landmarks.

Our first stop is going to be in Sacsayhuaman Inca ruins which are located above the city, already exciting right? Afterwards we are heading back to the city to the bohemian neighbourhood of San Blas, which is recognized by its whitewashed adobe buildings and quaint blue balconies, home to generations of renowned Cusco artisans.

From there you’ll stop in at the colonial Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, then down to the Santo Domingo monastery, perched atop the most sacred of Incan sites, the Qoricancha temple of the sun. Once bathed in 24-karat gold long-since pilfered by Spanish conquistadors, this temple is now an astounding blend of Incan stonemasonry and colonial architecture. Make sure to pause along the way to marvel at the incomparable Incan foundations supporting each building in the area, in particular at the 12-angled stone nestled in a wall that has withstood the test of time (as well as a couple of earth-shattering earthquakes!).

PM: Upon conclusion of your tour your guide will leave you with suggestions as to where you find a delicious, local lunch, and you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon to explore the Imperial City at your leisure.

AM: Not enough adventure? Today right after breakfast we will go on a non-comparable adventure! Our private driver will meet us in our hotel and take us to the hills surrounding Cusco, heading the countryside in here and beyond. We can enjoy of the cows and sheeps all over our way. Also we will get to see the people of the community living in here that is women with really traditional clothes – whom have not lost their ways – and in traditional braids! Lovely isn’t it? We must just enjoy the living culture here!

After ninety minutes of our way we will arrive in the small town of Chuquiqahuana where you will receive a safety briefing with procedures for the start of your adventure at the Upper Urubamba River. Here, you will work together to prepare the equipment and inflate the rafts before gearing up and climbing in.

PM: And then it’s in to the water! You’ll spend three hours negotiating the river as a team and taking in the stunning scenery – dry mountains, green fields, small farmsteads, and incredibly big blue sky. You’ll even take on class III and class IV rapids, so prepare to get a little wet!

When you disembark, relish an al fresco lunch and then relax as we drive you back to your hotel in Cusco for an evening at leisure.

AM: Today around noon, we will be picked up from out hotel in order to catch our flight to Lima. Our guide and driver will be there for us to assist us in catching this flight. We shall pass by Miraflores district, where we also shall have overwhelming views!

Once you arrive to Lima, a member of our team will be waiting for you to start a very special experience here! We shall start with an award-winning culinary tour. Along with viewing various cultural highlights of Lima and sampling goodies from world-renowned restaurants, you’ll enjoy a pisco sour demonstration with a beachfront view, learn how to prepare your own citrusy Ceviche, and sample fruit straight from the Amazon. It just sounds really good huh?

As your culinary tour progresses, you’ll dine at Huaca Pucllana, one of Lima’s best-known gourmet restaurants. Nestled in the heart of Miraflores, this unique restaurant boasts views of a pre-Colombian “huaca” or pyramid temple, which is spectacularly illuminated at night. Finally, continue to the bohemian Barranco districts. In this up-and-coming artsy neighbourhood, the cherry on top will be a sampling of traditional desserts.

AM: Today will be a day for you! As if the other days haven’t right? Well, today after having a delicious breakfast you can spend a great morning relaxing on your own or just continue exploring the city as you prefer! As you will be located in Miraflores, you can get around!

At the appropriate in the afternoon, we will collect you and bring you to the heart of Peru’s “City of Kings”, where you’ll visit the Plaza Mayor, featuring the current President’s palace, the Convent of San Francisco (including subterranean catacombs!) and the Casa Aliaga. This mansion is the western hemisphere’s oldest mansion and still owned and inhabited by the 17th generation of the Aliaga family.

Once we have completed this tour, we will bring you to a restaurant of your choice where we will have secured reservations for you (dinner not included). We highly recommend the restaurants Central or Maido, currently holding positions #6 and #7 respectively in the world’s 50 Best Restaurants (though please remember reservations must be secured well in advance!).