Itinerary

Day 1: Lima

Upon arrival into Lima International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel Costa del Sol Ramada, located at the airport. Our representative will assist you with check-in procedures and provide you with a detailed itinerary, vouchers covering all the services included in your tour and additional information on the organization of your Peru trip.  You will also receive a contact information sheet with all the hotel details as well as our offices contact information for each city and a 24-hour emergency number. Overnight in Lima.

Day 2: Cusco, Capital of the Inca Empire                                   (B/L/-)

After breakfast at the hotel you will be assisted to board your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival to Cusco's airport our representative will assist you with your luggage and drive you to the hotel at The Sacred Valley, located at 2300 m, which is less high than the City of Cusco, and will help to avoid altitude sickness.
On the route to the valley you will have the chance to stop at Awanacancha, where you will observe the traditional Andean weaving techniques and see the four types of camel-related Andean animals – llamas, guanacos, alpacas and vicunas. Alpacas have thick wool and is the most commonly used, while the vicunas are small and delicate with fur considered the finest. Awanacancha is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts.
Full day excursions to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit to Pisac market where you will have opportunity to interact with local people, and even negotiate with sellers. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the Afternoon you will visit Ollantaytambo, a gigantic agricultural, administrative, religious and social complex located 97 km from Cuzco. It was built during the Inca Empire as a fortress that includes a temple, platforms and an urban area. We can distinguish two areas: one called “Araqama Ayllu”, an area linked to the cult and religion, and the second “Qosqo Ayllu” dedicated to housing. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center, which probably also fulfilled military functions, evidenced by their walls and towers. Also there are traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a “Living Inca Town”, because its people maintain ancient customs and traditions. Overnight in the valley.

Day 3: Biking the Sacred Valley                                                 (B/L/-)

Chincheros- Moray- Maras Salt Mines- Pichingoto- Urubamba.
You will be picked up from hotel and transfer to the town of Chinchero (30 minute trip). Here you will get a short introduction about the tour and the road conditions. Then we drive to the town of Chequereq, wich offers incredible scenery and snow covered Andes. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to admire colorful farmlands and small picturesque towns.
Our support vehicle will follow us all the way, ready to help and assist the group.
Then you will visit the town of Maras and the agricultural terraces of Moray. The first part of our journey ends in the town of Maras, where you will enjoy a picnic lunch.
After a rest, you will follow a path that descends to the impressive salt mines of Maras, where we will have a guided tour. Return to hotel. Overnight in the valley.
 
Day 4: Machu Picchu                                                                   (B/L/-)

You will take an early train from Ollantaytambo station for a trip to Aguas Calientes.
Upon arrival, you will climb to the “Lost City of the Incas” on a 25 minutes trip by bus, on a zigzag road along the hillside.
Your guide will explain the surprising degree of technology achieved by the builders of this incredible work. The exact precision of massive stone building, the provision of water channels that reveal a deep understanding of hydraulics, the steps carved into the rock of the mountain and Intihuatana (“the highest point of the Sun”), which served as a solar calendar that regulate planting and harvesting, are tangible and concrete expression of deep knowledge and technological advancement of the empire.
All these buildings, along with the Temple of the Sun, The Royal Tomb, The Priest’s House, the Inca Baths and the Temple of Three Windows, allow you to go back in time and with the help of your guide, revive the existence of those builders truly admirable. Lunch at the Restaurant Sanctuary Lodge.
In the afternoon you will take the train Vistadome back to Ollantaytambo and then transfer by private car to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 5: City of contrast                                                                (B/-/-)

Walking city tour, including a visit to the district of San Blas, with its winding streets, the whitewashed houses, the blue balconies hung with geranium-filled flowerpots, the uneven line of the tiled rooftops and the endless stairways. In the neighbourhood live the folk artists of Cusco, who for centuries have used their hands to tell the tale of their longings and frustrations working in stone and woodcarving, sculpture, doll-making, silverware, weaving and textile arts, gold-leaf, mask-making, and an array of ceramics in utilitarian, architectural, sculptural, monumental, grotesque and many other styles.
Pre-Columbian Art Museum, the only museum in Peru dedicated to rebound the arts of ancient Peruvian cultures. The collection of 450 master pieces date from 1250 B.C to.1532 A.D.
Continue with a visit to the Cathedral, the Main Square and the Korikancha temple.
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Cusco.

Day 6: Enigmatic Jungle                                                            (B/L/D)

Transfer to the airport to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival from Cusco, you will be welcome at the airport and transferred on a ten minutes ride to our headquarters.  While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.
Bordering Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kms to the Tambopata River Port, at the native Community of Infierno. Then, you will be transferred on a two hour and a half boat ride to Refugio Amazonas, going through the community of infierno, and beyond the checkpoint of the Tambopata National Reserve, directly to the buffer zone of this protected area of over one million hectares.
Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and give you some important security tips.
Search Cayman
We will go out at night on a boat trip along the Tambopata River, where supported by our lights, we will look for the red reflection of the alligators´ eyes. Overnight in Refugio Amazonas.

Day 7 Enigmatic Jungle                                                             (B/L/D)

The Children's Rainforest Trail: Ania & the World´s Voice
A short trail designed for children with the help of ANIA, an environmental education NGO. Kids aged 6-12 hike with a guide through a challenging (but short) trail where they follow maps, solve riddles and find clues that will lead them to Ania’s “gifts”. The trail teaches kids how people live in the rainforest and leave a valuable message from Ania, “a girl born in the depths of the rain forest to fill our hearts with hope”. The concept, the story and the trail are trademarked by ANIA, a nonprofit organization with the mission of creating 100,000 hectares of “Tierras de los Niños” (Children’s Lands) - private protected areas in the management of children.
A fifteen minute boat ride and sixty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas is a clay lick used both by parrots and parakeets.  From a blind you will see parrots and parakeets descend on most clear days to ingest the clay on a bank. Species such as Dusky headed and Cobalt winged Parakeet descend at this clay lick. With luck we will also see some or all of the following species in the early morning rush: Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, Severe macaw and Orange-cheeled (Barraband`s) Parrot. We visit the lick at dawn, when parrots are most active or in midmorning or early afternoon, when they are active.
Twenty minutes walking from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in the late morning. Chances of spotting them are around 15%, but well worth the short hike.
Other wildlife also shows up including deer, guan and parakeets.
Five minutes from the lodge lives Don Manuel, who grows a variety of popular and unknown Amazon crops - just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose. At Don Manuel’s farm, we will prepare a paste from the fruit of huito and achiote to draw dark blue and red tattoos on ourselves. They last several days. 
Along this trail we will find a variety of plants and trees that are used by the local population with at least the same variety of purposes. We will learn about the medicinal (and other) uses of Ajo-Sacha, Yuca de Venado, Uña de Gato, Charcot-Sacha, Para-Para, among several others.
You will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but difficult to see. Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.
 
Day 8 Enigmatic Jungle                                                             (B/L/D)

Breakfast
The Children’s Rainforest Trail: Ania & The Forest’s Treasure
Another trail designed by ANIA, somewhat longer, which requires a five minute boat ride.
Features include Ant City, the search for the lost Brazil Nut, a shihuahuaco tree to climb and a visit to Anias home near lake Condenado.
 We will paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and hornerd screamers, hoping to see the otters which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws.
A thirty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. The tower has been built upon high ground, therefore increasing your horizon of the continuous primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve.  From here you might spot some bird species such as toucans, macaws and raptors.
Nightly lectures prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas

Day 9 Back to the town                                                              (B/-/-)

Breakfast
Boat Transfer - Refugio Amazonas to Tambopata River Port, and transfer from Tambopata River Port to Puerto Maldonado Headquarters, and transfer to the Airport.
Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures. Upon your arrival in Lima you will be met by our representative and will be transferred to your hotel in Lima.

Day 10 outbound international flight                                        (B/-/-)

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will continue with our tour of Lima, “The City of kings”. The tour includes Lima’s Historical Center, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, and the Government Palace.  Then, you will visit San Francisco Convent and its catacombs.
You will continue to visit the Larco Herrera Museum where you will have an introduction to the pre-Inca cultures that emerged in the northern region of Peru.
Transfer to the airport to board your flight to your next destination. You will be assisted with your luggage, departure tax and registration procedures.

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