| ITINERARY |
| DAY 1: | LIMA (Arrival) |
| Reception at the international airport of Lima, transfer to the hotel and rest of the day free for optional visits or resting. Afternoon briefing about the trip and overnight at the hotel in Lima. |
| DAY 2: | LIMA PUNO |
| Morning transfer hotel-airport for national flight Lima-Juliaca, reception at the airport and 1 ½ hours bus ride to our hotel in Puno (3800 mts/12550 ft). Rest of the day free for optional visits and acclimatizing. (B) |
| DAY 3: | LAKE TITIKAKA- Uros and Amantani Islands |
| After breakfast we start our visit to the highest navigable lake in the world with the fascinating floating reed islands of the Uros. From here a 2 hour boat ride brings us to the island of Amantani where we stay with the locals, learning more about their traditions and daily life. In the late afternoon we can enjoy the breathtaking sunset over Lake Titicaca from the top of the island. On a clear day we will even be able to see the distant peaks of the Cordillera Real in Bolivia. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 4: | LAKE TITIKAKA- Amantani/Taquile/Puno |
| After a traditional breakfast we say goodbye to our hosts and continue by boat for about 1 ½ hours to the neighboring island of Taquile, whose inhabitants still live as their ancestors did. We have ample time to explore the island, visit the community with its handicraft center and have lunch before we return by boat to Puno in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel and overnight. (B/L) |
| DAY 5: | PUNO - CUSCO |
| An 8 hour scenic bus ride brings us over the highlands to the former capital of the Incas: Cusco. During the trip we will have lunch and visit several places of interest, such as the colonial church of Andahuaylillas and the Inca temple at Raqchi. Arriving in Cusco transfer to our hotel for overnight (3300 mts/10900 ft). (B/L) |
| DAY 6: | CUSCO (Free Day) |
| Free day in Cusco for optional visits, shopping or resting. In the late afternoon we visit the Centre of Native Art to enjoy tipical music and dances of the region. Overnight in Cusco. (B) |
| DAY 7: | SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS |
| Early morning bus to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On the way we visit a weaving centre/museum, where the local weavers explain the textile making process from shearing, spinning and dying with plant extracts to the actual weaving.
We continue our tour with a visit to the archaeological site of Pisaq, fascinating for its location and architecture. We will have plenty of time to explore this beautiful place. After visiting the colorful handicraft market in the village of Pisac, we enjoy a delicious lunch in the valley. In the afternoon we drive to the typical village of Ollantaytambo, often described as a living museum, for the descendants of the Incas continue to live in the houses built by their ancestors. Overnight in Ollantaytambo. (B/L) |
| DAY 8: | MACHUPICCHU |
| After breakfast, we make the magnificent train ride through the Urubamba Gorge to Aguas Calientes (Machupicchu). During the 2 hour ride following the course of the Urubamba we descend into ever more lush tropical vegetation. Arriving at Aguas Calientes, we drive up to the most famous site in the southern hemisphere: legendary Machupicchu. We visit this magical site with an expert guide and then have enough time for individual exploration. In the afternoon we return by bus to the village of Aguas Calientes, where we can relax in the natural hot springs. Overnight in a local hotel. (B) |
| DAY 9: | MACHUPICCHU-CUSCO |
| Free day for optional visits of Machupicchu or hikes in the area. Afternoon train ride back to Cusco and transfer to the hotel for overnight. (B) |
| DAY 10: | PUERTO MALDONADO - POSADA AMAZONAS |
| Morning Transfer Htl-Apt. for our half hour flight Cusco-Pto.Maldonado. Reception and transfer to the river port from where we continue by boat to the Posada Amazonas. During our trip we may see bird species typical of the river or forest edge. Arriving at Posada Amazonas we receive a short orientation and a complete briefing of the lodge and the Eseja Ecotourism Project. If time allows us we embark on an afternoon activity, such as a visit to a local farm. A video about Tambopata will be shown after dinner. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 11: | POSADA AMAZONAS |
| We will be up at dawn for a visit to the Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake taking a long, easy canoe ride around it, looking for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzins and wading birds. We return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we hike a short trail to the 35 meter high observation tower. This tower is strategically located inside the forest. Easy to climb, with a wide stairway and railing, this is a great experience for everybody. Dinner at Posada Amazonas. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 12: | POSADA AMAZONAS |
| After an early breakfast we visit a small parrot clay lick. From the blind, constructed next to this lick, photographers can take excellent pictures of these wonderful birds. Dozens and sometimes hundreds of small parrots and parakeets congregate here on clear days to eat clay. After lunch, we visit a local community ethno-botanic centre, to learn about the local culture and their traditional relationship with the forest. We return to Posada Amazonas for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 13: | POSADA AMAZONAS PUERTO MALDONADO - LIMA |
| After an early breakfast we return by boat to the city of Puerto Maldonado, transfer to the airport for our flight back to Lima and international connections. (B) |
