| ITINERARY |
| DAY 1 (Monday): | LIMA (Arrival) |
| Individual arrival, reception at Lima airport and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free for optional visits or resting. Afternoon briefing about the trip and overnight in Lima. |
| DAY 2 (Tuesday): | LIMA - HUARAZ |
| A beautiful panoramic bus ride brings us today from the dry flat coast through the andes towards Huaraz (appr. 8 hours). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and briefing for the coming days. Overnight in Huaraz (3100 mts/10’250 ft). |
| DAY 3 (Wednesday): | HUARAZ (Llanganuco Valley) |
| After breakfast we start our exploration of the Llanganuco Valley with its colorful markets and traditional villages. We stop at several interesting places like the village of Tarica (famous for its local art) and the Campo Santo of the village of Yungay, that was totally destroyed in a devastating earthquake in 1970. After visiting the beautiful glacial lakes of Llanganuco, we return mid afternoon towards Huaraz. Overnight at our hotel. (B) |
| DAY 4 (Thursday): | HUARAZ (Chavin de Huantar) |
| Today is dedicated to the fascinating temple complex of Chavin de Huantar. A beautiful panoramic busride through the andes brings us past the Querococha lagoon and the Cahuish tunel to one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Americas, considered to have been a major ceremonial center. With our expert guide, we explore the temple with its subterranean labyrinth of passages and galleries and the crowning glory of the Chavin religion – the Lanzon de Chavin: a 4 mtr (13 ft) high granite monolith that is thought to be the principal god-image worshiped by this cult. Afternoon return to our hotel in Huaraz. (B) |
| DAY 5 (Friday): | HUARAZ - TREKKING STA. CRUZ-LLANGANUCO |
| An early morning, scenic busride along the Callejón de Águilas brings us to our trekking start at the village of Cashapampa (3000 mts/ 10’000 ft) where we meet our staff of wranglers, mules and saddle horses. An appr. 5 hours hike brings us to our first campsite at Llamacorral. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 6 (Saturday): | TREKKING STA. CRUZ-LLANGANUCO |
| During our today’s trek (appr. 7 hours) we pass by beautiful turquoise colored glacial lagoons and native polylepen tree forests with their endemic flora and fauna. With clear weather we can enjoy breathtaking views of Mt. Alpamayo. Today’s camp is at appr. 4400 mts/15’000 ft. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 7 (Sunday): | TREKKING STA. CRUZ-LLANGANUCO |
| Today we hike over our highest pass Punta Unión (4750 mts/16’000 ft) from where we can enjoy breathtaking views of the Santa Cruz valley with its glaciar lagoons and surrounding snow peaks. From here we descend to our camp at 4000 mts/13’200 ft. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 8 (Monday): | TREKKING STA. CRUZ-LLANGANUCO - HUARAZ |
| After a fortifying breakfast we continue our hike through polylepen tree forests, passing by some local comunities where we can learn more about the daily life and traditions of the heirs of the Incas. We follow the natural path up to Vaqueria where our transport awaits us. Our drive back to Huaraz leads us over the Llanganuco pass (4730 mts/15’600 ft) from where we have the most astonishing views onto Mt. Huascaran, Handoy, Chacraraju and Pisco (weather permitting). Overnight in our hotel in Huaraz. (B/L) |
| DAY 9 (Tuesday): | HUARAZ – LIMA |
| Today we return by bus through dramatic Andean scenery towards the dry flat coast where we arrive in the afternoon at our hotel in Lima. (B) |
| DAY 10 (Wednesday): | LIMA – TARAPOTO |
| Morning free for resting or sightseeing. Afternoon national flight Lima-Tarapoto and transport to our beautiful hotel resort. Rest of the day free for optional visits or relaxing at the pool with the tropical climate of this region. Overnight in Tarapoto. (B) |
| DAY 11 (Thursday): | TARAPOTO – YURIMAGUAS – AMAZON CRUISE |
| Early morning private transport to the village of Yurimaguas (appr. 4-5 hrs scenic drive). Upon arrival at Yurimaguas dock we board our riverboat, Cabin assignments and briefing on board as the ship sails down the Huallaga River. In a late afternoon excursion to a small lake we can observe the fascinating local flora and fauna. After a nice dinner, overnight on board of our comfortable riverboat. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 12 (Friday): | AMAZON CRUISE |
| After an early morning bird watching excursion we enjoy breakfast on board. The rest of the morning is dedicated to a shore excursion to have a close look at the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This huge protected area allows no hunting, logging or commercial fishing. While we have lunch on board, we sail on down river and into the bigger Marañon River.
In the afternoon we will have an excursion ashore by small boat and into the Pacaya Samiria nationalpark where we can see a variety of aquatic life in this remote part of the reserve. Spot monkeys and sloths. Followed by dinner on board we have a night excursion into a small stream to hear the night sounds of the jungle. Overnight on board of our comfortable riverboat. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 13 (Saturday): | AMAZON CRUISE |
| We start again with a glorious Amazon sunrise. Coffee and tea served while observing the awakening of the Amazon Basin. During the morning we visit the San Martin Lake community of natives who live within the reserve where we have the opportunity to trade for handicrafts. Later, an excursion by small boat brings us deeper into the reserve to observe and view the bird and animal life in this protected area. Tonight we continue down river and can gaze at the stars from the upper deck. Overnight on board of our comfortable riverboat. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 14 (Sunday): | AMAZON CRUISE – IQUITOS
|
| In the early morning hours sail through the juncture of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers, which form the Amazon River. This is the beginning of the Amazon River that now flows almost 2400 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. After a last lunch on board, we arrive in the large town of Iquitos – the end of this part of the voyage down the Amazon. Transfer to our hotel and rest of the day free for sightseeing, shopping or resting. Overnight at hotel in Iquitos. (B/L) |
| DAY 15 (Monday): | IQUITOS – EXPLORAMA LODGE |
| Morning transfer from the hotel to the Explorama dock, followed by a fifty mile journey down the Amazon River to Yanamono Stream where the Explorama Lodge is located. Afternoon hike along the "Lake Trail" through lowland rainforest which is seasonally flooded. During the high water season, this excursion is done by open boat! After dinner, there is a chance to visit the Lodge's "Bar Tahuampa" where local musicians often play guitar and flute music or the guides will also be pleased to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 16 (Tuesday): | EXPLORAMA LODGE |
| Early morning birding excursion. Morning walk along the “Bushmaster Trail”, where scientific studies by the Missouri Botanical Gardens have found the world’s highest biodiversity of trees per square hectare. Continue on to visit a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain their culture and how it has been affected by the passing of time. There will be an opportunity to trade for or purchase some of their local crafts and for a demonstration of the use of the blowgun which some fo the Yagua elders still use for hunting. Aftenoon boating excursion in search of sloth, found in Cecropia trees at the water’s edge, and the two species of freshwater river dolphin, pink and rey, found in Amazonian waters. Overnight at the Explorama Lodge. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 17 (Wednesday): | EXPLORAMA LODGE (Canopy Walkway) |
| Early morning departure from the Lodge by boat to the mouth of the Napo River where in 1542, the intrepid explorer Francisco de Orellano, became the first European to discover the Amazon River. Continue on the Napo River to ExplorNapo Lodge for breakfast. Hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway spanning over 500 mtrs (one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms, and reaching a height of over 35 meters (115 feet) but accessible without any type of climbing skill or equipment. After lunch, visit of the “ReNuPeRu” Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing and the uses of some of the plants. Return to the Explorama Lodge in time to relax in the hammock house or at the Tahuampa Bar before dinner. (B/L/D) |
| DAY 18 (Thursday): | EXPLORAMA LODGE – IQUITOS - LIMA |
| Morning walk along a local Amazon River trail stopping at a "ribereños" house, corner store and sugar cane rum factory. Afternoon return to Iquitos and transfer to the airport for national flight Iquitos-Lima and international connections. (B) |
