Immerse in the Peruvian Culture (12D/11N)

DAY 1: LIMA CITY TOUR

Pick up from the airport at the agreed time and transfer to the hotel Casa Andina Premium. Recommended flight arrival time: 8 am.
✅2:00 pm- 6:30 pm: We are going to pick you up from your hotel and with our expert local guide we’ll take you to a fascinating walking tour around our historical center. It’s different as classic and unique, we will show you Palaces and castles our city hides, we are also going to take you to the great Saint Francisco Monastery and the impressive underground Catacombs!

✅For sure we won’t miss the opportunity to visit the most important square in the whole country; “The Main Square (Plaza de Armas)” where you will learn together about the history of such a historic square! Beside this, you will get the best angles to photograph (from the outside) the Archbishop’s Palace, the City Hall of Lima and the Cathedral. Other great places to visit are: “San Martin Square”, “De la Union Pathway”, the lovely surrounded wooden balconies of the palaces and mansions and the highest tower (40m) in Lima that belongs to Saint Dominick Convent.

✅After the tour we will take you back to your hotel

DAY 2: LAST LITTLE WILDLIFE REFUGE

✅9:00 am: Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge. Located just at 40 minutes from the bustling city of Lima, lies a hidden natural paradise. Come with us and let´s escape from the big city! We will take you to discover the great variety of fauna and flora that this natural reserve treasures! During your tour, you will see impressive natural lakes and learn about native and migratory birds that have made from this nature reserve their cozy home.

✅Besides, in this natural reserve exists a wide variety of reeds, marsh plants, fishes, reptiles, aquatic insects, etc. Great opportunity to learn about them!

✅1:00 pm: Lunch in local restaurant. The adventure continues in the
afternoon.

LIMA’S HIGHLIGHTS

✅2:00 pm: We are going to pick you up from your accommodation or meeting point and with our expert local guide we’ll take you to a fascinating tour. Our first visit will be to one of the highest points of the city, located in Chorrillos district to go towards the historical “Morro Solar” (300 masl), where an outstanding view will be waiting for us and we will be able to learn about the history of this spot and Peru in general.
The next spot to visit is the bohemian and artistic district of Barranco which is the smallest district of Lima. We will visit the “plaza”, the romantic and mysthical “Puente de los suspiros”. In addition, we will take a look at the beautiful art murals on the very small and narrow street’s walls of this traditional neighborhood.

✅After Barranco, our visit will take part in the colorful and famous district of Miraflores, where we will visit the romantic “Parque Del Amor” that has a very artsy sculpture made by a well-recognized local artist called Victor Delfín and it offers a panoramic view of the Peruvian sea. Then, we go towards “Parque Kennedy” for a walk throughout the park and to have a very nice conversation about the history of such a popular place and of course, watch and pet the cats living in this park and on the trees.

✅Time for food! We go to a very traditional Local market in Surquillo district, where we will learn about many products we grow and harvest in our country and also learn about the Peruvian gastronomy, We will have a fruit tasting to enjoy the native and exotic products brought from different regions of Peru (Coast, Andes and Amazon) and then, have lunch at a very local restaurant where typical and native food is prepared and it is also very visited by locals.

✅After the tour we will take you back to your hotel

DAY 3: WELCOME TO TAMBOPATA (MADRE DE DIOS)

Transfer from the Casa Andina Premium hotel to the airport. Recommended flight departure time: 9:00 am.

✅12:00 pm: Arrive in Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios, and join a 1-hour bus and a 2.5 boat journey to the lodge. Your first taste of the Amazon culinary will be in the river while you leave the city to enjoy the amazing jungle landscapes.

✅As we cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, we will leave the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 700,000 hectares uninhabited nucleus of the reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent.
✅Tambopata Research Center awaits – a spacious boutique eco-lodge, with bar, a massage center, and buffet service in the heart of National Reserve of Tambopata, being the only lodge inside the reserve surrounded by dozens of macaw nests belonging to the Macaw Project.
✅Accommodation includes rooms from 21 mts to 83 mts suites with a private bathroom and an open window facing the forest.
Your stay includes three meals daily, teas, coffee, guided excursions and activities, refreshments upon arriving, and transfers to and from the airport. We assign guides on private small groups of 6.

✅This afternoon join the Overlook a three to five-kilometer hike will lead us to overlooks commanding magnificent views of the Tambopata winding its way into the lowlands. The forest on this trail, regenerating on the old bamboo forest, is good for Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey. You will have the option of hiking out at night when most of the mammals areactive but difficult to see. Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds asbizarre as their natural histories.

DAY 4: JOIN A PARTY OF COLORS AND SOUNDS

✅On most clear mornings of the year, dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle that inspired a National Geographic cover story. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, we will observe Green-winged, Scarlet, and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings are at dawn when the lick is most active.
✅This five-kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees crisscrossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas, and shihuahuacos.
✅we will go for a monkey search Squirrel, Brown Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries. TRC is located within this habitat.
✅Ten minutes upriver from the lodge explore the island where is a tiny pond with a platform in the middle. It is a great place to spot waterfowl such as Muscovy duck, sunbittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers, and parakeets that call this pond their home.
✅After dinner scientists will provide a night lecture, an in-depth look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation.

DAY 5: EXPLORE THE AMAZONIAN FOREST

✅Every morning is different at the clay lick, because of that you have another chance to join the morning excursion.
✅An entirely different habitat characterized by smaller, thinner trees atop hills and slopes is covered by this five-kilometer trail of terra firme forest. Saddleback tamarins are frequently found here. As we walk near the limits of the swamp we will also keep our eyes open for rare tapir tracks.
✅Growing on the remains of an oxbow lake and providing both arboreals as well as terrestrial mammals with fruits throughout the year, the aguaje palms are one of the most important food sources in the rainforest. Demand for these fruits and great conditions for planting rice makes the palm swamp also one of the most threatened habitats.

DAY 6: LET’S ADVENTURE TO THE CREEK

✅A different kind of Terra Firme forest on a half-day activity is available daily.
✅Crossed by several creeks that will eventually reach the Tambopata River, walk in the opposite direction of the river, where you will focus on forest and ecology on this creek trail.
✅Twilight descends early in the jungle. Under the thick tree cover of the rainforest, darkness falls quickly, when the light cannot slip through the foliage any longer.
✅Now, as afternoon slips into evening, you’re about to see one of the world’s most spectacular sunsets. The Sunset Cruise floats down the wide river, countless oranges and pinks reflecting off the water in lovely patterns.

DAY 7: THANK YOU! (TAMBOPATA)

✅It is time to say goodbye, as the expedition comes to an end.
✅Your visit will make a direct contribution to Wired Amazon and the National
Reserve of Tambopata.
✅You will take the journey back to the city to the airport for your national flight
onwards.

✅Transfer from the hotel to the airport at 6:00 am

ARRIVAL TO CUSCO AND CITY TOUR & ARCHEOLOGICAL RUINS

✅On arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transport to your hotel. The rest of the morning is free to rest in order to avoid ill effects due to the high altitude.
✅Pick up from the hotel at 13:20pm – Tour begins from Cusco’s Main Square, Plaza de Armas.
✅Includes a visit to Cusco’s cathedral in which you will be able to see the intricate woodwork and colonial paintings that contain detailed Incan iconography.
✅After, we will head to the Temple of the Sun (Qorikancha) upon which the Convent of Santo Domingo has been built. Interesting fact: according to a legend, this temple was entirely gold plated which left many conquerors impressed with its magnificence when they came here!
✅The tour continues with visits to 4 archeological sites: Sacsayhuaman is an archeological complex, a masterpiece of Incan architecture in which you will see mindboggling huge stone blocks, almost 9 meters in height that are still placed perfectly. Qenqo Temple is a temple dedicated to animal worship. Puca Pucara is another Incan archeological site located on top of a hill, used as a fort and administrative center. Tambomachay, which is also known as the Inca Baths.

✅Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
✅Does not include food

Suggested flight schedule — Madre de Dios depart (08:40am) – Cusco arrival (10:00am)

DAY 8: FULL DAY TO SACRED VALLEY (PISAC, OLLANTAYTAMBO)

✅Breakfast at hotel; Pick up from your hotel at 07:30am.
✅We will embark on a journey back in time to the Inca´s Sacred Valley beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The ancient Incan archeological site and city is located on the top of a mountain. There you will have the chance to witness the impressive stonemasonry skill of our ancient ancestors.
✅Afterward you will go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market where you can buy intricate, beautifully hand crafted products.
✅Afterward lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
✅Then we will continue to Ollantaytambo, a military, religious, and agricultural center of the Incas located at the top of a mountain. Note: unlike other small towns, this one has maintained its original Incan design including outstanding stone buildings and narrow streets. It was once used as a fortress, administrative and urban center.
✅After the tour we will make our way to the Ollantaytambo train station where we will catch the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.
✅Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
🍽️Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

⏰Train schedule — Ollantaytambo depart (19:04pm) – Aguas Calientes arrival (20:45pm).

DAY 9: VISIT MACHU PICCHU & BACK TO CUSCO

✅Breakfast at the hotel; at 06:00am take bus to Machu Picchu citadel, you will ride a bus to Machu Picchu archeological site (2,430m/7,972ft) and tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site: an unforgettable experience. Your guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets.
✅Around 07:30am the guided tour begins, your guide will expertly direct you throughout the astounding ruins and its main streets. You can then wander around the town squares as well as climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered to be the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom.
✅From 10:30am to 12:00pm once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the site on your own, relax, or meditate.
✅From 12:30pm to 13:30pm take bus to Aguas Calientes.
✅From 13:30pm to 15:00pm take lunch at local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
✅Return to Cusco: later board the train for the return trip to Cusco. You will stop at the Poroy station and then be picked up and driven to your hotel in Cusco.
✅Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
🍽️Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.

⏰Train schedule — Aguas Calientes depart (15:20pm) – Cusco (Poroy) arrival (19:05pm)

🙋‍♀️Note about train tickets: We will attempt to book tickets on this train, but if there are timetable changes or trains are fully booked, we may need to book an alternative service.

DAY 10: DEPARTURE FROM CUSCO

⏰Breakfast at hotel; at the scheduled time our representative will meet you in
the hotel lobby, transfer and assistance on your departure.
✅Meals Included: Breakfast.
Suggested flight schedule — Cusco depart (08:40am) – Lima arrival (10:05am)
✅Transfer from the airport (at the agreed time) to the Casa Andina Premium
hotel.
✅The covid test will be taken in your hotel.
✅Overnight.

DAY 11: GOOD BYE PERU!

✅It is time to say goodbye, as the expedition comes to an end.
✅In a range of 12 to 15 hours, the results of the covid PCR test will be sent to you by email.
✅Transfer from the hotel to the airport at the agreed time so that they can take their flight.

*END OF OUR SERVICES*

• From 2 people up: 2929 USD each

• All transfers mentioned in the itinerary
• Guided in Spanish and English
• Meals mentioned in the itinerary
• Complete feeding in Tambopata Research
• All entrance fees to the mentioned places
• Lodging in hotels as well
• 24/7 advice
• The hotels included in this itinerary are: Based on double rooms.
  Lima- Casa Andina Premium
  Cuzco– Tierra Viva Cusco Centro/ Xima Cusco
  Aguas Calientes– Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu/ Tierra Viva Machu Picchu
  Madre de Dios– Tambopata Research Center

• International or domestic flights
• Tips
• Meals not described
• Visa or Passport procederes
• Guided in another language not described
• Souvenirs
• PCR covid test

On Summer season:

• Sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes and clothes
• a hat
• sunglasses
• water

On Winter season

• All named items plus wind jacket