Tour Adventure Peru 21D20N

Arrival and Transfer to the Hotel

You will be received at Jorge Chavez International airport by one of our drivers who will be holding a sign with your name, then transfer to your hotel with our private car.

9:00 am start our tour in Lima, first you will visit the park of love in Miraflores district where you will have a nice view of the pacific ocean and appreciate the city of Lima, after You will heading to the Huaca Puccllana, a local shrine to a protector deity – A sacred place, it is a great adobe and clay pyramid built from seven staggered platforms. It served as an important ceremonial and administrative center for the advancement of the Lima Culture. Later You will explore the center of Lima the plaza of San Martin, the main square from where You will see the cathedral and the government palace. Then You will finish our tour, visiting the Saint Francis monastery palace. The church and convent are part of the historic center of Lima, which was added to the UNESCO world heritage list in 1991. Aside from a church and monastery, it also contains a library and catacombs.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa.

Reception and transfer to the hotel, in the afternoon we will do a city tour with our private car, going to the viewpoint of Carmen Alto. From this place you will have a great view of volcanoes in Arequipa such as Chachani, Misti and Picchu, and the Chilina Valley. The contrast of the landscape here is beautiful. Then you will visit the plaza of Yanahuara, famous for its church and its beautiful viewpoint. From here you can see almost the whole city. Later you will move to the center of the city to visit the local market San Camilo, the Cloisters of the Company, the Church of the Jesuits, the main square, and the big monastery of Santa Catalina.

At 9:00 am we will take our car to a place where we store our equipment for the beginning of our adventure on the river. We will be on the river for 1 hr. during which you will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Arequipa. At the conclusion of our time on the river, we will then take you back to the hotel.

Free afternoon to walk around the city and explore.

We leave from Arequipa at 7:00 am in our private car to head to Colca Canyon. After 4 hours of travel we will stop at the village of Chivay. Later, we will head to the condor cross where we will enjoy the canyon and the condors for 45 minutes. Then, we will head to the viewpoint of San Miguel from where we will appreciate part of the trail. Afterward, we will start to go down into the canyon which is will take us 3 hours until we arrive at the Colca river. Once we arrive at San Juan de Chuccho in the afternoon, we will be able to enjoy nature and relax. Finally, we will have dinner with a local family and stay overnight.

We have our breakfast with the local family and then we will continue our trek through the canyon. On the way we will cross the small villages of Cosñirhua and Malata. Next, we will arrive to Oasis Sangalle at Paraiso las Palmeras Lodge. We will arrive there approximately at 13:30 pm. Upon arrival, we can relax at the heated pool (20º Celsius) and have our lunch. In the afternoon we can walk around the place and/or fish at the river. At night we can make a bonfire and have dinner at the lodge.

Overnight in bungalow

We will leave at 5:30 am to go up to Cabanaconde. Once we get to the village, we will have breakfast at a local restaurant. After breakfast, we will take our car to Chivay. On the way there, we will stop at some viewpoints to take pictures and enjoy the beautiful landscape. We will also stop in Maca, a small town where there is a colonial church. Then we will head to the nearby hot springs which is 38° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit). After, we will have our lunch in Chivay in a local restaurant. Finally, you will transfer to Puno which is a 5 hour journey.

After breakfast, you will continue your trip to Taquile island where you will do a small hike up to the main town. The landscape of this place is beautiful with the Titicaca lake below and the local people who still wear traditional attire. At the town you will find an artisan center where you will try the local food at a local restaurant. Then, you will continue your visit going down to the port to take our boat to come back to Puno.

Transfer to the hotel.

Visit the Temple of Wiracocha & the Chapel of the Andes.

You will leave from your hotel at 8:00 am heading to Cusco in our private car. On the way you will stop at the view point la Raya, which is over 4300 mt, to appreciate the mountain range. Also, you will visit the temple of Wiracocha, also known as the Temple of Raqchi. It is believed that this site was originally built as a control point on the main road system that originated in Cusco and ran to other sectors of the Inca empire. Later, you will visit the Saint Peter the Apostle Church of Andahuaylillas, nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of the Andes because of the magnificent frescos adorning its walls. The church is thought to have been built on an ancient Inca site at the end of the 16th century.

Transfer to Cusco.

City Tour  

Starting at 8:30 am, you will have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Inca culture completely. During the day you will explore and learn about the ancient ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Quenqo, Tambomachay and Puca Pucara, and then you will head back to Cusco for a traditional Peruvian lunch. Next, you will visit the temple of Koricancha, the main square and the local market San Pedro which is a good opportunity to observe the authentic lifestyle of the people of Cusco, experience traditional culture, and appreciate local Peruvian products.

We will start the day by picking you up from your hotel at approx. 4:00 am. We will drive 4 hours, crossing Anta and Mollepata and ending up at Challancha. Through the windows of the bus you will be able to clearly see the white, snowcapped mountains of Apus Salkantay and Humantay: two colossal gods of the Incas. You will also see spectacular scenery of high peaks and low valleys in a colorful and contrasting panorama filling every direction in which you turn your eyes! After the first two hours of driving, we will stop quickly in Mollepata to take advantage of the bathroom facilities, souvenir shops, and an optional, short breakfast. We will then continue to Challacancha, the starting point for our trek. We will meet our support staff, and they will organize all the equipment and cargo mules.

At around 9:30 am, we will begin trekking to Soraypampa which is 3850 meters above sea level (MAMSL) or 12631 feet above sea level (FASL). It is the first campsite on our journey. The first section of the path takes us over a few deep valleys along the side of a mountain. At some parts of the trail, an old aqueduct can still be seen which still supplies water to farmers in the lower valleys. We will travel 7 km (4.35 miles) in 3 hours to Soraypampa where we will have our lunch at the base camp of Salkantay. After lunch and a short rest, we hike up to the unforgettable Humantay Lake (4200 MASL – 13779 FASL). This is a 5 km (3.1miles) round-trip which we will walk in a total of 3 hours. This place is one of the most beautiful sights in all the Andes with unbelievable blue-green water reflecting the mountain glaciers of Apu Humantay. It seems like something out of a dream or fairy tale! Back at our camp, the background of the valley at sunset creates the most peaceful scene with an energy that can only be felt and not described! Because Soraypampa (our camp) is located in the middle of the glacier valleys, the sky is so immensely clear at night that you can truly appreciate the stars, constellations, and even comets shooting across the pitch blackness. You will be able to do so uninterrupted by the hustle and bustle and the lights of the city. Take a moment on this night to re-center your spirit and consider all the deep things of life in the profound silence and tranquility of Soraypampa!

After an early wake-up with the first daylight at 5:30 AM and a quick but energizing breakfast, we will start trekking up to the highest point of the trail: the Salkantay Pass (4650 MASL – 15255 FASL). The distance is 7 km (4.34 miles) of difficult ascent which will take us 3 hours to traverse between the rocky valley base and the magnificent Salkantay Mountain (6271 MASL– 20574 FASL). When we reach the top of the pass, we will appreciate the spectacular views of the surrounding valleys and the imposing snowy peaks of Salkantay, Humantay, Tucarhuay and the Pumasillo mountains. Salkantay mountain is the second highest mountain in the Cusco region and is named after one of the Inca gods named “Apu.” After enjoying the climax of today’s trek, there will be a 5 km (3.1 mile) downhill walk to the site for lunch. The walk downwards is on a serpent-shaped, rocky, gravel path which leads to the Huayracmachay lunch campsite. To rest on the way down, there is a perfect valley outlook that is absolutely stunning! In the afternoon after our meal, we will enter the upper part of the Amazon jungle, which is also called “the cloud forest.” This is a 10 km (6.2 mile) hike completed in 3 hours on a wide trail in the thick and magical tropical forest. During this part of the trek, you will notice a dramatic change in landscape and the earth’s energy as we move from Andes to Amazon! This hike is truly beautiful; the hills are decorated with colorful scenery, wildlife, and native plants. The forests are warm and tropical most of the year with temperate climates. At the end of this outstanding hike, we will arrive at Chaullay Village (2900 MASL – 9514 FASL) for a much-deserved reward of rest from our long day of trekking! This is our base camp in the jungle as we continue to make our way to Machu Picchu.

At 6:00 am, we will start our trek to the small town of La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. You will be able to soak up this new, lush landscape during our 6 hours of hiking today! During the hike we will see rivers, waterfalls, wild orchids, and plantations of coffee, banana, and avocado. You can taste the famous passion fruit and granadilla fruit along the way! We will see a village called Colpapampa, also called the “brow of the cloud forest,” where waterfalls, birds, hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, and flora and fauna can be observed. If we are lucky, we will even be able to see the beautiful bird called “The Cock of the Rocks.”

After a hearty lunch at La Playa, we will take local transportation to the Hidroelectrica train station.

Here you will have two options:
1) If you are exhausted, you may take the train to Aguas Calientes ($34.00 extra).
2) If you are still eager to hike, you may walk from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes for about 3 hours along the train track. There is a nice path next to the tracks through the warm paradise of the cloud forest. This is the same trail used by the American professor Hiram Bingham who rediscovered Machu Picchu after centuries of it being lost to the outside world!

Once in Aguas Calientes, you can rest a bit before dinner or walk around this alluring place that has the feel of a California Gold Rush town. There are no cars in Aguas Calientes, so it is an especially peaceful place to be. At 7:00 PM, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. All the expenses in Aguas Calientes are covered by the company, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and the overnight stay at our hostel. In your luxury room, you will have a private bathroom, hot shower, wifi, breakfast in the morning, and luggage storage while you visit Machu Picchu.

Today we will arrive at the long-awaited finale of our trek, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Machu Picchu! We will wake up early after a refreshing night at our hostel to beat the crowds to the top of Machu Picchu and enjoy its serenity in the soft morning light. The Machu Picchu entrance check point is open from 6:00 AM until 5:00 PM. We will hike up to Machu Picchu (a bus ride is optional for $12.00) and enter the hidden Royal Citadel of the Incas. Here we will have a 2-hour guided tour through this incredible ancient city to visit temples, terraces, palaces, priest’s houses, the sundial, the industrial sector, and the farming fields. Be amazed at the engineering ingenuity of the Incas which was so far ahead of their time and still partially a mystery today! Without having modern tools or even steel and iron to work with, the people who built this city were genius in organizing this community in a sustainable and beautiful way on the side of a mountain, even bringing water in canals through its streets for the people to use. When a Peruvian guide showed this site to Hiram Bingham, it was almost unrecognizable, covered in thick vegetation and in a state of disrepair. It has since been cleaned and restored and is now protected and treasured by the world at large!

After this tour, you are free to climb up to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain (Be sure to book in advance to get tickets for these!). Each mountain takes approximately 3 hours to hike up and down. Another lower-impact option for which you do not need an extra ticket is to trek to the Sun Gate, the main entrance to the Inca Trail (this takes about 2 or 2.5 hours round-trip). Another option is walking to see the Incan Bridge. You will be able to stay and enjoy this magical city for more than 3 hours before hiking back down to Aguas Calientes for the train ride at 4:22 pm (subject to availability) to Ollantaytambo. A private bus will pick up our group and drop you off at your hotel in Cusco at around 8:00 pm. Rest your feet and your body now, but we can assure you your heart will still be soaring for weeks and years to come!

It is going to be a perfect day to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the city of Cusco and the attractions it offers such as museums, craft centers and others.

You will be on your own, however; we will provide you with many recommendations upon request during the preceding days.

Flight to Puerto Maldonado, trek and visit the shiringuero camp, caimán safari

Arrival: Reception at the airport with transfer to our office, which is located in the center of Puerto Maldonado. Any luggage that you do not require during your stay in the rainforest can be safely kept in our storage room. This is to facilitate the transport by boat to the lodge.

You will embark for our lodge traveling on the river-vessel “Puerto de Capitanía.” It is 40 minutes of navigation on the Madre de Dios River.

After arrival at the facilities of the Lodge Corto Maltes Amazonía you will be received with refreshments made from seasonal fruits. Later, your guide will give you the necessary information for your stay and hand over the keys to your bungalow and security safe, followed by the lunch and some time to rest until the first excursion.

Trek and visit the Shiringuero Camp: 3:30 pm. Depart for your first contact with the jungle. You will be accompanied by your guide, who will show you the tropical trees, medicinal plants and other aspects of the exuberant nature among the 60 hectares of Brazil nut concession that Corto Maltés Amazonia stewards.  Visit a shiringuero encampment, which is another one of the most important economic activities in the Madre de Dios region. This is a reproduction of a real camp, in which you can see the process of collecting rubber (better known as latex), and see how it is used for many products. The time for this trek is 2 hours.

Free Time: Back at the Lodge you can relax by the pool or in the hammocks on the terrace of your bungalow, savor an exotic cocktail at the bar, enjoy a relaxing massage by our qualified staff, visit our shop for a handcrafted souvenir of the rainforest or head to the riverside to view the breathtaking sunset.

Caiman safari: 7:00 pm. Before dinner, you will leave for a nocturnal boat trip to observe caimans and, with a bit of luck, other animals which populate the riverbank at night.

Dinner: 8:00pm dinner in our riverside dining room.

 Lake Sandoval, optional monkey island, visit to the lookout and Brazil nut harvesting cam.

Breakfast: Wake up at 5:30 am for some coffee or tea before leaving for Lake Sandoval. Your guide will hand out a bagged breakfast and snack for the excursion.

Lake Sandoval: 6:00 am: After roughly 20 minutes of travel on the river Madre de Dios, you will arrive at the landing stage of Lake Sandoval. During a 3 km hike through the wild vegetation, you will enter the territory of Tambopata National Reserve, where you will have the chance to admire giant trees, different snakes, monkeys (squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys) and various birds (notably the Hoatzin – also known as the stink bird- kingfishers and snakebirds).

Once on Lake Sandoval, you will embark in small rowboats in search of giant river otters. You will also have the possibility to spot a good number of other reptiles, mammals and birds in their natural habitat. When the guide finds an opportune spot where you can continue to observe the nature, you will eat breakfast. For the return trip, make sure you have gathered your belongings and you will row back to the pier.

OPTIONAL – Monkey Island. This activity depends on the season and the discretion of your guide. There are times that due to flooding it is nearly impossible to disembark and walk around the island. There are also times in the year for mating and reproduction, and it is important to leave the wild monkeys alone, without human interruption. The animals are accustomed to visitors and can come very close. Therefore, it is very important to always follow the instructions of your guide.

 Lunch: 1:30pm. Return to the Lodge for lunch.

 Visit to the Lookout and a Brazil nut harvesting camp: 3:30 pm. You will visit one of the two lookout towers of Corto Maltès Amazonía, with a height of 20 and 42 meters and designed for bird watching and the viewing of other types of animals living at this altitude in the canopy. In addition, you will enjoy an incredible view of the sunset. (The guide will consult with the guests on their preferences and adapt this excursion accordingly).

There will also be a visit to a Brazil nut camp, where harvesters stay for the duration of the season. The Brazil nut (also known as castaña, as it is known locally) is one of the most important economic activities in the Madre de Dios region.

Free time: You will then have some free time to enjoy the pool or a massage, get refreshed at the bar or visit our souvenir shop.

 Dinner: 8:00pm. Dinner

Breakfast: 8:00 am

Chacra: 9:00 am: After a 20-minute boat trip down-river, we will arrive at a chacra, which is a farm owned by a local family. Here we will recognize and even taste different seasonal tropical fruits as well as other native products (cacao, banana, cocona, breadfruit, noni, yucca, lime…) This place belongs to a typical rural family who maintain with care and without chemicals some native plants that grow naturally. They sell their products in the main markets of Puerto Maldonado for consumption. Once finished with our visit we will return to take the boat, and after about 20 minutes we will arrive at the land of a native Machiguenga family.

Native Machiguenga Family: 12:00pm. The Machiguenga are one of the many ethnic groups that exist in the Peruvian Amazon. A family of native Machiguenga will receive us for a visit. They will show us the cultural value of their ancestors, as well as language and customs, including traditional clothes, hunting gear, handicrafts and the music they play during ayahuasca ceremonies. They will teach us how to take advantage of natural products to make tools, and what they use to make their houses, dresses and ornaments, each important for their daily life. 

Lunch: 1:00pm. We will share lunch with the Machiguenga family in a typical construction and enjoy an indigenous dish from the jungle.

Free time: 2:00pm. Return to the lodge to relax and have free time to visit the boutique, refresh in the pool, have a cocktail in the bar or have a relaxing massage.

Dinner: 8:00 pm.

Clay Lick: Wake up at 5:30 am for some coffee or tea before leaving for a 20 -minute walk to the clay lick, where you will have the possibility to observe 3 to 5 types of parrots.

The parrots come to the clay lick to ingest a particular kind of clay, only found in certain areas of this region. The clay is vital for the metabolic regulation of the birds, and therefore is host to a colorful and veritably delightful, exciting event.

Breakfast and free time: 8:00 am.

Visit to the local city market: After breakfast, we will return to the city of Puerto Maldonado by boat.

One of our vehicles will receive you at the port. After a short stop at our office, we will drive to the local market where the local population supplies itself with foods and other products. During a short visit of around 20-minutes, you will be able to appreciate the different typical products of the area.

We will then head to the airport to check-in for your respective flights.

Reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

*The order and schedules of the excursions can be modified according to your guide, and as seen fit through coordination with the management by considering the physical condition of the passengers, and the climate of the moment.

Transfer to the Jorge Chavez International Airport

End of our services.