Peru – Land of Incas & Amazon

Day 01

Lima (L,D)

Reach Lima on 30 August by mid-night. On arrival, pick up and transfer to hotel with immediate check in.  Rest & then fresh up in the morning for your tour of Lima.

Post breakfast, visit of colonial and modern Lima. See its main plaza surrounded by the Cathedral and Archbishop Palace, City Hall and Government Palace. Visit the San Francisco Convent and the oldest mansion in the Americas, still inhabited by the same family. 12:3 Lunch at Huaca Pucllana Restaurant located in front of one of the most important pre – Columbian archaeological sites in Lima. Set menu dinner at hotel.

Overnight at Doubletree by Hilton

Day 02

Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley (B/L/D)                             

Take pack breakfast and transfer to airport for flight to Cusco. On arrival, pick up & transfer to the Sacred Valley (Private car with guide).

Enroute visit: Today, visit to the village of Pisac with its colorful market and archaeological complex, consisting of a series of temples exquisitely carved in granite, ceremonial baths, a residential settlement and the largest Inca cemetery. Enjoy also the beautiful scenery of superimposed terraces. Then continue to Ollanta to visit the impressive fortress of Ollantaytambo and its Inca town. Lunch at a local restaurant

Overnight at Casa Andina Premium

Day 03

Sacred Valley (B/L/D)                                                                                                             

Today you have a full day tour: The town of Chinchero appears in the middle of the puna. At a very colorful fair     in the main square, the local people wearing bright dresses get together to barter their products:  good as well as handicrafts.  Around the main square, the remains of an Inca wall and the frescoes on the portico of the Colonial church can be observed. Also visit the Center   for traditional textiles. The excursion continues to Maras, the principal salt production center since Inca times.  Extraordinary spectacle of the terraced white salt mines. At a short distance, towards the west are the circular terraces of Moray built by the Incas in order to create different micro-climates for agricultural purposes. Lunch will be at Wayra Ranch including a show of Peruvian paso horses19:00   Set menu dinner at hotel.

Overnight at Casa Andina Premium

REMARK: Pack light, one hand luggage to Machu Picchu, big luggage cannot be taken on the train, your big luggage will get back to Cusco by our staff.

Day 04

Sacred valley / Short Inca Trail – Aguas Calientes (B/L/D)                                                                                

After breakfast, depart by the morning VISTADOME train. Then begin the Short Inca hike at 10 am. We start visiting the Chachabamba archaeological complex (2150m/7052ft), located very  close to the control point, to then embark upon an 8 km (5 miles) ascending trail, which after  four hours takes us to the archaeological complex of Wiñay  wayna (2650m/8692ft). This is an   impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious   sector and an urban sector. On the way up we may enjoy magnificent views of the Urubamba River valley and the Choquesuysuy archaeological complex located on the other side of the river, and also of a beautiful waterfall located just a few minutes away from Wiñaywayna. We then continue and climb to Intipunku, or The Sun Gate. This will take an hour of hiking along a   trail of flat stones on the edges of cliffs in highland jungle. From this fabulous spot, we may contemplate the sacred citadel of Machupicchu. From Intipunku we descend to Machupicchu    and then by bus to Aguas Calientes. Box lunch en route

Total distance: 13 km (8, 08 miles)

Estimated walking time:  6-7 hours

 Maximum altitude point: 2,650 m (8,692 ft)

Machupicchu altitude: 2,400 m (7,872 ft)

Overnight at Casa Andina

Day 05

Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu / Cusco (B/L/D)                                                                                                              

After breakfast, board a bus to Machupicchu where we begin a complete guided tour of the Inca citadel that will take approximately two hours. You will then have free time to walk around visit the Temple of the Moon or the impressive Inca Bridge. In the afternoon, we meet in the town of Aguas Calientes where, if you like, you can visit and relax in its hot springs (entrance fee is  not included, should be paid  directly US10.00 per person)

13:00    Lunch included at Ayasca restaurant

16:43    Departure of the VISTADOME train back to Cusco

18:31    Arrival to Ollantaytambo train station and transfer to Cusco

19:00  Set menu dinner at hotel.

Overnight at Novotel

Day 06

Cusco (B/L/D)                                                                                                           

Morning visit to the best of Cusco: the Koricancha Temple or Temple of the Sun. the Cathedral with its magnificent chapels and paintings from the Cusquenian School. Visit the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman and its impressive huge stones, the Inca bath of Tambomachay, the amphitheatre of Kenko and the Labyrinth of Puca Pucara.

13:00    A la carte lunch at Pacha papa restaurant

Free afternoon

19:00   Transfer to the restaurant for dinner.

Overnight at Novotel

Day 07

Cusco/ Iquitos (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel & transfer to airport for flight to Iquitos. On arrival, transfer to the CEIBA TOPS lodge (share, group service). It is a 25 miles journey down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops, where rooms with air conditioning and private bathrooms provide the comforts of home in the rainforest. Afternoon hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding the lodge which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes. After dinner your guide will take you on a short walk to a small lake where caiman can be spotted at night and where you can find some of the insects and frogs that produce the cacophony of sounds that begin after dark.

Overnight in Iquitos at Ceiba Tops lodge

Day 08

Iquitos (B/L/D)

Breakfast at hotel & then morning boat ride, spotting for dolphins, to visit a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain the local Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and for a demonstration of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting. Afternoon excursion to the neighboring town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river community with its own market, high school and small hospital. (Share, group service)

Overnight in Iquitos at Ceiba Tops lodge

Day 09

IQUITOS / LIMA (B)

Breakfast at hotel & transfer to the airport for flight to Lima. On reaching you will proceed to Larco Museum including lunch.

Return to the airport for international departure flight.