The Best of Magical Peru & Amazon

Day 1: Welcome to Lima
Upon arrival into Lima, our local representative will be waiting for you at the arrivals hall to Transfer you to your hotel. The remainder of the day is for you to relax and enjoy the beauty of Lima and its surroundings. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 2: Lima The City of Kings
The first stop on our Lima city tour is Huaca Pucllana, a huge archaeological site in Miraflores, one of Lima’s most popular districts. Huaca Pucllana was an important ceremonial and administrative center of the Lima culture, which developed along this part of the Peruvian coast between 200 AD and 700 AD. This sacred place was built from seven staggered platforms surrounded by a plaza and large walls. It’s a very impressive site, and certainly not what you expect to find in lively Miraflores! After exploring Huaca Pucllana with your bilingual guide, we’ll drive to the historic center of Lima, all of which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. We’ll go to the beautiful Plaza de Armas (Lima’s main square) which is surrounded by impressive colonial and Republican-era buildings, many of which have ornate wooden balconies. Some of Peru’s most important buildings surround the square, including the Government Palace, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop's Palace of Lima, the Municipal Palace and the Palace of the Union. We’ll visit the Cathedral of Lima, which was completed in 1649. It’s a huge structure, with a large central nave and 14 side chapels. Inside, we’ll see the sculptures and paintings that decorate the interior. The cathedral is also home to the tomb of the conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Next we’ll walk one block to the Convent of Santo Domingo. Founded in the 1530s and completed in 1766, it is one of the most important religious buildings in Peru, and its large bell tower is a landmark in the historic center of Lima. As S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 3 we walk around the interior of the convent, we’ll see the beautiful Sevillian azulejos (ceramic tiles) that decorate the walls, dating from 1604 and 1606. There is also a series of paintings that present passages of the life of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Dominican order, which date to around 1608. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 3: Lima – Arequip
After Breakfast, you will be picked from the hotel (time to be confirmed) and take you to the airport where you will take your flight to Arequipa. When you arrive at the Arequipa airport our team will be waiting there to warmly welcome you and to help you get settled in your hotel. At your hotel you will find complementary coca tea and muña tea freely available. These natural beverages will help your body to adjust to the high altitude of the White City. Overnight: Hotel Conquistador / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 4: Arequipa - Colca Canyon
Day 4 begins early in the morning as we leave the White City of Arequipa and set off along the route to the Colca Valley. It’s a beautiful drive, passing snow-capped volcanoes, rugged pampas, traditional terraced farms and picturesque villages where the old traditional ways of life are still very much alive. We’ll make a few stops along the way, the first at the Aguada Blanca National Reserve, where we can watch innumerable guanacos, alpacas and vicuñas as they graze on the plains. The reserve, which covers almost 366,936 hectares, was created to preserve the local flora and fauna and their natural environment, which was previously deteriorating at an alarming rate. The reserve also protects the local vicuña population through its repopulation program. Apart from the vast herds of camelids, the reserve is also home to the southern viscacha (a large and loveable rodent), foxes, condors and Andean flamingos (also known as parihuanas). In total, 169 animal species have been identified in the reserve, including 23 mammals and 138 species of birds, such as blue billed ducks, eagles and kestrels. During their migration period, flamingos also arrive to spend time wading through Salinas Lake. Leaving the reserve, we’ll drive around the edge of Chucura Volcano until we reach the Patapampa Andes viewpoint. We’ll now be 4,900 meters above sea level, and from here we can look out across the beautiful landscape to the peaks of snow-capped mountains and volcanoes in the Arequipa Region, including Hualca Calca, Sabancaya and Ampato. Our next stop will be the town of Chivay, where one end of the Colca Valley begins. The traditional terrace systems found here, built by indigenous inhabitants of the area, are remarkable for their scale and precise construction. Chivay S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 5 itself was founded by the Spanish, a fact reflected in its church and other colonial buildings. You can have a traditional lunch in the town (not included) before we check in to our hotel. You’ll then have the afternoon to explore the town on your own, and, if you like, visit the hot springs at La Calera, about 3 km from Chivay. Colca Canyon and the Colca Valley are dotted with natural hot springs and thermal baths, thanks to the seismic activity in the region. La Calera has public thermal baths which are said to have healing properties, with temperatures of approx 38 C (98 F). Overnight: Casa Andina Standard Colca / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 5: Colca to Puno, Time to visit the home of the condor!
It’s another early start on Day 5, because there’s so much great stuff to see! First we’ll go to the lookout point known as Cruz del Condor (Cross of the Condor), near the small villages of Maca and Cabanaconde. Here, strong winds rise up from the canyon, providing a favourite spot for Andean condors. They soar on the thermals, often in pairs, normally in the early morning and late afternoon. There’s a good chance you’ll see these huge condors, with their three-meter wingspans, flying very close to the lookout point, providing a truly majestic sight. From the lookout point you’ll also have incredible views down into the depths of Colca Canyon. We’ll then head back to Chivay, first stopping off at the traditional village of Pinchollo and the Antahuilque viewpoint. This viewpoint (or Mirador, as they are known in Spanish) offers wonderful views of the 1,500-year-old agricultural terraces that curve along the hillsides like an amphitheatre. You can also spot some of the enchanting lagoons of the Colca Valley. We will have lunch in Chivay in the afternoon and then begin the journey to Puno. the Capital of Peruvian Folklore. Along the highway you will stop briefly at Patapampa (4900 m.a.s.l.) which is the highest point of all your journeys in Peru so far. From this mountain, nature will be spread out before you and the views of the volcanoes to the S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 6 west, Sabancaya, Ampato, Misti, and Chachani, will be excellent. At the same time, you will also be able to appreciate the great pile of stones left here by travelers and pilgrims throughout the centuries. Usually, leaving a stone on the pile is the way of asking deities for a safe and pleasant trip. Finally, you will arrive in Puno at approx 6pm. Our team will help you to get settled in your hotel where you can enjoy a well-deserved rest on Lake Titicaca’s shore.

Day 6: Uros floating & Taquile Islands
Our full-day trip begins at around 7:00am – you will be picked up from your hotel in Puno. We’ll then head down to the port and board our comfortable motor launch to ride out to the island of Taquile. Taquile is one of the most beautiful islands in Peru, where the traditional way of life is still very much alive. We’ll meet some of the master weavers of this ancient Andean community, whose textiles are considered among the best in the country. According to legend, the Incas themselves learned how to weave from the artisans of this island. On Taquile, the men are the weavers, and the women spin the yarn. After seeing the weavers and exploring the beautiful island, we’ll head down to the small port on Taquile at around midday and head by boat towards the Chucuito Peninsula. This is in the Aymara region of Lake Titicaca and it represents the communal identity of the Peruvian-Bolivian altiplano. We’ll visit the small and rarely visited rural community of Luquina, where we’ll enjoy a wonderful buffet lunch at the local fisherman’s house. Later in the afternoon, as we begin heading back towards Puno, we’ll visit the amazing Floating Islands of the Uros people. When we arrive at the floating islands, you’ll probably be amazed by the scale of these floating reed constructions. The Uros originally built these islands for defensive reasons: if a threat appeared, they could move their S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 7 island homes to a safer location. The islands are made from the totora reeds that grow around the lake, and each island is in a constant state of reconstruction, as old reeds are preplaced by new. Stepping onto the islands is quite an experience, as the springy reed floor feels strange beneath your feet. We’ll explore the main island, and see the houses, watchtowers and other structures, all built of reeds. One of the locals will then give a brief presentation about how the islands are made, and then you can meet one of the local families to see how they live. After visiting the Uros islands, we’ll head back to Puno, where you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Hotel Royal Inn Puno / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 7: Puno to Cusco
The pick up from your hotel is at 06:10am in the direction of the bus station. The departure time of the Bus to Cusco is at 07:00am. Once boarded, the departure of our trip will begin since the first stop will be the Pukara Lithic Museum, which is a culture that developed since 1600 BC. until 400 AD Located 106 km to the North-East of the city of Puno, in this museum we can find ceramics and sculptures that represent zoomorphic figures, among them the famous sculpture of HATUNÑAQAC that in our times would be translated as the supreme cutthroat. After making an energy recharge we will continue with the trip of approximately 50 minutes we will arrive at Paso de la Raya which is the limit between the cities of Puno and Cusco at more than 14222 Ft where the famous snowy Chimboya is located, where the Amazon River is born. As the last stop, we will know it. At the end of the visit to this impressive place we will continue for approximately 30 minutes we will arrive at a local restaurant for lunch (buffet lunch), The buffet consists of a wide range of national and regional foods, starters, fresh vegetables, garnishes, the richest desserts, hot drinks (coca tea, coffee or tea). After enjoying this delicious lunch, we continue and visit the Archaeological Complex of Raqcchi - Temple of the god WIRACOCHA, who was the supreme Inka S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 8 deity, in this place we will find the largest number of Colcas (Barns) will also see magnificent stone and adobe constructions. After exploring this beautiful archaeological center, we will head to the Andahuaylillas chapel, which is a church that dates back to the 17th century. Also known as Sistina de Los Andes for the beauty of its murals, the works in gold leaf, and the paintings of the Cusco school that it houses inside. Continuing with our trip, you can take a break of approximately 1 hour until we reach our final destination, the navel of the world, arriving on the bus at approximately 5:00 p.m. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 8: Cusco City Tour
Our Cusco city tour begins in the morning, when we’ll first head to the wonderful Koricancha, next door to Santo Domingo Church. According to the chroniclers who wrote during the period directly after the Spanish Conquest, the Koricancha was the most sacred and most important temple in the Inca Empire. Its walls were covered with gold, and life-size statues of plants and animals – all made of pure gold and silver – decorated its rooms and hallways. Sadly, this wealth was stripped out by the Spanish conquistadors. It remains a magnificent temple, however, and your guide will take you around the Koricancha, showing you details that you almost certainly miss if you visited without a guide. After visiting the Koricancha, we’ll head to Cusco Cathedral, located on the Plaza de Armas. Built between 1560 and 1654 on top of the foundations of an existing Inca temple, this spectacular cathedral houses many works of art by the Cusco School of painters, and its main altar and pulpit are covered in gold and silver relief work. Look carefully and you’ll also see elements of indigenous religious symbolism incorporated into the church by the native people who worked on its construction, such as the carved head of a jaguar on the doors. S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 9 Our next stop is the imposing Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which sits on a hill above Cusco. Here you will see some of the finest examples of Inca stonework and construction, including massive rocks that were carefully cut and perfectly fitted together to form the walls. From here you’ll also have beautiful panoramic views of Cusco. After exploring Sacsayhuaman we’ll head up the hill to the Tambomachay Archeological Complex. The exact purpose of this site is unknown, but it may have functioned, at least in part, as an Inca spa. Inca hydro-engineering is apparent here, with a series of aqueducts, canals and waterfalls running through the terraced rocks. Tambomachay is the last attraction on our city tour, after which we’ll head back down into Cusco and drop you off at your hotel. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel. Accommodation in Standard Room with private bath.

Day 9: Full Day Sacred Valley Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo Citadel
We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 07:30 am and we will leave for the Sacred Valley. Leaving Cusco, we will pass through the town of Ccorao and head into the mountains before descending about 1,500 feet (450 meters) to the bottom of the valley. Here we will meet next to the sacred Urubamba river and the beautiful town of Pisac. In Pisac, we will visit the colorful traditional market, where you can browse the variety of local artisan work and other souvenirs, which you can of course buy to take home with you. We will spend about 30 minutes here and then we will go to the ruins of Pisac, which are located on top of a hill at the entrance of the valley. At the Pisac archaeological site, we will explore the extensive ruins and enjoy beautiful views of the valley. You will be given a guided tour of the ruins, passing various structures that once served as houses, storerooms, and temples, and you will see Inca altars, carvings, tunnels, caves, and the famous Intihuatana, the "hitch." post of the sun.” We will explore Pisac for about 90 minutes. Alternatively, if you want to spend more time in the Pisac market instead of seeing S a l e s - 202 4 P á g i n a | 10 the ruins, you can talk to your guide and arrange a time and place to meet when the tour group returns through the market after the ruins. Now we will go to Urubamba, where we will stop for about 45 minutes for lunch (not included). After another 30- minute drive, we will arrive at the wonderful Inca town and the archaeological site of Ollantaytambo. Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti, who conquered the region and built the town and a ceremonial center. We will spend about an hour exploring these magnificent ruins, visiting the amazing Temple of the Sun, and seeing huge blocks of rock that were perfectly carved and polished by Inca master stonemasons. Ollantaytambo is also a fine example of Inca agricultural construction and hydroengineering, with a complex series of stone water sources, canals, and agricultural terraces, the latter organized by elevation to create different microclimates for crop experimentation. We will see the extent of the water system when we return to the town, where the fast-flowing water channels built by the Incas are still in use today. Walking towards the town square, we will have excellent views of the ruins above us, as well as the Inca granaries and warehouses built into the surrounding mountain slopes. Here we can also observe the daily life of Ollantaytambo, where many of the locals still wear traditional clothing. After Ollantaytambo, we will head to Chinchero, where we will spend about 30 minutes visiting a local factory. where we can enjoy a textile exhibition by the locals and learn about their ancestral customs and their traditions. The people of Chinchero are very connected to the old traditions, and many still dress in colorful clothing that combines indigenous and Spanish influences. We will also have wonderful views from Chinchero, since the town is surrounded by the beautiful snow-capped peaks of Chicón and Verónica - This is the last destination of our tour of the Sacred Valley. You will be transferred back to your hotel. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 10: Cusco – Aguas Calientes
Our tour begins in Cusco, where we will pick you up at 09:00 and then head to the train station to board the train to Aguas Calientes (also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo). The train leaves at approximately 11:30, although the exact time changes sometimes. This two-hour train ride will be a memorable experience in itself, as we pass through river canyons and rolling hills. Aguas Calientes is the gateway to Machu Picchu, sitting in a deep gorge at the foot of the mountain on which Machu Picchu stands. It is a beautiful town that mixes traditional life with a huge tourist infrastructure, with a multitude of markets, souvenir shops, hotels, and restaurants. It's also largely pedestrianized, making it a fun place to explore on foot. Aguas Calientes is surrounded by mountains and jungle-covered cliffs, and the Urubamba River flows right by the town, sometimes roaring through the canyon. Aguas Calientes is also surrounded by hot springs and when we arrive you will have plenty of time to relax and enjoy a dip in one of the steaming natural springs. You will also have time to walk around the city and explore the colorful markets and the general bustle of this unique Peruvian settlement. It's an early start the next day, so we'll make sure you're settled in your hotel and all set for the next day and your first visit to Machu Picchu. Overnight Hatun Inti Boutique / Suite Room with private bath.

Day 11: Aguas Calientes – Cusco Visit to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu – Today will be an early start approx. 05:40am so that we can get to the citadel in good time. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu. We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about 2hrs that will allow you to experience the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, Intihuatana, Temple of the Sun, Sacred Plaza and other key locations. At the end of the tour of Machu Picchu, you will be taken by bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax. You may want to get yourself some lunch before boarding the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight: Jose Antonio Hotel / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 12: Cusco to Amazon Trip
Today you will start a new adventure! In the morning after a delicious breakfast, you will leave “La Ciudad Imperial” and fly to Madre de Dios – Puerto Maldonado. Your Amazon adventure begins when we pick you up from the airport in Puerto Maldonado. We’ll then drive for 10 minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. If you have any luggage that you won’t need during the next few days, you can safely leave it here, which will help keep the boats and cargo light. We’ll then drive to the Tambopata River Port, entering the native community of Infierno. From here it’s a beautiful 45- minute boat ride to Posada Amazonas in the community’s primary forest reserve. On arrival at the lodge, the manager will welcome you and give you important navigation and security tips. After lunch, we’ll head off on a 20-minute walk from Posada Amazonas that leads to the 30-meter canopy tower. From the platforms above, you’ll have spectacular views of the vast expanse of rainforest, with the Tambopata River winding through it. You’ll also see toucans, parrots and macaws as they fly over the jungle, with many other birds in the treetops right next to you. In the evening you can enjoy a lovely dinner at the lodge and watch the nightly presentation about the Infierno ecotourism project, given by a local staff member. Overnight: Posada Amazonas / Superior Room with private bath.

Day 13: Amazon Trip
Today we’ll set off to the Three Chimbadas oxbow lake. We’ll board our boat and cruise along the river for 30 minutes, followed by a beautiful 45-minute hike. Once we reach the lake, we can paddle around the lake on a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters! We can’t guarantee that you’ll see them, but around 60% of our visitors get to see these charming creatures. We should also see plenty of other animals, including caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. Later we’ll take a 20-minute boat drive downriver that leads to a trail designed by the staff of the Centro Ñape. The Centro Ñape is a communal organization that produces medicines out of forest plants and administers them to patients at their little clinic. The trail leads through the various medicinal plants, and your local guide can tell you all about their properties and their various uses. In the evening, we’ll head out on a night walk. Many animals are still active after dark, but they are obviously hard to see. But some creatures, like frogs, are much easier to find. And the sound of the jungle at night is quite an experience, making these nocturnal excursions very memorable. Overnight: Posada Amazonas / Standard Room with private bath.

Day 14: Puerto Maldonado - Lima
After breakfast it will be time to make our return journey to Puerto Maldonado. We’ll head back to the Tambopata River Port and then continue on to the city. When we arrive in Puerto Maldonado, we’ll take you to the airport for your flight to Lima. In Lima Airport you will be assisted to the Hotel (5 minutes walking). Overnight: Costa Del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport. Standard Room with private bath.

Day 15: Puerto Maldonado - Lima
After your breakfast and hotel check-out, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.