THE ANDES AND THE JUNGLE

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  LIMA

  Reception at Lima airport according to the arrival time of your flight, and transfer to the hotel located in the Miraflores district, in Lima. Night at the hotel. No activity is planned for this first day of travel in case of a delay of your flight.

• day 2

  LIMA – CUSCO

  Lima is much more than just a starting point for your adventure in Peru. It is also the capital, with nearly 9 million inhabitants, both modern and rich in history. You will start the day with a visit to the colonial center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, before discovering the rich and modern district of Miraflores, with its views of the Pacific Ocean. In the afternoon, you will head to the airport to take a flight to Cuzco, the most important city in the country culturally. Transfer to your hotel, located in the historic center. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 3

  CUSCO

  With its Inca ruins and colonial architecture, Cuzco is without a doubt one of the key places of your trip to Peru. Departure by vehicle towards the heights of Cuzco to enjoy the magnificent views over the city. You will then visit Sacsayhuaman, where you can observe this incredible Inca construction made of titan stone, before walking back down through the alleys of San Blas. You will be able to see the ancient Inca walls along the way, as well as the famous 12-angled stone. You will cross the historic center of the city and its main squares before arriving at the steps of San Pedro, where you can enjoy the Andean charm of Cuzco. Free afternoon to enjoy the city at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel. This tour includes a one and a half hour walk, which we recommend 100%. However, if you prefer, you can choose a more classic route, where you will visit the Temple of the Sun and the small sites of Tambomachay, Kenko, and Puka Pukara (this alternative is done entirely by vehicle).

• day 4

  CUSCO - PISAC – OLLANTAYTAMBO – AGUAS CALIENTES

  Departure in the morning towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will start with the archaeological site of Pisac, whose village has one of the largest craft markets in the country. You will continue with a visit to the village of Ollantaytambo and its fortress. You will take the train in the afternoon to head towards Aguas Calientes, in order to prepare for the most important stage of your trip. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 5

  AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO

  The long-awaited day has arrived! Today, you will discover one of the most breathtaking wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. Early in the morning, you will head to the bus station to take the bus that will take you to the Machu Picchu site, the Inca city that retains its ancient mystery and fascinates all travelers. During your visit, you will discover the main parts of the site and you will also have the possibility to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain (entrance not included). Return by bus to Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 6

  OLLANTAYTAMBO - MORAY - MARAS – CUZCO

  In the morning, departure in a private vehicle to Moray, an enigmatic village for all travelers, with its impressive Andean circles that look like gigantic fingerprints. Near them, you will find the Maras salt mines, thousands of small pools dug into the mountains that fill with salty water and leave salt behind after evaporation. Depending on the time of day, the thousands of white salt terraces reflect incredible colors and tones, to the delight of photographers from all over the world. You will finally visit the village of Chinchero, dominated by its superb Spanish church and built on an ancient Inca site. Return to Cuzco and free afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  CUZCO

  Your journey has undoubtedly been unforgettable so far, and so we are giving you a free day to enjoy this magnificent city one last time and say your goodbyes: by strolling through the narrow streets, discovering the museums dedicated to the history of the Incas, the small shops offering colorful handicrafts, or simply by soaking in the special atmosphere of this Andean city before heading towards the jungle. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  CUSCO – PUERTO MALDONADO

  Transfer to the airport in the morning, then flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception at the airport and transfer by boat to the "Lodge Corto Maltes". After lunch, you will set out to explore the jungle. You will go on a first excursion to discover the incredible variety of medicinal plants, tropical trees, birds, insects, and butterflies, among other animals. You will also stop at a control tower to observe toucans, macaws, and other birds before returning to the Lodge. After dinner, you will go out for a night boat ride to see a "caiman safari." Dinner and overnight at the Lodge. Overnight at the Lodge.

• day 9

  AMAZONAS TO

  5:30 in the morning, a 20-minute walk awaits you to go see the parrots in their natural environment: a real spectacle of colors! After breakfast, you will head to the Sandoval Lake pier. A 3 km trek awaits you: through the breathtaking vegetation of the rainforest, you will then enter the Tambopata National Reserve. You will be able to admire gigantic trees, snakes, monkeys (wasitas, cotomonos or capuchins), birds (shanshos, kingfishers and anhingas, for example). Once back at Lake Sandoval, you will go rowing to look for giant otters. You may also see a wide variety of animals such as reptiles, mammals, and birds in their natural environment. Dinner and overnight at Lodge Corto Maltes. Overnight at the Lodge.

• day 10

  AMAZONAS TO

  After breakfast, you will take a boat ride along the river for an hour and a half to reach a native community on Gamita Island. Two families will tell you about their customs, traditional clothing, and lifestyle. Afterwards, you will visit a plantation with tropical trees and other local products (cocoa, banana, coffee) and enjoy a lunch made from local products. Once back at the Lodge, you can relax by the pool before dinner. Overnight at the Lodge.

• day 11

  PUERTO MALDONADO – LIMA

  After breakfast, your guide will accompany you back to Puerto Maldonado, where you may have the opportunity to stroll through the market if you have time before your return flight. Flight to Lima, reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon to enjoy the capital and possibly visit a museum or two, stroll along the Pacific, or shop at the craft markets near Miraflores Park. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 12

  LIMA – END OF YOUR TRIP

  Transfer to the airport to take your return flight to Lima, thus ending this wonderful adventure in Peru. Connection with your international flight.