Peru Exploration With Southern Amazon

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Lima

  Welcome to Lima! Your local guide will greet you upon arrival and escort you to the hotel. After checking in, enjoy your leisure time to relax, recover from jet lag, or explore the vibrant surroundings.

  Optional: For food lovers, enhance your first day with a five-hour Lima Culinary Group Tour, starting at 4:30 pm.

  • Lima

• Day 2: Historical, Colonial and Modern Lima City Tour

  This morning brings a guided tour of Lima's top landmarks, spanning three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial, and modern, on this guided tour. Within the UNESCO-inscribed Historic Center of Lima, wander around Plaza Mayor, glance over the Presidential Palace, and delve into the monumental complex of the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. Then, travel back in time to Huaca Huallamarca, an ancient adobe pyramid nestled amidst modern cityscapes. End the tour at Miraflores District, passing by the Park of Love and Larcomar for great views of the Pacific Ocean.

  The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Alternatively, explore Barranco's colorful streets or visit the Larco Museum for pre-Columbian treasures.

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  • Lima

• Day 3: Lima - Cusco, Inca and Colonial Sites

  After breakfast, head to the airport for your flight to Cusco, once the Incan capital and later a Spanish colonial center.

  Once landing, you will be collected from the airport and taken to your hotel. Take some time to rest and acclimate to the altitude (around 3,400 meters above sea level).

  This afternoon, follow your guide to uncover the history of the mysterious city of Cusco. Your first stop is the sacred Qoricancha, once famously known as the Golden Temple of the Incas, now home to a Dominican monastery. Later, proceed to the city's massive Main Cathedral, featuring a unique collection of art from the Cusquena school. Followed by visits to the incredible archaeological complex of Sacsaywaman, renowned for its impressive stonework and superb workmanship, and other Incan religious and military sites...

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  • Cusco

• Day 4: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes

  A morning drive brings you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, nestled in the heart of the Andes Mountains. The first stop is Awanacancha, allowing you to encounter Andean camelids while learning about traditional textile production. At the mysterious Pisaq Archaeological Park, you'll explore the ancient castles, temples, and the impressive stone labyrinth. Please do not miss the bustling Pisac Market, where the locally made handicrafts showcase Peru's rich culture. Continue your exploration into the Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park, an imposing Inca stronghold.

  After the tour, board a scenic Peru Rail train to Aguas Calientes, where a hotel representative will greet you upon arrival. Spend a restful night and anticipate the next day's adventure.

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  • Aguas Calientes

• Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Cusco, Machu Picchu

  No trip to Peru is complete without visiting Machu Picchu, the legendary Lost City of the Incas. This morning, board a 30-minute shuttle bus to the majestic citadel, which showcases ingenious stone structures, lush terraces, and breathtaking mountain backdrops. Your guided tour takes you through the citadel's significant sites, including the Temple of the Sun. You are then free to explore at your own pace, soaking in the mystical energy and stunning surroundings.

  At noon, return to Aguas Calientes via shuttle and unwind with lunch at a charming café. Afterward, collect your luggage from your hotel and walk a few minutes to the train station for your journey back to Poroy Station. Following this, a seamless transfer will take you back to Cusco for the night.

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  • Cusco

• Day 6: Cusco - Puerto Maldonado

  This morning, transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Southern Amazon.

  Upon arrival, drive straight to visit the Butterfly House. A 45-minute boat ride afterward will take you cruising along the Madre de Dios River to your lodge. After check-in and lunch, meet your expert guide and choose your preferred excursion to experience the enchantment of the rainforest. 

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  • Puerto Maldonado

• Day 7: Puerto Maldonado, Oxbow Lake Safari & Canopy Walk

  Start your morning with a leisurely paddle around the winding Oxbow Lake on a canoe or a catamaran. Keep your eyes peeled for lakeside wildlife, including the exotic hoatzin, stealthy caiman, and horned screamers. Overhead, the skies come alive with the vibrant calls of macaws, a true testament to the Amazon's biodiversity.

  There follows a 30-minute walk from the lodge to the Canopy Tower, built upon high ground to provide panoramic views of the Tambopata National Reserve. From this elevated perch, spot toucans, macaws, and other avian life thriving in the treetops.

  After lunch, head out to a nearby farm to discover a variety of Amazonian crops - both well-known and rare. Continue on an ethnobotanical trail, learning about medicinal plants, like Ajo-Sacha and Yuca de Venado, essential to local healing traditions.

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  • Puerto Maldonado

• Day 8: Puerto Maldonado, Parrot Clay Lick & Brazil Nut Forest

  A 15-minute morning boat ride followed by a one-hour walk will bring you to the Parrot Clay Lick, where Dusky-headed parrots and Cobalt-winged parakeets gather at dawn to ingest mineral-rich clay. Besides, an array of vibrant species, such as Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, and Severe Macaws, descend upon the clay banks in a dazzling display of color and sound.

  This afternoon goes with a short hike to an enchanting Brazil Nut forest, where nut-gatherer's camps are used seasonally. Learn how this unique rainforest product is sustainably collected, processed, and prepared for sale. Continue your adventure to the Mammal Clay Lick, where you may encounter wild rainforest pigs arriving in herds of five to twenty, foraging for the essential minerals found in the clay - just as the parrots do. Other possible wildlife sightings include deer, guans, and parakeets.

  After dinner, if you're up for more adventure, opt for a night walk to discover the rainforest's nocturnal creatures.

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  • Puerto Maldonado

• Day 9: Puerto Maldonado - Lima

  Transfer to the Puerto Maldonado airport for your flight back to Lima.

  Upon arrival, your private vehicle will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the Miraflores district. The remainder of today is free for you.

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  • Lima

• Day 10: Lima, Departure

  Your private driver will pick you up at the agreed time and transfer you to the airport for your homebound flight.

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