Land of the Inkas
Itinerary
Day 01 LIMA
Arrival and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional tours to explore the city, including museum visits, and other sites of interests.
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Day 02 LIMA - ICA - BALLESTAS ISLAND
We will spend the morning in the capital visiting the historic colonial-era center of the city, as well as the National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History, where we will be able to learn much more about the pre-Hispanic history of Peru. Optional: We can offer you the opportunity to experience a tandem paragliding flight from the Miraflores promenade, which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. After a delicious lunch we will head south along the Pan-American Highway to our hotel on the Paracas Bay.
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Day 03 PARACAS - NAZCA
After a delicious breakfast we will board a launch for our visit to the Paracas National Reserve, where amid the natural beauty of the Pacific coast we will have the chance to observe marine fauna such as native and migratory seabirds, Humboldt penguins, seals and sea lions. This area was also once home to the pre-Inca Paracas culture. After the tour we will continue south to the city of Ica, where we will spend the night in a hotel.
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Day 04 NAZCA - PUERTO INKA
Today we will be able to enjoy a relaxing visit to a local wine and pisco maker, followed by the fascinating Ica Regional Museum and the charming Huacachina oasis. (Optional: dune buggies for rides through the desert). In the afternoon we will transfer to the city of Nazca, from where we will fly over the enigmatic Nazca Lines in a light aircraft and visit the pre-Inca cemetery at Chauchilla.
We will then continue to Puerto Inca, where we will spend the night camping on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It was here that the Inca culture built infrastructure to accommodate travelers coming from Cusco, as this was the closest point on the coast to the Inca capital.
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Day 05 PUERTO INKA - AREQUIPA
Today we drive farther south along the Pan-American Highway to the city of Arequipa, known as the White City. Its neo-colonial architectural jewels are constructed from sillar, a white volcanic stone quarried from the foot of the volcanic cone of El Misti, which overlooks the city. After checking into the hotel you will have the rest of the day free to stroll around the city and relax.
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Day 06 AREQUIPA - COLCA CANYON
This morning we will visit the colonial-era convent of Santa Catalina, and in the afternoon we will drive to Colca Canyon, crossing on the way the high plains of the Andes which are home to the Pampas Cañahuas National Reserve, where rare wild vicuñas roam free. We will have time to enjoy a visit to the Valley of the Volcanoes before arriving at the village of Chivay, near the great Colca Canyon, where we will observe the hundreds of Inca period agricultural terraces which are still used by local farmers to produce typical Andean crops. We will spend the night in Chivay and in the evening we will have time to enjoy the option of visiting the local thermal baths.
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Day 07 COLCA CANYON
In the early morning we will head by road to one of the deepest parts of the canyon, known as Cruz del Cóndor. This natural viewing point provides us with the perfect spot to observe the great Andean condor as these enormous birds rise on thermal air currents from the depths of the canyon to where we will be waiting for them. After observing the condors we will take a short walk in the vicinity of the canyon in order to better appreciate the magnificent scenery of what is one of the world’s deepest canyons, before returning to our hotel to rest in the afternoon.
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Day 08 COLCA CANYON - PUNO
After a delicious breakfast we will continue our journey by driving to the city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Along the way we will pass a number of beautiful blue high Andean lakes rich in endemic avifauna, before reaching our destination: Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, where the next day we will explore its many attractions. In Puno you will be transferred to your hotel.
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Day 09 LAKE TITICACA
This is a very special day, as we leave the city of Puno’s port after breakfast in the hotel to visit the floating Uros islands. Here native Aymara descendants of the original ethnic Uro builders of these artificial reed islands live from hunting and fishing and the sale of their handcrafts. From the Uros islands we will continue by motorized launch to the island of Amantaní. We will have time to walk on the island and observe the way of life of these expert weavers before returning to Puno by boat in the late afternoon, where we will be transferred from the port to our hotel in the city.
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Day 10 PUNO - CUSCO
Today we will leave by road for the day’s journey to the ancient capital of the Inca state. After leaving the city of Puno we will visit the fascinating archaeological site of Sillustani, with its Inca and pre-Inca conical burial towers. During the trip we will also visit the craftsmen of the village of Pucara and the archaeological site of Racchi, the site of the great Inca temple to their creator god, Wiracocha. When we arrive in the city of Cusco you will be given a short introductory talk regarding the attractions, and we will transfer you to your hotel.
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Day 11 CUSCO - CITY
This morning you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and the comforts of this great Inca and colonial city, including the main plaza, narrow streets, museums, cafes and restaurants.
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Day 12 CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY
We will visit the ruins of Saqsayhuaman, the enormous fortified Inca temple complex which stands on the hill overlooking the city of Cusco, before continuing our excursion by driving to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we will visit the traditional handcraft market in the village of Pisaq. After having time to shop for souvenirs we will continue through the Sacred Valley to the town of Ollantaytambo, with its narrow Inca streets and imposing temple complex. We will spend the night in a local hotel.
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Day 13 OLLANTAYTAMBO - MACHUPICCHU
From the hotel we will be transferred to the local station for the spectacular train ride to Machu Picchu. The train follows the course of the Urubamba River into a land of high, densely-forested peaks and cloud forest habitat. We disembark from the train at the small town of Aguas Calientes, from where we will take a short bus ride up to the ruins of Machu Picchu, perched on a mountaintop high above the Urubamba River. We will be guided at the ruins by an expert guide before returning to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a local hotel. Optional: Short Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (2 days-3 nights).
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Day 14 MACHUPICCHU - CUSCO
In order to fully enjoy this marvel of Inca architecture during the second day of our visit, we will take the bus up to the ruins very early. At this time of day there are far fewer visitors at the ruins and you will be able to enjoy the peace and tranquility of Machu Picchu and its spectacular setting and have time to take plenty of photographs in the morning light. This second day will also give you time to opt to walk to the Temple of the Moon, the Sun Gate (Inti Punko) or even climb the hill behind Machu Picchu known as Huayna Picchu. In the afternoon we will return to the station in Aguas Calientes for the afternoon train to Cusco, where you will be transferred from the station to your hotel.
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Day 15 CUSCO PUERTO MALDONADO
Arrival by air to the town of Puerto Maldonado: Transfer in the company of your guide to the “reception center”, where we will prepare for the next three days. From here it is a 30-minute bus transfer to the port, from where we will navigate against the current up the Tambopata River. Along the way we will have plenty of time to enjoy the wild flora and fauna which can be seen from the boat, which may include caimans and turtles, as well as plenty of birdlife. After an hour and a half we will arrive at the Lodge, right in the heart of the rainforest. You will be welcomed by the Lodge’s staff who will inform you about the Lodge and the program you will be following during your stay. After some time to relax we will make our first excursion into the forest as we take a 20-minute walk to the Canopy Tower, with its views of the surrounding forest some 30 meters above the ground. From here we will be able to observe the life of the rainforest and view area around the Tambopata River. Bird species here include toucans, parrots and macaws, which can often be seen flying among the treetops. After this short trip into the forest we will return to the Lodge for a delicious evening meal. You will be free in the evening to relax and enjoy the bar service or read the books in the Lodge’s library.
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Day 16 JUNGLE LODGE
LAKESIDE DREAMWORLD
After breakfast we will walk down to the jetty for the 20-minute boat ride to the trail that will lead us to the oxbow lake known as Tres Chimbadas. Here we will board a wooden catamaran which will take us around the edge of the lake, enabling us to observe local fauna. We will also be able to fish for local piranha (mind your fingers!). After lunch we will visit a botanical garden where an indigenous shaman will introduce us to the secrets of the wild flora of the forest and the uses which humans have found for many native plants. Return to the Lodge.
After the evening meal we will have a chance to enjoy a final activity: An exciting nocturnal walk in the forest, observing and listening to insects and other inhabitants of the rainforest.
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Day 17 PUERTO MALDONADO - LIMA
GOODBYE TO THE FOREST
After breakfast at the Lodge we will head downstream to the port and from there return by bus to the “reception center”, after which we will be escorted to the airport for the flight Lima.
Our services end today but if time allows we can arrange a special tour of the city for you (this service should be requested and booked in advance at an additional cost).
Important: Each one of our tour programs can be varied in terms of details in order to accommodate any special requirements or special interests which you may have - as long as they can be accommodated within the logistics of the published itinerary (such services should be requested and booked in advance).
Extension of program: The client will assume any additional costs.
Shortening of program: A respective discount will apply (in accordance with the company’s booking conditions).
If you wish to customize your Peru tour see one of our extensions.
Special Products Donations / Non profit activities / Horses / Amaru Express
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Copyright 2006 Land of the Inkas