Amazon cruise - Iquitos

Day 2: Lima / Iquitos (SUNDAY): Transfer from airport to dock. Board M/V Arca. Lunch. Afternoon stop at Yanamono to visit a sugarcane rum still and sample the various drinks, and molasses, made here. Continue sailing down river. Enjoy the stunning display of stars from the upper observation deck or relax in the bar/lounge and get to know your traveling companions.

Day 3: Amazon River (MONDAY) Early wake up call with time for a cup of coffee or tea before setting out in one of the excursion boats for a birdwatching trip on the Ampiyacu River. Return to ship for breakfast. Go ashore to visit a Bora/Huitoto Indian village and see how these people live. You will also have the opportunity to see and buy/trade for their handicrafts that include some beautiful paintings of jungle scenes done on tree-bark cloth as well as jewelry, and woven bags and hammocks. Return to ship for brief sail down to the small town of Pevas, the oldest European settlement on the Peruvian Amazon. Visit the studio/gallery of a well known Peruvian painter. After lunch there will be a jungle walk at the Shishita River where your guide will describe and explain many of the trees and plants used by the local people. Opportunity to see some rain forest wildlife. Back on board the ship for dinner and a talk on one of many varied subjects by your guide. Depending on weather, take an excursion by small boat to look for caiman and listen to the sounds of the rain forest.

Day 4: Amazon River ( TUESDAY ) Morning jungle walk to visit the small village of Paranaquiro and see how the local people live in harmony with the rain forest. After this will be a piranha fishing expedition by small boat to a scenic black-water lake. After lunch on board a stop to visit and walk around the town of Caballo Cocha which is located on the lake of the same name. After dinner take an excursion by boat to spot caiman and listen to the sounds of the rainforest, possibly see some of the wildlife that only comes out at night.

Day 5: Amazon River ( WEDNESDAY) Early morning arrival at Santa Rosa Island, Peru, where the borders of Peru/Colombia/Brazil meet. * Transfer to Leticia or Tabatinga. Leticia/Tabatinga to Iquitos, ship departs up river at 2 pm Sail upriver. Orientation for new passengers and cabin assignments. Time permitting there will be an afternoon or evening shore excursion by small boat. After dinner time to relax and get to know your fellow passengers.

Day 6: Amazon River ( THURSDAY) Early morning bird watching trip followed by a jungle walk near the village of Chimbote. Our guides have a comprehensive knowledge of the birds of the area and will also explain to you the many uses of plants by the local people. Late morning visit the small missionary town of San Pablo. Optional visit to the Leper hospital run by French-Canadian nuns and see the handicrafts made by these people. After dinner take a night excursion on the Peruate River to look for caiman and night animals.

Day 7: Amazon River ( FRIDAY ) Morning visit to a village of Yagua Indians to see their native dress, traditional dances and handicrafts. Even though they no longer wear these outfits made from jungle products, your visit helps keep these traditions alive. Opportunity to buy/trade for these items such as natural dye paintings, jewelry and woven bags and hammocks. Later, visit the studio/gallery of a well known Peruvian painter. Return to ship for lunch and siesta. Late afternoon shore excursion on the black-water Apayacu River to see the flora and fauna of the area and possibly, time and weather permitting, a piranha fishing excursion.

Day 8: (SATURDAY) DEPART TO IQUITOS Early morning arrival back in Iquitos in time for transfers * to airport. Iquitos is a very unique and interesting city to visit. Guided tours of the city to see and hear the history of this rubber boom town or visit the local zoo or butterfly farm are available. Transfer form the Airport to the hotel in Lima.

Day 9: Lima: In the morning, guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima, the "City of Kings". The tour includes Lima's Historical Centre, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, the City Hall. We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco, the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tour includes a visit to the Basilica of 21 altars, Convent of Cloisters, Capitulary and Clementine Rooms, Chorus and Library of the monks, a Museum showing 11 paintings of the Rubens School, the Sacristy with paintings of Surbaran and Ribera, its great patio decorated with Seville tiles of the XVIth Century, Moorish arches and underground Catacombs. We visit, the Larco Herrera Museum, founded in 1926, showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview of 3,000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, the museum is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The museum features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru. It also houses the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. For an unforgettable experience, Larco is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also choose to enter the storage area with its 45,000 classified archaeological objects. Its masterpieces are considered worldwide icons of pre-Columbian art, after being exhibited in the world's leading museums. Return to the hotel (Breakfast)

Day 10: Cusco: Early in the morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon your Arrival in Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, we greet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel brief orientation and a cup of traditional coca tea to assist in the acclimation to the 11300 ft. in the Inca Capital of Cusco. In the afternoon City tour of Cusco, and include: The Cathedral, Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun ), the most important of Inca ceremonial sites. Later you will continue to the most important site of Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Qenqo and Puca Pucara. We return to the hotel (Breakfast)

Day 11: Sacred Valley: After breakfast we travel by bus through the Sacred Valley of the Inca. where life has remained almost unchanged for 500 years. Upon decent into the Sacred Valley we will know that we ’ve arrived in the area the Inca revered for its lush fertile soils. Later on, We will have the opportunity of visiting the lively local Ancient Pisac market where many of the local Indians sell their hand made textiles. It is here that many fine Andean garments are for sale and you can test your haggling powers as you bargain for trinkets and souvenirs. For lunch we will have the chance to eat a buffet lunch at the local hacienda restaurant with traditional Andean foods and music. We continue to Ollantaytambo the major Inca fortress. Probably built by the great Inca ruler, Pachacuti in the 1460s, it was the site of Hernando Pizzaro’s defeat by Manco Inca in 1536. Constructed of finely cut polygonal stones and rhyolite blocks, the fortress and nearby town represent the best of Inca architecture and construction. Large worked blocks, some weighting as much as 100 tons were quarried from a site more than a thousand vertical feet above the valley floor using a technique of pecking with hammer stones, then skidded down and across the Urubamba river several kilometers to the temple site. Inclined ramps were built to raise the blocks several hundred feet up hill to the construction area. Overnight at Pakaritampu hotel.

Day 12: Machu Picchu: Early in the morning after breakfast we pick you up at your hotel and take you to the railway station for the tourist class train to Machu Pichu. We'll descend 1300 meters through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and follow the Urubamba river until the final stop at Aguas Calientes. Overnight. (Breakfast / Lunch)

Day 13: Machu Picchu / Cusco Afterward we'll take the 20 minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu, perched 600 meters above the river. Our guide will explain you the history and the myths that surround this archeological wonder MACHU PICCHU! The famous lost city of the Inca is one of the most magical and mysterious places on Earth! Stand 2,430m above sea-level in the middle of a tropical mountain forest. In an extraordinarily beautiful setting, it was probably most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height, its giant walls, terraces and ramps seen as, if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting on the eastern slopes of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna, the site is frequently shrouded in misty clouds pierced by the powerful equatorial Sun. Afterwards we take the bus for your return to the Aguas Calientes for lunch. Return to Cusco (Breakfast/Lunch)

Day 14: Cusco: Leisurely day with plenty of opportunity for shopping (Breakfast and Dinner)

Day 15: Lima: Transfer form your Hotel to the Airport for your flight to Lima and for your internationa flights back home.

Please note: This itinerary is a guideline – it is important to allow room for the unpredictable and unexpected surprises that make each trip unique. We will find it is more satisfying to let the jungle, the weather and our naturalist guides lead the way. Trust the expert guides if they find the need to modify the itinerary for the best interest and safety of the group.

EXTENSIONS

Cuzco is the ideal place to start a journey into the Amazon. Whether you have just a couple of days and want to get a taste of the jungle, or you wish to get all the way to Manu, we can include Amazon stays in any itinerary to Peru. The Nazca Lines are another place that are easily included in an itinerary, either as a two or three day trip from Lima, or on an overland route from Lima to Arequipa. Those who are pushed for time can see them in a day from Lima by flying the whole way.

tailor-made travel

All our travel arrangements are on a private, individual basis to offer you complete freedom of choice. The itineraries and accommodation options throughout the brochure are designed to give you aflavour of what is possible and can be tailor-made to suit your preferences. Prices vary according toselected accommodation and season. Please call our South America specialists on 5184 232765 or 51 84 9320212 to discuss your individual requirements.