Explore the magnificent ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, the most important archeological monument in South America. You'll visit fascinating towns and markets of Quechua Indians in Cusco and the Urubamba Valley. Your home in the jungle is a native-style ecolodge designed to provide comfortable accommodations in a lush rainforest habitat. The area is home for giant river otters, monkeys, and an abundance of birds. Local native guides and resident naturalists share their knowledge of ancient Inca history and tropical ecology on hikes through the mountains and protected reserves.
DAY 1 : LIMA
Arrive in Lima. Transfer from hotel to overnight in the modern district of Miraflores at the Hotel Jose Antonio or similar.
DAY 2 : CUSCO
Transfer for early morning one-hour flight to Cusco. Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon guided city tour of ancient Inca temples, Spanish churches and the surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara and Tambo Machay. Overnight at the Colonial-style Hotel Novotel or similar. [B]
DAY 3 : URUBAMBA VALLEY
Full day private guided tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas including the village of Pisac and the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Visit Quechua villages where highland Indians tend their fields and sell handcrafts in outdoor markets. Overnight in the serene Urubamba Valley at the Sol Y luna or similar. [BL]
DAY 4 : PATACANCHA VILLAGE
Enjoy a beautiful, easy downhill day hike on local foot trails through the Andes to the native Quechua Indian villages of Hullioc and Patacancha (12,500 elevation) where crops are sown and textiles woven with simple hand tools and traditional methods. Overnight in the Urubamba Valley at the Hotel Sol Y Luna or similar. [BL]
DAY 5 : MACHU PICCHU
Transfer to the Ollanta station and ride the train to Machu Picchu. Your guide will assist you with hotel check-in then accompany you on a private, guided tour of the ruins before he returns to Cusco, leaving you free to photograph and explore on your own time. Includes first class reserved train tickets, bus tickets up and down the mountain, lunch and one-time entrance fee. Overnight near the ruins of Machu Picchu in the Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel or similar. [BL]
DAY 6 : CUSCO
Take the early shuttle bus to be among the first to enter Machu Picchu this day. Enjoy the morning on your own to wander, contemplate, and photograph the mysterious maze of streets and stone buildings of this magnificent citadel. Optional hike up the precipitous Wayna Picchu peak, or up the Inca Trail to the Intipunku (Gate of the Sun). Leisurely mid-afternoon return on the Pullman train back to Cusco arriving by evening. Transfer to overnight at the Hotel Novotel or similar. [BL]
DAY 7 : TAMBOPATA JUNGLE TOUR
Morning airport transfer for flight to Puerto Maldonado. Meet our rainforest naturalist guide and depart on a 15 minute drive through lush tropical farmland to the mouth of the Las Piedras River. Board a comfortable motorized canoe for the 3-4 hour journey to Lake Tipishca. Enroute watch for wildlife along the riverbank like capybara, caiman, turtles, brown capuchin and howler monkeys and birds along the shoreline. At Lake Tipishca Lodge we are greeted by a native Piro family who maintains the simple, clean and comfortable individual bungalows with private bath and hot water. If time permits canoe on Lake Tipishca which also has a family of giant otters and walk along lakeside trails looking for a troop of the elusive Emperor Tamarin primates. This evening after dinner, join our naturalist for a nocturnal hike to view caiman and other denizens of the dark. Overnight Tipishca. [BLD]
DAY 8 : TAMBOPATA JUNGLE / LAKE TIPISHCA
After an early morning breakfast, enjoy a guided walk on the trails of the Lake Tipshca Reserve. Your guide will assist in the spotting of a variety of wildlife including the ever friendly Brown-Capuchin Monkeys, the clamorous Red Howler Monkeys, and rambunctious Squirrel Monkeys. Board the hand crafted catamaran to get a closer look at the myriad of birds native to the tranquil waters of Lake Tipishca. Commonly seen species include Scarlet Macaws, Cuvier Toucans, Hoatzin, Agami Heron, Rufescent Tiger-heron, Green Ibis, and Sungrebe. In the afternoon visit a local Piro community to learn traditional customs. After an evening nature observation walk, enjoy the hum of the rainforest creatures as you drift off to sleep in your private cabana.
DAY 9 : TAMBOPATA / LAKE TIPISHCA
Early departure at dawn for a 20 minute motor-canoe trip up river to visit a macaw and parrot clay-lick. Up to hundreds of parrots and macaws congregate in flocks to eat the mineral-rich clay of the river bank which cleanses them of toxins from rain forest seeds they have eaten. Bird activity at the clay lick continues (unless it is raining) until the parrots have had their fill or otherwise sense danger from a raptor at which point they fly off in an explosion of sound and color. After lunch, participate in a reforestation project initiated by the founders of the Tipishca Reserve. In the evening following dinner, take a starlit catamaran paddle on Lake Soledad looking for the elusive Black Caiman.
DAY 10 : LIMA
Rise at dawn to the roaring calls of Red-Howler Monkeys. Paddle along the shoreline of Lake Tipishca. Our stable catamaran is the perfect platform to observe and photograph the resident family of Giant River Otters. After breakfast, transfer by boat to Puerto Maldonado airport for a morning flight to Lima. [B]
