Day
1: Fly to Lima Peru
After arrival to Lima transfer
to hotel, rooms are ready to check in. Enjoy dinner and meet others
in your group.
Day
2: Lima - Cusco - Cloud Forest
This day we take a
spectacular morning flight across the Andes to the city of Cusco - capital
of the Inca Empire (45 min, ) after arrival to Cusco city, our overland
bus will pick us up at the airport to take us on our journey. We
head over the Andes mountains down into the cloud forest. As we travel
the mountain passes we enjoy scenes of the decedent's of the Incas, the
Quechua people, farming and living much the same way as they did during
Incan times. We visit the pre Incan tombs of Ninamarca perched in
the top of the rocky hills. We stop for a coffee or coca tea at the
beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing our bus
travel we climb a high point of almost 4000 meters before descending to
the cloud forest. Here we travel through waterfalls and tunnels enjoying
the incredible sights and variations of flora and fauna. In this
mysterious surrounding we take a short hike before we spend our first night
in the Camping huts posada San Pedro (Appx.1,600 meters.)
Day
3: Cloud Forest - Atalaya - Boca Manu
A day break we take a quick
walk to the Salt Lick of the incredible birds, Cock-of-the Rock.
Here we see the performance of the males "dance," displaying their vibrant
vermilion crests, as they show off and posture for the females. Afterwards
we identify many species of ferns, lichens and bromeliads. Bird watcher's
are in heaven as this area is famous for it's wide variety of species of
birds.
We continue by bus
to the tropical lowland rainforest. Here at 650 meters we change our means
of transportation to motorized canoe. Our boat navigates down the turbulent
Alto Madre de Dios river to the confluence of Manu River. We eat
dinner at our camp sight enjoying the stars as we listen to the night sounds
of the Amazon rainforest.
Day
4: Boca Manu - Cocha Salvador
In the morning, we turn
up the Manu river. From this vantage point, we will have great views of
the riverside, This protected park is so pristine, that the animals relax
in the sun in full view of our boat. You will want to have your binoculars
ready. Here we see many different species of birds, including parrots
and the giant Macaws flying in pairs above us. Sunbathing on the
beach are caimans, turtles and ducks. We may see an elusive jaguar
or the enormous “guinea pig,” capybara. Later we
reach our campsite deep inside Manu park. This will be our camp for
the next two days, during this time, we will hike through virgin
forest and explore one of the most beautiful Oxbow lakes of Manu by catamaran.
We relish in this beautiful environment generally enjoying the show of
monkeys jumping in the trees by the side of the lake. We never know
which animal species we may see next, tapir, sloth, and with luck a family
of giant otters. All meals enjoyed at camp.
Day
5: Cocha Otorongo
We rise early in the morning
surrounded by the noise of birds and mammals. After breakfast we
go for a five hour hike through the forest which takes us to the
lake Otorongo. Here we have another chance to see a group of giant
otters and many other species. All meals at camp.
Day
6: Cocha Salvador - Blanquillo Macaws
After a final walk through
the forest surrounding the lake Salvador, we return by boat back down the
Manu river. We enjoy the fast water of Madre de Dios river, swimming
or walking on the beaches. In the afternoon we arrive at tambo Blanquillo,
where we spend the night.
Day
7: Blanquillo Macaws - Boca Manu
At the first light
of day, we head to the Macaw Lick to watch a dazzling spectacle of hundreds
of Parakeets, Parrots, and Macaws eating at the clay lick. It is one of
the noisiest and most beautiful shows in the world. In the afternoon,
by boat, we turn back down the Madre de Dios river, Making camp close to
the airstrip Boca Manu
Day
8: Boca Manu - Cusco
A short ride take us to
Boca Manu airport and our return flight over the rainforest and the Andes
to Cusco by light aircraft. In the afternoon, we go on a city tour, visit
the colonial cathedral, Santo Domingo, which is built on some of the most
precise Incan stone work. You will see a mixture of Incan and colonial
construction which makes this city so unique. We visit the nearby
Inca's bath, Tambomachay and the mysterious semi-circular Kenko.
You will explore the ancient Sacsayhuaman. This amazing fortress of precisely
fitted giant stone was constructed by the Incas using some blocks
which weigh more that 350 tons. The guide tells you about the mysterious
Incas, their organizations, temples and palaces. At night we have
a typical dinner at a local restaurant enjoying a folkloric music
show while we eat.
Day
9: Sacred Valley of the Incas
In the morning we
begin our drive along the curvy roads to the Sacred Valley, about 40 minutes
to arrive at Pisac, an old mountain village whose buildings reflect the
brilliant precision of the Incas stonemasonry. We have time in the
town center open market to browse the many colorful stalls. Here vendors
sell handicrafts ranging from fine alpaca sweaters and blankets, to ornamental
dishes. As we continue through the valley, we arrive at Ollantaytambo
a very picturesque mountain fortress overlooking a quaint village.
Unchanged from Incan times, old, narrow stone streets lined with sunken
aqueducts carry pure mountain water all year long. in the afternoon we
return to Cusco by the high mountain village of Chincheros. Here
we enjoy a short stop exploring the colonial church and the local market
which is famous for its artesian textiles. Arriving back to
Cusco to relax with a hot shower and dinner.
Days:
10 & 11 Machu Picchu
 Today
we board our train for the scenic, three hour, zig-zagging journey into
the lush Urubamba valley. We arrive at the little village of Puente
Ruinas where we will be spending the night in a comfortable hotel
After we get situated, we go out to explore this wondrous cloud forest.
Later we enjoy the brilliant night sky while bathing in the natural hot
springs. Early the next morning we will take the bus for the ascent to
the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu, “the lost City of the Incas.” Here you
can listen as your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas
as your tour the ruins of towers, temples, and ceremonial baths. After
lunch you will have to time to enjoy the Incan citadel for yourself. Later
in the afternoon we take the train for our return back to Cusco.
Day
12: Cusco- Lima
Morning transfer to the
airport to take the return flight to Lima, (this ends our Service) if your
international flight is not connecting immediately, you can leave your
personal items securely in the hotel without fee. There are many interesting
places to visit in Lima, such as the Gold Museum or the Plaza Mayor de
Lima, not included.
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Cloud
Forest Journey from the sparse sierras,
high in the Andes mountains down towards the Amazon rainforest and watch
the brilliant vegetative changes as the altitude drops. Suddenly you find
yourself in a dense green world enshrouded by mists and studded with glorious
flowers. Waterfalls cascade down the mountain and over the bus on
their way to forming the tributaries of the Amazon. Sleep in this
mystical world and wake early to glimpse the Salt Lick of the flamboyant,
red birds, Cock-of-the Rock.
Blanquillo
In
this jungle hideaway you will witness the dazzling spectacle of hundreds
of Parakeets, Parrots, and Macaws eating at the clay lick.
