After passing the immigration controls at Lima airport our English speaking guide will meet you. Your transfer from the airport to the hotel will take around 1 hour.
Extra informatie:
The capital of Peru Lima, is situated right on the Pacific coast. A metropolitan city of 11 million Peruvians is naturally perfect for sampling the famed national cuisine, with its vast base of ingredients and spices. Then, a relaxing tour of San Francisco convent, with its 21-altar Basilica and museum featuring works by Rubens, Zurbaran and Rivera. A circuit of the many downtown plazas (squares) includes a seaside cycle path, botanical garden and Parque del Amor, ending with Lima’s best bars and nightspots. Meanwhile, the ancient tradition is very much alive at Huaca Pucllana temple, just steps away from the hotels and hostels of central Miraflores district. The impressive Pyramids of Pachacamac are just a 40km drive south.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Hotel Lima Wasi in a Standard Room.
Located in Miraflores, a residential district and excellent location for business or sightseeing, close to shopping centers, restaurants and leisure hotel. They feature spacious and modern facilities aimed at domestic and foreign customers. Category: Standard
Opmerking: Included: arrival transfer with English speaking guide, room
Not included: tips, lunch, dinner
Note: hotels in Peru will ask a copy of your passport
We will meet at the Callao Marina Yacht Club and will leave towards Callao Islands where we can see the anchorage of merchant ships, yachts and sailboats from Callao Bay. Will pass through San Lorenzo and El Fronton Islands and will continue to Cabinzas Island where we can see guano birds and Humboldt penguins. We can algo watch fishing boats.
After we reach the furthest point: Palomino Island, which hosts a big colony of sea wolves, where we can freely swim with them. Afterwards we begin our return to the Yacht Club in Callao. Includes a snack.
City tour Lima, passing by the Main Square, where the Government Palace is located, panoramic visit to the Cathedral, where we will find the remains of the conqueror Francisco Pizarro, visit also the religious Museum of the Cathedral. The tour continues with San Francisco Church and the Monastery, which cloisters and entrance hall are embellished with authentic Sevillian tiles dating back to 1620. Also remarkable are its Museum of Religious Art, the Zurbaran room and the library. The complex was built over underground catacombs which were used as cemeteries during the colonial times.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Hotel Lima Wasi, in a Standard Room.
Opmerking: Included: transport (private), English-speaking guide, entrance fees, room with breakfast boat ticket
Not included: tips, lunch, dinner
This day you will flight from Lima to Cusco and have the opportunity of explore this beautiful city in the afternoon.
Domestic flight on your own.
Private transfer from airport in Cusco to your hotel with guide. Please be aware of the sign with your name on it.
This excursion starts on the Main Square, known in Inca times as Huacaypata or “The Warriors Square”, this was the scene for many key events in Cusco’s history. The Cathedral, built between 1560 and 1664 with large stones of red granite taken from the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, is one of the most imposing structures in the city, it houses one of the most significant collections of gold and silver work of the colonial period.
We’ll continue to Koricancha and the Convent of Santo Domingo. The Convent was built on the amazing Koricancha (or site of gold), the most important temple dedicated to the worship of the Sun and whose walls were covered with sheets of gold. This Convent was built on a foundation of polished stone structures, the most finely crafted in Cusco, taken from the Inca sanctuary.
After visiting these sites in the city, you will drive to the nearby ruins of Cusco, such as Sacsayhuaman Fortress with his immense walls of temples made up of huge stones distributed in a zigzag pattern, the red Fort Puca Pucara, Qenko Amphitheatre and Tambomachay, the Inca baths. After an impressive tour you will turn back to the hotel.
Extra informatie:
Cusco (or Cuzco) was the historic capital of the Inca Empire, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its elevation of over 11,000 feet allows visitors to acclimatize before setting off on long treks towards Machu Picchu’s legendary mountain ruins. Cusco is a very pleasant city to explore, with wonderful ancient stonework, narrow streets and important Inca temple remains, complemented by Spanish colonial buildings. Numerous museums showcase Inca and pre-Colombian culture, as well as textiles and sacred plants. Being a rich agricultural region, many fusion and neo-Andean restaurants offer unique Peruvian gastronomy. Meanwhile, day trips to nearby lagoons can be connected with visits to Inca ruins such as Pisac, Tambomachay, Kenqo, Sacsayhaman and Ollantaytambo.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Tierra Viva Cusco Centro, in a Standard Room.
Opmerking: Included: departure transfer, arrival transfer with English speaking guide, transport (private), English-speaking guide, entrance fees, room with breakfast
Not included: flight, tips, lunch, dinner
It´s time to adventure! Today you will have an exciting day, first you are going to climb for your lunch… yes! If you want to have lunch, you have to climb to the restaurant by via ferrata, then if you want to go to sleep… you must descent by a zip line. A lot of adrenaline!
The exclusive Sky Lodge Adventure Suites offers a gastronomic experience combined with the thrill of arriving to the dinning capsule. You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Pachar. You will ascent climbing the “via ferrata” or hiking up through the zip line. Once you arrived, you will have lunch at Sky Lodge Adventure Suites.
Lunch served is composed by 4 dishes (Soup, salad, main course, dessert) and nonalcoholic and alcoholic beverages (red or White wine or champagne). After your meal, descent ziplinning or rappelling down back to the base to be transferred to Cusco.
Overnachting:
Accommodation: You will spend the night at Tierra Viva Cusco Centro, in a Standard Room.
Opmerking: Included: Activity, lunch, transport (private), English speaking guide, room with breakfast
Not included: Tips, dinner
Today you will have the opportunity of see and feed Andean camelids such as llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos
The visit is including Pisac Indian Market which attracts thousands of visitors and people from remote communities, dressed in colorful, traditional attire.
In the afternoon, visit to the Ollantaytambo Ruins, named in honor of the chief Ollanta, who was famous for courting an Inca Princess daughter of Pachacutec. One of its best-preserved areas, known as Hanan Hucaypata lies north of the main square and contains 15 states built with elegantly crafted stone walks.
After, we will stop at Awanacancha, a place where we will be able to see and feed Andean camelids such as llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos and where the locals will show us their traditional weaving and dyeing techniques. You will learn about the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have a chance to see native weavers from different areas showing their different weaving styles and dress with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts.
At the end of the tour, we will finally arrive to Chinchero. In this very well know textile village was located the hacienda of the Royal Inca, Tupac Inca Yupanqui, as well as a Colonial church built over the original Inca constructions, which had trapezoidal windows.
Extra informatie:
The Sacred Valley of the Incas was undoubtedly a key area of settlement to the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make a rare and fruitful combination for the high Andes. It was also the route to the jungle and therefore an area with access to the fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands. Today the Sacred Valley remains a lush agricultural region supplying the city of Cusco with much of its produce such as maize, fruit and vegetables.
Overnachting:
Accommodation: You will spend the night at Hotel Tikawasi Valley, in a Standard Room.
Only 50 meters from Ollantaymbo’s main square, Tikawasi has comfortable rooms with garden views, free Wi-Fi, some of them feature original Inca walls. Trains to Machu Picchu leave 70 meters from the hotel.
Tikawasi Valley has rooms equipped with a private bathrooms with showers and 24-hour hot water. Ollantaymbo’s archaeological site is 100 meters from hotel, and the tour desk can offer tips for getting around the area. Bike rental can also be arranged. Heaters are available upon request. A daily breakfast with fruits, ham and cheese and bread is served. Category: Economy class
Opmerking: Included: transport (private), English-speaking guide, room with breakfast
Not included: lunch, dinner, tips
This day will visit an impressive construction, Machu Picchu, one of the seven modern wonders of the world. You will be overwhelmed when you see all the buildings in the top of this mountain.
Begin your journey enjoying our comfortable seats with foldable tables in front, panoramic windows and our excellent on-board service that will maximize your experience. Delight in the incredible landscape along the route to Machu Picchu and try our selection of complementary natural drinks, prepared using Andean essences representative of the region.
VOYAGER TRAIN (OLLANTAYTAMBO – MACHU PICCHU)
Train schedule: 06.40hrs-08.01hrs.
*Train schedule is subject to availability.
*Luggage allowed: A day backpack with 8 kilos per person. Rest of luggage, must be left at your hotel.
On your arrival in Aguas Calientes (your guide will meet you here), walk to the bus station to take your bus up to Machu Picchu. Shared transfer from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu and from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes.
Extra informatie:
Machu Picchu was only re-discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham, this citadel is considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of landscapes architecture in the world. Located in an enclave on the saddle of a mountain overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River, in an area of lush tropical forest, it served as a place of worship, a site for star-gazing and a private hacienda of the family of the Inca Pachacutec. It consists of two main areas one agricultural, formed mainly by mountains and food stores, and the other urban, which is noted for its sacred zone with its temples, squares and royal tombs. The stairways and canals carved out of stone are recurrent throughout this remarkable archaeological site.
Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Hotel El Mapi, in a Superior Deluxe Room.
The hotel is conveniently located in the village of Machu Picchu (AguasCalientes), some steps from the town center and museum. With simple functional concept in mind, their rooms have eco-friendly amenities, creating a healthier, restorative environment for the guests. El MaPi’s facilities are fresh and functional, but inviting and warm too. In the restaurant they present organic and local ingredients that cater to your health and lifestyle, from refreshing smoothies to freshly made waffles in the morning. You’ll enjoy a buffet for lunch and dinner a la Carte. Category: Tourist class
Opmerking: Included: snack, train ticket, English-speaking guide, bus ticket, entrance fees, dinner, room with breakfast
Not included: tips, lunch
Today you can enjoy a full free day in Aguas Calientes. Go and explore!
In the afternoon, take the Voyager Train down from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo.
VOYAGER TRAIN (MACHU PICCHU – OLLANTAYTAMBO)
*Train time: 19.00hrs.-20.41hrs.
Private transport from Ollantaytambo station to Cusco city.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Tierra Viva Cusco Centro, in a Standard Room.
Opmerking: Included: entrance fees, bus ticket, snack, train ticket, transport (private), room with breakfast
Not included: guide, lunch, tips
This day is a good day to explore Cusco by yourself!
We recommend you to visit San Pedro Market for example.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Tierra Viva Cusco Centro, in a Standard Room.
Opmerking: Included: entrance fees, English-speaking guide, lunch, Bottle of water, room with breakfast
Not included: tips, dinner
Today, you will travel to the Peruvian jungle. Be very carefully where you put your foot!
This is a great day for you! You will immerse in a nature paradise, the Peruvian jungle!
REFUGIO AMAZONAS 4 DAY 3 NIGHT SOFT ADVENTURE PROGRAM
Our guides are tourism professionals, or community members. Unless noted otherwise, our guides speak English. We assign guides at 10:1 ratio in Refugio Amazonas. This means groups smaller than 10 people will be merged with other groups under one guide. If you would like a private guide or a guide in a language other than English please let us know.
Upon arrival, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.
Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business.
The two and a half hour boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Refugio Amazonas will take us past the Community of Infierno and the Tambopata National Reserve´s checkpoint and into the buffer zone of this 1.3 million hectare conservation unit.
Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.
Caiman Search
We will be out at the river’s edge at night, scanning the shores with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection from caiman eyes.
Extra informatie:
Peru’s Amazon rainforest covers two-thirds of the national territory, and encircles the large city of Iquitos, which can only be reached by airplane or boat. Tourists usually pass through frontier towns such as Puerto Maldonado, which leads to high-biodiversity jungle bordering Bolivia, but Peru’s northern rainforest is also very popular. Whether in low or high water season (beginning June and December respectively) hiking and kayaking are both on the menu, with little difference in rainfall. Anteaters, monkeys, jaguars, anacondas and indigenous tribes are just some of the sights on offer with experienced local guidance. The less adventurous can enjoy superb birdwatching, butterflies and plant life from the comfort of luxury lodges, without travelling deep into the jungle.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Refugio Amazonas Lodge in a standard room
Refugio Amazonas is a 32-bedroom lodge four hours from the Puerto Maldonado airport. It is ideal for science enthusiasts, soft adventurers and families. Refugio Amazonas is located in a 200-hectare private reserve within the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve.
Opmerking: Included: departure transfer, dinner, English-speaking guide, lunch, room with breakfast
Not included: tips, domestic flight
On this second day in the jungle, the most impressive part will be the “Night walk”
Oxbow Lake Visit: We will paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and horned screamers, hoping to see the otters which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws.
Canopy Climbing: Replicating the daily work of macaw researchers, we will climb a 30 meter tree with a rope, harness and jumar. From this vantage point we will have a macaw’s eye view of the forest.
This demanding exercise is perfectly safe and requires no previous experience. Brazil Nut Trail and Camp: A few minutes hike from the lodge is a beautiful old growth patch of Brazil Nut forest that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries) where the precarious remains of a camp used two months a year by Brazil Nut gatherers can still be experienced. We will be demonstrating the whole process of the rain forest’s only sustainably harvested product from collection through transportation to drying.
Canopy Tower: A thirty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A banister staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. The tower has been built upon high ground, therefore increasing your horizon of the continuous primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve. From here views of mixed species canopy flocks as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.
Night walk: You will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but difficult to see. Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Refugio Amazonas Lodge in a standard room
Opmerking: Included: breakfast, dinner, English-speaking guide, lunch, room with breakfast
Not included: tips
This is the end of the program, you will visit another important island located in Titicaca Lake where you will have a farewell lunch, hope you enjoy it!
Parrot Clay Lick: A fifteen minute boat ride and sixty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas is a clay lick used both by parrots and parakeets. From a blind you will see parrots and parakeets descend on most clear days to ingest the clay on a bank. Species such as Dusky headed and Cobalt winged Parakeet descend at this clay lick. With luck we will also see some or all of the following species in the early morning rush: Mealy and Yellowcrowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, Severe macaw and Orange-cheeled (Barraband`s) Parrot. We visit the lick at dawn, when parrots are most active or in midmorning or early afternoon, when they are active.
Mammal Clay Lick: Twenty minutes walking from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in the late morning. Chances of spotting them are around 15%, but well worth the short hike. Other wildlife also shows up including deer, guan and parakeets.
Sea Kayaking the river in lodge surroundings: We will paddle up a portion of the Tambopata River that presents no difficulty. At the shores we will observe fragmented parts of the forest accompanied by nature sounds and some wildlife we may observe, like birds, caimans and turtles. To finish our experience, we´ll stop on a sandy beach and take a well-deserved bath. No experience required, only swimming knowledge.
Tambopata National Reserve Lectures: Nightly lectures prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
Overnachting:
You will spend the night at Refugio Amazonas Lodge in a standard room
Opmerking: Included: breakfast, dinner, English-speaking guide, lunch, room with breakfast
Not included: tips
Transfer Puerto Maldonado Headquarters to Airport: We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.
We hope you enjoyed our beautiful country and we hope to see you again!
Opmerking: Included: departure transfer
Not included: domestic flight (and international flight)
