A Journey to Peru
$4168/person March 27 - April 1: Optional pre-tour to Quito and March 29 - April 1 cruise in the Galapagos
$4703/person April 2 - 11: A Journey to Peru
Lima, The Amazon Rainforest, The Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Pichu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca.
$1530/person April 12. Optional post-tour option to the Nazca Lines
Includes transfer from and back to Lima, flight-seeing excursion, overnight in Paracas with included dinner
$ 1020/person Optional 4 day Inca Trail hike,
Includes transfers, guides, all meals, tent and sleeping bag. Does not include your pre and post hike hotels.
This small group tour will run with a minimum of 8 people, so let's get something started! Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price.
Please join Tour Director, Sandy Gregory, for this wonderful adventure, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience inspired by this itinerary with our Concierge Travel Services.
We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion.
$4168/person March 27 - April 1: Optional pre-tour to Quito and March 29 - April 1 cruise in the Galapagos
$4703/person April 2 - 11: A Journey to Peru
Lima, The Amazon Rainforest, The Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Pichu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca.
$1530/person April 12. Optional post-tour option to the Nazca Lines
Includes transfer from and back to Lima, flight-seeing excursion, overnight in Paracas with included dinner
$ 1020/person Optional 4 day Inca Trail hike,
Includes transfers, guides, all meals, tent and sleeping bag. Does not include your pre and post hike hotels.
This small group tour will run with a minimum of 8 people, so let's get something started! Per person. Double occupancy. Please inquire about a single-supplement room price.
Please join Tour Director, Sandy Gregory, for this wonderful adventure, or contact us to help you create your own independent travel experience inspired by this itinerary with our Concierge Travel Services.
We know that the decision to spend your valuable time and money traveling is a costly investment. Call on us to create the perfect guided or independent travel custom itinerary. We work closely with groups who want a personalized, private experience. Che Bella Tours is Creative Travel, and the partner you want when planning a remarkable family vacation, destination wedding, trip of a lifetime or other special occasion.
Pre-Tour: Quito and Cruise to the Galapagos Islands
Perched sky-high in the Andes at the foot of the snow-capped Pichincha volcano, Quito is breathtaking. Ecuador’s capital was named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s dramatic setting is squeezed between mountain peaks and straddles two hemispheres. But its best-kept secrets are hidden in the narrow cobblestone streets, candlelit monasteries, and leafy plazas that reveal themselves when the mist clears.
Day 1: March 27. Arrive Quito
Transfer to your hotel. Included dinner
Day 2: March 28. Quito
Morning Tour of Quito & Middle of the World Monument. The rest of the day and evening is yours to explore this colorful city.
Day 3. Sun. March 29. Flight Quito to Baltra Airport to Santa Cruz Island.
To the Galapagos Islands -
Our yacht is constructed of teakwood and modern decorations built for 20 passengers, with an observation deck for viewing the surrounding Galapagos, fully stocked bars, picturesque windows, comfortable lounges, dining rooms and meeting areas with TV and VCR. Two Naturalist Guides are provided for excursions that have a wealth of knowledge to share with you about the islands.
Each cabin has a private bathroom, safe deposit box, A/C, LCTTV, and phone service. Included: all meals, welcome & farewell cocktails, water, 24-hour coffee station. Two daily visits to different islands with multilingual naturalist guide. Snorkeling and kayaking opportunities. Activities on board, briefings, lectures. Wet suits, kayaks and scuba diving are available upon request.
Day 4: Mon. March 30. Santa Cruz Island. Here, is where the Charles Darwin Research Center is located, and large colonies of giant tortoises can be seen in the wild. Enjoy beautiful beaches, and snorkeling amidst the penguins, turtles, lava lizards and white-tipped reef sharks.
Day 5. Tues. March 31. Rabida Island. A small but beautiful island, it’s shores are a stunning contrast between the red, sandy beaches and the vivid green of its mangroves. It is home to sea lions, blue-footed boobies and pelicans.
Santiago Isand is famed for its seaward caves which shelter the endemic Galapagos fur-seals and lava lizards. Its dramatic coastline and lava flows have been shaped by the sea to create an unusual black beach.
Day 6: Wed. April 1. We’re back in Santa Cruz to enjoy some time at Black turtle Cove and Dragon Hill before we transfer to Baltra Airport and on to Lima, departing at 18:29 arriving in Lima at 20:49. (Flight included).
We'll overnight in Lima and meet the rest of the group as they arrive the next day.
Perched sky-high in the Andes at the foot of the snow-capped Pichincha volcano, Quito is breathtaking. Ecuador’s capital was named the very first UNESCO World Heritage site. The city’s dramatic setting is squeezed between mountain peaks and straddles two hemispheres. But its best-kept secrets are hidden in the narrow cobblestone streets, candlelit monasteries, and leafy plazas that reveal themselves when the mist clears.
Day 1: March 27. Arrive Quito
Transfer to your hotel. Included dinner
Day 2: March 28. Quito
Morning Tour of Quito & Middle of the World Monument. The rest of the day and evening is yours to explore this colorful city.
Day 3. Sun. March 29. Flight Quito to Baltra Airport to Santa Cruz Island.
To the Galapagos Islands -
Our yacht is constructed of teakwood and modern decorations built for 20 passengers, with an observation deck for viewing the surrounding Galapagos, fully stocked bars, picturesque windows, comfortable lounges, dining rooms and meeting areas with TV and VCR. Two Naturalist Guides are provided for excursions that have a wealth of knowledge to share with you about the islands.
Each cabin has a private bathroom, safe deposit box, A/C, LCTTV, and phone service. Included: all meals, welcome & farewell cocktails, water, 24-hour coffee station. Two daily visits to different islands with multilingual naturalist guide. Snorkeling and kayaking opportunities. Activities on board, briefings, lectures. Wet suits, kayaks and scuba diving are available upon request.
Day 4: Mon. March 30. Santa Cruz Island. Here, is where the Charles Darwin Research Center is located, and large colonies of giant tortoises can be seen in the wild. Enjoy beautiful beaches, and snorkeling amidst the penguins, turtles, lava lizards and white-tipped reef sharks.
Day 5. Tues. March 31. Rabida Island. A small but beautiful island, it’s shores are a stunning contrast between the red, sandy beaches and the vivid green of its mangroves. It is home to sea lions, blue-footed boobies and pelicans.
Santiago Isand is famed for its seaward caves which shelter the endemic Galapagos fur-seals and lava lizards. Its dramatic coastline and lava flows have been shaped by the sea to create an unusual black beach.
Day 6: Wed. April 1. We’re back in Santa Cruz to enjoy some time at Black turtle Cove and Dragon Hill before we transfer to Baltra Airport and on to Lima, departing at 18:29 arriving in Lima at 20:49. (Flight included).
We'll overnight in Lima and meet the rest of the group as they arrive the next day.
PERU
Day 1. April 2. Arrive in Lima.
Included transfers to the hotel
Peru is South America’s third-largest country. The country is divided into three contrasting topographical regions: the coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon rain forest.
Lima Hotel, 1 night.
Included Tour of Lima. With our local guide, we will visit the downtown area and walk through Lima’s Main Plazas, Huaca Huallamarca, an archaeological site from Pre-hispanic times and finish at our hotel in the Miraflores District, where you can enjoy the Larcomar retail and restaurant complex and enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean.
8:00. Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Day 1. April 2. Arrive in Lima.
Included transfers to the hotel
Peru is South America’s third-largest country. The country is divided into three contrasting topographical regions: the coast, the Andean highlands, and the Amazon rain forest.
Lima Hotel, 1 night.
Included Tour of Lima. With our local guide, we will visit the downtown area and walk through Lima’s Main Plazas, Huaca Huallamarca, an archaeological site from Pre-hispanic times and finish at our hotel in the Miraflores District, where you can enjoy the Larcomar retail and restaurant complex and enjoy great views of the Pacific Ocean.
8:00. Tonight: Included Welcome Dinner
Day 2: April 3. To the Amazon Rainforest
This morning we fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado and then transferred to our boat on the Tambopata River and arrive at our starting point lodge for the night. The three hour boat trip is pleasant, and often includes our first sightings of macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras. Once the boat reaches the dock of the lodge, you’ll have officially arrived in the wild jungles of Tambopata! The next morning, you take a spectacular four hour boat ride the rest of the way to our jungle lodge — many guests see jaguars and other wildlife along the way.
Our jungle lodge is the only lodge that lies within the National Reserve, making it one of the most remote lodges in South America! The lodge’s pristine location means that it’s surrounded by the best wildlife the Amazon jungle has to offer. The rooms have 2 queen size beds, mosquito nets, mini bar, ceiling fan, hammock, private terrace with bath and outdoor bath and outdoor living room.
Carbon Neutral: Truly responsible tourism is one that leaves the places we visit better than we find them. As a guest of Che Bella Tours, we will be contributing to the communities to help care and restore Amazonian forests.
Following is a list of the activities you can join in the next few days. While you’re resting after a day full of wildlife adventures, you can enjoy the many relaxing amenities offered at the lodge. Take a nap in a comfy hammock or get a jungle-inspired massage for true R&R. Explore their boutique of locally made crafts, and sample rainforest-inspired cocktails and classics like the Pisco Sour in our lodge bar before you included dinners.
Days 3 & 4: April 3&4. Amazon Rainforest
Activities to choose from:
Macaw Clay Lick – Colorado. On most clear mornings dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots and parakeets congregate in a raucous and colorful spectacle on a cliff located near the lodge. With the assistance of powerful telescopes and weather permitting, we will be able to observe them.
Birdwatching: Learn how to become a keen birdwatcher. The bird world at TRC is astoundingly diverse and the ideal place to catch the bird watching fever. During your outing with an expert birding guide, you will learn about the proper use of binoculars and telescopes, the basics about bird watching techniques, how to identify the main families, recognize sounds and their different habitats.
Secrets of the Surroundings Accompanied by your guide, you’ll explore the pristine primary forest that encircles the lodge with exiting encounters with a large diversity of flora and fauna.
The World of Butterflies. The Tambopata region holds the record for more species of butterflies in the world. You will have the opportunity to learn about their behavior and amazing adaptations methods to survive in the rainforest.
Ceiba Walk and encounter with largest tree in the vicinity: the giant ceiba. The native people consider these trees sacred. During the hike we will focus on the natural history of this majestic tree and learn why they are so special.
Amazon Overlook Trail. Hike through a regenerating old bamboo forest to the edge of stunning overlooks.
Monkey Search. A favorite ecosystem for the many monkey species who inhabit Tambopata region. Great opportunity to learn about these curious and lively habitants of this captivating forest.
Island Exploration & Pond. Cruise up the river to a great place to spot waterfowl such as the beautiful Agami heron, Capped heron, the rare curassow, Muscovy duck, Sunbittern and hoatzins along with woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers and parakeets that call this pond their home. You will also have an opportunity to learn about the varieties of fish that live in the Amazon.
Palm Swamp Trail The aguaje palms are one of the most important food sources in the rainforest. Unfortunately, this habitat is also in high demand by humans since the swamps provide ideal conditions for planting rice, making the palm swamps one of the most threatened habitats in the rainforest. Once thing is certain. Swamps are truly picturesque habitats and should be in everyone’s short list of places to visit during your stay at TRC.
Giants of the Amazon Marvel at the rainforest’s towering trees. This five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees crisscrossed by creeks and ponds.
Adventure to de Bowl Ready for a challenge? Join us on a 4-hours walk crossing different habitats. This is an early morning activity and one of the most rewarding in terms of wildlife encounters. Once at the Bowl, you learn about how this patch of forest changes through the seasons.
Bamboo Trail Bamboo is a fast growing plant. Where it grows, bamboo takes over and establishes a total different habitat. Learn more about what species choose this ecosystem as their home. This trail is particularly attractive for bird lovers since this is home to highly specialize species of birds, including some endemics.
Amazon Creek Trail Continue your exploration of the rainforest and it’s endless diversity by hiking in the Terra Firme forest, which is traversed by many creeks that wind their way towards the Tambopata River.
The Rainforest Master Hike This is the perfect outing for the hardcore hiker and nature lover. Crisscrossing through an array of ecosystems and an endless network of trails, this hike will take around 6 hours and maximize your opportunities for wildlife.
Night Walk In deep darkness, surrounded by an array of jungle sounds and with the aid of your guide’s powerful spotlight, you enter a world inhabited by the most unique, diverse and shy night creatures.
Macaw project nest visit TRC is the home of the Macaw Project. You have a rare opportunity to observe first-hand the work done by the researchers as they climb giant trees to monitor natural and artificial nest sites around TRC.
Macaw Project Lectures After dinner, scientists provide an in depth look at the biology of macaws. You will learn about their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation. These lectures also will provide you with an opportunity to find out how to get involved and/or support this amazing project.
This morning we fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado and then transferred to our boat on the Tambopata River and arrive at our starting point lodge for the night. The three hour boat trip is pleasant, and often includes our first sightings of macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras. Once the boat reaches the dock of the lodge, you’ll have officially arrived in the wild jungles of Tambopata! The next morning, you take a spectacular four hour boat ride the rest of the way to our jungle lodge — many guests see jaguars and other wildlife along the way.
Our jungle lodge is the only lodge that lies within the National Reserve, making it one of the most remote lodges in South America! The lodge’s pristine location means that it’s surrounded by the best wildlife the Amazon jungle has to offer. The rooms have 2 queen size beds, mosquito nets, mini bar, ceiling fan, hammock, private terrace with bath and outdoor bath and outdoor living room.
Carbon Neutral: Truly responsible tourism is one that leaves the places we visit better than we find them. As a guest of Che Bella Tours, we will be contributing to the communities to help care and restore Amazonian forests.
Following is a list of the activities you can join in the next few days. While you’re resting after a day full of wildlife adventures, you can enjoy the many relaxing amenities offered at the lodge. Take a nap in a comfy hammock or get a jungle-inspired massage for true R&R. Explore their boutique of locally made crafts, and sample rainforest-inspired cocktails and classics like the Pisco Sour in our lodge bar before you included dinners.
Days 3 & 4: April 3&4. Amazon Rainforest
Activities to choose from:
Macaw Clay Lick – Colorado. On most clear mornings dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots and parakeets congregate in a raucous and colorful spectacle on a cliff located near the lodge. With the assistance of powerful telescopes and weather permitting, we will be able to observe them.
Birdwatching: Learn how to become a keen birdwatcher. The bird world at TRC is astoundingly diverse and the ideal place to catch the bird watching fever. During your outing with an expert birding guide, you will learn about the proper use of binoculars and telescopes, the basics about bird watching techniques, how to identify the main families, recognize sounds and their different habitats.
Secrets of the Surroundings Accompanied by your guide, you’ll explore the pristine primary forest that encircles the lodge with exiting encounters with a large diversity of flora and fauna.
The World of Butterflies. The Tambopata region holds the record for more species of butterflies in the world. You will have the opportunity to learn about their behavior and amazing adaptations methods to survive in the rainforest.
Ceiba Walk and encounter with largest tree in the vicinity: the giant ceiba. The native people consider these trees sacred. During the hike we will focus on the natural history of this majestic tree and learn why they are so special.
Amazon Overlook Trail. Hike through a regenerating old bamboo forest to the edge of stunning overlooks.
Monkey Search. A favorite ecosystem for the many monkey species who inhabit Tambopata region. Great opportunity to learn about these curious and lively habitants of this captivating forest.
Island Exploration & Pond. Cruise up the river to a great place to spot waterfowl such as the beautiful Agami heron, Capped heron, the rare curassow, Muscovy duck, Sunbittern and hoatzins along with woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers and parakeets that call this pond their home. You will also have an opportunity to learn about the varieties of fish that live in the Amazon.
Palm Swamp Trail The aguaje palms are one of the most important food sources in the rainforest. Unfortunately, this habitat is also in high demand by humans since the swamps provide ideal conditions for planting rice, making the palm swamps one of the most threatened habitats in the rainforest. Once thing is certain. Swamps are truly picturesque habitats and should be in everyone’s short list of places to visit during your stay at TRC.
Giants of the Amazon Marvel at the rainforest’s towering trees. This five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees crisscrossed by creeks and ponds.
Adventure to de Bowl Ready for a challenge? Join us on a 4-hours walk crossing different habitats. This is an early morning activity and one of the most rewarding in terms of wildlife encounters. Once at the Bowl, you learn about how this patch of forest changes through the seasons.
Bamboo Trail Bamboo is a fast growing plant. Where it grows, bamboo takes over and establishes a total different habitat. Learn more about what species choose this ecosystem as their home. This trail is particularly attractive for bird lovers since this is home to highly specialize species of birds, including some endemics.
Amazon Creek Trail Continue your exploration of the rainforest and it’s endless diversity by hiking in the Terra Firme forest, which is traversed by many creeks that wind their way towards the Tambopata River.
The Rainforest Master Hike This is the perfect outing for the hardcore hiker and nature lover. Crisscrossing through an array of ecosystems and an endless network of trails, this hike will take around 6 hours and maximize your opportunities for wildlife.
Night Walk In deep darkness, surrounded by an array of jungle sounds and with the aid of your guide’s powerful spotlight, you enter a world inhabited by the most unique, diverse and shy night creatures.
Macaw project nest visit TRC is the home of the Macaw Project. You have a rare opportunity to observe first-hand the work done by the researchers as they climb giant trees to monitor natural and artificial nest sites around TRC.
Macaw Project Lectures After dinner, scientists provide an in depth look at the biology of macaws. You will learn about their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation. These lectures also will provide you with an opportunity to find out how to get involved and/or support this amazing project.
Day 5: April 5. Depart the Amazon Rainforest and travel to Cusco and then Ollantaytambo
Today is another day of travel as we journey out of the jungle and fly to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco with included dinner.
Day 6: April 6. The Sacred Valley
We have a full day today. We’ll make our first stop at the Woman’s Weaving Project (Awanacancha). We’ll see how shorn fleece is washed and dyed naturally, using only plants, minerals and insects to create vivid colors. And of course, we can purchase everything made here at extremely reasonable prices.
We’ll then enjoy included lunch and finish our tour with a visit to Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park. The Ollantaytambo Ruins are a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside; the sight is the best surviving example of Inca city planning.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Dinner on your own at the hotel.
Day 7: April 7. AMachu Picchu.
The Lost City of the Incas! Declared by the Peruvian Government as a Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a sacred religious site for the Inca royalty.
Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem 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. During our guided tour, we will visit the main areas of the Inca Citadel such as the ritual baths, the Palace of the Princess, the main Fountain, the Intihuatana and the Temple of the Sun.
After the tour we will have time for lunch in Aguas Calientes, not included, before we hop the train to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco.Included dinner in Cusco.
Day 8. April 8. A Day in Cusco, the Capitol of the Inca Culture
This morning we’ll explore the former capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cusco is known for its mixture of Inca and Spanish Colonial architecture, churches built on top of ancient granite walls, and narrow cobblestone alleys leading to charming neighborhoods.
You’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore this colorful city.
Today is another day of travel as we journey out of the jungle and fly to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco with included dinner.
Day 6: April 6. The Sacred Valley
We have a full day today. We’ll make our first stop at the Woman’s Weaving Project (Awanacancha). We’ll see how shorn fleece is washed and dyed naturally, using only plants, minerals and insects to create vivid colors. And of course, we can purchase everything made here at extremely reasonable prices.
We’ll then enjoy included lunch and finish our tour with a visit to Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park. The Ollantaytambo Ruins are a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside; the sight is the best surviving example of Inca city planning.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Dinner on your own at the hotel.
Day 7: April 7. AMachu Picchu.
The Lost City of the Incas! Declared by the Peruvian Government as a Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Machu Picchu is believed to have been a sacred religious site for the Inca royalty.
Machu Picchu stands 2,430 m above sea-level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was probably the most amazing urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem 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. During our guided tour, we will visit the main areas of the Inca Citadel such as the ritual baths, the Palace of the Princess, the main Fountain, the Intihuatana and the Temple of the Sun.
After the tour we will have time for lunch in Aguas Calientes, not included, before we hop the train to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco.Included dinner in Cusco.
Day 8. April 8. A Day in Cusco, the Capitol of the Inca Culture
This morning we’ll explore the former capital of the Inca Empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cusco is known for its mixture of Inca and Spanish Colonial architecture, churches built on top of ancient granite walls, and narrow cobblestone alleys leading to charming neighborhoods.
You’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to explore this colorful city.
Day 9. April 9. Cusco to Lake Titicaca
This morning we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Juliaca. When we arrive, our motorcoach will meet us and transfer us to our hotel in Puno. We’ll be staying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, one of the most beautiful areas of Peru.
Enroute, we’ll visit the huge funerary towers in Sillustani, also known as “Chullpas”. We will have the chance to observe Lake Umayo and take fantastic photographs.
Overnight in Puno. 2 nights.
Included Dinner tonight will be at the hotel
Day 10: April 10. A Day at Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca shimmers above South America at 12,507 feet, it’s the highest navigable lake in the world. And since we have been acclimating in Cuzco at 11,200 feet, we will be ready. It is considered the spiritual homeland of the Andean peoples and its 41 starkly beautiful islands are topped with traditional villages and ancient stone ruins that echo with myths and legends.
Boat tour to The Floating Islands. We’ll sail to Uros Floating Island and meet some members of this traditional community. It is believed that the Uros were one of the first ethnic groups populating the Andean region. These people were simple fishermen and bird hunters and preferred to remain isolated from the more advanced civilizations. Their search for isolation may be one reason why they decided to live on floating reed islands. These Villagers maintain the tradition of artisanal fisheries and hunting of wild birds; men are experts building their reed boats like the women are skilled at weaving their typical garments.
We’ll return to the hotel for a rest and lunch break.
This afternoon we are on to our Aramu Muru Tour to visit the Aramu Muru, a site of great mystical importance.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the hotel.
Overnight in Puno.
Day 11. April 11. Transfer and flight back to Lima.
Transfer to the Juliaca airport for flights back to Lima. You can connect directly to your flight back home in Juliaca or fly to Lima and connect there. Please note that the flight from Lima is at 13:00, arriving in Lima around 4:00, so please book your departure flight out of Lima after 7 PM. Or we can arrange an overnight at the airport hotel for flights out the next day.
Those who would like to stay for the post-tour Nazca Lines, will travel directly from the airport this afternoon south along Peru’s southern coastal highway to Paracus. Overnight in Paracus. Dinner included.
This morning we’ll be transferred to the airport for our flight to Juliaca. When we arrive, our motorcoach will meet us and transfer us to our hotel in Puno. We’ll be staying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, one of the most beautiful areas of Peru.
Enroute, we’ll visit the huge funerary towers in Sillustani, also known as “Chullpas”. We will have the chance to observe Lake Umayo and take fantastic photographs.
Overnight in Puno. 2 nights.
Included Dinner tonight will be at the hotel
Day 10: April 10. A Day at Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca shimmers above South America at 12,507 feet, it’s the highest navigable lake in the world. And since we have been acclimating in Cuzco at 11,200 feet, we will be ready. It is considered the spiritual homeland of the Andean peoples and its 41 starkly beautiful islands are topped with traditional villages and ancient stone ruins that echo with myths and legends.
Boat tour to The Floating Islands. We’ll sail to Uros Floating Island and meet some members of this traditional community. It is believed that the Uros were one of the first ethnic groups populating the Andean region. These people were simple fishermen and bird hunters and preferred to remain isolated from the more advanced civilizations. Their search for isolation may be one reason why they decided to live on floating reed islands. These Villagers maintain the tradition of artisanal fisheries and hunting of wild birds; men are experts building their reed boats like the women are skilled at weaving their typical garments.
We’ll return to the hotel for a rest and lunch break.
This afternoon we are on to our Aramu Muru Tour to visit the Aramu Muru, a site of great mystical importance.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the hotel.
Overnight in Puno.
Day 11. April 11. Transfer and flight back to Lima.
Transfer to the Juliaca airport for flights back to Lima. You can connect directly to your flight back home in Juliaca or fly to Lima and connect there. Please note that the flight from Lima is at 13:00, arriving in Lima around 4:00, so please book your departure flight out of Lima after 7 PM. Or we can arrange an overnight at the airport hotel for flights out the next day.
Those who would like to stay for the post-tour Nazca Lines, will travel directly from the airport this afternoon south along Peru’s southern coastal highway to Paracus. Overnight in Paracus. Dinner included.
Optional Post-Tour Excursion to Paracus and the Nazca Lines
Not everyone is comfortable flying in small planes, so I have made this an optional excursion at the end of our tour for those who would like to experience this activity. The Nazca Lines in southern Peru are a group of pre-Columbian geoglyphs etched into desert sands. Covering an area of nearly 1,000 sq. kilometers, there are about 300 different figures, including animals and plants. Composed of over 10,000 lines, some of which measure 30 meters wide and stretch more than 9 kilometers, the figures are most visible from the air or nearby hilltops.
Please note, that if weather prevents us from flight, we will have to cancel this activity and replace it with a local tour. Please kindly note that passengers weighting over 220 lbs. are subject to an additional fee. Please let me know about this before final billing.
Day 12. The Nazca Lines.
We will enjoy a 90 minute flight over the Nazca Lines. Our pilot’s will also be our guides in the air and give commentary during the flight. Have your cameras ready to capture the Nazca geoglyphs: the Whale, Trapezoids, Spaceman, Monkey, Dog, Condor, Spider, Hummingbird, Flamingo, Parrot, Hands, and Tree.
You will then have a lunch stop (not included) before you are transferred back to the Lima aiport hotel for flights out tomorrow.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the airport hotel. The hotel is right across the street from the airport for your flights out tonight or tomorrow.
Not everyone is comfortable flying in small planes, so I have made this an optional excursion at the end of our tour for those who would like to experience this activity. The Nazca Lines in southern Peru are a group of pre-Columbian geoglyphs etched into desert sands. Covering an area of nearly 1,000 sq. kilometers, there are about 300 different figures, including animals and plants. Composed of over 10,000 lines, some of which measure 30 meters wide and stretch more than 9 kilometers, the figures are most visible from the air or nearby hilltops.
Please note, that if weather prevents us from flight, we will have to cancel this activity and replace it with a local tour. Please kindly note that passengers weighting over 220 lbs. are subject to an additional fee. Please let me know about this before final billing.
Day 12. The Nazca Lines.
We will enjoy a 90 minute flight over the Nazca Lines. Our pilot’s will also be our guides in the air and give commentary during the flight. Have your cameras ready to capture the Nazca geoglyphs: the Whale, Trapezoids, Spaceman, Monkey, Dog, Condor, Spider, Hummingbird, Flamingo, Parrot, Hands, and Tree.
You will then have a lunch stop (not included) before you are transferred back to the Lima aiport hotel for flights out tomorrow.
Dinner is on your own tonight at the airport hotel. The hotel is right across the street from the airport for your flights out tonight or tomorrow.
Optional Inca Trail Hike.
4 Days / 3 Nights. If hiking the Inca Trail is on your bucket list, contact us for all the information you need to prepare and secure your spot with the hiking group. Reservations to hike the trail are mandatory.
DAY 1: Cuzco pickup to the trailhead.
Transfer from your hotel to Km 82, arriving at 07:00 am. After a delicious breakfast prepared by your cook, we’ll go through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek. The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site, Patallacta, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it’s another 2 hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite. On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. We’ll arrive to our campsite by 5PM. Your tent and duffle will be ready for you when you arrive. By 7:30 your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well-deserved rest.
Walking distance: 8.7 miles (6-7 hours)
DAY 2: Dead Woman’s Pass - Runcuraccay Pass – Chaquiccocha
This day is the longest one and you will start early. We’ll hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (13829 feet). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site. Here we’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha.
Walking distance: 9.94 miles (7-8 hours)
DAY 3: Chaquiccocha - Wiñaywayna Camp
This day we wake up at 6:30 to begin the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley we get our first views of Machu Picchu Mountain. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3 hour walk down to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular and popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.
During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00 to have lunch, relax and get ready for your final day at Machu Picchu.
Walking distance: 6.2 miles (5 hours)
DAY 4: Sun Gate - Machu Picchu – The Lost City of the Incas
We will wake up at 3:30 to line up at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30AM. We’ll say goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then continue to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory. We reach the Sun Gate by 6:30 and then it is just an hour trek downstairs to reach the Lost City of the Incas. As we approach Machu Picchu the views of the city just get better and better! At about 7:40 we’ll reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hour guided tour.
After the tour you’ll be given your bus tickets to make your way down to Aguas Calientes and you’ll have plenty of free time to explore on your own or climb one of the neighboring mountain – Huaynapicchu. In the afternoon we will take the train back to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco and transfer to the airport the next day.
4 Days / 3 Nights. If hiking the Inca Trail is on your bucket list, contact us for all the information you need to prepare and secure your spot with the hiking group. Reservations to hike the trail are mandatory.
DAY 1: Cuzco pickup to the trailhead.
Transfer from your hotel to Km 82, arriving at 07:00 am. After a delicious breakfast prepared by your cook, we’ll go through the first Inca Trail checkpoint to begin our trek. The first 2 hours of the trek are relatively easy as we make our way to our first Inca site, Patallacta, which is an ancient Inca checkpoint for the approach to Machu Picchu. From Patallacta it’s another 2 hour hike to our lunch stop. After lunch we will hike for another 2½ hours until we reach the first night’s campsite. On this last stretch we pass through 2 small communities. We’ll arrive to our campsite by 5PM. Your tent and duffle will be ready for you when you arrive. By 7:30 your dinner will be ready, and afterwards you can get some well-deserved rest.
Walking distance: 8.7 miles (6-7 hours)
DAY 2: Dead Woman’s Pass - Runcuraccay Pass – Chaquiccocha
This day is the longest one and you will start early. We’ll hike for roughly 4 hours to the highest pass of the trek, Dead Woman’s Pass (13829 feet). It’s another hour and a half down the side of the valley to our lunch spot. After lunch we begin ascending again to the second pass of the trek. It’s 2 hours to the pass and along the way we’ll stop at a small Inca site (Runcu Raccay) and see two huge waterfalls cascading down the opposite side of the valley. After the second pass, it’s another hour downhill hike to reach the magnificent Inca site. Here we’ll stop here for a rest and have a quick tour of the site and then watch the sunset over the Vilcabamba mountain range. It’s then just another 20 minutes until we stop for the night at our second campsite Chaquicocha.
Walking distance: 9.94 miles (7-8 hours)
DAY 3: Chaquiccocha - Wiñaywayna Camp
This day we wake up at 6:30 to begin the most beautiful day of the whole Inca Trail. We hike for 2 hours and begin to enter the jungle, known as the Cloud Forest. As we walk we will have the opportunity to see the majesty of Salkantay, the second highest snow-capped mountain in the Sacred Valley, and a fantastic panoramic view of the Vilcabamba mountain range. Towards the end of the Inca flats we begin to make our way up to the last peak at Phuyupatamarka from where we’ll have great views overlooking the Urubamba River. Down the valley we get our first views of Machu Picchu Mountain. From Phuyupatamarka it´s a 3 hour walk down to our last campsite, close to Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young). Wiñay Wayna is the most spectacular and popular campsite because of its proximity to Machu Picchu.
During the descent we visit 2 Inca ruins, Phuyupatamarka (Town in the Clouds) and Intipata (Terraces of the Sun). We arrive at our campsite around 1:00 to have lunch, relax and get ready for your final day at Machu Picchu.
Walking distance: 6.2 miles (5 hours)
DAY 4: Sun Gate - Machu Picchu – The Lost City of the Incas
We will wake up at 3:30 to line up at the checkpoint to be one of the first to start trekking when they open the gates at 5:30AM. We’ll say goodbye to our team of porters and chef and then continue to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku). From here we have spectacular views of the mountains and Machu Picchu in all its glory. We reach the Sun Gate by 6:30 and then it is just an hour trek downstairs to reach the Lost City of the Incas. As we approach Machu Picchu the views of the city just get better and better! At about 7:40 we’ll reach the final checkpoint and enter Machu Picchu to begin our 2 hour guided tour.
After the tour you’ll be given your bus tickets to make your way down to Aguas Calientes and you’ll have plenty of free time to explore on your own or climb one of the neighboring mountain – Huaynapicchu. In the afternoon we will take the train back to Cusco.
Overnight in Cusco and transfer to the airport the next day.