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Tour Peru: Peru Eco Adventure
09
days/08 nights |
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Day 01 - Lima
Upon arrival, you will be met at Lima’s international
airport and transferred to your hotel. Overnight at selected
hotel.
Day 02 – Lima/Puerto Maldonado
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Arrival
and Transfer from the airport to the river port on the Madre de
Dios River. A 30 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River by
motor canoe brings you to the riverside trailhead to Sandoval Lake
Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-miles (3,2-kilometers)
walk through secondary forest, until we reach a small canal where
we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards (201 meters) through a
flooded forest of 100-foot (30-meters) tall Mauritia palms. As the
canal opens onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer
to a catamaran and are leisurely paddled across half the lake to
the lodge.
After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat,
we will learn about the history of the lodge and the philosophy
of its founders. Then we once again board the catamaran and set
off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded
palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws
as they return to the palm forest for the night. This macaw species
is found locally in parts of the Amazon, always living in flooded
palm forests such as the beautiful palm stand at Sandoval Lake.
At 500-800 birds, this flock of macaws at Sandoval Lake is currently
the largest reported in the world for this highly-specialized macaw.
As night falls we will look for the large and extremely
rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we will also
be able to float in the middle of the lake to marvel at the brilliance
of the sky and listen to the sounds of the forest.
We return to the lodge for a short video or slide
presentation and dinner. At any point, you could step out from the
bar to admire the wide variety of nocturnal moths, beetles and praying
mantis attracted to our black light in the lodge clearing.
For those with lots of energy, our guide will take us on a short
night-walk into the forest behind the lodge. (L,D).
Day 03 – Puerto Maldonado
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise
and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters who frequent
the lake and are most active at this time of day. Sandoval Lake
offers abundant wildlife including over 40 species of birds resident
to its lake margins, most of the fish-eating water birds around
the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing
should provide excellent views, of the prehistoric- looking Hoatzins,
These are easy to observe and also photograph from the paddled canoes
or catamarans.
After returning for a late breakfast we set off
into the cool under story of the tall virgin forest near the lake
to see some towering wild Brazil Nut trees and a demonstration of
how our hosts collect, open and commercialize this important natural
product.
After lunch and an hour or so to relax we once
again board the catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake,
where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys who
live in the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey
and Squirrel Monkey.
Before dinner we will again enjoy an informative natural history
video or slide presentation.
We will leave after dinner to try and spot some Black Caimans on
the lake, or to go on a short night walk through the primary forest.
(B,L,D)
Day 04 Puerto Maldonado/Cusco
After early breakfast we leave near dawn and we take a final, shorter
paddle around the west end of the lake to try and glimpse the Giant
Otters before returning by motor canoe for the 35 minutes return
trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport, taking advantage of valuable
early morning wildlife activity along the river. From here you fly
to Cusco Arrival at Cusco airport, reception and transfer to selected
hotel.
After lunch on your own, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the
nearby Inca ruins including Kenko, the ceremonial bath of Tambomachay
and the amazing Sacsayhuaman, a huge fortress of massive stones.
We will also take a tour of the city including the Koricancha, temple
of the Sun, a nice example of the Inca architecture, The 12-angled
stone, the Main Plaza, the Cathedral and much more. Return to your
hotel later in the day. Return to your hotel later in the day. (B)
Day 05 –Cusco/Valle Sagrado de los Incas
Full day tour, including visits to the colorful Pisac Indian Market
and the Ollantaytambo Fortress. At an elevation of 8,500 feet, the
Urubamba Valley, or Sacred Valley of the Incas, is the historic
heart of the Inca Empire. It was intensively cultivated with terraces
increasing its harvest several fold. Small villages lined the valley
floor, while the stone fortresses of Ollantaytambo and Pisac served
the dual purpose of providing protection and serving as religious
centers. Without the benefit of the wheel, the Incas built massive
stone cities and ruled an empire stretching 3,300 miles over some
of the harshest terrain on earth. Without the use of mortar, the
Inca constructed their cities, suspension bridges, and aqueduct
systems, with an engineering expertise that has survived five hundred
years of natural disasters, conquest, and modern development. PLEASE
NOTE THE MARKET ONLY TAKES PLACES ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06 – Valle Sagrado de los Incas/Km.104 /Wiñay
Wayna/Machu Picchu
We take the train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo, following the Urubamba
river to Km.104 of the railroad, where we alight and cross a footbridge
to begin our hike at the Inca site of Chachabamba. After a brief
visit to this lovely ruin with its water channels and fountains,
we start the four-hour ascent that will take us past spectacular
overlooks above the great valley, then below a lovely waterfall
near the delightful site of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young).
We ascend through this largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail
sites, passing its chain of ritual baths and elegantly curved terracing,
and then joining the main Inca trail. We follow it across a steep
mountainside and up narrow stairways through lush, humid cloud-forest
of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the
stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable
sweep of natural beauty and human artistry –a backdrop of
twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu
Picchu.
We walk the last half-hour or so down the royal flagstone walkway,
past outlying shrines and buildings and through the heart of Machu
Picchu, taking a bus to the small town of Aguas Calientes where
we overnight in a local hotel.
Day 07 – Machu Picchu/Cusco
We enjoy an early morning visit to the fabled ruins, spending the
day in both guided and individual exploration. After we visit the
most fascinating features of this astounding and mysterious Inca
settlement, some will want to take the optional hike to the summit
of Wayna Picchu for an amazing overview of the site, while others
may prefer to investigate Machu Picchu’s multitude of hidden
nooks and corner
After a full-on experience of this glorious monument to the Inca
achievement, we return to Aguas Calientes and board the return train
to Cusco.
Day 08 Cusco/Lima
Transfer to the airport for return flight to Lima, Arrival at Lima
airport, reception and transfer to selected hotel.
Afternoon city tour of Lima visiting the colonial and modern areas
of Miraflores and San Isidro. Overnight at selected hotel (B)
Day 09 - Lima / USA
Morning transfer to the airport for your international flight to
USA.
Departures : Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Prices per person in USD
Based in a minimum of 2 passengers travelling together Small and
large groups rates available
What's Included
- Airport
transfers
- Guided
Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Ground
transportation (bus and train)
- Two
lunches (one at Machu Picchu and one at Sacred Valley)
- One
box lunch on the way to Machu Picchu
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Entrance fees
- Accommodation
at selected hotels with breakfast.
- Accommodation
at Sandoval lake Lodge with full board
- River
transportation according the itinerary
What’s Not
Domestic flights, meals not noted in itinerary, optional tipping
to guides and local staff; airport taxes; and items of a personal
nature (sodas, alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.)
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United States or
 Canada TOLL FREE
1-888-870-7378
MON - FRI : 06:30 to 24:00
SAT : 08:00 to 16:30
SUN : 11:30 to 15:30
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More about Machu Picchu
Perched high above a sinuous bend in the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu
has lured explorers, poets and pilgrims to its mist-wreathed ridge
top ever since its discovery by the American explorer Hiram Bingham
in July, 1911.
No one lived here before the Incas. Those mighty
empire builders from Cusco discovered this extraordinary place,
finding it rich in natural features sacred to their religion. Both
inspired and humbled by its dramatic natural beauty, their answer
was to create on a vast scale one of the planet's most sensitive
and harmonious works of art. The aesthetic genius of its layout
and architecture coupled with the durability of its brilliant planning
and engineering have given us today this finest of jewels among
the UNESCO world heritage sites.
Scholars still argue about the meaning of Machu
Picchu: why it was built and what purpose it served, who lived there
and when they departed. Most agree that its main intent was spiritual
and ceremonial.
Suggested reading list
All available through
and/or
Lost City of the Incas, The Story of Machu Picchu and
its Builders
Hiram Bingham
EXPLORATION • 2001 • PAPER • 263 PAGES •
BEST SELLER
A first-rate tale of adventure by the man who rediscovered Machu
Picchu in 1911. This classic account is a gripping story of exploration,
archaeology and natural history -- and still an outstanding overview
of the site itself. With original expedition photographs. Originally
published in 1952, the book is still an excellent account, not
only of the expedition but also of the site itself.
The Incas, People of the Sun
Carmen Bernard
EXPLORATION • 1994 • PAPER • 192 PAGES •
BEST SELLER •
A pocket-size encyclopedia in the acclaimed "Discoveries"
series, this jewel of a book features hundreds of archival drawings
and photographs, a chronology and long excerpts from the journals
of early explorers. It's a guide to the ancient monuments, daily
life of the Incas, and history of exploration.
Conquest of the Incas
John Hemming
HISTORY • 1970 • PAPER • 641 PAGES
A masterful, prize-winning history of the Inca struggle against
the Spanish invasion. This classic account, by one of the best
writers on South America, brings together wide-ranging scholarly
material in the interests of telling a good story. With a chronology,
family tree, bibliography, notes and references.
The Incas and their Ancestors, The Archaeology of Peru
Michael Moseley
ARCHAEOLOGY • 2001 • PAPER • 288 PAGES
An outstanding survey of the archaeology of the Inca, Moche and
Nasca civilizations. With hundreds of color illustrations and
line drawings, it's an in-depth look at the ancient cultures and
history of Peru, the best general introduction to the subject.
Hidden Amazon
Richard Lutz
TRAVEL NARRATIVE • 1999 • PAPER • 155 PAGES
An enthusiastic account of land and river journeys on the Amazon
with International Expeditions, this book is a compact introduction
to the Peruvian Amazon -- and an excellent overview of what to
expect on your adventure.
Insight Guide Amazon Wildlife
Huw Hennessy • Hans-Ulrich Bernard
GUIDEBOOK • 2003 • PAPER • 368 PAGES
An illustrated guide to the region, its wildlife and conservation
by an international team of biologists and photographers. It covers
biogeography, habitats, animal groups and conservation problems
in a series of short essays. Several chapters are devoted to the
people of the region and to a country-by-country survey of the
river's features. It also includes some practical travel information
and a short checklist of mammals and birds
A Neotropical Companion
J.C. Kricher • Mark Plotkin
NATURAL HISTORY • 1999 • PAPER • 536 PAGES
A tropical primer aimed at the motivated general reader. It's
a systematic overview of the ecology, habitats, animals, plants
and ecosystems of Central and South America. For those not put
off by Latin names and concepts like Batesian mimicry, this handbook
is a great introduction to the region.
Airport taxes
- Domestic
Flights USD 6.82
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International Flight USD 31.00
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Charter flight USD
18.00
Prices are per person and will be paid at the different airports.
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Itineraries, concepts, maps and most of photos by