Luxurious Cusco & the Jungle
Lima-Cusco-Puerto Maldonado (12 days / 11 nights)
Day 1: Lima
Reception at Lima’s International Airport by our representative and transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Lima – City
In the morning, guided sightseeing tour to the most attractive and important sites in Lima. The tour starts with a panoramic visit to the Huaca Pucllana, archaeological precinct built in the 4th century A.D. It was a ceremonial and administrative centre which was considered by the Incas as a sacred site. The tour continues passing through the Historical Centre, with its colonial mansions and its Moorish style balconies, San Martin Square and the Main Square with their different buildings: Government Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, Cathedral Basilica and the Town hall.
Then we visit San Francisco Convent, which displays the largest collection of religious colonial art in America, and where we can appreciate the great Patio decorated with Seville tiles from the XVI century, Moorish arches and underground catacombs.
We continue with a visit to the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History (*) the oldest State Museum in the country which houses a vast and varied cultural heritage, ceramics, textiles of various pre-Columbian cultures make us revive and challenge the experiences of the ancestors of the Peruvian culture.
The tour finishes in Larcomar, an entertainment center and a privileged spot to have a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. Afternoon at leisure.
At night, you will have a car at your disposal to take you to dinner at one of the restaurants in Lima, also known as the gastronomic capital of South America, thanks to its culinary excellence, inherited from the pre-Hispanic and Colonial, as well as the contribution of the best cuisines of the East and the West. We can suggest some options or you can choose any restaurant of your preference.
(*) Except Monday visiting the Larco Archaeological Museum
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley of the Incas
Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located at a lower altitude than Cusco (2,800 m / 9186 ft above sea level) making it easier acclimatization to the altitude. Here we can appreciate the production of the best Peruvian corn, because of the richness of the land. We visit the town of Pisac, where we can enjoy the large variety of handicrafts (textiles and pottery) at the Indian Market held at the Main Square.
We lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari, owned by the Lambarry-Orihuela family. It is located at the top of a hill from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the valley and the famous giant corn fields. It also has a remarkable collection of Inca’s time and Colony art which can be seen in its rooms.
We continue through the towns of Ccoya, Lamay, Calca and Urubamba. We visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, a large agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military complex in the times of Tahuantinsuyo.
We then pass by Pablo Seminario’s pottery workshop, craftsman who has dedicated to discover techniques and designs of the ancient Peruvian cultures, seeking to introduce a new expression of art, providing continuity to this cultural heritage. He and his wife carve the reddish clay of the valley. His home-workshop has become a learning center for the many workers, mostly local people that form his workshop. Finally, transfer to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas – Willoq and Patacancha
We depart towards Willoq, one of the Andean communities near Ollantaytambo. Here we can appreciate a world very similar to how a local culture lived five hundred years ago and at the same time, shows us a dynamic modernity. Aware of the value of their traditions the local country people receive us with joy and cordiality, and willing to share them with us, especially the textile process where they produce pieces of excellent quality.
We continue towards Patacancha half an hour of Willoq, also a community of weavers where beautiful llicllas, scarves, ponchos, bags and blankets are hand-woven with such refinement that the natural fiber (of sheep or alpaca) can give the texture of silk.
After this enriching experience we return to the hotel for lunch (on your own) and enjoy the beautiful gardens surrounding the bungalows of the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
Early in the morning, transfer to the train station for the trip on the luxurious Hiram Bingham train (*) to Machu Picchu Pueblo. The train journey passes by the Andes, parallel to the Urubamba River with the magnificent view of the High Jungle, while we enjoy our brunch. From there we will ascend to the archaeological complex of the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, Machu Picchu, located on a high mountain covered by exuberant Amazon vegetation, with its rich fauna and flora. In the Historic Machu Picchu Sanctuary we can appreciate the mix of the impressive precision of its stone structures, which reveal the deep knowledge and the technological advance of the Inca Culture, with the mystical aspect of one of the most important archaeological sites of the world. Transfer to the hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
(*) Operates daily except Sunday
Meals: Breakfast, brunch and dinner
Day 6: Machu Picchu – Cusco
Day at leisure. Today we can visit again Machu Picchu Citadel, visit the hotel’s orchid garden, cloud-forest bird watching, visit Mandor Falls, walk to Putukusi Mountain, climb the Huayna Picchu (previous reservation) or more relaxing activities. At lunchtime, you will have the opportunity to appreciate the culinary proposal of one of the best restaurants in the area (**).
At the end of the afternoon we return to Cusco, enjoying an exquisite dinner aboard the luxurious and exclusive Hiram Bingham Train (*). Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
(*) Operates daily except Sunday
(**) If you prefer, you can stay at the hotel for lunch or, you can attend teatime at the Sanctuary Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Cusco – City tour and nearby ruins
In the morning guided tour of the city. The tour includes the Cathedral with its valuable paintings of the Colonial Cusco School, the Main Square, the famous Temple of the Sun or Koricancha, an ancient Inca temple over which the Santo Domingo Convent was built, and the ruins of the impressive fortresses and monuments of Sacsayhuaman, Qenko, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay.
We will also visit the neighborhood of San Blas, where we find the workshops and stores of the most renowned Cusco artisans, as Hilario Mendivil and Edilberto Merida, Santiago Rojas and Maximiliana Palomino, among others.
In the afternoon, you can visit any of Cusco museums, such as the MAP (Pre-Columbian Art Museum), Popular Art Museum, Religious Art Museum, Archaeological Museum, walk the streets of Cusco or visit some handicraft centers.
At night, we suggest you take the opportunity to walk around the city. The night life in Cusco, offers a wide variety of excellent restaurants and cocktail lounges, which can satisfy the most demanding guests.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Cusco – Puerto Maldonado – Jungle
Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, check-in at the Butterfly House near the airport, and transfer to the pier. We navigate for 45 mins along the Madre de Dios River, arriving at the lodge. After a brief presentation, enjoy a pleasant lunch with ingredients from the region. After a short nap you can choose the activities you will take during your stay. Herewith is a detail of a suggested itinerary.
In the afternoon walk along the Trails System and discover the incredible realm of the Amazon rainforest. This excursion offers an excellent introduction to the environment of the jungle, as you walk past exotic rainforest trees, such as the lupuna tree and the beautiful ficus, offering excellent opportunities for the observation of birds and exotic insects.
Then, enjoy the twilight river excursion, navigating through the Madre de Dios River. Witness the enchanting transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment, as animals and birds of the daytime are replaced by species especially adapted to the night. While enjoying nature around, search for nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans.
After dinner, we can choose to go to our suite early, or share our experiences of life in the jungle with other guests and performers, while listening to the sounds of the Amazon during the night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Jungle
A 30-minute boat ride takes us to Lake Sandoval in Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, macaws, prehistoric hoatzins, anacondas, point-tailed palm creepers and side-neck turtles. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Then we visit the Canopy Walkway. We ascend the first tower (29 m / 95 ft above the forest floor) and literally walk through the Rainforest for more than one quarter of a mile in a network of bridges that link eight observation platforms. During this 2-hour tour, look-out for colorful toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, sloths, among other species. Watch the sunset from one of the towers, and then when we return to the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Jungle
We take a long walk following the Gamitana Creek. We explore the jungle for an hour and a half along a narrow trail towards Sanipanga followed by a 1-hour canoe ride down stream watching the abundant flora and fauna of the tropical forest to the Gamitana Model Farm. Return by boat for lunch.
In the afternoon, we take an excursion to Hacienda Concepcion, home of remarkable Botanical Garden with over 200 different species of rainforest plants. An in-depth explanation familiarizes you with the processing, uses and benefits of these traditional indigenous plants, including fascinating native medicinal uses. This is followed by a 30-minute canoe trip on a small lake and watch for wildlife – turtles, giant river otters, sun grebes, and others.
We can walk through the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve at night for an aprox 2-hour excursion. Venture into the forest and experience the mystery of the animal activity that awakens in the rainforest after dark. Listen to nocturnal forest sounds and spot species that only emerge at night.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Jungle – Puerto Maldonado – Lima
We navigate for 45 mins along the Madre de Dios River towards Puerto Maldonado. We make a short visit to Inkaterra Butterfly House, which holds various records in butterflies’ species numbers (there are 3,800 species in Peru). Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Lima, and upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will have a driver and a vehicle at your disposal to visit a museum, such as Larco (pre-Columbian archaeology), Pedro de Osma (Colonial art), Lima Art Museum (MALI), among others; go shopping (we suggest a fine alpaca shop) or wherever you prefer.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Lima –International departure
At agreed time transfer to the airport for your international flight.
Meals: Breakfast
