The Incas & the Amazon
An easy way to combine Inca archaeological sites with the nature of the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon jungle is easily accessible and there is no better way to immerse yourself in one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet than staying at an eco lodge on the edge of Peru's Tambopata Reserve for a few days. The Amazonian region of Peru actually comprises over half of the country's land mass and has the second largest portion of Amazon rainforest outside Brazil. With this itinerary you have the chance to see the best of Peru and much more!
Fly to Lima
Fly to Lima international airport. Met on arrival by your guide and transferred to the bustling district of Miraflores to stay at the small and incredibly welcoming Lot Boutique Hotel for 2 nights on a B&B basis.
Includes a half day city tour on day 2 to visit the UNESCO listed Plaza de Armas, Cathedral and the beautiful Casa Aliaga; a colonial mansion granted by Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains in 1535. The tour also includes a visit to the Larco Museum of Pre-Colombian art and the Parque del Amor, overlooking the Pacific.
Cusco
Met and transferred to the airport for the morning flight to Cusco. Met on arrival and transferred to the bohemian district of San Blas to stay at Quinta San Blas for the night on a B&B basis. Just up the hill from the Plaza de Armas, San Blas has a more relaxed atmosphere with lots of bars, cafés and shops selling textiles and souvenirs.
Includes a half-day tour of Cusco and nearby ruins on day 8. Visit Coricancha; the “Temple of the Sun” and the main Plaza de Armas before heading up into the hills overlooking Cusco to visit the fortress at Sacsayhuaman and the archaeological complexes of Quenqo and Tambomachay.
Sacred Valley
Met at your hotel and transferred through to the Sacred Valley to spend a half-day visiting the Salt Mines of Maras and the enormous Inca terraces at Moray.
After the tour you will return to Urubamba so stay at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba for 2 nights on a B&B basis. Spend the rest of your stay relaxing in the hotel's peaceful gardens, go birdwatching in the nearby mountains or visit the local village to learn how to make the traditional drink of chichi with the hotel's guides.
Machu Picchu
Met at your hotel and transferred to Ollanta train station for the journey to Aguas Calientes; the humid gateway town to Machu Picchu set on the banks of the Urubamba River. Stay at the modern Inkaterra El Mapi in the heart of town for the night on a B&B basis.
Take the bus up to the citadel to explore the site with your guide. One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu never fails to impress. The origins of this site which means “Old Mountain” can be traced back to the Inca empire and the mid 15th Century. As you walk around the different parts of the site you’ll gain an appreciation for the tremendous feat the Incas performed in building Machu Picchu where it is; nestled between steep mountains and dense forest.
Return to Cusco
Take the train back to Cusco and be transferred back to the Quinta San Blas to stay for the night on a B&B basis. Take a walk around the Mercado de San Pedro, pick up any last minute souvenirs and enjoy dinner at one of Cusco's excellent restaurants.
To the Amazon
You will be transferred to the airport to fly to Puerto Maldonado, gateway to your jungle adventures. You will start with a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to arrive at Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica lodge, your home for the next 3 days.
After a delicious lunch you will be assigned a guide to talk you through the different excursions available and plan out an itinerary for your stay. Take part in twilight boat trips and walking safaris to see the jungle at night, take to the lodge's canopy walkways to look out for birdlife, go canoeing in Lake Sandoval and visit the clay licks, which attract hundreds of colourful macaws every day.
Return home
After a morning relaxing at the lodge return to Puerto Maldonado airport to take the flight back to Lima and connect with your international flight home.
Please note that the above is on a B&B basis unless otherwise shown and the cost does not include international flights.
