Trip name: Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca & Amazon
Trip Length: 10 Days
Type service: Group Tour
Type itinerary: Customize
Destinations: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Amazon Jungle
Activities: Culture and History/Family/Multi activity
Difficulty / Physical Activity: * Easy – nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Comfort: ** Moderate to superior-class accommodations, combined with basic accommodations or camping

Highlights: Lima, Catedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pisaq ruins and Indian Market, Ollantaytambo Fortress, Machu Picchu Citadel, Lake Titicaca, Floating Island, Amazon Jungle

Visit Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchuand Amazon Rainforest

10 day itinerary where will see the beautiful city of Cusco the timeless capital of both the Incas; explore Cusco’s historic center, Speak Quechua with Sacred Valley locals, Trek the trail that once linked the Inca Empire, Experience awe at a Machu Picchu sunrise.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – International Arrival in Lima

Our representative will meet with you at International Lima Airport and escort you to your hotel.

There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and rest up – Overnight at Lima Hotel

Meals Included: None

Note: Arrive in Lima at any time but we highly recommend you arriving to Lima between 3 to 10pm

Day 2 – Flight to Puno (Juliaca) – Visit Sillustani

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from Lima hotel and transfer to Lima airport for departure flight to Juliaca (Puno) upon arrival reception and transfer to Puno. On the way to Puno city, visit the famous Chullpas of Sillustani, 12 m/40ft high stone cylinder burial chambers, used by the Aymaras to bury their important leaders. Lake Umayo, located in front of the Chullpas, adds further beauty to the place. Here you also have the opportunity to observe wild guinea pigs, birds and other local wildlife the transfer to the Hotel – Overnight at Puno Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 – Lake Titicaca – Floating Islands of Uros and Taquile

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the Hotel at 7:30am we take a two-hour motor boat excursion on the waters of Lake Titicaca to the unique Floating “Islands” of the Uros. These ancient inhabitants of the lake, known as the Water Tribe, have built their own “islands” by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called “Totora”. Their homes and boats are also made from this material. We continue our motorboat trip to Taquile Island, inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as fine hand weaving techniques, down through the generations. Upon arrival at the Town of Taquile we will have a lunch. Then we will walk through the various hills and archaeological sites of this 6km long island.

In the afternoon, return to Puno – Overnight at Puno Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 – Bus to Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 07:00am and transfer to the Bus Station to head off to Cusco. Beautiful scenery all along the way, visit of the Raqchi and archeological sites as well as Andahuaylillas village and its famous “Sixteen Chapel” that was built in the middle of the 17th century. Lunch in Sicuani; upon arrival; reception and transfer to Cusco Hotel – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5 – Cusco Sightseeing Tour

Breakfast at the hotel; free time in the morning to explore Cusco by yourself

After lunch at 1:30pm; Cusco tour including the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay. Our tour will beginning on to the Main Square of Cusco. You’ll enter the Cathedral of Cusco and see the beautiful woodwork and colonial paintings containing extensive Incan iconography. Visit the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun) on which the Santo Domingo Convent was built. Legend says this temple was completely gold coated, which impressed the conquerors upon their arrival.

Ascend to the Archaeological Park of Sacsayhuaman and visit the Cuidadela. This is the royal house where they admired the Sun God but also worshiped younger gods. Admire this large structure and enjoy the magnificent landscape which brings peace and tranquility. Next, visit Qenqo, the old temple of the Puma. Inside you can see a sacrificial altar made of a huge stone. At Tambomachay, you’ll see the sacred fountains of life and health.

Pucapucara safeguarded the city gates and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The tour ends with a detailed visit of the city of Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 – Sacred Valley of the  Incas

Breakfast at the hotel; pick up from the hotel at 8:30am for your full day tour to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas, explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. First place, you will visit the town of Pisaq, famous for its bustling market. This native town was once where “exchange transactions” took place. In this type of transaction, customers would exchange one good for another instead of using currency. Visit the market of Pisaq where you can purchase beautifully crafted products hand-made by the locals.

On Sunday, the main attraction is a mass celebrated in Quechua and conducted in Spanish. It is attended by the mayors and their attendants who play traditional musical instruments called “pututos.”

Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a typical Peruvian lunch (included in price) before visiting the fortress of Ollantaytambo.

Next, you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo fortress. These magnificent ancient ruins serve as great vantage points to look out over the valley. Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachakuteq during the Inca Empire, this site later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish. In the afternoon back to Cusco – Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 – Full Day Machu Picchu and back to Cusco

Breakfast at the hotel; full day Excursion to Machu Picchu; our representative will pick you up from your Cusco Hotel and you’ll be transferred to the Poroy railway station to enjoy 3 ½ hour scenic rail tour to Aguas Calientes.

Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes station, you’ll board a small bus and head up to the ruins of the “sacred city”, Machu Picchu. Your expert guide will walk with you through the main streets of these amazing ruins. Stroll through town squares and climb delicately carved stone stairways. Esoteric wisdom holds Machu Picchu as the new spiritual center of the world. There will be time to be alone and fully embrace this magnificent wonder of the world, letting this once in a lifetime experience set in. After the tour you’ll have time to stroll around the archaeological Site at your leisure.

Then, you will have time to perform some of the following activities by yourself (not included in the price):

1. Climb to Wayna Picchu; for the most adventurous people, we suggest to go up the Wayna Picchu from where you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even more amazing being high anddistant.
2. Walk to Sun Gate; opportunity to walk (approx. 1 hour) up to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku)

Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant in Machu Picchu (included in the price)

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you’ll return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Cusco – train departure to Cusco; upon arrival to Cusco reception and transfer to the Hotel

Overnight at Cusco Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 – Flight to Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata Lodge

Breakfast at the hotel; transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado; upon arrival from Cusco, reception by an English speaking guide, 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. Drive 20km (12, 42 miles) to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The 2 ½ hours boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada 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.

Canopy Tower; a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. From atop you obtain spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest cut by the Tambopata River winding through the middle. Now and then toucans, parrots or macaws are seen flying against the horizon, or mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you.

Ecotourism Lecture; a daily presentation on the Infierno ecotourism project is available every night from a staff member – Overnight at Posada Amazonas Lodge

 Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 – Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake – Ethnobotanical Tour

Breakfast at Lodge; visit Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake; Tres Chimbadas is thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas. Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. Otters are most active from dawn to eight or nine AM.

Ethnobotanical Tour; a twenty minute boat drive downriver leads you to a trail designed by the staff of the Centro Ñape. The Centro Ñape is a communal organization that produces medicines out of forest plants and administers them to patients who choose their little clinic. They have produced a trail which explains the different medicinal (and other) uses of selected plants.

Night walk; you will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.

Overnight at Posada Amazonas Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 – Departure from Lodge – Flight to Lima – Connect at International Flight

Breakfast; transfer Boat – Posada Amazonas to Tambopata River Port then to Puerto Maldonado, we retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures; flight to Lima where you can connect at the same airport for International flight.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Services Included

All mentioned land transport (bus, etc.), Hotel accommodation with breakfast, entrance to parks and cultural sights, guided visits and mentioned excursions, English/Spanish speaking guide to accompany visits and excursions, all transfers, meals as indicated in the itinerary, Train tickets Vistadome Class

Services not included

International airfares, domestic flights

Airport departure (US$ 30 per person for international flights and US$ 6.5 for national flights) taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations, alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind,

laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of flights and items of personal nature, personal equipment, obligatory personal insurance and meals which are not mentioned, Entrance fee to Wayna Picchu Mountain, Sleeping bag, Tips for the guide, cook and porters

Flights

Day 2 – Flight to Puno (Juliaca) – Visit Sillustani

Lima to Juliaca in the morning; you can buy with StarPeru – www.starperu.com

Day 8 – Flight to Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata Lodge

Cusco to Puerto Maldonado; you can buy with StarPeru –www.starperu.com

Day 10 – Departure from Lodge – Flight to Lima – Connect at International Flight

Puerto Maldonado to Lima; you can buy with StarPeru – www.starperu.com

Other companies that you can buy domestic flight tickets will be LAN www.lan.com OR AVIANCA www.avianca.com.pe