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Day 1:
Arrive to Lima from International flight.
Upon arrival, you shall be met by a representative in Lima and transferred directly to you hotel in Miraflores, Casa Andina Centro. If you arrive on time you should be 1 hour to get through customs and baggage collection and then another 30 minutes to the hotel. Your hotel is in a great location near to the main park and also based on the street of Petit Thouars with lots of artisanal markets.
Exploring the district of Miraflores on foot which is very safe even at night. There are many cafes, restaurants and bars to explore. There are also pharmacies, banks and money exchange shops all nearby if you need them.
Overnight: Carmel or Casa Andina Centro 3* Miraflores, Lima
Day 2:
Half day tour of Lima by bus OR Tour of Miraflores by bicycle, late afternoon flight to Cusco.
BUS TOUR - We pick up at 9am in order to do a sight-seeing in the capital of Peru. We go to the downtown and can visit the cathedral, presidential palace and see the changing of the guards, as well as San Francisco convent and catacombs, finishing at around 1pm.
We then head directly to the airport. We shall have the 3.50pm flight from Lima to Cusco (1 hour 15 minutes) so we take a 30 minute journey to reach the airport. Bags will need to be checked out and into the bus at breakfast. When we arrive in Cusco (at around 5pm) we have only a 15 minute transfer to our hotel located in the historic centre which is within a 5-10 minute walk to most of the main attractions of downtown Cusco
BICYCLE TOUR - After breakfast, we shall take you on a private guided tour around the main places of interest in the districts of Miraflores and Barranco, including a visit to the lighthouse, the Malecon of Miraflores and Larcomar and the bohemiam district of Barranco full of art deco and older classic style buildings and mansions that were of the high class of of Lima and ‘Mayor’ where you can view the presidential palace and main cathedral. We shall also take you to the San Francisco church and convent to visit the underground catacombs. Also stops en-route between Barranco and Miraflores include ‘Parque de Olivos’ and ‘Parque de Amor’, el faro (lighthouse), Puente de suspirios (wishes bridge) and finishing with an ice cream from the best shop in Barranco. Tour to finish by 1pm where you can ask the guide for suggestions for lunch. Afterwards, we transfer to the airport via the hotel to pick up our bags. Flight at around 4pm (1 hour 10 minuters) 15 minute transfer to hotel in Cusco downtown arriving around 6-6.30pm.
Below – cycling along the Malecon of Miraflores with views of the Pacific Ocean.
Overnight: Cusco 3* Andariego or Villa Mayor
Day 3:
Half day Tour of Cusco on foot, afternoon free for optional activities. WELCOME TO CUSCO – CAPTIAL CITY OF THE INKAS!
Today is your main day to see Cusco and around and also see how bodies are coping with the altitude (11000ft/3300m).
Today we will offer you to be orientated by local guide showing you around the historical centre of the City on foot. In the given time you would visit the main plaza, Koricancha temple, San Franscisco Square, San Blas neighbourhood and San Pedro Market.
In the afternoon we can offer many other ideas to visit such as the Inka museum, Coca museum, museum of Pre Colombian art. As well as many cafés, shops, restaurants and bars that offer almost any time of eating and drink.
If you want to do activities such as horse riding, we can offer this in the afternoon depending on how adjusted people are people are.
In the early evening (around 5.30pm) we could also suggest an OPTIONAL trip to the Cusco Planetarium. Here we will learn and find out about the Inkas way of astrology and also insight to the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere. The first hour will be more of a lecture and also a light projection show onto an indoor dome. This will be followed with the next hour star-gazing outside (depending on clouds). We return to Cusco square at 7.30pm.
Planetarium currently optional
Overnight likely 3* Villa Posada or 3* Andariego, Cusco
Day 4:
Travel to Aguas Calientes via the Sacred Valley
At around 9am, you will be met by a local guide and head through the nearby Inka ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pukara and Tambo Machay then to Awanakancha: a live Alpaca and Llama museum where you can feed and groom these native animals of the Andes and learn the differences between these Camilids.
Inka ruins around Cusco: Sacsayhuaman and Puca Pucara.
At Awanakancha interactive museum, we can also see how they weave and dye locally and traditionally the textiles they make from Alpaca wool
Typically we get to feed the animals such as Alpacas and Llamas, and weaving demonstrations.
Then just another 20 minutes to the beautiful town of Pisaq, where you can visit the local market and have lunch.
In the afternoon we can go and visit some of the most impressive Inka terraces at the archealogical site of Pisaq and views towards the Sacred Valley.
Overnight 3* Royal Inka, Pisac
Day 5:
Travel to Machu Picchu, guided tour train back to the Sacred Valley
After an early breakfast, we shall start our drive along the middle of the Sacred Valley passing through many rural towns and villages. We can stop along the way at Ollantaytambo (by 10am) to be close to the train station for our travel to Machu Picchu. This allows to get snack before we get to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu village) as we head straight to the ruins for mid-day when the main crowds have left for lunch and the site is much quieter.
Ollantaytambo ruins and the pretty town
We will then take our afternoon tour (around 2 hours) of the Inka ruins with our local guide before heading back down on the 25 minute shuttle bus to the village where we can spend some time there and a good meal before taking the train back in the evening around 7pm to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley.
Not included – lunch, dinner
Our accommodation in Ollantaytambo (Tika Wasi) for the evening
Note – if preferred you could stay overnight in Machu Picchu village but would mean a longer travel day to get back to Cusco the following day.
Day 6:
Day trip discovering Sacred Valley and surroundings.
Today (around 8,30am) we take you out to the beautiful Sacred Valley and explore Chinchero, Moray, Misminay and Salt Terraces of Maras.
At around 9.30am. We travel to Chinchero around 1 hour from Ollantaytambo. A town famous for traditional textiles and weaving processes.
Weaving demos, Chinchero town/ruins, local production (photos taken on my previous clients visits)
Afterwards, the transfer 1 hour to the community of Misminay where we will receive a warm welcome with music and followed by a local lunch.
Heres a selection of some of the photos I’ve taken with several recent visits in Misminay -
Following this, we can drive down to visit the unique ruins of Moray (1 hour) then trek to visit the Pre-Inkan Salt terraces via the town of Maras (2-3 hours) where Salt is still being mined today, from there we either trek down to Rumichaca and back to Cusco by van or directly back by van to Cusco from the Salt Terraces.
Overnight – 3* Andariego or Posada Villa Mayor, Cusco down town (as previously).
Day 7:
Cusco rest day: free for laundry + optional activities + final shopping!
Today you have a free day in order to prepare for the Amazon. This gives you a chance to wash clothes, purchase last chance souviniers or get to do something you had no time for before in Cusco or when you were adapting to the high-altitude
Options could be as follows:- Rafting, Horse riding, Rainbow Mountain, Chonta Canyon trek and Condor sighting, Inka museum, Cookery classes and more…!
Overnight – 3* Andariego or Posada Villa Mayor, Cusco down town (as previously).
Day 8:
Cusco-Puerto Maldondado – boat to Eco-lodge (Amazonias) You will be transferred to the Cusco airport at 9.30am in order to catch the 11.48am flight.
Matt or one of his team will check you in which will be done 24-48 hours prior to flight and send the boarding passes. Flight takes around 45 minutes. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado you will be met by a local representative from Eco Amazonias and transfer to lodge (look out for the board that says ‘Eco-Aamazonias) in about 1 hour by boat. Most of the program and activities are arranged by them so you can discuss more with the guide when you get there.
Overnight: Eco Amazonias lodge (full board)
Day 9:
Full day of activities around lodge.
There are many activities to choose from when you get there including Caiman spotting, monkey Island, trails and canopy walks, night walks. Most of the program and activities are arranged with the guide so you can discuss more with the guide when you get there.
Overnight: Eco-Amazonias Lodge (full board)
Day 10:
Return from Amazon, fly to Lima, international flight home.
Your flight leaves at 1.48pm and Rainforest Expeditions will know what time to coordinate the boat and land transfer getting you to the airport on time. Flight time is 45 minutes approximately from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco.
Matt or one of his team will check you in and sort out boarding passes, but also one of the Eco-Amazonias team will be there at the airport to assist if necessary.
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