Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll land at Jorge Chávez Airport and head to your hotel in Miraflores to settle in. This afternoon, there's quite a bit to cover around Lima. Start with Parque del Amor to see the 'El Beso' sculpture, then check out Huaca Pucllana, a pre-Inca pyramid right in the city. After that, walk through Plaza de San Martín and Plaza Mayor where Lima was actually founded. The Monastery of San Francisco is worth your time, especially the historic catacombs below. You'll finish the evening with a Pisco Sour tasting to get a sense of Peru's famous spirit.
Included Activities
- City Tour of Lima including Parque del Amor, Huaca Pucllana, Plaza de San Martín, Plaza Mayor, and Monastery of San Francisco
- Pisco Sour tasting
Landmarks/POIs Parque del Amor Huaca Pucllana Plaza de San Martín Plaza Mayor Monastery of San Francisco - Day 2
Ica - Huacachina
This is an early one. Hotel pickup happens around 4:00-4:30 a.m., then you're heading south to Paracas Peninsula. A boat tour takes you around the Ballestas Islands where you'll see Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and pelicans, plus the mysterious Candelabrum geoglyph from the water. Later, you'll drive inland to Ica for a guided wine and pisco tasting with lunch featuring local food. From there, the Huacachina Oasis is next, where you get dune buggy rides and sandboarding, plus free time to wander around and shop. You won't get back to Lima until around 10:00-11:00 p.m.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch with local specialties at Ica)
Included Activities
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands with wildlife viewing
- Candelabrum viewing
- Guided wine and pisco tasting in Ica
- Traditional lunch with local specialties
- Dune buggy ride at Huacachina Oasis
- Sandboarding at Huacachina Oasis
- Free time at Huacachina Oasis including shopping for handicrafts
Landmarks/POIs Ballestas Islands Candelabrum Huacachina Oasis - Day 3
Lima to Cusco
After breakfast, you're transferred to Lima airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. Once you land, someone will meet you at the airport and take you straight to your hotel. You'll check in and spend the afternoon adjusting to the high altitude. A cup of traditional coca tea helps with the adjustment and gives you a chance to rest before exploring tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Airport transfer to hotel
- Traditional coca tea for altitude acclimatization
- Day 4
Moray - Maras - Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Hotel pickup at 7:00-7:30 a.m. starts your day heading to Chinchero, a colorful town where you'll see Inca walls and a colonial church, then work with local artisans on textile weaving. Next stop is Moray with its circular agricultural terraces that the Incas used for crop experimentation. The Maras Salt Mines come next, where over 3,000 salt pools create quite a sight. Later you'll catch a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and settle in for rest before tomorrow's Machu Picchu visit.
Included Activities
- Tour of Chinchero with Inca wall constructions and colonial church
- Hands-on textile weaving experience at textile interpretation center
- Visit to Moray circular agricultural terraces
- Exploration of Maras Salt Mines
- Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Landmarks/POIs Chinchero Moray Maras Salt Mines - Day 5
Machu Picchu
Very early pickup at 6:00-6:30 a.m. gets you moving toward Machu Picchu. You'll board a bus to the entrance, check in with your tickets and passport, then have a two-hour guided tour through the Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, Temple of the Three Windows, and other iconic structures. There's time for photos with the Andes as your backdrop. If you're interested, you can hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain for higher views, though that costs extra. After lunch in Aguas Calientes, you'll take the train back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your Cusco hotel.
Included Activities
- Bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu entrance
- Two-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu including Temple of the Sun, Intihuatana, and Temple of the Three Windows
- Train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo
- Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Cusco
Optional Activities
- Huayna Picchu Mountain hike (US$ 90 per person)
- Machu Picchu Mountain hike (US$ 90 per person)
- Lunch in Aguas Calientes
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun Intihuatana Temple of the Three Windows Huayna Picchu Machu Picchu Mountain - Day 6
Rainbow Mountain
Pickup happens at 4:00-4:30 a.m. from your hotel. The drive through scenic mountain landscape takes about two hours to reach Cusipata for breakfast. From there, it's another 45 minutes through canyons and glacial terrain where you'll see grazing llamas and alpacas before reaching Pulawasipata, your hiking start point. The hike to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) summit takes roughly two hours, and at 5,020 meters you'll photograph the vibrant colored landscape and see Ausangate peak. You hike back the same way, then enjoy a buffet lunch in Cusipata before returning to Cusco.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in Cusipata), Lunch (Buffet lunch with traditional Peruvian cuisine in Cusipata)
Included Activities
- Breakfast in Cusipata
- Hike to Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain)
- Buffet lunch in Cusipata
Landmarks/POIs Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) Ausangate - Day 7
Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
You're transferring to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. From the airport, you'll travel to Puerto Capitania and board a 30 km boat trip down the Madre de Dios River to reach Eco Amazonia Lodge. During the journey, watch for colorful trees and wildlife like capybaras, caimans, birds, and jaguars. Lunch happens at the lodge, then you'll hike to Cocha Caiman oxbow lake to look for Black, White, and Spectacle Caimans. Back at the lodge for dinner, you can relax in the bar or games room while listening to nocturnal wildlife sounds.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado
- Airport pickup and transfer
- 30 km boat trip on Madre de Dios River to lodge
- Lunch at lodge
- Hike to Cocha Caiman for caiman viewing
Landmarks/POIs Madre de Dios River Cocha Caiman - Day 8
Puerto Maldonado
Red Howler Monkeys will wake you up naturally, then breakfast is served at the lodge. An interpretative forest trail gets you observing fruit-bearing, medicinal, and native trees. You'll search for Lowland Tapirs, peccaries, rodents, different monkey species, lizards, amphibians, and various birds. Lake Apu Victor comes next for canopy tower views of parrots, macaws, eagles, toucans, caimans, and turtles. After lunch back at the lodge, you're heading to Monkey Island home to Red Howler Monkeys, Black Spider Monkeys, and Brown-headed Capuchins. You'll watch the sunset over the Amazon and have dinner at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at lodge
- Interpretative forest trail hike
- Lake Apu Victor visit with canopy tower views
- Lunch at lodge
- Hike to Monkey Island for primate viewing
- Sunset viewing over Amazon
- Dinner at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Lake Apu Victor Monkey Island - Day 9
Puerto Maldonado
Breakfast at the lodge comes first, then you're walking to Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake) through trails surrounded by fruit-bearing and medicinal trees. You'll search for jaguars, Lowland Tapirs, Giant River Otters, and other wildlife among the towering palms. A canopy tower climb gives you sweeping views of Cocha Perdida and chances to spot the elusive Giant River Otters. Lunch is back at the lodge, then the afternoon is yours for wildlife photography, exploring the botanical garden, or just relaxing. Dinner comes in the evening with optional entertainment at the bar and games room.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at lodge), Dinner (Dinner at lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at lodge
- Hike to Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake)
- Canopy tower viewing at Cocha Perdida
- Lunch at lodge
- Free afternoon for wildlife photography, botanical garden exploration, or relaxation
- Dinner at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake) - Day 10
Puerto Maldonado departure
Red Howler Monkeys provide the wake-up call one last time. After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, you're heading back to Puerto Capitania to say goodbye to the Amazon. From there, transportation takes you to Puerto Maldonado Airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hearty breakfast at lodge)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at lodge
- Transfer from lodge to Puerto Capitania
- Transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport
