Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll touch down in Lima where a Cosmos representative meets you at the airport. Your Tour Director joins the group starting on Day 5, so for now you'll get oriented and settle into your hotel.
- Day 2
Lima to Puerto Maldonado to Tambopata
Fly out to Puerto Maldonado and board a motorboat heading up the Tambopata River. During the ride you'll spot turtles, caimans, monkeys, and various birds. Check into your Amazon lodge, then head back out with your Naturalist for an afternoon search. When evening arrives, take a walk through the jungle to catch nocturnal wildlife active after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorboat journey up Tambopata River to view turtles, caimans, monkeys, and birdlife
- Afternoon naturalist-guided wildlife search for saddleback tamarins, brown capuchins, agoutis, blue-morpho butterflies, trogons, toucans, and other species
- Nocturnal wildlife search on foot
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve Tambopata River - Day 3
Tambopata
Start the day in a canoe with your Naturalist, paddling through the jungle and walking to see the local plants and animals. After lunch you'll return with your guide to learn about the plants specific to this region and look for more wildlife. By evening, paddle back out to listen to the jungle sounds at night from the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Naturalist-guided canoe ride and walk to view Amazon flora and fauna
- Afternoon naturalist-guided exploration to learn about endemic plants and spot wildlife
- Evening canoe ride to experience nocturnal jungle sounds
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve - Day 4
Tambopata
Today you pick what you want to do. Talk with your Naturalist about the activities they have available and choose based on what interests you most. It's your chance to tailor the day to what you'd like to see and do in the Amazon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Choice of included naturalist-guided Amazon adventure activities
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve - Day 5
Puerto Maldonado to Lima
Head back to Puerto Maldonado and fly to Lima, known as the 'City of Kings'. Walk through colonial buildings and check out the museums there. Your Tour Director joins the group this evening, so you'll have everyone together from here on.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Lima - Day 6
Lima
See Lima's colonial architecture that dates back to 1535. Visit the baroque San Francisco Monastery which has Spanish and Moorish design elements, walk through Plaza Mayor, see the Government Palace, and go to the cathedral where Pizarro is buried. The afternoon and early evening are free to explore on your own, then gather for dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Lima's colonial heritage
- Visit to San Francisco Monastery with baroque architecture
- Visit to Plaza Mayor and Government Palace
- Visit to cathedral where Pizarro's remains are buried
Landmarks/POIs San Francisco Monastery Plaza Mayor Government Palace Lima Cathedral - Day 7
Lima to Sacred Valley
Fly to Cusco in the Andes mountains, then head down into the Sacred Valley. Learn about the camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, guanaco) and how they mattered to Inca society. Visit Pisaq village and walk through its colorful market full of alpaca items, blankets, pottery, and silver goods. Arrive at your hotel in the quieter Sacred Valley area by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Learn about camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures and view them up close
- Learn about ancient weaving techniques still in use today
- Visit to Pisaq village and famous market with handicrafts
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Valley Pisaq - Day 8
Sacred Valley
Go to Ollantaytambo village and explore the Inca ruins there, which is the only place that successfully fought off Spanish attacks. Head up to the defensive temple area at the top of the stone terraces. Visit someone's home to see how villagers live, then check out traditional ceramics at the Seminario workshop. Try chicha, an old Inca drink, at a local spot that serves it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to village of Ollantaytambo
- Exploration of Ollantaytambo Inca ruins
- Visit to local home to experience traditional village life
- Visit to Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art
- Tasting of chicha (typical Inca drink) at local chicheria
Landmarks/POIs Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo Ruins - Day 9
Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Board the Vistadome train and travel through the Urubamba Valley toward Aguas Calientes. From there, ride up the mountainside through tropical forest to reach Machu Picchu, the 'Lost City of the Incas'. Your guide talks about Inca history while you walk the 15th-century terraced ruins that stayed hidden for nearly 400 years after Spanish conquest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Vistadome train journey through Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins
Landmarks/POIs Urubamba Valley Machu Picchu - Day 10
Aguas Calientes to Cusco
The morning is yours to spend in the mountain town of Aguas Calientes. Browse the local market and shops, or take walks on nearby trails if you prefer. Later in the afternoon, board the Vistadome train back to Cusco, the former Inca capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Vistadome train journey from Aguas Calientes to Cusco
Optional Activities
- Visit to local market in Aguas Calientes
- Shopping at quaint boutiques in Aguas Calientes
- Walks along nearby trails
Landmarks/POIs Aguas Calientes - Day 11
Cusco
Take a guided tour of Cusco to see the key sites from its time as the Inca Empire's center of power. Visit Santo Domingo Monastery where Inca stonework and Spanish baroque style blend together, see the Cathedral in Plaza de Armas with its art collection, and go to Sacsayhuaman Temple on the hillside to see impressive Inca construction. Participate in planting trees to help the local community, then have dinner at a restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Cusco
- Visit to Santo Domingo Monastery with blended Inca and Spanish baroque architecture
- Visit to Cathedral in Plaza de Armas
- Visit to Temple of Sacsayhuaman
- Tree-planting project supporting local community
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo Monastery Plaza de Armas Cusco Cathedral Temple of Sacsayhuaman - Day 12
Cusco to Puno
Travel south toward Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca. According to local legend, Manco Capac, the first Inca, rose from this lake's waters and was sent by the sun god to create the Inca Empire.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Puno - Day 13
Lake Titicaca
Take a motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest lake you can navigate. Head to Taquile Island where locals wear traditional Andean textiles that blend Inca and Spanish heritage. Then go to the Uros floating islands, about 40 artificial islands made entirely of tortora reed. Learn how the Uros people build their islands, homes, and boats using methods passed down for centuries. Your Tour Director hosts dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner hosted by your Tour Director)
Included Activities
- Motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca
- Visit to Taquile Island
- Visit to Uros floating islands
- Learn about Uros construction of islands, homes, and boats using tortora reed
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Taquile Island Uros Floating Islands - Day 14
Juliaca to Lima
Return to Juliaca and visit a local home to see what daily life is like there. Later, fly back to Lima and transfer to your hotel for your final night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to local home in Juliaca for inside look at local life
Landmarks/POIs Juliaca - Day 15
Lima
Your trip ends after breakfast this morning. Head to the airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
