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CUSCO,
MACHU PICCHU and MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE
Tour
Duration 15 Days / 14 Nights
Type of Tour Archaeological, Cultural,
Ecological.
Activities Wildlife and Birdwatching,
Camping.
Tour Itinerary
All
our programmes can be tailor made according to your
requirements, whether regarding the length of your tour,
any special interests or specific activities, flight
reservations, optional destinations or tours.
DAY
01: International Arrival in Lima.- Assistance
at your arrival to Lima Intern ational
Airport and transfer to your hotel. There you will receive
a briefing on your tour; receive vouchers covering all
the services included in your tour and additional information
on the organisation of your Peru trip.
DAY 02: Lima: Sightseeing Tour & Archaeological
Museum.- Morning free to rest after your international
travel. We recommend you to sleep long enough to be
ready to start this unforgettable journey through this
wonderful country. Free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, guided sightseeing tour to the most
attractive and important sites in Lima, the "City
of Kings". The tour includes Lima's Historical
Center, passing by Plaza San Martin, Plaza Mayor, the
Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and
its Religious Art Museum, the Church of Santo Domingo,
with the tombs of Santa Rosa and San Martin de Porras,
and Lima's Colonial Balconies.
We will visit the Convent and Church of San Francisco,
the greatest monumental complex of Colonial Art in America
and Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The tour includes
a visit to the Basilica of 21 altars, Convent of Cloisters,
Capitulary and Clementine Rooms, Chorus and Library
of the monks, a Museum showing 11 paintings of the Rubens
School, the Sacristy with paintings of Surbaran and
Ribera, its great patio decorated with Seville tiles
of the XVIth Century, Moorish arches and underground
Catacombs.
From here, we leave downtown Lima towards the District
of Pueblo Libre to visit The Museum of Anthropology
and Archaeology that comprises the biggest collection
of pre-Hispanic objects such as stone sculptures from
the Chavin Culture, weavings from teh Paracas Culture,
ceramics of the Nazca and Mochica Cultures, and metal
work of the Chimu Culture, as well as paintings, documents
and objects that belonged to important people of the
Colonial and Republican Periods of Peru. This visit
will allow you to have a global vision of Peruvian History
to frame what you will visit the following days.
We then drive through the residential Districts of San
Isidro and Miraflores, passing by the Huaca Pucllana,
a Ceremonial and Administrative Centre of the Lima Culture
built in the II Century A.C. that the Incas considered
as "Ñaupallaqta" or Sacred Town. We
will also visit El Olivar Park with olive trees brought
from Spain in the XVth Century, the Centr al
Park of Miraflores and Larcomar, a symbol of modern
Lima and a tourist and entertainment centre as well
as a privileged site to enjoy an amazing view of the
Pacific Ocean. Late afternoon transfer to the selected
hotel.
Evening free to rest as the next day our guide will
pick you up very early.
DIA 03: Lima / Cusco: City tour and visit to nearby
ruins.- In the morning transfer to Lima Airport
to board your flight to Cusco. Meet upon arrival and
transfer to your selected hotel. Remaining morning free
to rest in your hotel in order to avoid altitude sickness.
In the afternoon, we will visit the City of Cusco on
a guided sightseeing tour visiting the Main Square,
the Cathedral and the Temple of the Sun or Korikancha.
Then, we drive out of the City to visit the Inca sites
of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and the impressive
Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built on a hill
overlooking Cusco, famous for its enormous carved stones,
some of them standing over 9 m / 30 ft high and weighing
over 350 tons.
DAY 04: Cusco: Sacred Valley of the Incas.-
Early morning excursion to the Urubamba Valley, the
Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit to the picturesque
Indian Pisac Market held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Sundays, the shopping paradise of the Andes where barter
is still practiced. Enjoy the unique atmosphere during
a typical lunch.
In the afternoon, passing through the Towns of Calca
and Urubamba, we visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel
of Ollantaytambo, built to guard the entrance to this
part of the Valley, and protect it from possible invasion
from the tribes in the Lower jungle. You can walk through
the quaint streets of the nearby town, and get a good
idea of what this strategic Military, Religious, and
Agricultural Centre was like during the era of the Inca
Empire. On our way back to Cusco we stop of at the picturesque
Andean village of Chinchero to visit the ruins of the
Royal Hacienda of Tupac Inca Yupanqui. We will admire
a well-preserved Inca Wall in the Main Square, and visit
the beautiful Colonial temple built on Inca foundations,
with interesting frescoes in the portico. Late afternoon
return to your selected hotel for overnight. Evening
free. We s uggest
strolling around the Main Square and enjoy the night
atmosphere trying a delicious Pisco Sour in some of
the many pubs around the Square. Note: The visit to
the Village of Chinchero depends on the time available.
DAY 05: Cusco / Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu
.- Breakfast. The day starts with an early
morning rise to transfer to Cusco train station for
a 3 ½ hour train journey to the famous Inca Citadel
of Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of
the Incas". Arrive at Aguas Calientes station followed
by a 30-minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road,
to the incredible Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we'll
participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting
the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial,
the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows
and various burial grounds. After the tour you will
have time to stroll around the archaeological site at
your leisure.
Lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes Town.
Overnight at Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Dinner on your own.
DAY 06: Aguas Calientes / Cusco.- Leisurely
breakfast. Excellent opportunity to wake up early and
enjoy with a beautiful sunrise as well as stroll by
the Town of Aguas Calientes and visit its Hot Springs
Thermal waters. Then, you will have time to perform
some of the following activities: (not included in the
overall tour price).
1. Visit the Citadel of Machu Picchu for the second
time.
2. For the most adventurous people, we suggest to go
up the Huayna Picchu (if it is not raining) from where
you can appreciate the immensity of Machu Picchu, even
more amazing being high and distant. Arriving at the
top takes about two hours and a half and it must be
before 13:00 hours. It is necessary to register in a
office at the beginning of the trail. An exciting adventure
for the travellers who want to see, from the top, the
nature and the carved stone emerging from the ground
as a geological miracle.
Evening free and dinner on your own.
DAY 07: Cu sco
/ Manu.- Early departure from Cusco on one
of our vehicles especially equipped for the road, crossing
amazing Inter Andean valleys and picturesque peasant
communities. At midday, we will visit the pre-Incas
tombs of Ninamarca known as "Chullpas" and
then Paucartambo, a typical Colonial town of great importance
from those years and that still preserves its essence.
Going on with our journey, we will go up to the Pass
of Acjanacu at 3850 m.a.s.l.
From here, we will start going down, passing by the
Cloud Forest, an area rich in endangered species such
as the Spectacle Bear and the Cock of the Rock, Orchids,
Bromeliads, Ferns, etc. Finally, we will have our first
night at a comfortable campsite.
DAY 08: Manu - Cloud Forest and Atalaya.- Very
early, comfortably installed on an observation platform
, we will be able to appreciate the flirting dance called
"Lek"of the Cock of the Rocks, the National
Bird of Peru that has showy bright red and orange feathers.
After having breakfast, we continue our journey on our
vehicle (see optional 1 - Mountain biking) crossing
the High Jungle, towards the Town of Pilcopata (see
optional 2 - River rafting). After 30 minutes bus ride
we will arrive to the Atalaya Port, situated at the
shore of the Upper Madre de Dios River, at 700 m.a.s.l.,
where our river equipment is installed. Once the motor
boat is loaded with the needed equipment, we will start
our way down the Upper Madre de Dios River towards our
Private Reserve of "Erika Lodge" where we
will spend the next two nights. Short walk around the
lodge.Optional
1: Descend with mountain bikes from the San Pedro Lodge
(1700 m.a.s.l.) in the Cloud Forest to Pillcopata (700
m.a.s.l.).
Optional 2: In Pilcopata Town we will make all the final
settings for 1 ½ to 3 hour rafting trip down
the Kosñipata River where we will have the opportunity
for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of
the Koñeq Canyon. Continuing down the Upper Madre
de Dios River to Erika Lodge.
DAY
09: Manu - Boca Manu
After breakfast, we will go on a 4-hour canoe trip on
the Upper Madre De Dios River leading to Boca Manu.
It is a small village where we can purchase the last
cold drinks and food. Immediat ely
after that, we will sail on the Manu River, into the
Reserved Zone, in order to camp at the Checking Point
of Limonal, where we will have a short walk through
the forest and we will be have a great chance of finding
a great diversity of insects, birds, monkeys and other
species around there.
DAY 10: Manu - Cocha Salvador.- After registering
in the official visitor book and having breakfast, we
will get into a boat towards Salvador Cocha (lagoon),
where we will spend the next two nights.
During this journey, we can admire lots of birds, Caiman
and some mammals. We will also be able to have a short
night walk around the camp, using the catamaran of Cocha
Salvador and helping ourselves with lanterns. We will
be able to watch the Black Caiman that goes out looking
for its meal.
DAY 11: Manu - Salvador Cocha and Otorongo Cocha-
We will visit Salvador Cocha in the morning, sailing
on the Catamaran again. We can observe some fauna species
such as the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) an
endangered specie, the Black Caiman (Melanosuchus Níger),
the Spider Monkey (Ateles paniscus), etc, and some flora
species. Then we will return to the camp where the staff
will be waiting to offer us an energetic breakf ast
in order to be prepared to cross the primary forest
with the greatest diversity of species in the world.
We will arrive after walking to Otorongo Cocha for 4
hours. This is a lagoon where there is a 15 meter watch
tower that allows us to admire the landscape of the
surrounding forest and more chances to see the family
of Giant Otters.
DAY 12: Manu - Salvador Cocha and Private Reserve
of Tambo Blanquillo .- Today, we will get on
board to sail by Manu River arriving at Boca Manu: a
little Village situated at the meeting point of the
Manu and Upper Madre de Dios Rivers. From here, the
River is called Madre de Dios, becoming the hydrographical
axis of Madre de Dios Department. After this journey,
in the afternoon, we will arrive to the Private Reserve
of Tambo Blanquillo where we will spend one more night
involved by the magic atmosphere of the jungle.
DAY
13: Manu - Macaw Clay Lick
Very early, before breakfast, we will go to the Macaw
Clay Lick on a covered catamaran. The lick is a clay
river wall where different Parrot and Macaw species
descend to take the mineral salts they need for their
diet balance every morning. The Amazon parakeets and
Blue head parrots begin with an unforgettable show of
colourful wildlife, and finally the fantastic Macaws
join the daily ceremony. At the end of this activity,
we will go along Madre de Dios River to spend the night
in an appropriate beach for camping.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
DAY 14: Manu / Cusco.- After an early
rise, we will continue along the River towards the small
Port of Atalaya in order to leave Manu. We will arrive
Cusco at night and transfer to the selected hotel for
overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Box Lunch.
DAY 15: Cusco / Lima / International Departure.-
At the appropriate time, transfer to Cusco Airport to
board your flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, meet
and transfer to your selected hotel until your transfer
to the international airport to board your homebound
flight.
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