HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF PERU

Private transfer to Lima airport to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, transfer to your lodge. For the next two days, enjoy activities including: Concepcion Rainforest Trails, Twilight Canoe Cruise on Madre de Dios River, Lake Sandoval hike, Inkaterra Canopy Walkway over 7 treetop bridges, Anaconda Walk over wetlands, Hidden Rainforest, nocturnal fauna experience, and the Butterfly House, a butterfly and rainforest conservation project. (B,L,D)

Today, enjoy activities available around the Lodge, including: Concepcion Rainforest Trails, Twilight Canoe Cruise on Madre de Dios River, Lake Sandoval hike, Inkaterra Canopy Walkway over 7 treetop bridges, Anaconda Walk over wetlands, Hidden Rainforest, nocturnal fauna experience, and the Butterfly House, a butterfly and rainforest conservation project. (B,L,D)

Shared transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport to board your flight to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco, transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Take your time to delve into Sacred Valley today with the remainder of the day at leisure. (B)

Begin your day of touring with a morning visit to the town of Pisac where you will visit its famed archaeological site, one of the most important sites in the Sacred Valley. Located on the top of a hillside this place will amaze you with its platform system and urban planning, both extremely advanced for the time in which they were developed. You will then descend to the local market where you will have the opportunity to interact with the locals. You will be able to get to know their culture and even buy some very unique products from the area. This afternoon you will leave your hotel in the Sacred Valley for the village of Ollantaytambo with its impressive and ancient Inca fortress. Historically, this is a very important site where Manco Inca defeated the Spanish in 1538. We climb up steep stone steps to admire the astonishing monoliths that make up the Temple of the Sun. Then, head back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. (B)

This morning after breakfast you will head out to Moray, a fascinating archaeological site in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit its huge concrete terraces which the Incas used as a botanical laboratory. Next, you will enjoy a panoramic visit to the salt mines of Maras, where the finest salt in the world is extracted: Maras Salt. The area looks like a mosaic of terraces and ponds offering an unparalleled view for those who love to take amazing photos. Return to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. (B)

Your adventure starts with a beautiful train ride to Aguas Calientes and bus on to the Machu Picchu archaeological site. This comprehensive tour will take you through the history of the Inca civilization. Here you will understand why Machu Picchu was chosen a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World! Later, descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch at a local restaurant. Train back to the Sacred Valley, followed by a transfer to Cusco. (B,L)

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon, get to know the city of Cusco, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The tour begins at the Koricancha Temple, an Inca palace and main center for the worship of the sun god, Inti. See Sacsayhuaman Fortress, built of stone blocks expertly shaped by the Incas and located atop a hill overlooking Cusco. Visit Inka’s Expression, showcasing artists working in silver and painting on wood – a wonderful place to appreciate Andean art. (B)

Transfer to the bus station to board your comfortable motorcoach to Puno. The first stop will be the small town of Andahuaylillas. Visit the Jesuit church of San Pedro Apostol, built between 1570 and 1620, known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes” due to the stunning mural paintings. The last stop before Puno will be La Raya, situated at the border of Cusco and Puno at an altitude of almost 13000 feet, featuring majestic views of the Andes’ snowcapped mountains. (B,L)

Depart to Taquile Island, 12,000 feet above sea level where the culture dates back to Pre-Incan times. Visit the community of Huayllano, where the Taquileños will share their artistic crafts. After a nice box lunch, sail over to the famous Uros Islands, man-made floating islands in the middle of the Lake Titicaca National Reserve. The floating islands are protected within the Bay of Puno and are home to close to 2000 people. Return to your hotel in Puno. (B,L)

Transfer to Juliaca airport to board your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, depart for your panoramic tour of Lima, Peru’s modern capital. Your first stop is at the historic Plaza Mayor, home of the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, the City Hall and the church and cloister of San Francisco. The tour continues to the modern residential district of San Isidro and bustling, trendy Miraflores. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel. (B)

Early transfer to the bus station to board your bus to Paracas. Upon arrival in Paracas transfer to your hotel. Next head to the local airport for your flight over the Nazca lines. Enjoy a bird’s eye view over 280 square kilometers framing enormous outlines of stylized plants and animals in a sprawling labyrinth of straight lines, trapezoids, triangles, and spirals scattered on the desert floor that has remained undisturbed for 2000 years. (B)

Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the pier to board a boat to the Ballestas Islands. Situated off the coast of the Paracas Reserve, the Ballestas are Peru’s largest coastal wildlife sanctuary, home to thousands of resident migratory sea birds. Here you find pelicans, boobies, cormorants and gulls among others, sharing their habitat with colonies of sea lions. Later head back to Lima and upon arrival, transfer to the airport to board your international flight. (B)