LIMA:
Welcome to Lima – the City of Kings and the bustling gateway to Peru! Lima is an ethnic melting pot, featuring pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern elements. Lima was inhabited by pre-Columbian groups centuries before it was founded by Spanish Conqueror Francisco Pizarro in 1535 on the day of the Three Kings (Epiphany).
OPTION: We are happy to arrange cooking classes, guided tours, and overnight trips to Nazca and the Ballesta Islands.
AMAZON LODGE (3, 4 or 5 day)
This morning we fly to Puerto Maldonado, deep in the lowlands of the Southern Amazon jungle. Each day at the lodge will be filled with a variety of activities with your local guides ranging from wildlife viewing from dug-out canoes, jungle walks, night walks, canopy viewing, and more.
Early mornings provide the best wildlife viewings and from dugout canoes, you will search for wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman, turtle, and occasionally giant river otters. During one of mornings we hike to a clay lick that is used both by parrots and parakeets. From a blind you will see varies species of parrots and parakeets descending to ingest the clay on a bank. Species such as Dusky headed and Cobalt winged Parakeet descend at this clay lick. With luck we will also see some or all of the following species in the early morning rush: Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazons, Blue-headed Pionus, Severe Macaw and Orange-cheeled (Barraband`s) Parrot. There is also a mammal clay lick which is
Nearby our lodge is a 25 metre scaffolding canopy tower from which you can gaze upon the canopy of the vast primary forest. From here views of mixed species canopy flocks as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.
As we walk along trails we continue to learn about the local plants and trees that are used by the local population with dozens of purposes. We will learn about the medicinal (and other) uses of Ajo-Sacha, Yuca de Venado, Uña de Gato, Charcot-Sacha, Para-Para, among several others.
After dinner one of the nights, you will have the option of a Night Walk, when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. You will be astonished by the cacophony of sounds. Some of the easier creatures to find are lizards and frogs with completely bizarre shapes and sounds.
CUSCO, SACRED VALLEY & MACHU PICCHU – OPTIONAL EXTENSION: We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado for our short 45 minute flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco. Cusco is considered the mecca of Peru and rightly so. This beautiful colonial town offers much to the visitor with its nearby ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and lively atmosphere. Cusco is the “Archaeological Capital of the Americas” and most visited tourist attraction in Peru. Cusco (Qosqo in Quechua) was the capital of the mighty Inca Empire from the 13th century until 1532 when the Spanish conquistadors arrived.
SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS:
Tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills, the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley), is about 15km north of Cuzco as the condor flies, via a narrow road of hairpin turns. Long the home of attractive colonial towns, markets, archeological sites, and isolated weaving villages.
MACHU PICCHU:
Travel by train to Machu Picchu Village (Aguas Calientes) located at the base of magnificent Machu Picchu. From here we take a bus up the snaking road to the ‘Lost City of the Incas’. The archaeological site of Machu Picchu dates to the 15th century and first received international attention in 1911 when it was visited by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Ever since, Machu Picchu has received visitors from around the world being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and more recently voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Cross the Amazon & Machu Picchu off your travel bucket list! Contact us for more details.
