Amazon Basin & The Andes – 15 Days

Upon your international arrival at Lima International Airport, you will receive assistance and transfer to your hotel. There, you’ll receive a comprehensive briefing on your tour, vouchers for all included services, and additional information for your Peru trip.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by a free morning to relax and prepare for your unforgettable journey. In the afternoon, at 1:30 PM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a guided sightseeing tour of Lima, the ‘City of Kings.’ This excursion combines the best of Lima’s three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary, highlighting its ancient cultures and its founding by Francisco Pizarro in 1535.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Juliaca (Puno). Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to Puno. En route, visit the famous Chullpas of Sillustani, impressive 40ft-high stone cylinder burial chambers used by the Aymara people for their important leaders. The beautiful Lake Umayo, located in front of the Chullpas, enhances the scenic beauty, and you may spot wild guinea pigs and various bird species.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day motorboat excursion on Lake Titicaca. Your first stop will be the unique Uros Floating Islands. These ancient inhabitants, known as the ‘Water Tribe,’ construct their islands, homes, and boats entirely from ‘Totora’ reeds. Continue your journey to Taquile Island, home to Quechua-speaking natives renowned for their efficient social systems and exceptional hand-weaving techniques. Enjoy lunch upon arrival and explore the island’s hills and archaeological sites. In the afternoon, return to Puno.

Following breakfast, transfer to the bus station for a scenic journey to Cusco. Along the way, you’ll enjoy beautiful Andean landscapes and visit significant sites such as the archaeological complex of Raqchi and the village of Andahuaylillas, famous for its ‘Sixteen Chapel,’ a colonial church built in the mid-17th century. Lunch will be provided in Sicuani before continuing to Cusco.

After breakfast, embark on a full-day tour of the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas. Your first stop is the village of Qorao, offering picturesque landscape views from a lookout point. Next, visit the archaeological site and vibrant Indian market of Pisaq. Enjoy lunch in the Sacred Valley before proceeding to the magnificent Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, an architectural marvel built to guard the valley entrance. In the afternoon, return to Cusco.

After breakfast, depart from your Cusco hotel at 6:00 AM for Km 82, the official starting point of the Classic Inca Trail. Begin your hike by crossing a bridge over the Urubamba River, walking along its left bank. The trail leads you through flat terrain to Miskay (2800m/9184ft), where you’ll ascend to an overlook offering impressive views of the Inca city of Llactapata (2650m/8692ft). Continue trekking along the Kusichaca River valley, gradually climbing for about five hours until you reach the community of Wayllabamba (3000m/9840ft), where your first camp is set.

Today marks the most challenging part of the trek, beginning with an early breakfast and an abrupt, steep 9 km ascent. This climb leads you to the first mountain pass, Abra Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) at an elevation of 4200m/13776ft. Along the way, you might observe domesticated llamas and alpacas grazing on ‘ichu’ grass, and traverse a cloud forest, habitat for hummingbirds, sparrows, and the Andean bear. It’s recommended to keep a well-stocked daypack with candies, chocolates, and coca leaves to help with altitude sickness. After crossing the pass, you’ll descend into the Pacaymayu valley (3600m/11808ft), where you’ll set up camp.

After breakfast, you’ll ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay (3970m/13022ft). As you reach the second pass, the landscape opens to spectacular new views of the snow-capped Pumasillo mountain range. Then, you’ll descend towards Yanacocha and enter the cloud forest, finally arriving at Sayacmarca (3624m/11887ft), a beautiful complex featuring semicircular constructions, various levels of enclosures, narrow streets, liturgical fountains, patios, and irrigation canals. Continuing an easy climb to the third pass, Abra Phuyupatamarca (3700m/12136ft), you’ll pass through an Inca tunnel before descending long stone steps that lead to Wiñaywayna (2650m/8692ft), an impressive Inca agricultural center with numerous terraces.

Today, wake up early to catch the breathtaking sunrise over the magnificent lost city of Machu Picchu. After a short walk, your guide will lead you on a comprehensive tour of the citadel, uncovering its history, mysteries, and significant structures. Afterwards, you will have free time to explore on your own before taking a bus down to Aguas Calientes. Depending on your train schedule, you will return to Cusco by train and bus.

After breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred by boat deep into the rainforest to your comfortable jungle lodge. Settle into your new surroundings and enjoy an introductory walk to begin your exploration of the vibrant rainforest ecosystem.

Spend a full day immersed in the incredible Amazon Rainforest. Your day may include a visit to a spectacular macaw clay lick, a guided trek through the dense jungle to spot monkeys, sloths, and various bird species, or a tranquil canoe ride on an oxbow lake to observe giant river otters and caimans. Learn about the diverse flora, medicinal plants, and the intricate balance of this unique ecosystem.

Continue your exhilarating Amazon adventure with more exciting activities. You might experience a canopy walk for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the forest, or embark on a fishing excursion for piranhas. As dusk settles, embark on a thrilling nocturnal walk, witnessing the jungle come alive with its nocturnal creatures and sounds, a truly immersive experience.

After a final breakfast at your jungle lodge, enjoy a scenic boat ride back to Puerto Maldonado. From there, you will take a flight back to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps exploring more of Cusco’s charming streets or simply relaxing after your jungle adventure.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your international flight schedule, you will be transferred to Cusco airport for your departure, concluding your incredible 15-day journey through Peru’s Amazon Basin and Andes, or to continue your travels in Peru.