Amazon Basin & Lake Titicaca – 12 Days

Upon arrival at Lima International Airport, you will receive assistance and transfer to your hotel. Here, you’ll get a briefing on your tour, vouchers covering all included services, and additional information for your Peru trip. Overnight stay in Lima.

Enjoy a free morning to relax and prepare for your unforgettable journey. In the afternoon, at 1:00 PM, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a guided sightseeing tour of Lima, known as the ‘City of Kings.’ This excursion offers a perfect blend of Lima’s diverse attractions and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary. Learn about the various pre-Columbian cultures that thrived here for thousands of years, and how Lima became part of the Inca Empire before its founding by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. Overnight stay in Lima.

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Lima Airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, you will be met, assisted, and transferred to our office in Puerto Maldonado for registration. Then, drive along a dirt road to the port of the Native Community of Infierno, where you’ll board a boat along the Tambopata River. This scenic journey leads to your lodge, nestled on the riverbanks within the buffer zone of the Tambopata Candamo and Bahuaja Sonene National Park. Along the way, observe lush cañabravales, cecropias, and ficus trees, as well as diverse riverine fauna like weaving birds, herons, macaws, parrots, and toucans. In the afternoon, your guide will lead a walk to observe the local flora and fauna around the lodge. Enjoy a delicious traditional dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.

Following breakfast at the lodge, take an early morning boat trip to observe the activity of various birds (psittacidae, macaws, parrots, and parakeets) at the nearby La Torre clay lick. Occasionally, you might spot deer, capybara, and squirrels. The La Torre clay lick, similar to others along the Tambopata River, features a 13-foot high, 65-foot long embankment, with an observation hideout providing excellent viewing from approximately 100 feet away. Next, visit a Native Community Farm, where local people practice traditional farming methods. You’ll learn directly from a farmer about exotic Amazonian fruits like copazú, arazá, pijuayo, and yuca, as well as species such as pajillo and sacha cilantro. The farm also hosts various medicinal plants like piñón, caña caña, and piri piri, commonly used by the communities. Return to the lodge for lunch before traveling downriver for 15 minutes to begin a 45-minute walk to Tres Chimbadas Lake. On the lake, you’ll board a traditional oar-powered catamaran. The lake is home to diverse birds such as shanshos, needle ducks, herons, and kingfishers, along with some reptiles and mammals. Importantly, the lake hosts a family of endangered Giant River Otters, offering frequent opportunities for observation. There will also be a demonstration of traditional fishing methods, where you might even spot the famous piranha fish. Return to your lodge in the afternoon for overnight.

After breakfast at the lodge, return to our office in Puerto Maldonado before heading to the airport. Your guide will assist you with the requirements for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted, assisted, and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for acclimatization to Cusco’s altitude. Overnight stay in Cusco.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by a free morning for continued acclimatization. At 1:30 PM, you’ll be picked up for a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco. Visit the magnificent Koricancha Temple of the Sun, one of the most important shrines during Inca times. Explore the impressive Cathedral, the most imposing church in the main square. The tour continues to Sacsayhuaman, a megalithic Inca masterpiece built with enormous stones, demonstrating extraordinary Inca perfection and overlooking the city from the north. Next, visit Qenqo, a unique limestone outcrop used for religious rituals. The tour concludes with visits to Puca Pucara and Tambomachay. Overnight stay in Cusco.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a full-day visit to the impressive Sacred Valley of the Incas. Your first stop is the village of Qorao, where you can capture beautiful landscape photographs from a lookout point. Continue to Pisac, exploring its archaeological site and vibrant Indian market. Enjoy lunch in the Sacred Valley. Afterward, visit the formidable Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo, strategically built to guard the entrance to this part of the Valley and protect it from possible invasion by jungle tribes. The fortress consists of a series of stepped, carved stone terraces accessed by long staircases. Conclude your day in Ollantaytambo, where you will spend the night.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a full-day excursion to Machu Picchu. You will be transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station for a scenic journey to Aguas Calientes. From there, a bus will take you up to the majestic citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Enjoy a comprehensive guided tour, discovering its temples, terraces, and ancient residences, learning about its history and mysteries. After your visit, descend to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll have time for lunch before taking the train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred by car or van back to your hotel in Cusco.

After breakfast in Cusco, you will be transferred to Cusco Airport for your flight to Juliaca, the nearest airport to Puno. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in Puno, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The rest of the day is free for you to acclimatize to the high altitude (around 12,500 feet / 3,812 meters above sea level). You may opt for an afternoon visit to the pre-Inca burial towers of Sillustani, offering stunning views of Lake Umayo. Overnight stay in Puno.

Today, embark on a full-day boat excursion on Lake Titicaca. Your first stop will be the unique floating islands of Uros, where you’ll learn about the fascinating lifestyle of the indigenous people who live on reed islands they continuously rebuild. Afterward, continue to Amantani Island, a traditional agricultural community. You will be welcomed by a local family for an authentic island homestay experience, sharing their traditions and culture. Enjoy a traditional dinner and participate in cultural activities. Overnight stay with a local family on Amantani Island.

After breakfast with your host family on Amantani Island, bid farewell and board your boat to Taquile Island. Here, you’ll discover a community renowned for its exquisite textiles, recognized as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Enjoy lunch on the island and learn about the local customs and weaving traditions. In the afternoon, take the boat back to Puno. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay in Puno.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Juliaca Airport for your onward flight, concluding your incredible 12-day journey through Peru’s Amazon Basin, Inca heartland, and Lake Titicaca.