Land of the Incas with Peruvian Amazon
Land of the Incas with Peruvian Amazon
Land of the Incas with Peruvian Amazon
17 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Paracas, Nazca, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata National Reserve
Tour operator:
Tour code:
LLIPEM20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Cultural, Gardens & Nature Tours, History, Rail Tours, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the "Land of the Incas with Peruvian Amazon" tour, where you'll explore the rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes of Peru. Begin your adventure in Lima, delving into its vibrant history and local flavors. Discover the mystical allure of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and the ancient Incan sites of Cusco. Experience the serene beauty of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands of the Uros people. Venture into the Amazon Rainforest, where you'll uncover the secrets of its diverse ecosystem and indigenous cultures. Enjoy luxury accommodations and seamless travel, including scenic train rides and private flights. With expert guides and immersive cultural experiences, this tour offers a deep connection to Peru's heritage and natural wonders, making it a truly enriching experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals Included: Dinner
The Capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner at 6 p.m.
Day 2: Lima Sightseeing
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start your city tour taking in of the highlights of Lima. Visit Casona San Marcos, where you’ll enjoy a snack from a local vendor learn more about the fascinating history of this ancient building from Local Specialists. During a short workshop, learn to play the ��cajón” percussion instrument and get an introduction to the basic steps of “musica negra”, a dance that originated in Chincha (near Paracas). Continue to the Main Square of Lima for more views and history. Choose to join a walking tour of Miraflores with a local expert highlighting the popular Larcomar shopping centre and on towards the Kennedy Parkor for dinner at one of the restaurants in “Pasaje de Ramón.”
Day 3: Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley Dive Into Culture Stays With Stories
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We'll fly to Cusco this morning, the gateway to Peru's treasured Sacred Valley, where you will enjoy a local Peruvian lunch with sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Then we'll Dive Into Culture, meeting a Shaman who will perform a special ceremony to welcome us to Peru. Tonight, you'll stay at our Stays With Stories hotel along the banks of the Vilcanota River, on the grounds of an old 17th-century colonial hacienda. It is great for morning birders and afternoon walks in the gardens.
Day 4: Sacred Valley Connect With Locals
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Connect With Locals over a Be My Guest experience lunch, learn about the culture surrounding the production of Giant White Corn. Our hosts will demonstrate the differences between traditional farming techniques and the newer technologies used today. Revel in the romance of the local Marinera dance and local musicians. The marinera is the best-known couple dance on the coast of Peru. It is characterized by the use of handkerchiefs, steps of great elegance and rhythmic music similar to the Aragonese jota, the zamacueca and the Chilean cueca, but with its own Peruvian identity that flaunts the Hispano-indigenous-African miscegenation. For the same reason, over the years Andean and highland versions have emerged. This evening, meet Local Specialist, Peter Frost, a writer, photographer and independent scholar who has explored the Andes and Amazon for 47 years, locating and investigating the previously unknown Inca and pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina. He currently resides in Peru and works as an accompanying expert for National Geographic Expeditions.
Day 5: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: El MaPi
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo, en route to Machu Picchu, a village in the Sacred Valley, set on the Urubamba River amid majestic mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Then, ascend to the Lost City in the Clouds aboard the Vistadome train (light snack included) traveling along the Inca Trail, where you can view hikers and porters along the way. Here you will delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilization, joining your Local Specialist for an exploration of the temples, palaces and terraces whose construction defy imagination. Visit the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved Intihuatana, most likely used as a sundial centuries ago.
Day 6: Machu Picchu – Cusco Dive Into Culture Stays With Stories
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Novotel Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story, spending some time on our own to explore the hill-top fortress. Next, we’ll journey back to the Sacred Valley by train, stopping en route to Cusco to learn about the natural dyeing techniques used by native weavers. Visit the Pisac handicraft market followed by sampling the sweet flavours of chicha, savouring the favourite drink of the Andes.
Day 7: Cusco Sightseeing
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Novotel Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Incan Sacsayhuaman fortress overlooking Cusco. Admire the massive, sacred stonework before your Local Specialist guides you through Cusco’s colonial centre. During your city tour, MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® by visiting the shop of the social project Mantay, a housing and education project for underage mothers to live here and learn a craft or trade. Later, you’ll join another Local Specialist who will reveal insights into the nearby 13th-century Incan settlement of Qoriwayrachina. The afternoon is free to join an optional experience including a visit to the Chocolate Museum, Cusco off the beaten track or the greenhouse and salt wells of Maras & Moray.
Day 8: Cusco – Juliaca – Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly to Juliaca and meet a Local Specialist to learn about daily life on the Peruvian altiplano. After an included al fresco lunch, visit Sillustani, a pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo where striking chullpas (stone tombs) are scattered across the landscape, inviting you to step back in time. Then travel via Puno along the shores to Lake Titicaca, the birthplace of the sun. Here you’ll Dive Into Culture visiting the home of Víctor Coila, his wife Mariluz, and their two daughters for a meal of quinoa bread, potatoes with cheese and authentic chaco sauce.
Day 9: Lake Titicaca Excursion Connect With Locals Dive Into Culture
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Hotel Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Connect With Locals as you cruise the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca, passing floating islands constructed by the Uros people. Next, in the midst of South America’s largest lake lies Taquile Island, where we’ll MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and embark on a private tour to gain insights into the tradition of knitting and weaving for which the local villagers - men and women - are renowned. Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. This experience aligns with UN's Global goal 10, reduced inequalities. Enjoy a lunch here and learn more about the islanders’ unique way of life upon islets make of totora reeds, which grow in the lake, and are attached to sticks driven into the bottom of the lake. Tonight, we indulge in a Regional Dinner at our favourite local restaurant in Puno.
Day 10: Lake Titicaca – Juliaca – Lima – Paracas
Location: Paracas
Accommodation Name: Spa Hotel Aranwa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Return to Lima this morning, then continue your journey to the coastal playground of Paracas. Discover what life is like in Peru’s rural countryside before arriving to Paracas for dinner at your seaside hotel and an evening at leisure. Perhaps there’s even time for a stroll along the Malecon.
Day 11: Paracas – Nazca Lines Flight Dive Into Culture
Location: Nazca
Accommodation Name: Spa Hotel Aranwa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take to the skies, soaring above the coastal desert to see the enigmatic Nazca Lines, gigantic geometric designs viewable only from the air. Next, stop this afternoon at our Dive Into Culture, the Regional Museum of Ica, where we’ll explore the centuries-old cultures of the Paracas and Nazca. Later, we will once again Dive Into Culture during a visit to Bodega El Catador to learn about and taste the finest pisco in the country. The rest of the day is free.
Day 12: Paracas – Ballestas Islands – Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, connect with nature with a Local Specialist, cruising around the uninhabited Ballestas Islands, a 'mini-Galapagos' teeming with wildlife. See the mysterious Candelabra in Pisco Bay, then return to Lima where this evening, we’ll visit the Larco Museum with a Local Specialist. Our journey almost at its end, we’ll indulge in a festive Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden restaurant.
Day 13: Traverse The Inkaterra Forest
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Amazon Field Station by Inkaterra, Puerto Maldonado
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we fly to Puerto Maldonado (internal flight included) and embark on a journey on the Madre de Rios River to our jungle lodge where we meet our guides for the Inkaterra Field Station. Join a Local Specialist for insights into the forest, then keep a keen eye out for shy caiman during a pre-dinner boat expedition.
Day 14: Step Into The Mystical Amazon
Location: Tambopata National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Amazon Field Station by Inkaterra, Puerto Maldonado
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Climb the exhilarating Inkaterra Canopy Walkway for an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from its rooftop. A short boat ride takes us into the Tambopata National Reserve where we’ll hike through the thick jungle, admiring towering green walls of vegetation, the cacophony of birdcalls and the dappled light that filters through the canopy above. Arrive at Sandoval Lake, where you may spot a wide variety of birds, monkeys, giant river otters, black caimans and the elusive anaconda. The perfect end to our day sees us watch the sun set over the lake before heading back to our lodge for dinner.
Day 15: Encounter The Biodiversity Of The Amazon Make Travel Matter
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Amazon Field Station by Inkaterra, Puerto Maldonado
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Discover the Amazon’s otherworldly realm of aguajales rainforest swampland during your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and learn how vegetation has adapted to the exotic species that are drawn here. Here you will also get a chance to visit our organic bio-orchard to discover many of the rainforest’s tropical plants up-close and learn of their healing capabilities. Boldly venture out at night to discover some of the strange species that come alive under deep darkness in the Amazon with our Local Specialist. Stroll quietly as your senses heighten to the mysterious nocturnal sounds of birds, mammals, insects and amphibians wondering close by.
Day 16: Back To Lima Via Puerto Maldonado
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we head back to Puerto Maldonado as your Amazon experience comes to an end. Upon arrival in Lima your meet and greet local guide will walk you to your hotel located right next to the airport. Balance of the day is at leisure.
Day 17: Depart From Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
International flight departure at leisure.
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver are included to guide and assist you throughout the tour.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Accommodation in carefully selected hotels that are tried and trusted is included.
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered in the tour package.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included in the tour.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
The tour includes must-see sightseeing and surprise extras to enhance your experience.
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing during the tour.
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi
Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.
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All Intra-Air Flights
All Intra-Air Flights: Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Juliaca, and Juliaca to Lima, including porter service at all airports, are included.
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Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
Tickets for a scenic train ride aboard the Vistadome to Machu Picchu are included.
What's Not Included
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International Flights
International flights to and from Peru are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees, if applicable, are not included.
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 16 Breakfast (B)
- 8 Lunch (L)
- 1 Farewell Dinner (FD)
Dive Into Culture
- Lima: Dive into the rich history of Casona San Marcos, an ancient building in Lima now part of the property of a university. Learn to play the “cajón” (meaning “box” or drawer”) box-shaped percussion instrument played by slapping the faces with the hands, fingers, or sometimes implements. Continue your musical discovery trying the basic steps of “musica negra”, a dance that originated in Chincha (near Paracas) that is popular during over the Christmas season. Over your lesson, try a snack from a “pregonero”, a vendor who specializes in selling a typical snack through boisterous advertising in the city streets.
- Sacred Valley: We'll Dive into Culture and meet a Quechua Shaman who will perform a ceremony welcoming you to Peru.
- Sacred Valley: This evening, meet Local Specialist Peter Frost, a writer, photographer and independent scholar who has explored the Andes and Amazon for 47 years, locating and investigating the previously unknown Inca and pre-Inca site of Qoriwayrachina. He currently resides in Peru and works as an accompanying expert for National Geographic Expeditions.
- Lake Titicaca: Visit the home of Víctor Coila and his wife Mariluz, and their two daughters, Luz Mery and Carla Mercedes. Join the family to try quinoa bread, potatoes with cheese, and chaco - a sauce made with a kind of clay used in cooking and medicine.
- Paracas: Stop at the Regional Museum of Ica where we'll explore the centuries-old cultures of the Paracas and Nazca.
- Paracas: Visit Bodega El Catador to learn about and taste the finest pisco in the country.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique cultural experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of cultural experiences such as learning to play the 'cajón' percussion instrument and trying 'musica negra' dance in Lima, meeting a Quechua Shaman in the Sacred Valley, and visiting the home of a local family at Lake Titicaca to try traditional foods. Additionally, there is a visit to the Regional Museum of Ica to explore the cultures of the Paracas and Nazca, and a tasting of pisco at Bodega El Catador.
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How does the tour support local communities?
The tour supports local communities through visits to projects like Mantay in Cusco, which provides housing and education for underage mothers. It also includes a visit to Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca to learn about traditional textile art, supporting the local economy and cultural heritage.
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What kind of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour includes luxury air-conditioned coaches, scenic train rides aboard the Vistadome to Machu Picchu, and private flights between Lima, Cusco, and Juliaca, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey.
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What are some of the natural highlights of the tour?
Natural highlights of the tour include a scenic cruise around Lake Titicaca and the Ballestas Islands, a flight over the Nazca Lines, and exploration of the Amazon Rainforest, including a visit to a Palmetum and a canopy walkway in the Tambopata National Reserve.
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What is the 'Be My Guest' experience in the Sacred Valley?
The 'Be My Guest' experience in the Sacred Valley involves connecting with locals over lunch, learning about the culture surrounding the production of Giant White Corn, and enjoying a demonstration of traditional farming techniques alongside newer technologies.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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