Highlights
- Watch wildlife up-close in the Amazon Rainforest
- Spend two days exploring the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu
- Fly high above the Nazca Lines
An Amazing Andean Adventure is a private, two-week exploration of the most fascinating places in Peru including the Amazon rainforest, Machu Picchu, and the Nazca Lines. Featuring the top, luxury properties and a range of organized experiences including incredible wildlife excursions in the jungle, learning to cook in the kitchen of a local family in the Sacred Valley and a hands-on chocolate-making workshop, this itinerary will delight couples and families alike. Prepare to actively discover the ancient past and vibrant present of a country rich in culture, history and adventure! The experiences and accommodations on An Amazing Andean Adventure can all be tailormade and customized to your preferences – just let us know.
Daily Summary 14 Days / 13 Nights
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Day 1
LimaView on map
Arrival to Peru
An English-speaking Aracari representative will be expecting you from your international arrival, will greet you and give you your customized welcome pack with a booklet of your trip itinerary and other useful information before whisking you off to your hotel, assisting you with all check-in procedures.
Accommodation options
- Day 2
LimaView on map
Surf lesson or Barranco tour & visit to downtown Lima
In the morning choose from a surf class or walking art tour of Barranco. Peru is one of the world's premier surfing destinations with almost 2,500km of pacific coastline. Head to Lima’s Costa Verde shore for for a professional lesson, with boards to suit different ability levels. Alternatively, spend the morning with a walking tour of the bohemian distric of Barranco. Originally a trendy seaside resort for wealthy Lima residents at the beginning of the 20th century, Barranco features interesting architecture alongside art galleries, craft shops and trendy ateliers.
In the afternoon visit Lima's key historical sites. One of the main fascinations of Lima is the concentration of ancient history in the area; not only do the origins of the city pre-date the Spanish foundation of the city by several millennia, its museums are full of the artistic treasures of magnificent pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished throughout the coastal deserts of Peru. Begin to unravel this multifaceted history and discover the complex past of this fascinating city with a visit to the colonial area of Lima featuring the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Main Square with its beautiful baroque style buildings. You will also have a chance to visit Casa Aliaga, reportedly the oldest home on the Continent and still family-owned after 17 generations.
Accommodation options
- Day 3
Lima - Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Fly to Puerto Maldonado
Fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado. You will spend your first night in the Amazon at the authentic and comfortable Refugio Amazonas, followed by two nights at Tambopata Research Center, located deeper in the rainforest inside the 3.7 million acres of protected jungle of the Tambopata National Reserve. Both are Rainforest Alliance Verified lodges. A two and a half hour boat ride takes you to Refugio Amazonas, with lunch on board. In the evening, take a night boat ride to spot caiman.
Accommodation options
- Day 4
Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Wildlife watch and journey to Tambopata Research Center
Following breakfast, climb the 25-meter scaffolding canopy tower for views of the primary rainforest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve. Once at the top, enjoy views of toucans, parrots or macaws flying along the horizon. Then transfer four and a half hours by boat to the Tambopata Research Center, which lies in the pristine heart of the Tambopata National Reserve. As you cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, you will leave the final traces of human civilization behind. Within the 700,000 hectare reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent. Arriving at Tambopata Research Center, head out on a hike to see monkeys and stunning views of the Tambopata River before enjoying dinner and a wonderful educational lecture on lodge-based conservation initiative: the Macaw Project.
Accommodation options
- Day 5
Tambopata National ReserveView on map
Spot colorful parrots and macaws at clay licks
On most clear mornings dozens of macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, you will observe green-winged, scarlet and blue-and-gold macaws as well as several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest the clay. After your visit to the clay licks, walk along a five kilometer trail through the lush rainforest and past several creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahuacos trees you will look for squirrel, brown capuchin, and spider monkeys as well as peccaries.
Wildlife watching continues after lunch at a pond, with the possibility to spot waterfowl such as muscovy ducks, sunbitterns and hoatzins as well as woodpeckers, flycatchers and parakeets. After dinner, you will have the option of participating in a night hike to view mammals and frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.
Accommodation options
- Day 6
Tambopata National Reserve - Sacred ValleyView on map
Fly to Cusco and drive to the Sacred Valley
Following breakfast, board your boat for your return journey to the river port, where you will be transferred by land to Puerto Maldonado airport to fly to Cusco and drive to the Sacred Valley.
Accommodation options
- Day 7
Sacred ValleyView on map
Visit traditional villages in the Sacred Valley
Learn about rural life by visiting local villages with responsible, community-based tourism tourism initiatives. Tierra de las Yachaqs project welcomes visitors to its villages for meaningful cultural interaction that provides alternative livelihood opportunities for the community. You can lear traditional Andean cooking from the locals, tend, tend to the farmlands or hike around the village for a taste of rural life. Alternatively, visit a traditional weaving village supported by the non-profit organization The Center for Traditional Textiles. Learn about weaving techniques and typical ways of life with lunch in the community.
Accommodation options0
- Day 8
Sacred ValleyView on map
Stand up paddleboarding and biking or Visit Chinchero, Maras and Moray
Choose between activities today in the Sacred Valley.
Stand up paddle boarding & biking: Paddle board surrounded by views of snow-capped mountains and high altitude plains. After a gourmet picnic lunch on the shores of the lake, set off down dirt roads and llama tracks by bike to the pre-Inca salt mines of Maras.
Visit Chinchero, Maras, and Moray: Visit the ruins of Chinchero and its neighboring local Sunday market. After lunch visit the salt pans of Maras which have been in use since pre-Columbian times. Nearby Maras lie the enigmatic Inca terraces of Moray, which were likely used for agricultural experimentation.
Accommodation options
- Day 9
Sacred Valley - Machu PicchuView on map
Visit Ollantaytambo with lunch on a farm. Take a train to Machu Picchu
Today visit the fabulous town of Ollantaytambo and its ruins. It was here that one of the greatest battles of the Conquest was fought, and one of the few where the Incas defeated the Spaniards. Afterwards visit a farm for a traditional Andean Pachamanca lunch. Pachamanca is a traditional Inca cooking technique where meats, potatoes and vegetables are cooked with earth-ovens. Enjoy lunch under a thatched roof with spectacular views of Ollantaytambo ruins.
In the afternoon take the scenic vistadome train to Machu Picchu. The journey from Ollantaytambo is approximately 1.5 hours. Upon your arrival to Aguas Calientes you will then board a a bus to the ruins. The main destination on many travellers’ lists, the ‘lost city of the Incas’ is a man-made marvel that has become a symbol for the ingenuity and prosperity of one of the most expansive empires in Latin American history.
Accommodation options
- Day 10
Machu Picchu - CuscoView on map
Visit Machu Picchu and take the Vistadome train to Cusco.
This morning, visit Machu Picchu again ruins. Optionally hike to the Sun Gate, Huayna Picchu, or Machu Picchu Mountain, for spectacular panoramic views from above. Following your visit, take the bus back to the town of Aguas Calientes and board the Vistadome train. Transfer to your hotel in Cusco.
Accommodation options
- Day 11
CuscoView on map
Visit Cusco on Foot with a Chocolate Workshop
Since its narrow alleyways were originally designed by the Incas as a city for walking, start your exploration of Cusco on foot. Begin at the Plaza de Armas, the Main Square, which is marked by the exquisite Spanish Colonial architecture and ornamentation imposed by Spanish colonists to exert religious and political influence. Underneath it all, however, you can clearly see remnants of Inca Cusco in the solid stonework. Visit Koricancha, the most sumptuous “Sun Temple” in the Inca Empire, and the breathtaking Cathedral, a repository for Cusco’s colonial art, as well as many other important archaeological relics and artifacts. You will also stop by the colourful San Pedro market and pass through the charming neighborhood of San Blas. Next, visit Sacsayhuaman, an Inca citadel atop a hill, on the outskirts of the city. Not only are the imposing terraces of masterful stonework a sight to behold, but the vistas overlooking the sienna rooftops of Cusco provide a whole new perspective to the city you traversed.
In the afternoon choose between two culinary experiences, a cooking class with an expert chef or hands-on chocolcate-making workshop. The cooking class gives an introduction to Peruvian gastronomy and a demonstration of the different ingredients that can be found at an Andean marketplace: chilli, chocolate, potatoes, tomatoes, grains such as quinoa, and a variety of tropical fruits. Then it’s time to get cooking - you will learn how to make ceviche, a popular Peruvian appetizer before preparing the main dish, lomo saltado, made with Alpaca meat (ingredients can be adapted to suit dietary requirements). Alternatively, head to the Chocolate Museum to learn about the chocolate-making process with a Bean-to-bar workshop. From roasting coca beans to moulding chocolates, you will make your own sweet treats.
Accommodation options
- Day 12
Cusco - Lima - ParacasView on map
Fly Cusco to Lima and drive to Paracas
Fly from Cusco to Lima and drive by road around 3.5-4hrs to the quaint fishing town of Paracas. There are also seasonal flights directly from Cusco to Pisco, a 30-minute drive to Paracas.
Accommodation options
- Day 13
NazcaView on map
Fly over the Nazca Lines and ride sand buggies.
Today you will visit the world-renowned Nazca Lines, enigmatic, gigantic carvings in the desert that continue to mystify all of those who gaze upon them. Drive to Pisco airport for your overflight of the Nazca Lines and the nearby Palpa Lines, giant drawings of animals and geometric figures ranging up to 300 metres in size, scratched on 220km² of desert plains. Upon arrival at the Pisco airport, you will board a small plane for the overflight. The plane is a Cessna Grand Caravan 208B Series with capacity for 12 passengers, and the flight lasts approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, of which 20 minutes are spent circling over the Nazca Lines and Palpa Lines.
In the afternoon, optionally whizz around the desert on sandbuggies. Navigate this lunar landscape on tracks that go through dunes ranging from 5 to 100 meters high. You can also sand board down the dunes before heading back to your hotel.
Accommodation options
- Day 14
Paracas - LimaView on map
Visit the Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve & Departure
Enjoy a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, an archipelago rich in wildlife off the shore of Paracas. The islands are riddled with arches, tunnels and other wind and sea sculptures where you will appreciate different kinds of sea birds and sea lions. You will also visit Punta Pejerrey, nearly the northern most point of the isthmus and the best spot for seeing the Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped drawing etched into the highest point of a cliffside overlooking the bay.
After your tour of the Ballestas Islands, your guide will be waiting to accompany you to the Paracas National Reserve, Peru’s only marine protected area which extends over a total 335,000 hectares. The reserve was created with the aim of protecting large breeding populations of Humboldt penguins, South American fur seals and sea lions as well as 63 migratory bird species for which this area is an important stopover. During your tour you will have a chance to view native flora and fauna, as well as geological formations along the beaches of this stretch of marine territory and coastal desert. Following your guided visit, you will transfer by private car to Paracas for lunch, before driving to Lima for your departure flight.
Aracari specializes in tailormade travel. Here are just some of our further trip suggestions. Contact us for more bespoke ideas to inspire your travels.
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Itinerary pricing as of 2018
Basic Pricing - US$6,410
- Price is per person, based on a family of 4 in twin/double accommodation, for the full 14-day itinerary
- Based on Hotel Selection 1: JW Marriott, Tambopata Research Center, Sol y Luna, El Mapi, El Mercado, La Hacienda Bahia Paracas
Premium Pricing - US$7,266
- Price is per person, based on a family of 4 in twin/double accommodation, for the full 14-day itinerary
- Based on Hotel Selection 2: Belmond Miraflores Park, Tambopata Research Center, Belmond Rio Sagrado, Inkaterra Machu PIcchu Pueblo, JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Luxury Collection Paracas
What's Included?
This itinerary is based on two people travelling together in double or twin occupancy, excluding flights (international and domestic).
- Includes all specified services in the itinerary description
- All transfers and entrance fees
- A welcome pack on arrival including: a pre-loaded cell phone to contact your travel consultant at any time, a printed booklet packed with insider tips alongside your detailed itinerary and up-to-date recommendations on dining and shopping
- Hand-selected English-speaking guides
- Specialist guides (where noted)
- 24-hour support from our locally based team
- 13 nights in a hand-picked and personally tested selection of Peru’s finest hotels
An Amazing Andean AdventureThe most fascinating places in Peru - Day 2
