Inca Trail and Amazon Rainforest

As the arrival day of this trip, you can arrive whenever during the day. From the airport, an employee with your name on a piece of paper will pick you up and transport you to the hotel. You can feel free to use this day to relax or to explore the city of Lima, which has a beautiful Plaza de Armas, or main square, with a cathedral, the Archbishop’s palace, and the Government Palace.

In the morning of the second day, private transportation takes you from the hotel to the airport, where you will board a flight for the small city of Puerto Maldonado, considered to be the gateway to the Southern Amazon. From the airport, a motorboat takes you to a lodge, hidden away in the forest, which is constructed in such a way to minimize environmental impact. Rooms are clean and cozy, with mosquito nets over the beds, flush toilets, and showers (without hot water). There are kerosene lights for nighttime, as there is no electricity. The hotel staff and guides are almost all locals.

The days in the jungle will consist of exploring the surrounding area, which is full of biodiversity. This is a great location for spotting local animals, especially birds, of which there are over 1,300 species, 32 of which are parrot species. In fact, the parrots of the Tambopata region make up 10% of the world’s population. Other fascinating birds common in the area are harpy eagles, hoatzins, and capped herons. There are also about 200 mammal species in the area, which include tapirs, peccaries, jaguars, ocelots, river otters, and 4 different species of primates. Other good spots are the 1,200 species of butterflies, and you will definitely see many of the 10,000 plant species. You are more likely to hear than see the 90 different kinds of frogs in the area, which are mostly tiny and hard to spot, but at night can certainly speak up. All the plants and animals of the Amazon are protected by law.

On the final day, the motorboat will return you to the airport, where a flight will take you into the city of Cusco. Upon arrival to the hotel, it is recommended to spend a while relaxing and acclimating to the altitude of 3,400 m or 11,000 feet above sea level.

The following morning, you take private transportation down to the Sacred Valley, which is lush and green, supplying much of Cusco’s produce. This beautiful valley is 600 meters lower than Cusco, and is therefore on average 5°C or 9°F warmer, making it a very pleasant location. The tour through the valley starts in Pisac, which is both a modern town with a bustling market as well as the location of Incan ruins. There is an optional 2 hour trek up to the ruins. For lunch, the tour stops in Urubamba, considered the capital of the valley, for a buffet lunch of traditional Andean foods. The final stop is in Ollantaytambo, another modern town with ancient Incan architecture and a significant ruins site. It is the best surviving example of Incan urban planning and is crisscrossed with water channels. This charming town overlooking the Urubamba River Valley is where you stay for the night, in a hostel.

This day starts off with transportation to the Inca Trail checkpoint at Piscacucho, called Km 82. Here, the tour enters the Inca Trail and you begin the challenging hike along this historic path. The first morning, walking along the Urubamba River, you pass two Incan archeological sites, Willca Raccay and, later, the enormous site of Llactapata. At the Cusichaca River Canyon there are views of the Cordillera Oriental and Veronica Mountain. Lunch is in Chamana, and from there the trail continues alongside the Cusichaca River, passing through the village of Wayllabamba. At this point, the trail slopes upward until you reach the first campsite, at 3,850 m.a.s.l., Llullucha Pampa, for dinner and a deep sleep.

One final day to enjoy the magic of the city of Cusco, or just to rest after completing such a difficult trek. You have most of the day free to do whatever interests you around the city. There are plenty of fascinating museums and lots of delicious food to try, as well as a variety of tourist attractions in the city and the surrounding area. Later, you get picked up from the hotel to get taken to the airport for the short flight back to Lima, and then driven from the airport to the hotel where you will spend your final night in Peru.

Free day in Lima. You can explore the capital of Peru – Lima city or you can walk around the Miraflores district and Barranco. Taste the Peruvian food such as Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, etc. Discover the Parque del Amor in Miraflores. 

After an incredible trip throughout Peru, you finally are transported to the airport to leave, at whatever hour your flight is scheduled for. If it is later in the day, this is another good opportunity to enjoy the warmth and beauty of the city of Lima, to walk the streets and eat authentic Peruvian food once more.

Please Note: The return flight to Lima from Cusco can be changed upon request. Also if you want to extend your trip, please let us know in advance and we will be happy to help you!