Day 1. Lima
Arrival in Lima, and transfer to hotel.
Day 2. Lima – Nazca (B)
Guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, main square, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. Visit the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores. Afternoon transfer to Nazca, 5-6 hours south of Lima
Day 3: Nazca - Paracas – Ballestas Islands – (B)
Early flight over the Nazca Lines; gigantic drawings and geometrical figures engraved in the desert of Peru dating back to 250 AD. With representations of animals, such as a spider, a monkey and several birds, they are believed to be an enormous astronomical calendar or possibly an offering to the gods. Vist the Chauchillia Cemetary. Return by bus to Paracas.
Day
4: Paracas – Lima (B)
Guided tour by boat of the Ballestas islands, known as the "little Galapagos", with its amazing concentration of sea birds and sea lions in their natural habitat. Return to the mainland and a trip to the Paracas National Reserve, the only Protected Coastal Reserve in Peru. Transfer to Lima by Bus in the late afternoon.
Day 5: Lima - Cuzco (B)
Flight and arrival in Cuzco, reception and transfer to Hotel. Afternoon guided visit of the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Return to your hotel.
Day 6: Sacred Valley - Ollyantaytambo (BL)
Full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Inca and then a visit to Pisac markets and Ollantaytambo
Day 7: Cuzco to Machu Picchu (B)
Transfer to the railway station for the 06.00 departure to Aguas Calientes by train and then bus to Machu Picchu ruins. Guided visit of Machu Picchu . This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Later, free time to enjoy this magical and spiritual wonder. Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
Day 8: Aguas Calientes – Cuzco (B)
Morning at leisure or option to return to the magnificent Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco with the 1530 train. Arrival and transfer to hotel.
Day 9: Cuzco – Tambopata Jungle (BLD)
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception and transfer to the Tambopata River port in Puerto Maldonado for the canoe trip to your jungle lodge. After arrival a short orientation and a complete briefing on the lodge before visiting a 35 metre scaffolding tower for a spectacular view of the river, the surrounding forest and an opportunity to observe birds from the canopy including parrots, toucans and macaws. Return to the lodge
Day 10: Tambopata Jungle
Early wake at dawn for a visit to the Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. Here we will take a long, easy canoe ride around the lake looking for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. The giant river otters that are seen in Tres Chimbadas belong to a resident family of nine. Return to the lodge before we continue travel up the Tambopata River for a further 5 hours into the pristine heart of the reserve. Arrival at the Tambopata Research Center. After lunch, we will walk the 1.5 mile Bamboo Trail, a trail that is famous for the abundance of rare birds that live exclusively in this habitat and are endemic to southern Peru. It is also the home of the frequently found Howler and Dusky titi monkeys.
Day 11: Tambopata Research Centre
At dawn we will cross the river and enjoy the world's largest macaw clay lick where hundreds of parrots and macaws of up to 15 species congregate daily.
You can expect to see ten to twelve members of the parrot family. After breakfast we will walk the 1.5 mile Ocelot Trail, a trail which exemplifies the quintessential rainforest. This trail is the one which most often spots ocelot, puma and jaguar tracks, although any one of these three large cats is extremely difficult to spot. We will return to the TRC for lunch and then embark on a 2 mile walk to the palm swamp, a nesting colony and preferred roost for Blue and Gold and Red-bellied Macaws.
Day 12: Tambopata Research Centre
We will wake up at dawn once again to visit the macaw clay lick and then return for breakfast. After breakfast we will take a short five minute boat ride to a small, drying oxbow lake where we will spend the morning on a platform in the middle of the pond observing some of its birdlife, which may include hoatzin, duck, ibis, woodpeckers, chachalaca, parakeets, oropendolas and numerous flycatcher species. We will return to our lodge further down river.
Day 13: Lima
After an early breakfast we will return to Puerto Maldonado for our flight back to Lima and transfer to your hotel. Last night’s accommodation in Peru
Day 14: Lima (B)
Free day in Lima before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
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