Amazon & Machu Picchu
Culture Tour
Tour Offered By: Southern Explorations

Trek Duration: 9 days

Immerse yourself in the heart of the Andes on this scenic Peru Tour. Travel through the unparalleled biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest, one of nature's truest marvels. Enjoy strolls through the charming Andean town of Cusco. Reach the magnificent Sacred Valley through the snow-capped mountains of the Inca Empire and continue to the lost ancient city of Machu Picchu. Explore the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu while experiencing the scenic beauty of Peru on this spectacular cultural tour of Machu Picchu and the Amazon.

This Amazon & Machu Picchu Culture Tour is offered by Southern Explorations. Visit its web page for more information including prices, scheduled departure dates, description of accommodations, physical requirements, details of what is included in the tour and to reserve this tour.

Amazon & Machu Picchu Tour Itinerary:

Day 1 (Friday) Lima
Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional museum visits or tours of the city and surrounding sites.

Day 2 (Saturday) Lima - Pto Maldonado - Amazon Jungle Lodge
Accomodations at Posadas Amazonas OR Sandoval Lake Lodge depending on availability. Take a morning transfer to the airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado. A one hour motorized canoe ride up the Tambopata River brings you to the lodge, where you unpack and unwind. Receive a short welcome orientation on the lodge and the Ecotourism Project before the afternoon activity of climbing the Canopy Tower, a 115 ft. (35 m) scaffolding tower where you can experience spectacular views of the river and its surrounding forest. (B,L,D)

Day 3 (Sunday) Amazon Jungle Lodge
Accomodations at Posadas Amazonas OR Sandoval Lake Lodge depending on availability. Rise at dawn for your visit to Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. After an early breakfast, depart from Posada Amazonas by boat and then enjoy a brief walk to the lake shore. From here, embark on a long, easy canoe ride around the lake. Scout out giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, wading birds and other wildlife. Return to the lodge's trails in time for a visit to a small parakeet clay lick. Dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of parakeets congregate here on clear days to ingest clay, creating an incredible photo opportunity. In the afternoon, visit the community's ethno-botanical center. Hike the trails around the center with one of the residents who will explain the everyday uses of forest resources in medicine, construction, food, and fiber. Return to the lodge for the evening. (B,L,D)

Day 4 (Monday) Pto. Maldonado - Cusco
Rise for an an early departure down river to Pto. Maldonado and then transfer to the airport for a short flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire. Our expert guides pick you up at the airport and take you on a quick tour of the beautiful Plaza De Armas. Then travel to your hotel, where you will have the remainder of the day to relax and acclimatize to the altitude (10,856 ft). (B)

Day 5 (Tuesday) Cusco
This day begins with a guided walking tour through the colorful markets of Cusco, the colonial cathedral, and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After lunching on local cuisine, leave for an afternoon tour of Cusco's temples and experience several prominent Inca sights, including: the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with its carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; the small fortress of Puka Pukara that protected the royal capital from attacks; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, we'll return to your hotel to relax or venture out on your own, to further explore the captivating culture of Cusco. (B)

Day 6 (Wednesday) Cusco - Sacred Valley
Embark upon a day-long guided excursion through snowcapped mountains to the legendary Sacred Valley, as majestic today as it was during the ancient reign of the Incas. Along the way, Inca terracing climbs the steep valley walls and the ruined temples of Pisac inspire panoramic views of the jagged granite mountains. Pisac is the location for one of the best textile markets in the Andes. There, test your bargaining skills and enjoy the local culture. After lunch, reach Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. Rest overnight at a local hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B,L)

Day 7 (Thursday) Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu
Your day starts with a short morning walk from the hotel to the train station at Ollantaytambo. Follow the Urubamba River as it makes its way toward the Amazon and the sacred city of Machu Picchu. Emerging from a magnificent cloud forest, arrive at the station where a bus brings you to the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu (7,800 ft.). Use the whole day to explore the famous ruins and then return in the late afternoon to nearby Aguas Calientes to soak in hot springs and dine on local cuisine. We rest overnight at a local hotel. (B)

Day 8 (Friday) Machu Picchu - Cusco
Take the opportunity to see a beautiful Machu Picchu sunrise, and enjoy the whispers of the ancient city before the daily bustle begins. The remainder of the day holds various opportunities for your own exploration, including a climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu or a walk through the lush cloud forest to the Temple of the Moon. The afternoon train takes you back to Cusco, where you are transferred to your hotel. (B)

Day 9 (Saturday) Cusco - Lima - Return Home
On your last day take a morning transfer to the Cusco airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight back home, marking the end of Southern Explorations services. Trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Lima or Cusco can also be arranged. (B)

*Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner

For More Information
Visit Southern Explorations to reserve this Amazon & Machu Picchu Culture Tour. Southern Explorations offers many tour packages to Peru, Costa Rica, the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Bolivia, Agentina, Chile, Patagonia and Panama.