Price per person in US$2,150.00
Number of days: 16 days


Description:

This is our most popular trip combination! It combines an Inca Trail trek, Inca Pathways, with 3 nights in the Amazon (see below). We've even shortened the tour by one day to get you home by Sunday. Travel with us on a once in a lifetime journey of the Inca Trail!

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Lima
Overnight

Day 2-4 Lake Titicaca and its Floating Islands (B,D)
An early morning flight takes us to the shores of mystical Lake Titicaca. Legend
has it that the first Inca rose out of its azure waters. On Day 3 we visit the floating islands of the Uros people and stop for the night on Amantaní Island. Here we split into small groups and overnight with local families. A night on Amantaní is a journey 500 years into the past. Residents till the dry soil by hand and weave all their clothing on small wooden looms. Share in the hospitality of the Aymara Indians and experience a short day in their lives. After breakfast with our families, we make our way back to Puno for night 4.

Day 5 Journey to Cusco
A spectacular bus ride to Cusco crosses the 14,403 feet La Raya pass. Grab a window seat and enjoy Peru's altiplano. On the way we stop to explore a small Inca site and walk among a herd of llamas and alpacas. Our final destination is the Navel of the World--Cusco, Peru!

Day 6 Explore Cusco
Andean history comes alive in Cusco. Quechua speaking descendents of the Incas fill the streets and markets, colonial churches sit atop bases of smooth stonework laid centuries before the Conquistadors, and campesinos in colorful dress move busily back and forth across the plazas. The morning is yours to wander Cusco's narrow streets. In the afternoon our tour leader takes us through Cusco's local market and explains a bit about what we find in the adjacent Witches Market. This evening enjoy a folkloric show at one of Cusco's
typical restaurants.

Day 7 Journey to Ollantaytambo
The small village of Ollantaytambo sits at the base of the last Inca stronghold. Before arriving here for the evening, we visit the ancient citadel of Sacsayhuamán above Cusco, try our wits with the savvy market venders in the village of Pisac, and explore the terracing high above this market town. On our way to Ollantaytambo, we head into the campo (countryside) on a two-hour walk past the tiny village of Moras and nearby Inca salt mines.

Day 8-11 Pilgrimage on the Inca Trail (3B,3L,3D)
Imagine the great Inca civilization as we walk in their footsteps on the Inca Trail to the sacred city of Machu Picchu. Those not wishing to hike will return to Cusco for two free days in and around Cusco. Later, they'll take the train, stay in Aguas Calientes directly below the ruins, and spend an exciting day exploring Machu Picchu. Those of us hiking will be well cared for by our friendly crew of guides and porters. Each day we'll pass by larger and larger ruins. Scenery changes from snow-capped mountains to lush green cloudforest. On Day 11 we wake early for a short walk to the Sun Gate to watch the sunrise over magnificent Machu Picchu. Like the Incas that once journeyed to the sacred city, we too are pilgrims on this inspiring exploration. After a morning tour of the ruins, bus or walk down to Aguas Calientes to rest sore muscles in the local hot springs.

Day 12 Machu Picchu - Cusco
Explore the great city at your own pace today. Climb the pinnacle mountain of Huayna Picchu for one of the most spectacular views of Machu Picchu or wander through the cloudforest on a recently discovered Inca pathway trail to the seldom visited Temple of the Moon. In the afternoon, we travel by train bypassing the Inca Trail as we return to Cusco. At night, travelers from all over the world fill Cusco's restaurants, pubs and dance clubs, providing the most vibrant and unique nightlife on the continent. Dance with Chileans,
Germans, Finns, Americans, Colombians, French, English...the list goes on! Then
toast to our Cusqueño hosts!

Day 13 Sandoval Lake Lodge (B,L,D)
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to the river port on the Madre de Dios River. A 25 minute journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe brings you to the end of the trail into Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-mile walk or rickshaw ride through secondary forest, until we reach a small canal where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards through a flooded forest of 100-foot tall Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are leisurely paddled halfway across the lake to the lodge. After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we once again board the catamaran and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. We return to the lodge around nightfall for dinner. After dinner we will return to the canoes to look for the large and extremely rare Black Caimans. If it's a clear starlit night, we'll take advantage of the stupendous stargazing as we float in the middle of the lake.

Day 14 Sandoval Lake Lodge (B,L,D)
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise, when the resident wildlife is most active. With luck we'll encounter the family of Giant Otters which frequent the lake. Most of the fish-eating water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing should provide excellent views - and photographs - of the prehistoric-looking Hoatzins. After returning for a late breakfast, we set off into the cool understory of the tall virgin forest around the lake. We'll pass through towering wild Brazil Nut trees, and see a demonstration of how our hosts collect, open and commercialize this important natural product. Once we've eaten lunch and had an hour or so to relax, we once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake. We hope to see one or more of the five species of monkeys, like the Brown Capuchin Monkey, which live in the forest near the lake. There is an opportunity again after dinner to try and spot some Black Caimans on the lake, or to go on a short night walk through the primary forest.

Day 15 Sandoval Lake Lodge (B,L,D)
Rising once again at dawn, we have a quick snack before boarding the catamarans to explore the western end of the lake in the hope of an encounter with Giant Otters. After a late breakfast we explore some of the rainforest trails with our knowledgeable resident naturalist guide. As we walk, the forest will be brought to life as our guide explains the ecology of the rainforest and its diverse flora and fauna. We return for lunch, and then have an optional rest for those wanting to escape the early afternoon heat. For those still full of
energy, there is an option to independently explore some of the forest trails. In the cooler late afternoon we will once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern end of the lake, and hopefully experience a spectacular sunset over the lake before returning to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, there is a final chance to look for Black Caiman on the lake, or to go on a short night hike through the forest.

Day 16 Fly Lima and Return Home

Duration: 16 days starting and ending in Lima, Peru. Fri-Sat

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