LWCS PERU 2024
An exploration from the Andes to the Amazon.
This cultural and natural history tour takes you to all of National Geographic's "Top 5 places to visit in Peru" and more! https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/places-visit-peru-trip
The custom, 14-day itinerary highlights some of the best Peru has to offer, including a diverse range of geography and ecosystems. It is a cultural and natural history tour that explores the scenic realm of the Inca in the Andes, Andean cloudforests, and the Amazon rainforest. It includes a visit to the majestic, mountaintop archaeology site of Machu Picchu, and several days exploring the Inca capital of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley of the Inca and the Manu National Park region. A great introduction to the colorful Andean and Amazon peoples, their environment, history and handicrafts.
The overland route crosses an extraordinary range of life zones from highlands to lowlands, taking us through an array of ecosystems found nowhere else on the planet in such close proximity. We see high altitude farming valleys and traverse stark highland puna, plunge through layers of grassland, elfin forest, layers of lush, ever-changing cloud forest, and then lowland tropical valleys where farmers cultivate coca and exotic fruits. All the way we traverse the habitat of innumerable bird species.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- Lima, the City of Kings
- Cuzco, the Archaeological Capital of the Americas
- Machu Picchu, one of the “new” Seven Wonders of the World
- The Sacred Valley of the Inca including Pisac and Ollantaytambo
- Rainbow Mountain and the Red Valley
- Andean Cloudforest
- Manu Amazon Rainforest
ITINERARY 2024
Day 1, May 22 (Wednesday): Miami - Lima
Day 2, May 23: Lima (B/L)
After breakfast, we depart to the archeological site of Huaca Huallamarco to learn about some of Lima’s prehistory. The restored adobe pyramid Intensive investigations revealed three main occupation periods: before and during the Lima Culture (around 200 BC to 700 AD) by ancient “Hualla" settlers from the Lima valley, the "Ishma" (around the 11th century), and the Incas (15th and 16th century). The on-site museum exhibits findings such as complete mummy bundles, beautiful decorated vessels, gourds, objects for weaving, music instruments, masks and crowns.
We then head downtown to learn of Peru’s rich colonial heritage as we explore Central Lima, with its impressive main square, called the Plaza Mayor or Plaza De Armas and surrounded by such important buildings as the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s house, the Cathedral, and City Hall. The Cathedral of Lima was built on the site of the Inca shrine of the Puma Inti and started by Francisco Pizarro in 1535.
Next stop is the San Francisco Convent, arguably the greatest architectural complex of its kind in Latin America, and includes a network of underground galleries and catacombs that were a cemetery in colonial times.
We can then walk to the Museum of Congress and Inquisition located in an historic building. Exhibits feature the Peruvian Inquisition in place from 1570 to 1820. The Holy Office and tribunal of the Inquisition were located in Lima, the administrative center of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Nearby is Chinatown, where we may have lunch at the popular WaLok “chifa” restaurant and try some Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine.
After lunch we visit one of Lima’s outstanding museums, the Larco Herrera Archeological Museum founded in 1926. The museum is housed in an 18th century vice-royal mansion built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid. The Larco Museum displays an impressive collection of pre-Columbian artwork in a chronological fashion, covering 4,000 years of Peru’s history. It has one of the world’s largest collections of pre-Columbian art including Moche, Nazca, Chimú, and Inca artifacts. The museum also houses a striking display of silver and gold items from ancient Peru.
Day 3, May 24 Cusco - Pisac - Ollantaytambo (B/L)
The first visit is to the Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary. The small zoo allows you to see condors and other rarely seen animals of the Andes. https://santuariocochahuasi.com
Then on to the Inca ruins of Pisaq, which are strategically located on a ridgetop overlooking two scenic valleys that are etched with extensive agricultural terraces.
Afterwards is a special lunch at the Corn Experience. At the farm, you will learn about their maize production and have a corn-themed lunch. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvAZ0NmJJsy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
Later, you continue through the Urubamba Valley with its spectacular mountain scenery that includes quaint villages, terraced valleys, and towering snow-capped peaks - all overlooking the white-waters of the Urubamba River. Much of the scenery looks like it was created just yesterday!
Overnight in Ollanataytambo at the Tunupa Lodge for two nights. The hotel is close to many restaurants and also the train station for next morning travel to Agua Calientes and Machu Picchu. https://www.tunupalodge.com/en/home
Day 4, May 25 Machu Picchu (B/L)
Return by train to Ollantaytambo for a second overnight at Tunupa Lodge.
Expedition Train #81, dep OLLANTAYTAMBO at 6:10am, arr AGUAS CALIENTES: 7:40am
Expedition Train #504, dep AGUAS CALIENTES at 4:22pm, arr OLLANTAYTAMBO at 6:10pm
Day 5, May 26 Ollantaytambo - Cusco (B/L)
Our travel through the mountains allows us to view the impressive salt pools at Maras. The ancient pools form by water emerging from the mountain and the evaporating ponds are still used to extract salt.
We will also visit one of the Inca's engineering marvels, the ruins of Moray. The site's agricultural terraces form a sunken amphitheater that creates a variety of mini ecosystems due to differences in sun exposure, altitude, irrigation, and temperatures. It is thought that the site was used by the Inca to experiment with growing different plants.
Lunch is a special lakeside Andean buffet picnic on the shores of Laguna Huaypo.
Overnight in Cuzco at the Los Aticos B&B for three nights. The hotel is located only 3 blocks away from the Plaza de Armas (Main Square) along a private alley, away from the hustle and bustle of the streets. https://www.losaticos.com
Day 6, May 27 Cusco (B/L)
Next we we explore the immense Inca fortress-temple of Sacsayhuaman, strategically built overlooking Cuzco and learn about its important role during the Spanish Contact Period. You also visit the Inca shrines of Kenko, an outdoor amphitheater and Tambomachay, where a natural spring still feeds ancient Inca baths.
Around 5:00pm is a visit to the Planetarium Cusco to learn about Inca astronomy, geography, agriculture and cosmology. With good weather, we will also view the night skies through telescopes.
Day 7, May 28 Cusco - Rainbow Mountain (B/L)
With time permitting, on the return we can stop at a scenic mountain lake for views and photos. A boxed lunch, water and snacks are provided. Oxygen bottles will be available if needed.
Day 8, May 29 Cuzco - Cloud Forest - Bamboo Lodge (B/L/D)
Then we follow a sinuous ribbon of highway on its plunge through an extraordinary world of forested cliffs, waterfalls and gorges. We take leisurely stops to see mountain villages, a hilltop necropolis of chullpas (pre-Inca burial chambers), and the abrupt ridgetop of Ajanaco, which marks the final high point where the Andes begin their swoop into the Amazon basin. In clear weather we will see a breathtaking panorama of cloud forest and mountain giving way to the lowland rainforest plains far below us. After a picnic lunch near here we descend through the startling and rapid environmental transformations characteristic of the tropical Andes, passing from grassland and stunted trees through elfin forest, until we wind through a lush and magical world of overhanging trees, giant ferns, monster begonias, countless orchids and bromeliads, and a diverse and teeming birdlife. We may make frequent spontaneous stops, perhaps spotting a brilliantly feathered quetzal, a trogon, or the wild turkey-like Guan, and for a chance to see Peru’s dazzling national bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola).
Day 9, May 30 Cloud Forest - Panticolla Lodge (B/L/D)
At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. At the small village Atalaya at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate for about 4 hours down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios River, with great views of the Andes arriving at the Pantiacolla Lodge more or less at noon. The rooms have private toilets and hot showers. Temperatures usually range between 82F during the day and 68F at night.
This area is where the Andes and the lowland tropical rainforest meet and provides the visitor with a chance to see a good selection of birds and plants from both zones as well as endemics to the area. At night, we explore the forest looking for insects, frogs, and the nocturnal wildlife. The forests hold 8 species of monkey, among which the rare Monk Saki Monkey and the only nocturnal monkey on Earth, the Douroucouli. You can also find both Collared- and White-Lipped Peccaries in healthy populations in addition to Coati, Tayra, several deer species, and cats as Puma, Ocelot and the smaller Margay.
The area holds over 600 bird species, and one can see an average of 150 species per day. The list includes rare species as the Black Tinnamou, Little Blue Heron, Harpy Eagle, Buckly’s Forest Falcon, Orange-breasted Falcon, Uniform Crake, White-throated Quail Dove, Blue-hooded Macaw, Dark-billed Cuckoo, Long-tailed Potoo, Hairy Crested Ant Bird, Elusive Antpitta, Cinnamon Tyrant-manakin, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Golden-naped Tanager and many others. There are at least 9 distinct forest types, you can visit easily within a couple of days. It varies from lowland varzea, that floods in the rainy season, to bird rich bamboo forest to high, never flooding, terre firme, and isolated cloud forest. There are enormous Kapok Trees, colorful Coral Trees, many different palm trees, Balsa Trees, and growing on the trees are Anthuriums, Dieffenbachias, Monsteras, Elephant’s Ears and on the beach Cecropia Trees, figs, Caña Brava cane and the little Sensitivity plants.
Day 10, May 31 Blanquillo Lodge (B/L/D)
After exploring again the trails and having a hearty breakfast, we continue our boat ride down the Madre de Dios River toward Boca Manu and the junction with the Manu River. In Boca Manu we may observe how the locals make the riverboats. Here we will also have our picnic lunch and have a chance to swim in the river. In the afternoon we will continue for two hours more to Tambo de Blanquillo where we will spend the night.
The jungle lodge at Blanquillo is locally known as a Tambo. It is a typical communal jungle building called “maloca”, in which one can feel safe and comfortable and still enjoy the surrounding wildlife. The main Tambo is designed following the architectural guidelines of the native huts (communal houses in the Amazon). The housing is austere but surprisingly comfortable and fresh, thanks to the design of the roof, which beside being high, which aids ventilation, is made of many combed leaves of Shebon a typical palm that grows in the area, which cushions the jungle heat. At night, lighting is provided through solar panels and LED lights that provide the necessary illumination in a discrete approach. There are 20 rooms including doubles, triples and singles, all with very comfortable beds. Bath area is not private but commonly shared, but still retains, sufficient privacy due to its design. Hot water is provided by solar panels. The new dining room located overlooking the Madre de Dios River, is equipped to accommodate over 40 people, plus a bar area to relax, watch and especially enjoy the beauty of nature and especially at moonrise, where, in combination with fireflies and the sound of nocturnal animals, provide the sensation of being in a magical world of total tranquility. The same feeling you get at sunrise, when the sounds of the awakening forest transport you to never-never land, all due to the extraordinary location of this facility. With good weather, we will have a night walk into the jungle after dinner. https://tamboblanquillo.com
Day 11, June 1 Manu Birding Lodge (B/L/D)
At mid-morning is a walk through a seasonally flooded transition forest to Blanco Oxbow Lake, by far one of the best rainforests settings in the area. Its environs display different kinds of rainforest habitats and its stagnant waters provide rich nutrients and fish to their usual dwellers, like giant otters and black caimans. In addition, this region displays a number of different microhabitats as a result of ancient rivers moving throughout geological time creating a series of terraces, each containing different types of forest. This mosaic of habitat types (being the tallest the oldest) is one of the reasons these forests are among the richest in the world in terms of biodiversity. A catamaran allows access by paddling around the lake.
At mid afternoon we will take our boat to our next lodge, where we will have a short night walk to be able to observe insects, spiders, tarantula, frogs and perhaps snakes. Here in this lodge we will have the opportunity to spend the night in a hide platform at a mammal clay lick where we could see tapir, peccary, and with some luck even a jaguar.
Day 12, June 2 Boca Colorado - Cusco (B/L)
Back on the boats early in the morning, we head downstream for 2 hours to the small mining village Boca Colorado. During the trip in motorized canoes from Blanquillo there is the opportunity to observe a wide variety of birds, an animals and reptiles sunbathing in the beaches and river banks, being the most commonly found macaws, ducks, caimans and herons. Sometimes if lucky, capibaras and the elusive jaguar can be spotted. Other species sometimes spotted include Osprey, Black Caiman, Roseate Spoonbill, Capybara, and Yellow-headed Sideneck.
Day 13 & 14 June 3 & 4 Cuzco - Lima - Miami (B/L)
After lunch and before returning to the hotel to prepare for departure, we may make a quick stop at a Chocolate Shop, to be tempted by their interesting flavors including, chili, cinnamon, maca (an Andean plant) and lúcuma (a Peruvian fruit). The hotel will have two day rooms available for luggage and refreshing before the flight out.
In the late afternoon, you transfer to the airport for the evening flight to Lima (LA2610, departs Cuzco at 5:40pm, arrives Lima at 7:10pm) and connection to late night international flight back to Miami, arriving early the next morning (LA2480, departs Lima at 11:55pm, arrives Miami at 6:55am on June 4).
You are welcome to call us anytime at 1-239-992-9660, or toll free at 800-446-9660 or email us at travel@GoExploring.com for any questions.
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