Andes & Amazon Explorer

On this Custom program, Andes and Amazon adventure through Peru, you will discover splendid mountain panoramas, astonishingly diverse wildlife, the natural richness of the Amazon Rainforest — all a rich human canvas spanning thousands of years. Each day of this Amazon and Andes itinerary offers unforgettable wonders.

Consider the itinerary as a model, and as it is, involves no overnight trekking or camping. It is an active  adventure with ample opportunity to hike on each day of the trip. Since this is a custom program, you can choose your hotel type, including an unforgettable night in a native home on Taquile Island in 12,500-foot high Lake Titicaca; you can add other short programs such as the Nazca Lines or other options.

Our guides are talented English-speaking Peruvians who contribute enthusiasm and valuable personal insights into the past and present of this astonishing region. On your custom/private trip, you will appreciate the individual attention from your guide on one of the most exciting programs you will find anywhere in South America. Contact us and we’ll adjust the itinerary to your liking.

Custom Program, based on a 15 Day itinerary

Departures: any day throughout the year

Land Cost, from Lima, per person: to be determined on an individual basis, based on your particular itinerary. Contact Andean Treks so we can set up an itinerary designed for you, and we will get a quote to you as soon as possible.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Saturday   Arrive Lima

We meet you on your arrival in Lima airport and check you into the comfortable airport hotel for overnight. (Note: Breakfasts are included daily.  Other meals included in land cost are designated as L (Lunch) BL (Box Lunch) and D (Dinner).

Day 2 Sunday Arequipa

We fly to Arequipa, an attractive city at 2,380 m./7,806 ft.   We transfer to our hotel overlooking the Chili River, with the classic view of El Misti Volcano just to the west. You have the remainder of the morning free to acclimate.  Arequipa’s major sites are within easy walking distance of our hotel, and we spend the afternoon touring the most popular of these:  the Santa Catalina Convent, and the Museo de Santuarios Andinos, better known as the Inca Mummy Museum.

Day 3 Monday To Lake Titicaca

We travel by van up into the highlands on a good highway which climbs clockwise around the western flank of Chachani Volcano. At Pampa Cañahuas, a high plain north of Chachani, we see troops of wild vicuñas, the graceful relative of the llama and alpaca.  The country is relatively dry, and we pass few signs of habitation along our route until we cross a 4,528 metre /14,852 ft pass and descend into the basin of Lake Titicaca.  The highest navigable lake in the world at 3,856 m/12,650 ft, Lake Titicaca is intensively settled around its whole margin.  The deep waters of the lake buffer the cold nights at this elevation, making the basin less harsh for agriculture than many highland zones of lesser elevations.   The huge inland sea is 110 miles in length and some 45 miles in width, and is rimmed on its eastern edge by the impressive snowpeaks of Bolivia’s Royal Range.  We visit the famous burial towers at Sillustani, then continue to our hotel overlooking the lake, in the attractive countryside just east of the city.  BL

Day  4 Tuesday  Taquile Island

We transfer to the port, and board a launch for the 3½-hour cruise to Taquile Island.  Taquile’s rocky terraced slopes rise steeply from the waters in the center of the lake.  Formerly a private hacienda, the Quechua-speaking islanders regained ownership in the mid-twentieth century, and have been receiving tourists into their homes since the early 1980’s.  Half a century ago, a trip to the island was an adventure, often an overnight trip in precarious sailboats.  Now cooperatives of island families operate comfortable motor launches to make the trip a delightful immersion into another world.  We spend the afternoon hiking on the island.  Overnight in native homes. L

Day 5/Wednesday Taquile Island/Puno

We have a second day to explore this entrancingly beautiful and peaceful island.  Only four miles long and less than a mile wide, the island has hidden beaches, hilltop shrines, and a gentle and industrious population of Quechua peasants who welcome us wherever we go.  We depart by boat in the afternoon, and visit the astonishing floating reed island communities of the Uros Indians.  Return to the mainland, overnight in hotel.  L

Day 6 Thursday  La Raya Pass/Cuzco

We travel westward across the northern Peruvian Altiplano.  The mountains gradually approach as we climb up to spectacular La Raya Pass (4,330 m/14,202 ft).  After crossing this pass, we descend along the beautiful valley of the Vilcanota River.  This important river flows northwest through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Machu Picchu. Beyond the famous Lost City of the Incas, it becomes known as the Urubamba River and then the Ucayali River, as it flows northward into the Amazon. Our major afternoon visit is the magnificent Viracocha Temple at Raqchi.  We continue down into the narrow valley of Cuzco (3,310 m/10,857′).  We check into a comfortable hotel adjacent to the Korikancha, the Inca Sun temple, for two nights.  BL

Day 7 Friday    Cuzco

We spend the morning touring the city’s fascinating streets, pal­aces and temples on foot.  Many of the streets retain the stone Incan walls of the former palaces which made up the heart of the city. Highlights include the Santo Domingo church/Koricancha complex, Casa Kusi Cancha, and San Blas Plaza. Your afternoon is open to visit museums or to shop.  Cuzco’s night life is also full of variety, with strolling musicians contributing traditional Andean music in most of the restaurants.   B

Day 8 Saturday       Pisaq/Ollantaytambo

We depart Cuzco bound for the Sacred Valley of the Incas, so named for its concentration of Inca temples and palaces.  Our first stop is at Saqsayhuaman, the enormous fortified temple overlooking Cuzco.  We continue north, crossing a low pass and descending to the valley at the village of Pisaq.  We follow the road which switchbacks up above the village, to hike amid the amazing ridge-top terraces and sun temple site, high above the village.  Continuing west down this valley, we explore the classic town of Ollantaytambo, with its fortified temple site and extensive irrigation system. Overnight in a comfortable valley hotel.

Day 9 Sunday   Chinchero/Machu Picchu

We travel up and out of the valley to the traditional village of Chinchero for the colorful Sunday market.  Quechua highland natives bring their produce here to barter for sugar, fruit and many other items supplied by traders from the city.   There is a lively section specializing in weavings, pottery and handicrafts of all types.  We return to Ollantaytambo to catch the mid-afternoon train down the spectacular gorge of the Uru¬bam¬ba River to Machu Picchu.  We spend the night in a comfortable hotel in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes, by the river near the base of the granite ridge on which the ruins perch.

Day 10 Monday  Machu Picchu

The famous Lost City of the Incas, one of the world’s most memorable archeological sites, is one of the trip highlights. On our full day here we have time for a thorough tour of the central part of the ruins.   Those who wish to photograph sunrise at the site can take the earliest shuttle bus, which departs at 5.30AM so that you’re able to enter the site when the main gates open at 6.00AM (the sun clears the eastern ridges around 7.15AM).  We return in the afternoon train to Ollantaytambo, and continue by van to Cuzco.  Overnight in our hotel.

Day 11 Tuesday  Amazon Lodge

We take a 30-minute flight east over the Andes to Puerto Maldonado, and travel by canoe up the Tambopata River to our rain forest lodge in the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve.  After late lunch, we have a short walk on a nearby trail to introduce you to this habitat.  The lodge’s naturalist guides also take us out in the evening to experience the mysteries of the forest at night.   LD

Day 12 Wednesday   Amazon Lodge

We hike to nearby Lago Condenado, an oxbow lake where you may see a variety of birds along the margin of the lagoon.  The lodge’s naturalist guides introduce you to the enormous natural energy and complexity of the world’s largest tropical wilderness. In the afternoon you have an opportunity to swim in the clear waters of a stream near the lodge.  LD

Day 13 Thursday  Amazon Lodge

We take a short canoe ride down the Tambopata River, then hike to a nearby oxbow lake where you may see Giant otters and caimans.   Our excursions afford you an opportunity to experience a variety of rain forest habitats, each with a distinctive, complex community of insects, birds and animals.  You also enjoy time to relax and explore the forest on your own along the network of nature trails near the lodge.  LD

Day 14 Friday    Lima

We return to Puerto Maldonado in the morning, and catch an early afternoon flight to Lima.  We transfer to our delightful small hotel in the quiet Miraflores or San Isidro district.  You have the remainder of the afternoon free.  Overnight in hotel.

Day 15 Saturday      Home — or — Nazca Extension

Airport transfer is included for passengers on 15-day program who depart today.

WITH NAZCA LINES EXTENSION:

The Nazca Lines are the most intriguing of the many remnants of civilizations that prospered along the Pacific Coast for thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Line drawings of figures were created in the desert floor by removing the dark top layer of gravel to expose the lighter sand underneath.  Figures include birds, fish, monkeys, spiders, and thousands of seemingly random lines. On this tour you fly over the lines in small aircraft, with opportunities for photography as well as to view the immense scale and precision of the figures. In addition, you visit an offshore wildlife reserve with thousands of nesting marine birds, penguins, and enormous sea lion colonies. Peru’s coast is a startling and fascinating finale to this exploration of the Andes.

Day 15 Saturday   To Ica

Transfer from your hotel to the bus terminal for the deluxe express bus south along the coast to the desert oasis town of Ica. Overnight in a comfortable hotel with swimming pool. Lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 16 Sunday  Ica

Ica is surrounded by vast sand dunes, and one of the wildly popular activities is taking a dune-buggy ride. Many people try dune-boarding as well. Other popular options are to visit a Pisco distillery, to sample Peru’s famous fiery brandy; and teh local archeological museum, which has an excellection. We include breakfast; lunch and dinner are on your own.

Day 17 Monday  Nazca Lines / Ballestas Islands

After a one-hour drive across the desert, we reach Pisco Airport, near the town of Paracas. We board a single-engine plane for the 90-minute circuit over the famous lines. The pilot positions the plane to optimize your view and photography of the most famous images: the condor, the hummingbird, and many more. No one knows precisely why the inhabitants of these coastal valleys etched lines and figures in the desert some 2,000 years ago. The overflight gives you an inkling of the scale of their achievements.

We continue to Paracas Bay, and board a speedboat for the cruise out to a wildlife refuge on the offshore Ballestas Islands, a cluster of volcanic rock outcroppings. Here you view sea lion colonies, Inca terns, Humboldt penguins, and large flocks of gannets, pelicans and other birds which live off the rich marine resources of the Humboldt current. After lunch, you return to Lima by express bus. We transfer you to the airport for your overnight flight home, or to a hotel (optional at additonal cost.) We include breakfast; lunch and dinner are on your own.

Tour Leadership:  We pride ourselves on the quality, experience, and wide-ranging skills of our guides.  They are Peruvians, fluent in English, born and raised in the Cuzco highlands, who have combined their love of the mountains of their homeland with years of professional training.  They bring to their groups a variety of personal interests ranging from birding to astronomy.  Most of all, they are caring individuals.  They make it their personal goal to see that you make the most of your visit to their land, and that you have the trip of a lifetime.

Included in Land Cost:

All land transportation, in private bus or common carrier where trains are used

Airport transfers on scheduled arrival and departure days

Entrance fees to museums and sites mentioned in itinerary: Santa Catalina Convent, Museo de Santuarios Andinos, Uros Islands, Taquile island,  Raqchi, Cuzco cathedral, Santo Domingo/Koricancha, Saqsayhuaman, Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, entrance to, single-day entrance to Machu Picchu citadel

Shared twin accommodation in comfortable hotels, one night in homes of islanders on Taquile (single hotel accommodation available at extra cost)

Meals as indicated

Tips for group baggage handling

Included in Nazca Add-on:

2 nights hotel (based on sharing accommodations)

Breakfasts

2 Lima tranfers

Express bus Lima/Ica/Lima

Ballestas Island Tour

Nazca Lines overflight with Local Guides

Not included in land cost:

International and internal airfare

Airport fees & border taxes

Beverages with included meal

Meals not specified as included in the itinerary

Insurance, laundry, and other items of a personal nature

Your guide’s tip

INRENA visitor fee for the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone.  Payment for this ticket is collected directly from passengers in Puerto Maldonado by lodge personnel. For lodge programs in lower river:  currently US$12.00 (subject to change).

Not included on Nazca Add-on:

Lunches and dinners, tips to guides

We can choose from a wide array of wonderful hotels to find those that fit your style and budget. 

 Hotel José Antonio (Lima)

This 84-room tourist-superior hotel boasts a great location in the exclusive district of Miraflores, just four blocks from the Pacific Ocean boardwalk and the popular LarcoMar Center. Guests may stroll up to the Parque Kennedy, the social heart of Miraflores, with its lively cafe and restaurant scene and shopping opportunities. Maison D’Elise The Maison d’Elise Hotel is an attractive mix of colonial and Mediterranean style architecture. All the rooms have private bathrooms, telephone, cable TV and fridge as well as a private terrace. There’s a nice lawn with a small pool, and also good views of Misti Volcano.  Hotel Taypikala Lago

This lakeside hotel is located in a small picturesque village called Chucuito about 20 minutes from Puno. Enjoy fabulous views over Lake Titicaca while enjoying dinner in their excellent restaurant. Taquile Island Homestay

Taquile Island families began offering homestays in the early 1980’s.  Participating families added a dedicated bedroom to their adobe and stone house compounds.  These simple rooms include two beds with mattresses made of totora reed harvested from the lake;  woolen blankets, and homespun cotton sheets.  Dinner and breakfast may be provided by the family, or visitors may eat in the village.   Water is provided in ceramic jugs drawn from a well.  Visitors use outhouses located adjacent to the house compound.   The views to the star-filled sky at night, and to the 20,000-foot peaks of the Royal Range add to the experience of peace and tranquility. Hotel Royal Inn

The hotel’s location on a quiet street just half a block from the Plaza de Armas puts you in the heart of Puno.  Rooms in this 4-star hotel are comfortably appointed. One of the most appreciated features in this town at 12,500 feet above sea level, where nights are cold, is the radiant floor heating.  Guests enjoy excellent service from receptive staff. Hotel Taypikala Cuzco

Hotel Taypikala’s location on a quiet cul de sac behind the famous convent of the Qorikancha affords guests a welcome respite from Cuzco’s noisy streets.  Yet you’re just three blocks from the Plaza de Armas, an easy stroll to all the popular tourist services. The colonial style of the hotel and the Andean style interior decor create an atmosphere that invites you to relax. The patio is the ideal place for sunbathing or on mild summer nights to enjoy a glass of wine or a steaming cup of coffee in the romantic glow of torches. Sacred Valley Lodge

This 16-room country inn in the traditional community of Yanahuara is perfectly scaled to the landscape and its environment.  It’s an excellent choice for families and small groups who want to be in touch with authentic Peruvian countryside.  Far enough from the busy main highway to be quiet, it’s only 15 minutes to the Ollantaytambo train station for your Machu Picchu train. Guest rooms are spacious with views over the beautiful countryside. Hostal Presidente

This cozy mid-range hotel looks out directly onto the Vilcanota River, and is just a block from the central plaza in Aguas Calientes.  All rooms have private baths with 24-hour hot water.

Q: What do you mean by a “Custom” program?

A: We have chosen to offer this program on a custom or private basis which gives you the freedom to adjust the suggested itinerary to your preferences. You can add some components, or omit others. You can choose your hotels to work with your preferred style and budget. And you can choose when you’d like to travel rather than confine your options to a few selected group departure dates. You will be in your own private group of 1 or 2 or more, with your own guide with whom you will develop a close relationship as he/she is available just for you.

Please note: We prepare your program many months in advance of your trip. We will attempt as much as possible to adhere to the program described on your itinerary, but we reserve the right to modify the itinerary at any time. Any additional costs due to flight cancellations or rescheduling, unusual road, river or ocean conditions, political or labor unrest or other circumstances beyond our control are the responsibility of the participant.

Quick Facts

  • Custom program designed to fit your preferences
  • Model itinerary: 15 days with 10 nights hotel, 1 night homestay, 3 nights Amazon lodge
  • Explore Lake Titicaca and Taquile Island
  • Visit Cuzco’s magnificent Inca and colonial ruins
  • Enjoy a full day at Machu Picchu
  • Browse the traditional market in Chinchero
  • Discover the wonders of the Amazon rain forest

Amazon River Luxury Cruise

Amazon River

Indulge in a luxury Amazon cruise onboard the Aqua or Aria yacht on the Peruvian stretch of the river, experiencing the natural beauty of the rainforest while appreciating the comfort and luxury of a custom-designed Amazon River cruise yacht. Each day brings new discoveries as you explore remote areas along the river, hike in the rainforest to view wildlife, and meet the local people.

Choose from 4, 5, or 8 days, with weekly departures Saturday and Tuesday on Aqua, Monday and Friday departures on Aria. 

Each day you encounter amazing new wonders as you journey toward the source of the mighty Amazon in one of the luxurious yachts, accompanied by naturalist guides. Explore small inlets and winding river systems that make up the flooded forest. Pacaya Samiria Reserve, located on the headwaters of the Amazon basin, spans more than five million acres. At twice the size of Yellowstone Park, it teems with wildlife and aquatic life. Here you’ll see hundreds of species, including the endangered pink Amazon dolphin, black caiman, and three-toed sloth.

Choose from two river yachts:

M/V Aqua: Accommodates up to 24 guests plus crew; 130 feet long

M/V Aria: Up to 32 guests plus crew; 147 feet long.

These luxury yachts are the perfect size for Amazon river cruises, providing sumptuous lounge, dining and sleeping accommodations and modern navigation technologies and standards for cruise ship travel and safety.

Daily river-based excursions on comfortable launch boats allow guests to experience such wonders as viewing pink dolphins and six-foot-wide water lilies, fishing for sharp-toothed piranha, and interacting with the people who live out their days along the river. 

2016-2017 Departures: Tue & Sat (Aqua); Mon & Fri (Aria), all year / 4, 5 or 8 days

Rates, per person in standard double cabin (please contact us for rates on the master suites)

2016 & 2017:

20164 Days5 Days8 Days
M/V AQUA YACHT, Suite$3,330$4,440$7,770
M/V ARIA YACHT, Suite$3,480$4,640$8,120
2017   
AQUA YACHT, Suite$3,459$4,660$8,155
ARIA YACHT, Suite$3,645$4,860$8,505

Single Supplement: +25%

Childrens’ Discount: ages 7 to under 12, 20% discount

Triple Rates: 3rd person sleeping on sofa bed: 20% discount; 3rd person child under 12 on sofa bed rate is $500/night

Additional Fees: Internal airfare Lima/Iquitos/Lima: approximately $440 round-trip on Lan Peru, subject to change

Included in the land cost: all meals while onboard; all excursions, non-alcoholic beverages and wine and beer; transfers to/from vessel when arriving on recommended flights; Pacaya Samiria entrance fee.

Not included: International airfare; internal air tickets to/from Iquitos; guide and crew gratuities, boutique purchases.

Choose from an 8, 5 or 4 day Amazon cruise

8 days: Enjoy the best of all worlds on the most complete Amazon River cruise and experience the Amazon’s three powerful tributaries: the Marañón, the Ucayali, and the Puinahua as well as several hidden black water lakes.

5 days: From Iquitos, you travel by land transportation to Nauta where you board the yacht, then explore the Ucayali River and the Amazon River and tributaries.

4 days: From Iquitos along the Amazon River to Nauta, followed by the Marañón River and estuaries.

1. When is the best time to visit the Amazon in Peru?

The Amazon River in Peru has basically has two seasons, a high water season (December-May) and a low water season (June-November). Traveling to Peru in either season offers rich rewards, fabulous sites, amazing opportunities to view plant and animal life, and hot weather with some rainy days here and there.

Two key points to remember, as you choose which season to visit Peru for your Amazon river cruise:

  • There will be some rain whichever season you choose, and you will see spectacular wildlife and plant life whether you go in either season.
  • The Amazon basin is as rich and lush and green as it is because of the abundance of rain (12 feet a year on average). In a typical year, the Amazon River rainforest has 200 rainy days, which means that there will be days of heavy rain even in the low water season.

The High Water Season, December-May Peru’s rainy season runs from December through May–summer and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the “relatively” cooler and wetter season when the Amazon region receives a little more than half (60%) of its total rainfall. During the high water season the average temperature is 86 degrees Fahrenheit, 12 degrees cooler than in the low water season.

There are great benefits to taking an Amazon cruise in Peru at this time of year: Perhaps most important, the Amazon Basin’s rivers and streams are about 23 feet higher than they are during the low water season, and every river, creek and lake is navigable. Thus, you are able to explore more of the waterways of Amazonia by skiff and will have access to areas with more plant life and wildlife than during the low water season.

The flooded waterways put travelers much closer to the Amazon jungle canopy, where monkeys play and the beautiful Amazon birds like to roost. In fact, you are very likely to see many more mammals, both monkeys and others, during the high water season.

Enhanced navigation by water has a flip side, however, areas to walk and hike are sometimes limited at this time. If navigable hiking trails are found, there will be more mosquitoes than in the low water season.

Fishing in the Amazon River is more limited during these months too, but you still have close to a 50:50 chance to get out your rod and reel and make a catch.

The Low Water Season, June-November Although technically it’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the warmer season on the Amazon River, with temperature averaging about 98 degrees Fahrenheit, and, despite its name, the low water season still exhibits some heavy rains.

Benefits to choosing Low Water season for your Amazon River cruise:

  • Trails and jungle paths that are flooded from December to May are now easily accessible, allowing you to explore deep in the jungle by foot, and accompanied by fewer mosquitoes than during the flooded season.
  • Fishing is 100 percent guaranteed . . . you even stand a fair chance to catch a piranha. And while you are farther below the birds that roost in the Amazon jungle canopy, you will have the chance to see dozens of species of migratory birds in flight, something you would completely miss during the high water season.
  • The flip side of this is that water levels on the Amazon River and its tributaries are much lower, which means that many of the creeks and lakes that are accessible during the rainy season are inaccessible.

The Bottom Line: The Best Times to Visit Peru’s Amazon If seeing the glorious high watered forest and getting close-up looks at lots of birds and mammals (and enjoying a slightly cooler temperature) sounds attractive, then the December to May season might be your best choice. (Remember: Despite being the “rainy” season, the Amazon only gets about 10% more rain than falls in the low water season.)

If jungle hikes, seeing exotic migratory birds perch on trees as they pass through Amazonia, still having the chance to see monkeys and other mammals, and going on great fishing expeditions top your list, you might be happier choosing the warmer, low water season.

Perhaps the best solution of all is to choose one season this year… and the other in the future! Regardless, whichever season you choose, your luxury cruise down Peru’s Amazon will be an unforgettable experience.

2. What is a typical day like?

Each Amazon cruise includes many optional 2 to 3-hour excursions into Amazonia on remote tributaries where you spot monkeys and birds along a jungle trail, visit a local village, go fishing on one of Amazonia’s beautiful lakes, and much more. The M/V Aqua and the M/V Aria are equipped with three and four auxiliary aluminum skiffs respectively that take you along the waterways, or ferry you to the landing point for onshore excursions. Each of our excursions is led by a trained and knowledgeable naturalist guide who is fluent in English and/or French. You have plenty of time to explore, listen to your guide’s explanation, and photograph the abundant wildlife.

Most days your excursions start after your sumptuous breakfast. After 2-3 hours you return to refreshing cold towels, a delicious lunch, and a few hours to relax. The afternoon excursions usually start at 3:00 or 4:00 PM, to get away from the midday sun and heat, and when the birds and animals start to become active again. Return to the yacht with plenty of time to wash up before dinner. There will always be an evening lecture and description of the next day’s activities.

If there are days when you choose not to go onshore for an exciting jungle expedition, you can stay onboard — lie back on a lounge chair, breathe in the Amazon air, soak up the sun, read a good book, watch the ever-changing view, and simply experience total relaxation in the heart of the Amazon jungle.

3. What wildlife am I likely to see in the rainforest?

Your Amazon cruise aboard the M/V Aqua or the M/V Aria takes you into the Pacaya Samiria Reserve (Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria), located deep within the Amazon rainforest at the headwaters of the Amazon River basin. Pacaya Samiria is one of Peru’s most well preserved havens for Amazon wildlife, plants and birding. Since it is only accessible by water, you will become one of only a handful of seasoned travelers ever to have reached this remote, remarkably beautiful destination on the Amazon River.

The Pacaya Samiria Reserve spans more than five million acres, twice the size of Yellowstone Park, rich with wildlife and aquatic life. In winter, when the river is high, you can explore the small inlets and various winding river systems that make up the Reserve’s flooded jungle. In summer, the river recedes and beautiful sandy river beaches form.

Only about 30,000 people live on the vast tract of land within the Pacaya Samiria area. You will have the chance to meet some of the local people as part of your Amazon cruise experience. In addition, Pacaya Samiria park rangers will show you some of the conservation and sustainability projects that are part of this vast reserve within the Amazon rainforest.

When you arrive at Pacaya Samiria Reserve, you will enter a world filled with birds in neon-brilliant colors, playful monkeys, graceful hawks and herons and millions of butterflies. You will have the opportunity to see hundreds of species, including the endangered pink Amazon dolphin, the three toed sloth — and perhaps, if you are very lucky — a sleek, black jaguar!

In this glorious environment, parrots and macaws perch in trees as though posing … fuzzy orange and black howler monkeys munch on the treetop leaves … pre-historic looking iguanas, like mini-dinosaurs, laze in the sun. You will have the chance to watch long-legged cormorants fish for their dinner, and will probably see alligators cooling themselves in the river, and possibly … from a safe distance … the legendary boa constrictor.

    

Quick Facts

  • 4, 5, or 8 day Amazon cruises
  • 24 or 32 passenger luxurious yachts, the Aqua and Aria 
  • View myriad wildlife, birds and flora
  • Visit indigenous villages & meet the people
  • Enjoy sumptuous meals on board prepared by the renown chef 

Lodge to Lodge to Machu Picchu

Lodeg to Lodge to Machu Picchu

Enjoy 7 days of challenging trekking in the Vilcabamba Cordillera, on the flanks of Salcantay mountain, and overnight in luxurious mountain lodges on the Lodge to Lodge to Machu Picchu Trek. You’ll awe at this exhilarating range of steep valleys, lacy waterfalls, and towering granite snowpeaks.

Five hundred years ago, the Incas united each valley and pass with a network of exquisitely crafted stone highways; life in these mountains has changed little. The Quechua-speaking peasants scattered througzh these high green valleys nurture their herds, till the soil with traditional tools, and make coca leaf offerings to the powerful Apu (mountain spirit) residing in the sacred peak of Nevado Salcantay (6,271 m/ 20,600 ft).

You start this Machu Picchu trek at the enchanting valley of Soraypampa and spend two nights at Soraypampa Lodge with an open day to become acclimated to the altitude and/or to take an optional hike. Continue trekking, spending a night at each of these trekkers’ lodges: Wayra Lodge at Huayraccmachay, Collpa Lodge at Collpapampa, and Lucma Lodge at Lucmabamba. Each lodge has a shared Jacuzzi and fireplace and offers full-service dining for guests. The cozy bedrooms have eiderdown bedding and a private full bathroom. The rooms, which can hold 2-4 people, also have serene views either of snow-covered peaks or lush tropical hillsides.

The Lodge to Lodge to Machu Picchu trek (also called Mountain Lodges of Peru) offers spectacular views, especially at the highest pass at 15,000 ft where you have views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction. You continue at a leisurely pace, enjoying the change from high peaks to lush forest, then to rural areas passing through coffee plantations and orchards.

On Day 6 you catch your first glimpse of Machu Picchu from Llactapata pass, then descend to the Vilcanota River. A short train ride takes you to Aguas Calientes where you spend the night before your visit to Machu Picchu on Day 7.  

2018

Departures: March – December, regular bi-weekly (or more) fixed departures. Minimum 2 trekkers. These are popular and sell out typically a couple of months in advance.  Availability is updated frequently, and new sections are added when demand is high.  Please inquire – we usually can arrange space close to your preferred start date.

2018 Rates, per person, double occupancy:

Low Season, Mar 1-31 & Nov 1-Dec 14$3,530
High Season, April 1-Oct 31 & Dec 15-31$3,890

Singles willing to share a room, 25% supplement; requested or guaranteed single room, add 50%

Day 1      Cuzco to Salkantay Lodge at Soraypampa

Our trek crew picks you up at 8 am at your hotel in Cusco.  We travel west, out of the Cuzco valley and across the Pampa de Anta.  After descending to the town of Limatambo (approx. 1.5 hrs from Cusco), we leave the main highway and begin our climb on an unpaved country road into the high country.  We pass through the mountain village of Mollepata, and soon reach the trailhead at Marcoccasa.  In today’s acclimation hike, we have 4 hours of hiking on a moderate grade ascending a winding mountain track high above the Rio Blanco.  From time to time we reach viewpoints rewarding us with spectacular views to the peaks of Humantay and Soray.  Just when you’ve had enough walking for one day, we reach the broad meadow called Soraypampa, and enjoy our first views to Nevado Salcantay.  We check into Salcantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (SLAR – 3,600 m/11,800 ft), and enjoy a soak in the outdoor hot tub.

The SLAR takes its name from the majestic peak at the head of the valley – the “Salcantay”, the 2nd most sacred peak in Inca mythology and, at 20,500 ft (6,240 m), the highest in the region.

After a warm welcome by our friendly staff, guests are shown to their rooms and have time to wash-up.  A briefing by the fire is followed by aperitifs and dinner.

Day 2       Soraypampa

This day is spent at leisure for rest or activities, depending upon guests’ level of acclimatization.  Guests may take local hikes, or a scramble to a view-point to take in the panorama. In the evening the guide will brief the trekking party on gear and the itinerary for the next four days. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are taken at the Lodge. A packed lunch is available for those choosing to venture out for the day.

Day 3    SORAYPAMPA to HUAYRACCMACHAY

This is the big day: the start of the four-day trek to Machu Picchu. The first part is a gentle grade, crossing Soraypampa up to Salcantaypampa, beneath the terminal moraine of the great glacier cascading off Salcantay’s south face.  Beyond Salcantaypampa the grade becomes noticeably more demanding, as we switchback upwards toward the pass. We reach the highest point on the trek, Salcantay Pass at 4,600 m (15,000 ft) in late morning. At the pass we stop to take in views of snow-capped peaks of the Vilcabamba Range in every direction, the south face of Salcantay towering above us. We will keep our eyes out for Andean condors, often visible in this area.  From the pass we continue our descent toward the Wayra Lodge (3,650m/12,000 ft)(“Wayra”: wind; the place where the wind lives) our destination for the evening. A hot lunch is taken en route. Dinner and overnight at the Lodge (hiking time: 4-6 hours; total excursion time for day 5-7 hours).

Day 4   HUAYRACCMACHAY to COLLPAPAMPA

We continue hiking downhill above the Salkantay River, through increas¬ingly verdant scenery. Cold snack en route. The Collpa Lodge is located in an open promontory at the conflu¬ence of three rivers. We arrive for a late lunch at the lodge, and in time for an optional excursion to a nearby hot spring (day’s hiking time, excluding hot spring, 3-4 hours). Dinner and overnight at the lodge (3,150m/10,300 ft).

Day 5    COLLPAPAMPA to LUCMABAMBA

After an early breakfast we head down the Santa Teresa River Valley, through more populated rural areas with coffee plantations (said to be one of the best coffees in the world!) and orchards. We stop along the river for a hot picnic lunch. From the river it is a short climb to Lucma Lodge (2,000m/6,600 ft), set in an avocado orchard.  We arrive in time to allow for exploration of the village and meeting with members of the local community. (hiking time: 4-6 hours/total excursion time for day 5-7 hours).

Day 6 LUCMABAMBA to AGUAS CALIENTES

We head uphill for two hours towards Llactapata pass (2,600 m/8,500 ft), where we are rewarded for our efforts with a distant but quite special view of Machu Picchu from the southwest.  Our viewpoint is the Llactapata ruins, which have recently been restored. Lunch is provided at the observatory, in view of Machu Picchu. We then begin our final descent to the Vilcanota River through lush bamboo forests and more orchards and coffee plantations (1 hour descent).  Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu are a short, scenic train ride away. (Total hiking time: 4-6 hours).  We then arrive in Aguas Calientes to check-in to the hotel.  Overnight at hotel. (2,000 m/6,600 ft)

Day 7 Machu Picchu

We wake up very early to have breakfast at the hotel and then make our way to the bus station for the ride up to Machu Picchu (30 min).  A complete guided tour of Machu Picchu  (2,350m/7,708 ft) will be provided.  Guests will have about 4 to 6 hours to tour the ruins (there is a lot to do and see).  Afterward, we will return by bus to Aguas Calientes for a hot buffet-style lunch and to go to the train station for the afternoon departure. The train will arrive in Cusco and MLP will drop passengers at their hotels.

Included: This price includes all services from pick up in Cusco on day 1 to drop off in Cusco on day 7. Price includes transportation from hotel in Cusco to Soraypampa on Day 1 and back to hotel on Day 7, all lodging (5 nights in MLP lodges, 1 nights in Aguas Calientes in 4-star hotel); all meals (except breakfast on Day 1 and diiner on Day 7), non-alcoholic beverages: water, tea, coffee, soft drinks, fresh fruit juices free of charge at MLP lodges (only filtered water and tea are available free of charge at the hotel in Aguas Calientes;) the services of a bilingual guide, trains and the transportation of personal belongings on the trek by packhorse/mules and/or porters; guided visit of Machu Picchu Sanctuary (includes entrance, transportation to/from the site and Huayna Picchu permits.) $50 gratuities for service staff (MLP lodge staff, mule drivers and route chefs) excluding guides. Wi-Fi at all lodges and hotels; activities at the Salkantay Lodge & Adventure Resort (except horse riding, river rafting and others on special request) are included.  Pricing is subject to change up until time of booking.

Not included: Tips to trekking guides; massage & spa services; laundry; alcoholic beverages; optional activities: Chakana Inca Cross Excursion, canopy zipline, horseback riding (subject to change.) Bottled water and sports drinks are not included. Local taxes (18% IGV) on meals and lodging applicable to Peruvians, foreign residents in Peru and tourists traveling in Peru for 60+ days.

Do you need permits for this trek? This route is not within the boundary of the Machu Picchu National Sanctuary, and therefore the 500-person limit on trek permits on the Inca Trail does not apply to this route. 

How difficult is this trek?

This is a high-altitude route, requiring at least two days of acclimation prior to commencing the trek. Trekkers should be in good physical condition. While a saddle horse is available for those who need a break from walking, each participant is expected to walk the majority of the route. 

Quick Facts

  • 7 days trekking/5 nights in deluxe mountain lodges
  • 1 night at 4-star hotel in Aguas Calientes
  • 1 day at Machu Picchu
  • Trek around Mount Salcantay to Machu Picchu
  • Enjoy spectacular high Andean scenery
  • Soak away the day’s cares in the open-air hot tubs
  • in/out Cuzco

Before You Go

Moved it signs Under without can’t also shall forth subdue make fifth without you Brought. Fruit firmament creepeth image, man lights. Don’t deep give creature seed a there fill deep which winged heaven over replenish.

Bring greater fruit In evening doesn’t open. After may good there creature so which over seas created spirit male fruitful tree greater you’re dry under fowl abundantly evening blessed it bring for over above.

Them. Divided called seasons, upon make moveth divide our, saying itself. Fly fifth don’t you’ll green first brought. Female. Every won’t Bearing hath our every, created green. Female saying herb own.

1
2