Peru Vacation – Grand Tours

Itinerary for Peru Vacation Tour: Southern Treasures

Day 1: Lima Arrival in Lima

At the airport you will be welcomed by an experienced River Explorers assistant who will give you important information about the tour and what to expect in the upcoming days.

Overnight: Hotel in Lima.

Meals: (No meals included)

Day 2-4 Amazon Jungle – Tambopata

The first event of your vacation is the Tambopata jungle tour.

A private bus will drive you to the airport, where you will catch a 90-minute flight to Puerto Maldonado (a city in the Amazon Rain-forest). Throughout the flight, you will get an overhead view of some of the most beautiful landscapes Peru has to offer, including:

• The Peruvian Andes
• Peru’s Coast
• The Amazon
• Lakes
• Lagoons
• Rivers
• Snow Capped Mountains

Once your flight lands, you will meet a guide directly at the exit and then take a bus to the river. At the river, you will get on a boat to go to the lodge. You will spend two days exploring the diverse ecosystem of the Amazon jungle at the Tambopata National Reserve.

Once you get to the lodge and enjoy a welcome beverage, you will settle into your rooms for a delicious lunch and some downtime. For food lovers, this is the time to enjoy yourself. The lodge provides local cuisine taken straight from the jungle and other parts of Peru.

Later, you will be able to explore the area surrounding the lodge with a tour guide who can explain the ecosystem, help you to identify plants, and point out animals. A night tour of the Tambopata River allows you to spot caimans and capybaras as they hunt and feed on the abundance that the jungle provides while maintaining a safe distance.

After a good night’s rest, you will take to the National Reserve of Lake Sandoval. This is a nature preserve that provides some of the most unique and breathtaking experiences for animal lovers, including close encounters with turtles, giant otters, black caimans and many varieties of birds and vegetation. You’ll head back to the lodge for lunch and a short rest – but only a short one, as there is so much to see. You will then head to Monkey Island on a motorboat where you will see Spider monkeys, Capuchin monkeys and Squirrel monkeys as well as a variety of birds.
On the last day on your jungle vacations, you will want to wake up early to see the macaw clay lick; This is a natural spectacle where gorgeous birds congregate on the mud where they literally feed off the nutrients that are provided by the clay. Back at the lodge, we’ll have breakfast and return to the airport to catch a flight to Cusco.

Accommodations: Lodging

Meals: 3 breakfast, 2 launches, 2 dinners

Day 5 Cusco

Cusco gives you a chance to break off and explore on your own. Cusco is one of the most fascinating places in all of South America. Explore safely during the daytime to see relics and historical sites dating from Pre-Incan to the colonial era. If you don’t want to go off on your own, you can take one our optional tours, spa trips, shopping, horseback riding, or food tours at an extra cost. At night, be sure to explore the city’s nightlife and restaurants then meat up for a briefing about the Sacred Valley tour and the Inca Trail.

Accommodations:

Hotel in Cusco
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 6: Sacred Valley – Pisaq and Ollantaytambo

After breakfast, you will start your tour by passing through small Andean villages built high in the mountains of Cusco. You will arrive at the panoramic lookout point of Taray, which is a perfect place to enjoy astonishing vistas and take pictures of the Sacred Valley. What makes Sacred Valley so picturesque? It is surrounded by snowcapped mountain peaks, the Urubamba River transverses the valley, and it has amazing natural flowers and animals.
The complex of Pisaq is the first place to visit in our circuit. Pisaq lies atop a hill near the entrance to the valley. While it isn’t as popular as Machu Picchu (which is a good thing) is quite rich in history and is equally as impressive. As many other Inca complexes, Pisaq offers amazing views of the many terraces and buildings that are well mixed into the natural surroundings.

We will continue our tour into Pisaq, where you will be able to gain more understanding about the culture, the people, and the traditions. You will also get to share a buffet style meal at one of the best restaurants of the valley.

Next, we will drive toward Ollantaytambo. There, you will see breathtaking architecture that amazes and astonishes even engineers. Get information about how a feat was likely possible and hear stories from people whose families have lived there for generations.

Accommodations:  Hotel in Ollantaytambo
Meals: 1 breakfast; 1 lunch

Days 7-10 Inca Trail*

Often the highlight of the Peru Vacation Tour for most people, our private bus will pick you up from your hotel and drive you toward the trail.

The Inca Trail served a royal highway of sorts, linking Cusco to Machu Picchu. The trail itself veers along the mountainsides, cutting through a tropical cloud forest and over long Inca stone stairs. Still visible are many cultural sites and homes that are in use today. Along the way, you will spot storage houses, residential houses, temples and strategic observatories. The trail ends at Machu Picchu, where you will get a complete two hour guided tour around the citadel.

From there, we head back to Cusco.

Accommodations: Hotel in Cusco
Meals: 4 breakfasts; 3 lunches; 3 dinners

*When you book any Peru Vacation Tour that involves the Inca Trail, it is essential to book as far in advance as possible. The Inca Trail is a very popular tourist destination and spots can fill up months in advance.

Note that you can combine your Inca Trail tour with river rafting in the rain forest, contact us for more information.
If available spaces are sold out for the Inca Trail, we offer some alternative tours:
See Salkantay Trek.
See Lares Trek.
See Inca Jungle.

Day 11: Cusco

A day to recharge and relax, there are still plenty of options available for those who do not wish to rest or explore on their own. For those who wish for more adventures, you can go river rafting on the challenging Urubamba River, which has running rapids level III and III+. For those not as adventurous, there are plenty of mountain biking trails, cultural events, and ruins to explore.

Accommodations: Hotel in Cusco
Meals: 1 breakfast

12: Puno

Another gorgeous part of Peru, this trip takes some travel. In the early morning, a private van will pick you up for a scenic six-hour bus ride to Puno. You will be able to see the Andes Mountains close up, the flat lands of the Altiplano, and many other natural sights. One of the most remarkable things you will experience is the changes of the climate zones.
The highest pass on this ride will be La Raya (4,313 m.), and thereafter you’ll pass through beautiful small towns until we arrive at the bus terminal.
In Puno, a RIVER EXPLORERS assistant awaits us to take us to the hotel. Once you drop off your luggage and take a nice shower, you can walk around the city and explore on your own. Like any other Peru vacation packages, after dinner the Lake Titicaca guide will give a briefing about the tour.

Accommodations: Hotel in Cusco
Meals: 1 breakfast

Day 13-14 Lake Titicaca – Uros Island – Ticonata island and Amantaní

This two day tour starts with a ride on a motorboat. The first stop will be at the Uros Floating Islands, where you will step to enjoy this strange island made of the Totora read, which is grown in the lake. The Uro people also use it to make their reed boats.

From there, we will get back on the boat for two more hours and then arrive at Peninsula of Capachica, where we will have an easy 1-hour walk along an ancient pre-Inca path. You will see some of the most beautiful natural wonders here, so be sure to take pictures. Afterward, we will have a picnic lunch by the lake and continue by motorboat towards Ticonata Island.

Once we arrive, you will be welcomed to the accommodations at the Ticonata Eco Village. This complex is formed by typical conical houses that are copies of pre-Inca houses typical of the area. The thatched roofs give the island a unique character.

You will be given some time to settle in and then take a short hike to the ancient ritual site at the top of the hill, still in use by the locals in authentic ancestral ceremonies. We will take some time to enjoy the absolutely stunning sunset then head back for an authentic dinner, bonfire, and native dances performed by the islanders. Embrace the culture as you hear some of their folklore and talk about their daily lives and traditions.
On the second day of this part of the tour, after an early breakfast of native cereals, we traverse in our boat to Amantaní Island, which will take somewhere between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the season. Once on Amantaní Island, we will visit the village and have a pleasant, easy walk to observe the locals, farms, and the unique town built on top of the island. Lunch will be provided from a local house, where you will have time to learn about the people and the culture. Later by motorboat, we will return to Puno City, arriving at about 4:30 PM.

*This program is a sustainable project that involves people of a community who share all the benefits and work equally among its members. We try to have this framework in almost all our Peru vacation tours.

Accommodations: Hotel in Cusco
Meals: 2 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner.

Day 15 Lima

On the last flight of the Peru Vacations trip, you will fly into Lima where you can connect to your flight home. If you have some time before your flight, we can help you to organize a city tour or suggest activities. We can also help you to choose one of the best restaurants where you can enjoy seafood delicacies such as Ceviche or rice with seafood. This will be the perfect way to end any Peru vacation packages

What’s included?

Meals Included: All breakfasts are included in this Peru Vacations trip, 8 lunches and 6 dinners.

Transfers: All transfers inside Peru after your arrival are included in all our Peru vacation packages. Not included in the price is your transfer from the airport to the hotel the day at your arrival and the last day when you leave Peru. This can be arranged for $20 USD dollars per person.

Accommodation: 3-star hotels for 7 nights, 2-star hostel one night at Ollantaytambo, guest house 1 night at Amantani Island, camping 3 nights in the Inca Trail and 2 in the any other alternative trek, jungle lodge 2 nights.

Transport: Public buses, local flights, train, motorboat, boats, and hiking.

Titicaca: Guided tour on Taquile, Amantani and the Uros Islands, one night accommodation in a guest house.

Inca Trail: 4 days Inca Trail hike with local guide, 3 nights camping, all camping gear, sleeping pads, cook, porters and a tour guide in Machu Picchu, entrance fees, train tickets from Aguas Calientes to Cusco.

Jungle Trip: 2 days in the Amazon, local guide, 2 nights lodging.

Group leader: We provide a guide who will assist you in each city that you will visit who will provide information and tips during your Peru Vacations trip. Local guides while on The Inca Trail, at Machu Picchu, Tambopata and Titicaca tour (English-speaking).

What’s not included?

Hotels and meals during the days that passengers want to stay in Cusco, Puno or any of the cities instead of continuing on with the trips. These are in fact not included in any of our Peru vacation tours.

Transfer from the airport to the hotel the day of your arrival and the last day when you leave Peru. This can be arranged for $30 USD dollars per person.

City tour or any other activities not mentioned in the Peru Vacations tour description.

Sleeping bags during the trekking tours (you may rent for $25 USD per tour).

What to bring?

Any vaccination certificates required.

Money: Credit or debit card traveler’s cheques/cash/, money belt.

Travel documents: Travel insurance plan, visas, passport, air tickets (with photocopies).
*All the description above are the most important things that you need to remember for your Peru Vacations trip.

Binoculars, photo or video camera, cover for backpacks, fleece top, windproof/waterproof jacket, small towel and swimwear, 4 shirts/t-shirts, fleece top, sun hat, 1 pair of shorts, 2 pairs of long trousers, 1 pair hiking pants/track pants, hiking boots/sturdy walking shoes, sport sandals, sun block, sunglasses, watch or alarm clock, flashlight.

Refillable water bottle and water purification tablets – NO plastic water bottles (i.e., bottled water from supermarkets) are allowed in the Inca Trail. Hard plastic or steel bottles sold from camping or athletic supply stores are OK.

First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, aspirin, adhesive bandages, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, and extra prescription drugs in original pharmacy bottles).

Day pack to carry your personal items during the day and the hiking tour.For the Inca Trail

Sleeping bag (rated for -10 degrees), which you can rent $12 USD at the office, mosquito repellent, hiking shoes or trainers, hat, socks, warm clothes, gloves, woolen hat to cover the ears, raincoat, sunblock, flashlight, refillable water bottle and water purification tablets.

For more information about any Peru vacation packages including this, please read Peru travel info.

Departure dates 2019

Flexible departures, just pick a date and we start from there. The minimum numbers required to run the Peru vacation – Grand tours is only 2 people.