Great People. Amazing Expeditions. Beautiful Peru.
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10 DAYS
FROM $ 7,780
Expedition Type
Activity Level
Service Level
DELUXE
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Experience the best of Peru’s ancient treasures and wild wonders during ten action-packed days. Trace the legacy of the Inca in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, and ride the scenic train to Machu Picchu—considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World—to explore the ancient citadel. Then fly to northern Peru and board the elegant Delfin II, voyaging to the headwaters of the fabled Amazon River. Glide through jungle waterways on a variety of excursions in search of caimans, tamarins, sloths, and much more.
Francisco Pizzaro’s ‘City of Kings’ is your launch pad to an epic encounter with the Amazon’s extraordinary biodiversity. This bustling metropolis is also recognized as the Garden City with its many flowing fountains and interesting museums that showcase Peru’s ancient cultures. On arrival in Lima, you’ll be escorted to your hotel and enjoy the day to explore the sights of this colonial capital on your terms.
Catch a morning flight to Cusco, once the capital of the vast Inca Empire. Drive through the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Inca, to the Andean village of Chinchero. Here, we meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, founder of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Learn about Nilda’s work reviving ancient Inca textiles as she joins us for lunch and a weaving demonstration. Later, explore the terraced salt pans of Maras, which have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, and tour the Inca site of Moray—believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where priests would test soils and crops. Continue to the town of Ollantaytambo and board a train for the scenic ride to Machu Picchu.
For centuries, Machu Picchu has remained a mystery, holding tight its secrets. Journey to the Lost City of the Incas and uncover the secrets of this ancient citadel, as Machu Picchu wraps its magical spell around you. Perched high on an isolated mountaintop, this citadel in the clouds is a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring an intricate complex of stone stairs, ruins and tunnels. After lunch, return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco.
Enjoy a guided tour and follow the trail of the Incas and take in the panorama of dramatic mountains and the spectacular valley. Cobbled streets and plazas feature both colonial and religious landmarks. Visit the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Church built on the solid foundations of the Incas. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco sets the stage, taking you back in time to when the glorious Incas ruled. The entire valley is filled with architectural wonders around every vista. Explore Sacsayhuaman, a gigantic walled city overlooking Cusco that served as a royal fortress.
After breakfast, fly north to Iquitos via Lima and continue overland to the riverside village of Nauta, where our riverboat awaits. Settle into your cabin, and then gather for a dinner of fine Peruvian cuisine. Tonight, step out on deck to gaze at the magnificent Amazon night sky.
Explore the jungle waterways of the Pacaya Samiria National Park, which stretches for more than five million acres and harbors some of the Amazon’s most fascinating flora and fauna. The Park is bordered by the Marañón and the Ucayali, two powerful rivers that converge to create the famed Amazon. Explore this wilderness on excursions by skiff, kayak, and—when the water level permits—hikes on dry land. Spot sloths and monkeys; watch for an astounding variety of birds; and look for signs of the massive paiche fish, rare pink dolphins, and indigenous piranhas. Then slip through the forest in a skiff as night falls, searching for caimans, fishing bats, and other nocturnal creatures.
During our Amazon adventure, enjoy a unique opportunity to meet the ribereños who live on the riverbanks. Learn about ongoing projects including an educational radio program and a sustainable farming initiative, and watch artisans make jewelry and other handicrafts.
Disembark in Nauta and return to Iquitos. Stop en route at the Amazon Rescue Center, where orphaned and injured animals such as manatees, ocelots, and monkeys are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Continue to the airport and fly back to Lima. Visit the grand Larco Museum, home to the world’s largest private collection of Peruvian pre-Columbian art, and enjoy a farewell dinner tonight.
Our discovery of an ancient civilisation and amazon adventure has come to an end. We transfer to the airport for your onward flight or perhaps consider extending your holiday.
In keeping with the nature of an expedition, we keep our schedule flexible to take advantage of the unexpected, adapting our course to the conditions and opportunities that arise. Your expedition experience can be tailored to the activity level you choose, whether it’s light or moderate or a little of both. Travelers should be in good health, comfortable walking or standing for extended periods of time, and able to get in and out of expedition landing craft. Daily activities may include boat rides, easy hikes, walking tours, and visits to cultural or historic sites, with options most days for more physical activities such as longer hikes and kayaking. All departures are family friendly.
Expedition Team
A Natventure Leader will accompany this Expedition, and local guides join us along the way.
MY OWN ROOM
During your expedition, sometimes it´s just more convenient and comfortable to have your own room (only for hotel stay). That´s why we offer the «My own room» option – a single room all to yourself (applicable only for hotels).
My own room option: from $ 8,595
