Pearls of Peru
Ancient paths of the Incas
Ancient paths of the Incas
As a country, Peru offers visitors 3 distinct geographical zones,
from the dry arid coastline which is home to the incredible Ballestas
Islands and just inland, the Nazca Lines; high Andes range and also the
Amazon. There is so much to see
in this diverse region, that one is spoilt for choice.
Part of this tour to Peru includes the sacred valley and the Inca
Trail which follows the ancient Inca Paths through to the complex of
Machu Picchu near the town of Aguas Calientes. Any reasonably fit person
should be able to cover the route.
However, the second day of the trek is quite challenging as one heads up
to an altitude of 4200m to the top of Dead Woman's Pass.
The tour also includes a magical visit to Taquile Islands on Lake
Titicaca where the locals live on floating reed beds. We also take in
the enigmatic Nazca lines and travel to Puerto Maldonado to see the
Amazon Jungle
Why do the Inca trail you may ask? Because it is the most
famous hike in South America and a must-do experience. It combines the
cultural highlights of the Sacred Valley with a stunning combination of
ancient architecture, a cloud
forest, plant life and Machu
Picchu.
The hike itself heads along ancient narrow paths deep into
the Peruvian countryside and high into the Andean mountains. The terrain
changes from lush green forests alive with births and plant life to
semi arid zones, sections with pampas
and tussock grasses, small tarns and steep mountain passes,. And to top
it all off there are ancient Inca ruins all along the way. However, the
best part of this 4 day hike is reaching the iconic Sun Gate at sunrise
for that first magical
view of Machu Picchu below.
It is easy to get confused when you talk about the Inca Trail,
as the Incas built an advanced network of nearly 40,000 thousand
kilometers of trails to connect the distant corners of their vast empire
Ecuador to Santiago and Mendoza
in Argentina. The classic Inca Trail starts at a place called Km82 (so
called because it is located 82 kilometres along the railway line
between Cusco and Machu Picchu). It takes 4 days to do complete trek
arriving at the Inca ruins of
Machu Picchu for sunrise on the fourth day.
Day-1. Lima
Day-2: Lima - Cuzco (B)
Day-3. Cuzco
Day-4: Sacred Valley - Ollyantaytambo (BL)
INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU STARTS
Day-5: Chilca - Wayllabamba
Day-6: Wayllabamba - Pacamayu
Day-7: Pacamayu - Winayhuayna
Day-8: Winayhuayna - Machu Picchu - Cuzco (B)
Day-9. Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado - (Amazon Jungle) (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day-10. Posada Amazonas (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day-11. Posada Amazonas - Cuzco (B)
Day-12. Cuzco - Puno (Breakfast & lunch)
Day-13. Puno - Lake Titicaca (Breakfast & lunch)
Day-14. Puno - Juliaca- Lima (B)
Day-15. Lima - Huaraz (B)
Day-16. Llanganuco Lake (B)
Day-17. Chavin - Huaraz (Breakfast and boxed lunch)
Day-18. Lima - Pisco (B)
Day-19. Paracas and Ballestas Islands- Nazca (B)
Day-20. Nazca - Lima (B)
Day-21. Lima (B)
PEARLS OF PERU ITINERARY
Day-1. Lima
Arrival in Lima, and transfer to hotel.
Day-2: Lima - Cuzco (B)
Flight and arrival in Cuzco, reception and transfer to Hotel. Cusco is the starting point for most journeys to Machu Picchu and sits at 3400 metres above sea level, so many travelers experience altitude sickness here. For this reason it's worth spending a few days in town and taking your time acclimatising. Remainder of the day at leisure
Day-3. Cuzco
Afternoon visit to the main ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, followed by a city tour of Cuzco.
Day-4: Sacred Valley - Ollyantaytambo (BL)
Full-day excursion t
o the Sacred Valley of the Inca and then a visit to Pisac markets and Ollantaytambo. Also known as Ollanta, the town offer a traditional Inca experience with its cobbled streets, small traditional stone houses and canals. The attraction is the nearby ruins on the outskirts of town. It was the a former Inca administrative center and served as the last stronghold for Inca Manco Yupanqui, leader of the Inca at the time. The steep terraces served as a fortress during the Spanish conquest, and are one of the few locations in Peru where the Spanish conquistadors lost their battle.
INCA TRAIL TREK TO MACHU PICCHU STARTS
(Breakfast, lunch & dinner included - only breakfast on final day)
Day-5: Chilca - Wayllabamba
After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by bus, where we meet our Quechua porters and have breakfast before joining the Inca trail to Machu Picchu. Crossing over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica (5,900m/19,000ft) we will continue hiking admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at Huayllabamba river for lunch. We will visit the archeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and valley of Cusichaca and magical Polyepsis forest. Today the Inca trek will last approximately 7 hours, arriving in camp around 17h00. Camp and dinner at 3,800 meters. Overnight on the trail to Machu Picchu.
Day-6: Wayllabamba - Pacamayu
Today is the most demanding day of the trip as we gain a lot of altitude. We will see outstanding views east to the Huayanaya peaks and west into the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we will continuously climb up through the first pass at 4,200 m/13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa. Passing 3 ecological areas such as the Yunga, Quechua and Puna. we will climb 1000 metres in 5 hours. On the descent to our lunch spot, we encounter a large number of stairs. After lunch, we again climb about 500m in altitude before dropping again, about a further 400.Today camp and dinner near Pacamayu. Overnight on the trail.
Day-7: Pacamayu - Winayhuayna
Today is a much easier and shorter day. After breakfast, we will trek down through the valley of Pacamayu to the famous archaeological sites of Runquraqay. We will continue to the second pass and the restored town site of Sayaqmarka ("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins. The Inca Trail in this section is a white granite roadway, traversing a thickly forested mountainside known as the cloud forest. We will then descend to the magnificent archeological Phuyupatamarka ("cloud Level Town") and have lunch. We will then begin the decent to Winaywayna where a visit of the ruins and have dinner.
Day-8: Winayhuayna - Machu Picchu - Cuzco (B)
Early morning wake up at 4:30 a.m. for breakfast and to begin the trek to be the first at the archaeological site of Macchu Picchu for the sunrise. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Macchu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We continue down to the royal road and at last the "Lost City of the Incas". A guided tour the arvelous citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, transfer to Aguas Calientes onto the train station for your return train to Cuzco. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Day-9. Cuzco-Puerto Maldonado - (Amazon Jungle) (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Transfer for the flight to Puerto Maldonado situated at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers. After a brief survey of the town you will depart on a 1 hour ride via Infierno road, followed by a 30 minute boat journey by motorized canoe to Posada Amazonas. During your voyage you may see bird such as: Black Skimmer, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, Roadside Hawk, and several species of kingfishers. A short orientation and briefing on the lodge and the Ecotourism Project before your afternoon activity, the canopy tower. Here, you will visit a 35 metre scaffolding tower that is only 15 minutes walk from the lodge. A video about the forest of Tambopata will be displayed after dinner.
Day-10. Posada Amazonas (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Early wake at dawn for a visit to Tres Chimbadas oxbow Lake. From here you will take a long, easy canoe ride around the lake looking for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. The giant river otters that are seen in Tres Chimbadas belong to a resident family of nine. Return to our lodge for lunch before embarking on your afternoon outing to a local community's ethno botanical centre. From this little shop, the community has been registering the uses of medicinal plants from elders and planting, producing and distributing them for over ten years. You will hike the trails around the centre with one of the residents. Return to Posada Amazonas for dinner and overnight. Optional night walk to look for amphibians and insects.
Day-11. Posada Amazonas - Cuzco (B)
After an early breakfast, depart by boat back to Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, for your return flight back to Cuzco.
Day-12. Cuzco - Puno (Breakfast & lunch)
Transfer to the bus station for the tourist bus to Puno. The journey will take you across the imposing altiplano region of Peru affording magnificent views of the majestic snow peaks. It is a long bus journey but with lovely sites on route. Arrival in Puno and overnight.
Day-13. Puno - Lake Titicaca (Breakfast & lunch)
Early transfer to the port for the boat journey on Lake Titicaca to the floating Islands of Uros. Made entirely of reeds and inhabited by the Aymara Uros people. Short hike on the islands, then the boat trip continues as far as the island of Taquile. Lunch before your return to Puno in the early afternoon. Accommodation in Puno.
Day-14. Puno - Juliaca- Lima (B)
After breakfast, transfer to Juliaca airport for the flight back to Lima. Free at leisure.
Day-15. Lima - Huaraz (B)
After breakfast, journey along the northern coast of the Pan-American Highway, before turning east and through the spectacular mountain scenery of the Andes. The town of Huaraz, set amongst the giant snow peaks of the Andes is the most beautifully situated town in the whole of Peru. Transfer to your lodge.
Day-16. Llanganuco Lake (B)
Trip to the north along the Callejon de Huaylas from Huaraz. Stopovers include Carhuaz, Yungay, the village that was totally destroyed in the 1970 earthquake, and Ranrahirca. Llanganuco is a beautiful, turquoise coloured glacial lake of the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range in the world. Return to Huaraz.
Day-17. Chavin - Huaraz (Breakfast and boxed lunch)
After breakfast, trip to Chavin de Huantar, site of the oldest pan-Andean civilisation dating back to 2000BC. Located on the outskirts of the village of the same name, the site has many galleries and subterranean tunnels and houses many carved stone figures of anthropomorphic semblances reminiscent of the Maya culture. It is the oldest known pre-Columbian culture discovered and is known as Chavin-Kotosh. The most remarkable piece of carving is "El Lanzon", a granite carving 4.5 metres in height. Its head is built into the roof of the gallery and its base into the floor, making it immovable. An anthropomorphic figure with feline teeth, it is thought to indicate an important ceremonial, religious artifact. Return to Huaraz where the journey takes you over the continental divide at the high Kawish pass. Return to Huaraz and then by night bus return to Lima.
Day-18. Lima - Pisco (B)
Arrival and transfer to your hotel for a day-in-use. Midday transfer to Paracas by first class bus, which will take us along the coast line through the arid Atacama desert, for about three hours south from Lima. Transfer to a hostel in Pisco, a bustling vibrant little desert town well known for its production of wine and the famous Pisco Sour.
Day-19. Paracas and Ballestas Islands- Nazca (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the port for a guided tour in boat of the Ballestas islands. Commonly referred to as the "little Galapagos", here you will see an amazing concentration of sea birds and sea lions in their natural habitat. Return to the mainland and a trip to Paracas National Reserve, the only Protected Coastal Reserve in Peru. Transfer to Nazca by Bus inland to Nazca and accommodation
Day-20. Nazca - Lima (B)
Before breakfast, a tour flight over the enigmatic Nazca Lines; gigantic drawings and geometrical figures engraved in the driest desert of Peru and dating back to 250 AD. Drawn throughout over 1000 Km2 of desert on the Pampas of San Jose in Ica, and due to their enormous size and largely unknown origin, leaves an indelible impression on all who visit this most mysterious archaeological site. With representations of animals, such as a spider, a monkey and several birds, they are believed to be an enormous astronomical calendar or possibly an offering to the gods. After breakfast, return journey by bus to Lima.
Day-21. Lima (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
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