Peru’s Wonders: Wildlife, Inca Heritage & Lake Titicaca | 12D

Your arrival in Lima will be followed by a hotel transfer which includes guided assistance to your chosen accommodation. The city of Lima functions as the capital of Peru because it stands on the arid Pacific coast while preserving its colonial architecture and operating as a principal urban core of South America. The city of Lima was founded in 1535 to become a multicultural city that now houses the Museo Larco and Museo de la Nación museums. Lima is recognized the city as the “gastronomical capital of the Americas” because it features several top-notch dining venues and its food scene continues to grow through fresh plant-based menu options.

Accommodation: Casa Republica Barranco | Garden Superior

Explore Lima’s heritage on a half‑day group tour with an English‑speaking guide. The tour will begin at Plaza de Armas in the heart of Lima, where you can admire the Presidential Palace and Cathedral of Lima. The tour will continue through the center a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its elegant balconies and ornate facades.

After that the tour will travel to the Pueblo Libre district to visit the Larco Museum noted in the program for its pre‑Hispanic gold and silver collection, erotic ceramics exhibits and storage galleries. The tour lasts 4 hours 30 minutes with daily departures at 09:00 and 14:00.

Accommodation: Casa Republica Barranco | Garden Superior

At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for the onward flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, lodge staff will welcome you and provide information for your stay. Travel approximately 25 minutes by outboard motorized canoe along the Madre de Dios River to Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, followed by lunch featuring organic ingredients and native flavors. In the afternoon, walk the Concepcion Trails to learn about primary and secondary rainforest, its components, uses, human transformations, and global relevance. At dusk, join the Twilight River excursion by motorized canoe to learn about the river ecosystem, Amazonian creeks, nocturnal animal behavior, and southern constellations. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Activities are operated as an international group with an English-speaking guide.

Accommodation: Reserva Amazónica (eco-luxury) | Superior Cabin

After a buffet breakfast we set out on a walk across solid ground into the Tambopata National Reserve toward Lake Sandoval. We learn about conservation efforts and how Lake Sandoval was formed before we paddle an oxbow lake by dugout canoe. The program mentions river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, black caimans and paiche. We return to the lodge for lunch then travel by motorized canoe to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center. We climb a 98‑foot tower. Cross seven hanging bridges that connect the treetops at about 91 feet. We continue over a 200‑meter bridge through a flooded forest before joining a Rainforest by Night trip that focuses on night animals. We have dinner. Stay overnight at the lodge with activities, for an international group led by an English‑speaking guide.

Accommodation: Reserva Amazónica (eco-luxury) | Superior Cabin

some of the things they use every day. Go next to a garden of plants that help people feel better and learn how the people in the Amazon use them. Compare these plants with the ones people use in places. Go back to the place you’re staying for lunch and a short break before going on a boat ride on a lake. Ride in a boat made from a tree and try to catch fish using a way that doesn’t hurt the fish while looking at the trees and animals around you.

Visit the remains of the Fitzcarrald steamboat and learn about its history. During the evening, participate in the Inland Collpa to observe different species and their nighttime routines from viewing blinds. Dinner and overnight at the selected lodge. International group service with an English-speaking guide.

Accommodation: Reserva Amazónica (eco-luxury) | Superior Cabin

After a buffet breakfast take a canoe back to Puerto Maldonado. Later, go to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Once you arrive in Cusco we will drive you to the hotel.

The Cusco city is located at an elevation of 3,400 meters, in the Andes and was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Cusco is known for its mix of Inca ruins and Spanish colonial buildings. The streets of Cusco are covered with cobblestones. Stretch out from the main square. You will see Inca walls. Carefully built stone walls that are part of the city’s look. Many colonial buildings were built on top of Inca foundations showing the layers of history.

Accommodation: Antigua Casona| Traditional Room

Discover the heart of the Inca Empire on a half‑day international group tour with an English‑speaking guide. The historic heart of the Inca Empire will lead you through Cusco’s history from the Inca period through rule and into the present day. Visit the Koricancha Temple of the Sun, see the 12‑Angled Rock and explore the Cathedral, which was built on the ruins of an Inca palace. The historic heart of the Inca Empire will then take you to sites around the city including the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, PucaPucara and the Water Temple of Tambomachay. The scheduled duration is approximately four hours and thirty minutes. After the excursion return to the hotel in Cusco.

Accommodation: Antigua Casona | Traditional Room

Take a guided group tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Your day starts in the Inca town of Pisac. First explore the ruins of Pisac followed by the market. The market stalls are very colorful and after visiting the ruins you can go back and explore the many stalls selling local produce and souvenirs. Lunch is at a local restaurant along the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo. The town features an Inca fortress which serves as its architectural attraction. The city maintains its Inca urban design which has made it famous. The Ollantaytambo train station serves as the boarding point for trains which require ninety minutes to reach Aguas Calientes station. When you arrive, greet the hotel staff. Make your way to the hotel room.

Note: Train luggage is restricted to one carry-on bag or backpack weighing no more than 5 kg/11 lb and measuring no more than 62 linear inches/157 linear cm.

Accommodation: El Mapi | Superior Deluxe

Start with a bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. You will be guided by an English-speaking tour guide for two hours and a half hours. Walk through this 15th-century Inca site, located at 2,430 msnm. Take in the views over cliffs and mountains and the Urubamba River. The tour shares some information about Machu Picchu. Places it in the context of UNESCO heritage locations and the new Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the tour you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes. From there you will go to the railway station to return to Ollantaytambo. Then enjoy your transfer to one of the hotels in Cusco where you will spend the night.

Accommodation: Antigua Casona | Traditional Room

Travel from Cusco to Puno across the Altiplano on a journey of approximately 10 hours. This route winds through the Andean villages, snowcapped mountains, cliffs, and rivers, providing a changing backdrop throughout the overland journey. Itinerary stops include the towns of Pucara and Andahuaylillas as well as the pre-Inca ruins of Raqchi.

Lunch is included during the trip. After that, you arrive in Puno for the evening and transfer to the hotel. This full-day transfer combines the journey between Cusco and Puno with several cultural and archaeological stops described in the itinerary.

Accommodation: Sonesta Posadas del Inca | Standard room

At 07:00 I will transfer to the port. Board a fast boat that takes me to Taquile Island. I will disembark at a scheduled area that has a beach. Then I will hike along a pre‑Inca trail. I will visit weaving families to learn about their textile art and symbolism.

After three hours on Taquile Island I will travel for 25 minutes to Santa Maria‑Llachon on the Capachica Peninsula. I will meet the community observe local traditions and participate in an ancient ceremony. In this part of the tour I can learn about the preparation of Pachamanca, a method of cooking meat, fish and potatoes in underground ovens. After that I will have lunch. Then I will travel for 35 minutes to Uros Ccapi in the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca to explore its floating islands. I will depart for Puno at 15:25. Arrive at about 16:30. This service is, for a group and I will be an English‑speaking guide.

Accommodation: Sonesta Posadas del Inca | Standard room

At the time the guest will be picked up from the hotel for the transfer toward the airport for the onward flight home through Lima. On the way to Juliaca the guest will stop at Sillustani, the pre‑Inca burial ground overlooking Lake Umayo. The guest will explore its volcanic‑stone burial towers, known as Chulpas, which heights of up to 12 meters, Sillustani is described as one of the world’s important necropolises. After this cultural visit the guest will continue with the airport transfer for onward travel. This marks the conclusion of this program and the end of the included services.