DAY 1 : LIMA ARRIVAL TO LIMA- BIENVENIDO A PERÚ

You finally arrived and the adventure already begun. Once you leave the secure area, register your entry to Perú and claim your luggage, our Teqse representative or your Tour Leader will be waiting for you at the interntional exit gate, please look for a board with our logo and your lastname.

Transfer to your hotel and relax.

DAY 2: WALK INTO THE PAST OF LIMA AND CITY TOUR

One of the main fascinations of Lima is the concentration of ancient history in the area; not only do the origins of the city pre-date the Spanish foundation of the city by several millennia, its museums are full of the artistic treasures of magnificent pre-Columbian civilizations that flourished throughout the coastal deserts of Peru. Begin to unravel this multifaceted history and discover the complex past of this fascinating city accompanied our specialist guide. Visit an ancient adobe pyramid right in the middle of the city, Huaca Huallamarca, which dates back to around 200 BC. Journey to the Larco Herrera Museum, where thousands of years of complex ancient history will be turned into an easy-to-understand story, for kids and adults alike. Continue on to the colonial area of Lima, featuring the Cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Main Square with its beautiful baroque style buildings. You will also have a chance to visit Casa Aliaga, reportedly the oldest home on the Continent and still family-owned after 17 generations. The sites visited today can be tailored to alternatively include: La Casona de San Marcos; the Convent of San Francisco and its catacombs; Huaca Pucllana; and the Museo de la Inquisition.

DAY 3: FLY TO THE AMAZON RAINFOREST

A Teqse Travel representative will meet you in the lobby of your hotel, 2 1/2 hours before your flight departure, in order to assist you with checkout, and then escort you to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival from Lima, you will be greeted by the staff from your chosen Amazonian Lodge – Refugio Amazonas or Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. Refugio Amazonas lies deeper in the Amazon for a more authentic experience with slightly better wildlife viewing opportunities, while Reserva Amazonica provides greater creature comforts as you swing in a hammock from your private cabin or indulge in a spa treatment.
To reach Refugio Amazonas transfer by road to their jetty (approx. 45mins ) before the two and a half hour boat ride. To reach Reserva Amazonica, a ten minute road transfer takes you to their jetty for a 45 minute boat ride. You will have time for an afternoon trail walk. Come nightfall, at either property, head out along the river in search of Caiman.

DAY 4: TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE

Activities vary depending on the lodge you choose to stay at.

Refugio Amazonas:
Head out to an oxbow lake where you will paddle around the lake on a wooden raft, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and horned screamers. With luck, you will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws. A thirty-minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25-meter scaffolding canopy tower. Once at the top, enjoy views of toucans, parrots or macaws flying along the horizon. After lunch, head five minutes downriver to a farm owned and managed by charismatic Don Manuel from the neighbouring community of Condenado. He grows a diverse variety of popular and unknown Amazon crops, plants and trees, most of which serve a purpose. Along this trail, you will find a variety of plants and trees that are used by the local population for medicinal purposes. Following dinner, enjoy an informative presentation on conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve from a Refugio Amazonas staff member.

Reserva Amazonica:
Visit Lake Sandoval in the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe across the beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter. In the afternoon see the rainforest from a new perspective, from the canopy walkway. Ascending the first tower, 29 meters above the forest ground, you begin your encounter with the treetop realm. Be on the lookout for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. Activities at Reserva Amazonica are a la carte. You may opt for the wetlands walk later on. In this lush ecosystem on wooden walkways, you may observe the various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant flora, and trees — and there is a possibility to see serpents of this flooded marshland.

DAY 5: TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE

Activities vary depending on the lodge you choose to stay at.

Refugio Amazonas:
After breakfast, enjoy a 15-minute boat ride and one hour hike to a clay lick used both by parrots and parakeets. Here you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets ingesting the clay on the river bank. Afterwards, return to the lodge for lunch. A few minutes hike from the lodge is a beautiful old patch of Brazil Nut forest that has been harvested for decades. Here, your guide will demonstrate the whole process of the rainforest’s only sustainably harvested product. A 20-minute hike will take you to a peccary clay lick where wild rainforest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty. Other wildlife such as deer, guan and parakeets may also be spotted. After dinner, you will have the option of participating in a night hike to view mammals and frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.

Reserva Amazonica:
After breakfast embark on a trip to Gamitana Creek, located 25 minutes by boat from the lodge. Be introduced to local exotic fruits and plants. Explore the rainforest along the banks of a winding, dark-water creek that is home to many piranha, caiman, turtles and birds. After lunch, enjoy the Hacienda Concepcion excursion, with over 200 different plant species, and learn about the uses and benefits of traditional tropical flora. This is followed by a 30-minute canoe trip to look for turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and exotic herons. Return to the lodge and perhaps enjoy a night trail to see nocturnal critters.

DAY 6: FLIGHT PUERTO MALDONADO TO CUSCO AND ENJOY THE URUBAMBA VALLEY

Refugio Amazonas:
Following breakfast, board your boat for your return journey to the river port, where you will be transferred by land to the Puerto Maldonado headquarters to pick up your luggage and ready yourself for your flight to Cusco. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures. Enjoy a full breakfast before departure. A 45-minute return trip by boat on the Madre de Dios River takes you to Puerto Maldonado. Butterfly House. Peru boasts the greatest variety of butterflies in the world, with 3,700 known species. Many of these can be seen at the Butterfly House where you will make a stop, a showcase for the variety, beauty and adaptability of these fascinating insects.

Upon arrival at the Cusco airport, you will be welcomed by an English-speaking Teqse Travel representative, as well as your guide, and will begin an approximate 1.5-hour drive to your Sacred Valley hotel. Along the way your guide will brief you on the activities you have planned and answer any questions that you may have.

DAY 7: HIKE WILLOQ COMMUNITY TO OLLANTAYTAMBO RUINS WITH A PACHAMANCA LUNCH

Today, you will hike from the amazing Willoq community anjoy the way of living and start the hike down to visit the fabulous town of Ollantaytambo and its ruins. The town is unique in that it still preserves its original Inca plan, with people living in traditional cancha enclosures once occupied by the Inca elite. The archaeological compound found here is a remarkable spectacle, and a site of great historical significance.

Later, you will enjoy a guided tour of El Albergue’s organic farm, before having the chance to participate in a traditional Andean Pachamanca lunch. Pacha means earth and manca means oven in Quechua, the language of the Inca which is still widely spoken in the region. Pachamanca is a traditional Inca cooking technique where meats, potatoes and vegetables are cooked with wood-fired stones. As your meal cooks in the earth oven, enjoy a visit around the farm, where the vegetables for your lunch are sourced, learning about the different ingredients. Afterwards, you will watch the Pachamanca being unearthed before sitting down to a delicious alfresco lunch on a picnic table underneath a thatched roof. Your Pachamanca meal will be accompanied by a variety of homemade sauces, a fresh garden salad, chicha morada (a local drink made from purple corn) and Matacuy, a homemade digestif.

DAY 8: ADVENTURE DAY! ZIP LINE AND VIA FERRATA – INKARRY MUSEUM

The Sacred Valley zip-line gives people of all ages the opportunity to fly over this magical and magnificent valley, in a safe and fun way. The zip line has 7 lines or cables, from 150mt to 700mt, for a total of 2800mt.Starting with 30-40 minutes hike, easy and via ferrata equipped for more safety will take you to the first line. You will have a small via ferrata climbing (4 meters) so you can have a perfect idea on what is to climb a ferrata route.

Each line is different from the other, you will start with an easy and short one and the circuit will allowed you to upgrade your zipline expertise.

A via ferrata is a path used to climb a mountain with a safety system permanently installed. It gives the chance to people without any experience in climbing, the opportunity to move through spectacular mountain scenery using a minimum of equipment.

The climber is permanently tied to a steel cable that runs through the entire route. Usually does not require any climbing rope. Metal ladders, bridges and similar facilities are used. This helps maintain the physical difficulty of climbing and mix beginners skills while providing access to a very high, and extreme vertical sections of a mountain, that could only be accessible to experienced rock climbers.

Then we will be transfer to the Inkary Museum, to enjoy “in real life” the ancient peruvian civilizations, enjoy a trip to the past!

On our dinner we will have a special briefing for those who will do the km 104 Inca Trail, pack the duffel and be ready.

DAY 9: THE LAST LEG OF THE INCA TRAIL AND MACHU PICCHU

Greeting by your personal guide and private transfer to the train station  to board the  train to Machu Picchu.

Sit back and enjoy the spectacular landscapes of the majestic Andes, lush green fields and bright villages. The final portion of the spectacular rail journey to Machu Picchu follows the Vilcanota river down the impressive Canyon of the Vilcanota until it reaches Aguas Calientes.

For the km 104 hikkers:

When getting off the train, we cross a suspension bridge at km. 104 in Chachabamba and after a brief visit begins a three-hour ascent to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, an important Inca spiritual place.

The Inca Trail crosses the crest over Machu Picchu to finally reach Intipunku, the sun gate from where the trail descends downhill. The classic view towards the lost citadel located right on the Urubamba River will be a unique and unforgettable experience; Without a doubt, a very exquisite way to see Machu Picchu for the first time.

​For no hikkers:

Arrival in Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu. Head directly to the bus station for the group bus transfer up the mountainmto enjoying a private tour to visit the ruins of Machu Picchu, including it’s Citadel, with your personal expert guide .

It was built by the Inca Pachacutec in the 15th Century and is perched between two peaks offering incredible views of the Urubamba river valley and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The architecture is adapted to the natural form of the mountains. Approximately 200 buildings are arranged on wide parallel terraces around a vast central square that is oriented east-west. The temples are part of the upper town, the warehouses the lower. Extensive terraces were used for agriculture and sophisticated channeling systems provided irrigation for the fields. Numerous stone stairways set in the walls allowed access to the different levels across the site. The eastern section of the city was said to be residential. The western, separated by the square, was for religious and ceremonial purposes.

Late Afternoon​: Return to your hotel where you can relax.

19.00 Hrs, get ready for dinner!

DAY 10 MACHU PICCHU VISIT, SUN GATE HIKE AND BACK TO CUSCO

Morning : Following breakfast, greeng by our guide who will guide you on a leisurely hike to the Gate of the Sun for panoramic views of the ruins (approx. 1. 5 hr hike).

Originally used by the imperial guards of the Incas, its remote location was strategic and for this reason it was believed that Machu Picchu only welcomed selected visitors of the imperial elite. The Sun Gate Trek follows a path which is gradual at no more than 30 degrees in angle, and becomes steeper the last 20 minutes. Along the hike you will enjoy panoramic views of the entire complex and as you get closer to the sun gate location the peaks of the mountain seem to kiss the clouds overhead. Return to the park and enjoy your final morning at Machu Picchu exploring the ruins with your private guide.

Explore the upper and lower sectors as well as the urban and agricultural sectors. You will also see the primary archaeological treasures including the Inti Watana, the Temple of the Sun, and the Room with Three Windows, each dedicated to Inti, their sun god and greatest deity.

Late Morning​: After visiting the park, enjoy a recommended lunch at Sanctuary Lodge.

After this amazing day, we will take the train back to Cusco city.

Feel free to rest or ask for restaurats recommendations.

DAY 11 VISIT SACSAYHUAMAN, SAN CRISTOBAL AND CHOCOLATE WORKSHOP

Our vehicle will transfer us to the Sacsayhuaman ruins overlooking the city, where our guide will share with you the history and importance of this historic site.  Cusco was the capital of the Incan civilization and Sacsayhuamán was seat of imperial power. This was the site of one of the fiercest battles between the Spanish conquerors and the army led by Manco Inca. It contains three tiers of zigzagging walls built with individual stones weighing up to 300 tons. After the conquest, many of the original stones were used by the Spaniards for construction in Cusco. Despite this, it remains one of the most impressive sites in the Cusco area.

Enjoy exclusive access to the of the historic San Cristobal church you will have a panoramic view as the sun sets over the historic center and Plaza de Armas of Cusco .  Built in the early years of the Spanish Conquest, San Cristobal Church sits on a hill between the Inca fortress Sacsayhuaman and the Plaza de Armas. San Cristobal was built by the Inca chief Tupaq Yupanqui Paulla to demonstrate his conversion to Christianity, and legend claims that it was built on the site Qollqampata, an Incan palace built by Manco Capac, the first Inca.

Lunch time!

As a perfect dessert, Visit to the Chocolate Museum followed by a private interactive truffle making class. With the assistance of your personal chocolatier, visit a local chocolate museum to learn the process of how chocolate is made, from the cocoa tree to the chocolate bars.  Uncover all the secrets about chocolate, where it comes from as well as how it is dried and fermented. Then you will begin the process of making your own chocolate truffles with the end goal being a beautifully hand-made chocolate egg filled with a variety of your favorite flavors and fillings. During the class you will be served cocoa tea and hot chocolate.

Return to the hotel to rest a bit and be ready for dinner!

DAY 12 FLIGHT TO LIMA AND REAL FELIPE FORTRESS

After your arrival to Lima we will go to the Callao province, to have a super adventure in the sea, swim with sea lions, we will use comfortable and safe boats equipped to visit the islands of Callao among which are, San Lorenzo, Palomino, Cabinzas and the Fronton . Participate in the tour of the islands, observe fishing, rock formations, swim in the colony with sea lions, bird watching, diving with wolves, are the main nautical activities to which, one morning with total security.

We will have lunch in a restaurant specialized in Peruvian marine food but with vegetarian and vegan options.

Luis Godin and the Spaniards Joseph Amich and Juan Francisco Rossa. The construction of the Fortress begins on August 1, 1747, the first stone being placed in the Tower of the Queen, and finished construction in 1774. This strength has a measure of 70,000 m2, with a perimeter of 1586 meters. It has a pentagonal shaped basalt because it has 5 sides and bastioned because each of its sides ends in a point. The materials that were used to build this fortress were stones brought from the island of San Lorenzo and the calicanto which is a mixture of lime, sand and egg white of guano birds.

Then we will take our van back to Miraflores to have dinner.

Dinner included.

Day 13: TOUR TO BARRANCO AND TIME TI SAY GOOD BYE

Going home is the worst part of any private Peru vacation, but at Teqse Travel, we’ll do our best to make it as smooth and hassle-free as possible,  a Teqse Travel host will meet you and take you to the seaside bohemian district of Barranco. See the streets of Barranco come alive as you visit a number of local art galleries and shops that support local artisans. Finally, enjoy a first-class gourmet meal featuring world-renowned Peruvian flavors in a restaurant of your choosing before returning to the airport for your journey home! Buen viaje!