Peru essentials 10 days

Lima, the largest city and capital of Peru, is a must when visiting the country. In recent years it became a modern city with beautiful beaches, many seafood restaurants, many museums, and, finally, exciting nightlife.

Start your tour with a panoramic tour of the "Huaca Pucllana", an administrative center that was composed of a set of pyramids, plazas, courtyards, and accesses on ramps, all built on the bases of mud that characterize the Lima culture.

Then the guide will explain each place from the transport, go through the fence of Lima appreciate the Plaza Grau, Palace of Justice, and Plaza de San Martin.

The guided pedestrian visit will start at the Central Reserve Bank Museum (BCR*), where you will see representative samples of Peruvian art of all times, from pre-Columbian times to the 21st century. Then enjoy a walk to the Plaza de Armas or Plaza Mayor in Lima, a Cultural Heritage of Humanity declared by UNESCO; where you can see the Cathedral, Government Palace, and Municipal Palace. You will have free time to take pictures. Continue the visit with the Monastery of San Francisco and the catacombs at the end of the tour appreciate the park of love and a breathtaking view of the sea.

 *BCR, is closed to the public Monday and Sunday.

In the morning your transportation and guide will take you to the airport and assist you with your flight check-in.

Upon your arrival in Puerto Maldonado, Peru’s capital of biodiversity, we will welcome you at the airport. Then, we’ll start our program by visiting the city on a bus.

Canoe ride to the Lodge 

Then, we will go to Puerto Capitanía, the port where our riverboat will be waiting for us.  We will sail across Rio Bajo Madre de Dios (Winding River) until arriving at our lodge, 30 km away from Puerto Maldonado City.

On our way, you will be able to observe rural lands destined to agricultural and livestock activities near the city. If the weather is good, you will sight colorful plants like the large-flowered heliconias, and you will have the chance to observe diverse animals such as the capybaras, caimans, water turtles, herons, cormorants, carrion birds and birds of prey.

Upon the arrival in our lodge, you will be welcomed with delicious Amazon tropical fruit nectars and taken to your comfortable room (bungalow) reserved for the occasion. Once you are settled in the room, a hearty lunch will be served for you in our warm, rustically designed dining room.

Day tour in the Amazon

The singing birds of paradise will wake you up renewed. A hearty breakfast will provide the energy for a morning full of new experiences.

LAKE APU VICTOR:

After breakfast, we will start a hike to the deep forest on conveniently prepared, preserved and signposted trails. On the way, we will cross the riverside to reach high-elevation forests, and then we will descend to floodable forests, to go up again to the hills. During the journey, we will see the widest range of flora and fauna in the wild.

Along the way, we will see diverse species of medicinal plants and fruit trees supporting the animal and human populations in the Amazon forests. Some of the most important are the moriche palm, mahogany, chestnut, catahua, cedar, trumpet-wood, copaiba, and shihuahuaco, among others.

With luck and in silence, you can see bigger mammals, like the Brazilian tapir and the white-lipped peccary; rodents like the giant otter, the capybara, the spotted paca and the armadillo; primates like the coto or howler monkey, the squirrel, monkey, the lion monkey and the black-cap capuchin monkey; reptiles like the iguana and the bothrops atrox; amphibians like the toad and birds like the guan, the partridge, the golden parakeet and the blue, yellow and red macaw.

In the rainy jungle you will see insects such as butterflies (Lepidoptera), scarabs (Coleoptera), crickets, cicadas, ants, centipedes and millipedes of several species.

We’ll arrive at the majestic Lake Apu Victor surrounded by immense swamps and gigantic trees. Then, we’ll go up to an Amazonian observation deck, from which you’ll get to enjoy a panoramic view on the lake, observe parrots, macaws, toucans, horned screamers, hoatzins, herons and other animals like caimans, turtles, etc.

A wide variety of fishes enters Lake Apu Victor with the flooding of (heavy) rainy season. In addition, there are other species of fauna associated to the lake, like the yellow-footed tortoise, the mata mata, the twist-necked turtle, the freshwater blenny, the kinkajou, the white-tailed deer, the Central American agoutis and the giant otter of the Amazon rainforest.

Back in the lodge, a refreshing lunch will be waiting for you.

MONKEY ISLAND

In the afternoon, joined with our specialized guide, we will visit the Monkey Island, few minutes away from the lodge in the center of Madre de Dios River. This island shows an enormous variety of exuberant flora and hosts numerous primate specimens like the black spider monkey, the black-cap capuchin monkey, the squirrel monkey and the lion monkey. Also other species of little mammals like the ring-tailed coati (nasua nasua), the squirrel and an enormous variety of colored birds.

Finally, we will complete our visit to the island, enjoying a sunset with the most impressive dusk in the jungle. Back in the lodge, you will taste an exquisite dinner.

Magic begins with birds singing from the Amazon paradise, waking up to the howler monkey calls. A hearty breakfast will provide you with the necessary energy for a morning full of new experiences.

After breakfast, we will start an adventure in the virgin forest, accompanied by a local guide, we’ll go on a hike in the deep forest: we will cover very well preserved prepared trails of our interpretive tour. On our way, we will cross temporary water courses called tributaries through very well-kept bridges, and we’ll witness the widest range of flora and fauna in the wild. We’ll identify a great variety of ornamental plants with unparalleled beauty.

En route to the Lost Cocha, we will see diverse species of medicinal plants and fruit trees that support the animal populations in the Amazon forest.

With luck, you’ll get to see bigger mammals, like the jaguar or Peruvian jaguar, the Brazilian tapir and the white-lipped peccary; rodents like the giant otter, the capybara, the spotted paca and the armadillo; primates like the coto or howler monkey and the squirrel monkey; reptiles like the iguana and the bothrops atrox; amphibians like the toad, and birds like the guan, the partridge, the golden parakeet and the scarlet macaw.

The rivers leave behind wetland systems, lakes, ponds and bends, like the spectacular Lost Cocha.

Wetlands play an ecological role of great importance since they represent a substantial biological source with endemic species. They are shelter of mammals. These swamps comprise 60% of the area protected and restored by Eco Amazonia Lodge.

The presence of moriche palm is very important for Amazonian ethnic groups. It is a mystery plant considered mother of the forest or the tree of life.

The swamp is home of jealous guardians like the jaguar, feline considered son of the swamp; the anaconda, the world's biggest snake; the owl that sees everything from its dwelling at the top of the trees, to cure all ills, and the black caiman, guardian that punishes those that dare to steal the female moriche palm fruit. Once in Lost Cocha, we will go up to an enormous observation platform. From this lookout, you will see the enormous surface that this magic place covers and where you can see two types of swamps: thick and mixed.

Then, we will take a pleasant walk around the Lost Cocha and with luck you’ll get to see the "giant otter” or Pteronurabrasiliensis, the biggest in its type and one of the most impressive animals of the Amazon region.

Back in the lodge, you can enjoy an exquisite lunch.

In the afternoon, you have free time to take pictures around the lodge, and you will have the possibility to visit the botanical garden and observe our medicinal plants and fruit trees.

At night, you can enjoy a delicious dinner. If you are not tired, you can enjoy a fun night at the bar and game room.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast before leaving the jungle. The 45-minute boat trip will bring you back to Puerto Maldonado airport to take your flight to Cusco. Then you will take your flight to Cusco. A transpotartation and a guide will wait for you at arrival.

At 17h00, you will then have a Cooking class tour at the Chocomuseo

Tour the San Pedro market with a knowledgeable guide, to discover local fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and breads, including some which are unique to Peru!

Cook, under the guidance of a bilingual chef, a whole meal made of the best of Peruvian food

Raise your own handmade Pisco Sour in a toast to your holidays

Enjoy a meal of traditional Peruvian dishes

You will explore the impressive city of Cusco. The history of the Inca Empire started here. The Imperial city of the Incas was a complex urban center with different religious and administrative functions.

Many years later the Spanish conquerors destroyed the ancient culture and sent its treasures to Spain.

In Cusco´s historic center we will see Spanish buildings, native ruins, temples, and finely finished buildings of the Incas. The main attractions are: the Temple of the Sun, the main square Plaza de Armas, the market San Pedro, and the Papa Museo. 

Let your mind drift and feel the energy of the past in this magical city.

Then, we will continue to the nearby ruins: Kenko, where you will see its underground galleries and its semicircular amphitheater. Tambomachay complex of walls connected by stairways, having water springs which fed a well via channels in which the Inca bathed, for it is believed that he also worshipped water. Puca Pucara; the red fortress that is located on a hill, possibly to defend Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture, this fortress was built using large slabs of granite to safeguard the city from Antis attacks or invading forces from the east.

With its amazing nature, breathtaking views, ancient ruins and various adventure activities, the Sacred Valley has a lot to offer.

The valley was chosen by the Incas because of its geographical and climatic conditions. It was the best place in Peru to plant all different kinds of vegetables and plants. However, the Sacred Valley was not part of the Inca Empire but more like a personal property of the Emperor.

Here you have the chance to visit the beautiful Pisac Market. You will find a wide variety of locally produced handicrafts.

Later we will visit the small town is Ollantaytambo. Enjoy a great coffee or delicious meal in one of the local cafes and restaurants. Furthermore you will find there one of the finest stonework of Peru.

In the morning you will take the train to Aguas Calientes. At arrival, you will be met by a representative who will take you to the tour to machu Picchu.

For many, the highlight of their journey through Peru: Machu Picchu.

Surrounded by dramatic landscape between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basil, Machu Picchu is maybe the greatest wonder of ancient architecture in the world.

It symbolizes the Inca culture with all its historical, cultural and natural values. The nearly 200 structures may have been a royal estate or a religious site.

Machu Picchu is divided into a lower and upper part to separate farming from residential areas. It consists of subsidiary centers, an extensive road and trail system, irrigation canals and agricultural terraces.

After visiting Machu Picchu , take the train back to Cusco.

At a scheduled time a driver will take you to the airport for your flight back to Lima

We hope that you enjoyed your time in Peru. Thank you for choosing Gulliver Expeditions.