Ecological Cusco 16 Days

 

Code:	TE-145
Difficulty:	Easy moderate, Moderately difficult, Very difficult
Activities:	Hiking, Cultural, Archaeological, Ecological
Departures:	** (Minimum: 2 Passengers)
Locations:	Lima, Cusco, Puerto Maldonado Region

Itinerary

Day 1: Lima Airport Hotel

In arriving at the airport a host will welcome you and help you in registering at your chosen hotel.

Day 2: Lima / Cusco city tour

Morning flight to Cusco. Passengers are transfer from Hotel to Lima International Airport after breakfast. Flight is around 10 am and the flight time is about 1 hour. Arriving to Cusco passengers will be transfer to the Hotel. At 2 in the afternoon we being Cusco city tour, bus will collect passengers from the Hotel and in the tour visit Cusco Main Cathedral, the Temple of Koricacha, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, temple of Qenko, Fortress of Puca Pucara and the temple of Tambomachay.

 Day 3: Cusco

In the morning after breakfast passenger meet they tour guide and get final information about the Salkantay Mountain to MachuPicchu tour. After the meeting with the tour guide passengers have free time for the rest of the day. This is also a good opportunity to keep exploring Cusco as per example visit Cusco central market, the San Blass church, different Inca palace in the center of Cusco, etc.

Day 4: Cusco / Mollepata / Soraypampa.

Early in the morning we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you in a private bus to Mollepata passing traditional towns like Iscuchaca and Limatambo, as well highlands plateaus and landscapes with great views of snowcapped mountains that belong to the cordillera Vilcabamba. The bus trip will last 3.00 hours. The trail climbs up from Mollepata sharply to Marqhok'asa pass through the pastures, farming lands, afterwards descending until the campsite through the high brush down to Soraypampa (3750 masl).

Day 5: Soraypampa / Chaullay.

We start trekking from approx 07:00 AM for 3 hours to start our ascent of the Apacheta pass 4,590 m. From this point we can appreciate the spectacular views of the Mountain Salkantay ,a stunning snow capped mountain (6,264 m) the second highest peak in Cuzco’s region, and also the mountains Humantay and Huayanay, white river, small lakes and moraines.
Two hours dowhill to lunch in Huayracpunku, and then a further 2-3 hours downhill walk to Camp in Rayan-niyoc at 2,890 m. or Camp at Chaullay 2,920 m. for experienced trekkers. To be decided by the guide depending on the groups abilities and weather and walking conditions.

Day 6: Chaullay / La Playa / Santa Teresa

We will start the trek at 07:00 AM. 3 hours easy hiking to Uscamayuc, where we will be introduced to a high Jungle niche called "Ceja de Selva", we will see different kind of plants, fruits, flowers, birds ect. here coca and banana crops can be observed, with luck we can observe the famous Peruvian National Bird "Gallito de las Rocas" . After the lunch We will take a local bus until Santa teresa the resting place. You could enjoy Hot springs in the middle of the jungle.

Day 7: Santa Teresa / Hidrohelectric / Aguas Calientes town.

We will take an early walk or bus to the citadel of Machu Picchu for a 2 hours guided tour, plenty of additional free time to explore, and an optional climb to the mountain Huayna Picchu, Temple of the Moon, or the Sun Gate. After that, you will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes. We have time for lunch and wait for the train to comeback. Transfer to the hotel

Day 8: Aguas Calientes town / Machupicchu / Cusco.

From Aguas Calientes we walk or take bus to Machupicchu. We start our visit with a 2 hours guided tour, that will bring us to the most important locations at the archaeological site and the guide will tell us about the great importance Machupicchu enjoyed as astronomical and religious center. The rest of the day we spend at this amazing ruin and you will have the chance to climb Wayna Picchu or visit the beautiful moon temple.

Day 9: Cusco Free Day

Free morning. In the afternoon passengers meet they Jungle tour guide and get final information about the 06 days jungle tour to Manu National Park and the Amarakaeri Reserve.

Day 10: Manu 06 days Jungle Tour

In the morning we leave from Cusco by private bus and drive through the Andean Mountains. We make a stop at Ninamarka to see the pre-Inca burial towers before we begin our descent in to the Cloud Forest. Here we make a hike and the flora reveals a variety of ferns, orchids and different parasitic plants. The fauna on the other hand might show us among others the famous Cock-of-the-Rock bird, monkeys and the almost extinct Spectacled Bear. We spend the night in a nearby lodge in the Cloud Forest.

Day 11: Manu park

In the early morning we walk from the lodge to spend time on a hidden platform to observe the dance ritual and meeting place of the Cock of the Rocks birds. Return to the lodge. After breakfast we continue towards Amarakaeri Lodge. On the way we visit some local families and their small farms, pass through Pillcopata town and board the boat in Atalaya or Shintuya port. We stop in Aguas Calientes near Shintuya Native Community for lunch. Here it is possible to enjoy a natural hot bath. Early afternoon we continue down river to Amarakaeri Lodge. After arrival we get arranged in the Lodge and then we go for a late afternoon walk on an island just in front of the lodge.
We return in the early evening and spend the night in rooms with comfortable beds with mosquito nets in the Lodge.

Day 12: Amarakaeri Reserve

After an early breakfast we will start our ecological excursion through the jungle going to Aguas Negras River and the Amarakaeri Reserve. We arrive to our campsite around midday. In the afternoon we will visit different trails going into the virgin jungle, where we in our search have a nice chance to watch wildlife. Our system of trails offers different walks according to the wishes of our passengers. This evening we sleep in comfortable mattresses and tents in our Open Air Campsite. This late evening we make another night walks.

Day 13: Amarakaeri Reserve

This early morning we walk to Blanco River inside the Amarakaeri Reserve. Crossing the river we arrive to our hiding place by the side of Lagarto Negro Lake (a mammals clay lick). From here we have a chance to watch birds like parrots and parakeets and some mammals feeding from the rich nutritious clay. Depending on the time we will continue hiking through primary jungle and then return for lunch at the Blanco Open Air Campsite near by the Blanco River. In the late afternoon we visit the Mammals clay lick again, where we have a good chance to watch bigger animals like for example the Tapir (Tapirs usually come to eat the clay at night). This night we sleep in comfortable mattresses and tents in the Open Air Campsite.

Day 14: Blanco River

This morning we will explore the area along the Blanco River going through secondary and tertiary jungle, - the preferred habitat for the worlds largest rodent, the Capybara, and a good area to look for bird nests. For the lovers of silence and fishing, this morning offers the opportunity to do piranha fishing in the quite waters along the Blanco River. Later we pack our personal things and start to walk back to Amarakaeri Eco-Lodge on a different trail. We arrive to the Lodge late afternoon

Day 15. Manu Jungle tour - Cusco

After a nice breakfast in Amarakaeri Eco-Lodge we get ready to back up river to Atalaya port (we take lunch in the boat). The boat trip can take up to 6 hours. From Atalaya our private bus will take passengers back to Cusco arriving to here early evening hours. Arriving to Cusco passengers will be transfer to their Hotel.

Day 16. Cusco - Lima 

Free morning. Around midday passengers will be transfer from the Hotel to Cusco International airport. Flight time to Lima is around 1 hour.

What is included:

• Accommodation at selected hotels with breakfast
• Meals as described in the itinerary, not including alcoholic beverages.
• Permanent Tour Leader.
• Transfers, tours and excursions as per itinerary with English speaking guides.

What is not included:

• International flight to Peru and US$31.00 tax for all international air departures.
• All domestic flights, require a US$5.00 charge (airport tax).
• Personal expenses such as telephone bills, laundry expenses, beverages, etc.
• Insurance against theft, loss, illness and/or accident etc.
   

 PRICE PER TRAVELER

 Private Service 2010: **   

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