Classic & Amazon Cruise

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Lima

Upon your arrival to Lima, one of our representatives will meet you at the airport and accompany you and take you to your hotel in Lima. * An extra day in Lima can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 2: Flight to Cusco & Afternoon City Tour (B)

We transfer back to the airport for the short, one hour flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, located at 11,100 feet above sea level. You will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel of choice. You will have the remainder of the morning to rest and freshen up. It’s best to take it easy this morning to let your body adjust to the altitude. Some find enjoying a cup of hot coca tea a real help in adjusting to the high elevation and that is what the locals traditionally use coca for. Both lunch and dinner are on your own today as there are so many choices available at reasonable price either in or near your hotel. * Depending on which domestic flight you choose you will have more or less time to rest.

After lunch, you will set out on grand tour of Cusco, the former capital of the once vast Incan Empire. The city’s Spanish Colonial architecture both overlays and is interlaced with the earlier Incan architecture. We walk Cusco’s impressive Plaza de Armas and visit both the Spanish cathedral and Incan temple of the sun, Qoricancha. The Spanish conquistadores destroyed significant portions of the Inca civilization while leaving their mark on Cusco. Ornate cathedrals, adobe walls, carved balconies, hidden courtyards and cobblestone streets add to the historic richness of the ancient Incan capital.

Next we set out to visit the ruins above the city that were considered an essential part of the ancient capital. We start with one of the most impressive of them all, Sacsayhuaman. This is where Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is held during the Summer Solstice. Some of the stones used to build the site weigh up to 70 tons yet are fitted so precisely–without the use of mortar–that one cannot slide even the thinnest object between them. Some believe that the site forms the head of puma or jaguar and that the huge triangulated walls form its teeth, or symbolize lightening. Tambomachay, the Temple of the Sacred Waters, is another site we will visit and is a marvel of hydraulic engineering. Its waters still flow today. At Q´enqo we’ll see the remains of a ceremonial site used for fertility rites and for celebrations of the solstice and equinox. * An extra day in Cusco can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 3: Sacred Valley Tours (B, L)

After breakfast, we set out into the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be a visit to the the Pisac market. The Pisac market has a wide variety of artisan arts & crafts and you will have the chance to see the many different products that the sacred valley produces. This is a great opportunity to for you to do some unique shopping, and to purchase souvenirs for your family and friends. After the market, we head deeper into the Sacred Valley and visit the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, still inhabited by the locals in much the same way as it was during the time of the Incas. The lodging area is formed by complex structures known as “canchas” or apartments. The Inca built a temple on a terraced site above the town. The impressive, standing stones they erected, conjure up images of Atlantis. This is the site where Manco Inca and his warriors staged a temporary victory over the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro. During this victory, the Inca warriors flooded the fields, while raining down spears and arrows from above, making it difficult for the Spanish horses to maneuver, ultimately forcing a rare retreat on the part of the Conquistadors. We then return to Urubamba, where you will have a chance to break for lunch and recover energies to continue with our tour.

After lunch, we head out to the bustling market-town of Chinchero, our final visit today. The town of Chinchero is the the Birthplace of the Rainbow, situated at over 11,500 feet. Its extensive agricultural terraces made it, in Incan times, the breadbasket of Cusco city. The main sight to see at this location is a catholic church, with fine paintings from the Cusquenian School. Modern Chinchero has a very active community of women weavers who create textiles on backstrap looms using only natural dyes. The weavers make fine, high quality mantas, table runners, pillows, bags, belts, and scarves in soft natural colors. At the end of the day you will go back to Cusco. All of our suggested hotels are well situated, so that you can relax and enjoy more of both ancient and contemporary life this evening. * An overnight at the sacred valley can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 4: Machu Picchu Tour (B, S)

The day you have been waiting for! After breakfast, we catch the train to the town Aquas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Continue by bus for the short ride up switch backs, to the Machu Picchu citadel overhead. We enter the ruins for a breathtaking view of the city in the sky. You will enjoy a full tour of the lost city and have lunch on your own after the tour. In the afternoon, we say farewell to Machu Picchu as we set out by train heading to the station at Poroy and then on to Cusco Hotel by car arriving at night. * An overnight in MachuPicchu can be added upon request. Also, we can add bus and entrance tickets for a second day at the citadel. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 5: Flight to Lima to connect with flight to Iquitos & Amazon Rainforest Cruise (B, D)

After breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, you will be picked up for your flight back Lima to ultimately connect to your flight to Iquitos. Once you arrive in Iquitos, one of our representatives will be waiting for you at the airport, and take you directly to a city tour of Iquitos historical. In the afternoon, you will board your cruise where you will receive an orientation, followed by the chance to settle in your room. We will navigate the Amazon upriver, enjoying the views on the river shore and colorful sunset until we arrive to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve entrance on the Marañon River. *There are optional programs with less or more time on the cruise. Please contact us to customize your tour.

Day 6: Yanayacu Pucate River – Pacaya Samiria Reserve (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will have the chance to view the Amazon River, on the confluence of the rivers Yanayacu and Pucate. On this day, you will explore the first 2 zones of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. We will spend the day walking the primary forest lead by our expert guides, and participate in sport fishing. In the afternoon, you will have the chance to visit the quaint village of “20 de Enero” and experience learning about jungle culture. *There are optional programs with less or more time on the cruise. Please contact us to customize your tour.

Day 7: Samiria River – San Martin De Tipishca – Pacaya Samiria Reserve (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will have the chance to visit the Cocama community of San Martin de Tipishca, and take part in the cultural activities of the village. These activities will be both fun and educational. We continue to explore the lake of the same name by canoe, and we will observe the pink and gray river dolphins. Together with the native guides of the village, we will go on a walk to the surrounding forest, as they explain the wildlife, as well as the use of their medicinal plants. *There are optional programs with less or more time on the cruise. Please contact us to customize your tour.

Day 8: Pacaya Samiria Reserve (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will explore the second zone of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, an area full of oxbow lakes. You will once again have the chance to explore the forest by foot and have the chance to navigate the area in small, local canoes. Our guides will provide plenty of insight on the sheer majesty, and biodiversity of the reserve, and you will have the chance to ask all the questions you could possibly have, in order to complete your Amazon experience. For lunch, you will enjoy a special treat today, in the form of a delicious Barbecue. After lunch, we start to once again navigate the Marañon River down-river. This will be a great way to further explore the area and allow for plenty of pictures. *There are optional programs with less or more time on the cruise. Please contact us to customize your tour.

Day 9: Marañón River – Nauta Cano – Nauta / Back to Lima & Home (B, L)

After breakfast, you will visit the Nauta Sewer area, which is an area full of exuberant wildlife. You will have the opportunity to walk in the adjoining secondary forest, which has quite different wildlife inhabiting the area. At the conclusion of exploring Nauta, you will then be taken back to the city of Iquitos (via bus), where you will enjoy a delicious, farewell-lunch. At the conclusion of lunch, you will be taken to the airport in Iquitos, in order to catch your flight back to the capital city of Lima, prior to connecting with your flight back home. *There are optional programs with less or more time on the cruise. Please contact us to customize your tour. * Please let us know if you like to add extra activities or a day hotel if your flight is late at night or next morning.

NOTE: Some people prefer to go directly to the sacred valley upon arrival to the Cusco Airport. Please let us know if you prefer that to send you an updated itinerary

Not exactly what you want?

Remember that Magical focuses on providing the best available options and can work with you on customizing your tour to better fit your interests and budget, without compromising the quality of your tour. Just contact us with your questions and preferences and we can modify this tour based on your expectations and requests.

Important Notes:

About MachuPicchu Entrance Tickets

As the popularity of MachuPicchu has increased in the last few years, and in order to preserve the ancient paths of MachuPicchu, the Peruvian Cultural Institute (INC) has restricted the number of people that could enter MachuPicchu to 2,500 people per day. This means that, once the 2,500 tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will available. Also, please note that to avoid a secondary market for these tickets, all tickets are issued with the name of the passenger, his/her passport number, nationality and date of birth. Therefore, tickets are non refundable and non transferable.

About Huaynapichu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huaynapichu are not longer free, entrance tickets are now US$12.00 per person. There are two scheduled visits per day, with a limit of 200 people per visit (Total of 400 per day). If you are interested in hiking the Huaynapichu, we will need you to let us know at the same time you book your trip since the Huaynapichu tickets need to be purchased in conjunction to the MachuPicchu tickets.

Price

This tour (*) is available from:

USD$2189.90 per person – Group with Private Transfers

For single supplement and prices in a private service, please contact us!

* Based on double occupancy, 4 people, Budget Accommodations

IMPORTANT: As price depends on each passenger choices, please contact us to send you an updated price based on your specific request. Please send us the following information and we will respond within 24 hours with your updated price.

• Number of people in your party
• Level of accommodation (3, 4, 5*). Please see options
• Choosing a Private or Group Tour?
• Train choice. Please see options
• Adding options: if you like to add day tours, extra days, meals, etc
• Need domestic or international flights?
• Have a special request (e.g.: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)

What’s Included?

• Expedition train Roundtrip. Upgrade to other trains: Vistadome train, Hiram Bingham Train upon request.
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip.
• Expert leadership, guides & support personnel for all listed tours
• Accommodations: 1 night in Lima, 3 nights in Cuzco, 3 nights on Cruise.
• Meals as noted (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, S = Snack). We can add any meals upon request
• Land excursions as noted including entrance fees (BTG, Cathedral and Qoricancha, Machu Picchu and Pacaya Samiria Reservation)
• Private Transportation: Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport, Cusco Airport/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Train Station, Train Station/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Cusco Airport, Iquitos Airport/Iquitos Port, Iquitos Port/Iquitos Airport.

What’s Not Included?

• Airport taxes: Local ($5-6) and International ($31) departure tax of payable in local currency by each passenger at Lima International Airport upon departure (if applicable)
• Alcoholic beverages on the cruise.
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• Tipping & Gratuities (Guides $4 per person per day / Drivers $1 per person per day)
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)
• Visas. Please be advised that some citizens other than Canadians and US may need visa to travel to Peru. Please advise us of your nationality to help you or check with the Peruvian Consulate

Domestic Tickets

Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US $190 per person. This is an example price. Prices depend on the airline, date and time of booking.