Classic & Lima & Iquitos

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Lima

Arrival to Lima airport. Upon you arrival to Lima, one of our representative will meet you at the airport in Lima to take you to your hotel in Lima. *While in Lima, we highly recommend adding culinary activities such as cooking classes and tasting dinners in the best restaurants of Latin America, for more information check our Culinary site: taste-of-peru.com and ask our agents for more information. An extra day in Lima can be added upon request. 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. 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 of the Incas (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 (B, S)

The day you have been waiting for! After breakfast we catch the train to the town of 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 Back to Lima & Afternoon City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, we transfer you to the airport for the short, one hour flight to Lima. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Next, we will take you to enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the best restaurants of Peruvian Cuisine, followed by a City Tour, where you will be able to see the Spanish city Square and, get a snapshot of the most important city sites,. Sites to be visited: Main Square, The Cathedral, Government Palace, City Hall, San Francisco Monastery (including catacombs), old streets with colonial houses, and a great driving tour through beautiful San Isidro and Miraflores. After the city tour you will be transferred to your hotel for a well deserved rest. * While in Lima, we highly recommend adding culinary activities such as cooking classes and tasting dinners in the best restaurants of Latin America, for more information check our Culinary site: taste-of-peru.com and ask our agents for more information. An extra day in Lima can be added upon request.

Day 6: Flight to Iquitos (B, D)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco and taken to the airport in Cusco, where you will catch your connecting flight to Iquitos. Once you arrive in Iquitos, one of our representatives will be waiting for you, and accompany you on your brief city orientation, while on the way to the Explorama dock. It is here that you will embark on your Twenty-five mile journey down the Amazon River to Explorama Lodge. In the afternoon, after lunch, you will have the chance to hike along the “Lake Trail” through lowland rainforest which is seasonally flooded. During the high water season, this excursion is done by open boat! After dinner, you will embark on a Night walk or open boat ride to enjoy the sounds of the rainforest and stars of the Southern sky. * An extra night at the lodge can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 7: Jungle Program (B, L, D)

After breakfast at your lodge, you will depart on a morning walk along the “Bushmaster Trail”, where scientific studies by the Missouri Botanical Gardens have found the world’s highest biodiversity of trees per square hectare. Your guide will show and point out many plants used in medicine today, and many that we may use in the future. After lunch, you will go on an afternoon open-boat trip along the Amazon in search of either of the two species of freshwater dolphin, found in the river, and a chance for an afternoon swim. In the evening, dinner will be included at the lodge. * An extra night at the lodge can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 8: Flight Back to Lima – Home (B)

After breakfast at the lodge, you will depart for an early Morning walk along a local river trail with stops along the way to visit the “ribereños” or river people, visit a river school, see the local sugar cane rum “factory” or visit our resident American medical doctor in her clinic sponsored by the Rotary Club. Your journey to Peru winds to a close as we provide transfer to the airport in Iquitos for the flight back to the Capital city of Lima. Flight time will depend on your flight time back home. * Please let us know if you like to add extra activities or a day hotel if your flight is late at night.

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

VERY IMPORTANT: Please note that the activities described above are for the EXPLORAMA LODGE ONLY. Each lodge has their own activities due to their location and own logistics (although very similar). In order to make this proposal simpler, we have included ONLY this description. However, we will be happy to provide other descriptions upon request.

Not exactly what you want?

Remember, that Magical focuses on providing the best available options, and can work with you in fully 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$1034.90 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)
• Most our Iquitos tours are in Groups as all passengers stay in the lodges and follow their specific schedules and itineraries. However, private tours can be arranged, please let us know if you prefer a private tour.

Example of the Lodges we work with

*We work with most of the lodges of the area. Please ask our representative if you do not see the one you are looking for.

Budget Lodge: Explorama Lodge or similar

Moderate Lodge: ExplorNapo Lodge or similar Please note that this lodge is for programs from 4 days and up.

Deluxe Lodge: Ceiba Tops Luxury Lodge or similar.

What’s Included?

• Expedition train Roundtrip. Upgrade to other trains: Vistadome or Hiram Bingham upon request
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip.
• Expert leadership / guides & support personnel for all listed tours
• Accommodations: 2 nights in Lima, 3 nights in Cusco, 2 nights in Lodge.
• 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 (Lima Cathedral, San Francisco Catacombs, BTG, Cusco Cathedral, Qoricancha, Machu Picchu and Jungle 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, Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Restaurant, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport, Iquitos Airport/Iquitos Lodge, Iquitos Lodge/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)
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• 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
• Tipping & Gratuities (Guides $4 per person per day / Drivers $1 per person per day)
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)

Domestic Tickets

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