Classic & Puerto Maldonado Jungle

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Lima (Overnight in Lima)

Upon you arrival to Lima, you will be met and transported to your hotel in Lima, where you will spend a well-deserved overnight stay. * 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: Fly to Cusco & Afternoon City Tour (B)

You will have a very short flight to the City of Cusco, where you will be met upon arrival to the City of Cusco 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’s 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 prices, 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 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 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 from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado (B, L, D)

Today after you check out from the Cusco Hotel, we will take you to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. * You can always take this tour before Cusco. Please ask our agents to help you customize it!

After a short flight, we will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the lodge office, to store your extra luggage. From there, we will continue on our bus to the dock located in the native community “Infierno” from where we will board our canoe and start a one and a half hour journey to the lodge. During the trip, we will have lunch on board and you will have the opportunity to see caimans, turtles and capybaras.  Upon you arrival at the lodge, you will be received with a friendly welcome drink, to make you feel at home.  After a brief chance to rest, we take a short night-hike to see nocturnal rainforest animals. Upon your return to the lodge, we will have dinner with our guide and some of the Resident Naturalists who are more than available to answer any questions you may have, or brief us about the Amazon rainforest and the Tambopata National Reserve. * An extra night at the lodge can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 6: Cocococha Oxbox Lake (B, L, D)

To see the giant otters, you will have to get up very early and walk with our guide approx. 5 ½ km to Cocococha oxbow lake.  On the way, you will have the opportunity to observe plants, exotic insects, colorful butterflies, birds, monkeys and, with a bit of luck, perhaps even see some of the large mammals. After arriving at the lake, we will hide in a strategic hiding place and will wait for the otters to appear to be observed. While waiting, we will take the chance to have refreshments. Afterwards, canoes will be available for us to go for a short ride around the lake, watching the wildlife on the shoreline. Back in the lodge, you will have lunch and have a free afternoon for relaxing or doing independent activities for those who wish to do them. Before the sun sets, you can hike to Sunset Point and watch the beautiful Amazon rainforest sunset. After the sunset, we will board the canoes once again, to look for, and watch caimans with torches. * 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: Return to Lima/ Flight Home (B)

You will be woken up very early to have breakfast and board the canoe to return to Puerto Maldonado. On the way, we will watch the unforgettable jungle dawn on the Tambopata River. Once in Puerto Maldonado we will be transferred to the airport to take your return flight to Lima and then back home.

* Please let us know if you like to add extra activities or a day hotel if your flight is late at night.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please note that the activities described above are for the EXPLORER’S INN LODGE ONLY and DO NOT apply for the other 4 and 5 star lodges mentioned below. 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 the other descriptions upon request.

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$799.90 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 (ie: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)
• Most our Tambopata 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: Explorer’s Inn Lodge, Corto Maltes or similar

Moderate Lodge: Posada Amazonas / Refugio Amazonas or similar Please note that the price is based on the type of TOUR. Rooms are all the same. Here are the options of tours available: Standard Tour, Soft Adventure, Family Kids, Family Teens, Holistic + Ayahuasca

Deluxe Lodge: Inkaterra reserva Amazónica or similar. Please note that the price is based on the type of ROOM. Tours are all the same.

VERY IMPORTANT: If you are interested in 4, 5 star options. Please contact us and we will send you the detailed itinerary of these adventures.

What’s Included?

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
• 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.