A deep encounter with the nature and wildlife of one of the most beautiful natural paradises on earth, “The Peruvian Amazon and the Savanna of Bolivia“. This trip includes great adventures in the jungle such as visits to the Amazon macaw and parrot clay licks, tapir lick and observation of a wide variety of mammals and birds of the Amazon. Also, there will be visits to native tribes in the Amazon and more. All of this is combined with the Cultural Heritage of Machu Picchu and the Land of the Inkas. This is a great trip focused on nature, wildlife, culture and real experiences.
· Upon arrival in Lima private transfer from airport to your hotel in Miraflores
· Overnight in Miraflores
· In the morning private transfer from hotel to Lima airport
· Flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado
· Our staff welcomes you at Puerto Maldonado airport and we drive through this bustling Upper Amazon Basin city to the Tambopata River boat dock.
· 3 hour motor canoe to the Peru-Bolivia border at the mouth of the remote Heath River
· After brief frontier-crossing formalities, we motor for about two more hours with great views of native villages and wild animals such as herons, hawks, cormorants, Orinoco Geese, and perhaps a family of Capybaras, the world’s largest rodent.
· We reach our simple, charming and comfortable quarters at the Heath River Wildlife Center in time for dinner.
· Overnight at the Heath River Wildlife Center
· In the morning a visit to the lodge’s most spectacular feature: the Heath River Parrot and Macaw Lick. This extraordinary wildlife display occurs at only a handful of sites in the Upper Amazon Basin, and nowhere else on the planet.
· On our return we can land partway downriver and walk back along a section of the lodge’s extensive network of forest trails.
· After lunch we typically hike or bicycle along a major trail to Bolivia’s Madidi National Park, the largest remaining undisturbed tropical savannah in the Amazon, home to rare endemic birds and mammals.
· We return to the lodge by night using our flashlights.
· After dinner some guests may choose to visit one of our mammal lick hides, in hopes of seeing a Lowland Tapir, the rainforest’s largest mammal. Hardy adventurers can choose to camp here with their guide in order to experience a full night in the heart of the rainforest and increase their chances of a major wildlife sighting.
· Overnight at Heath River Wildlife Center
· Our second full day at the lodge allows us to choose from a wide range of activities available in this exceptionally diverse tropical environment. Many people choose to make a second visit to the macaw clay lick. Later we can take a canoe tour around Cocha Moa, an oxbow lake, a short way downstream from the lodge.
· In the afternoon we may travel an hour or so downriver to visit the Ese’Eja native community of Sonene, where we can meet the descendants of nomadic forest tribes.
· After dinner we can board our canoe once more, for an evening of spotting caiman, the Amazonian cousin of the alligator.
· Overnight at Heath river Wildlife Center
· We leave at dawn for the return trip downstream. This is peak hour for wildlife so we keep a sharp eye for families of Capybara, jaguar sighting, or a tapir swimming across the current. We reach the Madre de Dios River, re-enter Peru landing near Sandoval Lake Lodge.
· We walk the 3km/2 mile trail to the narrow boat channel through flooded palm forest that leads to this peaceful lake where we will enjoy a paddle canoe ride to our lodge seeing on the way a wide variety of animals and with luck the Amazonian Giant Otter.
· After lunch we once again set off by boat or catamaran to explore the entire west end of the lake to see more macaws, monkeys and more wildlife.
· We return to the lodge around nightfall for dinner.
· After dinner we take to the boats once more, in search of black caimans and superb vistas of the Milky Way.
· Overnight at Sandoval Lake Lodge
· After a dawn breakfast, a final short paddle around the west end of Sandoval Lake for a glimpse of the Giant Otters before returning to Puerto Maldonado
· Motor boat back to Puerto Maldonado
· Flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco
· Upon arrival in Cusco private transfer airport – Pisaq town located in the Sacred valley at lower elevation than Cusco for altitude acclimatization
· Stops along the way from airport to Sacred Valley at view points and a visit to an Animal Recovery Center for observation of condors, pumas, macaws, llamas and alpacas.
· Rest of the day at leisure. Optional in the late afternoon: Peruvian Pizza cooking lessons at your hotel.
· Overnight in the Sacred Valley
· Full day private Sacred Valley Tour including: Pisaq ruins, Pisaq market, local corn beer brewery, Ollantaytambo ruins, Ollantaytambo town
· Overnight in the Sacred Valley
· Full day Maras Moray tour including: Maras Town, San Francisco Church, Circular Terraces of Moray, the Andean Salt Terraces of Maras.
· Mother Earth ceremony at Moray
· Private picnic lunch in a strategic point with a great view of the Sacred Valley and its glaciers
· Optional: We can take mountain bikes with us, to do part of this tour by bike. (Great option)
· Overnight in the Sacred Valley
· In the morning a 2 hour train from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes
· During the afternoon a private tour of Machu Picchu (Afternoons in Machu Picchu are less crowded and more peaceful)
· Overnight in Aguas Calientes
· Full day free in Machu Picchu
· Wayna Picchu climbing: Optional
· A late afternoon train, Machu Picchu – Cusco
· Overnight in Cusco
· In the morning, private City Tour including: Sacsayhuaman, San Pedro local market, Cusco Cathedral and Temple of the Sun, “Koricancha”
· Rest of the day at leisure
· Special goodbye dinner with show
· Overnight in Cusco
· Private transfer hotel – Cusco airport.
· Flight Cusco – Lima (included)
· International flight home
· All internal flights: Lima – Puerto Maldonado – Cusco - Lima
· All private transfers & transportation
· All private excursions with English speaking professional tour guides
· Excursion in the Amazon could be with some other people in very small groups
· Orient Express Round Trip Train to Machu Picchu
· Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner)
· All accommodations based on double occupancy at nice 3 star hotels and lodges
· All entrance tickets to the attraction sites including Machu Picchu
· Local Taxes
· Airport taxes ($6 Local, $30 International, payable on site)
· Tips and extras
· Internal flights included
· All private excursions. (You may expect more people in the jungle excursions but always small groups)
· Visits to the sites at different times than common tours to avoid tourists crowds
· Excellent professional English speaking tour guides
· Peruvian Amazon Jungle and Sandoval Lake
· Macaws and parrots clay lick visit
· Observation of Amazon otters, mammals, tapirs, birds and more
· Comfortable cozy lodge in the Amazon Jungle
· Altitude acclimatization
· Sacred Valley of the Incas: Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Maras, Moray, and the Salt Terraces
· Observation of Condors, Pumas, Macaws, Llamas and Alpacas
· Visit to Andean communities
· Overnight in Machu Picchu town
· Complete day in Machu Picchu
· Cusco city: San Pedro Market, Sacsayhuaman, Cathedral and Temple of the Sun
· Flexible and customizable itinerary
Private Tour available on any date upon request
