Day 01
6th August 2021- Arrival at Lima
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by a Rahhalah representative who will take you to the hotel (located in Miraflores, the most beautiful and safest area of Lima, facing the Pacific Ocean). You will relax for the rest of the day, exploring the city at your own pace.
Overnight in Lima at Casa Andina Select Miraflores – Superior Room or similar.
*Lima is located at an altitude of 80 meters (262 feet) above sea level
Day 02
7th August 2021- Exploring Lima (B, D)
After breakfast, you will embark on an exploration of the capital city of Peru. You will start with a short visit to a local farmers’ market where you will learn about various Peruvian fruits, the famous potatoes, local vegetables, fish and other ingredients used in the local cuisine.
Afterwards, you will be driven to the City of the Kings to explore its beautiful monuments, including numerous colonial houses adorned with Moorish-style balconies, central Plazas like San Martin and Plaza de Armas, the baroque cathedral, the Governors’ Palace, the Archbishop's Palace with its big wood-carved balconies, and the convent of San Francisco: home to the largest collection of religious art in the Americas. Underneath the convent, there is a vast network of catacombs that served as a cemetery during the colonial period.
The tour will end with a visit to the beautiful olive tree park and the “Park of Love” where you will enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
The rest of the afternoon will be relaxing, as you explore the parks and markets of Miraflores, before meeting for the welcome dinner in a Peruvian restaurant.Overnight in Lima at Casa Andina Select Miraflores – Superior Room or similar.
Day 03
8th August 2021- Flight to Cusco – Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) (B)
After an early breakfast, you will head to the airport to board your flight to Cusco.
Once there, you will first visit the Awanacancha Textile Center, where you will gain interesting information about the llamas and the alpacas (you may even feed some of them) while admiring the amazing textiles made by the Quechua weavers.Later, you will drive to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, where you will spend the rest of the afternoon adjusting to the high altitude of the Andes or exploring the ancient Inca town.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo at Samanapaq hotel – Standard Room or similar.
*Cusco city is located at an altitude of 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) above sea level.
**The Sacred Valley is located at an altitude of 2,870 meters (9,416 feet) above sea level.
Day 04
9th August 2021- Whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River/Horseback riding Adventure in the Sacred Valley (B)
After breakfast, you will head to Pachar village: the starting point of your whitewater rafting adventure on the Urubamba River.
Upon arrival, all participants will be given a safety briefing, including paddling commands, capsize drills, and actions when overboard. Participants will be provided with helmets, wetsuits, splash jackets and a personal flotation device.
The rafting adventure will start on tranquil waters surrounded by beautiful mountains and archaeological remains, before heading to Ollantaytambo and its amazing Inca terraces. On the way, you will enjoy class II-III rapids, and you will finish by “El Resbaladero” (“the slide”), a great class III rapid that includes waves and small whirlpools. You will end by the Cachiccata community located a few minutes away from the Ollantaytambo village.
In the afternoon (at around 14:00), you will go on a horseback riding adventure, enjoying magnificent views of the Sacred Valley, the surrounding mountains, and the small Quechua villages. The level of this activity is easy and safe.
After your horseback riding tour, you will return to your hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Estimated rafting time: two hours.
Estimated horseback riding time: two hours.Overnight in Ollantaytambo at the Samanapaq Hotel – Standard Room or similar.
Day 05
10th Aug 2021- Ziplining in the Sacred Valley (B)
After breakfast, you will drive to Pachar village, the starting point of your zip lining adventure.
The Sacred Valley zip line allows people of all ages to fly over this magical and magnificent area in a safe and fun way. The zip line has 7 lines or cables, from 150m to 700m, for a total of 2800m.
You will start with a 30-40-minute hike; then you will go on a small via Ferrata climb (four meters) to get acquainted with climbing a Ferrata route, before embarking on your zip lining adventure.
Each line is different from the other so you will start with an easy and short one, and the circuit will allow you to upgrade on the way. You will enjoy a three-hour zip lining experience, before driving back, by lunchtime,to your hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace, discovering the ancient Inca remains in the town, still visible in many of the buildings.Overnight in Ollantaytambo at Samanapaq Hotel – Standard Room or similar.
Day 06
11th Aug 2021- Vista dome train journey from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu (B, L)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station to board the Vista dome train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).
From Machu Picchu train station, you will take the bus on a 25-minute journey to Machu Picchu where your private English-speaking guide will take you on a virtual trip back to the 15th century.Machu Picchu private tour
Today you will explore this impressive Inca city and learn about the history of this site, who lived here, how it was discovered in modern times, and why the Spaniards never found it. You will gain some insight into the various features of the sacred town and, in the end, you will have some free time to enjoy by yourself the meditative ambience of the place: an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever!
Later, you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) where you will enjoy lunch and have some free time to explore the small town, check its hot baths, sing with the street musicians, or shop in its numerous stalls crammed with beautiful artifacts.Overnight in Aguas Calientes at Hatun Inti Classic – Standard Room or similar.
Day 07
12th Aug 2021- Huayna Picchu Mountain (B)
Hiking time: one hour (ascent); one hour (descent).
Summit elevation: 2,693 meters (8,835 feet) above sea level.
After a very early breakfast, you will head Machu Picchu (a 25-min bus drive) from where, under the guidance of a private guide,you will start your hike to the famous Huayna Picchu (“Young Peak) mountain that towers over the beautiful Machu Picchu (“Old Mountain”) sanctuary. The mountain is steep and tough; the path is so narrow that one needs to follow the line, and the descent is challenging. However, the experience will imprint even more deeply in your heart the memory of Machu Picchu and will give you a profound sense of satisfaction.
After hiking the Huyana Picchu Mountain, you will return to Machu Picchu Pueblo to board the train back to Ollantaytambo and, from there, you will drive back to Cusco.Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Standard Cusco Plaza – Traditional Room or similar.
*Cusco is located at an altitude of 3,385 meters (11,105 feet) above sea level.
Day 08
13th Aug 2021- Exploring Cusco (B, D)
In the morning, you will have some time to explore Cusco – a World Heritage Site – atyour leisure. The town is very picturesque, and its alleys, full of cute shops, artistic cafes and restaurants, invite you to enjoy these few hours, shopping or sampling the delicious local cuisine.
In the afternoon, you will embark on a private tour in Cusco City and the nearby Inca Ruins (approx 4 hrs).
You tour starts with a smooth walk to the main attractions of this Inca city, including the central square known as Plaza de Armas, and the Cathedral whose construction began in 1559 and boasts of an impressive, unique collection of more than 400 paintings from the 16th and 17th century featuring the characteristics of the Cusco School. Next, you will walk through the narrow ancient streets close the Plaza and appreciate the massive Inca walls, which are the foundations of Cusco city.
Your tour includes a visit to the most impressive Inca temple: Koricancha, known as the Temple of the Sun. During the Inca times, the walls of this temple were lined in sheets of solid gold, and its courtyard was decorated with golden statues and ornaments. You tour in the city ends with a visit to Santo Domingo Church built by the Spanish colonists.
After Cusco, we will head to Sacsayhuaman, an amazing Inca fortress whose main walls are perfectly fitted, built with massive stones. There, you will gain additional interesting information about the Incas’ secrets, before moving on towards Qenko, Puca Pucara (an Inca lodging site), and, finally, Tambo Machay, known as the Baths of the Inca. You will finish your tour with a fantastic view of the Inca city and the surrounding areas.Optional activity:
If you wish to skip the historical exploration of Cusco, you may choose to go on a full-day trek on the Rainbow Mountain: a stunning wonder of nature. Additional cost:130 USD per person (minimum two people).
In the evening, you will all meet for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.Overnight in Cusco at Casa Andina Standard Cusco Plaza – Traditional Room or similar.
Day 09
14th Aug 2021- Flight from Cusco to Lima/ Departure or Optional Extension to the Amazon (B)
After an early breakfast, you will go to Cusco airport to fly back to Lima and, from there, catch your flight back home.
Note: it is recommended that your international departure flights are after 6 pm.
Day 09
14th Aug 2021- Flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado (B, L, D)
After an early breakfast, you will head, once more, to the airport, to board your flight to Puerto Maldonado.
Upon your arrival at Puerto Maldonado, you will be welcomed by the local Rahhalah guide who will take you to the Refugio Amazonas Lodge office where you will register, leave the excess luggage in a safe deposit and then depart for the Tambopata River Port (inInfierno), to take the boat to the Refugio Amazonas Lodge (inside the Tambopata Reserve).During your boat trip, you will enjoy a box lunch.Estimated boat-ride time: 2.5 hrs.
When at Refugio Amazonas, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you on important navigation and security tips.
Please note that your guide will always provide you with any necessary information prior to every excursion. Your itinerary may be modified due to weather conditions that may affect access to certain areas.After dinner, you will enjoy a caiman search, walking by the river’s edge, scanning the banks with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection on the caiman eyes.
Overnight in Refugio Amazonas Lodge - Superior Room or similar.
Day 10
15th Aug 2021- Oxbow Lake - Canopy Tower - Ethnobotanical Tour (B,L, D)
After breakfast, you will paddle around the lake on a canoe or catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman, and horned screamers, hoping to see otters and macaws as well.
A thirty-minute walk from the Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25-meter scaffolding canopy tower. The tower has been built on high ground, enhancing thus your view of the rainforest forest up until the Tambopata National Reserve. From there you will see toucans, macaws and raptors.
After lunch, you will visit a farm owned and managed by Don Manuel from the community of Condenado. He grows a variety of popular and exotic Amazon crops and strolling around his farm will be exciting and educational.
Late in the afternoon, you will enjoy an ethnobotanical tour packed with interesting information about the variety of plants and trees (like Ajo-Sacha, Yuca de Venado, Uña de Gato, Charcot-Sacha, Para-Para, to name but a few) that are used by the local population for medicinal purposes.
After dinner, there will be a presentation about ecotourism projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.
Overnight at Refugio Amazonas Lodge - Superior Room or similar.
Day 11
16th Aug 2021- Boat ride from Refugio Amazonas to Puerto Maldonado city/Flight from Puerto Maldonado city to Lima City/Departure (B)
After breakfast, you will head to the airport of Puerto Maldonado city to fly to Lima (after retrieving your luggage from the Refugio Amazonas Lodge), and, from there, catch your flight back home.
Note: it is recommended that your international departure flights should be after 6 pm.
