Description

A complete excursion to the Andean mountains and the Amazon rainforest in Peru. On this trip you will explore the highlands of Cusco, hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu; and on the second part, you will explore the Tambopata Natural Park, one of the last easily accessible virgin tropical rainforests of the world, while you stay in an amazing lodge.

Highlights

Itinerary:
1st Day: Arrival to Lima
We will pick you up from the airport upon arrival and take you to the hotel in Lima. Accommodation in a hotel in Lima.

2nd Day: Flight to Cusco
Transfer to the airport in Lima. Flight to Cusco (1 hour). Transfer to the hotel in Cusco. You will have the afternoon free to rest and tour the city by yourself. Accommodation in a hotel in Cusco.

3rd Day: Cusco City Tour
In the afternoon (1:30 PM) you will visit the Cathedral. Then, you will tour the amazing Inca sites of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambomachay. These archeological sites are the remains of the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Accommodation in a hotel in Cusco.

4th Day: Inca Trail - 1st day.
From Piscacucho (a.k.a. "Km 82") to Wayllabamba (Distance: 9 Kms / 5.6 miles).
A bus will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the beginning of the Inca Trail (2,720 mts / 9,000 ft); from there you will hike for 2 hours before lunch, and then 2 hours more to reach the campsite. You will see Llactapata ruins and camp at Wayllabamba (2,950 mts / 9,800 ft) with an amazing view of Veronica snow-capped mountain. Camping.

5th Day: Inca Trail - 2nd day.
From Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo (Distance: 12 Kms / 7.5 miles).
This is the toughest day of the trek. After 4 hours hiking, you will reach the Warmiwanuska pass, the highest point of the trail (4,200 meters / 14,000 ft). After rest at the pass, you will descend to the Pacaymayo campsite (3,600 mts / 11,900 ft); there you will lunch and rest. Camping.

6th Day: Inca Trail - 3rd day.
From Pacaymayo to Winay Wayna (Distance: 16 Kms / 10 miles).
This day is the nicest one, the hike starts with a climb to the Runkurakay pass (3,990 meters / 12,960 ft), from there the view of the mountains and the cloud-forest is quite impressive. After the pass, the path is mostly downhill and the sceneries change dramatically. Along the path it are 3 main Inca sites: Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna. You will camp in Winay Wayna campsite at 2,700 meters (8,900 ft). Camping.

7th Day: Inca Trail - 4th day.
From Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (Distance: 5 Kms / 3.2 miles).
You will wake up early in the morning (4:30 AM) to reach Inti Punku (Sun's Gate) before 6:30 AM to watch the first sun beams over Machu Picchu (2,400 mts / 7,900 ft). Once in there you will have a guided-tour for 2 hours; afterwards, you will have free time to explore by yourself. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco (4 PM). Accommodation in a hotel in Cusco.

8th Day: Free day in Cusco.
You will have the day free to do some shopping and to enjoy this lovely city. Accommodation in a hotel in Cusco. OPTIONAL: Rafting in the Urubamba river. We will take you to the Urubamba river to have fun on a raft. The level of it is very good, adventurous but safe (rapids class II and III). You will be back in Cusco city in the afternoon (5 PM).

9th Day: Flight to Puerto Maldonado / Excursion to Tambopata - 1st day.
We will take you to the airport in Cusco for your flight to Puerto Maldonado (30 minutes). Upon arrival to Puerto Maldonado we will take you to the lodge's office to store your extra luggage. Then you will ride on a motor-boat for 25 minutes to a riverside trailhead. From there you will hike 3.2 Kms (2 miles) to Lake Sandoval. Once there, you will ride on a canoe to the lodge's pier. After settle in the lodge, you will explore the west end of Lake Sandoval to watch a bunch of red-bellies macaws. After dinner, on a canoe you will search the river shores for black caimans.

10th Day: Excursion to Tambopata - 2nd day.
Early in the morning you will return to the lake to look for the giant river otters and the Hoatzins (pre-historic looking birds). Later, you will learn how the native people collect and commercialize the Brazilian nut. After lunch we will return to the lake to watch one or more of the 5 monkey species which live in the forest near the lake such as the Brown Capuchin monkey and the Squirrel monkey.

11th Day: Excursion to Tambopata - 3rd day.
In the morning you will explore some of the rainforest trails to look for plants and insects. Your guide will explain to you the importance of the tropical forests and the Amazon jungle and how its destruction will affect your life. In the afternoon, you will have your last chance to watch a wonderful sunset.

12th Day: Excursion to Tambopata - 4th day / Flight to Lima.
After breakfast you will ride on a canoe to the other shore of the Sandoval lake, then you will hike to the Madre de Dios river. From there you will ride on a motor-boat back to Puerto Maldonado. Once there you will pick up your luggage from the lodge's office on your way to the airport. The flight to Lima is 2 hours with a stop in Cusco.

Option: If you don't want to hike the Inca trail, we will include a tour to Machu Picchu by train instead, and the trip will be 3 days shorter. The excursion to Tambopata can be shortened too. Ask for the price.

Travel Types

• BackPacking Abroad
• Birdwatching
• Camping
• Canoeing
• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Hiking
• Nature Tours
• RainForest Tours
• Tours
• Trekking

Cost in US$:

1320. Discount for students holding the ISIC (International Student Identity Card): USD40

Program Fees Include:

Included:
- Accommodation for 05 nights in nice hotels in Lima (1 night) and Cusco (4 nights). More information on the hotels included
- Campsites along the Inca trail (3 nights)
- Accommodation in the "Reserva Amazonica" Lodge (3 nights)
- Camping gear (except sleeping bags and backpacks)
- Three meals per day during the Inca trail (3 days) and the stay in the "Reserva Amazonica" Lodge (3 days)
- Breakfasts at hotels
- Flight Cusco - Puerto Maldonado (airport's tax not included)
- All transfers to airports and hotels
- All transports to visit the places included in the tour
- Entrance fees to the places included in the itinerary
- Guided tours in English

Extras:
- Single Supplement (single rooms): 190 US dollars
- Flight Lima-Cusco: 150 US dollars (airport's tax is not included)
- Flight Puerto Maldonado-Lima: 150 US dollars (airport's tax is not included)
- Personal porter to carry your backpack on the Inca trail: 100 US dollars
- Rafting in the Urubamba river: 45 US dollars (it includes the complete gear and box lunch)
- Extra night in Lima: Single room USD55 / Double room USD60 (breakfast included)
- Lima City Tour: USD28

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

Independently

Indiana Expedition's Mission Statement

Indiana Expedition is a tour operator based in Peru with loads of experience leading tours to Peru (more than 10 years). Our main goal is to show the beauty of this country, the kindness of its people and the riches of its history, by offering flexible and customized trips to our travellers. We do not only want you to take back home nice pictures but a once-in-a-lifetime experience from Peru.

Year Founded

2000