15 Days Active Peru and Amazon Rainforest
Lima, Paracas, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the Amazon

Overview

Active Peru and Amazon Rainforest

Our active journey starts with a paragliding flight at the Pacific Ocean border and visiting the city of kings, then we cruise by bus to Ica for an adrenaline filled dune-buggy ride and sand-boarding in the desert.
In Paracas we visit the Ballestas Islands, the mini Galapagos before we fly to Cusco , the Capital of the Inca’s. Explore this Unesco heritage colonial town by foot together with our expert specialist guide and learn about the rich Inca culture.
Prepare yourself for an adventurous downhill mountain bike trip to Pisac, and ride a Peruvian Paso horse like the conquistadores did 400 years ago to the magnificent Salineras and Maras Moray.
Then trek along the famous 500-year-old Inca trail to Machu Picchu to see the amazing citadel. End your trip with a 5-day tour deep into the Amazon Rainforest visiting one of the largest clay licks of macaws and learn about the dazzling nature and rich eco-systems here.

Tour highlights

– Lima: Paragliding at the Pacific Ocean border and City tour: Colonial, Modern and contemporary.
– Paracas: Sand boarding, Dune buggy, Ballestas Islands and Paracas National Reserve.
– Cusco: City tour visiting the Cathedral, Qoricancha, San Pedro Market where the locals shop, Sacsayhuaman and Qenko.
– Sacred Valley: Pisac ruins/market, buffet lunch in Urubamba, Ollantaytambo ruins.
– Ride the Peruvian Paso horse, considered the Rolls Royce under the horses.
– Machu Picchu: A one day hike through Cloud-forest to Machu Picchu; Tour of the awe inspiring Machu Picchu Sanctuary with many temples and more.
• Amazon: a 4 day excursion deep into the Peruvian Amazon exploring the abundant wildlife.

14 days – 13 nights
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14

Day 15

Arrival in Lima

Lima – Parapente and City Tour

Lima - Bus to Paracas - Sand boarding & Dune Buggy

Ballestas Islands & Paracas National Reserve Tours – Return to Lima

Cusco

Mountain bike Tour Taray-Yucay

Peruvian paso horse ride to the Saltpans, and Maras Moray

Short Inca trail to Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley - Km 104 - Machupicchu

Guided tour of Machu Picchu - Return to Cusco

Free day in Cusco

Amazon - Chuncho Claylick

Amazon - Oxbow lake and Canopy tower & Ethnobotanical tour

Amazon - Chuncho Clay Lick - Brazil Nut trail

Amazon Puerto Maldonado – Lima - Evening Tour Lima by night

Last day in Lima

Departures:

Daily departures year round

Destinations:

Lima, Paracas, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the Amazon

Reservation code:

AJ-ADV3

On arrival to Lima we will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the exclusive Miraflores District.
Your Chaska Tours holiday hotel vouchers will be ready for you at the reception desk of the Hotel.

Overnight in Lima
No meals included

After breakfast a 10-minute walk from our hotel to the nearby park set on high cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. From the park we have spectacular views of the Ocean where we see surfers ridging the waves. The park has many palmtrees, and the Marina Lighthouse, an active lighthouse that was constructed back in 1900 and is the most visited lighthouse of Peru. Here we meet with our Parapente instructor and after a safety briefing and instructions we are are ready to take off for a sensational tandemflight high above the Peruvian Pacific coast.
Paragliding flight is 10 minutes long, flying between 80 and 180m.s.l.
These flights can be done all year round, over the beautiful Costa Verde in Miraflores, city of Lima, Peru.

After the flight we have the possibility to enjoy a walk in the park, or walk another 20 minutes to Larcomar, a food and high-quality shopping center with breathtaking ocean views. This is a great place to have lunch with over 37 restaurants to choose from, of which many have view of the Pacific coastline.

After your lunch meet at the pick-up point to enjoy your City Tour tour offering best combination of the different attractions of historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. Return to your hotel.

Note: We offer tandem flights in Pachacamac, from November to April, in case there is not enough wind to fly in Miraflores, this can be combined with an excursion to the nearby Pachacamac.

Overnight Lima
Breakfast included.

Early morning transfer from your hotel to the bus station where you will board your bus to Paracas.

Paracas is a small port town in the Pisco province of southern Peru, about 4 hours south of Lima. The town is an ideal departure point for the Ballestas Islands and the enormous Paracas National Reserve, a gorgeous desert peninsula which acts as a protected area for wildlife and it is an important archaeological zone as well.

The bus departs very early in the morning taking you along the coastal road to Paracas. On your arrival to Paracas we will take you to your hotel.

At 4pm we pick up from your hotel and take you for your dune buggy & Sand boarding excursion. We will take the sand cars to go to the Paracas desert to the incredible dunes where we will make the ride in the buggies leaving all the adrenaline in this ride the sand cars will make ups and downs where they give us the impression of being on a roller coaster but in this case of sand where we will also receive instructions on how to sandboard with an instructor who will accompany us during the tour, making this walk an unforgettable experience.After the tour we return to the hotel with the evening to relax at your own.

Overnight in Paracas.
Breakfast included.

Transfer to Ballestas Islands known as the “small Galapagos” because of its abundant wildlife. Tour the Islands by boat; here we can observe the hundreds of sea lions and seals and a large variety of seabirds, flamingos, pelicans, boobies, cormorants and many others. After the tour return to Paracas, in the port you have many options of restaurants where you can enjoy lunch on your own expenses. Continue with a visit of the Paracas National Reserve which is home to a diverse collection of marine life and birds. This tour takes you to the picturesque costal area with the never-ending tropical sand-dune desert and where we will see the famous Paracas Candelabro etched into coastal mountainside. Afterwards return to your hotel having free time to relax until we transfer you to the bus station for your trip back to Lima. On arrival in Lima transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Lima
Breakfast included.

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. You will high up in the Peruvian Andes to Cusco, once the capital of the Incas Empire where you will learn more about the Andean culture as the city itself represents the center of indigenous Quechua culture.

On arrival to Cusco we collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the morning is free to relax and acclimatize.

First, we will visit the Cathedral of Cusco on the Plaza de Armas and continuously the temple of Qoricancha, also known as the temple of the Sun. After these visits, we will continue to the upper part of Cusco to visit several archaeological sites. The first stop will be at Sacsayhuaman, a ceremonial complex of the Incas. We will also visit Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. At the end, we will return to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel.
 

Note: In private service you will first have a tour by foot through the city, visiting Qoricancha the Inca Sun Temple, the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral, enjoying the atmosphere of the city by observing the well-preserved colonial architecture that conserves Incas original stone walls, evidence of a rich and complex history. We will continue our way until we get to San Pedro Central Market where the locals shop for Andean grains, fruits, natural medicine plants and more. Afterwards, drive up above Cusco for a visit of the spectacular Sacsayhuaman Inca complex with stupendous stonework, Qenko a place of rituals and then we will visit the house of Sulca to see the lovely textiles made by hand.

Return to your hotel. Rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Cusco.
Breaksfast included

Today we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the town of Pisac where we will have a guided tour to the archeological site above the town, here we will visit the Sun Temple and admire the many surrounding terraces, then we will visit the famous Pisac Colorful Indian market to see the handicrafts and taste delicious empanadas baked in huge typical ovens. Afterwards our transport will take us to the town of Taray where we will start our bike adventure.

In Taray our guide will give us a briefing about the route and the security recommendations and we will ride our bikes. During the tour, you will see beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley with the panoramic view of Nevado Apu Pitusiray through the cycle via next to the river. We will get in our way until we reach Paullo, to contemplate the waterfalls that are formed by leaks from the Qoriqocha lagoon, then we will head to the towns of Qoya, Lamay and Calca, stopping for a snack on the way, we continue to Huayocari, Huayllabamba, and finally we will end up in Yucay to have a delicious lunch and a well-deserved rest. The biking tour takes about 3 hours at a moderate pace (13 k / h) for a total distance of 36 km.

After lunch our transportation will take us to the town of Ollantaytambo, the original Inca town to be amazed by the ruins that sit in front of the quaint town. After a wonderful day you will be drop off to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the night.

Note: The market days in Pisac are on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The other days you can still do the tour but only the souvenir market is operational.

Overnight in the Sacred Valley
Breakfast and lunch included.

We start the day with a short transfer to the nearby ranch to meet with our ranchero and get instructed and briefed for our ride on the famous Peruvian Paso horses.  Riding our beautiful horses we pass along farms and and their agricultural lands, local fruit trees, then cross the Vilcanota river and our way up to the salt mines, the Salineras.  The Salineras have a long history and are thought to have existed before the Inca Empire. The local Andean villagers have shared and worked this salt harvesting system for centuries. The source of the salt is an underground stream, which the locals have channeled into a complex terracing system, slowing the water down in such a way that crystallization can take place.  As well as a functioning farming system it is a stunning & beautiful landscape and photographic scenery, definitely worth visiting.

Then, we will return to the road for another 1:20 hours to reach our second stop, the town of Maras, where we will have our box lunch. After the box lunch, we will ride one more hour to reach the archaeological site of Moray.
The magnificent agricultural terraces of Moray are still a mystery, the site is thought to have been an Incan laboratory in order to investigate and improve Andean farming techniques. The site was designed around natural craters or hollows in the landscape from which the ancient farmers manipulated, forming an extensive agricultural terracing system.
After this relaxing ride we are transferred back to check in to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. 

Overnight in the Sacred Valley
Breakfast and box lunch included

This morning you will be taken to the train station of Ollantaytambo to board the train to the starting point of the trail. We disembark at Km 104 and begin the hike through the recently discovered ancient trail to Machu Picchu.

This trek will take about 6 hours and the trek grading is considerate “easy to moderate”, we will climb up from 2,200 m (7,218 feet) to 2,350-2,650 meter (7,710- 8,694 feet).

We cross the Vilcanota (Urubamba) River climbing up through abundant vegetation that is home to hundreds of bird and orchid species. We’ will emerge from the cloud forest at the spectacular “Wiñaywayna” which is a beautiful ceremonial site divided into two sectors and fashioned from finely-carved stones fitted together with great precision. We continue our hike passing through real Inca path to the Sun Gate where we will get our first views of Machu Picchu. Here, the final stretch of the royal Inca trail will take us to the citadel itself, hidden in undergrowth for four centuries and now laid out for our appreciation. From the Sanctuary we will take a bus that will take around 35 minutes to get to Aguas Calientes town where we will spend the night in our hotel.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes town
Breakfast and box lunch included

After breakfast your guide will accompany you for an early bus for the sunrise at Machu Picchu. The first buses start leaving at 5.30am and take 30 minutes to get to Machu Picchu. The doors to Machu Picchu open at 6am.You will have about 4 hours for your visit in the Citadel when you will be able to enjoy this magnificent place before the crowds arrive later in the morning. Our professional guide will slowly show you around the main areas recounting myths and legends passed down over the centuries and explaining about some of the advanced building techniques the Incas used. After the tour will be time to head back down to the town by bus. Here you can find many restaurants offering lunch and afterwards you will board the return train through the Sacred Valley to Poroy town with a transfer back to Cusco arriving at approximately 8.30pm.

Note: Our preferred train departures are subject to availability
You can extend the Inca Trail and opt for the 4-day Inca trail, which is a 3-day
hike starting at KM 82 and visit of Machu Picchu of the 4th day.
Since 2019 the new visiting regulations of Machu Picchu applies.

Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast included.

Today enjoy a free day in Cusco visiting museums or simply walking down the picturesque streets around the City center. You can get to know the typical neighborhoods of San Cristobal and San Blas where Artisans congregate their shops and galleries, the cheerful and energy of this walk will make you feel the real essence of the City.

It will be a great chance to do shopping as Cusco is well known for its world-famous Alpaca wood clothing not only for their quality but for their design, also you will find Silver and gold shops for fine jewelry and a great offer for handicrafts.

At the end of the afternoon, we recommend you to make a stop to drink a refreshing and delicious Pisco Sour, Peru’s National cocktail. All around Cusco’s city center you will find numerous Bars, Cafes and Restaurants to have a taste of the Peruvian cuisine within a nice atmosphere.

Today you have a free day to explore this Unesco world heritage colonial town on your own or opt for one of our tailored excursions.
For your lunch and dinner we will provide you with a listing of our recommended restaurants and will book your preferred restaurants in advance for you.

Overnight in Cusco
Breakfast included.

Morning transfer to Cusco airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters. While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our safe deposit. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.

We will embark for our lodge traveling on the river. It is about 40 minutes of navigation on the Madre de Dios River or Tambopata River dependind on your lodging. Please notice that the itineraries may vary according to the selected lodge and availability.

After arrival at the facilities of the Lodge you will be received with refreshments made from seasonal fruits. Later, your guide will give you the necessary information for your stay and hand over the keys to your bungalow and security safe, followed by the lunch and some time to rest until the first excursion.

Dinner and Caiman Search. We will be out at the river’s edge at night, scanning the shores with headlamps and flashlights to catch the red gleams of reflection from caiman eyes.

Note: Our guides are tourism professionals, or community members. Unless noted otherwise, our guides speak English. Groups smaller than 6 people will be merged with other groups under one guide. If you would like a private guide or a guide in a language other than English please let us know.

USEFUL INFORMATION

For the Amazon Tour there are previous considerations:

-It is advised for children upon 5 years old.

– Most lodges will provide you rainboots for excursions.

– Vaccination are not mandatory but are highly recommended, you can take vaccination against Yellow Fever before your trip.

– If you take any medication, please be sure to take them as the Amazon Lodge is located far away from the City.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Breakfast Oxbow Lake Visit We will paddle around the lake on a canoe or a catamaran, looking for lakeside wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman and hornerd screamers, hoping to see the otters, which are infrequently seen here. You will also be rewarded with overhead sightings of macaws. Canopy Tower, A thirty minute walk from the lodge leads to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. The tower has been built upon high ground, therefore increasing your horizon of the continuous primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve. From here views of mixed species canopy flocks as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.Lunch farm visit five minutes downriver from the lodge lies a farm owned and managed by charismatic Don Manuel from the neighbouring community of Condenado. He grows a variety of popular and unknown Amazon crops – just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose. Ethnobotanical Tour. Along this trail we will find a variety of plants and trees that are used by the local population with at least the same variety of purposes. We will learn about the medicinal (and other) uses of Ajo-Sacha, Yuca de Venado, Uña de Gato, Charcot-Sacha, Para-Para, among several others. Dinner and Tambopata National Reserve Lectures. The nightly lectures prepared by the staff of the lodge cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.

Overnight at the lodge
Breakfast Lunch and dinner included.

If you have chosen a lodge located through the Tambopata river you can vist a Macaw Claylick.

Two hours from the lodge deep in the Tambopata National Reserve we will stop at the Chuncho claylick. After a brief walk (~5 minutes) we will have the chance to see dozens of large macaws feeding on the special sodium rich clays of the riverbank. The Chuncho claylick probably attracts more large macaws than any other claylick in the world and the sight of dozens of macaws taking flight is truly unforgettable. The details of our stopover will depend on the weather and the amount of macaw activity, as the birds don’t visit the clay lick when it is raining. Lunch. Brazil Nut Trail and Camp.

A few minutes hike from the lodge is a beautiful old growth patch of Brazil Nut forest that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries) where the precarious remains of a camp used two months a year by Brazil Nut gatherers can still be experienced. We will be demonstrating the whole process of the rain forest’s only sustainably harvested product from collection through transportation to drying.

Mammal Clay Lick. Twenty minutes walking from the lodge is a peccary clay lick. These wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of five to twenty individuals to eat clay in the late morning. Chances of spotting them are around 15%, but well worth the short hike. Other wildlife also shows up including deer, guan and parakeets.

Dinner and Night walk. You will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but difficult to see. Easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.

Overnight in Lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Transfer Puerto Maldonado Headquarters to Airport. We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Arrive in Lima where the driver will be waiting at the airport exit gate with a sign with your name. Transfer to your hotel in Miraflores. Later on you will be collected to start your evening tour at 6:30pm with dinner. Discover the bohemian district of Barranco and its traditional ”Puente de los Suspiros”, followed by an exquisite buffet dinner and a spectacular show at the Restaurant «La Dama Juana» that presents the most important manifestations of Peruvian dance, music and folklore. Afterwards you will be drop off to your hotel. Overnight in Lima Breaksfast and dinner included

After Breakfast buffet,  free time until your transfer to Lima airport for your international flight back home.
Breakfast included.

Included

Hotels included:
14 nights in Hotels: Lima (4 nights), Paracas (1 night), Cusco (3 nights), Sacred Valley (2 nights), Machu Picchu town (1 night), Amazon Lodge (3 nights).

Entrance tickets:
All entrance tickets for the places to visit mentioned in the program

Excursions:
All excursions mentioned in the program

Guide:
Official bilingual guides during excursions

Machupicchu:
Inca trail permits, roundtrip bus tickets and entrance tickets to the Sanctuary.

Meals:
Meals as mentioned in program

Train:
Train from Aguas Calientes – Poroy – (Vistadome Train with comfort and luxury hotels /Expedition Train Economic and Tourist hotels)

Not Included

Flights: International flights
Flights: Domestic flights Lima/Cusco – Juliaca/Lima
Tips: Tips at airports, hotels and tips for guides, drivers or other personal.
Insurance: Travel insurance

HOTELS

Choose your hotel category

Prices

* Prices for 2022 (we are working on it) Contact one of our Experience Travel Consultants to tailor this trip for you or if you have any questions, we are here to help you and strive to respond the same business day.