DISCOVERING PERU: COAST, SIERRA, AND JUNGLE ADVENTURE 9D/8N

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO LIMA / CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY

Welcome to Peru!  Arrive at Lima Airport by scheduled flight. – Flight connection to Cusco.

Upon your arrival in Cusco, you will be met after luggage collection by the Swifts Travel representative and transferred to the hotel.

At 14:30 pm, you will enjoy a half-day tour of Cusco, which includes a visit to the cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, an important Inca temple devoted to worship of the sun. Your tour also includes a visit to the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which overlooks the city of Cusco.

You will be impressed by the beauty and monumental scale of this important Incan construction. You will then continue to Qenqo, one of the finest examples of artfully carved rock showing complex patterns of steps, seats, geometric reliefs, and puma design.

Optional: Dinner at Cicciolina Rest

Web site; https://www.cicciolinacuzco.com/

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals included: –/ —  / —

Day 2: SACRED VALLEY / FD Chinchero – Maras & Moras

Breakfast. Today you will visit the town and market of Chinchero, a picturesque Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta, 3,762m above sea level. It’s one of 12 Andean communities that has retained the traditional social structure and urban design of Inca times. Local weavers have revived pre-Hispanic techniques featuring natural dyes and motifs inspired by daily life and the surrounding natural environment.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. The setting in Maras with stunning views of the Vilcanota mountain range makes this an experience delighting all the senses.

Next, we will head for Maras, driving through a patchwork of fields that blend into the snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain ranges. The colonial village of Maras is known for its nearby salt pans, which have been harvested since pre-Columbian times. Today we’ll see locals collecting the salt in much the same way as their ancestors would have done 400 years ago.

We’ll also explore Moray, an intriguing Incan site where terraces are arrayed in concentric circles. It’s believed to have been used as an agricultural laboratory, testing growing conditions for a wide variety of crops. 

Optional: Lunch at MUNDO MIL CENTRO Rest – A journey through ecosystems of heights (direct payment)

Web site: https://www.milcentro.pe

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 3: SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU / FD Inca Trail KM 104

Breakfast. We start the day by picking you up from your hotel early to transfer you to the train station of Ollantaytambo for 1.5 hours, from where you will board the train. towards km 104 of the railway line. You will also meet your tour guide and pass a control point of the Inca Trail. We’ll begin with a 3-hour uphill hike towards the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna, where you will have time to explore and listen to a guided explanation of the ruins.

Afterward, you will eat lunch and walk for another two hours to the Intipunku Sun Gate, from where you will have a spectacular view of Machu Picchu. After that we will continue walking for about 45 minutes toward Machu Picchu and spend time taking pictures and enjoying the magic of the ancient city. Afterward, you will take a 30-minute bus ride to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes where you will spend a night in the hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the restaurants in the town.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Day 4: MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO / FD Machu Picchu

Breakfast. Visit this unique Incan citadel and its surrounding complexes on a private visit. Machu Picchu stands 2,430 meters above sea-level in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, in an extraordinarily beautiful setting. It was

probably the most amazing urban creation of the Incan Empire at its height; its giant walls, terraces, and ramps seem as if they have been cut naturally in the continuous rock escarpments. The natural setting, on the eastern slopes

of the Andes, encompasses the upper Amazon basin with its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Entrances to the citadel are included.

Enjoy a delicious lunch in the Machu Picchu Pueblo.

The Vistadome train boasts of beautiful panoramic windows, offering unsurpassed views and photographic opportunities as you enter the Inca’s territory in search of Machu Picchu. With glass surrounding you on all sides, you will feel as if you are a part of Peru’s remarkable landscape. 

Optional Train: Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train is the most luxurious way to journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Its sumptuous 1920s-style carriages ensure a magical journey never to be forgotten. With two dining cars, a bar car, an open-deck observation car, and a Kitchen Car, the train can carry up to 84 passengers. On the journey to Machu Picchu, a gourmet brunch is served as you gaze through your window at the stunning Urubamba Valley.

At 16:50hs., you will board the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you will take the train to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. Upon arrival at the train station, you will meet your Swifts Travel representative for a private transfer to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / —

Day 5: CUSCO / PUERTO MALDONADO – TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, coined the Capital of Biodiversity. Transfer by road to the pier and begin your Amazon adventure with a 45-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River that splices through the rainforest.

The motorized wooden boat hugs the meandering riverbanks to reach your eco-lodge, Inkaterra Hacienda Amazonica, in the middle of the rainforest.

After a short brie‑ng, settle into your palm-thatched cabaña set within Peru’s ‑rst ever private ecological reserve; established by Inkaterra in 1975, to protect this sensitive environment. After lunch, retreat to your rustic-luxury

cabin for a nap or a swing in your hammock before choosing from the wide range of à-la-carte guided excursions with your expert Inkaterra Explorer Guide. We recommend walking along the Trail System for an immersive

introduction into the intricate biodiversity of the Amazon basin and the layers of the rainforest. Walk along towering trees, like the Shihuahuaco, as your ears tune in to the croaks, rustles and calls of the exotic wildlife

inhabiting this rich ecosystem. There are excellent opportunities for birding and observing an abundance of ­ora. Keep your camera ready just in case sloths or monkeys appear on the treetops.

In the late afternoon, we highly recommend taking our gentle Twilight River excursion to witness the jungle transform from a diurnal to a nocturnal world: where daytime animals and birds give way to species specially adapted

to the darkness of the night. You may also be able to spot the likes of nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans lurking on the riverbanks.

Amazonian-inspired dinner is served in the main dining room from 19:00-22:00 where we invite you to enjoy a complimentary Pisco Sour cocktail. Back in your comfy cabaña, listen to the intriguing sounds of critters

that inhabit the rainforest surrounding the lodge.

Overnight at Jungle Lodge Inkaterra

Meals included: — /Lunch /Dinner

Day 6: TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE

The sunlight squeezes through the dense trees as jungle inhabitants awake from their slumber. Optionally join them in the early hours, with buffet breakfast served from 05:30. Visit Lake Sandoval this morning, a glassy, ox-bow lake located inside the protected Tambopata National Reserve, reached via a sun-dappled rainforest trail. Board a dug-out

wooden canoe to quietly paddle through a stream and glide onto Lake Sandoval, ¬anked by picture-perfect palms. This serene lake is home tomany species of birds, the endangered giant river otter, red howler

monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, side-neck turtles, black caimans amongst others. Return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, we recommend climbing the exhilarating Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. The Canopy Walkway is a sophisticated and safe 344 metre (1,135 feet) network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest ¬oor. This is an unforgettable opportunity to

observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its size. Ascend the  rst vertiginous tower 38 metres (124 feet) above ground, keeping an eye out for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. It’s possible to extend your elevated stay with sunset drinks from atop a tower, – or spend a once-in-a-lifetime night

in a specially designed treehouse cabin with surprising comforts (additional cost applies).

After descending, enjoy a 30-minute Anaconda Walk that follows a 200-meter (656 feet) raised wooden platform over aooded aguajales swamp. In this lush ecosystem you may observe various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, abundant ¬ora and interesting trees.

Back at the lodge, you can opt to enjoy a daily nature presentation in the Eco Centre or book yourself an indulgent spa treatment. À-la-carte dinner is served from 19:00.

Overnight at Jungle Lodge Inkaterra

Meals included: Breakfast /Lunch /Dinner

Day 7: TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE

Journey 25-minutes by boat to Gamitana Farm and Creek to unearth more of the wonders of the rainforest. The Amazon is an almost endless source of exotic fruits and vegetables, many with healing properties that support local communities living in the remote jungle. At Gamitana model farm, engulfed by the sounds and scents of the Amazon, you will get to see how a variety of produce is grown by local farmers and sample some seasonal forest fruits. Afterwards follow a dense jungle trail under the canopy to reach Gamitana Creek.

This winding, dark water creek is home to abundant ­ora and fauna, with many piranhas, caiman, turtles and birds hiding in its murky waters and riverbanks. Return to Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica for lunch.

Head 35-minutes upriver to Inkaterra’s sister lodge Hacienda Concepcion, built on an old cocoa and rubber plantation. This site formerly functioned as a medical centre, set up by Catholic missionaries in the 1950s, as well as a centre for ecological research. With over 200 different plant species found here, see why the rainforest is often considered the world’s largest pharmacy and learn about their uses and bene‑ts up-close. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing 30-minute canoe trip to look for turtles, sun grebes, nightjars and herons before returning to your lodge.

Under the cover of darkness, venture out for the Rainforest by Night excursion through Inkaterra’s Ecological Reserve. Armed with ­ashlights, duck under tree boughs as your senses heighten to the movements in the undergrowth and nocturnal forest sounds that appear in different directions around you. With your Inkaterra Explorer Guide, encounter animal activity and spot species that only emerge with the veil of nightfall.

Overnight at Jungle Lodge Inkaterra

Meals included: Breakfast /Lunch /Dinner

Day 8: TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE / PUERTO MALDONADO / LIMA

With a staggering roster of wildlife found in and around Inkaterra Lodge- 540 bird species have been inventoried in the grounds of the lodge – enjoy your last morning in this natural wonderland as parakeets chatter away in the trees and agouti mammals scurry between the cabañas. Check-out is at 10:00; depending on your departure ­ight time lunch can also be arranged today (additional cost applies). Embark your ready-waiting boat for the 45-minute return trip along the snaking Madre de Dios River until arriving at the airport.

Please note that this three-day journey is a suggested itinerary. Activities and excursions can be chosen on an à la carte basis on arrival at the lodge and are subject to change depending on weather conditions at the time of your visit, until arriving at the airport.

In Lima one of our representatives will be waiting to escort you to the hotel in Lima. You will spend your first day exploring this vibrant city at your leisure or relaxing in your hotel.

Optional: Dinner at HuacaPucllana Rest.

Web site; https://www.resthuacapucllana.com/

Overnight in Lima

Meals included: Breakfast /– /–

Day 9: LIMA: City Tour / PM DEPARTURE

Breakfast. At 9:30hs., you will meet your Swifts Travel guide to begin your Lima city tour that includes the Larco Museum. You will start by visiting the Plaza Mayor, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Continue on to the cathedral, with its splendid carved stalls and gold-plated altars, the Government Palace, City Hall and the Archbishop’s Palace. Next, you’ll explore the San Francisco Monastery, which houses the largest exhibition of colonial religious art in America. From the historic center, travel through modern Lima to visit the fascinating Larco Museum, located in a unique 18th-century mansion. Among the many treasures, admire the collection of ancient Peruvian gold and silver and the renowned display of erotic ceramics.

Optional Lunch: CENTRAL – Contemporary Peruvian cuisine

Web site; https://centralrestaurante.com.pe/

At the agreed-upon time, please meet your Swifts Travel representative in the lobby for your private transfer to Lima Airport for your scheduled flight home.

Meals included: Breakfast / — / —

Notes:

• Rates listed in American Dollars and include the taxes and service charge for non-residents in Peru
• Tour rates are per person unless we specified a different option
• Prices are valid until Apr 15th 2023.
• Prices are not valid from Jun 22nd to 26th (The Inti Raymi “Festival of the Sun” – Jun 24th), Christmas and New Year. Ask for prices 
• Prices are subject to change without previous notice
• This is only a quote not a confirmation of services
• Train tickets are not refundable, not endorsable, and not transferable.
• Air tickets are not refundable, not endorsable, and not transferable.
• The reservations can only be confirmed when the tour package will be requested formally
• In the case of non-rooms availability in the hotels mentioned above, we will use hotels of a similar category
• There are not booked services for this quote
• As Peru is becoming a popular country for tourists, we recommend planning your visit in advance
• The present document is only a quote, the confirmation is subject to the availability of places when the reservations are requested.
• Swifts Travel reserves the right to alter the program.
• It is important to mention that Swifts Travel work by and for the client and it will look for the best for its clients not only when they book or travel also when for a reasonable situation they have to cancel.
• Passport, visa, and health requirements for you and your party is your responsibility. We do recommend you obtain travel insurance against cancellation and medical coverage