Peru
We first visit Colca Canyon for the landscape and condors. The
Sacred Valley – in the heart of Incan culture includes Pisac
Ruins, Ollantaytambo Fortress, the ancient capital Cusco, and
Machu Picchu a site that compares to nowhere else in the world.
At Manu National Park, one of the most diverse and unchanged of
the Amazonian environments we may experience dawn at the  parrot
and macaw clay lick.
Two extremes and both sublime experiences, we acclimatize
to the altitude by a gradual ascent. Some days accommodate flexibility
in schedule for individual choices. A few very early mornings.
Rustic to excellent accommodations. Two round-trip in-country
flights.
Included: In-country transportation, lodging and meals,
all scheduled excursions, services of guides and staff, park and
reserve fees, tipping and gratuities to guides, pre-trip departure
package, pre-trip program meeting.
Not Included: International airfare, departure taxes,
all items of a personal nature not supplied by lodges.
Ceiba Nature Tours and InkaNatura
Peru - Machu Picchu to Amazonia Itinerary
March 18 US - Lima
Late evening arrival in Lima, private transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Hotel El Olivar
Schedule note: Tom is our full-time guide throughout the trip.
Every morning as our schedule permits, all of us interested meet
at daybreak for coffee/tea and then head out into our surroundings
for an early bird walk. Afterwards we meet the rest of the group
for breakfast. Late afternoons, and anytime we are not otherwise
committed to our itinerary, we can join Tom for a bird and general
natural history walk.
Each evening after dinner we discuss the next day's plans and
how to prepare. This is followed by reviewing the bird list and
all of the exciting wildlife sights of the day (optional, of course).
 March
19 Lima – Arequipa
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Arequipa. Upon arrival
in Arequipa, we are met and transferred to the hotel. Known as
the “White City”, Arequipa is located in southern
Peru at an elevation of approximately 7,500 feet. This afternoon
we take a guided excursion of city of Arequipa, visiting the Plaza
de Armas, one of the most beautiful in all Peru, Arequipa Cathedral,
La Compañia, San Francisco church and the 16th century
Santa Catalina Convent. Completely closed to outside visitors
for almost 400 years this magnificent convent has been the scene
of many historic and religious events and adventures. Its medieval
streets, named for ancient Spanish cities, branch out into hidden
lanes with cells of varying types and sizes. For centuries nuns
lived their whole lives here isolated from the rest of the world.
Overnight at Libertador Arequipa
 March
20 Arequipa - Colca
Early morning departure for Colca Canyon, one of the world’s
deepest canyons. We travel north of Arequipa through desert landscape
and over the pass separating Chachani and El Misti volcanoes.
Nearby is the Reserva Nacional Salinas y Aguada Blanca and Pampas
de Canihaus. In this mountain sanctuary it is possible to see
llamas and alpacas, their wild relatives the vicunas, and infrequently
but perhaps the guanaco, as all inhabit these high altitude puna
grasslands.
Overnight at Colca Lodge
March 21 Colca - Arequipa
We depart early this morning to visit Cruz del Condor, a lookout
point with a magnificent view of Mt. Misti and the swiftly flowing
river far below. Home to a family of Andean Condors, this is considered
one of the best places to see condors in all of South America.
Condors nest on the rocky outcrop and can be seen gliding on the
morning thermals rising up from the canyon depths and again in
the evening as they return to roost. Returning to Arequipa, we
pass through a landscape remarkable for Inca and pre-Inca terracing,
some of the most extensive to be found in Peru. We arrive back
in Arequipa late in the afternoon and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at Libertador Arequipa
 March
22 Arequipa – Cusco
Morning transfer for flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, meet our guide
and driver for the Sacred Valley including Huacarpay Lakes, the
colorful Pisac Indian Market, and the Ollantaytambo Fortress.
At an elevation of 8,500 feet, the Urubamba Valley, or Sacred
Valley of the Incas, is the historic heart of the Inca Empire.
It was intensively cultivated with terraces increasing its harvest
several fold. Small villages lined the valley floor, while the
stone fortresses of Ollantaytambo and Pisac served the dual purpose
of providing protection and serving as religious centers. Without
the benefit of the wheel, the Incas built massive stone cities
and ruled an empire stretching 3,300 miles over some of the harshest
terrain on earth. Without the use of mortar, the Inca constructed
their cities, suspension bridges, and aqueduct systems, with an
engineering expertise that has survived five hundred years of
natural disasters, conquest, and modern development.
Overnight at Sol y Luna Hotel
March 23 Cusco – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
This morning we take the train to Aguas Calientes, the town at
the base of the mountains in Machu Picchu Sanctuary. There is
no road access into Machu Picchu. The train journey follows the
ever-narrowing gorge  of
the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes town. On the way you will
see picturesque Andean scenery, traditional villages, and perhaps
(always a highlight for guide Tom) the torrent duck! As we approach
the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, the valley turns into a canyon and
the vegetation changes to a cloud forest. Situated on the spine
of a jungle cloaked granite peak towering some 600 meters above
an entrenched meander of the roaring river below, the site is
frequently shrouded in misty clouds pierced by the powerful equatorial
sun. Constructed from precisely sculptured granite blocks carefully
joined with the projecting exposed stone of the surrounding mountain,
the site may well be the finest architectural achievement of the
new world. Overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
 March
24 Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes
Your choice today – sleep in on one of our few non-early
mornings or return to Machu Picchu for a second visit - perhaps
hiking to the Sun Gate. Enjoy the area's natural history, shopping
in town, hummingbird watching at the hotel's many feeders, or
walks with Tom.
Overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
March 25 Aguas Calientes – Cusco
Morning at leisure. After lunch we return to Cusco by train (watch
for the surprise fashion show!).
Overnight at Novotel - colonial rooms.
March 26 Cusco / Manu Wildlife Center
Early morning we depart for a thirty-five minute flight to Boca
Manu. Next we take a motorized canoe for the 90 minutes
journey down the Madre de Dios  River,
a wonderful opportunity for wildlife spotting, to Manu Wildlife
Center to arrive for lunch. The afternoon is spent exploring some
of the 30 miles of clean forest trails that surround the
lodge, our first experience with rainforest birding. On these
trails you also have an excellent chance to encounter some of
the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk Saki and Emperor
Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest. After dinner we
plan a short night excursion to explore nocturnal life in the
rainforest.
March 27 Manu Wildlife Center
Rising before dawn; we take a 25 minute boat journey downstream
to the only large parrot and macaw clay lick in the Manu area.
From a floating catamaran blind we are afforded excellent views
and photo opportunities of hundreds of medium-sized and large
parrots arriving first at the lick, followed by the large Red-and-Green
Macaws arriving to eat the clay. After lunch at the Center we
continue to explore the forest trails surrounding the lodge, and
plan to spend the late afternoon up a 34 meter canopy platform.
Here, we watch the last frantic activity in the rainforest canopy,
or rush hour, before night settles. You can return for dinner
back at the Center, or pack your meal for the leisurely hike through
the night forest to the Amazon’s largest known Tapir clay
lick. Using powerful flashlights we hope to observe them in action.
Scientific reports reveal that tapirs usually visit the clay lick
between 9:00 pm and midnight; however, their activity continues
until dawn.
 March
28 Manu Wildlife Center
After another early morning departure by boat and short hike from
the river, you have what promises to be an exciting visit to Blanco
Oxbow Lake. This lake has populations of a variety of aquatic
life and water birds, including the prehistoric-looking hoatzin
and the possibility to see the resident family of giant otters.
After returning for lunch at the Center our guide is available
to further explore the forest trails for more wildlife encounters.
Alternatively, time is available to independently experience this
expanse of rainforest habitats on your own. This evening, from
the late afternoon until after dinner, we have an opportunity
to search for caiman and other nocturnal life along the riverbank
by boat.
March 29 Manu - Cusco
After an early breakfast, we leave by motor canoe for the two
hour return trip to the Manu landing strip, taking advantage of
valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. From
here you fly to Cusco.
Important note: Please note that the program may vary slightly
so as to maximize wildlife sightings, depending on the reports
of naturalist guides based at the lodge.
March 30 Cusco – Lima - States
Transfer to the airport for flight to Lima and return to the US.
More about Machu Picchu
Perched high above a sinuous bend in the Urubamba River, Machu
Picchu has lured explorers, poets and pilgrims to its mist-wreathed
ridge top ever since its discovery by the American explorer Hiram
Bingham in July 1911. No one lived here before the Incas. Those
mighty empire builders from Cusco discovered this extraordinary
place, finding it rich in natural features sacred to their religion.
Both inspired and humbled by its dramatic natural beauty, their
answer was to create on a vast scale one of the planet's most
sensitive and harmonious works of art. The aesthetic genius of
its layout and architecture coupled with the durability of its
brilliant planning and engineering have given us today this finest
of jewels among the UNESCO world heritage sites. Scholars still
argue about the meaning of Machu Picchu: why it was built and
what purpose it served, who lived there and when they departed.
Most agree that its main intent was spiritual and ceremonial.
More about Arequipa
The city of Arequipa is located in the South part of Peru and
flanked by three snow-capped volcanoes: Misti (19098 ft –
5821 mt), Chachani (19931 ft – 6075 m) and Picchu Picchu
()177999 ft – 5425 mt). It is one of the mort important
capital in Peru after Lima and is well know as the “White
city” as its buildings are made by sillar, a white volcanic
rock. This rich part of Peru has been populated sin ancient times
as evidenced by the incredible terracing in the Colca canyon.
It you have some free time do not forget to include Colca in your
travel plans.
The Inca conquered the region and some years ago the archaeologist
found at Ampato volcano an intact mummy of a young Inca woman
sacrificed at least 500 years ago. Thismummy is called “Juanita”
and it can be visited while your stay in Arequipa.
Arequipa has many things to offer as its particular gastronomy,
colonial houses, Toro Muerto Petroglyphs, etc.
Machu Picchu to Manu
Although Cuzco is the ancient Inca capital, you will have no
trouble recognizing the present Inca influence. The walls of our
hotel are Inca in origin. Equally present is the colonial Spanish
architecture frequently over-built upon Inca structures. We visit
outstanding examples of each. Unlike many tourist jump-off cities
the heart of Cuzco retains its architectural integrity and feeling.
Authentic Cuzco crafts and craftsmen and women are found in the
Plaza San Blas.
Novotel Cusco www.novotel.com
The sacred valley of the Incas formed by the Riobamba River (home
of the torrent duck), supported the Inca Empire through the scattered
agricultural settlements. Hillside terraces are everywhere in
view. Ollantaytambo, a small village, is the best surviving example
of Inca city planning, continually inhabited since the 13th century.
A massive Inca fortress and temple rises on the steep hillside
above the town. An excellent example of Incan stone working ability
is seen in the interrupted, by Spanish conquest, construction.
Sol y Luna Inn www.hotelsolyluna.com
The spectacular and truly awe-inspiring location of Machu Picchu
creates an unforgettable experience. We are visiting just prior
to the high tourist season and will escape the crowds by arriving
first in the morning. The date of discovery for the outside world
was only 1911, unknown to the Spanish conquerors as well. The
Incas are renowned for their exceptional stonework, Machu Picchu
exemplifies the extent of their skill. We have ample time to be
guided and explore on our own. Our hotel is the Machu Picchu Pueblo,
beautiful colonial style cottages surrounded by lush tropical
gardens with an orchid garden and excellent birding trails to
explore.
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel www.inkaterra.com
Arequipa is frequently noted as the most beautiful city of Peru.
The stately Plaza de Armas with its enormous cathedral and the
highlight of colonial religious building, the Monasterio Santa
Catalina, are wonderful sites to be visited. An elegant historical
center constructed of a white volcanic stone glows in the sunshine
framed by a backdrop of snow-covered volcanic peaks. This is some
of the most rugged land in Peru – active volcanoes spawning
thermal springs, high-altitude deserts and plunging canyons.
Colca Canyon, twice the size of our Grand Canyon, is home to
a family of Andean Condors, considered one of the best places
to see condors in all of South America. They nest on the rocky
outcrop at Cruz del Condor and can be seen gliding on the morning
thermals rising up from the canyon depths and again in the evening
as they return to roost. Nearby is the Reserva Nacional Salinas
y Aguada Blanca. In this mountain sanctuary it is possible to
see llamas and alpacas, their wild relatives the vicunas, and
infrequently but perhaps the guanaco, as all inhabit these high
altitude puna grasslands. Flamingoes are present on the immense
saline lake part of the year.
The terrain is rough and so are the roadways but we will be
very comfortable in our hotel.
Frequently referenced as one of the world's greatest wildlife
experiences, Manu National Park offers the best opportunities
of seeing giant otters, jungle cats, primates, and an astounding
1000 species of birds. We stay three nights at Manu Wildlife Center
to maximize our chance of sightings. Canopy towers, trail walks,
and guided boat excursions to the famed macaw and parrot clay
licks are some of the activities.
Manu Wildlife Center www.manu-wildlife-center.com
Please see Reservation Information
for trip included/not-included details.
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Cuzco
Sacred
Valley
Machu
Picchu
Arequipa
and Canyon Country