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 Tour
Description:
This fascinating tour
combines a journey on the Amazon River with visits to the
historic city of Cuzco and the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.
Designed for explorers, adventurers, and discoverers alike
this program will give you an in-depth view of these
magnificent areas. Learn about the flora and fauna of the
Amazon River and forest onboard a comfortable river boat and
visit one of the seven wonders of the world, the Inca ruins
of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. This is a journey of a
lifetime.
The program will start with a night in Lima and continue
to the Amazon and the historic Andes region of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. In the Amazon we will have a chance to absorb
life in an Amazon city while spending the night in Iquitos.
On the next day we depart on a river journey along the
legendary Amazon River on board a famous exploration vessel.
During this portion of the trip you will be led by
naturalist guides who will show and teach you about the rich
flora and fauna of the rainforest and the cultures of the
Amazon. On our way to Cuzco we will spend another night in
Lima where we have a chance to explore this wonderful city
in preparation for the Andes portion of the trip. In the
fascinating city of Cuzco and also in its immediate
surroundings we have a chance to observe several Inca ruins,
some of which have just been discovered recently. Before
reaching Machu Picchu visit and spend the night in the
Sacred Valley of the Inca with its colorful Indian market
and historic towns. The culmination of the trip is our entry
to the lost city of Machu Picchu with plenty of time for
exploring both with our guide and on your own on the second
day in this area.
At the end of the program you will return to Lima from where
you can either fly back home or take additional add-on
programs. We strongly recommend a visit to Ica and Nazca
on the coast to observe the mysterious Lines from the air or
extend your program with a visit to Lake Titicaca, the
worlds highest lake. |
Day 1 - Friday - LIMA
AM, PM or EVE - Arrive in
Lima. Passengers
arriving on International flights will be greeted by our bi-lingual
guide outside the customs area of Lima International airport. Guide
and porters will assist you with your luggage to the waiting vehicle
for the transfer to hotel
Los Delfines (or similar).
Check in and remainder of the day at leisure in the Lima. Relax at
the hotel or take advantage and visit one of the many museums. At
night you may want to visit one of the many casinos in town or maybe
make dinner reservations at one of Lima's well known first class
restaurants. Overnight at the hotel.
(No meals)
Day 2 - Saturday
- LIMA / IQUITOS
AM -
Buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by a transfer to the airport
for the 1:30 hour flight to the city of
Iquitos. Enjoy the flight over the enormous Andes mountain
range and descend to the airport of Iquitos, located in what seems
to be the middle of a vast green carpet. Our local representative
will be waiting for you outside the customs area of the airport to
provide the transfer to hotel
El Dorado Plaza (or similar).
Check in relax.
 PM - Enjoy the afternoon at leisure in Iquitos. There are plenty
of options: You maybe want to hire a motorcar and visit the local
Quistococha zoo or take a walk on the main plaza and down to the
river front where you will get a first glimpse of the Amazon River
flowing by the city. Just a few years ago the Amazon River used to
flow right alongside the area called "Malecon", now it has changed
its course and can be seen a mile away. Where the river used to flow
now there are huts and locals make their homes but who knows, in a
few years the river may flow here again.
EVE - Your guide will pick you up from the hotel to take you
to a typical restaurant in town for dinner. After dinner you are on
your own to enjoy the nightlife. Overnight at the hotel.
(B, D.)
Day
3 - Sunday
- IQUITOS / AMAZON RIVER
AM - Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the morning hours in the city
on your own. Take a stroll alongside the river or visit the floating
city of Belen. You may also want to observe the weekly parade at the
main square with participation of schools, companies, army, navy,
police and other governments agencies. Be prepared for a late
morning pick up from the hotel for the transfer to the dock. Here
you will board the "M/V
Rio
Amazonas", your exploration vessel that will be your home for the next 6
nights. The cruise director will gather all travelers and give a briefing on the safety
procedures on board and the program for the next few days.
PM - Check
into your air conditioned cabin while the ship departs down the
Amazon River towards the border with Colombia and Brazil. The
landscape will soon turn from buildings and shipyards to water and a
shoreline of vast jungle and an occasional settlement on both sides
of the vessel. Time and weather permitting we will make a stop at
Yanamono to visit a sugar cane rum still, followed by a short walk
at Chameleon Island to observe the Victoria Regia water Lilies.
EVE - Dinner will be served and the crew may get together for
some singing and story telling on the moon deck.
(B, L, D)
Day 4 - Monday - AMAZON RIVER
AM - The guides will wake us up early in the morning for the
first excursion of the day. After a fresh cup of coffee or tea we
will board the skiffs and navigate away from the vessel up the
Ampiyacu River for bird watching. Don't forget your cameras and
binoculars. The early morning hours are the best time to observe
birds preparing for their day. The guides will point out the many
species of birds that find their habitat in this area. The guides
will have the engines turned off at a remote site. Sit back and
absorb the beauty of the area and the sounds of the surrounding rain
forest. Times like this will remain in our memories forever. Return
to the vessel for breakfast and maybe a shower.
 Later in the morning we will visit two native settlements at the
Bora and Huitoto villages. Natives from both tribes have been in
contact with westerners for several years but still retain their
culture and practice their rituals. The woman of both tribes are
involved with making handicrafts and will offer these to us on our
visit. Later we will visit the town of Pebas,
which is the oldest Peruvian town on the Amazon.
PM - Return back to the vessel for refreshments and lunch.
After a morning full of activity we have some time to lean back and
relax in a lounge chair or hammock on the sun deck, read a book or
take a nap in our cabin. Later in the afternoon the crew will gather
travelers for a jungle hike in the dense rain forest of the Shishita
River area. Small groups, each with their naturalist guide, will
head out into the forest to take advantage of the area where we have
great opportunities to view wildlife.
EVE - Other than dinner on board, no activities are scheduled
for the evening. A normal night on board consists of a get together
at the area around the bar. We socialize with our fellow travelers
and crew. People from around the world join on this trip and each
individual has their own story. Travelers normally retire to their
cabins rather early in preparation for the next day. The vessel will
continue its voyage down the Amazon River.
(B, L, D)
Day
5 - Tuesday
- AMAZON RIVER
AM - After a healthy breakfast we prepare to disembark at
Paranaquiro village from where we explore the forest. Regularly we
will observe primates and macaws in the area.  Our guides will
explain about the trees and vines of the jungle and their use to
locals and modern medicine. Several universities and study groups
visit the region every year to set up research centers in the
forest. On our way back to the vessel we will stop at a backwater
lake for some Piranha fishing "Amazon style". With just a line, a
hook and some meat we will catch this legendary fish just over the
side of the skiffs.
PM - We will catch up with the our exploration vessel, the
Rio Amazonas, further down the river where lunch will be ready to be
served. After our meal we will have some time to relax on board. The
ship will turn up a tributary of the Amazon and through a narrow
canal to the village of Caballococha. We will disembark for a brief
visit of the village followed by a late afternoon boat excursion up
the canal. Sunset is an amazing time of the day in the Amazon and
many of our great photographs will be taken at this time. When the
night sets we will cross a large lake to
look for the Amazon
caiman in the reedy shallows and listen to the sounds of the forest.
EVE - Return to the Rio Amazonas for dinner and a night at
leisure.
(B, L, D)
Day 6 - Wednesday
- AMAZON RIVER / THREE
FRONTIERS (Peru - Brazil - Colombia)
AM - During the overnight hours the vessel has arrived at
the "Three Frontiers". This is the point where Peru,
Brazil and
Colombia meet on the Amazon River. We will dock on the
Peruvian side of the river at the island of Santa Rosa, opposite the
small cities of
Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil). After breakfast there
will be a boat transfer to the city of Leticia for a morning at
leisure. Here we have a chance to visit the local zoo, the ethnic
museum or shop for emeralds and local handicrafts in the many stores
in both the Colombian and Brazilian side of the border (no visas
required). At around noon we gather at a set place for the transfer
back to our vessel where lunch will be waiting.
PM - From
this point on our vessel will now head upstream, back towards
Iquitos. After lunch the cruise director will give a briefing on the
upcoming activities during the next few days. Enjoy a well deserved
afternoon at leisure onboard after a busy morning. Time permitting,
the guides will organize a late afternoon or early evening shore
excursion in the Cayaru river area.
EVE - Dinner on board and evening at leisure.
(B, L, D)
Day 7 - Thursday
- AMAZON RIVER
AM - You may want to wake up early and observe a unique
sunrise over the Amazon, an always incredible spectacle of colors.
The sun deck is an ideal place to observe the changes between night
and day. Breakfast will be served while the ship arrives at Chimbote
for a document check. While the crew takes care of the formalities
we board the shore boats to cross the river into an area where
tributaries and lakes are covered with vegetation. This is a great
place to observe the flora and fauna of the Amazon and our guides
will take us up small tributaries and remote lakes for the best
photo opportunities. After the vessel has cleared its routine
document check it will slowly continue up the Amazon River where we
will rendezvous with it.
PM - After lunch the vessel will dock at the small port of
the village of San Pablo. We disembark for a short visit of the
village where we get a chance to observe the friendly locals and
their customs or maybe purchase some of their handicrafts. By mid
afternoon we get back on board and leave the village behind us. The
Rio Amazonas will head back upriver now in direction of the Peruate
River.
EVE - Dinner will be served, followed by a
night exploration by launch up the Peruate River to listen to the
sounds of the jungle and spot Amazon caiman. The remainder of the
night can be enjoyed on board.
(B, L, D.)
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