Amazon River
Cruise and Machu Picchu
9 days /8 nights
From $3391 per person, double occupancy for 2009
Romance of a river cruise paired with
a tour of the glorious ruins of Machu Picchu. Travel up
one of the primary tributaries of Amazon River - the Maranon
or Ucayali - in the comfort and style of the M/V El Arca.
Birds will soar overhead and monkeys play in the trees above,
so bring your binoculars and zoom lens. On the train from
Cuzco to Machu Picchu, view the terraced farms and the villagers
along the way. You'll have just enough time to explore the
ruins and take stunning photos of this archaeological wonder.
For those with limited time and expanded interests, this
is a tour that truly maximizes your time in Peru.
Day 1: LIMA
Airport reception and transfer to your hotel .
Overnight accommodations at the brand new
(opened June 2007) Hotel Costa del Sol Ramada Lima, with
daily buffet breakfast included. Conveniently close to
the airport, this four star hotel features 130 rooms,
restaurant, bar, business center, wireless internet, spa,
and beauty salon.
Day 2: LIMA
- CUZCO
Proceed on your own to the Lima Airport domestic terminal
(located across the street). Check-in for flight and pay
Peru's national airport tax (currently $6.05).
Fly to Cuzco this morning (10,750 ft),
the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America
and capital of the Inca Empire. Much of colonial Cuzco
was built on Inca foundations, and your guide will point
out Inca stonework along the many streets. Overnight accommodations
at the centrally located Posada
del Inca Hotel.
After settling in set off on a tour of
Cuzco and the nearby Inca ruins. Cuzco, the oldest continuously
inhabited city on the continent, was the capital of the
Inca Empire and is considered by many Quechua peoples
to be the spiritual center of the world. Much of colonial
Cuzco was built on Inca foundations, and your guide will
point out Inca stonework along the many streets. Visit
the main square, the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church,
as well as a first introduction to Inca stonework at the
ruins of Puka-Pukara, Qenqo, Tambo Machay, and the renowned
fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco and the surrounding
valley. (B)
Day 3: PISAC
& OLLANTAYTAMBO
This morning, depart with your guide for a full-day excursion
to the village and ruins of Pisac located 20 miles from
Cuzco. After exploring the ruins you will visit a colorful
Indian market where you'll be able to trade with locals
for a variety of handicrafts, including woolen sweaters
and ponchos. Lunch will be served in Urubamba, followed
by a tour of the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo located
in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. (B,L)
Day 4: CUZCO
- MACHU PICCHU
Set off on a scenic four-hour trip through the Urubamba
Valley, followed by a 20-minute bus ride up to the breathtaking
"Lost City of the Incas"--Machu Picchu. Set in the saddle
of a mountain 1,000 feet above the Urubamba River, Machu
Picchu escaped ransacking by the Spaniards. Explore the
walls, stairways, temples and terraces with your guide.
For the more energetic, a moderate 2-mile hike up to the
Sun Gate offers fabulous views overlooking this ancient
wonder. Overnight at Machu
Picchu Pueblo Hotel, or for an additional charge,
upgrade to the Machu
Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located adjacent to
the ruins. (B,L)
Day 5: MACHU
PICCHU - CUZCO
Enjoy a full morning visit to the citadel and return to
Cuzco in the afternoon. Overnight accommodations at the
Posada
del Inca Cuzco. (B)
Day 6 (Fridays):
CUZCO - LIMA - IQUITOS
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima. Proceed
to your connecting flight to Iquitos. Airport reception
and transfer to your hotel.
Evening arrival to Iquitos, where your
guide will present you with some souvenirs, then take
you to the ship - the El Arca. Guests will be treated
to a welcome drink, and will be assigned to their cabins.
Evening safety briefing and discussion of things to come
during the expedition. Optional evening excursion. (B,D)
Day 7: PACAYA
SAMIRIA/MARANON RIVER
Morning bird watching excursion . Breakfast onboard. Later
you will observe the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón
Rivers to observe how these two rivers form into the Amazon
River. Lunch onboard. After a break, passengers will be
invited to an excursion in search of flora. In the evening,
you will arrive at the meeting of the Yanayacu River with
the Marañon River, at the Pacaya Samiria Reserve.
Dinner on board, followed by a nocturnal boat expedition.
(B,L,D)
Day 8: PACAYA
SAMIRIA
Excursion on boat for birdwatching. Breakfast onboard.
Passengers will have the opportunity to
choose from two options. First of which, they can embark
on a boat expedition through the Yanayacu Pucate River,
followed by a visit a riverside community known as 20
de Enero (January 20), where you can buy some crafts.
And you will start a jungle hike through Pacaya Samiria
National Reserve. Later you will enjoy a picnic lunch
before returning to the expedition boat and heading back
to the Amazon Journey. Passengers who wish to skip this
option can visit the riverside community and make the
hike into the rainforest. You will come back onboard for
lunch. Afterwards you will go in search of Grey and pink
dolphins. Swimming is optional for those who want go swimming
with the dolphins. After everyone arrives back onboard.
There will be a night excursion, followed by dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 9: IQUITOS
- LIMA - INT'L DEPARTURE
Optional fishing will be one of the highlights today,
prior to breakfast. Continue navigation downstream towards
Nauta. Lunch will be provided onboard, and there will
be some free time to prepare your luggage for those who
will be disembarking at this point. Arrival in Nauta in
the afternoon (2:00 pm). Passengers disembarking at this
point will be transferred to the airport. Iquitos –
Lima flight times to be advised.
Upon arrival, proceed to the international
terminal. Check in for departure. (B,L)
Alternate 3-night Pacaya Samiria/Rio Ucayali
cruise departs Iquitos on Mondays. The 6-night cruise
is a combination cruise exploring both the Maranon and
Ucayali Rivers departing Iquitos on Fridays and Mondays.
Contact
us for a customized itinerary of Peru.
