Family Travel 12D

Day 1: Welcome to Perú – Transfer to hotel in Lima.

Upon you arrival in Lima airport, you will be met by our local representative and then transferred to the hotel.

Meals: None

Accommodation in Lima

Day 2: Lima – City Tour

9:15am City tour in Lima, known as “The City of Kings”. This excursion offers the best combination of the differents attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th of January 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along its millenary history. Return to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation in Lima

Day 3: Flight to Cusco – City tour

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon you arrival in Cusco airport (3,300 masl) you will be met by our local representative and then transferred to the hotel.
13:20pm guided visit to the city of Cusco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun, continue to the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the city of Cusco, an Inca architectural masterpiece; Qenqo, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red  Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins. Return to your hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation in Cusco

Day 4: Awanacancha – Pisaq – Ollantaytambo – Urubamba

8:00am This morning we continue our drive to Awanacancha this is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts.
Here you can see four members of the cameloid family – llama, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos.  Alpacas have thick wool and is the most commonly used while the vicunas are small and delicate with fur considered the finest. You can meet these four cameloids, learn about the the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have a chance to see native weavers from different areas showing their different weaving styles and dress.
We continue our tour to the top of a switchback road leading to the ancient upper city of Pisac, the mythic ruins of which are situated in a spectacular location atop a buttress ridge, with agricultural terraces—constructed by the ancient Inca people—curling around the hill in graceful curves, and gorges on either side.
We take a short trek into the ancient city, where we explore its well-built stone dwellings and temples, and enjoy sweeping vistas both up- and downstream in the Urubamba Valley. Pisac’s highly defensible site guarded both the Valley and a high jungle pass to the northeast.
We continue to the splendid Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo. We’ll walk amid the remains of this ancient fortress of gray and rose-colored granite, discover its ancient baths, and climb up the huge terraces guarding its hilltop temples. Then, we’ll enjoy a chance to meet some of the local people who dwell in the traditional town nearby.
From Ollantaytambo, we depart for our hotel in the Sacred Valley – Urubamba 

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation: Urubamba

Day 5: Chinchero – Maras – Moray – Aguas Calientes

9:00am Chinchero is home to the famous Peruvian weaving and also has a colouful market. It is a lot smaller than the one in Pisac we does offer some beautiful crafts. There is a great display of Inca architecture, ruins and megalithic carved rocks. A beautiful adobe church sits on the plaza, that can be visited daily. Chinchero is also believed to be the birthplace of the rainbow.
The salineras of Maras known by some as “salt mines” are constituted by some 3000 small wells with an average area of about 5 m², built on one side of the slope of the mountain of “Qaqawiñay”, which during the dry season they are filled or “watered” every 3 days with salt water that emanates from a natural source located in the upper part of the wells so that when the water evaporates, the salt contained in it gradually solidifies.
We continue with the deep bowl shaped hollows of Moray look like a Roman amphitheater. They are circular in shape and have stair like terraces climbing up to the valley floor above. The full purpose behind these concentric terraces isn’t fully known. However, it is widely believed that the ruins were once an agricultural laboratory used by the Incas. The circular terraces that lie here are thought to have been used as an agricultural research station.
Their depth, design, and their orientation with regard to the sun and wind are all telltale signs that they have a specific purpose. Because of the different conditions at each level of the terraces there is a difference in temperature from the top to the bottom.
Late this afternoon we´ll take a train ride through the Sacred Valley, we arrive in the village of Aguas Calientes and spend one night here.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation: Aguas Calientes

Day 6: Machupicchu – Cusco

Excellent opportunity to wake up early and enjoy a beautiful sunrise in Machupicchu, you’ll take a 30 minute bus drive, climbing 6km of winding road to the incredible Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, we’ll participate in a guided tour of the Citadel, visiting the Main Plaza, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and various burial grounds. After the tour you will have time to stroll around the archeological site at your leisure.
For the most adventurous people, if it’s not raining we suggest going up Huayna Picchu, this ticket you need to book in advance (not included in the overall tour price) from where you can appreciate the immensity of MachuPicchu, even more amazing being high and distant. An exciting adventure for the travelers who want to see, from the top, the nature and the carved stone emerging from the ground as a geological miracle. Return train leaves Aguas Calientes in the afternoon, arrival in Cusco and transfer to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation in Cusco

Day 7: Cusco –  Flight to the Jungle

Transfer to the airport on time to take the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival we will welcome you at the airport in Puerto Maldonado 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.
Transfer Pto Maldonado Headquarters to Tambopata River Port: Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business. Boxed Lunch
Transfer Boat – Tambopata River Port to Posada Amazonas: The forty five minute boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada Amazonas will take us into the Community´s Primary Forest Private Reserve.
Orientation: Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.
Canopy Tower: A twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. From atop you obtain spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest cut by the Tambopata River winding through the middle. Now and then toucans, parrots or macaws are seen flying against the horizon, or mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you. Dinner
Ecotourism Lecture: A daily presentation on the Infierno ecotourism project is available every night from a staff member.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation in Posada Amazonas Lodge

Day 8: Posada Amazonas Lodge

Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake: Tres Chimbadas is thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas. Once there you will paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. Otters are most active from dawn to eight or nine AM.
Parrot Clay Lick: This clay lick is only a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas. From a blind located about twenty meters away you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend on most clear mornings to ingest the clay on a river bank. Species such as Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazon, Blue-headed Parrot and Dusky headed Parakeet descend at this clay lick. The clay lick is active at dawn, during the late mornings and mid-afternoons. Lunch
Ethnobotanical Tour
A twenty minute boat drive downriver leads you to a trail designed by the staff of the Centro Ñape. The Centro Ñape is a communal organization that produces medicines out of forest plants and administers them to patients who choose their little clinic. They have produced a trail which explains the different medicinal (and other) uses of selected plants. Dinner.
Night walk: You will have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes and sounds as bizarre as their natural histories.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Posada Amazonas

Day 9:  Posada Amazonas Lodge – Cusco

After an early breakfast departure by boat back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, for your return flight to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Cusco

Day 10: Tourist Bus Cusco – Puno

6:20am. Transfer to the bus station to take the bus to the City of Puno, instead of taking the local bus and travel for 7 hours, without a chance of stretching your legs and enjoy this part of Peru, We offer our customers a especial bus service with stops along the way, showing you the highlights of this road with a bilingual speaking guide on board. We will stop first at the town of “Andahuaylillas”, where we will visit an impressive Cathedral built on the colonial era. We will continue our tour at the famous “Inca Temple of Racchi”. It’s the only Inca place where visitors can see circular constructions and walls of mud bricks, something you won’t see anywhere else on your trip. Afterwards we will drive towards the picturesque “village of Sicuani”, where we will enjoy a nice buffet. We continue our journey throughout the Andean plateau till we reach the highest point on this route, a freezing place called “La Raya”, surrounded by huge snow-capped mountains at 4335 meters high. Later on we visit the Community of Pukara, where you will visit the Pukara Museum, an interesting place that houses ancient monoliths and human remains from the Pukara culture. Upon arrival in Puno, transfer to hotel by a representative. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation: Puno

Day 11: Lake Titicaca

At 7:00am transfer to the port. At 7:15 a.m. depart on the speedboat “Titicaca Express”, fully equipped and with on board service. At 8:30am we arrive to a secluded section of Taquile Island, Explore the less touristy and scenic area of Taquile Island (exclusive), and enjoy a pristine sandy beach there you will have plenty of time to relax and feel the serenity of Titicaca. Then Hike through a pre-Inca trail with spectacular landscapes of the island, visiting families of weavers to learn about their textile art & symbolism that has been declared by UNESCO as world heritage. At 11:30 am we leave the island, after more than 3 hours of an intensive natural and cultural aproach.
11:55am Arrival to the community of Santa Maria – Llachon, on the tip of the Capachica Peninsula, a very scenic off the beaten track destination. We are welcomed by a small community and quickly introduced to an intensive cross cultural experience, observe their traditions and participate in an ancient ceremony to learn about their magical world. Then experience the preparation of “Pachamanca” a traditional way of cooking meat, fish and potatoes using underground ovens – this is one of the main dishes of Peruvian cuisine. Enjoy these delicacies in a small, but very scenic, restaurant. For the more adventurous there is an optional kayak along the coast of Llachon (see our extensions). At 1:50pm. we leave Santa Maria.
2:25pm Arrival to a remote area of the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca, and explore UROS Ccapi, these are considered as the last authentic floating islands, less commercial and little visited. The Uros are descendants of one of the oldest cultures in South America. Optional tours in reed boats. Depart back to Puno at 15:25pm.
4:30pm Arrival in Puno and transfer to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation: Puno

Day 12: Sillustani – Transfer out

After breakfast, transfer to the airport. On the way we observe the typical flora and rural scenes of this area. Upon arrival at the Sillustani Peninsula, we take a guided tour, which informs us about the local beliefs in the afterlife as well as observing the huge funerary towers known as “Chullpas”. Sillustani is a Peninsula surrounded by the Umayu Lagoon that gives the area an extraordinary contrast of colours and landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: None

End of service.

What is Included:

• Welcome by our Representative at arrival.
• Private tourist transportation airport – hotel – airport
• City tour in Lima with guide, tourist transportation and entrance fee
• Accommodation: 2 nights in Lima, 3 nights in Cusco, 1 night in Urubamba, 1 night in Aguas Calientes, 2 nights in Puno, 2 nights in the Jungle.
• City tour in Cusco with guide and transportation
• Sacred Valley tour with guide and tourist transportation
• Tour in Machupicchu 2 days with transfers, train tickets in Expedition class round trip, bus tickets to Machupicchu up and down, entrance fee to Machupicchu, tour guide 2 hours.
• Jungle tour in Posada Amazonas Lodge 3D/2N
• Tourist bus to Puno with buffet lunch, bilingual guide and entrance fee.
• Transfers in Puno bus station – hotel – airport
• Tour Titicaca with speed boat include transfers, boat transport and guide.
• Private tour to Sillustani on the way to the airport
• Meals as per itinerary

What is not Included:

• International & local flights, airport departure taxes. (Feel free to ask for flight tickets prices to info@localhost)
• Entrance fee for City tour and Sacred Valley tour: Koricancha 10 soles, Cathedral 25 soles, tourist ticket 130 soles (these tickets are paid in cash soles).
• Entrance fee to the sites on the route to Puno 40 soles.
• Meals not mentioned.
• Travel Insurance.
• Tips to local staff (please note: It is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory).
• Other extras not especified.

Creating unique, creative and personalized programs based on your goals, budget, expectations and schedule is our specialty. Discover the Peruvian wonders with us!

Type of Tours 

All of our tours are offered in both Group and Private services; however, as we like to maintain control of the quality of our tours, even our group tours include PRIVATE transfers.  This is important, as when you get picked up; you will go directly to your hotel without having to drive around the city to drop off other people in their hotels.  Transportation is just for you.

Accommodations 

We offer all level of accommodations.  When creating an itinerary it would be important to know which your preferred level of accommodation is.  Please be sure that at all levels our recommended hotels offer great service and nice comfortable rooms. Our team has personally tried all our recommended hotels.

We mostly work with accommodations that have availability for taking reservations in advance which include communities with home stays, B&B, guest houses, apartments to two and three star hotels as well as luxury all-inclusive facilities. We periodically inspect hotels we use for cleanliness, hygiene and safety to make sure that services are in line with pricing to guarantee customer satisfaction

STANDARD
A standard room is the cheapest in the hotel. The standard room has the basic amenities, usually a television, telephone, closet and private bathroom. Other offerings in the standard room depend on the hotel. For example, two-star hotels may offer little more than the basics. A five-star hotel’s standard room may have a Jacuzzi tub, flat-screen television, honor bar and designer interior decorating.

MODERATE
3-star Superior: These are 3-star that should really be considered has 4-star Hotels. Nice location, great rooms and charming decoration. Excellent service, with restaurant, room service, business centre, laundry, etc. Buffet breakfast. Best value. Perfect for someone looking for an inexpensive option and still have some superior services.
4-star Hotels: Good location, very nice rooms, great decoration and excellent service. This hotel includes more services such as room service, business center, laundry, spas, more room features, etc. Some have gourmet restaurants. Buffet breakfast. Perfect for someone looking for some luxury and special services and do not need a 5-star option.

LUXURY
4-star Suites: Some 4-star hotels have suites that offer the same room features of a 5-star option. Perfect for someone looking to upgrade from a 4-star standard room and get more space and features.
5-star Hotel: What you usually imagine a 5-star hotel is. Great location, luxury accommodations and excellent service. Gourmet restaurants, spas, room service, business center, etc. Perfect for someone looking for a 5-star service but do not need the 5-star Deluxe option.
5-star Deluxe: These 5-star deluxe hotels offer ultimate luxury with outstanding service, luxurious rooms with deluxe room features and “you ask-you will get” concierge service. Properties have privileged locations or particular history behind it. Gourmet restaurants and spas. Ideal for the luxurious traveler.

Trains 

Expedition: The least expensive tourist train, recently renovated offers nice seats and good train service.
Vistadome: A higher category of train service, with panoramic roof windows. It offers a snack and fashion show.
Hiram Bingham: Luxury train which offers lunch, tea-time and dinner service.
Andean Explorer: Train service from Cusco to Puno or Puno to Cusco. Departs only on certain days of the week, depending on the season.

Flights 

LOCAL AIRLINES
Peruvian Airlines: Peruvian owned airline that offer the least expensive prices but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same.
Star Peru: Peruvian owned airline. It flyes to many destinations and offers good value prices, but has few frequencies. Both Peruvian and Foreigners pay the same.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Avianca Airlines: Central American owned airline that offers great service but few frequencies to Cusco. It is moderately expensive. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists.
Latam Peru: Chilean owned airline.  It offers great service and many frequencies to Cusco (almost 13 flights per day).  Prices are the highest on the market. It offers sale prices for Peruvian Residents ONLY that cannot be purchased by tourists.

DOMESTIC TICKETS
Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US$350.00 per person. This is an example price, since prices depends on the airline, date and time of booking.