If your time is limited and you want to grasp the true essence of Peru, this is the ideal tour for you. With a stay in the heart of the lush Amazon Jungle, a visit to the extraordinary lost city of Machu Picchu and the chance to explore two of the most vibrant cities on the continent, you’ll experience a serious cultural adventure.

This is an Adventure tour.


Itinerary

Day 1 to 1
Lima
Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. The tour begins in Lima, Peru's capital. Lima was founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 after he eradicated the Incas and made the city his capital. Lima has many fine colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Peru's capital has a great deal to offer and many of the sights, including the city's two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance. The Plaza de Armas houses the Cathedral, Municipal Palace and Presidential Palace where the changing of the guard can be seen every day at 12 noon. If you want more time to explore properly Lima you may wish to allow a few extra days at the beginning of your trip.

Day 2 to 4
Amazon Jungle (or free time) - - Cuzco

If you choose not to visit the Amazon Jungle you will have free time in Cuzco and a portion of your tour cost will be deducted (see our brochure for prices).

Today we fly to the jungle community of Puerto Maldonado, the starting point for our visit to the Amazon rainforest. Here you can pick up any last minute drinks or snacks in the busy markets and shops. The first leg of our journey is by bus followed by motorised canoe, a 35km journey along the river (approx 2 hours total). The canoes are very safe and lifejackets are supplied.
Arriving at the lodge located on the river’s edge, you will be allocated a bungalow all of which are built from local indigenous materials. Each room is sealed by meshed netting to keep out mosquitoes and other insects. All rooms have basic private bathroom facilities. Due to the remoteness of the lodge there is no hot water and drinking water should be purchased. There is also limited electricity so please charge any electrical equipment prior to your arrival. In the evening the lodge and walkways are lit by oil lamps. Other facilities include a welcoming reception area, dining room and bar facilities. All excursions are led by English speaking local guides providing plenty of opportunity to enjoy marvellous jungle landscapes and rich diversity of flora and fauna.

After lunch we take a short boat trip across the Madre de Dios River to Monkey Island. On the way over you may spot caiman from the boat. Once upon the island it is possible to see a great variety of monkeys such as the ‘maquisapa’, black and white ‘Martins’, ‘Leoncito de la Selva’ (Little lions), ‘Frailes’ (Friars), ‘Achuñis’, ‘Ronsocos’  as well as an array of birdlife. In the evenings it is often possible to enjoy the wonderful sunset, one of the most impressive sights of the forest (weather permitting). We then return to the lodge for dinner.

After an early breakfast we will set off on a trek through the rainforest along wooden walk ways. On the way our guide will stop to show you various species of bird and explain the medicinal plants and delicate ecological systems of the Amazon Jungle. The scenery is extremely varied incorporating dense jungle as well as marsh areas. You will see incredibly big trees, several metres in diameter and around 450 years old. There is an opportunity to take a canoe ride drifting along one of the small lakes hidden away in the jungle, observing caiman and the abundant bird life. We may also catch a glimpse of the rare giant otter.

Afterwards we will enjoy the view of the lake from our viewing point/observation platform, where you can experience the canopy wildlife such as parrots, guacamayos, toucans, camungos, shanshos, herons, turtles and caiman (alligators). We will return to the lodge for a well deserved lunch. In the afternoon we visit the Gamitana River where you can try fishing or take a dip. (All excursions are weather permitting and itineraries may be changed slightly due to local conditions).

On the final day we awake to the sounds of the jungle before departing this jungle haven and returning to Puerto Maldonado for our flight on to Cuzco, where you have the rest of the day free to explore this fascinating ancient capital.

You can take an orientation walking tour of this enchanting city, which has an indigenous population of around 300,000. Cuzco's centre is the Plaza de Armas, dominated by the opulent Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus Church. Its cloistered arcades house many fine restaurants, bars and shops. Make the most of your free time to explore Cuzco's amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, many of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways. On a hill overlooking the city stands the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where some of the most spectacular Inca walls can be found, one of the stones is a massive 130 tons. This is also the location of the famous annual Inti Raymi Festival, which takes place on the 24th June. In close proximity are some other fine examples of the Inca ingenuity: Kenko, Tambo Machay and Puka Pukara.

Day 5 to 5
Sacred Valley of the Incas - overnight in Ollantaytambo
In the morning you travel by train through stunning mountain scenery to the extraordinary lost city of Machu Picchu. Untouched by the conquistadors until its discovery in 1911, Machu Picchu is sited on a pinnacle high above the river valley. You take a guided tour of this magnificent archeological wonder, and then have free time to wander the ruins and explore at your leisure.

Day 6 to 6
Machu Picchu
The Lost City of Machu Picchu was originally completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs. Located high above the fast flowing Urubamba River, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation that will simply take your breath away. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can't help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site.

Day 7 to 8
Lima
An early flight will take you back to Lima, where you can indulge in Peru's distinct way of life once more with some final shopping and sightseeing. This tour concludes in Lima on Day 8.

Amazon Jungle (or free time)
This tour gives you the option to take a two-night excursion into the Amazon Jungle. If you choose not to visit the Amazon a discount will be taken from your tour price and you will have free time in Cuzco.

Important note: The itinerary listed above is to be used as a guide only. Occasionally we may need to update this document and it may be different to the information printed in our current brochure. Tour leaders may need to make adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances during the tour. It is very important that you visit our website and review a copy of this dossier as close as possible to your departure date in case of changes that may affect your plans. Any last minute changes may also be posted in the Latest News section of our website.


Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Very little time is spent in the starting and finishing cities and you will need to allow a few days at the beginning or end of your tour if you want to explore them further. For details of pre and post tour accommodation bookings (which should be made at the time of your tour booking) please refer to our current brochure or contact our reservations team.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation
Very little time is spent in the starting and finishing cities and you will need to allow a few days at the beginning or end of your tour if you want to explore them further. For details of pre and post tour accommodation bookings (which should be made at the time of your tour booking) please refer to our current brochure or contact our reservations team.

About Adventure Tours

Adventure Tours travel by public transport wherever possible in order to offer travellers plenty of opportunities to meet local people and learn about their cultures, while experiencing the destination in a more authentic way. Adventure Tours stay in an interesting variety of accommodation depending on the destination and comfort levels may vary. This hands-on travel style means that you will need to pack light as you will carry your own bags. Adventure Tours will bring you into contact with cultures and experiences that contrast dramatically with those at home and therefore a sense of humour and patience is essential.

Don’t forget that we also offers five other travel styles: Discovery Tours offer the convenience, flexibility and security of a private vehicle and Comfort Hotels; Overland Expeditions have a high percentage of camping, travel on custom-built overland vehicles and suit those who love the great outdoors; Budget Expeditions are great value tours for 18 to 35s which offer travellers the ability to choose their optional excursions to suit their personality and budget; Independent Travel packages offer personalised itineraries in a range of destinations around the world, including hotels, transfers, guided tours, and longer holiday packages such as treks, stopovers and language schools, with flexible travel days. Expedition Cruises give you the chance to explore the remote natural beauty of the Amazon rainforest, Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, Arctic Circle and Antarctica on purpose-built vessels. Please note: Not all travel styles will be available in all destinations.

Local Payment
The cost of all tours includes a compulsory Local Payment which is in addition to the Tour Price paid to your booking agent. The Local Payment MUST be paid to your tour leader in full $USD cash at the pre-departure meeting on the first day of your tour. The Local Payment is administered by tour leaders and no refunds can be made for any unused services or if you decide to leave the tour early.

Pre Departure Meeting
The address of your joining hotel can be found on your joining letter and tour voucher. On arrival you should look for an information sheet on the hotel notice board where you will find details of the pre-departure meeting. The tour leader will normally hold the pre-departure meeting on the afternoon of Day 1 (assuming that all clients have arrived by then). Your tour leader will give a briefing about the tour, outline the plan for the next few days, answer any questions and collect your Local Payment in full in US$ cash. Then there may be an option for everyone to go out for dinner and drinks to start to get to know one another.
Please note that you will need to bring the following important items to the pre departure meeting:

1. Passport (including any necessary visas) – original document and a photocopy.
2. Vaccination certificates (e.g. Yellow Fever, if required)
3. Travel voucher
4. Travel insurance policy
5. Local Payment

Tour Personnel

Adventure Tours use a variety of different styles of leadership. On this tour you will have a combination of tour leader, reps, local guides and local reps. The tour leader accompanies your tour while reps will escort you at times when your tour leader may not be available. Local guides will lead your included and optional excursions, and local reps are local business people also responsible for occasional meet and greet and transfers.

If you feel that any of the personnel, including tour leaders, drivers or local reps have exceeded your expectations during your tour, tipping is appreciated but is not obligatory.

Degree of Difficulty / Fitness
Adventure Tours suit people who are fit and active. Although no experience is required there are many walks between bus/train terminals and hotels and travellers must be able to carry their own luggage over various terrains as well as lift up luggage onto the tops of buses!
 
For information on the trek to Machu Picchu (difficulty, fitness etc) please ask your agent for our ‘Inca Trail Information Sheet' or ‘Lares Trek Sheet' or download a copy from our website.

There is fairly easy walking through the rainforest on the jungle excursion and moderately demanding uphill walking on Taquile and Amantaní islands (due to the altitude).

There is no hard walking involved in the Sacred Valley or Colca Canyon excursions, although sufferers of vertigo may find the walk through Pisac ruins and some sections of the Canyon a little challenging. The maximum altitude this tour reaches is 4,900 metres (the high pass between Arequipa and the Colca Canyon). Most people will suffer from some degree of altitude sickness at some point during the tour. We suggest that heavy smokers either cut down or stop completely for their time at altitude. The local coca tea is usually very helpful in combating altitude sickness, however if you are worried you should consult your doctor and possibly obtain some altitude sickness tablets prior to leaving home.

Pre-Departure Information
Once you have booked the tour (paid your deposit), your booking agent will provide you with a detailed pre-departure booklet with in-depth information to help you prepare. If you do not receive your pre-departure information shortly after booking your tour please consult your travel agent. After you have paid for your tour in full you will also receive from your travel agent: a local map and joining letter for your arrival city, your tour voucher and transfer voucher (if applicable).

Country Dossiers
This Tour Dossier is designed to be read in conjunction with our Country Dossiers which you can download from our website or obtain from your booking agent. The Country Dossiers contain essential information about visas, arrival transfers, spending money and costs, taxes and tips, climate, local food etc.

What you need to bring
On Adventure Tours it is very important that you do not bring too much luggage as you will find it extremely difficult to get on/off buses and trains etc and there is a fair amount of walking to/from hotels. You are also likely to encounter many cobbled streets and dirt roads so luggage on wheels is totally unsuitable. Travellers who visit the jungle, Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon will require a daypack as you will spend a night away from your main luggage, and only need to take very minimal belongings on these trips.

You must be prepared to carry your own bags at all times. We therefore strongly urge you to limit your luggage to a maximum of 10-14kgs. Please see the relevant Country Dossier and Pre Departure Information booklet for further information about luggage requirements and what to pack.

Transfers
In Lima we offer an arrival and departure transfer service, either or both of which can be booked for an additional charge (see our current brochure for prices). Both these services should be arranged when making your tour booking. Due to the late arrival and departure times of many flights in and out of Lima, we recommend that passengers travelling through Lima book an airport transfer through Travel Amazing South America, especially if travelling alone. Please refer to your tour Joining Letter for detailed guidelines.

Accommodation
This tour includes 13 nights in hotels, 2 nights in a basic (no electricity) but very pleasant wooden, thatched lodge in the jungle , 3 nights camping on the Inca Trail, 1 night on the Island of Amantaní (Lake Titicaca excursion) with local Indians in very basic rooms (no electricity, sheets, outside toilet only and no showers) and 1 overnight bus (Nazca to Arequipa –coaches with reclining seats and a/c. Travelling at night is far more comfortable as daytime temperatures can be very high).

All hotels are chosen for their central locality, security, friendliness, cleanliness and ambiance. Although sometimes simple, you will find clean comfortable rooms with en-suite facilities (occasionally bathrooms may be shared but this is rare), and often a bar and restaurant are attached or close by. All rooms will be allocated on a share basis, usually in twins or triples (depending on the male/female ratios).

The jungle lodge
Each room has comfortable beds (multi-share triple rooms) with all bedding and towels, mosquito nets, candles or oil lamps, as well as a well equipped bathroom with cold (or tepid) running water, toilet and shower. There is no electricity at the lodge so please remember to charge your video and camera batteries in advance! All meals are prepared by a professional cook with fresh ingredients (fruit, vegetables, fish etc.). The bar also sells cold beers, mineral water and soft drinks.

Transport
On Adventure Tours our goal is to offer you as much variety as possible while meeting the local people. On this trip we will be using local public buses, mini buses, taxis, trains, various boats, motorised and dug-out canoes. There will also be some walking with your luggage between bus terminals and hotels. The tour also includes 4 domestic flights and optional excursions may use other forms of transport, for example boats, horses and mountain bikes.

Please be aware that weight restrictions on internal/domestic flights in Latin America are 20Kg per person and you may be charged for any additional weight.

Meals
Meals are included on the jungle excursion, Amantaní Island and on the Inca Trail. On the Inca Trail your cook and porters will prepare three meals a day usually consisting of bread, eggs, tea and coffee for breakfast; guacamole, cheese, tomato, cold meat and rolls for lunch and a two or three course dinner usually accompanied by rice, pasta or potatoes. There is usually a constant supply of coca tea and coffee and meals will be supplemented by tea breaks with biscuits and fruit. At the jungle lodge you will experience delicious dishes typical of the region, such as the "juanitos" a dish served with rice, chicken and vegetables cooked in a banana leaf and a great variety of fish from the area, like the golden "dorado", maiden "doncella" and jumping "saltón" fish.

All other meals, extra snacks and drinks on the tour are at your own expense Please see the relevant Country Dossier for more information about the local food.

Tour Highlights

• Orientation walks – Introductory walks conducted by your expedition leader at each main stopover.
• Full day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas including the colourful Pisac market
• Machu Picchu – train to the Lost City of the Incas
• Jungle excursion - visit to the Amazon Basin staying overnight in a jungle lodge
• City of Cuzco – Explore the former Inca capital with a combined entrance ticket giving access to the main monuments, museums and archaeological sites.
• Andean Music – local bands playing pan-flutes, zampoñas and charangos will be in abundance throughout the tour.

Day to Day Itinerary & Meals
Day 1 – Arrive Lima
Day 2 – Fly to Puerto Maldonado in the jungle, LD (or free time in Cuzco)
Day 3 – Jungle excursions, BLD
Day 4 – Fly back to Cuzco, free time B
Day 5 – Full day excursion to Sacred Valley of the Incas overnight in Ollantaytambo
Day 6 – Machu Picchu & return train to Cuzco
Day 7 – Fly back to Lima
Day 8 – Depart Lima

(B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D - Dinner included)
Please note the day to day itinerary above is given as a GUIDELINE ONLY.

Feedback
At the end of your tour we would greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to complete a questionnaire about your experiences. The tour leader will give you a paper copy and an electronic version can be found on our website. We take feedback very seriously as it allows us to maintain and improve the very high standards we expect from our road crew, local operators, hoteliers, transportation and office staff, among others. We also use this information to improve our itineraries and optional excursions on offer. Thank you in advance for your help with this.

Responsible Travel Tips
We are serious about our responsibility to care for the environment and people that we visit. Here are a few tips to help you to enjoy your tour while minimising your impact and enhancing your travelling experience.

1. Bring your own metal water bottle. Fill up at restaurants or treat your own water on tour instead of buying lots of plastic bottles. Bear in mind that there may not be recycling facilities available at some destinations. 2. Cut out plastic – remove and recycle the packaging of new travel gear before you pack, and bring a light cotton or string bag for your shopping so you can politely refuse plastic bags at shops and markets.
3. Bring a stack of pens and pencils and hand these out to children rather than offering sweets. Your alternative gifts will still be popular and the parents will thank you for saving their children's teeth – access to dental services may not be readily available.
5. Learn a bit of the local language before you travel. Being able to say even a few words like hello, please and thank you will help you to connect with people in a positive way and really enhance your personal experience. Bring a phrase book on tour and keep practising to improve your confidence. You will also find some good language tips in the country dossier(s).

Staying in touch

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad. You can opt to use an International SIM Card.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers.

Blog – You can keep your friends and family updated by blogging about your adventures.

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

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