Peru Photo Safari

2 Peru Photo Safari

From Rainforest to Lake Titicaca

(Nature & Culture)

09 Days / 08 Nights Amazon Rainforest (2 nights);

Sacred Valley of the Incas(2 nights) Machu Picchu (1 night);

Cusco (1 night); Lake Titicaca (2 nights)

Our Safari excursions include a private guide and driver, your own vehicle to go where and when you want, selected hotels, all meals, taxes, fees, a trip concierge with a local phone and an arrival kit.

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Price per Person: Authentic: $4,272.81 (Single Supplement $1,862.17) Upgraded: $5,283.55 (Single Supplement $2,808.98) Simplified: $4,104.64) (Single Supplement $1,406.49)

3 Peru Photo Safari

Day 1 – AMAZON RAINFOREST

Meeting at Lima Airport and assistance with flight to Puerto Maldonado

Transfer downriver to the lodge

Selection of jungle excursions included

Lunch, dinner and overnight at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica (Upgraded: Suite Amazonica, Authentic: Superior Rio, Simplified)

Day 2 – AMAZON RAINFOREST

Selection of jungle lodge excursions

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica

Day 3 – AMAZON RAINFOREST / SACRED VALLEY

Transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport

Flight to Cusco, transfer to Sacred Valley

Lunch in Cusco at Incanto

Excursion to Pisac Market and Ruins

Dinner and overnight at your Sacred Valley hotel (Authentic at Sol y Luna – Casita Deluxe, upgraded at Sol y Luna – Casita Premium, Simplified at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay )

Day 4 – SACRED VALLEY

Morning excursion to Chinchero, including a visit to Callañaupa textile centre

Gourmet outdoor lunch in the Sacred Valley

Afternoon Excursion to Maras salt mines and Moray archaeological centre

Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Sacred Valley

Day 5 – SACRED VALLEY / MACHU PICCHU

Morning excursion to Ollantaytambo, including a visit to Catcco museum

Vistadome Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu

Afternoon Nature Treks at Inkaterra

Lunch, dinner and overnight at your hotel in Machu Picchu (Upgraded at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo – Junior Suite, Authentic at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo – Superior, Simplified at El Mapi)

Day 6 – MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

Private excursion to Machu Picchu

Lunch at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge

Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and continue with a Private transfer from Ollantaytambo train station to Cusco

Dinner at MAP Café

Overnight at your hotel in Cusco (Authentic at Hotel Monasterio – Junior Suite, Upgraded at Inkaterra La Casona – Suite Patio, Simplified at Novotel Cusco – Colonial)

Day 7 – CUSCO / LAKE TITICACA

Morning exploration of the City

Transfer to airport and flight to Juliaca

Transfer from Juliaca airport to Titilaka

Choice of 5 afternoon activities near the Hotel

Dinner and overnight at Titilaka (Upgraded Suite Corner, Authentic at Dusk or Dawn Suite, Simplified Titilaka – King)

Day 8 – LAKE TITICACA

Choice of morning and afternoon excursions in the area

Dinner and overnight at Titilaka Day 9 – LAKE TITICACA/LIMA

Transfer from Titilaka to Juliaca airport and flight to Lima

Assistance at Lima Airport

End of our services

Summary

4 Peru Photo Safari

Diverse Nature &Tremendous Open Space

Peru is a vast county, the size of Spain, France and the UK together, with a dramatic landscape

including diverse geological zones, impressive national parks, Pacific coast, protected glacier peaks

and vast Amazon regions. This unique geography is complemented with the longest river, the deepest

canyon, highest waterfall and the highest lake. In addition to omnipotent geography, Peru is

renowned for its tremendous biodiversity.

Significant Living Cultures & Astonishing Traditions

Peru is a living museum, an open history book and a melting pot of cultures. A trip to Peru will expose

visitors to the oldest civilizations in America, complex pre-colonial worlds, the vast Inca Empire, a rich

Spanish colonial past, early Republican and contemporary cultures. This diverse heritage coexists with

a rich mix of migrant cultures from Europe, Africa and Asia in a true melting pot of eclectic experience

to its visitors.

Designed for …

…couples, small groups and families who have visited Asia, Africa or India and want to continue their

voyage of discovery of enriching destinations; for those who wish continue to explore, taste, discover,

and meander their way around the world. The trip is carefully crafted for savvy travelers who expect

the best service, top hotels, memorable meals, outstanding value and flexible schedules.

Diverse Flavors, Vibrant Colors & Continuous Beats

Peru is replete of unique colors, splendid traditions and famous cuisine. The Andes and the Amazon

provide the perfect setting to grow unique and rich ingredients providing poignant colors, and stark

contrasts of pastel hues. The melodious sound of Andean flutes, the hearty beat of the Afro Peruvian

“box” and the soothing trance of a lone harpist give Peru the reputation as a vibrant and lively

destination.

From Rainforest to Lake Titicaca

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DAY 01 AMAZON RAINFOREST (2000 ft – 600 m.a.s.l.)

Upon arrival at the Lima Airport, you will be welcomed by our Guest Services Representative who will provide your welcoming kit, containing a detailed itinerary, maps, general recommendations for each destination, bag tags as well as a mobile phone so that you may contact your Experiences Concierge 24/7 during your trip. You will be guided to connect to your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Fly to Puerto Maldonado (Approximately 2.5 Hours). Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to one of the most remote and extraordinary rainforests in the world. Your journey will take you into the heart of Tambopata National Park, in the Amazon basin, where you will experience the magnificent landscape . . . the sounds . . . the scents . . . the colors and the complexity of the rainforest. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado you will be greeted by the lodge’s staff who will take you to the Butterfly House which functions as a welcome and information center for guests arriving at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. In addition to a working butterfly farm, the place includes a coffee shop, waiting room, restrooms with showers, baggage storage, Internet and a souvenir shop. After check-in, head to the river wharf for a boat ride along the Madre de Dios River for 45 minutes until arrival at the Lodge. After a short briefing, settle into your rustic cabaña and enjoy your lunch. Take a siesta, refresh yourself with teatime and get ready for your afternoon excursion. After meeting your guide, choose from the different excursions available at Reserva Amazonica Lodge. On your first day, we recommend a guided walk along the Trail System, within the lodge’s natural area, where you will observe the verdant landscapes of the Amazon Basin.

This trail offers an excellent introduction to the forest environment winding past impressive trees such as the Shihuahuaco, and the beautiful strangler fig. This excursion offers excellent opportunities for bird watching, observing exotic insects and capturing photographs of this new environment. For the first night we recommend the River by Night excursion; a guided afternoon boat ride downriver from the lodge. Witness the transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal world: animals and birds of the daytime give way to species specially adapted to the night. Gather at the Eco Center where the staff will make presentations of the next day’s excursions. This is also the ideal time to enjoy a jungle cocktail, socialize or compare pictures from a productive jungle day. Dinner and overnight at Reserva Amazonica Lodge.

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DAY 02 AMAZON RAINFOREST

Dusk & dawn are the best times to photograph wildlife; take an early morning hike before breakfast with one of the guides who will help you to identify birds and make suggestions for the best shots. Breakfast at Reserva Amazonica. Excursion to Sandoval Lake within the Tambopata National Reserve and Canopy Walk.(Alternatives available: Canopy and Anaconda Walk, Conception, Ese'Eja Experience, Native Community, Gamitana Creek or Tambopata). Relax and glide in a wooden canoe, across a mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas and side-neck turtles. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the lodge. Consider a visit to the remarkable Canopy and Anaconda Walk. Ascending the first tower, 95 feet above the forest ground, you begin your encounter with the treetop realm.

For more than a quarter of a mile, you will literally walk through the rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. During this hour-and-a-half expedition, be on the lookout for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. If you wish you may extend your excursion and appreciate the sunset from one of the towers. After your descent from the Canopy, experience the Anaconda Walk for about 30 minutes along the 640 feet wooden bridge over the Aguajales swamps. In this lush eco system, you may observe the various species of amphibians, birds, mammals and abundant flora. During this hour-and-a-half expedition, be on the lookout for bright toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys and the three-toed sloth. If you wish you may extend your excursion; this will let you photograph the deepening hues as the sunset approaches. After your descent from the Canopy, experience the Anaconda Walk along the 640 feet. Once back at the lodge, enjoy a cocktail or learn more during the daily nature presentation in the Eco Centre. Dinner and overnight at Reserva Amazonica Lodge.

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DAY 03 AMAZON RAINFOREST/CUSCO/SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (9000 ft. – 2735 m.a.s.l.)

You will have breakfast at the lodge. Enjoy a boat ride to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Cusco. After being assisted at the airport, fly to Cusco.

Upon arrival in Cusco Airport, you will be welcomed by our Guest Services Representative and transferred to a restaurant, located near the Main Square; offering its guests a wide variety of Italian, pasta and grill dishes. After lunch, you will be transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

The Sacred Valley has a moderate altitude, pleasant climate, and picturesque villages. It offers a great opportunity to explore Inca sites, local artisan markets, and if you choose, to do some adventure hiking or rafting.

Excursion to Pisac Ruins and its Traditional Market. (Alternatives available: Pisac Ruins, Pisac Market, Chinchero or Ollantaytambo.) Transfer to the town of Pisac in the Sacred Valley (Approximate time of travel: 1hour, 20minutes). The small Main Square is filled wall-to-wall with stalls selling the full range of Peruvian handicrafts: alpaca sweaters and mittens, carved gourds, ceramics, felt hats, musical instruments, paintings, antiques, trinkets, jewelry and most of all, weavings. Even if you are not buying, the café balconies overlooking the square offer you superb people-watching. Traditionally, people of the highlands come down to exchange their produce such as vegetables, weavings and pottery, for essentials such as salt, sugar and rice in a trade called trueque. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

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DAY 04 SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Excursion to Chinchero, Nilda and Maras & Moray(Alternatives available: Chinchero and Nilda, Pisac Ruins, Pisac Market, Pisac Ruins & Market, Ollantaytambo, Maras & Moray, Pisac Market & Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins & Ollantaytambo, Chinchero & Ollantaytambo, Pisac Ruins & Market & Ollantaytambo, Full day River Rafting or Half Day Mountain Bike). After breakfast, we will visit Chinchero, a small Andean village, located high up on the windswept plains of Anta (12,340 ft. – 3750 m.a.s.l.), about 18 miles from Cusco. (Approximate time of travel: 45 minutes). Surrounded by dramatic views, you will find the village of Chincheros which overlooks the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salcantay. Chinchero means the birthplace of the rainbow in Quechua. On this day, you will visit Inca ruins, a typical Andean village and a colonial church.

The keen photographer should be on the lookout for dramatic mountain landscapes and bright colors from the traditional markets. Afterwards, you visit Nilda Callañaupa Textile Center famous for the handmade textiles. Witness a live demonstration in the ancient art of weaving. Enjoy a gourmet outdoor picnic lunch. Continue your excursion through the sites of Maras and Moray. First, stop at the ancient salt mines, nearby the town of Maras, which may be glanced from an old chapel just above it. Later, visit the huge circular agricultural terraces at Moray. It has been suggested that they have a cosmological meaning; however, the Incas are thought to have used them as a kind of crop–laboratory to determine the optimal conditions of planting each species. Dinner and overnight at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Sacred Valley.

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DAY 05 SACRED VALLEY /MACHUPICCHU (8000 ft. – 2430 m.a.s.l.)

Additionally, you may want to take part in one of the many suggested excursions. This includes a bird-watching walk, a nature trail, a twilight walk, an orchid tour, organic tea processing and evening nature shows. Dinner “a la carte” at the Main Restaurant. Overnight at your hotel in Machu Picchu.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo Train Station. En route, you will visit Ollantaytambo (8800 ft. – 2675 m.a.s.l.), the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas, which demonstrates the best surviving example of Inca city planning. Its fortress, with its extremely well built walls, was both a temple and a fortress to the Incas. The temple area is at the top of steep terracing, which helped to provide excellent defenses. The stones for Ollantaytambo were taken from a nearby quarry on the mountainside on the opposite bank of the river - an incredible feat involving the efforts of thousands of workers. Board the train to Machu Picchu. The Vistadome service includes carriages with panoramic windows which enhance the scenic view. During the journey a light snack is provided. (Approximate time of travel by train: 1 hour, 30 minutes). You will be welcomed at the train station by the hotel’s representatives. A short walk with a hotel representative takes you to the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Lunch at Café Inkaterra and evening at your leisure. For guests staying at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo: You have the evening at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the hotel’s most charming attractions. This includes the reading room, scores of pre-Columbian artefacts in the main dining room and the lounge’s crackling fireplaces. If you wish to pamper yourself, unwind in the Andean sauna, an igloo made from indigenous bamboo and fresh eucalyptus leaves.

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DAY 06 MACHU PICCHU/CUSCO (10,900 ft.–3310 m.a.s.l)

Additional points of interest in Machu Picchu are WaynaPicchu and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail. After the excursion, enjoy lunch at Tinkuy Restaurant at the Sanctuary Lodge. You may leisurely explore the ruins before returning by bus to Aguas Calientes. Head to the train station where you will board the Vistadome Train back to the Sacred Valley. Upon arriving in the Sacred Valley you will be met by our Guest Services Representative and transferred to your hotel in Cusco. Enjoy dinner at modern Map Café located at Casa Cabrera, now the beautifully designed Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Overnight at your hotel in Cusco.

Machu Picchu Citadel Excursion. (Options available: Machu Picchu & Huayna Picchu, Mandor Waterfalls or Putukusi Mountain). Buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by a short walk from the hotel; take a 30-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu Citadel (8000 ft. – 2432 m.a.s.l.). In ancient days, Machu Picchu served as the favored country retreat for the royal family and Inca nobility. Surrounded by mountains and cloud forests, this UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s most coveted destinations. You will explore the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu accompanied by your guide for three hours. Your expert guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun.

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DAY 07 CUSCO/LAKE TITICACA (12,500 ft – 3,800 m.a.s.l.)

After learning about the Cusco School of Art, you will even have the opportunity to visit one of Cusco’s classic art workshops. Afterwards, our Guest Services Representative will accompany you to the airport and assist you prior to your flight to Juliaca, Puno. The city of Puno is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, rich in flora and fauna and an important commercial port. Welcome at Juliaca Airport by our Guest Services Representative and transferred by car to Titilaka. Rest and enjoy the scenery as you acclimatize. After a well-deserved teatime, join an excursion rowing through the reeds of the lake near the hotel, where you can observe endemic birds, striking highland landscapes, and the totora reeds of different colors. Enjoy sunset cocktails from the panoramic terraces overlooking the lake. After dinner, overnight at Titilaka.

Cusco was the ancient capital and spiritual heart of the Inca Empire, as well as an important colonial centre. Strolling through its cobblestone streets, you will spot both, marvelous Incan architecture and Andean Baroque structures from the Colonial Period. Excursion of Cusco including the San Blas Neighborhood.(Options available: Visit to the Four Ruins, excursion of Cusco City & Four Ruins or Excursion of Cusco City & Sacsayhuaman.) During the morning, enjoy a private guided excursion through the city of Cusco with its Inca walls, colorful costumes and legendary streets. Stroll with your guide around the Plaza de Armas (Main Square). As the main attraction and focal point of Cusco, this is the perfect spot to photograph architectural motifs or urban Cusqueños. Enjoy the beauty and attractiveness of the San Blas neighborhood, one of the most picturesque communities in Cusco. The city is characterized by its steep and narrow streets that zigzag among old colonial houses noticeably constructed over Incan relics.

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DAYS 08, LAKE TITICACA

Enjoy breakfast at Titilaka, either in bed or in the dining room. Excursion to Taquile Island. (Alternatives include: Uros floating islands, Sillustani, Mountain biking or 7 activities near the Hotel). Taquile Island is considered the most interesting island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. The Taquile people are of Quechua origin, as opposed to the majority of the region’s locals who are of Aymara origin. You will visit the home and greet the family of Juan, one of the prominent weavers on the island. They will share with you the rich traditions and social structure of Taquile and show you their textiles. As part of the Inca Empire, you may also visit some archaeological remains. Here you can also view the impressive panorama of Lake Titicaca and the snow covered mountains of Cordillera Real. Rowing on the Reeds Take a paddle boat excursion through the totora reeds near the hotel. You will learn about the totora reeds, aquatic plants and how they are used by the locals for different purposes ranging from construction to food. Similar to landownership, the reed marshes are divided among the villagers, who every so often harvest them for various uses. The reeds offer a unique ecosystem for birds such as wrens, grebes, moorhens and egrets.

Upon your arrival to the hotel enjoy the intense dusk. Later this idyllic sunset is rivaled by a pristine starry night. Enjoy cocktails, dinner and overnight at your lake-view room at Titilaka.

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After breakfast, you will be transferred to Juliaca airport and assisted with your flight to Lima. Our Guest Services Representative will greet you in Lima, assist you with international check-in, collect your

mobile phone and receive feedback of our services.

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Itinerary Includes:

Hotels as indicated in the itinerary

Meals as indicated in the itinerary

Transfers, visits and excursions in private transportation

Train Tickets (Vistadome Service)

Bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu Citadel

Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Citadel

Excursions and visits with local English speaking guide

Tips for hotel and airport staff

Entrance Fee to main archeological centers in Cusco

Local airport taxes

Booking Fee

Itinerary Does Not Include:

Hotels and meals not described in the itinerary

Personal expenses

Tickets to ruins or other unspecified Parks

Local airfare

International airfare

Local taxes (18% V.A.T. is applicable only to Peruvian and foreign resident of Peru, in order to be exempted you will need to show your passport and Andean Immigration Card).

Please, note that this is a preliminary quote subject to availability; some changes might apply prior to confirmation. If you agree with this estimate, please send your confirmation by e-mail to start booking your reservations, and send you the final confirmed itinerary together with our Terms and Conditions.

A 50% deposit is required to confirm the trip and the remaining 50% is due 65 days prior to the trip. Please note that certain services (trekking and cruises) have different payment and cancelation policies.

Terms & Conditions

Peru Photo Safari of Nature and Culture

Andean Experience - Peru

Saenz Peña 129 Barranco, Lima 04, Peru T. +51 1 700 5105, USA Toll Free: 1866 628 1777

Andean Experience - Peru

Saenz Peña 129 Barranco, Lima 04, Peru T. +51 1 700 5105, USA Toll Free: 1866 628 1777 andean-experience.com