THE MYSTERY OF THE INCAS AND THE RAIN FOREST

Plane:  Helsinki-Lima- Juliaca-(Puno) / Cusco Lima - Iquitos - Lima-Helsinki .
Bus:  Puno - Cusco - Kmts 82/ Machu Picchu-Aguas Calientes.

Train:  Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) to Cusco
Trekking:  Inca trail (moderate) 4 days 3 nights to Machu Picchu. Taquile visit, Muyuna Jungle Lodge (easy)
Canoe:  Muyuna Jungle Lodge visits

OPTION WITH INCA TRAIL

The Inka trail itinerary can change according to camping places available at time of reservation.

Day 1                    Helsinki – Lima: Reception at the airport and Transfer to the Hotel.

Day 2                   Lima – Juliaca (Puno) : Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Juliaca (Puno) Reception at Juliaca’s airport and transfer to Puno at 3900 m. It is recommended to rest and avoid hard activity until your body gets used to the altitude.

Day 3                   Puno – Uros – Taquile: Breakfast. Departure from Puno’s dock at 08.30. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake of the world, with a surface of 8.300Km2, a length of 195 Kilometres. an average width of 60  and a maximum depth of 285 m. The legend tells of how Manco Capac and his sister-wife Mama Ocllo emerged from its dark waters to found the Empire of the Incas First we will visit the Uros islands, where the Aymaras residents have inherited the customs and way of life of the long gone Uros. Their live hood is based on the benefits of a unique plant: Totora reed. They use it to build their homes, boats and even the floating islands they live on. It is also source of food for man and animals and a vital tool for their everyday activity. Then continue our navigation towards Taquile enjoying the wonderful Titicaca Lake; this part of the voyage is 3 hours.   From the pier in Taquile we will walk for an hour to the Plaza to appreciate the local customs, the habits and clothes and their marvellous fabrics, designs and colours still in use by the Taquile inhabitants. Although is located in the Aymaras region, its inhabitants speak only quetchua. Farmers, fishermen and weavers, they wear distinctive outfits. On the island there are no vehicles, roads, police officers or electricity. It is 6 to 7 kilometres long, quite hilly and has many archaeological ruins. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Island of Taquile is their solid sense of community.  Here you will spend the night in the homes of the community, including, lunch, dinner and breakfast the next day. Strong cultural contact.

Day 4                   Taquile – Puno: After a local breakfast you can stroll around the island, get involved with locals and appreciate their artisan work. Around 13.30 the boat departs from the pier towards Puno. Reception in Puno.                       

Day 5                   Puno – Cusco:  Breakfast. Transfer to Bus station. Full day trip by bus through the high land altiplano between 3.500 and 4300 m. It is a magnificent sightseeing. Tourist bus Inca Coach, English-speaking guide on board. Stopovers for lunch (included) and visit the ancient sites on the way (entrance fee not included). Reception in Cusco and transfer to Hotel.

Day 6                   Cusco: Breakfast. In the afternoon a guided visit of the city and its surrounding ruins. The Cathedral, consider as a colonial monument of finest art; The Santo Domingo’s church and the ruins of the temple and fortress Sacsayhuaman; some of the ancient “tambos” along the Inca paths like Puca Pucara. The funeral site of Kenko and the water sanctuary Tambomachay.

Day 7                   Cusco – Huayllabamba (INCA TRAIL): Pick up from the Hostel. The bus will transport us until the Km. 82 passing through Chincheros to Ollantaytambo. Here we will pass through the required controls and we will joint the team of professionals that will make possible our trip to be successful. We initiate our trek at the skirts of the Urubamba River until reaching, after 6 hours, Huayllabamba the ancient Andean village where we will camp and later on have dinner.

Day 8                   Huayllabamba - Pacaymayu

Breakfast. We will initiate the trek in a slow but steady motion. Along this part of the trail we can appreciate an impressive panoramic view of two geographical zones white Andean mountains and the beautiful semitropical valley, with these marvelous views we will lunch and then continue ascending towards the highest pass of the circuit Warmiwañusca (4200 m.). A long and beautiful trek descends from here to Pacaymayu the second camping place of your trek.

Day 9                   Pacymayu – Runku Racay – Sayacmarca – Wiñaywayna.
After breakfast we start the ascend towards the second high pass. Runku Racay, an ancient fortress discover by Hiram Bingham while looking for the entrance to Machu Picchu is located in this part of the trek, before the high pass. Then comes Sayacmarca, very impressive stone work construction still a mystery its function and use but because of its location it might have been another guardian post. The second part of the trail is original paving Inca and the path crosses high stone embankments as it skirts deep precipices. The third and maybe one of the most impressive Inca sites of the trek is Phuyupatamarca, “city in the clouds”  a remote magical place. The fountain of baths of this place suggest that it was associated with the ritual worship of water and perhaps it was a place for ritual cleansing on the final leg to Machu Picchu.

The trail descends now in a an impressive series of stairs towards Winaywayna “forever young” , named after a pink orchid that grows here. Also is believed to be a place associated with ritual worship of water. It is a construction of terraces and some of the upper ones have the largest stone polygonal blocks in the whole area. Here, nearby is the third and last camping place.

Day 10                  Winaywayna – Inti Punku – Machu Picchu – Aguas Calientes - Cusco
Early breakfast. We will initiate the trek toward Inti Punku (sun’s gate) to watch the sunrise and the marvelous spectacle of the early sun over the citadel of Machu Picchu (if the weather is good) are beautiful. Then we descend and tour the magical site of Machu Picchu for three hours, full of energy and culture in a guided visit to the precincts, squares, sacred fountains, temples, towers, the agricultural and the urban sectors. Late afternoon we will be transferred to Aguas Calientes before taking the train back to Cusco. Reception in Cusco and Transfer to Hostal Residencias del Sol.

Day 11                  Cusco - Lima – Iquitos: B/fast. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima and connect with your flight to Iquitos (1.45 h.) Reception at the airport. Transfer to Hotel.

Day 12                 Iquitos - Muyuna Lodge: Breakfast. Transfer to the river Amazon, where we will take a speedboat, three hours by the Amazon River towards Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve at 120 km. from Iquitos where the Muyuna Lodge is located. Warm welcome with a cold drink, lodging and lunch. In the afternoon fishing of piranhas in the Yanayacu River or nearby lakes. Short hike in the low jungle to look for medicinal plants, identifying the botanical species with the help of experienced guides. They will also give a briefing on the activities in the National Reserve, some useful recommendations and remarks on first aid, how to act in dangerous situations, etc.  Later we will observe a beautiful Amazonian sunset and back to Muyuna Lodge for dinner. By night a peaceful expedition in canoe to observe the caiman, his eyes reflected by the lights of our flashlights... as he observe us. Return to the lodge.

Day 13                 Muyuna Lodge: Breakfast. Hike by the low jungle. Observe the rich fauna around Muyuna. In this hike we can observe with the help of our experienced guides, different species of animals like monkeys, birds, insects etc. Eight lagoons surround the Muyuna Lodge These lagoons offer a natural and rich habitat not only for a great variety of species of fishes (piranhas, ornamental ones, arapaima, cat fish, peacock bass, etc) but also for alligators (south american caiman), for the fabulous pink and grey dolphins, and for manatees, river otters and a great variety of exuberant aquatic plants like the unique Victoria Regia (the biggest lily pad in the world). This beautiful day will finish with a peaceful night expedition in canoe to search again for Caymans and another night creatures of the jungle. Return to the lodge.

Day 14                 Muyuna Lodge – Iquitos - Lima: Breakfast. Short walk in the jungle to observe species of the rich Amazonian flora and fauna. On our way back to Iquitos we will visit the community of San Juan de Yanayacu, where you will have the opportunity to observe lifelike and traditions of the Amazonian People, feel the spiritual richness that mother nature gives to its inhabitants. If time and river conditions are ok, we will have the opportunity to swim with the mythical pink and grey dolphins. Return to Iquitos and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima. Reception in Lima and transfer to Hostal.

Day 15                 Lima - Helsinki: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to take the flight back to Europe

NOTE: prices upon request due to currency exchange rates and local Airline fares variations. Also according to availability of seats at moment of reservation.

INCLUDES:

- Internal flights in Peru: Lima – Juliaca (Puno)//Cusco – Lima – Iquitos – Lima. Economy class.

- Transfers to/from airports, bus & train stations, piers and locations.

- Three nights in Lima with breakfast included.

- Two nights in Puno  with breakfast included

- Two days /one night in Taquile Island (Lake Titicaca) with guidance, transportation, meals and visits included.

- Three nights  in Cusco with breakfast included.

- Inca Trail 4 days / 3 nights, regular service, including guide, land transportation to point of departure, train back to Cusco (back packers class), entrance fee to Inca trail and Machu Picchu (first visit), assistants, porters (common equipment), cook, camping gear, cooking utensils, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 3 dinners.

-  Guided visit to Machu Picchu.

- One night in Iquitos, breakfast included.

- Three days/ two nights in Muyuna Lodge on the Amazon basin with transfers, river and land transportation, meals, activities and guidance included.

- One bus ticket between Puno and Cusco on the Inka Express bus with visits and  lunch included.

- Guided visit of Cusco and Machu Picchu

- Services in English.

NOT INCLUDED

- Airport taxes: us 6 per person per internal flight and us 31 per person international departure tax in Peru.

- Insurance

- Personal expenses like excess baggage, tips, phone calls, laundry etc.

- Insurances of any kind.

- Services not described in the itinerary.

-  Sleeping bag during Inca Trail

- Porters for personal gear in the Inca Trail.

  - Tourist class Hostels, safe, well located and proper.

OPTION  WITHOUT INCA TRAIL

  Day 1                Helsinki – Lima: Reception at the airport and Transfer to the Hotel.

Day 2   Lima - Cusco: Breakfast. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cusco. Reception at the airport and transfer to Hotel. In the afternoon a guided visit of the city and its surrounding ruins. The Cathedral, consider as a colonial monument of finest art; The Santo Domingo’s church and the ruins of the temple and fortress Sacsayhuaman; some of the ancient “tambos” along the Inca paths like Puca Pucara. The funeral site of Kenko and the water sanctuary Tambomachay.

Day 3   Cusco – Machu Picchu: Transfer to train station to take the train to Mach Picchu. On arrival to the train Station at Aguas Calientes you will be transferred by bus to the entrance of Machu Picchu. After the guided visit, transfer back to Aguas Calientes to your Hotel.

Day 4 Machu Picchu – Cusco: Breakfast. Morning at leisure to visit again Machu Picchu or to trek along the Urubamba River. Late afternoon back to Cusco by train. Reception at the train station in Cusco and transfer to Hotel Prisma.

Day 5   Cusco – Puno : Breakfast. Transfer from the Hotel to the bus station to take the Inka Express bus to Puno.  Visit on the way Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and Sicuani. (Entrances not included) Lunch included. Arrive at Puno approximately at 17:00. This is a bus service with English speaking guide on board. The journey is over the plateau of the Andes at altitudes between 3.800 and 4.400 m. Welcome to Puno.

Day 6               Puno – Uros – Taquile: Breakfast. Departure from Puno’s dock approx at 08.30. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake of the world, with a surface of 8.300Km2, a length of 195 Kmts. an average width of 60 kmts and a maximum depth of 285 m. The legend tells of how Manco Capac and his sister-wife Mama Ocllo emerged from its dark waters to found the Empire of the Incas

First we will visit the Uros islands, where the Aymaras residents have inherited the customs and way of life of the long gone Uros. Their live hood is based on the benefits of a unique plant: Totora reed. They use it to build their homes, boats and even the floating islands they live on. It is also source of food for man and animals and a vital tool for their everyday activity. Then continue our navigation towards Taquile enjoying the wonderful Titicaca Lake; this part of the voyage is 3 hours. 

From the pier in Taquile we will walk for an hour to the Plaza to appreciate the local customs, the habits and clothes and their marvelous fabrics, designs and colors still in use by the Taquile inhabitants. Although is located in the Aymaras region, its inhabitants speak only quetchua. Farmers, fishermen and weavers, they wear distinctive outfits. On the island there are no vehicles, roads, police officers or electricity. It is 6 to 7 Kmts long, quite hilly and has many archaeological ruins. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Island of Taquile is their solid sense of community. 

Here you will spend the night in the homes of the community, including, lunch, dinner and breakfast the next day. Strong cultural contact.

Day 7                Taquile – Puno - Chucuito: After a local breakfast you can stroll around the island, get involved with locals and appreciate their artisan work. Around 13.30 the boat departs from the pier towards Puno. Reception in Puno.

Day 8                 Puno – Juliaca – Lima: B/fast. Transfer to the airport in Juliaca to take the flight to Lima. On the way to Juliaca, stop for a visit to the chullpas of Sillustani, a magical place where ancient cultures used to bury their kings and authorities.  Reception at the airport in Lima and transfer to Hotel.

Day 09                Lima – Iquitos – Muyuna Lodge: Breakfast and transfer to the airport to take the flight to Iquitos. Reception by Muyunas representative and transfer to the pier where we will take a speedboat, three hours by the Amazon River towards Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve at 120 km. from Iquitos where the Muyuna Lodge is located. Warm welcome with a cold drink, lodging and lunch. In the afternoon fishing of piranhas in the Yanayacu River or nearby lakes.

Short hike in the low jungle to look for medicinal plants, identifying the botanical species with the help of experienced guides. They will also give a briefing on the activities in the National Reserve, some useful recommendations and remarks on first aid, how to act in dangerous situations, etc.  Later we will observe a beautiful Amazonian sunset and back to Muyuna Lodge for dinner. By night a peaceful expedition in canoe to observe the caiman, his eyes reflected by the lights of our flashlights... as he observe us. Return to the lodge.

  Day 10                Muyuna Lodge: Breakfast. Hike by the low jungle. Observe the rich fauna around Muyuna. In this hike we can observe with the help of our experienced guides, different species of animals like monkeys, birds, insects etc. Eight lagoons surround the Muyuna Lodge These lagoons offer a natural and rich habitat not only for a great variety of species of fishes (piranhas, ornamental ones, arapaima, cat fish, peacock bass, etc) but also for alligators (south american caiman), for the fabulous pink and grey dolphins, and for manatees, river otters and a great variety of exuberant aquatic plants like the unique Victoria Regia (the biggest lily pad in the world). This beautiful day will finish with a peaceful night expedition in canoe to search again for Caymans and another night creatures of the jungle. Return to the lodge.

Day 11                Muyuna Lodge – Iquitos: Breakfast. Short walk into the jungle to observe other species of the rich Amazonian flora and fauna. On our way back to Iquitos we will visit the community of San Juan de Yanayacu, where you will have the opportunity to observe lifelike and traditions of the Amazonian People, feel the spiritual richness that mother nature gives to its inhabitants. If time and river conditions are ok, we will have the opportunity to swim with the mythical pink and grey dolphins. Return to Iquitos and transfer to the Hotel Acosta.

Day 12                Iquitos – Lima:  Breakfast. Day at leisure in Iquitos to enjoy the city and surroundings. The flight to Lima leaves late in the evening at 20:45. You have plenty of time to have a closer look at this amazing place.  Transfer from the Hotel to the airport to take the flight to Lima. Reception and transfer to Hotel.

Day 13 Lima - Helsinki: Transfer to the airport to take your flight back to Europe.

NOTE: prices upon request due to currency exchange rates and local Airline fares variations. Also according to availability of seats at moment of reservation.

INCLUDES:

- Internal flights in Peru: Lima – Cusco/ Juliaca (Puno) – Lima –Iquitos - Lima. Tourist class.

- Transfers to/from airports, bus, train stations and locations. 

- Two nights in Lima with breakfast included.

 -  One night in Iquitos with breakfast included.

- Three days/ two nights in Muyuna Lodge with land & river transportation, meals, activities and guidance included.

- Two nights in Cusco with breakfast included.

- Two days / one night in Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu), including train (back packers class) to /from Machu Picchu, guided visit to Machu Picchu with entrance fee and bus included for the first visit.

- Two days /one night in Taquile Island (Lake Titicaca) with transportation, meals and visits included.

- Two night in Puno with breakfast included

- One bus ticket between Cusco and Puno on the Inka Express bus with lunch, visits and English speaking guide included.

- Services in English.

- Tourist class Hostels, safe, well located and proper.

NOT INCLUDED:

- Airport taxes: us 6 per person per internal flight and us 31 per person international departure tax in Peru.

- Insurance

- Personal expenses like excess baggage, tips, phone calls, laundry etc.

- Lunch in Machu Picchu

- Services not described in the itinerary.

Important recommendations will be provided once you decide to join this adventure as  part of a group or on your own with a friend.

Thanks for considering ADVENTURE & NEW HORIZONS to add to your life this unforgettable experience.

takaisin MATKAVALIKOIMA

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