fbpx

Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu Cruise

Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu Cruise

$0PRRLB 0 0
Call for Price

Description

Experience the best of Peru, with the Amazon and Machu Picchu, on this nine-day Wild Peru Escape. Starting in Lima on a Saturday night, stay two nights at Machu Picchu and spend a full day exploring the iconic sanctuary. Next, explore Cusco, imperial capital of the Inca. Then, fly to Iquitos and the Amazon for a five-day voyage aboard Delfin II in Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

Trip Name
Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu Cruise
Days
9
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury River Boat Length: 36 metres Passenger Capacity: 28 (in 14 suites) Built: 2009 A perfect ship for touring along the Amazon river. Public Areas: Outdoor areas include the well-designed, comfortable Top Deck, where sofas and chairs invite you to linger with a good book or a pair of binoculars. Enjoy drinks at the bar and unwind on cool, wooden-slat hammocks. The Top Deck is where the natural history staff will give their presentations with maps, large flat-screen plasma and digital technology. There is a small reference Library and the Bridge, where you are welcome to meet the captain and officers. Meals: The air-conditioned dining room’s large windows provide panoramic views. A different visual presentation greets you at every meal, which are served in a single seating with unassigned tables. Meals on Delfin II are to be savored. Often special dishes will include sustainable products of the rain forest and sauces made with exotic regional fruits. The chef prepares dishes equal to any five-star restaurant. Suites: Elegant, air-conditioned guest suites on the Main and Upper Decks all offer exceptional vistas. Each spacious suite has a minimalist décor with a luxurious overtone. Enjoy complimentary organic sun block, insect repellent, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner. Expedition Equipment: 10-person skiffs — with individual seat cushions and plenty of leg room. Rain ponchos are kept handy in the skiffs and distributed if needed. Rubber boots are provided before an excursion if deemed necessary. Special Features: Guests may swim directly from the skiffs using the convenient swim ladder, weather permitting.

Itinerary



Day 1 - DAY 1 Lima, Peru
Arrive in Lima, Peru’s thriving capital, and transfer to the convenient Wyndham Costa del Sol, connected to the airport. Most international flights arrive in the late evening. Opt to arrive early for a Lima pre-voyage extension staying at the iconic Country Club Lima Hotel. The extension adds just a day to the expedition and gives you a chance to rest, relax, and see this UNESCO World Heritage designated city.
Day 2 - DAY 2 Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley
Arriving in Cusco, drive through the Sacred Valley to Chinchero, a typical Andean village where National Geographic Grantee Nilda Callañaupa joins us for lunch and a demonstration of Inca weaving traditions. Continue to Ollantaytambo and board our late afternoon scenic train to Machu Picchu and check in at our hotel. We stay for two nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, with Andean-style casitas set inside a private mountainside reserve with 300 species of orchids. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - DAY 3 Machu Picchu
Take the full day to explore Machu Picchu, the Inca royal retreat introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 National Geographic magazine. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - DAY 4 Sacred Valley / Cusco
Return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco, where we explore the ornate 17th-century cathedral and Plaza de Armas, the sacred Inca Temple of the Sun, and other treasures of this burgeoning cultural capital and center of the Inca universe, where colonial buildings stand atop Inca foundations. Check in at Palacio del Inka in the historic center. Dinner is on your own tonight to explore nearby restaurants or rest and relax at the hotel. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - DAY 5 Cusco / Lima / Iquitos / Nauta / Embark Ship
After breakfast, fly via Lima to Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon basin, and continue overland to the riverside village of Nauta, where the Delfin II awaits. Settle into your cabin and gather for a welcome dinner of fine Peruvian cuisine on board. Tonight, step out on deck to gaze at the magnificent Amazon night sky. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - DAYS 6-8 Exploring the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
Explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a pristine swath of jungle stretching more than five million acres and harboring some of the Amazon’s most fascinating flora and fauna. The reserve is bordered by the Marañón and the Ucayali, two powerful rivers that converge to create the famed Amazon, which floods annually with nutrient-rich waters and is known locally as the Mirrored Forest for the reflections created by its seasonal glassy water. Set out into this remarkable wilderness on daily excursions by skiff, kayak, and, when the water level permits, hikes on dry land. Look for sloths and monkeys, including variably colored saddleback tamarins, noisy howlers, and shaggy-tailed monk saki monkeys. Watch for an astounding variety of birds, from tanagers and hummingbirds to parrots and endangered scarlet macaws. In the river, look for massive paiche fish, the Amazon’s largest; rare pink dolphins; and the infamous piranhas. One of the unexpected joys of traveling in the Upper Amazon of Peru is the interaction we have with the local ribereños, the traditional people who live on the riverbanks. Visit the local non-profit Minga Peru, including a program of handicraft development, radio broadcasts, women’s health initiatives, and efforts in sustainable farming. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - DAY 9 Nauta / Disembark Ship / Iquitos / Lima
Disembark in Nauta, stopping at the Amazon Rescue Center on the drive to Iquitos. Fly to Lima, where we visit Museo Larco and celebrate with a farewell dinner before late-night flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about options to extend your stay, including an overnight at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport hotel. Departure Time: After 7:00 PM local time. Departure City: Lima. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Spend a full day exploring the fabled Machu Picchu archaeological site with hand-picked guides
    • Discover the cobbled lanes and monuments of Cusco, imperial capital of the Inca
    • Journey to Iquitos and the Amazon for a five-day voyage aboard the 28-guest Delfin II riverboat, venturing out daily in nimble skiffs and kayaks to explore tributaries brimming with wildlife
    • Explore the flooded forest of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve with a team of experienced local naturalists
    • Watch for elusive Amazon wildlife, including pink dolphins, monk saki monkeys, piranhas, and scarlet macaws

Map