22 Days Peru Condor Express

This odyssey digs deep into the geography, culture and history of Peru, offering you an intriguing combination of guided excursions and free time to explore at your own pace. You'll have the opportunity to soar above the Nazca lines, Arequipa, cruise on Lake Titicaca, dine with locals at a homestay and delight in the views of the Sacred Valley, embrace cultures past and present in Cuzco and climb the ancient Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, situated in the heavens of the Americas. Wildlife and cultures—spot animals from motorized canoe in the Amazonian lowlands.

Day 1: Arrival in Lima
You will be met at Jorge Chavez Lima airport by one of our Representatives and driven to your hotel There are no planned activities and enjoy the Lima city,
Known as the City of Kings, Peru’s capital city Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro on the Day of the Three Kings (Epiphany) in 1535. The Plaza de Armas is the heart of old Lima, and it is here you find the Cathedral, Government Palace and Archbishop’s Palace. The Cathedral dates back to the 1700s and houses the Pizarro’s remains among others. To get a feel for colonial Lima, take a cab to the Plaza de Armas and watch the changing of the Palace Guard in the afternoon. Walk the streets surrounding the Jirón de la Unión for great examples of Spanish-colonial architecture and to get a taste for life in a large South American city. An optional city tour visits many of the city’s highlights.

There are many fine museums in and around the city, including the Museo Rafael Larco Herrera, which houses an equally impressive collection of pottery, mummies and textiles from the Paracas and Nazca cultures. The more affluent coastal districts of Miraflores, Barranco and San Isidro offer good nightlife and cafés all within walking distance. Limeños (Lima’s residents) are friendly, and the city is filled with excellent restaurants; seafood lovers in particular should be sure to try a ceviche, for which Lima is well known.

Day 2: Lima - Paracas
Bus journey Lima - Paracas Reserve (04 Hours) Am. Transfer from your Hotel to the tourist bus terminal & departure to Paracas ,transfer to your Hotel. Visit to the National Reserve of Paracas
Meals: B

Day 3: Ballestas Islands
Ballestas Islands by Boat Am. Boat trip to Ballestas Islands (The small Galápagos), where you will be able to appreciate Sea Lions, Penguins and thousands of sea birds flying around the islands the Candelabro and Factories. Pm. Bus Journey from Paracas to Nazca by tourist bus. Pm. Arrival in Nazca & transfer to your Hotel.

Day 4: Nazca Lines
Flight over Nazca Lines Am. Flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines for Panoramic views of a monkey, a fish, a spider, a hummingbird and many drawings and geometric figures on the desert visible only from the air. Pm. Overnight tourist bus Nazca - Arequipa (09 hours).

Day 5: Arequipa
Arrival in Arequipa & free Day to acclimatize Am. Arrival in Arequipa & transfer to your Hotel.
Peru’s second largest city after Lima, Arequipa maintains a traditional colonial style and more laid back pace in comparison with the capital. Sitting at 2325m (7626 ft) above sea level and surrounded by the Andes mountains, this delightful colonial town is well worth a visit. Arequipa was built from a very light coloured volcanic rock called sillar, so older buildings dazzle in the sun, giving the city its nickname, “the White City.” The main plaza with its cafés and nearby cathedral is a top draw for visitors.

Those with an interest in history and architecture may take an optional visit to the Convent of Santa Catalina, offering a brief respite from the outside world and a unique view into a bygone way of life. Spectacular mountains surround Arequipa, the most famous of which is El Misti Volcano, at 5822m (19096 ft) with its beautiful snow-capped peak. Also looming nearby are the volcanoes Chachani and Pichu Pichu.

Day 6: Colca Canyon
Colca Canyon Valley Am. Our English speaking Guide will pick you up from your Hotel to start our adventure to Colca Valley, on the way we will pass through Pampa Cañahua Reserve where Vicuñas, Alpacas & Llamas can be seen. Afternoon free to relax in the thermal Waters. Pm.Overnight in Chivay in Colca Inn Lodge

Day 7: Colca Canyon & Condors at Mirador Cruz del Condor.
Colca Canyon & Condors at Mirador Cruz del Condor. Am. After Breakfast, we go to the Cross of The Condor to see this most majestic Bird. Pm. Back to Arequipa on the way view of Sabancaya& El Misti and Ampato Volcanoes Pm. Overnight in Arequipa. Hotel.

Day 8: Arequipa – Puno

Bus journey Arequipa - Puno (06 hours) Am. Transfer from your Hotel to the Tourist bus station & departure to Puno. Pm. Arrival in Puno & transfer to your Hotel in Puno.(3860 mts)

Puno is the highest altitude of any place we sleep on the tour. As a result the weather can be extreme with very cold nights and a strong sun during the day (don’t worry, if you get cold, buy an alpaca sweater from the market —they are inexpensive). Puno is also known for its wealth of traditional dances: there are up to 100 different varieties, usually performed in the street processions celebrating Catholic feast days. If you are fortunate enough to be visiting at the right time you may even catch one of these celebrations. A popular optional activity in Puno is a visit to the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site. Titicaca is also the largest navigable lake in the world above 2000m, and the views from its many islands are stunning.

Day 9: Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca – Uros-Taquile and Amantani Island & Overnight stay. Am. After Breakfast, we board our motor boat on the highest navigable Lake in the world, our first stop will be on the floating Totora reed Islands of Uros, we continue to Amantani Island where we will spend the night with a local family. (3860 mts)
Accommodation: family home

Day 10: Taquile Island

Taquile Island - Puno Am. We continue to Taquile Islands where we will learn more about Pre-Inca culture. Afternoon back to Puno. Pm. Overnight in Puno. Hotel.
In the evening of Day 10 we will board a bus and travel overnight to Cuzco.

Day 11: Cuzco Day free

We have a full day to explore Cuzco, the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city and the hub of the South American travel network. The city attracts travellers who come not just to visit a unique destination but also to experience an age-old culture very different from their 21st Century way of life; one could easily spend a week just in and around the area. Inca-built stone walls line most of the central streets, and numerous other major Inca ruins pepper the city’s outskirts. It is a city steeped in history, tradition and legend. Relax and take time to acclimatize to the high altitude while you explore this fascinating city, the perfect base for visiting the cultural and historical sights, as well as indulging in a range of outdoor activities.

Cuzco’s numerous colonial churches are one of the city’s most common sights. The Cathedral was started in 1559 and took 100 years to build; it is also one of the city’s greatest repositories of colonial art. Immediately in front of the entrance is a vault containing the remains of the famous Inca historian, Garcilaso de la Vega. Also worth visiting are the churches of La Compañía, La Merced and San Francisco.

While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. Today the ruin forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. During Inca times this temple was literally covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors this incredible wealth had all been melted down. It is left to the individual imagination to envision the magnificence of the original structure.

There are several good museums in Cuzco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum and the Religious Art Museum. Our best advice for exploring Cuzco is to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, arm yourself with a city map and set off to explore!

Day 12: Tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas
After an early breakfast . You will be picked up at 8:15 am. Full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley, visiting: the colorful Indian market in Pisac where a mixture of color and tradition can be fully appreciated. The Valley has a distance of 31 km (19 miles) of Cusco, and an altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p). Pisac is located at the entrance of the Sacred Valley, followed by Ollantaytambo, the oldest town continuously occupied of the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their channels have not changed since Inca times. They evoke their ancestral inheritance. We’ll have lunch in a typical restaurant in the afternoon. After that we’ll go to the Chinchero market. At the end, return to Cusco at 6:30pm approx.
Pre-Departure Inca Trail to Machupicchu Briefing tonight at 7pm with Inca Trail Group and guide; Sap Adventures-Office; Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 13: Cusco - Km 82 (Inca Trail)

The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 4 Day Trek At 06:00 am a spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 Piskacucho After meeting our staff and porters you will set out, crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca valley to Huayllabamba, where we camp.

Day 14: Inca Trail.

The Inca Trail trek adventure We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and through enchanting subtropical woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags as we ascend to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m). Here we encounter spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass, and look back to the sweeping snowpeaks Huayanay and valleys We then follow the trail to the floor of the Pacaymayo valley, where we camp for the Night.

Day 15: Inca Trail

The Inca Trail trek adventure This morning, we pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snowpeaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca ( Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms overlook the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).Pausing to explore the maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways that spills down the mountainside here, we begin a long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to our camp by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites.

Day 16: Machupicchu – Cusco

Inca Trail, Machupicchu, Cusco An early morning hike takes us an hour across a steep mountainside through lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry -a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu. We complete the final leg down the royal flagstone walkway, past outlying shrines and buildings and into the heart of Machu Picchu, where we spend the rest of the morning with a guided tour of the highlights and some individual exploring among Machu Picchu's multitude of hidden nooks and corners; after your guided visit in this unique sanctuary you will have a free time for picture or exploration in your own. In the early afternoon a bus takes us down to the foot of the mountain to the small town of Aguas Calientes where we will have our last meal together in the Hostel Viajeros , then at 4:00,5:00 or 6:00 pm we will board a train for 2 hours to Ollantaytambo Station and from there a private bus bring us back to Cusco; arriving around 9:00 pm :Hotel (Breakfast and Lunch Included)

Cusco Tour Inca Imperial City 14:00 Guided City tour of Cusco & Visit to the four nearby Inca Ruins: Sacsayhuaman, with its massive walls they carry out here the famous Inti-Raymi in June Winter Solstice every year, Qenko, site of carved living rock, Puca Pucara, an Inca lodging Site & Tambo Machay, known as the Baths of the Inca. Our expert guides will help you to discover the secrets of the Incas. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 17: Cusco day free

Cuzco is considered the mecca of Peru and rightly so. This beautiful colonial town offers nearby ruins, cobble-stoned streets, museums, churches and a lively atmosphere. The more adventurous optional activities available in Cuzco include horseback riding around archaeological sites such as Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay and Puca Pucara; white water rafting on the Urubamba River; and mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley, perhaps visiting an Inca ruin along the way.

Day 18: Manu Adventure Cultural Zone
We leave Cusco early in the morning in one of our vehicles. Approximately mid-morning we visit the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to the Acjanacu pass, which marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve.  Here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. This varied and fascinating world is home of the Cock of the Rock, Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. This cloud forest exists between 2,000 and 3,500 m.a.s.l. and at least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic to this region. Overnight in our “Orquídeas de San Pedro Lodge”.

Day 19: Today we wake up very early to observe the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana), Peru’s national bird from a platform. The male birds are a vibrant reddish orange, and as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a mating ritual dance in a place called Lek. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females. The females, fewer in number, watch to select the most suitable males. After breakfast we continue in our vehicle down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward the town of Pilcopata (*1) and then to Atalaya Port. here we board our covered, outboard motor boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 15 minutes toward our private reserve of “Erika” a comfortable / rustic lodge owned also by Manu Adventures where we will hike through the interesting trail system that this transitional area between high and low jungle offers. Overnight at the lodge.

*1 Free Option: Here in Pilcopata town we will make the final settings for a 1½ hour river rafting (class I and II) trip down the Koshñipata River where we will have the opportunity for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of the Koñeq Canyon.

*2 New!!! Option: We walk through the trail that leads us to the observation platform located 15 feet above the mammal clay lick itself where we wait for the lumbering peccaries to arrive, we observe and photograph them in action. Important: The observation depends on luck on availability and weather conditions.

Day 20: Erika Lodge is located in a transition zone between high and low jungle (600 m.a.s.l. to 1,150 m.a.s.l), encompassing different habitats. This altitude range explains the high diversity of wildlife found around this lodge, so immediately after breakfast, we will start walking near the riverbanks, during the hike our guide will talk about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc. This afternoon we board our boat, and after five minutes, we will walk for another 30 minutes approximately though a very nice trail to observe and talk about the interesting flora fond such as sensitive plants, heliconias, fruit plantations, etc. until we arrive to Machuwasi Lake where with the help of a telescope we can observe great egrets, tucanets, carpenters, Keskadees, cardinals, etc. Short night walk to observe American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs and an incredible variety of insects.

*3 Free Option: Canopy Zip Down: At Erika Lodge, our guests traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables zip lines), as they sail through the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy, and over the trails far below. Expert guides assist you in this exciting journey through the different layers of the rain forests and explain what’s going on around you from the time you leave the ground, until you rappel back down to the forest floor.

Day 21: This day we will get up very early to board our boat again for only five minutes down river to our Parrot clay Lick called “Collpa” on the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. Immediately we continue to Atalaya Port where the bus will drive us back to Cusco city, arriving late in the evening.

The price of this package will be according to the category of the hotel at the moment of your booking.