Cusco and the Amazon Reserve of Manu 8 days / 7 Nights

Explore a short trip in Lima, the best of Cusco, visit the wonder of Machupicchu and continue to the Biosphere of Manu Reserve in the heart of the jungle of Peru.

PROGRAM DETAILS

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN LIMA, PERU. (B)

Welcome to Lima, the city of the Kings. Transfer to your centrally-located hotel in Miraflores or San Isidro. If the time permits: Afternoon half-day Lima City Tour. In the historic district, you will see the Main Square, surrounded by the Cathedral and the Government Palace, and the Monastery of San Francisco. The tour continues through the residential areas of Lima and ends in the modern district of Miraflores on the Pacific.

DAY 2: ARRIVE IN CUZCO & CUZCO CITY TOUR (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will pick you up and take you to the airport for the short flight to Cuzco (1 hour).  Once in Cuzco, another local guide will greet you and show you to your hotel, located only a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Make sure to rest and allow yourself time to acclimate to the altitude; Cuzco is at 11,200 feet (3400 meters) elevation.

In the afternoon, we will pick you up to take you on a Cuzco city tour, to see the important buildings and ruins in and around Cuzco. Start in the Plaza de Armas, where the Cathedral, the Church of Santo Domingo, which was built on top of Korikancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. After that we will continue the trip to ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay and Q’enqo in the outskirts of the city. Visit these ruins in the late afternoon, and enjoy panoramic views of Cuzco.

DAY 3: MACHUPICCHU TOUR (B)

Breakfast at the hotel. Early in the morning we will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the Train Station of Ollantaytambo in a 2 hours journey. After arrive to Aguas Calientes you will take a shuttle bus up to the entrance of the ruins. From here, you’ll enjoy a guided visit of the entire site of Machu Picchu, often known as the “Lost City of the Incas” because the Spanish overlooked it in their conquest of the Incan Empire. Marvel at the well-preserved Inca stonework and the massive scale of this stone city, built on tall terraces in the cloud forest of central Peru. After free time for lunch, return by shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes. Rest, relax, or shop in town before returning to Cuzco by train in the afternoon. At the Cuzco train station, you’ll be transferred to your hotel to rest for the night.

DAY 4: CUSCO – CULTURAL ZONE OF MANU

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. We have lunch on the way with a spectacular view, then we continue overnight in our “Orquideas de San Pedro Lodge”.

DAY 5: MANU RESERVE AND ACTIVITIES

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 where we have lunch, here we board our covered, outboard motor boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 50 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 he final settings for a 1oe 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 Canyon.

DAY 6: MANU RESERVE AND ACTIVITIES

Erika Lodge is located in a transition zone between high and low jungle (500 m.a.s.l. to 1,150 m.a.s.l), After the breakfast you guide explains the different habitats, altitude range and 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. We have lunch then 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.

*2 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 7: MANU RESERVE AND ACTIVITIES

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. We return to Erika lodge have breakfast immediately we board our boat to Atalaya Port where the bus will drive us back to Cusco city; we have lunch on the way, arriving late in the evening.

DAY 8: RETURN TO LIMA & CONNECTION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

After breakfast in your hotel, head out to the Cuzco airport for your return flight to Lima.

IMPORTANT

Manu National Park is not endemic area about Malaria neither Yellow fever you can bring a good insect repellent but if you decide to put the yellow fever vaccination for prevention you can do it 10 days before start your trip to the jungle.

Include:

• 01 night of accommodation in Lima, breakfast included
• 03 nights of accommodation in Cusco, breakfast included
• Transfers and sightseeing with local professional English speaking tour guide.
• City tour in Cusco
• All entrance fees
• Machupicchu tour includes:
• Round trip bus Aguas Calientes – Machupicchu – Aguas Calientes
• Entrance fees to Machupicchu.
• Professional english speaking tour guide.
• Round trip Expedition train to Machupicchu (For Superior class: Expedition+Vistadome)
• Transportation from Ollantaytambo or Poroy train station to Cusco.
• In Manu is included: Specialized and bilingual guide, 01 night in Orquídeas de San Pedro Lodge, 02 nights in Erika Lodge, meals (vegetarian option is available), first aid kit, all land and river transportation, captain and river rafting equipment, specialized guide for the Canopy Zip Down and required equipment, safety box for values and storage for luggage at Cusco’s main office.
• Personalized attention
• 24 hours emergency contacts

Not included:

• Air transportation. The cost depends of the exactly date of travel. We can include them upon request
• Meals and services not specified in program
• In Manu is not included:
• The breakfast and mineral water, only for the first day, some kind of drinks such as beers or sodas, tips and the last dinner.
• Manu National Park is not endemic area about Malaria neither Yellow fever you can bring  a good insect repellent but if you decide to put the yellow fever vaccination for prevention you can do it 10 days before start your trip to the jungle.

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