Peru is a land of contrasts for, along with its remarkable ancient cultures and ruins from pre-Columbian civilizations, it has a phenomenal range of natural habitats that extend from the headwaters of the Amazon, across snow-capped Andean peaks, to the hot dry coast that borders the Pacific Ocean. During our two-week journey around this magnificent South American country, we’ll visit some of the most diverse and interesting areas in the world where the wildlife, scenery and mysterious ruins are quite breathtaking.

Itinerary
(Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D)

Day 1 Mon. Oct 3
Arrival in Lima
On arrival in Lima, we’ll be met by our Peruvian hosts and transferred to our hotel.

o/n El Olivar Hotel, Lima

Day 2 Tues. Oct 4
Ica
This morning, after breakfast, we will board our comfortable air-conditioned coach for our journey along the Peruvian coast to Ica. This is a fairly long bus ride but there will be plenty of stops and the scenery is amazing so the time will pass quickly. This is our first encounter with the Peruvian-Atacama Desert, one of the largest coastal deserts in the world. At first glance the area seems arid and barren but small towns, nestled in the infrequent but fertile river valleys, eke out a living producing Peru's well-known cotton and wines. There may be time to visit a local distillery famous for producing Pisco, a white wine brandy and perhaps a local winery.

o/n Hotel Las Dunas (B, L, D)

Day 3 Wed. Oct 5
Nazca / Nazca Lines
Today we'll visit the famous Nazca Lines where we can determine for ourselves the true nature of these ancient markings. We have heard recently that they are, in fact, ancient irrigation ditches, and not landing marks for extraterrestrials, although nobody knows for sure. There will be an optional flight available, in a small plane, over the area for a more comprehensive look at these famous glyphs. If time permits we will visit the late Maria Reich’s house that has been turned into a museum. A German mathematician, Maria spent the last 5 decades of her life studying and protecting the Nazca lines.

This afternoon we will transfer to Paracas in time for a siesta and dinner at the hotel.

o/n Paracas Hotel, Paracas (B, L, D)

Day 4 Thurs. Oct 6
Ballestas Islands / Paracas Wildlife Reserve
This morning, we’ll take a boat cruise to the Ballestas Islands, where we’ll get a sea view of the Candelabra, a mysterious giant figure etched into the coastal hills. We'll also visit Paracas National Park, the most important wildlife sanctuary on the Peruvian coast, which is located near here and is well-known for its bird and marine life. We'll be looking for the Peruvian Booby and Pelican. Inca Terns nest here along with Humbolt Penguins, Red-legged and Guanay Cormorants. Large herds of Sea Lions can be seen hauled up on the rocks and beaches or gamboling noisily in the surrounding waters. Our boat trip will also provide opportunities for us to get close to Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters and Chilean Skua and, if we are very lucky, we may see Andean Condor gliding on the updrafts above the towering sea cliffs. After lunch we will pack up and return to Lima.

o/n El Olivar Hotel, Lima (B, L, D)

Day 5 Fri. Oct 7
Tambopata Reserve / Sandoval Lake Lodge
After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Puerto Maldonado. After a spectacular flight over the Andes, we will have an exciting half-hour river trip from Puerto Maldonado, on the Madre de Dios River, in a canopied, motorized dugout canoe. We will then have a three-kilometre walk or rickshaw ride through secondary rain forest to a small channel that has to be negotiated by dugout canoe. The channel runs through a flooded forest of Mauritia Palms where, after a short paddle, we will board a catamaran for our journey across the lake to our lodge. Sandoval Lake Lodge is perched on the edge of what many consider to be the most beautiful lake in the entire Peruvian Amazon. The lodge has 25 rooms, all with private bath and hot showers centered on a communal dining area. There is a spacious dining area. The trails are easy to walk and the wildlife, particularly the birds, is spectacular. In the afternoon, after lunch and our siesta, we’ll take our catamaran to the west end of the lake. Here in the flooded palm forest we’ll drift quietly listening to the sounds of hundreds of Red-bellied Macaws as they return to their roosts. After dinner we’ll take the catamaran to look for the large but extremely rare Black Caiman. While we are looking for the Caimans, we’ll be dazzled by the myriad of stars in the heavens.

o/n Sandoval Lake Lodge, Puerto Maldonado (B, L, D)

Days 6 - 7 Sat. Oct 8 – Sun. Oct 9
Sandoval Lake Lodge
We’ll get up early today to be on the lake at sunrise for, hopefully, an encounter with a family of Giant Otters. They are most active at dawn. We should also get close to egrets and herons and the prehistoric looking Hoatzin. After our late breakfast we’ll visit a grove of Brazil Nut Trees where we will have a demonstration of how they are harvested and sent to market. In the late afternoon we will visit the east end of the lake where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys which live in the forest beside the lake. The Brown Capuchins are most likely to be seen. We’ll also look for aracaris, toucans, macaws, and several species of manakin that are common in the forest. This area is also well known for its tremendous number of butterflies and huge diversity of plant species. Our program for the next day includes a forest walk along the trails with a local resident naturalist. These expert naturalists are in tune with the many wonders of the rain forest and will make it come alive for us. In the late afternoon we’ll go out on the lake in the hopes of catching a spectacular sunset. After dinner, if we have any energy left, the more adventurous among us can take an optional hike to look and listen for creatures of the night.

o/n Sandoval Lake Lodge, Puerto Maldonado (B, L, D)

Day 8 Mon. Oct 10
Sandoval Lake / Cusco
After one more try for the Giant Otters, we’ll leave the lodge and take a short flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, the Inca capital, high in the Andes. After lunch we’ll have a city tour and explore some of the most fascinating and accessible archaeological ruins on the continent. This afternoon's tour, of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, includes the important landmarks of the enchanting city and the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tampumachay and the Sacsayhuaman fortress. The city tour will take us to the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plazas de Armas. We’ll round off a full day with a dinner show at a local restaurant.
o/n Casa Andina, Cusco (B, L, D)

Days 9 - 10 Tues. Oct 11 – Wed. Oct 12
Sacred Valley / Chinchero / Pisac Ruins
For the next two days we’ll explore the beautiful Sacred Valley. We’ll visit the quiet Andean colonial village of Pisac. There are actually two Pisacs, the colonial and modern village which is built beside the river and the other Pisac, a spectacular example of an Inca fortress, which lies in ruins 600m above. Chinchero combines Inca ruins with an Andean village, a colonial country church and extraordinary mountain views. The local people still wear their traditional garb. We’ll have an opportunity to bargain with the local artisans for Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. and enjoy a demonstration of weaving by Nilda Challanaupa, Director of the Centre for Traditional Textiles of Cusco.

We’ll also visit the village of Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortress consisting of numerous temples and terraces that tower majestically over the valley.

o/n Incaland Hotel, Sacred Valley (B, L, D)

Day 11 Thurs. Oct 13
Machu Picchu
Today, we’ll have an exciting train ride up the Urubamba Valley, along the edge of the rushing torrents of the river. We’ll keep our eyes open for Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers in the rapids. In the afternoon we’ll have a guided tour of the fabulous ruins of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas”, looming above the jungle. This ancient city is perched 2,600m above the valley and remained hidden for 400 years until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. As usual, in addition to its fabled history and culture, we’ll examine the plant life that once veiled this city from European eyes.

There is lots of diversity in the montane bird species found here. We have a chance of seeing the endemic Inca Wren in the place where it was first identified and the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock on the slopes. As well we should come across mixed flocks of tanagers with the beautiful Saffron-crowned Tanager a regular sighting, and Dusky-green Oropendula in their hanging nests.

o/n Machu Picchu Pueblo (B, L, D)
Day 12 Fri. Oct 14
Machu Picchu / Cusco
The morning we will be free to return to Machu Picchu and continue to explore the ruins. We’ll take our time in this fabulous place to soak up the mysterious atmosphere of the ghosts of the ancient legends. We’ll stroll to the Inca Bridge and walk along the Inca Trail to the legendary Sun Gate. After lunch in the hotel, we’ll take the train back to Cusco, and our very comfortable hotel, and have dinner at the exquisite Andean Grill Restaurant.

o/n Casa Andina, Cusco (B, L, D)

Day 13 Sat. Oct 15
Lima/ Pantanas de Villa Reserve
We’ll take a morning flight back to the coast and the Spanish colonial city of Lima. After lunch we will be taken to the marshes at Pantanos de Villa Reserve. To get here we will drive through much of Lima, giving us a good opportunity to see more of the city. The marshes are full of birds and we should see Puna Ibis, White-tufted Grebe, Many-coloured Rush Tyrant and the amazing Peruvian Red-breasted Meadowlark, among many others. This marsh area with its teeming wildlife is a fitting end to a fabulous trip.

Back in Lima we’ll visit the famous Gold Museum. Here, in addition to seeing thousands of gold artifacts in this incredibly rich gold museum, we’ll enjoy the thousands of ancient and bizarre firearms from all over the world from the Miguel Mujica Gallo collection. In the evening we’ll have our farewell dinner at the renowned Senorio de Sulco Restaurant.

o/n El Olivar Hotel, Lima (B, L, D)

Day 14 Sun. Oct 16
Flights Home
This morning, depending on our flight schedule, we’ll be transferred to the international airport for our flights home. (B)