PERU OVERLAND 3
The Grand Route
15 days / 14 nights
1) Arrival in Cusco and city tour during the morning. Morning: Pick up at the airport and hotel transfer - Afternoon: Pick up at the hotel and private guided city tour - Evening: Hotel
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses
2) THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS. Guided tour in a private vehicle in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We visit a famous handicraft market in Pisaq town and the majestic Archaeological site nearby. – We cross the whole Sacred Valley to reach Ollantaytambo town. – Buffet lunch in a local restaurant in the Sacred Valley. – Afternoon: After visiting the Ollantaybambo archeological complex we take the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. – Arrival and transfer to your hotel. – Evening: Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch on his/her own expenses.
3) MACHU PICCHU This day is dedicated to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu considered one of the 7 Wonders of the modern world. Our guide will escort us to take the bus in order to reach Machu Picchu- Guided private tour in Machu Picchu: when the tour is finished you either decide either to stay longer in the archaeological site or return to Aguas Calientes. – Lunch.- Vistadome train to Poroy train station. – Pick at the train station and transfer to your hotel. – Evening: Hotel in Cusco. .
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
4) CUSCO Recojo en el hotel y tour guiado de medio día con carro privado a las salineras de Maras y el sitio arqueológico inca de Moray con los singulares andenes experimentales. Será lugar de visita también el pueblo inca de Chinchero con su hermosa plaza colonial – Almuerzo libre en la ciudad de Cusco – La tarde será libre para mayor descanso y para completar la aclimatación antes de las alturas altiplánicas - Noche: Hotel en Cusco.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
5) CUSCO-YAURI After checking out from your hotel we board a SUV car- We will make a stop to admire the monumental Inca Gate and the beautiful landscape formed by the 4 Lakes- Buffet lunch in Sicuani- We will access to the Andean Plateau after we leave Sicuani and we will stop in the archaeological site of Kanamarka that shows the blend of the Kana and Inca architectural knowledge- Evening: Hotel in Cusco.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
6) THE SUYKUTAMBO CANYON AND THE COLCA CANYON.Without any doubt this is the day of the canyons! The entire morning we will explore the Suykutambo Canyon, a real true geological and archaeological jewel almost unknown for many people. In the same area we will visit the Inca archaeological sites of Maukallaqta and Taqrachullo and enjoy wonderful views of the Canyon- We return to Yauri for lunch - In the afternoon we depart from Yauri and take an unpaved road which crosses the purest Andean Highlands to reach the beninning of the Colca Canyon. You will notice a huge difference between the Suykutambo and the Colca canyon. Lunch in Yauri- Evening: Hotel in the Colca Vally.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
7) COLCA-AREQUIPA We board a SUV car at your hotel and head to The Condor Cross (La Cruz del Cóndor) considered as the best spot to observe the flight of the condors. On the way back to your hotel we will stop at different points of the Canyon to appreciate the amazing views- Lunch in a local restaurant in the Colca Canyon- We continue to Arequipa city in the afternoon and stop at several points to observe vicunas and the Mirador de los Volcanes , a spectacular viewpoint at 4879 masl. Soon after that we start our descent to the desert area that preceeds Arequipa city. Evening: Hotel in Arequipa.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
8) AREQUIPA Now we are in the beautiful Arequipa city. We pick you up at your hotel and board a private vehicle in order to start a half-day private guided tour in Arequipa city- Lunxch - After so much traveling it will be a pleasure to have a free afternoon to wander through the colonial streets of Arequipa, studying the details of its architecture. Evening: Hotel in Arequipa.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
9) THE VOLCANOS OF AREQUIPA. After checking out from your hotel we board a SUV car- Today we focus on the exploration of the spectacular volcanoes of the Arequipa highland plateau. We will drive along the side of the Misti volcano (5822 masl) and the Pichu Pichu volcano (5664 masl) and head towards the Ubinas volcano (5682 masl). We will continue our exploration by visiting valleys and plains in the area. The highest point here is 4900 masl- Box lunch - On an area close to Puno known as Cutimbo hill platform we will meet a complex of ancient funerary towers (chullpas). This complex was built during the Architectural Imperial period (1450-1533) and represents an important historical legacy from the ancient cultures that settled by the Titikaka Lake. - Evening: Hotel in Puno.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
10) THE TITIKAKA ISLANDS. The blue water of the Lake Titicaca is the true protagonist of this day! We pick you up at your hotel and start a private guided tour on a fast shared boat. We head on the direction of the Uros floating islands and Taquile island. The natural views along this trip will be absolutely wonderful. - Lunch on Taquile island. - We return to Puno city in the evening. - Transfer to your hotel. - Evening: Hotel in Puno,
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
11) PUNO-PUERTO MALDONADO We leave the hotel in our SUV car and head towards the spectacular archeological Sillustani cemetery. Then we will begin the great journey that will take us to the Amazon jungle. We will reach the Oquepuno pass (at 4873 masl!!!) to start an long descent which will cross all the ecological levels ranging from the glaciers in the Andes to the pure Amazon jungle (the point of arrival - the city of Puerto Maldonado, is located at an altitude of only 200 masl!)- Box lunch- Evening: Hotel in Puerto Maldonado.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
12) TAMBOPATA NATIONAL NATURAL RESERVA – Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the harbour master's office where we embark on a boat to navigate through the vast Madre de Dios river- During the trip we will be submerged in a natural environment where we will observe capybaras, caimans, turtles, herons, cormorants among other animals- Arrival in the lodge- In the afternoon we visit the Island of the Monkeys, in the very heart of Madre de Dios, with a specialized guide. During the trek we will observe extraordinary landscapes with an exuberant flora which is a shelter for different types of monkeys such as black spider monkeys, pygmy marmosets, common squirrel monkeys or howler monkeys. In addition we will watch a great variety of birds and mammals such as coati and sloths. At the end of our tour we will enjoy a spectacular sunset- Return to the lodge and dinner.
13) TAMBOPATA NATIONAL NATURAL RESERVE. After breakfast we will begin an adventure in the virgin jungle accompanied by a local guide- We will go trekking in the deep forest to reach Cocha Perdida (Lost Lake) which is an ecosystem that shelters and feeds a huge variety of animals that still remains intact. This area is formed by a huge swamp and aguajales (moriche palm forest) where we can watch giant otters, caiman, turtles, tapirs, colourful birds, a great variety of fish and the majestic jaguar- We will arrive in the Amazon special vantage point from where we will be able to observe the magical jungle. We also take a pleasant canoe ride around the lake- During the afternoon we offer you the chance to visit the Botanical Garden- Return to the lodge and dinner.
14) TAMBOPATA NATIONAL NATURAL RESERVE. Breakfast- We will begin another tour through the jungle. We will sail on the Madre de Dios river until we reach the Quebrada Gamitana river, born in the deep jungle and whose extensive snaky waterway net is impressive- We come back to the lodge on a boat and during our journey we can watch turtles, caimans, birds and a great variety of birds. There will be an opportunity to fish and take a dip in the river- Return to the lodge and dinner.
15 PUERTO MALDONADO – LIMA Breakfast and transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport in a boat and a car.
- Each customer needs to arrange lunch and dinner on his/her own expenses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
1) Regarding our SUV driver. The person responsible for driving and guide knows perfectly all roads and places included in this tour. In days when different vehicles are included for the tours (see 2 and 3) the designated driver can be someone different and will be accompanied by a private guide.
2) Regarding SUV car. Our SUV cars will be used on the main routes of the itinerary presented above such as Cusco-Yauri (day 5) • Suykutambo Canyon-Colca Canyon (day 6) • Colca Canyon-Arequipa (day 7) • Arequipa-Puno + local tours (day 9) • Puno-Puerto Maldonado (day 11)
The passenger can ask for stops along the route for up to an accumulative time of 45 minutes (per route).
3) Regarding other private cars (including Vans) different from the SUV car mentioned in point 2. They will be used for tours and transfers in local cities visited. This is a specific list: Transfer and city tour in Cusco (day 1) – The Sacred Valley of the Incas tour (day 2) – Transfer from train station to your hotel (day 3) – Maras, Moray and Chinchero tour (day 4) - Arequipa city tour (day 8) – Transfer in Puno: Hotel/Harbour /Hotel (day 10) - Transfer in Puerto Maldonado: Hotel-Harbour-Airport (day 12 and 15).
4) Regarding the day in Machu Picchu (day 8). The guided tour in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu has an approximate duration of 2 hours but often our passengers ask for more time in the famous citadel. For this reason we indicated that the lunch in Aguas Calientes is optional; you are free to decide. If the passenger may decide to stay more time in Machu Picchu, our guide will provide all the information to take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and the way to the train station.
5) Regarding the day in Yauri (day 5 and morning day 6). The mining town of Yauri and Suykytambo Canyon are located in a remote area of the Andean Plateau away from the more well-known tourist routes. Anabasis Andean Travels will do everything possible to ensure your comfort so we kindly request to show some positive "spirit of adaptation" attitude to cope with some unexpected inconveniences.
6) Regarding the visit to Cruz del Condor (day 7).This place is located in the Colca Canyon and it is the best place to watch the condors. Nevertheless we cannot guarantee with absolute certainty that you will see condors.
7) Regarding the day in the islands of Lake Titicaca (day 10). The tour will be with a private guide while the boat will be shared with other tourists.
8) Regarding the first day at the Tambopata National Reserve. You will be requested to take just your most important items for the days you spend in the jungle. The rest of your luggage will be kept in a storage room in Puerto Maldonado. We strongly advice to prepare your luggage in advance.
9) The total distance of the main route of the trip (Cusco-Yauri – Colca Canyon – Arequipa - Puno) is approximately 1500 km. We will drive on paved and unpaved roads.
10) Changes in the scheduled route will be possible when unplanned serious events take place such us landslides, strikes, closure of roads for maintenance, etc.
OPTIONS AND EXTENSIONS
It is possible to add more days to your program in order to relax or enhance your experience. Here we offer some interesting options in the places that are considered in the same program.
Cusco hay varias opciones disponibles:
1) A half day tour in the South Valley gives the possibility to see important historical and archaeological places and enjoy half day free to explore Cusco city on your own. South Valley).
2) If you like hiking, we have different available tours for 1 day or more to reach the Andean highlands, the most spectacular views and archaeological sites of outstanding beauty. (Ask for more information about one additional day in Cusco).
3) Cusco itself is a magical place and that is why it is worth an extra day just for this city. Spend a day here for walking, knowing its streets and discovering its walls and balconies. (Ask for more information about one additional day in Cusco).).
Yauri Here we have an opportunity not to miss. A walk of 2 days/1 night to the incredible Wakra Pukara Inca site, a ceremonial center of the Inca imperial period (1450-1533) suspended in an abyss, and with the most impressive view of the Apurimac Canyon. Wajra Pukara trek).
Colca Canyon: Give yourself a few extra days in the unforgettable Colca Canyon and explore it being part of one of our walks. (Ask for more information about treks in the Colca Canyon).
Arequipa It is the perfect place for a whole day of rest and relaxation. Its colonial historical center is an ideal starting point for a stroll, relax and enjoy the architecture, the shops and cafes ((Ask for more information about one additional day in Arequipa).).
Puno If this lakeside town is your goal then we offer a half day tour in the villages of July, Pomata and Chucuito. These places are rich in history and baroque architecture. (Ask for more information about one additional day in Puno).