Peru vacation, Amazon to Machu Picchu
| country: | Peru |
| location: | Machu Picchu |
| departures: | 2009: 12 Sep |
| price: | From US $3975 (14 days) including domestic flights only, as per the itinerary, based on twin share. Single supplement US $450 - US $650 |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A fantastic land of gold, Peru was sixteenth-century Europe’s major source of treasure, and also once the home of the largest empire in the world – the sun-worshipping Incas. Peru also lays claim to the world’s first stone pyramids, whose genuine antiquity was only discovered quite recently.
The most varied and exciting of all the South American nations, Peru offers the diversity of the immense desert coastline, tropical rainforest, and the Andes rippling the entire length of the nation. The country’s appeal lies in the sheer beauty of its landscapes, the abundance of its wildlife, and the strong character of its people.
Our journey into the Magic Lands of the Incas on this Peru vacation will be guided by Ruben Orellana, external consultant to The National Institute of Culture in Cusco, Peru. Ruben’s career as an archaeologist culminated with being named Head of Archaeology at Machu Picchu, discovering 44 new sites surrounding this crystal city.
He has done extensive research into the mystical aspects of various sites, uncovering the true usage of many temples in the empire. Ruben has worked with the healing techniques of the Andes for twenty years, researching the concepts of subtle energy and how they influence aspects of life and healing for the Incan people. Ruben is the founding director of Kamaquen Healing Center ("source of energy"), nestled deep in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ruben has committed his time, energy and heart to create a Healing Center with the intent to soothe and rejuvenate the human spirit.
Ruben will lead our group into the mysteries of Machu Picchu while we witness and participate in the healing ceremonies of the ancient Inca customs. From here we will travel to the eastern most region of Peru to the Amazon jungles of Puerto Maldonado. Traveling along the Rio del las Piedras we will find ourselves immersed among the diversity of wildlife echoing within the jungle canopy.
The most varied and exciting of all the South American nations, Peru offers the diversity of the immense desert coastline, tropical rainforest, and the Andes rippling the entire length of the nation. The country’s appeal lies in the sheer beauty of its landscapes, the abundance of its wildlife, and the strong character of its people.
Our journey into the Magic Lands of the Incas on this Peru vacation will be guided by Ruben Orellana, external consultant to The National Institute of Culture in Cusco, Peru. Ruben’s career as an archaeologist culminated with being named Head of Archaeology at Machu Picchu, discovering 44 new sites surrounding this crystal city.
He has done extensive research into the mystical aspects of various sites, uncovering the true usage of many temples in the empire. Ruben has worked with the healing techniques of the Andes for twenty years, researching the concepts of subtle energy and how they influence aspects of life and healing for the Incan people. Ruben is the founding director of Kamaquen Healing Center ("source of energy"), nestled deep in the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Ruben has committed his time, energy and heart to create a Healing Center with the intent to soothe and rejuvenate the human spirit.
Ruben will lead our group into the mysteries of Machu Picchu while we witness and participate in the healing ceremonies of the ancient Inca customs. From here we will travel to the eastern most region of Peru to the Amazon jungles of Puerto Maldonado. Traveling along the Rio del las Piedras we will find ourselves immersed among the diversity of wildlife echoing within the jungle canopy.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Lima City. Start of your Peru vacation. Evening arrival into Lima just in time to get a good night’s rest! |
| Day 2: | Puerto Maldonado. We fly to Puerto Maldonado, a frontier colonist town based on gold-panning and Brazil-nut which has grown into a busy market town. We take a boat ride to our ecolodge, surrounded by impressive jungle. We will visit Monkey Island's extraordinary landscapes, exuberant flora, monkeys, and diverse birdlife. (B,L,D) |
| Day 3: | Lost Cocha. We walk through the virgin rainforest to the Lake Lost Cocha, a protected ecosystem sustaining giant otters, caimans, turtles, the colorful sachavacas birds, majestic jaguar and diverse fish species. We'll take a pleasant canoe ride then a short boat ride will bring us to a local family living in the rainforest. Relax, reflect, or take a plunge in the cool waters of the pool. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4: | Lake Apu Victor. Wake up to the beautiful harmonies of the birds and take a hike into the Amazon rainforest, observing the Cave of the Caymans before arriving at the crystalline waters of majestic Lake Apu Victor. We see parrots, macaws, toucans, horned screamers, hoatzins and herons. The afternoon is yours to explore, nap in a hammock, swim, or relax. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5: | Urubamba wellness retreat. We travel to our wonderful wellness retreat in Urubamba, shadowed by the beautiful Chicon and Pumahuanca glaciers. A ceremony of offering to our Mother Earth (Pacha Mama) will be lead by a Shamen of Qeros to ask for guidance and insight during our pilgrimage. The afternoon is free to explore, have a massage, or rest. (B,L,D) |
| Day 6: | Pisaq & Urco. We will travel by bus to the archaeological site of Pisaq and the citadel. A ceremony at this site will recognize the ancient wisdom from those who have come before us. From here we will visit the bustling local market where you will find local artisans showing their craft of hand-painted ceramic beads. The afternoon brings us to the citadel’s Temple of the Sun – equal to anything at Machu Picchu. A sun ceremony to absorb the energy of this site is performed before heading back to Urubamba. A steam room awaits us. (B,L,D) |
| Day 7: | Urubamba & Ollantaytambo. We take a bus to Ollantaytambo, built as an Inca administrative centre and laid out in the Inca grid system. We'll visit the archeological site of the Wind Temple to perform our ceremony. Travelling back to Urubamba we'll have the afternoon free for massage and/or a visit to the world renown Pablo Seminario ceramist. (B,L,D) |
| Day 8: | Urubamba to Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu. We take a train to the Machu Picchu citadel (Crystal City) and learn of the great history of this Incan Empire. More than a hundred flights of steep stone steps interconnect Machu Picchu's palaces, temples and terraces, and there are outstanding views of the valley and the snowy peaks around Salcantay. A sunset ceremony will be held to witness the transition of day into night. (B,L,D) |
| Day 9: | Machu Picchu. We again travel to the citadel to greet the morning sunrise, with time for meditation and personal exploration. You can hike to the top of Huayna Picchu above Machu Picchu with epic views to the ruins below. We spend the afternoon exploring the narrow and winding streets of Machu Picchu. Our day ends with a private hot springs. (B,L,D) |
| Day 10: | Urubamba. We journey back to our cozy haven in Urubamba, where we meet a weaver of Chinchero who will show us the ancient way of spinning and weaving. You might even try your hand at this amazing craft. Relax and enjoy the gardens of our special retreat. (B,L,D) |
| Day 11: | Cusco City. We visit Tambo Machay, an impressive Inca bath or Temple of Water. Our next stop is the large limestone outcrop of Qenko, a great stone carved with complex pattern and designs, illustrating the role of the Rock Cult in Inca cosmological beliefs. Our final stop of the day is Sacsayhuaman which forms the head of Cusco’s ethereal puma, whose fierce-looking teeth point away from the city. We have the afternoon free to shop, relax and explore. (B,L,D) |
| Day 12: | Cusco City . Both in setting and architectural design, the Tipon ruins are one of the most impressive Inca sites. Some archeologists believe it was an Inca experimental agricultural center. We reflect on this beauty with a ceremony and then head back to Cusco to visit the Koricancha (Sun Temple). Local singing and dancing will close our time in Cusco. (B,L,D) |
| Day 13: | Cusco & Lima. After breakfast we will journey to the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha) and then explore Colonial Cusco before leaving for Lima where we will visit Miraflores. A seafood dinner and cultural show will top off the day before retiring for a good night's rest. (B,L,D) |
| Day 14: | Lima. On the last days of your Peru vacation we visit the museum and local market or have a massage and sauna and relax before transferring to the airport for evening flights. Please note: most U.S. flights arrive the next day. (B,L) |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We are honored on this Peru vacation to share in the experiences and wisdom of Ruben Orellana, former Chief Archeologist of Machu Picchu and a renowned Shaman. Our commitment is to support Ruben’s dedication to the indigenous people of Peru.
We support a 'Leave No Trace' policy in all of our travels to minimize impact of the areas visited. We encourage our travelers to use water sparingly for showing and washing and to use environmentally friendly detergents and shampoos for hand and hair washing. We educate our guests to minimize packaging by encouraging the elimination of plastic and boxes prior to leaving for their Peru vacation.  Local artisans, local foods, and colorful local lodging provide travelers with an authentic Peruvian experience while supporting the people of this region. Specifically we support: Local dance and cultural entertainment – Almost daily during our itinerary, we experience local music and dance. We encourage our travelers to help in preserving these ancient rituals through the purchase of artist CD’s so that the music will be passed on through the ages. Many of our travelers continue to enjoy the rich sounds of Peruvian flutes long after they return from their Peru vacation. Local artisans – Our travelers are provided with the opportunity to learn, experience and visit with local artisans. From the weavers of the high Andes mountain regions to the ceramists famous for the colorful pottery of Peru, we gain insight into the ancient ways of creating art, the meanings and stories behind the art and the understanding of how these traditions are being preserved in the indigenous cultures. Local communities – We provide support to local communities through the donation of clothing and school supplies. A special emphasis is on warm clothing for those communities situated above 12,000 ft elevation in the Sacred Valley. We encourage travelers on our Peru vacation to bring along donations of clothing and school supplies that are distributed upon arrival into Cusco. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |