Peru Tour: Classic & Jungle 20 days

Welcome to the Peruvian capital Lima.

The former City of Kings maintains its colonial past and beauty. Today, Lima is one of the leading culinary destinations in the entire world. You will delight in unforgettable Peruvian meals that combine the unique flavours from various Peruvian regions and cultures.

Lima offers something for everyone. There are many museums with brilliant modern and ancient art, monasteries, mansions, archaeological sites, beaches, boardwalks, shopping opportunities, world-class restaurants, buzzing nightlife and adventure sports!

Visit the magnificent ceremonial and administrative center, "Huaca Pucllana", considered to have been a sacred village by the Incas. In Lima's historical centre, visit the Paseo de la República, the Plaza San Martín, the Plaza Mayor, the Government House, the Basílica, the House of the Archbishop, the Municipality and the oldest streets with colonial mansions and Moorish style balconies.

One of the highlights is the convent and the church of San Francisco, the largest colonial art complex in America. The residential neighbourhoods are also attractive, e.g. Barranco and Miraflores, where you can visit the modern commercial center Larcomar near the coastline and the beautiful green spaces along the boulevards.

During the boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, you can see the Candelabro, the famous geoglyph of the beach and the collection of rocky islands, home to seals, Humboldt penguins and many different types of birds.

Ica and the nearby Huachachina oasis, not that far from Paracas, offer great sandboarding opportunities and a fun buggy tour.

A visit to the mysterious and enigmatic Nazca Lines is something extraordinary. The Nazca lines, some over 2,000 years old, have blown away historians for hundreds of years. A flight over the Nazca lines is an excellent experience for travellers who want to admire the lines from above.

In the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa, do not miss out on the Plaza de Armas, the impressive church, the San Francisco square, the dome of La Compañía de Jesús, elegant colonial houses, and the unforgettable Santa Catalina Convent, characterized by its narrow streets and different styles that were famous in the 16th century.

Travelling to the Colca Canyon, see the incredible landscapes, beautiful terraces, and volcanoes covered with snow, including the Misti Volcano of Arequipa at 5,825 meters above sea level. You will pass through the reserves where rare vicunas live (Peru's national animal - similar to the alpaca). The highest point of our trip will be at 4,910 meters in Patapampa. Most people overnight in the small village of Chivay.

If you wake up early the next day, you have the best chances of seeing condors at the Choquetico viewpoint. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Colca Canyon and hopefully see the impressive Andean condors rising above the void.

On the way back to Chivay, explore the Pre-Inca tombs hidden in the mountainside and visit the "Litomaquetas," the terraces' clock tower. Along the road, there are three unique traditional villages to take a close look at local handicrafts and customs

A tour to Lake Titicaca includes a visit to the famous floating Uros Islands and Taquile, one of the most beautiful islands in the region. The inhabitants of the island produce beautiful textiles such as hats, ponchos, and blouses. Spending the night on one of the islands with a local family is an unforgettable experience. Amantani is another beautiful island with lots of amazing views and incredible crafts.

Your Peru itinerary "Peru Classic and Jungle in 20 days" continues in Cusco, the capital of the old Inca empire. Here you don’t want to miss the impressive Colonial Cathedral of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas or Qoricancha. Also called the Temple of the Sun, this main religious center of the Incas dedicated to the cult of the Sun God. According to the chroniclers, the walls of this temple were once completely covered with golden plates.

Rainbow Mountain is located in Cusco, at approximately three hours. You have to leave very early to start the Trek to the peak, walking through stunning and colorful scenery. Once you reach the peak of the mountain, enjoy the view of the majestic mountains surrounding the area. The impressive multi-colored mountains are caused by the sediment of minerals throughout the area.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas was an important area in Inca times. Many archaeological sites in the Sacred Valley are open to visitors and are worth a visit.

The city of Pisac, at the entrance of El Valle Sagrado, is home to famous ruins that overlook the beautiful valley and the Urubamba River. Pisac hosts a renowned artisan's market that is very popular with travellers.

Another ighlight of the sacred valley are the salt mines of Maras and the amphitheatre of Moray. At the end of the valley, you find the beautiful Inca town Ollantaytambo.

Ollantaytambo is laid out in the same way that it was during the Incan times.

The Inca terraces with complex stone formations are impressive, and the view of the valley is astonishing.

Ollantaytambo has a small train station where you can hop on a train to Machu Picchu. Depending on the train of your choice, the journey will take between 2,5 – 4 hours. Get off the train in Aguas Calientes.

The train journey to Aguas Calientes is a spectacle. You will appreciate the changing landscape from green fields and eucalyptus forests to lush jungle.

Today's the day for our breathtaking excursion to Machu Picchu, one of the most fabulous places in the world.

Enjoy your first views of the fantastic scenery and start exploring every corner of the lost Inca citadel. The majestic ruins were built by the Inca Empire and are located in the scenic Andes mountain range, surrounded by beautiful cloud forests and mountain scenery.

Note: Remember, entrance tickets for Machu Picchu are NOT sold at the entrance, you must book an entrance ticket with a time slot in advance. You also need a guide to enter the ruins.

At only 8 km from Cusco, you will find beautiful Inca Ruins: Sacsayhuamán - famous for its enormous carved stones - Quenqo, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara.

In Cusco, you find many excellent museums such as the Inca Museum, Museum of Pre-Colombian art and the Museum of Religious art. Other attractive options are the Center for Textiles and the Chocolate Museum.

Our Peru tour now goes to the Peruvian Amazon. The Tambopata National Reserve is a nature reserve in the Amazon of Peru with an extremely high density in natural diversity. Most tours into this fantastic area in Peru include a stay in traditional jungle bungalows.

Jungle tours into this beautiful nature reserve allow you to experience the magic and diversity of one of the most diverse locations on earth.

One of Tambopata's main attractions is the Colpa de Guacamayos (Macaw Clay Lick). This is one of the largest natural clay licks in South America, where you can observe hundreds of red, blue and green parrots and macaws gather every day.

Visit the Cocha Caiman, a small lake with an abundant presence of specimens of black caiman and spectacled caiman, and/or the Lost Cocha (La Cocha Perdida). The Lost Cocha is a refuge and feeding ecosystem for a tremendous diversity of animals.

Monkey Island is another unique place at the heart of the Madre de Dios River, and so is Lake Apu Victor, with its crystal clear waters, surrounding jungle marshes and giant tree species.

The travel time from the lodge to the Puerto Maldonado airport and then to the Lima airport will take approximately 4-5 hours altogether. This is where this Peru itinerary ends.