currency
El Chimu Grande
cost
From EUR €2275
departure
Daily
duration
21 Days
locations
Lima, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Inca Trail, Tambopata Jungle Reserve and more!
A comprehensive snapshot of Peru's highlights, including the Amazon.
This is the Daddy of Chimu's tours in Peru: a sensational, 3-week adventure through Southern Peru taking in cities, desert, lakes, mountains and jungle! Peru is a wonderfully diverse country and this trip reflects that admirably.
Day 1: Lima: Airport Transfer:
Upon arrival at the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2: Lima: City Tour
Today, we spend the morning touring Lima, the Colonial "City of Kings", and get a first hand glimpse of its majestic past. We visit sites such as the Cathedral and Presidential Palace overlooking the Plaza de Armas, and the Catacombs beneath San Francisco Convent. We get to see, first hand, Lima's magnificent Colonial architecture as well as vignettes of its pre-Colombian past.
The afternoon is free to continue to get a feel for this bustling capital, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Day 3: Lima - Huacachina
We depart early and head south down the Pan Americana Highway passing the little known Inca ruins of Pachacamac and into Peru’s coastal desert strip.
We arrive in the desert oasis town of Huacachina, where our hotel is located and where you can take part in sand boarding, sand buggying or boating on the lagoon. Or just climb a sand dune to watch the sunset over the desert.
Day 4: Huacachina - Paracas - Nazca
Leaving Huacachina early, we drive to the small port of Paracas where we take a boat cruise around the Ballestas Islands to see marine mammals and birdlife up close and in huge numbers. We also take a look at some ancient etchings in the coastal cliffs including the mysterious Candelabra .
Once back on shore, we make the drive to Nazca famous for the enigmatic Nazca lines, the best-known relic of the Nasca culture.
Once in Nazca it is possible to visit the fascinating museum or cemetery, which offer insights into the Nasca culture.
Day 5: Nazca - Arequipa
This morning, you will probably wish to take an optional flight over the Nazca lines in order to unravel the mystery for yourself. You can make out giant figures including a hummingbird, monkey and many other animals. There are also other figures etched into the desert plain, including large elongated triangular shapes. Flights last for 40 minutes and give a fantastic overview of this wonderful attraction. This is highly recommended, as it is the best way to see all the lines clearly.
In the afternoon, we take a luxury bus, with hostess service, to Arequipa where we overnight.
Day 6: Arequipa: Free Day
Today you have the chance to take a breather from the rigors of touring to relax in the peaceful surrounds of the colonial city of Arequipa. You may spend the time checking out the UNESCO world heritage listed Santa Catalina Monastery, or the Inca Ice mummy "Juanita" who was found intact in the crater of a volcano, or you could just sit back, relax and enjoy the views of the mighty volcano "Misti" which dominates the landscape.
Day 7: Arequipa - Colca Canyon
We venture into the Andes for the first time on the tour. We ascend to an altitude of approximately 5,000 metres (16,500 ft) before descending again into the Colca Valley.
We spend the night in the small town of Chivay and swim in the magnificently set thermal baths at sunset. Make sure you pack your swimming costume!
Day 8: Colca Canyon – Puno
After breakfast we watch the magnificent condor in flight in the Colca Canyon. The Colca Canyon is the world's deepest canyon, which was formed by the Colca River eroding through the mountains. This harsh landscape and spectacular scenery is home to the majestic Andean Condor. Our tour is conducted by expert local guides, who know the best locations to view the Condor.
The afternoon, we make the journey over the altiplano to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Upon arrival in Puno, we will check into our hotel.
Day 9: Lake Titicaca: Uros Islands & Amantani: Lunch & Dinner
A gentle wander through the cobbled stoned streets is recommended during the morning, to fully appreciate the magnificent blend of Colonial and Inca influence on the city.
During the afternoon we have a guided bus tour of the city, visiting the Cathedral, the Rock of the 12 Angles, and Inca ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Koricancha.
The evening is free to sample some of Cusco’s famous nightlife first hand!
Day 13: Cusco: Sacred Valley Tour: Lunch
Today, we explore the "Sacred Valley of the Incas". This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious.
Our first stop is the village of Pisac, with its famous market, where you can pick up a bargain! You have free time to wander the market stalls before we visit the ruins above the town, which were an important Inca religious centre.
After lunch in Pisac, we drive along the Urubamba River, to the giant Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo which was the scene of one of the most famous battles between the Incas and the invading Spanish conquistadors, with the Incas being victorious.
We return to Cusco in the early evening, and after the day’s activities we recommend having an early night and preparing for the challenge of the Inca Trail!!
Day 14: Cusco - Km 82 – Huayllabamba: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
Early this morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you by bus to Km 82 where you will arrive mid-morning and meet the team that will join you during the trek - porters, camp assistants and cooks.
The first day’s walk is quite easy and during the first part you will have a beautiful view of the snow-peaked Veronica Mountain above you and the Vilcanota River below you. Lunch will be waiting for you when you arrive at the Archaeological Complex of Patallacta.
After re-energising, we begin the steady climb to Huayllabamba, where the first camp is set up.
Day 15: Huayllabamba – Pacaymayu: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
After breakfast, the hardest part of the trail begins, with a steep, three-hour ascent to the highest point of the trek, Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass), at some 4200m (13,800ft) above sea level. Here you will not only enjoy incredible, panoramic views, but you will have a great sense of achievement at reaching this milestone.
After lunch in Vizcachayoc, we will descend towards Pacaymayu (3500m/11,480ft) for dinner and camp.
Day 16: Pacaymayu – Wiñay Huayna: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
After breakfast, the ascent will begin to the second highest pass on the Trail, at more than 3900m (12,800ft) above sea level. On the way up, you can enjoy a guided visit to the Archaeological Complex of Runkurukay and, on the way down, the Inca Citadel of Sayacmarca (3,600m/11,800ft).
Lunch will be ready for you in Chaqquicocha. Then, we continue walking towards Phuya Patamarka (Town in Clouds), another important archaeological monument.
After a brief rest, we will continue walking to the spectacularly-located Archaeological Complex of Wiñay Huayna (Always Young). We have a guided visit of the complex before we have dinner and overnight in the nearby campsite.
N.B. The above are our regular camp sites; however, these can be changed by the Machu Picchu Management Unit without previous warning. It will not affect the itinerary.
Day 17: Wiñay Huayna - Machu Picchu – Cusco: Snack
After an early breakfast, we will make the one-hour walk through high rainforest to Inti Punku (Gateway of the Sun), the well-known entrance to Machu Picchu, with its unparallelled panoramic view of the Inca Citadel.
Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, we will have a guided tour of the ruins and monuments, such as the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries. This is followed by free time to stroll around the Citadel, before meeting the rest of the group to be transferred by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch.
In the afternoon, you take the train back to Cusco, where we will be transferred to our hotel – tired, but happy!
Day 18: Cusco - Puerto Maldonado – Refugio Amazonas
This morning, we transfer you to Cusco airport for your flight over the Andes and into the Amazon jungle.
Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado, we welcome you and transfer you by bus and then river launch to Refugio Amazonas.
During our river journey into the Tambopata National Reserve, we will see bird species typical of the river or forest edge, and enjoy a box lunch along the way.
When we arrive at Refugio Amazonas, we will receive a short orientation and a complete briefing of the lodge and its Ecotourism Project, in conjunction with the local community of Infierno.
After dinner in the lodge, we will take you on a caiman search along the banks of the river, using headlamps to spot the red reflection from the caimans’ eyes!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 19: Refugio Amazonas: Condenado Lake
We will up at dawn in order to make the short hike to Condenado oxbow lake. Once there, we take a long, gentle canoe ride around it. We will look for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, macaws and a variety of wading birds.
Later, we make the short boat ride across the Tambopata River to a farm owned by the charismatic Don Manuel, who grows a variety of popular and lesser known Amazon crops - just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose, and we learn about these medicinal uses from our guide. There is plenty of wildlife living amongst the flora.
This afternoon, after lunch in the lodge, we take a short hike to a patch of Brazil Nut trees that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries), where we learn of the process involved in harvesting, transporting and drying the rainforest's only sustainable crop, and of the people who make a living from it.
After dinner, you have the option of taking a night hike. Most of the jungle’s mammals are most active after dark, although they are difficult to find; frogs are easier to locate, owing to the remarkably loud sounds many species make!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 20: Refugio Amazonas: Clay Lick & Canopy Tower
A short walk from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rainforest pigs often show up in the late morning, in herds of five to twenty, to eat clay, which aids with their digestion. Even if the peccaries do not appear, it is still well worth the short hike as plenty of other wildlife, including deer, guan and parakeets, make use of the lick.
After lunch at the lodge, we make the thirty minute walk to the 25-meter scaffolding canopy tower, which offers wonderful panoramic views of the Tambopata River and National Reserve, as well as a bird’s-eye view of ... other birds, such as toucans, macaws and raptors! The tower is a great place to watch the sun setting over the jungle canopy, before we return to Refugio Amazonas for dinner.
There will be a presentation about Tambopata and its ecological issues after dinner, to put all you have seen into a wider context.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 21: Refugio Amazonas – Puerto Maldonado – Lima
After an early breakfast, we depart by boat back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, in time for our flight back to Lima, via Cuzco.
Meals Included: Breakfast
END OF OUR SERVICES
Day 1: Lima: Airport Transfer:
Upon arrival at the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel.
Day 2: Lima: City Tour
Today, we spend the morning touring Lima, the Colonial "City of Kings", and get a first hand glimpse of its majestic past. We visit sites such as the Cathedral and Presidential Palace overlooking the Plaza de Armas, and the Catacombs beneath San Francisco Convent. We get to see, first hand, Lima's magnificent Colonial architecture as well as vignettes of its pre-Colombian past.
The afternoon is free to continue to get a feel for this bustling capital, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Day 3: Lima - Huacachina
We depart early and head south down the Pan Americana Highway passing the little known Inca ruins of Pachacamac and into Peru’s coastal desert strip.
We arrive in the desert oasis town of Huacachina, where our hotel is located and where you can take part in sand boarding, sand buggying or boating on the lagoon. Or just climb a sand dune to watch the sunset over the desert.
Day 4: Huacachina - Paracas - Nazca
Leaving Huacachina early, we drive to the small port of Paracas where we take a boat cruise around the Ballestas Islands to see marine mammals and birdlife up close and in huge numbers. We also take a look at some ancient etchings in the coastal cliffs including the mysterious Candelabra .
Once back on shore, we make the drive to Nazca famous for the enigmatic Nazca lines, the best-known relic of the Nasca culture.
Once in Nazca it is possible to visit the fascinating museum or cemetery, which offer insights into the Nasca culture.
Day 5: Nazca - Arequipa
This morning, you will probably wish to take an optional flight over the Nazca lines in order to unravel the mystery for yourself. You can make out giant figures including a hummingbird, monkey and many other animals. There are also other figures etched into the desert plain, including large elongated triangular shapes. Flights last for 40 minutes and give a fantastic overview of this wonderful attraction. This is highly recommended, as it is the best way to see all the lines clearly.
In the afternoon, we take a luxury bus, with hostess service, to Arequipa where we overnight.
Day 6: Arequipa: Free Day
Today you have the chance to take a breather from the rigors of touring to relax in the peaceful surrounds of the colonial city of Arequipa. You may spend the time checking out the UNESCO world heritage listed Santa Catalina Monastery, or the Inca Ice mummy "Juanita" who was found intact in the crater of a volcano, or you could just sit back, relax and enjoy the views of the mighty volcano "Misti" which dominates the landscape.
Day 7: Arequipa - Colca Canyon
We venture into the Andes for the first time on the tour. We ascend to an altitude of approximately 5,000 metres (16,500 ft) before descending again into the Colca Valley.
We spend the night in the small town of Chivay and swim in the magnificently set thermal baths at sunset. Make sure you pack your swimming costume!
Day 8: Colca Canyon – Puno
After breakfast we watch the magnificent condor in flight in the Colca Canyon. The Colca Canyon is the world's deepest canyon, which was formed by the Colca River eroding through the mountains. This harsh landscape and spectacular scenery is home to the majestic Andean Condor. Our tour is conducted by expert local guides, who know the best locations to view the Condor.
The afternoon, we make the journey over the altiplano to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Upon arrival in Puno, we will check into our hotel.
Day 9: Lake Titicaca: Uros Islands & Amantani: Lunch & Dinner
In the morning, we take a boat onto Lake Titicaca. We visit the man-made floating Islands of Uros to get an impression of how the Aymara-speaking locals have lived for centuries
We then continue to Amantani Island, where we have the privilege of staying the night with locals and enjoying their traditional way of life and hospitality. The views of the snow-capped Cordillera Real mountains in Bolivia overlooking the lake are the icing on the cake!
Day 10: Lake Titicaca: Taquile Island; Return to Puno: Lunch
On our way back to Puno we stop over on Taquile Island, where time appears to have stood still. Around 350 Quechua-speaking families live here, operating a collective agricultural system dating from the 14th Century and renowned for their textiles - beautifully woven chumpis (belts), chullos (caps), and ojotas (sandals).
The evening is free for the brave to sample some local cuisine: guinea pig (known locally as cuy) perhaps? Or maybe alpaca?
Day 11: Puno – Cusco: Lunch
After breakfast, today is spent on the jaw dropping ride across the altiplano to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. This drive will take us through sleepy Andean villages, past spectacular snow capped mountains, sheer cliffs and rampaging rivers we will stop occasionally for you to appreciate the changing scenery!
A gentle wander through the cobbled stoned streets is recommended during the morning, to fully appreciate the magnificent blend of Colonial and Inca influence on the city.
During the afternoon we have a guided bus tour of the city, visiting the Cathedral, the Rock of the 12 Angles, and Inca ruins such as Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo and Koricancha.
The evening is free to sample some of Cusco’s famous nightlife first hand!
Day 13: Cusco: Sacred Valley Tour: Lunch
Today, we explore the "Sacred Valley of the Incas". This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious.
Our first stop is the village of Pisac, with its famous market, where you can pick up a bargain! You have free time to wander the market stalls before we visit the ruins above the town, which were an important Inca religious centre.
After lunch in Pisac, we drive along the Urubamba River, to the giant Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo which was the scene of one of the most famous battles between the Incas and the invading Spanish conquistadors, with the Incas being victorious.
We return to Cusco in the early evening, and after the day’s activities we recommend having an early night and preparing for the challenge of the Inca Trail!!
Day 14: Cusco - Km 82 – Huayllabamba: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
Early this morning, our guide will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you by bus to Km 82 where you will arrive mid-morning and meet the team that will join you during the trek - porters, camp assistants and cooks.
The first day’s walk is quite easy and during the first part you will have a beautiful view of the snow-peaked Veronica Mountain above you and the Vilcanota River below you. Lunch will be waiting for you when you arrive at the Archaeological Complex of Patallacta.
After re-energising, we begin the steady climb to Huayllabamba, where the first camp is set up.
Day 15: Huayllabamba – Pacaymayu: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
After breakfast, the hardest part of the trail begins, with a steep, three-hour ascent to the highest point of the trek, Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass), at some 4200m (13,800ft) above sea level. Here you will not only enjoy incredible, panoramic views, but you will have a great sense of achievement at reaching this milestone.
After lunch in Vizcachayoc, we will descend towards Pacaymayu (3500m/11,480ft) for dinner and camp.
Day 16: Pacaymayu – Wiñay Huayna: Snack/ Lunch/ Afternoon Snack/Dinner
After breakfast, the ascent will begin to the second highest pass on the Trail, at more than 3900m (12,800ft) above sea level. On the way up, you can enjoy a guided visit to the Archaeological Complex of Runkurukay and, on the way down, the Inca Citadel of Sayacmarca (3,600m/11,800ft).
Lunch will be ready for you in Chaqquicocha. Then, we continue walking towards Phuya Patamarka (Town in Clouds), another important archaeological monument.
After a brief rest, we will continue walking to the spectacularly-located Archaeological Complex of Wiñay Huayna (Always Young). We have a guided visit of the complex before we have dinner and overnight in the nearby campsite.
N.B. The above are our regular camp sites; however, these can be changed by the Machu Picchu Management Unit without previous warning. It will not affect the itinerary.
Day 17: Wiñay Huayna - Machu Picchu – Cusco: Snack
After an early breakfast, we will make the one-hour walk through high rainforest to Inti Punku (Gateway of the Sun), the well-known entrance to Machu Picchu, with its unparallelled panoramic view of the Inca Citadel.
Upon arrival in Machu Picchu, we will have a guided tour of the ruins and monuments, such as the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries. This is followed by free time to stroll around the Citadel, before meeting the rest of the group to be transferred by bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch.
In the afternoon, you take the train back to Cusco, where we will be transferred to our hotel – tired, but happy!
Day 18: Cusco - Puerto Maldonado – Refugio Amazonas
This morning, we transfer you to Cusco airport for your flight over the Andes and into the Amazon jungle.
Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado, we welcome you and transfer you by bus and then river launch to Refugio Amazonas.
During our river journey into the Tambopata National Reserve, we will see bird species typical of the river or forest edge, and enjoy a box lunch along the way.
When we arrive at Refugio Amazonas, we will receive a short orientation and a complete briefing of the lodge and its Ecotourism Project, in conjunction with the local community of Infierno.
After dinner in the lodge, we will take you on a caiman search along the banks of the river, using headlamps to spot the red reflection from the caimans’ eyes!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 19: Refugio Amazonas: Condenado Lake
We will up at dawn in order to make the short hike to Condenado oxbow lake. Once there, we take a long, gentle canoe ride around it. We will look for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, macaws and a variety of wading birds.
Later, we make the short boat ride across the Tambopata River to a farm owned by the charismatic Don Manuel, who grows a variety of popular and lesser known Amazon crops - just about every plant and tree you see serves a purpose, and we learn about these medicinal uses from our guide. There is plenty of wildlife living amongst the flora.
This afternoon, after lunch in the lodge, we take a short hike to a patch of Brazil Nut trees that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries), where we learn of the process involved in harvesting, transporting and drying the rainforest's only sustainable crop, and of the people who make a living from it.
After dinner, you have the option of taking a night hike. Most of the jungle’s mammals are most active after dark, although they are difficult to find; frogs are easier to locate, owing to the remarkably loud sounds many species make!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 20: Refugio Amazonas: Clay Lick & Canopy Tower
A short walk from Refugio Amazonas is a peccary clay lick. These wild rainforest pigs often show up in the late morning, in herds of five to twenty, to eat clay, which aids with their digestion. Even if the peccaries do not appear, it is still well worth the short hike as plenty of other wildlife, including deer, guan and parakeets, make use of the lick.
After lunch at the lodge, we make the thirty minute walk to the 25-meter scaffolding canopy tower, which offers wonderful panoramic views of the Tambopata River and National Reserve, as well as a bird’s-eye view of ... other birds, such as toucans, macaws and raptors! The tower is a great place to watch the sun setting over the jungle canopy, before we return to Refugio Amazonas for dinner.
There will be a presentation about Tambopata and its ecological issues after dinner, to put all you have seen into a wider context.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 21: Refugio Amazonas – Puerto Maldonado – Lima
After an early breakfast, we depart by boat back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, in time for our flight back to Lima, via Cuzco.
Meals Included: Breakfast
END OF OUR SERVICES
| Accommodation | Tourist class hotels Camping (on Inca Trail) Amazon lodges |
| Inclusions | Accommodation Airport transfers Breakfast in hotels On trek and in the Amazon all meals (except lunch on last day) Entrances/ permits Transfers (bus and train) Camping equipment (excluding sleeping bags) Trail guide, cook, communal porters (for tents, food, cooking equipment etc). Internal flights. |
| Difficulty Rating | 4 (average fitness required). |
| Sustainability | Carbon Offsets not available for this tour Renewable energy used at hotels Local foods used on tour Local guides used (English speaking, most University educated). We also plant a tree on behalf of every customer who books with us in Peru and Bolivia. |
| Single Surcharge | US $600 (or other currency equivalent). |
| Notes | Porters can be hired to carry personal items at an extra charge. Sleeping bags can be hired in Cusco. International flights are not included. |
| Price dependent on: | Availability of entrance permits and seasonality. |
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