Peru Outdoor Adventure Tour

Lima - Cusco - Salkantay - Machu Picchu - Puerto Maldonado / Amazon Rainforest.

Duration

12 Days

Max. Altitude

15.255 ft - 4.650 m.

Activities

History, Biking, Trekking, Zip Line, Kayak, Gastronomy, Wild life, Photography, Bird Watching, Medicinal Plants, boat trip, Andean and Jungle Traditions.

Difficulty

Challenging

Transport

Van, Bus, Train, Motor Boat and Canoe

Tour Description

Journey perfect for the outdoors lovers who wants a challenging hike and amazing views before Machu Picchu, walking across the mountainside of the majestic Apu Salkantay, biking through andean valleys, listening weird sounds of the Jungle and visiting Natural Reserves such as Tambopata.

Trip Highlights

  • Explore Inca city of Cusco and the huge Incas blocks of stone.
  • Walk through the ancient Inca’s streets whith a colonial influence.
  • Reach heights of over 15.000 feet at Salkantay pass.
  • Hike by snow-capped mountains and over glaciers.
  • Camp in high-quality tents viewing the Milky Way under the thousands of stars.
  • Explore around the amazing Humatay Lake.
  • Walk in the middle of the Jungle through hanging bridges system over 30 meters height.
  • Mountain Bike through traditional towns, people, outstanding andean landscapes and mysterious Archaeological Sites like the terraces of Moray.
  • Jungle experience in the Lake Sandoval, Natural Protected Area by the State, within the Tambopata National Reserve.
  • Navigate the Madre de Dios river during the night immersing in the sounds of the jungle.
  • Observe species of macaws and parrots.
  • Enjoy the typical exotic food, drinks and tropical fruits.

Itinerary

Welcome to Perú!

You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel.

Lima – Cusco City Tour 

Our representative will be waiting for you in the Airport to  transferred to your Hotel. At noon, you will be picked up from your Hotel to start with the City tour where you will visit Main Cathedral (Marvel of the religious), The Koricancha (Temple of the sun), Sacsayhuaman (Majestic place with impressive works in stone which some up to 120 tons), Qenqo (Labyrinth) A religious center dedicated to the adoration, Puca Pucara (Reddish place) that was used as a military control center, Tambomachay (Temple of the Water) a center of adoration and worship of water. Afternoon, dropped off at your Hotel.

Sacred Valley of the Incas

This day you are going to enjoy a visit of the Sacred Valley (great option to acclimatize) the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, where you’ll board our private car for a drive to the Sacred Valley. This mountainous region of Peru offers mystical awe-inspiring sights to discover. Visiting Awanacancha or (Alpaca farm) which is a weaving center with the goal to keep alive the traditional textile arts. Here you can see four members of the camelids family – llama, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Alpaca have thick wool and is the most commonly used while the vicunas are small and delicate with fur considered the finest.

You can meet these fours camelids, learn about the harvesting of the different wools and the natural dying techniques and have change to see native weavers from different areas showing their weaving style and dress afterwards, we continue with visit to the Andean native markets and ruins of Pisac. 

This mountainous region of Peru offers mystical awe-inspiring sights to discover… along with farms and villages that welcome you with a taste of daily life. Enjoy a tasty BUFFET lunch for at the restaurant (variety of dishes and vegetarian optional) after the lunch, the tour continues with the visits to Inca site of Ollantaytambo an archaeological site that the Incas built as a fort and includes a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area.

Full day Biking tour to Maras and Moray.

Starting with the adventure in the morning we are going to pick you up from your hotel in private vehicle ride to the village of Chinchero where you and your guide will start your ride. Passing the lagoon of Huaypo, you’ll arrive at the Archaeological Park of Moray, where you stay for about 20 minutes to enjoy the beauty of nature and the unusual Inca terraces.

This part of the tour is very attractive because of its rolling hills. Continuing our trip, you arrive at the village of Maras where a tasty picnic will be waiting. After another hour downhill rides, you will feel the peace of the Andean countryside, and enjoy your freedom.

You continue your ride to the terraces of salt pans below Maras (with an optional tour) and then again a downhill (approximately 40 minutes), arriving in the Sacred Valley (Pichingoto, Tarabamba), where we end our magnificent bike tour. Our vehicle will be there to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.

Salkantay Trekking to Machu Picchu

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco from 5:00 am to 5:30 am to go by bus to Mollepata. Begin a spectacular scenic drive through the Anta plains with beautiful and panoramic views of the majestic Salkantay and other mountains covered with snow, and the Valley of Apurimac River.

After two and a half hours drive we stop in Mollepata to have breakfast for last minute supplies, leg-stretching or to use the bathrooms, before continuing to Marcocasa. There we will meet with our support staff. They will load the equipment on horses and mules.

Around 9:30 a.m. we will star our trek toward Soraypampa (3,920 meters above sea level) if we keep a regular pace we will take 4 hours approximately to reach to Soraypampa the first camp site where will have lunch after lunch in the afternoon we have an option to go up to Humantay lake (4,200 masl) which takes 3 hours hike back and forth from the camp to see the glacier lake of Humantay. But if we keep slow pace; we will have lunch at halfway between Soraypampa and Marcoccasa maybe after 3 hours of hiking.

And after that we hike two a half hours more to Soraypampa. Anyway our camp is going be at Soraypampa. Sleeping tents will be ready and we will have a warm delicious dinner in the evening.

Salkantay Pass – Chaullay

Today early in the morning we will wake you up with the coca tea. Around 6:00 we will have a nutritious breakfast around 7:00 am we will start the hardest day of the whole Salkantay trek; we will be walking up to the highest point of the trek. After 6 kilometers uphill through the magnificent scenery of Rocky Mountains and enjoying the view of Salkantay mount.

We reach the top of the trek. We will appreciate spectacular views of the mountains and the imposing snowy peaks of the Salkantay (6,264 meters above sea level) which is known as the second highest mountain of the Cusco region. After 2 hours downhill around 1:00 p.m. we will have our delicious Peruvian lunch, in the area called Huayracmachay.

Then we continue our hike to Chaullay approximately 3 hours of downhill we will get to our camp in Chaullay (2900 masl) Where we will have the sleeping tents ready. Around 7:00 pm we will have dinner to recover energy.

Santa Teresa Hot Springs

Around 7:30 am; we will start our trek to La Playa through the Santa Teresa valley. We will hike 6 hours approximately during the hike will see: water fall, orchids, coffee, banana, avocado plantations and we will taste the famous passion fruit or granadilla and also we will see a village call Collpapampa also call the “forest cloudy brow” where waterfalls, thermal hot springs, fruit-bearing trees, varied flora, and birds can be observed. If we are lucky, we will be able to see the famous bird called “the Cock of the Rocks”.

After lunch at La playa, we will catch a local transportation to Santa Teresa where we will have our overnight, In the afternoon we may go to Santa Teresa´s hot spring to enjoy it. Then back at the campsite for happy hours and dinner.

Aguas Calientes Town

After of our delicious breakfast we are going to walk approximately 7 hours. Around 8:30 a.m. we start our trek to Colpani village we will have the opportunity to see coca farms, mandarin, orange and yucca. And a lovely view of the Santa Teresa Valley. We follow along the riverside of Vilcanota River until arrive to the Oroya (cable bridge) then we keep going to Hidroelectrica where will have our lunch.

After lunch we going to walk along the train track but on the base of Machupicchu and Waynapicchu Mountain from the way we will see Machupicchu. After two a half hours hike we will be at Aguas Calientes town: base town of Machupicchu for overnight in the hotel and dinner.

Machu Picchu Sanctuary

Today early in the morning after breakfast at the hotel you will be able to choose between. Walk up to Machupicchu. Or take bus up to Machupicchu. Any way we will be the first ones into Machupicchu to enjoy the sunrise and you will have two a half hours guided tour.

Then you will have the free time to explore Machupicchu by yourselves or if you desire, ascent toward the Huaynapicchu Mountain. Or climb to Machupicchu montaña (is necessary to book in advance). After Machupicchu you are going back to Aguas Calientes to take a train to Ollantaytambo and from there by bus back to Cusco.

Welcome to the Rainforest Amazon

Flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway for your adventure in the Peruvian Rainforest. 

On arrival of your flight to Puerto Maldonado, our guides or staff will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our office to make a registration.

Your excess luggage will be stored safely in our office in Puerto Maldonado and then we will continue to the Capitania port. We take our motor boat along the Madre de Dios River for approximately 40 minutes to the Lodge. A cool welcome drink awaits you.

Our first adventure will be going to the hanging high canopy bridge and zip lines. The start of the adventure circuit is reached a tower and stairway that ascends to the treetops where a platform that marks the start of the zip-line almost 200mts long, the breathtaking views are only matched by the excitement of overcoming our fears and the adrenaline that courses through us as we leap off the platform supported by the high security harnesses that connect us to the zip- line cable to a platform 27mts high. The 75mts long of the log walkway, hanging 30m above the floor, leads off this platform, a risky balancing act, and takes us to the platform at the start of the second zip line, a 160m fly back to the tower and stairwell that descends to the forest floor.

Return to the lodge After a well-deserved lunch, we take the kayaks to the river, well protected with high quality life jackets, and accompanied by a motor boat that guarantees extra security; this level one activity is relaxing and accessible for all. Getting Monkey Island you will be able appreciate a great diversity of monkeys such as the: capuchin, squirrel monkeys watching through the treetops that form their home.

Coming back to the Lodge. Nocturnal activities are available this night we have the Caiman spotting.

Sandoval Lake

Early in the morning for breakfast before leaving for Lake Sandoval. Your guide will hand out a bagged snack for the excursion.

Lake Sandoval After roughly 20 minutes of travel on the river Madre de Dios, we arrive at the entrance of Lake Sandoval. During a 3 km hike through the wild vegetation, we will enter the territory of Tambopata National Reserve, where you will have the chance to admire giant trees, different snakes, monkeys (squirrel monkeys, howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys) and various birds (notably the Hoatzin – also known as the stinky bird, kingfishers and snakebirds).

Once on Lake Sandoval, we will embark in small rowboats in search of giant river otters. We will also have the possibility to spot a good number of other reptiles, mammals and birds in their natural habitat. When the guide finds an opportune spot where you can continue to observe the nature, we will eat lunch. For the return trip, make sure you have gathered your belongings and we will row back to the pier.
Return to the Ecolodge, dinner and rest.

Parrot Clay Lick

Clay Lick: Wake up at 4:30 am for some coffee or tea before leaving for a 1.5-hour up the river. The clay lick, where you will have the possibility to observe 5 to 7 types of parrots and parakeets.

The parrots come to the clay lick to ingest a particular kind of clay, only found in certain areas of this region. The clay is vital for the metabolic regulation of the birds, and therefore is host to a colorful and veritably delightful and exciting event. Breakfast and free time: 8:00 am. After breakfast, we will return to the city of Puerto Maldonado by boat.

One of our vehicles will receive you at the port. After a short stop at our office, We will then head to the airport to check-in for your respective flights.

  • Transfers from/to hotel.
  • Accommodation based on the selected hotel category.
  • Bus ticket (Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu)
  • Train ticket (Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo)
  • Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
  • Excursions as noted in the itinerary.
  • English speaking guide.
  • Meals as noted (B: breakfast, L: lunch, D: dinner).
  • Buffet lunch along the Sacred valley.
  • Camping Equipment
  • Cargo Mules (7 kl.) (for Salkantay Trek). 
  • Mountain bikes and Helmet.
  • Safety Kayak.
  • Equipment in Adventure activities.
  • Water for (Salkantay Trek and Puerto Maldonado).
  • Entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Domestic flights.
  • Assistance by English speaking staff from the beginning to your return.

Not included:

  • International flights.
  • Sleeping bag (you can rent).
  • Walking Sticks.
  • Train ticket from Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes town. (If you feel tired after the trek, you have the option to take a train from Hidroelectrica to Aguas Calientes. (Cost: USD $31.00).
  • Tips, extra expenses, Beverages.
  • Additional tours
  • Binoculars.
  • A shaman for a private Ayahuasca meditation ceremony.
  • Hone your kitchen skills during Peruvian cooking classes with celebrated chefs.
  • Admire views of the Andes from your luxury, vintage-style carriage on the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train.
  • Horse riding to Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara and Tambomachay
  • Original passport.
  • Original and valid International Student Card (ISIC), only if you booked the trek as student.
  • Warm clothes, layers for variable temperature especially at night.
  • Binoculars.
  • Flashlight and extra batteries.
  • Day pack is good to bring to carry your camera, water, rain jacket.
  • Confortable shoes.
  • Rain jacket or poncho (December – April).
  • Sport sandals or water shoes.
  • Personal hygiene products.
  • Hat or cap to protect you from the sun.
  • Sun block (sun protection cream).
  • Insect repellent.
  • Snacks, chocolate, dried fruit, etc.
  • Camera, plenty of film and batteries.
  • Sunglasses
  • Extra Money (soles).
  • Swimwear.

Altitude

As soon as people book their trip to Peru, specifically Cusco, they start wondering about altitude sickness. The air at high altitudes contains less oxygen than at sea level and forces your body to work harder to get the oxygen it needs. Over several days at high altitude, your body adjusts to the lower amount of oxygen in the air.

With altitude sickness, you may first feel like you have the flu or a hangover. You may have a headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, trouble sleeping, trouble breathing during exercise. If any of these effects become severe, please contact our office and we will help you get to a doctor.

Most of the time, these symptoms will be mild. We always recommend easing into activity slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or coca tea. Coca tea has been used since ancient times to help prevent altitude sickness. Leaves from the coca plant contain alkaloids which helps bring oxygen into your blood, helping your body avoid the effects of altitude sickness. Avoid drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee. They will cause you to urinate more often and become dehydrated. Avoid smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for your body to get oxygen. Avoid sleeping pills. They may cause shallow breathing at night, making it more difficult for your body to absorb oxygen while you sleep.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicines, such as acetazolamide and dexamethasone, to help prevent altitude sickness. Start the medicine two days before you get to a high altitude. Continue to take it while you are at high altitude.

Luggage Storage

Even though this is an overnight tour by train, your luggage allowance is still limited due to restrictions on the train. All bags brought to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) need to be carry on size. Any extra luggage you have with you can be left safely in Cusco at either your hotel or with us at the Neotropic Peru Travel deposit while you travel. We will grab from you the morning of your tour and return once you are back in Cusco. Make sure your bags have some kind of identification on them so they are easy to locate.

Weather

Of course weather is unpredictable. Typically the dry season in Cusco is from April through October, but this does not stop rain from falling in June or the sun from coming out in December – just be prepared. No matter what month you are doing the trek, please make sure that you have rain gear that includes a waterproof jacket, pants, poncho and waterproof gloves.

Also prepare for four seasons. Many of the treks through the Andes involve many micro-climates and you will need to be prepared for all seasons. Layers are always key as they are easy to adjust to the different temperatures. And evenings will always be cold, so please be prepared with a warm, winter-weight jacket.

Can I design my own trip?

Absolutely. If you want you can change the program according  your interest, just let us know and the Neotropic Travel Designer is going to give you more options.

Are flights included?

Unfortunately no. Neotropic Peru does not include flights for this trip.

But the local flights can be purchase upon customers request.

Which Vaccines Do I Need for Peru?

Vaccines for Peru vary based on your specific itinerary. A Passport Health travel specialist will help you decide which vaccines are best for you. The CDC and WHO have recommended that travelers receive the following vaccines:

  • Yellow Fever
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B

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