Peru& Machu Picchu Tour

Our classic South American adventure begins in the Amazon jungle where we stay at a remote eco-lodge only reachable by boat. From our lodge we explore the jungle by foot and canoe as we look for monkeys and fish for piranha. At night we sleep in hammocks with the sound of the jungle around us.

Next, we travel to the beautiful city of Cuzco to experience the markets and nightlife as well as participate in a service project with local street children. Near Cuzco, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we enjoy the adrenaline rush of mountain biking and whitewater rafting surrounded by Incan ruins and snow-capped Andean peaks. From Cuzco we hike through the ancient Sacred Valley in the footsteps of the Incas and visit the forgotten city of Machu Picchu.

On the vast and magical Lake Titicaca, we stay with local families and install chimneys in their homes to help reduce pollution and illness in the community. After our hard work the locals treat us to a soccer match and an evening party complete with traditional music and dancing!

Our final adventure is a surf camp on the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Outside of Lima, we enjoy instruction and waves suitable for any ability level. Surfing and relaxing on the beach is the ideal way to complete our journey together in this fascinating country.

» Day1
Arrive in Lima, Peru. You will be met upon arrival at the airport gate by your experienced AAVE expedition leaders. After a complete gear check, to assure that you are prepared for the diverse, demanding and remote regions we explore, we load up and head off! During orientation we get to know each other and learn what to expect in the days ahead. Our daily routine, jobs and safety rules are explained and the process of growing together as a group begins.

» Day 2:
Today we will fly to Cuzco and explore this fascinating city. Cuzco is the oldest constantly inhabited city in the Americas and the hub of the South American travel network. In the afternoon we take a city tour and visit the Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and the Tambomachay ruins. Cuzco is steeped in history, tradition and legend, stonewalls line the streets and Inca ruins abound. We get a chance to explore Coricancha which was once the Inca Empire's richest temple and literally covered with gold!

» Day3
Today we depart early from Cuzco to visit the Sacred Valley of the Inca, which surrounds Cuzco. In the morning we tour the market town of Pisac at the entrance of the Sacred Valley. Pisac is a typical Andean market town seemingly unchanged for centuries. After lunch we continue on to the town Ollantaytambo and the ruin of the same name that overlooks the town. Ollantaytambo's narrow streets, canals and Inca walls recall its ancient heritage. We'll spend the night in Cuzco.

» Days 4-7:
Our hike in the Andes is an exceptional, challenging hike and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This trek is about 25 miles long and takes three full days to complete. The trail is often steep and we cross some high mountain passes. For our effort we are rewarded with breathtaking views of the Andes. We pass through beautiful cloud forest and view the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range and the beautiful Urubamba Valley. After hiking, we explore Machu Picchu while the mist rises off the mountains in the early morning sun. Machu Picchu is both the best known of the Inca ruins and the most mysterious. To this day, archaeologists can only speculate on the origin and function of these magnificent ruins.

» Day 8:
We travel to the shores of the Urubamba river for whitewater excitement. Our professional Rafting Guide will give us a safety talk and provide us with all the proper equipment for rafting. We will be running class II and III introductory type rapids. We have a picnic lunch on the banks of the Urubumba River and then return to Cuzco.

» Day 9:
Today we fly from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado and transfer to the Tambopata river port in Puerto Maldonado. Puerto Maldonado is situated at the confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers and is a bustling, booming tropical frontier town. Its principal activities are gold mining, Brazil nut collecting, timber extraction, agriculture and ecotourism. After a brief survey of the town we will depart on the 2-hour boat trip by motorized canoe to Posada Amazonas. During our voyage we may see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as: Black Skimmer, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, Roadside Hawk, and several species of kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers. When we arrive at Posada Amazonas we will unpack and unwind. Posada Amazonas is a comfortable yet unobtrusive 24-room lodge owned jointly by Rainforest Expeditions and the Local Community of Infierno. We will receive a short orientation and a complete briefing on the lodge and the Ecotourism Project before our afternoon activity: the canopy tower. In this activity, we will visit a 35-meter scaffolding tower that is a 15 minute walk from the lodge. The scaffolding tower is built so that you safely climb using the internal staircase with verandahs on each side, and rest in platforms present every 2 meters. From the top you not only get spectacular views of the river and the surrounding forest but also excellent opportunities to observe birds from the canopy including parrots, toucans and macaws!

» Days 13-16:
The Inca Trail is an exceptional, challenging hike and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This trek is 25 miles long and takes three full days to complete. The trail is often steep and we cross three high mountain passes, one of which reaches 13,776 ft! For our effort we will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the Andes. We pass through beautiful cloud forest and view the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range, the beautiful Urubamba Valley and the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, or "Town above the Clouds". On the third day, there are no words to describe the feeling when you first view Machu Picchu as the mist rises off the mountains in the early morning sun. Machu Picchu is both the best known of the Inca ruins and the most mysterious. To this day, archaeologists can only speculate on the origin and function of these magnificent ruins.

» Day 10-12:
We will be up at dawn for a visit to the Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. After an early breakfast we depart, fifteen minutes from Posada Amazonas by boat and a 30-minute walk take us to the lakeshore. From here we take a long, easy canoe ride around the lake. We will look for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. We will return to the lodge's trails in time for a visit to a small parakeet clay lick. Dozens and sometimes hundreds of Blue Headed Parrots, Orange-Cheeked Parrots, Cobalt-winged parakeets, and sometimes even the rare Rock Parakeet congregate here on clear days to ingest clay. In the afternoon we will visit the community's ethnobotanical center. From this little shop, the community has been registering the uses of medicinal plants from elders and planting, producing and distributing them for over ten years. We will hike the trails around the center with one of the residents who will explain to us the everyday uses of forest resources in medicine, construction, food and fiber.

» Day13
We will travel by bus to Puno. Located at 3830 m above sea level, Puno is the place at the highest altitude, on the tour, where we spend the night. As a result the weather can be extreme with cold nights and a strong sun during the day. There is a lot to see in Puno itself and also several good spots offering scenic views of Lake Titicaca and the town. Puno is known for its wealth of traditional dances. There are up to 100 different varieties, usually performed in the street processions celebrating Catholic feast days.

» Days 14-16:
We board a boat on Lake Titicaca - the largest lake in the world above 2000 meters. An overnight home stay affords an opportunity to learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and participate in the local traditions. We assist the community by bringing with us specially constructed chimneys which we install into the mud walls of their kitchens. By properly ventilating their living structures, the local people enjoy much healthier living conditions. The next morning we disembark at Amantan’ Island, which has beautifully terraced hills and the remains of ancient temples of the sun and moon, which pre-date the Inca Empire. Our final stop is the floating islands of the Uros people. The Uros began their unusual floating existence centuries ago in an effort to isolate themselves from the Collas and the Incas. Today about 300 people live on the islands, however their numbers are slowly declining. The Totora reeds, which grow in the shallows of the lake, are used for making everything from the islands themselves to the model boats that the islanders sell. The islands are made up of many layers of reeds. As the layers closest to the water start to rot, they are replaced with fresh reeds on top.

» Days 17-20:
Our final adventure is a surf camp on the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Outside of Lima, we enjoy instruction and waves suitable for any ability level. We are outfitted with surfboards and wetsuits and our local instructors teach us the basics as well as the necessary tips for success. Soon enough, we are all catching waves and enjoying the south american surf. Surfing and relaxing on the beach is the ideal way to complete our journey together in this fascinating country.

» Day 21:
Our last night together in Peru, we pack up our gear and celebrate our successes. We share our memories and challenges and say our good-byes. All great things must come to an end. Early on the last day we go to the airport, confident, tan and strong after the most incredible summer of adventure, fun and friends.