PERU PERUVIAN AMAZON

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1 PERU

2 PERU An itinerary that combines the classic highlights of Peru with a spell down the Peruvian Amazon in what has been tagged the first luxury expedition vessel ever to sail the Amazon and its tributaries.

3 1 Lima Arrival in Lima, possibly the city with the finest cuisine in the world and the seat of Spanish power in the Americas for three centuries. You will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel, the Miraflores Park Hotel in Miraflores. 2 Iquitos Today, go on a spell about town before transferring to the airport for your onward flight to Iquitos. The city tour of Lima begins in the morning. You will be visiting the Cathedral, decorated with impressive canvases of the Cusqueñian school before continuing to the main plaza and a church. With an images of the Immaculate Conception painted on it, the convent of San Francisco also houses a complex of catacombs underneath, housing the remains of colonial Lima. Later in the afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for a connecting flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival, there will be a transfer via an air-conditioned bus for a (scenic) 1.5 hour drive through the countryside to the village of Nauta where the sight of the classically elegant M/V Aqua sets the tone and anticipation of the journey ahead. The next four days will see you sailing through the various tributaries of the Amazon- representing one of the lesser explored frontiers in luxury adventure travel. Easing yourself to life on board, your first dinner on the ship tonight will allow you to understand Peru s reputation as having the world s best cuisine. A nightcap under the stars on the Upper Deck is certainly in order afterwards.

4 3 4 Amazon Cruise You will be exploring the blackwater Tahuayo River on board a comfortable skiff, passing by the occasional fishermen in their dug-out canoes. Your binoculars should be kept close by as there is abundant wildlifeorioles, black collared hawks, monkeys and sloths within the area. Charo Lake presents another adventurous opportunity- catching one of the legendary Amazonia piranhas. By afternoon you will be exploring the Yacapana (Iguana) Islands, thus named for its preternatural levels of those reptiles, cawling over the ground and resting in the tree tops. Sunset presents another unique opportunitythe confluence of both gray and pink freshwater dolphins. There is a local belief amongst the people of the Amazon that these dolphins transform into humans to steal the villages best-looking specimens during village celebrations. With a naturalist guide on hand to introduce you to sustainable projects in Amazonia before being taken deep into the Amazonian jungle where you will encounter wildlife and learn about the important medicinal value of the plants. Post-lunch, there will be another skiff excursion, where you will be likely to see howler and capuchin monkeys, the squirrelsized monkeys called tamarins and a dizzying assortment of birds. As the sun sets, keep your eyes out for caimans, tree boas, tarantulas and frogs before sailing downstream of the Marañon River, back toward the headwaters of the Amazon.

5 5 6 Amazon Cruise An early start to the day, with you being on the skiff by 6.30am, travelling through the Ucayali river to Yucuruche Lake where you will find, walking a little into the jungle, the world s largest aquatic plant, yielding another privileged moment of being one of the few to have seen these plants bloom. Later on, you will visit one of the greatest spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere- the birthplace of the Amazon River, a dynamic confluence of two major tributaries, the Ucayali and the Maranon. Travelling onwards to a native village, you will later visit the Manatee Rescue Center after lunch, with biologists giving a presentation about the project and efforts to help these mammals. You will witness how these animals are cared for and groomed for re-introduction into their natural habitat. Disembarking the Aqua yacht, you will then be taken to the airport for a return flight to Lima. Cusco This morning, go on a transfer flight to Cusco, the center of cultural attractions in Peru. A singularly spectacular flight(one that takes you from sea level to 11,200ft in just under an hour), the glaciated peaks of the Cordilleras can be seen, punctuated by an agricultural patchwork quilt of tranquil Andean fields which you will be exploring over the next few days. Cusco s airport is the huge wooden entrance doors still bear the Spanish Arms. After settling into the hotel, you can then orientate yourself with Cusco, possibly starting at the Santo Domingo convent monastery, a colonial monastery that was previously the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to the worhsip of the sun.

6 7 8 CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU Try the Peruvian coffee this morning before boarding the Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu. A journey taking approximately three hours, a brunch of local dishes will be served amidst ever-changing, spectacular scenery of the Andes. Arrive at the Lost Citadel of the Incas by 1pm. Transfer by private bus to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. The only hotel located adjacent to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, this affords you the luxury of either being the first (or the last) ones on the site. You will visit Machu Picchu today, at its least crowded, whilst the majority of visitors make their way back to Cusco. Consider the site s topography as you contemplate Machu Picchu and you ll realize what a feat of architecture it is. Hidden in the Andean cloud formation, Machu Picchu is also thought of by many to possess a mystical energy. MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO Have a free day in Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco. Transferring back to the train for your onward departure to Cusco, dinner featuring a full menu of seafood, local produce, meats and tantalizing desserts will be served for dinner in the dining car. Peruvian dancers and musicians will also be playing their unique instruments to delight you. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred back to Monasterio Hotel to enjoy your last evening in the Incan Capital.

7 9 10 CUSCO - PUNO Board the luxury Andean Explorer train to Puno (available Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays), a spectacular trip that allows you to admire the beautiful high plains of Puno from the comfort of your train seat. Crossing the countryside with the. resplendent Lake Titicaca as a backdrop before arriving at La Raya where you can shop for souvenirs and crafts before arrival in Puno where you will be met at the train station and then transferred to your hotel, the Titilaka, a glorious hideaway about an hour from the main town of Puno. The sunset, which will greet you upon your arrival at the hotel, is glorious. PUNO- LIMA Depending on your room at Titilaka, you will either be greeted by a glorious sunset or an uproarious sunrise. Today, take a trip to the Taquile Islands, a quaint island where culture and traditions are jealously guarded. Traverse Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world (and, by sheer volume of water, also the largest lake in South America), to Taquile. Your guide will acquaint you with some phrases in the local language as well as the traditions of the island. The island is known for its fine weaving and its textile arts have been declared one of 43 new masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity.

8 11 LIMA Take a day trip to Uros Islands on the way back to the airport before your transfer flight back to Lima. On your last night in Lima we would recommend dinner in one of the culinary institutions(ranging from famous restaurants on archaeological sites to restaurants with a cult following with nothing belying its location more than a snaking queue that forms at its doors by late afternoon.

9 accommodation Lima Miraflores Park Hotel Cusco Monasterio Hotel

10 accommodation Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Puno Titilaka

11 accommodation Iquitos M/V Aqua Lima Costa Ramada el Sol Hotel

12 Total Price (Indicative Only): USD 7996 per person on double occupancy basis. Price includes: All domestic transfers and tours mentioned. All accommodations and meals specified. Price excludes: All gratuities and tips, tours not mentioned and items of a personal nature. Domestic or international flights.

13 Important Notes Trip Grading/Difficulty: This itinerary is done at a relaxed pace, with no strenuous or overtly physical activities and is suitable for all ages. Flights: It is essential that you give us your air schedule at least 60 days prior to departure, so that we may confirm your arrival and departure hotels. Health: You are strongly advised to contact your own GP or vaccination centre in respect of required vaccinations for Peru. Check on recommended immunizations as least a month before travel. Among the items you might pack are: sun creams (factor 12 and above), insect repellent, sting relief cream, antiseptic cream, a lightweight hat and sunglasses. Important Note: While we endeavor to make the itinerary as accurate as possible, it should be considered an approximate schedule of activities rather than a rigid schedule of events. Trip itineraries are subject to revision due to weather, road and trail conditions, government restrictions and other factors beyond our control.

14 Booking Conditions Booking your tailor-made holiday: A booking is accepted only after we receive the completed signed booking form and/or the non-refundable deposit required. If the booking is made within 60 days of departure, then full payment is required at the time of confirmation except over the Christmas & New Year period when the full itinerary amount must be made at the time of booking. The balance of payment due for your travel arrangements must bepaid by you not later than 60 days before departure; otherwise we may treat the booking as cancelled. Methods of payment: Payments for deposits and final monies for Travel Arrangements may be made by bank transfer. Cancellation: All cancellations must be advised in writing and will take effect the day we receive it. Urbane Nomads refunds all recoverable costs after cancellation, subject to third-party cancellation and refund policies and a USD500 administration and travel planning fee. In some cases hotels require prepayment in full for hotel rooms and services in the peak period. In such cases these deposits are non refundable. Travel Insurance It is a condition of booking the Travel Arrangements that You are adequately insured for the full duration of the your travel arrangements in respect of illness, injury, death, loss of baggage and personal items, cancellation and curtailment. The choice of insurer is the sole discretion of You. In signing the Booking Form or paying for your holiday you confirm to us that you either have or will have procured such insurance before the commencement of your travel arrangements. Further Terms and Conditions apply. In signing the Booking Form or paying the deposit you confirm to us that you have accepted the booking terms and conditions.