Southern Region Multiactivity

Arrival to Puerto Maldonado airport, gateway to the Amazon Rainforest. Transfer to the river port for the boat ride to your selected lodge. Depending on lodge, the transfer will take from around 30 minutes to 4 hours. On arrival to the lodge you will be greeted and shown to your room and given a short briefing about the lodge and the activity program.

Relax and soak up the unique rainforest atmosphere whilst listening to the cacophony of wildlife as the sun dips below the horizon. (D)

The rainforest is extremely active at sunrise so depending on your program there many be an activity before breakfast. After a typical Amazonian breakfast with local produce depart the lodge with your guide to explore. Look out for wildlife and birdlife such as hoatzin, caiman and horned screamers or if you are lucky, otters. Colourful macaws are often heard before you spot them!

Activites are offered by boat or on foot. Some of the lodges also offer a canopy tower for birdwwatching in the upper canopies of the rainforest. Please ask for details. (B/L/D)

Before departure there may be time for another excursion or simply enjoy a relaxed breakfast surrounded by the sounds of nature. Return to Puerto Maldonado city by boat for the short flight to Cusco, high in the Andes.

On arrival to Cusco, you will be transferred to your hotel in the historic centre with the remainder of the day at leisure to explore on your own and acclimatize to the altitude. (B)

Morning walking tour discovering the highlights of Cusco. Visit the bustling, colorful market of San Pedro with a huge selection of stalls offering everything from handicrafts, local produce, flowers and a street food area serving cheap, hearty meals.

In the hostoric centre, stroll along the cobble-stoned streets lined with Inca walls. These narrow passageways connect important sites like the Cathedral on the main Plaza de Armas with the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha) found inside the church of Santo Domingo. This walking tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and learn about Inca history.

Afternoon at leisure. Explorandes recommends visiting the huge fortress of Sacsayhuaman which overlooks the city. (B)

Depart early from Cusco towards Pisac in the Sacred Valley. Close to Pisac is the village of Amaru where are welcomed by our hosts, the locals from “Laraypas Indígenas de Amaru Association”. They will explain about their daily life, local traditions and the work that the Association does on behalf of the traditional culture. After a short briefing, we will visit the fields to learn about the ancestral traditions of harvesting and cultivating crops.

At the local guesthouse enjoy a delicious lunch from locally grown produce. At the ‘Weaving workshop’ learn about different designs and methods. Hike through the native forest to visit the associations nursery where they grow the plants used for dying the weaving threads.

After the excursion continue to your hotel in the Sacred Valley (B/L).

There are so many activities in the Sacred Valley today we have a couple of options:

Option 1 – Via Ferrata & Zipline: Located in Pachar between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo you will scale the valley rock face by Via Ferrata and return by a series of ziplines.

Via Ferrata is a ladder style way of scaling the rock wall and you will ascend approximately 300 meters to the Skylodge Adventure Suites where you will have lunch overlooking the dramatic mountain landscape.

After lunch, zipline a total of 5 cables totaling 2000m back to the valley floor and return to your hotel.

Option 2 – Pumamarca Hike: Drive towards Ollantaytambo and a dirt road to the Patacancha Valley. At the community of Pallata you can observe the native Quechua way of where crops are sown and textiles woven with simple hand tools that have been in use for centuries.

A steep ascent brings us small archaeological complex at Pumamarca, an ancient Inca settlement overlooking the Patacancha valley. From there the irrigation system for the Inca terracing was managed. Continue the hike to the terracing complex of Choquecancha, whilst admiring the magnificent views. Descent for around three hours through farming terraces to the outskirts of Ollantaytambo town for lunch.

In the afternoon visit Ollantaytambo ruins, one of the few Incas towns that remain. Here we can see Inca canchas, enclosures of multi-family living quarters that share just one exit to the street, ingenious stonework, cobbled streets, and an extensive communal water storage.

Depart early for your transfer to Lake Piuray which lies at an altitude of 12,200ft (3720m). The area is owned by Placido Escalante of the Pongobamba community, our local partner and friend.

At the lakeshore, we present the safety briefing and familiarize ourselves with the kayaking equipment. Paddling on the lake allows us to enjoy the outstanding scenery with surrounding hills, framed by farm terraces and forests and a beautiful view of “La Veronica” snow-capped mountain. You many also spot some of the endemic and migratory birds.

After paddling for around 2 hours we arrive back to the start point where a tasty Andean style Picnic lunch cooked with local products is waiting. The afternoon is free to rest, walk or continue kayaking next to the campsite. In the evening, after dinner, admire the clear skies and the twinkling stars. (B/L/D).

Full day biking in Maras and Moray. Early wake up call to the calming view of the lake framed by snowcapped mountains. After a hearty breakfast depart for Chinchero by mountain bike. Pass by the Huaypo lagoon to arrive at Moray and the terraces which the Incas constructed for horticulture. Each level has a unique eco-climate allowing a cultivation of a vast range of crops within a small area.

Continue for approximately 1-hour downhill to the salt pans of Maras for a tasty picnic lunch. After a short visit to the salt pans to learn about the production, ride for around 40 minutes downhill towards the Sacred Valley and the towns of Pichingoto and Tarabamba where we finish the ride at around 4.30pm. Transfer by bus to Ollantaytambo town for a quick shower and rest before embarking the train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town) for the next chapter of your Peru adventure. (B/L)

Depart Machu Picchu town for an early morning bus to the entrance to the ancient citadel. The extensive site and different sectors will be brought to life by on a guided tour lasting approximately 3 hours.

Step back in time to the Inca era and enjoy the spectacular views whilst learning about the history. After lunch, take the return train to Ollantaytambo and transfer to the charming city of Cusco. (B/L)

Tourist bus from Cusco to Puno which stops at several sites of interest.

At Andahuaylillas visit the seventeenth century church where behind a modest exterior you will be impressed by the exceptional beauty inside including lavish murals and painting. Visit Pikillacta, a semi pre-Incan city of the Wari Culture, situated in a valley near Lake Huacarpay.

At Raqchi, the remains of the high wall of the Temple of Viracocha is probably the largest roofed building constructed by the Incas. At the highest pass of La Raya (14,220ft /4320m) there will be a stop for the nearby hot springs. The journey continues to Puno with a stop at the Inca ruins of Pucara before arriving to the city at around 530pm. Travel time is approximately 7-8 hours. (B/L)

Depart early from Puno to reach the community of Llachon, located in the Capa Chica peninsula. Cross the protected reserve through the villages of Huata and Coata to reach the main village on the peninsula, Capachica.

On arrival to Llachon community we will be welcolmed by our local hosts and relax until lunch is ready. The afternoon is for exploration of the hills and surroundings of the peninsula, interacting with local local farmers, shepherds, weavers and kids. Early evening arrival to our homestay for dinner. (B/L/D).

After breakfast and a short safety briefing embark on your 3-4 hour kayak adventure.
Paddle along the shore of the peninsula with spectacular views; farmlands dotted with crops with the local people plowing their land and feeding the livestock

On the way we encounter trout farms, fisherman and reed forests, home for native and migratory bird. Leaving the peninsula, we cross the lake towards the island of Taquile where we enjoy lunch, explore the island and meet the local people, who will share their culture and traditions. Overnight at a rural lodge overlooking the lake with spectacular views towards Bolivia and the Cordillera Real. (B/L/D)

Explore the coastline of Taquile Island by kayak before returning to Llachon on the peninsula for lunch. After your days exploring serene Lake Titicaca, transfer to the airport in Juliaca for your onward flight. (B/L)