TRAVEL TO AMAZON FOREST AND MACHU PICCHU 8 Days 7 nights: LIMA, IQUITOS, AMAZON RIVER, CUSCO, MACHU PICCHU

ITINERARY

Day 1 LIMA PICK UP
Upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel - overnight (no meals)

Day 2 LIMA CITY TOUR
This tour could start in the morning 9:30 am or 2:30pm. You will be picked up from you hotel. This excursion offers the best combination of the differents attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th. of January, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along its millenary history.
ANCESTRAL LIMA. At the Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological precint build in the IV century A.C., we will have a panoramic view of this magnificent ceremonial and administrative centre which was considered by the Incas a holy village. We will learn about the life and rituals of its ancient inhabitants and admire its typical piramidal building, very characteristic of sacred pre-hispanic edifications which were adored in the coast of Perú.
COLONIAL LIMA. The peruvian Viceroyalty was the most important one in the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital. The highlights of its historical centre are its architecture and the urban design of the city, found in thold streets filled with colonial houses adorned with moorish-style balconies. Our trip includes the Paseo de la Republica (Promenade of the Republic), Plaza San Martin(San Martin Square) and the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), with their different buildings: Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), Palacio Arzobispal the (Archibishop's Palace), the Basilica Catedral (Cathedral Basilica) and the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace). We will enter the monumental Convento de San Francisco (Convent of Saint Francis), which displays the biggest collection of religious art in America. We can admire the Choir Room and the Monks’ Library, the Sacristy, with its collection of Zurbaran and Rivera paintings. The Big Patio of the Main Cloister, decorated with sevillan tyles from the XVI century, its beautiful moorish arches and its subterranean crypts known as The Catacombs, where you will feel the presence of Lima's colonial past.
CONTEMPORARY LIMA Visit to the most traditional residential areas in the capital: The Olive Grove of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larco Mar, distinctive tourist centre of contemporary Lima.
After the tour transfer to you hotel. Overnight. breakfast included.

Day 3– IQUITOS / EXPLORAMA LODGE
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Iquitos (airfare included) Reception at the airport, brief city orientation and transfer to the Explorama dock. Fifty mile journey down the Amazon River to Yanamono Stream where Explorama Lodge is located. Afternoon hike along the "Lake Trail" through lowland rainforest which is seasonally flooded. During the high water season, this excursion is done by open boat! Night walk or open boat ride to enjoy the sounds of the rainforest and stars of the Southern sky.

Day 4 – EXPLORAMA LODGE
Morning walk along the "Bushmaster Trail", where scientific studies by the Missouri Botanical Gardens have found the world's highest biodiversity of trees per square hectare. Your guide will point out many plants used in medicine today and many that we may use in the future. Afternoon open boat trip along the Amazon in search of either of the two species of freshwater dolphin found in the river and a chance for an afternoon swim.

Day 5 – EXPLORAMA LODGE / IQUITOS / LIMA
Morning walk along a local river trail with stops along the way to visit the "ribereños" or river people, visit a river school, see the local sugar cane rum "factory" or visit our resident American medical doctor in her clinic sponsored by the Rotary Club. Transfer back to Iquitos for your departure flight .
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima (airfare included) upon arrival reception and transfer to the hotel - overnight
Breakfast, Lunch (if departure flight permits)
Due to the everchanging nature of the rainforest, day-by-day activities may vary due to local conditions

Day 6 LIMA / CUSCO - CUSCO CITY TOUR
You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco (airfare included) upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel, morning at leisure to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon 2;00pm you will be taken on a city tour and visit a local archeological sites, the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman and surroundings returning later afternoon 5:30pm to your hotel around and enjoy the hospitality of the local people (no meals included).

Day 7 MACHU PICCHU FULL DAY TOUR
Early morning 5:30am and after breakfast, we'll depart to the train station to our journey to Machu Picchu on Vista dome Train. (4 hours) at 9:40am you will arrive to the Aguas Calientes Town from where you will have to take 20 minutes bus to the Archeological site Once there where you will have a guided tour with an English speaking professional guide follow by some time at leisure, As an option, you may stay overnight in the area or town (highly recommended) and visit the ruins early next day when the full magnificence of the site reveals itself in all its majesty. You can also relax at the nearby hot springs . Otherwise, return to Cuzco where you will arrive around
7:30pm. (breakfast included)

Day 8 TRANSFER OUT
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport - end of our services
(Breakfast included)

INCLUDE:
Domestic airfares as specify in the program, nights at select hotel based on double occupancy, all transfers, professional biligual guide service, entrance fee, transportation and meals as specify in the program.

NOT INCLUDED:
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, extra expenses for flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, reconfirmation of international flights and items ofpersonal nature.

Travel to Machu Picchu and Amazon Forest 8d 7n

ITINERARY