PERÚ: ADVENTURE & ADRENALINE

DAY 1- LIMA

Welcome to the City of Kings! 

Today, our enthusiastic host from Andina Amazónica will be waiting for you at the airport with your name on a sign to welcome you and assist you. You will surely be tired from the long flight, so your host will take you directly to the hotel to rest, as the next day you will take a flight to the Archaeological Capital of America, Cusco. The hotel is located next to the international airport, an excellent location for those boarding early flights to other parts of the country.

 

DAY 2 – FLYING OVER THE ANDES TO CUSCO

 

Flying over the Andes to the capital of the Inca Empire. 

This morning, after a hearty breakfast, you will head back to the airport in Lima to board your flight to the city of Cusco, capital of the Great Empire of the Incas. Flying over the Andes, you will be able to enjoy the fantastic scenery of the Peruvian coastline, the arid desert, the mountains and snow-capped peaks, and the fertile lands of the Cusco Valley, a unique and unforgettable experience. The flight takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Once you land at Cusco airport, our Andina Amazónica host guide will be waiting to take you to the enchanting “Sacred Valley of the Incas.” On the way, we will visit tourist attractions such as “La Granja de Llamas” (a very entertaining and cultural place for children and adults, where you can see and interact with South American camelids).

Continuing with the trip, we will take you to immerse yourself in the fabulous Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the way, we will observe the Andean landscapes with their typical mountains, green fields of crops, animals grazing along the roads, and local people going about their daily tasks. We will stop at some viewpoints to take pictures and take a break to appreciate the grandeur of creation.

Before lunch, and as a way to exercise and acclimatize to the temperatures, altitudes, and atmosphere, we will take a short walk to visit the Pisac archaeological park. At this point, your professional Andina Amazonica guide will provide you with information about agricultural practices and corn cultivation (an important product of the Sacred Valley), as well as tubers such as potatoes and other inter-Andean crops.

From this point, you will descend the original Inca terraces to a certain point where transportation will be waiting to take you to the town of Pisac to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Finally, we will transfer you to the heart of the Sacred Valley, where the hotel is located, and you will have the rest of the afternoon free to rest and get to know the hotel at night.

 

DAY 3 – SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Adrenaline rush on ATVs and climbing to the Skylodge. 

Today, our Andina Amazonica host will pick you up from your hotel at the agreed time to take you to the base where our adventure begins. You will be able to explore part of the Sacred Valley on fabulous ATVs that will take you through rural areas, far from congested paved roads. You will enjoy unique, dreamlike landscapes, skirting lagoons and observing all the diversity of flora and fauna that our territory boasts. Once you have had fun accelerating, adapting to the altitude and space, you will return to be driven to the next base and climb to the Skylodge.

Before arriving at the base, we will stop at a highly recommended restaurant for a delicious light lunch so that we can continue on satisfied to the base of “Viva Natura,” where the adrenaline-filled activity will begin. The high mountain guide instructor will give you a full explanation of the safety equipment and how to use it correctly, as well as sharing the secrets and techniques for climbing and successfully reaching the summit.

The route to get to your hotel (Skylodge) is unmissable. You will have to climb the rock, ascending a cliff with an incline of approximately 80 to 90 degrees and a height of approximately 450 meters or 1,476 feet, supported only by the rock and steel steps perched on the rock, with a safety line that will keep you safe at all times without the risk of falling. Finally, when you reach your glass capsule perched on the cliff where you will spend the night, you can enjoy an amazing 180° view and, incredible as it may seem, dinner is included up there: a gourmet meal, a glass of wine, an exceptional view, and if that weren’t enough, the most beautiful sunset before your eyes, giving way to a completely starry sky, a show of shooting stars that you can enjoy from your comfortable mattress and from your cozy cabin.

 

DAY 4 – SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS

Adrenaline rush on the zip line and horseback riding tour. 

At approximately 9:00 a.m., after a delicious breakfast outdoors with unbeatable views hundreds of meters above the mountain, you will begin to descend from the skylodge, but this time using the zip line, another fun and adrenaline-filled way to descend using 6 lines or cables. This way, you will be able to take better pictures and videos of the sacred valley at a cooler time of day with the sun’s rays in the perfect position for the activity.

Once back in the depths of the Sacred Valley, touching solid ground, we will drive you to another point in the Sacred Valley, a local ranch with very friendly and affectionate people. They will welcome us with open arms and share with us a magnificent lunch with a taste of home, organic ingredients, and they will delight us with their family history and show us their space. After lunch, from this beautiful ranch, you will begin a more peaceful and beautiful activity in the company of our equine friends, contemplating all the beauty of the Sacred Valley, taking you to visit the Maras salt flats, a unique place in the world, embedded in the mountain. After this activity, we will take you back to your hotel for your enjoyment and rest, as another day of hiking awaits you the next day.

 

DAY 5 – SHORT INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU

Towards the top of the mountain, in search of the wonder of the modern world. 

After an energetic breakfast early in the morning, your professional Andina Amazonica guide will pick you up and take you to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you will board the train to kilometer 104, the starting point of this short hike to the top of the mountain where the wonder of the modern world is located.

From the train station, we will travel for an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes until we reach kilometer 104, a sector called Chachabamba at 2,000 meters above sea level (6,560 ft), where the road to Machu Picchu begins. On the train route, you will be able to appreciate the incredible fields cultivated by hand by the community members of the entire area, mountains and snow-capped peaks that rise above 5,000 meters or 16,000 feet, and a diversity of archaeological sites along the Urubamba River, etc. Once in Chachabamba, you and your professional Andina Amazonica guide will begin the hike by first visiting the archaeological site, an administrative and economic center with buildings that show enclosures, resting places, ceremonial areas, terraces, irrigation canals, etc. After a brief explanation, we will continue the hike for an average of 3 to 4 hours (depending on the pace of the traveler) until we reach the beautiful Wiñaywayna (a Quechua word meaning “forever young”), after refreshing ourselves in the clean, pure waters of the waterfall, we will continue to the archaeological site of the same name at 2,600 meters above sea level. This building is located on the mountain and offers a breathtaking view of the mountain range that crosses the eastern Andes, as well as the sacred Urubamba River.

After resting and enjoying a tasty box lunch, we will continue on to the Sun Gate (entrance to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu) for an average of 2 more hours of walking. Along the way, we will see much more vegetation than in the first part of the hike, see some vestiges of Inca constructions such as the original paved Inca trail with stairways, forts or lookout points, bases of Inca retaining walls, as well as enjoy the sounds of nature. If we are very lucky, we will be able to observe different species of birds along the way, such as the Andean clockbird, the quetzal, and the emblematic cock-of-the-rock, among others.

Once at the famous Sun Gate or Inti Punku, we make a brief stop to enjoy the magnificent view of the citadel of Machu Picchu, the Urubamba River that borders the mountains of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, the mountains that surround the sacred city of the Incas, and of course the ever-blue sky with clouds and mist that give the place a magical and mystical touch.

After feasting our eyes on the unique landscape of Machu Picchu from above, we begin the descent for about 40 minutes and have the opportunity to visit one of the agricultural terraces, used as viewpoints to observe the wonder of the modern world, Machu Picchu, up close. After taking photos and listening to the guide’s explanation, we will leave the site to exit the archaeological park and take the bus to the town of Aguas Calientes, where we will have dinner and rest at the hotel.

 

DAY 6- MACHUPICCHU

Exploring the New Wonder of the Modern World! 

On this day, we will wake up early to have breakfast and head to the bus stop for a 25-minute ride to our second day at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Once inside, our host from Andina Amazonica will take you on a tour of the circuit, which lasts an average of 3 hours. If you would like a ticket to climb Huayna Picchu mountain, you must request it in advance, as they sell out in record time.

After the tour, your guide will let you know when it is time to return to the town of Aguas Calientes for lunch at a beautiful restaurant. Then, you will head to the train station to board the train and return to the Ollantaytambo station, where the van will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

 

DAY 7 – KAYAKING OR STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING IN PIURAY

Let’s kayak at the Piuray Outdoor Center! 

On this day, after a well-deserved rest and breakfast, your water activities instructor guide will pick you up at the hotel and take you to the Piuray Outdoor Center, located at Laguna de Piuray, about 50 minutes from your hotel. This lake is considered one of the most important bodies of water for the city of Cusco, as this body of water has supplied the northern part of our city with water since pre-Hispanic times.

Once at the base, the Piuray Outdoor Center team will welcome you with a station offering hot and cold drinks, water, and snacks. The guide will give you a briefing on the activity, showing you the safety equipment and how to use it. After a stretching and exercise session, they will help you get dressed.

The activity on the water takes approximately an hour and a half, during which time you can enjoy the scenic surroundings, observe some species of native birdlife, agricultural areas, etc. After the excursion, we will return to the shore, where you will enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch on the banks of the lagoon with unbeatable scenery. After an energizing lunch, we will take you to the city of Cusco so you can explore the city a little more and rest at your hotel.

 

DAY 8 – CUSCO, CAPITAL OF THE INCA EMPIRE

Cusco on two wheels and walking through the ancient streets! 

After renewing and recharging our energy in Machu Picchu, the beautiful city of Cusco awaits us, with more history and a glorious past as the capital of the Inca Empire, with warm and friendly people, alpacas and llamas roaming the city alongside tourists, art galleries, craft shops, popular markets, churches, museums, Inca and colonial buildings, etc., which classify our city as the most beautiful city in all of South America.

On this day, with our professional guide from Andina Amazonica, we will visit the most outstanding sites outside the city by bicycle, such as “Sacsayhuamán” and its surroundings, considered the most important architectural marvel of the city, whose constructions feature megalithic dry-fit blocks, considered the Temple of the Sun and later destroyed by the Spanish invasion so that its blocks could be used for the construction of the Cathedral.

Returning to the city, we will begin to walk through the most typical and traditional streets of our city, visiting the famous neighborhood of “San Cristobal” with its charming street “7 borreguitos”; the most touristy area of “San Blas”, the street of the “12-angle stone” until we reach the “Plaza de Armas”.

Finally, following the recommendations of our guide friend, you will have the afternoon free to have lunch, visit the rest of the city at your own pace, enjoy a different sunset from the main square, visit a bar with live music, have dinner at a nice elegant restaurant before resting at the hotel.

 

DAY 9 – THE RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

Walking on the colorful mountain “Palcoyo” 

Well rested after a good night’s sleep at the hotel, our Andina Amazonica guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel very early in the morning to travel south of the city, where we will visit one of the most amazing natural and geographical attractions on the planet, a place that perfectly represents the geological formation of our Andes: the colorful mountain “Palcoyo.”

Leaving the hotel, it will take us a couple of hours to reach our first stop, where we will have a tasty breakfast. then continue the journey for a couple more hours to the Mountain of Colors, observing along the way the peculiar colonial-style towns, the different colorful clothing of their inhabitants, the adobe houses with red tile roofs, small squares dominated by colonial temples, etc. Leaving the paved road behind, we will continue along a dirt road for a couple more hours, this time appreciating rural life, scattered farming communities along the way, precarious adobe houses that are crumbling with the passage of time, corn and potato fields, small schools, and some improvised soccer fields.

Once we reach our destination, we will begin the hike at your own pace, without any pressure or demands, since we have the whole day to enjoy our mountain adventure. We will visit the site and take our time to take photos, clearly appreciating the pigments that have formed over the years due to the presence of oxides, minerals, temperatures, glaciation, atmospheric erosion, among other factors. Returning to our van, we will head back to the restaurant for an energizing lunch and then return to the city of Cusco to let you rest at your hotel and enjoy more of Cusco at night.

 

DAY 10 – CUSCO – LIMA AND PARAGLIDING

Return to the city of kings to fly over its coastline. 

This morning, after enjoying the city, your Andina Amazonica host will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima. Once in the capital, another Andina Amazonica host will meet you and take you to the Miraflores pier, where your instructor will be waiting to give you a safety briefing for your tandem paragliding excursion. After putting on your safety equipment and receiving advice from the instructor, you will take a leap with your instructor, flying over the coastline and enjoying spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Miraflores district with its green areas, parks, surfers enjoying the water, modern buildings, and attractive neighborhoods. This activity lasts approximately 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the weather conditions of the day.

After the activity and returning to land, we will drop you off at your hotel so you can enjoy your time and take your own time to explore the Miraflores district further with the recommendations and suggestions of our Andina Amazonica host.

 

DAY 11 – PARACAS – BALLESTAS ISLANDS

Learning about biodiversity in the nature reserve. 

Another incredible day, this time enjoying what is known as the “Mini Galapagos in Peru,” due to the biodiversity of marine birdlife and incredible coastal landscapes in a completely different location far from the mainland. The Ballestas Islands are considered a jewel of the Peruvian coastline due to their natural formation eroded by the sea and the large number of birds that visit them.

On this day, your Andina Amazonica host will meet you to take you to the port on the Paracas Peninsula, where you will have the opportunity to set off in a speedboat and enjoy the entire seascape with panoramic views of the bay and the area known as the “Mini Galapagos of Peru.” During the tour, you will be able to enjoy the presence of a large amount of wildlife such as pelicans, flamingos, Inca terns, sea lions, penguins, hammerhead sharks, and even whales (the latter two depending on the season), all thanks to the presence of plankton brought by the cold Humboldt currents that mix with the tropical waters of the tropics.

During the excursion, your professional Andina Amazonica guide will show you the different tourist attractions, including one of the most enigmatic lines made in pre-Inca times, the “Great Candelabra,” an elaborate design in the desert sands, whose theories will be shared by your guide. After this experience, which will take approximately 45 minutes, we will return to land and board our private transportation, which will take you to a restaurant for a delicious seafood lunch with a view of the sea. Continuing the tour, we will take you to the famous and beautiful Oasis of “Huacachina,” where you can stay in one of the hotels and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening in this magical place.

 

DAY 12 – HUACACHINA – LIMA – RETURN HOME

Adventure with Buggy & Sandboarding!!! 

After breakfast at the idyllic Oasis hotel, we will pick you up for our last activity in Peru. Our adventure begins with a real adventure on wheels. With our buggy, we will travel through the beautiful dunes in endless fun. Not satisfied with this activity, we will be waiting for you for the next activity, sandboarding, where we will slide downhill, taming the waves of sand and dodging the difficulties on it.

By sunset, relaxed after so much fun, we returned to Lima in our transport with our host guide, arriving just in time to have lunch en route and then take you to Lima International Airport to board your connecting flight home.