Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick and Sandoval Lake 9 Days.

Day 1: Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata Lodge Inn.

We will pick you up from the bus terminal or airport then go to our main office to register. Leave your large bag and take what you need for the 5 day tour we will start at 8:30 am we will take our private transport for 2 hours to the port Tambopata.

Our boat will be waiting to continue our journey on the Rio Tambopata for 50 minutes where we will observe different species such as birds, turtles, capybaras, white alligators ect. We may have the opportunity to see the king of the jungle (Jaguar) who sometimes sunbath on the shores of the river. Later we will arrive at our lodge. We will welcome you with typical refreshment from the Amazon.

Check into your respective room, later have lunch in the dining room. In the afternoon take a walk in the primary forest full of ancient trees. The forest coexists with many creatures such as insects, spiders, ants, toads, butterflies, monkeys and some mammals, etc.

After dinner, a night activity with our flashlights. Observe alligators, capybaras and perhaps a feline that is near the river for the night hunting. After this activity, return to our accommodation and rest.

Day 2: Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho Reserve Center Bahuaja Sonene

Wake up early and take our boat to Travel up the Tambopata River for 1 hour and 20 minutes enjoying a wonderful sunrise. Every day there is a chance to see the Sacred Anaconda on the banks of the Tambopata River. Arrive to the waiting area located just a few meters away from Clay Lick. This allows you to have the best possible position for the show that the birds will put on. We will be located so close to the surface that you won’t even need to zoom in on your cameras!

As the sun rises over trees, birds, an explosion of life and color will burst before our eyes as hundreds of parrots and dozens of macaws, eat clay to get their correct pH balance leveled out.

In groups of two and three, Greedy Red Macaws and Scarlet Macaws come flapping their wings, landing in the main part of the trees. The macaws will eventually decide to come down and put on a colorful and noisy display on the bare shores, feasting on the clay. While they delight in the sodium sediment, we have the unique opportunity to enjoy a healthy and extraordinary breakfast while watching the show (so yes, sit back and relax). After this activity, we will take our return to our lodge (TAMBOPATA LODGE INN).

Explore the (RESEARCH CENTER,) one of the best in the world to learn about the flora and fauna. Monkeys, wild pigs, tapirs, giant trees, medicinal trees after this activity, we will return to our lodge located on the border of the Tambopata National Reserve of the Bahuaja Sonene National Park. After dinner take a walk to see different species that come out at night to look for their food, then return to our Lodge to rest.

Day 3: Tambopata Candamo to Sandoval Lake Reserve

Today after breakfast we will pack our things to take our return boat approximately 2 hours down the Tambopata river where our private mobility awaits us for the transfer to the city of Puerto Maldonado. From there go to our office where we will leave the luggage that is not necessary for the trip. Later go to port (Capitanía), board an outboard boat from there we will begin our trip through the Alto Madre for 50 minutes.

Some activities to do this morning with our guide include a Canopy Walk and Zipline. After we enter Lake Sandoval located within the Tambopata National Reserve. To get to Lake Sandoval walk 3 km (muddy in the wet season) and arrive at a small port. After half an hour of rowing we will arrive at the port of Sandoval Lake resort Lodge, when we arrive at the the lodge we will have a warm welcome with a tasty typical juice. After a break, equipped with a flashlight or headlamp, take a night walk in the forest to look for the night monkey (Musmuqui), frogs, snakes and insects that are active at night. Return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Adventures – Monkey island – Zipline – Kayak – Puerto Maldonado

Pick up will be after breakfast, go to Monkey Island and appreciate a great diversity of flora and fauna as well as monkeys. The Monkey will put on a show of swinging through the treetops charging down the trunks of the large trees that form their home in order to accept food from your hand. Afterwards, enjoy the great Canopy and zipline activity in the Peruvian jungle, head back to our boat and head to our Lodge in Puerto Maldonado

• Accomodation: Wasai Lodge.
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 5: Puerto Maldonado – Cusco

Enjoy your remaining time in Puerto Maldonado, later be dropped off at the airport for your flight to Cusco.

Upon your arrival to the ancient imperial City of Cusco, be greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. There, receive a short briefing and be given the morning to acclimatize.  In the afternoon, we will introduce you to the Imperial City of Cusco.

Cusco’s history lives in its streets, squares, valleys and towns. You will find stunning destinations and examples of fine engineering by Inca stonemasons and living examples of the mix of Andean and Spanish culture. Continuing our journey, we visit the Santo Domingo Convent built over the Koricancha, as well as the ancient Inca Palace, the main worship center of the Sun God.

Our discoveries continue at the unmatched and mesmerizing archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman and its military Inca architecture, which dominates the city. Finally, you are introduced to the contrasts of the indigenous ancient sites of Qenqo, Puca Pucará and Tambomachay, located in the north east of the city. We then head back to your hotel in Cusco by early evening.

• 3* Accommodation: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• 4* Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada, Casa Andina Private Collection or Novotel Hotels

DAY 6: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (Pisac + Moray + Maras + Salt mines + Ollantaytambo)

We will pick you up from your hotel at 7:30 am with our private van and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Our first stop is the Manos de la Comunidad, which has a variety of Camelids indigenous to Peru like the Llama, Alpaca, Guanacos and the Vicuna. The Vicuna produces very fine wool and can only be shorn every three years. We visit this farm to pet, feed and take pictures with these animals. Also, in the center are local women dressed in local garments, weaving items using the wool from these animals. As you exit, you will encounter a museum and souvenir shop. The workers are always around to answer any questions, but you never feel pressure to buy anything.

Stop at the Mirador of Taray to enjoy a beautiful overhead view of the Urubamba valley, enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains. Next, we head to the Pisac archaeological site, where you can see the biggest Inca cemetery with more than 2,000 tombs lining the mountain side. We learn about the value of this site in terms of Agriculture. Explore the many Inca farming terraces, food storage warehouses at the top of the hill and the water channels for irrigation purposes.

Then, we start driving towards Urubamba for lunch, passing small farming towns like Coya and Calca before stopping in Urubamba for a delectable buffet lunch. The restaurant has an impressive spread of different foods and is vegan and vegetarian friendly. There is a variety of fresh vegetables, salads, protein dishes, desserts and tea and coffee. (Lunch is not included)

After lunch, continue to the colonial town of Maras, to reach the Pre-Inca salt mines. Enjoy this historical site, that has been mined pre-Inca and continues to be the bread and butter for this small community. The salt stream above feeds the thousands of salt pans, once the water has evaporated the salt is collected and sold. The salt mines are one of the few left in the world that produce a natural pink salt and have not adopted any modern techniques for mass salt mining. The locals have full mining rights and all the salt sold on site belongs to the locals. It still supplies Peru with over 90% of its salt. A great place to grab an souvenir.

Next, we visit Moray, which was an experimental farming site built in the form of an amphitheater, each level naturally has different temperatures to grow different types of crops. These levels of terraces were carved before the Incas took control of the Sacred Valley and then used by the Incas to research optimal growing conditions for their crops. The Incas brought in different soil samples from other regions, to optimize their research. The locals were still using it for growing their crops, until the 1970s when it was preserved and protected for tourism.

Then, we drive to Ollantaytambo to explore this quaint Inca village and the amazing Inca Ruins on the hilltop above. These ruins are where the Incas fought their last battle with the Spanish conquerors, before they had to retreat and flee into the dense jungle. Most of the structures were unfortunately incomplete. There is a section with a number of boulders that were carved, but didn’t make it to their destination. Another possibility, is that the battle was so intense, it caused a lot of damage to this massive Inca site.

Finally, at around 5:30pm we head to our hotel to spend the night and prepare for the early historical, once in a lifetime hike we are about to embark on.

Hotel in Ollantaytambo: Tunupa Lodge or similar

DAY 7: OLLANTAYTAMBO – KM104 – WIÑAY HUAYNA – SUN GATE – MACHU PICCHU

The guide will pick you up from the hotel at 5:30 am and take you to the Ollantaytambo train station, to take the 6:10 am Expedition Train. We take the train to KM 104, the starting point of the Inca Trail. After crossing the Urubamba River on a picturesque foot bridge, you need to show your passport at the checkpoint. At this point, we begin our 3-hour trek to Wiñay Wayna archaeological site (2,650/8,747ft) known as Forever Young in Quechua. The first hour and a half is a gentle hike upward. Along the way, we stop at several outlooks where you have an expansive view of the Urubamba River and pass through several microclimates, including a cloud forest. We are then challenged by a slightly steeper uphill trek and rewarded at the end with a beautiful waterfall to enjoy.

When we reach Wiñay Wayna, we will rest, eat the gourmet box lunch and enjoy the dazzling views of this amazing site. Here at Wiñay Wayna we finally intersect with the Classic Inca Trail. These amazing Inca ruins have a fascinating history and some parts are still hidden by the dense jungle. Be sure to ask your guide to share the history.

When lunch is finished and you are rested, trek another hour before reaching the Sun Gate (2,730m/9,00ft). Close to the Sun Gate experience our last challenge with a final set of steep stairs carved directly into the bedrock. Passing the Sun Gate we get the first glimpse of the mysterious Machu Picchu Citadel. Take your time to enjoy the view, now it is just an hour hike down the flat rock stairs to Machu Picchu. Be sure to have your camera ready to take all of the incredible views of Machu Picchu Citadel along the way.

On reaching Machu Picchu, you will have time to take more photos from the viewing platforms above the site (Guard House). You will arrive in the afternoon, as the archeological area starts to empty of tourists, which gives you the opportunity to take beautiful photos in the afternoon light with fewer people in your shots. Take your time to take in this magical experience before you take the bus down to Aguas Calientes to check into your hotel. You will have a delicious dinner, then have time to walk around this picturesque little town, visit the hot springs or just go to your hotel to rest after such an exciting day.

• Meals: Box Lunch & Dinner
• 3* Accommodation: Ferre Hotel
• Difficulty: Moderate

DAY 8: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

After an early breakfast at your hotel, we are ready to get an early bus at 5:30am up to Machu Picchu to witness the sunrise. It is a truly mystical site and not something you’ll want to miss! After enjoying the sunrise your guide will provide a guided tour of Machu Picchu, which takes around two hours. See many of the most important parts of Machu Picchu Citadel during your tour.

When they have had their fill of the incredible views of Machu Picchu, a bus back down to Aguas Calientes will be waiting. Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes have lunch at one of the numerous restaurants in Aguas Calientes (lunch not included). Depending on your train departure time, there may be some time for shopping, or sightseeing.

The Expedition train will take you back to Ollantaytambo at 2:55pm or 3:20pm, following the spectacular Urubamba River. Close to Aguas Calientes, the canyon is narrow and the river has many beautiful sections of whitewater. Back at Ollantaytambo, your driver will meet you at the exit from the train station to take you back to your hotel in Cusco in our private van. You can expect to arrive at your hotel about 7:00pm.

• 3* Accommodations: Maytaq Wasin or Waman Hotels
• Meals: breakfast

***IMPORTANT:

• On the 2-day Inca Trail, we will be doing the circuit #3 and there is no way to do another circuit unless you buy an additional entrance to Machu Picchu.
• You can upgrade to the Vistadome Train for the same times, 2:55pm or 3:20pm, 4:22pm, or 4:43pm. The cost is $57 USD.
• Early trains can be organized on request and it has to be done at booking.
• The Huayna Picchu Mountain Hike depends on availability and let us know about it at booking time.