Hi New Human

Welcome to Lima, international gateway to Peru. These next few days are packed with adventure, but tonight, we’ll meet you upon arrival at the Lima airport and take you to your hotel for a good night’s rest after your flight.

Fly to Puerto Maldonado and meet the lodge staff on arrival. Transfer from the airport to the dock and enjoy a 1-hour motorboat ride to the lodge surrounded by rainforest scenery.

Your lodge is located on the banks of the Madre de Dios River. Settle into your bungalow, eat lunch, and enjoy a rest. Meet your naturalist guide for a briefing and then venture out on your first jungle hike. Listen to the sounds of the jungle as you walk past giant Kapok trees and strangler figs. Before dinner, take another guided walk to witness the emergence of nocturnal animals.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Enjoy breakfast and meet your guide to begin a busy day of activities. Climb to viewing platforms standing 15-45 meters high and get a close look at macaws, parrots, toucans and the diverse wildlife that live high above the forest floor. Continue into the Taricaya Reserve to a rescue center housing jaguars, spider monkeys, and other wild species.

After lunch, visit an Agroforestry farm and learn about the reforestation efforts and the turtle project. Finish the day's activities with a caiman search along the river in a motorboat. Rest at lodge for the evening and eat dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Rise with the sun and grab breakfast to-go before taking a 45-minute motorboat ride to the Tambopata National Reserve. From the riverbank, follow your guide along a 1.8 mi (3 km) trail to Lake Sandoval, a pristine mirror lagoon inhabited by endangered river otters, howler monkeys, macaws, and black caiman. Then return to the lodge for lunch.

Enjoy a leisure afternoon activity of floating down the Madre de Dios River in an inflatable boat, spotting turtles, monkeys, herons and other birds along the riverside. Back at the lodge, watch some documentaries about projects at Taricaya Ecological Reserve, eat dinner and relax.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After a final breakfast at the lodge, board a boat for the journey back to Puerto Maldonado. On arrival at the port, meet your transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast at your lodge

The best days in Cusco are those when you have time to get wonderfully lost exploring the narrow cobblestone roads of the old Inca imperial capital. Browse the artisan workshops and boutique shops of San Blas. Go to San Pedro Market to shop with the locals. Our personal favorite is people-watching on the Plaza de Armas while sipping a coffee or a cocktail.

Meals: Breakfast

For 400 years, the “lost city of the Incas” remained hidden atop a mountain ridge until it was revealed to the world on the pages of National Geographic in 1911.

Your day begins with a mid-morning train, followed by a bus transfer up to the ruins. Your tour guide will lead you on an unforgettable walk through Machu Picchu’s stone-lined paths, along the terrace edges, to the base of structures that testify to the extraordinary skill of its builders.

After snapping some final photos, board the shuttle bus back to town and return to your Aguas Calientes hotel for a well-deserved evening of rest.

Take the early morning bus to the ruins to begin your hike up the iconic Huayna Picchu peak. It’s a 353 m (1,158 ft) climb from Machu Picchu, requiring about 45 minutes each way, plus time to explore the Moon Temple if you wish. At the top, your jaw will drop at the sight of Machu Picchu far below.

Descend to explore more of Machu Picchu. After snapping some final photos, board the shuttle bus to town and make your way to the train station for your return to the Sacred Valley.

Meals: Breakfast

There are great rapids on the Urubamba River not far from Cusco and even beginners can give this thrilling sport a try.

Meet your guide in the morning and enjoy a scenic drive to the launch point. After a review of safety guidelines and some practice on the flat parts of the river, continue downstream, taking in views of the terraced valley and mountains. The really fun part comes next as you race through Class II and III rapids. Finish with “El Resbaladero” (The Slide), a strong class III rapid with small waves and whirlpools.

Dry off and enjoy lunch in a community-owned traditional restaurant located on the riverside. This is a great chance to enjoy the Andean cuisine while supporting community projects.

You will be met at your hotel by your guide, who will direct you to an Andean Ceremonial, located about 40 minutes by car from your hotel. Upon arrival, you will meet the “Pako”, or Andean Shaman, who will guide the ceremony. The ceremony will take around 1 hour, and is an original recreation that inhabitants practice in the Andes, as they pray to Mother Earth (Pachamama) and prosperity, health and happiness.

After the ceremony is finished, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred back to Cusco for your flight to Lima and your journey home.

Meals: Breakfast