The Active Expedition
Duration - 18 days.
Route: Horseride, Raft expedition, Mountain biking, Inca trail and The Jungle (Manu)
Day 1 - ARRRIVAL IN PERU
You will be awaited by AVENTURAS DE ORO in the arrival lounge of the airport in Lima. We take you to your accommodation in the safe district of Miraflores. (overnight Miraflores)
Day 2 - HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE PERUVIAN PASO
Horse riding trip on a Peruvian Paso Horse through an oasis, dunes, villages and over beaches. This breed is famous for its¹ unique trot. It makes horseback riding comfortable and you won¹t get tired too quickly. When we leave the rancho we start climbing a steep sand dune. We see some pre-Inca ruins and pass by some very simple houses. The women are busy doing the housekeeping and their children are playing in the sand. There is no electricity, not to mention running water. The people greet us in a friendly way and we say ³Hola². It seems that here do not come too many tourists. We ride at a nice pace through valleys, villages, dunes and fields. Next we go to the beach. The horses trot along the edge of the surf while the waves break and we enjoy all of it. After three hours we are back on the rancho. An unexpected experience!
Day 2 - FROM LIMA TO CUSCO
Transfer airport and fascinating flight over the Andes to Cusco. Pick up a transfer to hotel. Free day for first explorations of the city and acclimatization. (overnight Cusco) (B)
Day 4-7 SPECTACULAR RAFT TRIP
Bus ride to the Apurimac River, for a spectacular expedition on the Apurimac River.The River Apurimac forms the border between the provinces Cusco and Apurimac. It flows through an impressive canyon. Apurimac means in Quechua -the language of the Inca¹s- ³God who speaks. The Apurimac is one of the most difficult rivers to navigate in the world. The rapids vary from category 1 until 5. So the utmost concentration and exertion are requested. The expedition goes through inhospitable territory. We see a lot of wildlife: perhaps Andes foxes, giant otters and condors, enormous cliffs and the breathtaking wild water. After the first instructions follows our first experience with the rapids. We camp on beaches along the river. The campsite is quickly set up and we have coffee, tea and dinner around the camp fire. At night we fall asleep listening to the rushing water. Every morning we have a powerful breakfast and go further down the river. The last day is the most spectacular. In one morning we pass one rapid of the category 4+ ³Babalua², and two rapids of the 5th category ³YouFirst² and ³Last Laugh². ³El dolor de muelas². (Tooth ache) is a real battle against the water. If you don¹t feel like going down this or other rapids you can go walking. Back in the hotel at the end of the expedition it looks like time did not go by and you realize how special it is to be in nature for such an intense experience. It may cost you a little while to adapt to the traffic and everyday business of city life again. (From L on day 4 - L on day 7) (camp on beaches along the river)
Day 7 - BACK TO CUSCO
Back to Cusco. (overnight Cusco)
Day 8 - FREE DAY CUSCO
Cusco also known as The Navel of the Earth for the Incas with it is fascinating Inca buildings and ruins. Cusco was and will always be the capital of the Inca culture. Is shows a fascinating contrast between ancient cultures and the Spanish conquest. Although the Spaniards built their buildings on the foundations of the Inca palaces and buildings, they could not cover up the traces of the Inca¹s. This is obvious as we have a look for example at their customs, the traditional parties, where a lot of Inca rituals are demonstrated, the official Inca language Quechua that is still be spoken. You never stop exploring Cusco. The magnificent streets, colonial houses, the artisan neighborhood San Blas, museums, churches, its people and many more. (overnight Cusco). (B)
Day 9 - MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
After breakfast we head to Chincheros. Here we prepare our bikes and we go the Huaypo Lake and the Inca circular terraces of Moray. We bike down the village of Maras and nearby are the photogenic salt mines of Salinas. A very rewarding trip. (overnight Sacred Valley) (B)
Day 10 - INCA TRAIL
We will go to Chillca to start the trek. We will have lunch in Miskay with an additional rest of a half hour approximately, after which we start our trek to the first campsite. Along the way we will visit the archeological site called Llactapata. (B in hotel, L)
Day 11 - INCA TRAIL
We will have breakfast early and start trekking to the highest point of the Inca Trail, where we can see different ecological zones and enjoy changing climates. We will cross the Warmiwañusca pass at 4200 meters above sea level. After lunch we will continue on to the campsite at Pacaymayo and enjoy dinner and a well deserved rest. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - INCA TRAIL
We will walk approximately 45 minutes up to reach the second pass at 3850 meters above sea level, and will visit Runcuracay along the way. We will also visit the Sayacmarca archeological group and then go on to the Phuyupatamarca ruins. After lunch we head to Winaywayna where we will spend our last night. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - INCA TRAIL / BACK TO CUSCO
After an early breakfast, we start on the final leg of the trek to Machu Picchu. We will arrive at Inti Punku where we will have a panoramic view of the Machu Picchu citadel. After a short hike down to Machu Picchu, we register and start on our 3 hour guided visit. After enjoying the remains, we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where you will have free time to enjoy the town before we return to Cusco. (B)
Day 14 - MANU
We leave Cusco early in the morning in our transport to the cultural zone of Manu. It's a long ride but very rewarding as we pass colonial villages and visit the interesting Pre- Inca tombs of Ninamarca. From the cold pass of Acjanacu (4,445 m.a.s.l.) we drive in a few hours to a nice 1,600m.a.s.l.(by bike). Now we are in the Cloud Forest with a thick cloak of clouds that provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. This area is also home of the Cock of the Rock, Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. (overnight in our open air lodge “San Pedro”)
Day 15 - MANU
we wake up very early to observe the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruviana), Peru’s national bird. At about 5:00am. as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a ritual mating dance. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females. After breakfast we continue (optional) by bike down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward Pilcopata town for 2 hours approximately and from here we can (optional) raft down Alto Madre de Dios River. At our ldge we go down and make short walk around the lodge. (overnight lodge) (B, L, D)
Day 16 - MANU
The lodge is located in a transition zone between high and low jungle (600 m.a.s.l. to 1,150 m.a.s.l, 1,200 to 3,450 feet) encompassing different habitats. This altitude range explains the high diversity of wildlife found around this lodge, so immediately after breakfast, we will start walking near the riverbanks, during the hike our guide will talk about insects, medicinal plants, trees, reptiles, mammals, etc. Early afternoon we will start a short ride by boat to visit a small lake near to the Alto Madre de Dios River, here we are going to have the chance to see the Hoatzin, a primitive bird, white caimans, many species of birds, insects, etc. We can traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables, as they sail through the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy, and over the trails far below. Short night walk. This will be our last night in the wonderful Amazon jungle. (overnight lodge) (B, L, D)
Day 17 - MANU
This day we will get up very early to board our boat, and after five minutes, we will arrive to a Parrot Lick “Collpa”, which is a wall of clay in the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. After this we will take the boat to Atalaya where the bus takes us out of Manu, arriving Cusco late in the afternoon. (overnight Cusco) (B)
Day 18 - BACK TO LIMA
Today you fly back to Lima. You will be awaited by Aventuras de oro in the arrival lounge of the airport. Transfer to your hotel (day use) and later that day transfer to airport for your international connection. (B) B= Breakfast L= Lunch D= Diner
Aventuras de oro reserves the rights to change the order of the trip or to offer other trips/accommodation due to circumstances she does not have control.
Aventuras de oro reserves the rights to offer another route than the 4-day Inca Trail.
INCLUSIVE:
Accommodation on basis of 2-pers room with bathroom incl. breakfast, 2 internal flights, all transfers. Expeditions: Horse riding, Raft expedition, mountain biking, Inca trail and Manu. Food, during raft trip and Manu from lunch on day 1 until lunch on day 4. Inca Trail includes personal porter with max. 9 kg. per person.
NOT INCLUSIVE:
International flight, (inter)national airport taxes (28,10 USD and 5 USD pp. per flight), Entrance ruins and some museums of Cusco (25 USD pp), personal expenses, tips, lunch en diner. OBSERVATIONS: Itinerary is subject to change depending on availability. Hostels and hotels publicize their breakfast hours (usually 7-10am) and check out time. In some cases you leave earlier than 7am from hotel (e.g. Inca trail) and you might not be able to have breakfast.
