ITINERARY
Day 1: Puerto Maldonado to Finca Sachavacayoc
Our team will meet you at the Puerto Maldonado airport and take you to our office via the city. We advise you to repack and bring only the items you will need for this trip; leave your belongings at our office, and we will take care of them.
We go up the Tambopata River for almost three hours in order to reach Finca Sachavacayoc. If we’re lucky, we may get to see birds, caimans, capybaras, and monkeys along the route.
Box lunches are served on board; a vegetarian option is available upon request. Cold-bottled beverages are also available on the boat.
We arrive at Finca Sachavacayoc with our guide’s complete company; we check in and take a brief nap.
Following a short time of rest, we will embark on a jungle walk to familiarize ourselves with the surrounding environment and introduce ourselves to the natural world. We will wait for dark to walk at night in search of elusive nocturnal animals and species, such as the amazing ground bird that eats tarantulas (as big as your hand).
- Overnight: Finca Sachavacayoc
- Meals: lunch, and dinner
Day 2: Finca Sachavacayoc, Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick and Condenado Lake
We will visit one of the wonders of nature, the magnificent Chuncho clay lick, the largest in the world, where hundreds of parrots engage in a special and unusual behavior that is only observed in this region of the world: they will gather at the same time to eat clay, along with the three main species of macaws.
Arriving before the birds is crucial to savoring the best of the parrot display. We travel early, at 4 a.m., and spend 2 hours in our boat upstream of the Tambopata River.
Breakfast will be served aboard the boat. On the way to the clay lick, there is a good chance that we will spot capybaras, caymans, and, with luck, jaguars or tapirs—the two most unique land creatures in the Amazon. If needed, we remain in the clay lick region until we witness the macaws consuming clay.
Head back to the lodge to have lunch.
We get ready and head to the beautiful Condenado Lake after getting a nice night’s sleep. Condenado Lake is approximately an hour’s walk from the lodge (walking slowly while observing the surroundings). Condenado Lake boasts excellent wildlife, including monkeys, caimans, a large number of Hoatzin, and numerous macaws flying by on their way to roost. We also have excellent chances of seeing the elusive and shy Anaconda. This place offers us a unique experience in the jungle, with no one else in the lake but ourselves.
As soon as we arrive in the afternoon, we hop on a paddle canoe and head into the wildest and deepest jungle, where we can enjoy the noisy monkeys and macaws.
We head back to the lodge on the way out so we may take a nighttime stroll in search of wildlife or just take in the strange, romantic, intense, noisy, and silent jungle.
- Overnight: Finca Sachavacayoc
- Meals: Breakfast,lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Finca Sachavacayoc to Sandoval Lake
We continue to Sandoval Lake by boat after breakfast, traveling the Tambopata River and passing through the city of Pto. Maldonado for two hours before reaching the lake’s entrance trail. The Trail leads you on a 1.6-mile (2.5-kilometer) walk through a succession of forests, a remnant of a once-giant natural bamboo forest that is home to monkeys, sloths, and macaws. Eventually, we arrive at a small canal where we get into our paddle canoes and paddle through a swamp covered in palm forest, full of “aguajes” (mauritia palms), which are highly valued by the locals for their fruit, which they use to make ice cream and drinks.
We stroll slowly around the lake to the lodge after entering its glass-like surface. An orientation to the lodge is given at the reception area. After checking in, guests can relax in their rooms or hummocks. We headed out to explore a portion of the lake before supper, depending on when we arrived. We were hunting for monkeys or black caimans, which are the largest members of the Cayman and Alligator family and the largest one that we could find at the lake. As they make their way back to their roost, hundreds of red-bellied macaws (about 6 meters and 20 feet) can be seen in the flooded palm jungle. one of the few macaw species that inhabits Mauritia palm wetlands like Sandoval Lake and lives in groups.
We could perhaps go for a stroll at night into the forest behind the lodge.
- Overnight: Sandoval Lodge
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Sandoval Lake – Puerto Maldonado to Cusco
After breakfast we make a final paddle through palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On the clearer mornings a glorious sunrise and its reflection can be seen in the lake. We return to the Madre de Dios River and head towards Puerto Maldonado and from there on to the airport for our flight to Cusco.
Please note the itineraries may vary slightly to maximize wildlife viewing, depending on the reports of our local researchers and experienced naturalist guides.
We paddled through palm swamps on the west end of the lake for our last kayak after breakfast. A beautiful dawn and its reflection in the lake can be seen on clear mornings. After crossing the Madre de Dios River once more, we go to Puerto Maldonado and the airport, where we will catch the flight to Cusco.
Please be aware that the itineraries may change significantly based on information from our local researchers and knowledgeable naturalist guides in order to optimize the amount of wildlife watching.
At 3400 meters (11,154 feet), arrive in Cusco, the center of the Inca civilization. After meeting your Incatrekkers guide, proceed to your accommodation. Set out to find the Inca civilization’s capital this afternoon. The first day will be dedicated to acclimating to the altitude through leisurely walking exploration of Cusco throughout the day and at night, taking in the stunning fountains of Plaza de Armas, Plaza Regocijo, Plaza San Francisco, and Plaza San Blas. Along with the Cathedral, other notable sights include the actual Inca walls, the 12-angled stone, the Choco Museo, San Pedro Market, and an optional handicraft.
- Overnight: Cusco
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Cusco City Tour
The tour begins at the Temple of the Sun, Qorikancha, the principal Inca sacred site devoted to the worship of the sun. From here, we take private transportation to the four Inca Archeological Sites, including the massive Sacsayhuman, which overlooks Cusco and is home to spectacular 120-ton monoliths and stunning Inca architecture. The tour also visits the remarkable Incan altars at the Qenqo Inca site, the Puka Pukara Incan military vantage point, and Tambomachay, a water temple with striking water fountains, which is the last destination on the itinerary.
- Overnight: Cusco
- Meals: Breakfast
- Day 6: Experience Sacred Valley, Chinchero, Maras Moray and Salt Ponds
We will pick you up this morning at 7:30 a.m. from your hotel and take you to Chinchero, where the Quechua people live and practice their traditional weaving and dying methods. Learn about Moray, a significant Inca site that served as a hub for agricultural research. Proceed to the striking Maras Salt Ponds. Every salt pond is privately held by a local family that continues to gather salt in the manner of our forefathers. Visit Ollantaytambo (Living Inca Town) after lunch. It’s a magnificent stone building made up of enormous terraces perched atop a mountainside with stunning views of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Spend the night in Ollantaytambo and unwind on your own in the afternoon.
- Overnight: Ollantaytambo
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Start the Short Inca Trail – Km 104, Wiñay Wayna and Machu Picchu
We’re going to get started early today; at 6:00 am, we’ll take you up from your Ollantaytambo hotel. We go by train for around one and a half hours to km 104, the starting site of the Inca Trail walk. situated at 2050 meters, or 6,725 feet. With a breathtaking perspective of the snow-capped mountains and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the train route follows the Urubamba River’s natural course.
Following the train ride, we cross the Urubamba River to arrive at the Inca Trail’s main entry, where we must provide our original passport and permits. After checking in, we will have some time to prepare for our day trek. We will then continue on to the Chachabamba archeological site and start the 4-hour ascent to the Wiñaywayna archeological site, which is situated at 2,650 meters (8,694 feet). We will go for around an hour through the cloud forest to reach Intipunku (Sun Gate), at 2720 m (8,923 ft), where we will enjoy our first panoramic glimpse of Machu Picchu at 2400 m (7,874 ft) after exploring the ancient archeological site. We will enjoy the day after making the short climb to Machu Picchu, and then take a bus down to Aguas Calientes for supper and the night.
- Trekking distance: 14 km (8.69 miles)
- Estimated time: 6-7 hours, approx.
- Maximum altitude: 2720 m (8,923 ft).
- Machu Picchu altitude: 2400m (7,874 ft)
- Overnight: Aguas Calientes
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Day 8: Machu Picchu Tour and back to Cusco
Start your journey early and enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel to set yourself up for an amazing trip to Machu Picchu. Take one of the first buses to the famous location, where the early light casts a captivating glow over the ancient ruins.
After arriving, take a private guided tour to fully immerse yourself in the fascinating history while exploring the specifics of some of Machu Picchu’s most important sections and temples. Take three educational hours to explore this magnificent marvel of the world.
As the day progresses, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where a substantial lunch will be waiting for you. After that, take the picturesque train back to Ollantaytambo, where our specialized private vehicle will be waiting to take you off to your Cusco accommodation.
- Overnight: Cusco
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Departure from Cusco
Enjoy one final morning to independently explore Cusco. Using our own transportation, we will drop you off at the airport so you can catch your journey home or return across the Andes to Lima.
