Escorted Tours 2023-24 1st Edition

Ballestas Island Day 1: UK to Lima Depart the UK on your scheduled, overnight flight to Lima, via Bogota, Colombia. Day 2: Lima D On arrival into Lima, you will be transferred to your hotel before an afternoon city tour of Lima. Your tour of Lima takes you past the stately Government Palace, located in the Main Square, to the city cathedral, where the remains of conqueror Francisco Pizarro lie. Explore the highly embellished cloisters and entryway of San Francisco Monastery and its network of underground catacombs. Next, wander through the picturesque neighbourhood of San Isidro and the modern district of Miraflores. Re- join your group this evening for a welcome dinner. Day 3: Lima to Puerto Maldonado B/L/D After breakfast, fly to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest. Travel by boat to Corto Maltes Lodge, your Amazonian home, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, trek to a brazil nut harvesting camp and learn more about this important Peruvian staple crop and its cultivation. This evening, enjoy a night-time pre-dinner boat excursion to observe lurking caimans and the nocturnal animals of the Amazon. Day 4: Puerto Maldonado B/L/D A 3-kilometre morning hike through the wildlife haven of Tambopata National Reserve takes you to Lake Sandoval where a ride in a row boat allows you to appreciate the biodiversity capital of Peru. Spot river otters, macaws, howler monkeys and one of the world’s biggest freshwater fish, the Paiche, from your lookout on the river and, conditions permitting, encounter the primates of the Amazon on Monkey Island. Ascend into the treetops after lunch and enjoy animal viewings and a spectacular sunset from the lodge’s two lookout towers. End today’s activities with a visit to a Shiringuero encampment gives insight into the collection of rubber. Day 5: Puerto Maldonado B/L/D After breakfast, venture downriver by boat to a native farm for a tropical fruit tasting before visiting a native Machiguenga family, one of the ethnic groups of the Peruvian Amazon. Return to the lodge for an afternoon at leisure before dinner. Day 6: Puerto Maldonado to Cusco B After breakfast, a boat will carry you to the centre of Puerto Maldonado where you can browse through regional products at a local market before flying to Cusco. On arrival, uncover the remnants of the city’s Incan and colonial past on an afternoon Tour highlights ✔ Explore the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu ✔ Discover the unique flora and fauna of the Amazon rainforest in Puerto Maldonado ✔ Fly over the mysterious etchings of the Nazca Lines ✔ Spot sea lions, penguins and dolphins on a Ballestas Islands boat ride ✔ Visit historic city sights on tours of Lima and Cusco ✔ Witness the awe-inspiring snow-capped volcanic peaks of Arequipa ✔ Visit a local winery and traditional pottery studio ✔ Enjoy a boat trip on Lake Titicaca, visiting Uros and Taquile Islands The Very Best of Peru Encompassing the dense tropical rainforest of the Amazon, the arid desert region of Nazca, the dune-filled beaches of Paracas and the snow-capped volcanic peaks of Arequipa, Peru offers a dramatically varied landscape and spectacular biodiversity.  < < Lima Paracas Nazca Arequipa Puno Lake Titicaca Cusco Machu Picchu Puerto Maldonado   •     Coach Air Rail Nights 2 2 1 2 3 2 2 1 P R I V A T E T O U R U P G R A D E S F R O M £1,499 South America 114 Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details