Eco Adventure in the Southern Peru

Day 2: Lima/Arequipa.- Flight to Arequipa City. Reception. At the indicated time, visit to the main square of Arequipa, the Cathedral, Colonial Large houses, the Convent and Cloister of Santa Catalina.

Day 3: Arequipa/Colca.- Transfer to Calca Valley. On the visit the caves of Sunbay and Mollepunko. Arrival to Chivay village. Time of Relax in the thermal Baths of La Calera.

Day 4: Colca.- Early in the morning, transfer to Canacota, Sibayo and Tuti where beautiful landscapes can be appreciated by the visitors. Rafting (during two hours).

Afterwards, we´ll visit the Coporaque village from where the beautiful pre Inka andenes (terraces) can be appreciated.

Day 5: Colca/Arequipa.- Departure in direction to the Observatory of the Cruz of the Condor, place of perfect appreciation of the impressive Canyon of the COLCA and from where we can see the Condor flying over head.

During the trip back to Arequipa city, we'll appreciate the pre-Incas hanging tombs, rocky models, the observatory of terraces and the small towns of colonial air of PINCHOLLO, MACA, YANQUE.

Day 6: Arequipa/Cusco.- Transfer to the airport to board the flight to Cusco city.

In the afternoon visit main turistic attractions of downtown and the bordering archaeological complexes: Sacksayhuaman, Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and Q´enqo.

Day 7: Cusco/Mollepata (Inka Trail).- Early in the morning we travel to Mollepata to begin our trek to Salkantay, to ascent to Chayabamba on the outskirts of Humantay mountain to camp in Cruspata or Nihuacancha.

Day 8: Inka Trail.- We hike past surrealistic scape mountain. We camp at Ichupata, at the foot of Apu Salkantay. Our campsite overlooks the vilcabamba range the last stronghold of the inkas.

Day 9: Inka Trail.- We go over the Inkachiriaska pass at 15,650 Feet. We descend into a lush valley and hike to Huyrak Machay the cave of the winds, to our camp at Huayllabamba.

Day 10: Inka Trail.- Today is the hardest part of the journey, there are three sections before reaching the crossing. The first goes through a small agricultural and cattle settlement with many brooks which refresh the warm valley . The second goes up to the wood along the Llulluchapata at an altitude 3,600 mts surrounded by steep mountains. We´ll take a breath on the water fountain of the mountain in the front the sight is recreated by the snow-giant La Veronica, here the last and most dangerous section of the ascent starts. So we reach the first and highest crossing of the Inca Trail at 4,200 mts. Altitude. The crossing is called Warmihuañusna which is a Huaca or Sanctuary.

With the magnificent landscape of the snowy peaks, the valleys open up below this crossing: to the east, below, the Wayllabamba, to the west below , the new regions. The precipitous descent which will seem to you to be longer than it really is follows immediately leading to the bottom of the Pacaymayo.

Day 11: Inka Trail.- This day we´ll arrive at the first Inca unit, half way over the crossing. It is RUNTURAKAY "Can Eggs Shaped", probably a station for the relaxation of travelers, a control post and entrance to the whole Machu Picchu complex.

After a short and rugged descent you will be over the well-stoned Inca trail. We´ll soon arrive at the second Inca urban complex SAYAQMARCA "lifted village" at a 3,750 mts. Altitude, built in a corner of the mountain over descending terraces.

Next we´ll reach the third Inca urban occupation PHUYUPATAMARCA "Village over the Clouds" at an altitude 3,650 mts. encased on the slopes of a mountain. It is also built over descending terraces, looking at the mountains "From the Clouds" like wise a steep stairway descends towards it.

Across flowery fields and a small dried out pond we´ll enter the woods and go out a prairie with the discovery of a giant panorama: The snowy peaks of the Salkantay detach themselves over the mountains , The Urubamba is at the bottom of the chasms. At the end of this prairie is the mountain Machu Picchu; the next peak is the Wayna Picchu and you can already see a section of the citadel , the Inti Watana.

We´ll start to descend to Wiñay Huayna, "The Eternal Youth" at 2,600M. Altitude, built on steep canyon. Their two main complexes are linked by a stairway with ten fountains. The watchtower is built over a rocky protuberance which faces the bottom of the chasms vertically. Here is our last camp site.

Day 12: Inka Trail/Cusco.- Today we´ll cross INTIPUNKU. "Sun Gate" a kind of land mark on the road. Here you will deserve a rest to watch like the old inhabitants used to do. This is the original entrance to Machu Picchu. Among the lights of the sunset, you can see the sacred river, the deep valleys and the lost city of the Incas, like a jewel guarded by the mountains.

Day 14: Cusco/Manu.- We´ll depart from Cusco very early in the morning on our comfortable bus. Ascending to the high mountain area of Paucartambo. On the visit the Funeral Towers of Chullpas of Ninamarca.

We´ll descend through the mysterious cloud forest full of different kind of orchids, heliconias and primitive fens stopping to give you the opportunity to watch the Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola Peruviana). There is the possibility to observe the Amazonian Umbrella bird (Cephalopteros Ornatus), Trogons (trogon sp) and many more. With a little luck the only South American bear (trematerus Ornatus).

In the evening we arrive to the village of Pilcopata, where we stay in a typical lodge. Showers and toilets available.

Day 15: Manu.- Transfer to the port of Atalaya. The rest of the day is spent traveling on the Alto Madre de Dios River. On the way we can appreciate a variety of bird life, like herons, egrets, kingfishers and the ever present vultures of which the most spectacular is the condor of the jungle, King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa).

We camp very close to the famous Macaw Clay Lick. Walks in the afternoon and a night walk to sport caimans in the lake.

Day 16: Manu.- Very early in the morning, visit the Macaw clay lick. >From a floating hide you can observe how dozen or even hundreds of parrots start to gather to eat the clay, which they need on their diet. In the afternoon we´ll arrives to a lodge near Boca Manu. Walks to explore some of the many trails in the area.

Day 17: Manu.- The boat trip goes on and one will be able to understand why Manu is so famous for its wildlife. On the river edges you will be able to observe groups of turtles, white Caimans (Caiman cacodyls), Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) and maybe a Jaguar (Panther onca) resting on a log and observing its territory. Arriving in the afternoon to our campsite in Otorongo. Later on visiting the trails around the Otorongo Oxbow Lake and the giant otter observation tower together with the guide to learn the functions and secrets of the tropical rainforest. Camping on covered platforms.

Day 18: Manu.- Visit another oxbow lake called Salvador, which is half an hour boat trip from Otorongo. Here paddling silently on a Catamaran, you have again possibilities to observe a family of giant otters fishing and playing, black caimans and many different rare bird life like the Hoatzins (Opisthocomus hoatzin). In the afternoon we return to our campsite in Otorongo. Camping on covered platforms.

Day 19: Manu.- The call of the Red Howler monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) will wake us up. On Manu river, we might see many different animals, the did not find on the way in. In the afternoon the group arrives to Yanayaco. Later on a 45 minutes walk in order to visit a mammal clay lick where the large mammal; the tapir may be seen.

Day 20: Manu.- Continuing the boat trip to the port of Atalaya, where the bus is waiting for us. Lodging in Pilcopata.

Day 21: Manu/Cusco.- Bus trip back to Cusco, visiting the cloud forest again. Arrival in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel.

May	August	November
06-27	05 - 26	04 – 25