Day One: Flight to Lima
Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed by your Adventure Divas guide and brought to a guesthouse in the heart of the Miraflores district, near the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean.
Day Two: Barranco & Afro-Peruvian Music
After a traditional Peruvian breakfast, we will join our Lima guide for a brief historical tour through the streets of central historical Lima, visiting the catacombs of the famous San Francisco Cathedral and the Plaza de Armas. From here we will head Lima’s Surquillo market. A visit to this immaculate market will show you the main players in Peru’s fabulous food. Here we will see and learn about the bounty of ingredients in exciting Peruvian dishes inspired by Spanish, native Indian, African, Chinese and Japanese kitchens. This will be the perfect introduction to a private lunch at Barranco’s famous Nylamp restaurant owned by renowned Chef, Santiago Solari. Santiago will treat us to a short lesson in his kitchen on how to prepare Peruvian Ceviche and Peru’s most famous drink, the Pisco Sour.
After lunch, we will walk off our meal by exploring the eclectic neighborhood of Barranco. Once Lima’s beach resort, this district is now the home of Peru’s most interesting and innovative artists and writers. Here we will explore little known nooks and crannies of this Bohemian neighborhood before joining Nathalie Gelize at Kantu, a new fare trade artisan and coffee shop.
In the later afternoon, we will make our further south for a visit to the home of Susana Baca and the Instituto Negrocontinuo (Black Continuum Institute). The institute, founded by famous Afro-Peruvian music diva Susana Baca, fosters the collection, preservation, and creation of Afro-Peruvian culture, music and dance. Susana Baca is largely responsible for the revival of many forms of Afro-Peruvian folklore. Here we will learn the history of the Afro-Peruvian music, experience the music itself, and spend time with Susana Baca.
Back to the hotel for a well deserved rest before a spectacular dinner at a local favorite.
Day Three: Cusco: Imperial City of the Incas
Early morning flight to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. Our local guest house has exceptional views of Cusco. After settling in, and taking in views from our guest house, we will explore the imperial city of the Incas by visiting the ancient monuments of Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), the fine Inca walls of the Calle Loreta, the Ajlla Wasi (House of the Virgins of the Sun) and the Plaza de Armas.
Peru’s sensory feast comes alive as we wander through the flowers, meat, fruit and shamans’ markets. In the afternoon, you will have time to explore on your own, perhaps by walking the narrow streets and finding hidden gems in the small tiendas (stores) for purchasing. The tiendas are full of local handicrafts, musical instruments and fine jewelry. Then it’s dinner at a favorite local eatery accompanied by the sounds of traditional folkloric music.
Day Four: HORSEBACK RIDING THROUGH INCA RUINS, “PAGO DE LA TIERRA” WITH SHAMAN
Today we will travel through the hills of the Sacred Valley of the Incas on horseback visiting some of the areas most outstanding Inca ruins, such as the Temple of the Moon and the Temple of the Sun. We complete the horseback tour at the impressive Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman where we will meet with one of Peru’s healers (shaman or curenderas), Paula Mesa, and partake in a giving ceremony, pago de la tierra.
Day Five: CENTER FOR TRADITIONAL TEXTILES AND CHINCHERO
After breakfast, we will meet Peru’s Indigenous Diva, Nilda Callañaupa, Director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. The Center’s approach is to visit, establish and maintain reciprocal relationships with selected weaving communities in the Cusco region. The first step is to appraise the state of the art in each village by interviewing community members, conducting a written survey and identifying the ways that the Center can encourage and support weavers and their families. After lunch, we will travel to the village of Chinchero where we will meet our Quechua hosts Vilma and Paulino. Vilma Llangunaco is an accomplished Incan weaver. She and her husband Paulino established the Minka’ Chinchero Co-op, which teaches local children the ancient Incan tradition of weaving and creating natural dyes. The goal of the Co-op is not just to preserve and to study traditional textiles, but also is to assist families in creating a larger market for their textiles and a new economy for their communities. We will spend the evening with our Quechua hosts and experience traditional Andean food, campfires, stories and music.
Day Six: EXPLORE AN INCA ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
Today we will spend the day with our Quechua host families learning more about ancient traditions. We will take a short walking tour of the old central church and visit the incredible Chinchero Inca Archaeological Site. We will also visit the local artisans market where we can try Chica (fermented corn beer) and barter for goods.
Day Seven: MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE THROUGH MARAS -MORAY
We begin our cross country biking tour in Chincero crossing the spectacular Andean landscape. We will bike the dirt and gravel roads to Lake Huaypo, Maras-Moray, Salt mines and finally downhill biking to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Maras is an Inca settlement and the Salineras salt mines have been mined since before Inca times. Transfer by bus to Ollantaytambo, 30 minutes down the valley to our hotel. Optional tour of the ruins and villages by bus. Optional minivan tour of all sites.
Day Eight: OLLANTAYTAMBO ANCIENT CITY OF THE INCAS
After breakfast, we will explore the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo, an attractive little town built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning. The temple area is at the top of steep terracing, which served as defense for the community. The stone used for these buildings was brought from a quarry high up on the opposite side of the Urubamba River — an incredible feat requiring the efforts of thousands of workers. The complex was still under construction at the time of the conquest and was never completed.
In Ollantaytambo, we will meet activist, Sonia Newhouse, founder of the Hearts café in the main plaza. The cafe was opened in March 2007 to raise funds and awareness of the plight of the Women and Children in the Sacred Valley and in particular the 6 villages that make up the Community of Huaran, the largest and poorest in the Sacred Valley. Hearts Cafe gives its profits to the projects in this area.
After lunch, we will travel to the village of Canchacancha. This small highland village sits at an altitude of 4,200m. Sonia worked closely with the women to identify sustainable and relevant projects. They chose a Spanish-language nursery school and a shared kitchen. In Canchacancha we will visit the projects of the heart café working with the woman in the communal kitchen to learn more about their work.
Day Nine: TREKING THE ROYAL INCA TRAIL TO MACHU PICCHU
Following the footsteps of the Inca, we will hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This route is believed to be the ceremonial path that the Inca ruling caste used for ritual purification before entering the sacred site of Machu Picchu. The trail is a magnificent hike from the Choquesuysuy ruins, through an amazing cloud forest to Quetzal Falls, to the watch tower of Winayhuayna ruins. In the afternoon we will climb to Intipunku (Gate of the Sun), the ancient entrance to the sanctuary and arrive in the late afternoon to see Machu Picchu for the first time. When all the crowds have cleared, we will descend to Aguas Calientes where we can enjoy an evening of soaking in the fabulous local hot springs. Optional train ride and free time in Aguas Claientes.
Day Ten: WAYANU PICCHU & THE TEMPLE OF THE MOON, RETURN TO CUSCO
We will spend the entire day exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu while hearing the stories of the meaning behind this site from our local guide. In the afternoon you will have free time to explore the ruins on your own and to climb to the top of Wayanu Picchu and the Temple of the Moon before returning to Aguas Calientes to take the train back to Cusco. Then you will have a free evening in Cusco.
Day Eleven: CANOE TRIP TO POSADA AMAZONAS LODGE
Early morning flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon. Puerto Maldonado is situated at the confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers and is a bustling tropical frontier town. Its principal activities are gold mining, Brazil nut collecting, timber extraction, agriculture and ecotourism.
After a brief survey of the town we will drive thirty minutes to the Tambopata River port in the community of Infierno. We will board our boats for a one-hour trip by motorized canoe to Posada Amazonas. During our voyage we will see Black Skimmer, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, Roadside Hawk, and several species of Kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers. When we arrive at Posada Amazonas, we will unpack and unwind. Posada Amazonas is a comfortable yet unobtrusive 30-room lodge jointly owned by Rainforest Expeditions and the Local Community of Infierno. We will hear about the Ecotourism Project before visiting the canopy tower.
The canopy tower is a 35-meter scaffolding tower, built for climbing and featuring an internal staircase, verandahs and rest platforms. The top provides spectacular views of the river and the surrounding forest, and a spectacular peek into the canopy that is loaded with parrots, toucans and macaws.
Day Twelve: DAY TRIP TO TRES CHIMBADA OXBOW LAKE & ETHNOBOTANICAL CENTER VISIT
We will be up at dawn for a visit to Tres Chimbada Oxbow Lake. After breakfast, a short river boat ride and walk take us to the lake shore. From our lake canoe we will look for giant otters, turtles, hoatzin and wading birds. In the afternoon will visit the community’s ethnobotanical center. From this little shop, the community has been registering the uses of medicinal plants from elders and planting, producing and distributing them for over ten years. We will hike the trails around the center with one of the residents who will explain the everyday uses of forest resources in medicine, construction, food and fiber. We will return to Posada Amazonas for a happy hour filled with spirits — there will be an optional night walk to look for amphibians and insects, and the other kinds of spirits. We will spend dinner and an overnight at Posada Amazonas.
Day Thirteen: PARROT SPOTTING & RAIN FOREST TALK
Early breakfast then a visit to a clay lick to photograph an amazing array of parrots. Red and green macaw, and larger parrots such as Mealy and Yellow Crowned Amazons visit this lick. We hike to another lick that teems with Blue headed Parrots, Orange-Cheeked Parrots, Cobalt-Winged Parakeets, and, sometimes, even the rare Rock Parakeet. This congregation creates a riotous and colorful wildlife spectacle in which the green, orange, and blue parrots dance and vie for choice beak-fuls of clay. After lunch, we will explore a section of primary forest with a community member and a naturalist guide, each of whom will explain aspects of rain forest ecology and natural history, from their own points of view. We settle in for an evening of Amazonian cocktails at our Posada.
Day Fourteen: RETURN TO LIMA
After an early breakfast, we depart by boat back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, just in time for our flight back to Lima where we will have our final celebration dinner before heading back home.
Diva Tours: Peru
Itinerary:
Included:
Internal flights and ground transportation; all accommodations; meals as indicated — (B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner; visits to Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Amazon Rainforest; horseback riding, bicycling, hiking, canoing and jungle excursions; visits with Peruvian divas, guides, interpreters and donations to the village work project.
Adventure Cost:
$3,550Questions?
or call 206.328.9519 for more information.