SPECIAL CHRISTMAS - PERU: MACHU PICCHU & AMAZON - CHRISTMAS

Welcome to Peru! 

On arrival in Lima, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from  andBeyond, who will  transfer  you to your hotel (walking distance).

Early morning you will be transferred back to Lima Airport for your flight to Cusco.

On arrival at Cusco Airport you will be met and assisted and transferred to your hotel.

Rest of the morning will be at your leisure for an easy acclimatisation to altitud.

This afternoon,  for the Cusco City Tour and visit of the nearby ruins, you will meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel. Your guide will take you to the Main Square to visit the Cathedral of Cusco, the mother church of the Roma Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco; in addition to its official status as a place of worship, it has become a major repository of Cusco's colonial art, it also holds many archeological artifacts and relics.

You will then continue to Koricancha Temple, the most impressive example of how Inca and Hispanic cultures fused together. The remains of the ancient Peruvian Sun Temple were used as foundations on which the Santo Domingo church and convent was built. The temple is a symbol of Western dominance. The site is a living example of the co-existence of Peru's past with European architecture.

You will drive 15 minutes from Cusco to visit Sacsayhuaman, an imposing display of Inca architecture. There are still questions about its real purpose during the Inca period. At first, it was thought to have been a fort, but later it was considered to have been a ceremonial centre.

You will then continue to Qenqo: an immense, rocky promontory, marked by carved steps, wells, and channels. You will see Puca Puccara - or Red Fort - and Tambomachay, where the architecture of the Inca baths consists of a group of structures built with precisely cut stones. Water from nearby streams runs through the site in aquaducts and small cascades.

This morning please meet your guide in the lobby of your hotel, who will  transfer you to Poroy Train Station.

Departure from Poroy train station to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome  train. 

Reception at the train station by the hotel’s representatives that will take care of your luggage. Your guide will accompany with a short walk to the buses that leads to the citadel and board the 30-minute ride to Machu Picchu Citadel. (8000 ft. – 2432 m.a.s.l.)

Explore the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu accompanied with your guide for three hours.  Your expert guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun.

This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most significant and spectacular archaeological sites on the planet, surrounded by the cloud forest, Wayna Picchu and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.

Dinner will be at your hotel

This morning rise early, take the bus  and enjoy the prospects of a walk through Machu Picchu at sunrise, something which people of strong spirituality believe to be the highlight of a visit to Machu Picchu.

Today you will have the option to do one of these hikes:

• Huayna Picchu, one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort.
• Inti Punku or Sun Gate, it takes about an hour each way and is an uphill strenuous hike on the way out to the Gate.
• Machu Picchu Mountain, large granite steps comprise most of its trail and wind all the way to the top. The steep climb is a challenging but rewarding hike and the 360-degree views at the top are a gorgeous reward.

Rest of the morning continue touring Machu Picchu with your guide.

Bus transfer to Aguas Calientes train station to board the train to Cusco.

Depart on the Vistadome train back to Poroy train station, private transfer to your hotel.

Today, you will visit Chinchero, a small Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta. The village mainly comprises mud brick (adobe) houses, and locals still go about their business in traditional dress.

There are beautiful views overlooking the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with the Cordillera Vilcabamba and the snow-capped peak of Salkantay dominating the western horizon. Its major atraction is its colourful market. 

Lunch today will be at Hacienda Huayoccari, tucked away in the lush, vegetation-filled private estate of the Lambarri-Orihuela family in the village of Huayoccari. The Hacienda houses the owners private collection of pre-Colombian, Incan and colonial artefacts, including an impressive collection of ‘Qeros’ the traditional drinking vessels. Browse through the interesting museum with a welcome pisco sour in hand before heading into the lunch area. 

After lunch, we will continue to Ollantaytambo, a lovely village that preserves the designs of Inca buildings. Among this village's most impressive attractions are the ceremonial temple in worship of water and a fortress that guarded the entrance to the valley, in order to repel any invasions. The fortress is a stone colossus that was built between two mountains to protect the valley.

Christmas dinner at hotel.

Early morning private transfer to Cusco Airport for your flight to Iquitos via Lima.

IQUITOS / AMAZON RIVER

Arriving on a morning flight, receive a warm welcome at Iquitos International Airport by our crew and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon continues with an introduction to the historic city of Iquitos and the opportunity to visit an indigenous Amazon community.

In the early evening, embark the Aqua Nera and settle into your generously-sized suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following an introduction to our naturalist guides and a routine safety drill, gather at the restaurant for the first of many Amazonian cuisine experiences created by Aqua Nera consulting chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, ámaZ, is one of Peru’s most renowned dining establishments.

YARAPA RIVER / CLAVERO LAKE

Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we set sail from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. Ready your binoculars to spot tropical songbirds, black collared hawks and sloths. Line-fish for Amazon’s notoriously ferocious piranhas while our naturalist guides share stories of Lake Moringo. In the afternoon, we sail on to Lake Clavero where villagers rely on traditional dugout canoes to get around. Swim in the lake’s calm waters or visit native residents of Amazonia who welcome you to their community with open arms.

 YANALLPA RIVER / DORADO RIVER

We explore the black water tributaries of the Yanallpa River by skiff, disembarking to walk deep into the wildlife-rich Amazonian rainforest. Later, we board the skiffs again to cruise along the El Dorado River for a dusk excursion in search of exotic nocturnal creatures.

NAUTA TOWN / MANATEE RESCUE CENTER / TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT

In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish. Return to the Aqua Nera for breakfast before disembarkation. En route to the airport, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees rehabilitate before they are released back into the wild.

Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.

Transfer to Iquitos Airport for your flight to Lima.

On arrival at Lima Airport you will be assisted to connect with your international departure flight.