Peru is a place blessed with a deep rich history and an astonishing breadth of natural beauty. Begin in Lima, where you explore colonial mansions and view priceless collections of Incan Artifacts. Fly into one of the broadest expanses of rainforest in the world to cruise the Amazon River. See pink river dolphins navigating the waters, and watch as endangered manatees are cared for at the Manatee Rescue Center. Fish for piranha, and go on a night safari in search of caiman and fish bats. Experience life along the river with visits to traditional villages whose inhabitants find sustenance by the bounty of the jungle and the river that feeds it. Enjoy a cooking lesson, and feast on delectable cuisine with fresh produce prepared daily for you. Peru is an experience that cannot be described, only felt, and the mighty Amazon will thrill you.
Degree of Difficulty –
Your journey begins as you board your flight to Lima where you will be escorted to your hotel. Arise the next morning and enjoy a guided tour to the Plaza de Armas, the Archbishop palace and the Cathedral within an area of magnificent colonial buildings that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Continue on to the Larco Museum, a compendium of pre-Columbian and pre-Incan artifacts housed within the former vice royal mansion built over a 7th Century pyramid. Dinner is at Huaca Pucllana which overlooks illuminated Incan ruins and specializes in contemporary Peruvian dishes. ATTON HOTEL.
(B,D)
Wing away from the urban jungle into the rainforest for your first look at one of the world’s most majestic rivers, the 3,900-mile long Amazon. Arrive in Iquitos and transfer to Nauta to board your river vessel, the M/V DELFIN III. Spacious suites with large windows and an observation deck allow for eye popping views of the river, while friendly and attentive staff, excellent naturalists and meals prepared with the freshest ingredients will make for a most memorable adventure. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner and cocktails on the river. As the ship departs downriver, take in the dramatic scenery of the town’s waterfront as vestiges of industrialization quickly give way to native thatched houses along the shore. On the top observation deck, the guides will conduct a brief orientation, outlining details of your journey, including the places you will visit, the wildlife you will see, as well as a summary of the history and geography of the Amazon basin.
(B,D)
Early morning on the majestic Amazon reveals an everchanging panorama and abundant life all around. Small villages dot the shoreline and channels weaving through small islands provide glimpses of an astounding variety of wildlife and a vast assortment of birds, including Oriole
Blackbird, Purple Gallinule, egrets and Yellow-headed Caracara. During the dry season (June through November), you can explore two different eco-systems on your hike at Belluda Cano: flooded forest and terra firme forest. Your morning hike affords excellent opportunities for spotting transitional species such as the Snail Kite, Black-tailed Antbird, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, and more! The hike will lead you to dugout canoes to take out on a lagoon. As you canoe through the waters, you may spot the peculiar Crested Hoatzin bird with its olive-colored plumage. Hike back to the skiffs, where icy towels will refresh you. After emerging from the depths of the forest and returning to the ship, you will be treated to a world-class lunch with an Amazonian flair while continuing upstream towards your next destination. This afternoon, you will have the chance to enjoy some of the myriad bird species, colorful butterflies, and noisy monkey troops, and when the sun sets and nocturnal creatures come out, you’ll encounter a whole new world of adventure.
Blackbird, Purple Gallinule, egrets and Yellow-headed Caracara. During the dry season (June through November), you can explore two different eco-systems on your hike at Belluda Cano: flooded forest and terra firme forest. Your morning hike affords excellent opportunities for spotting transitional species such as the Snail Kite, Black-tailed Antbird, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, and more! The hike will lead you to dugout canoes to take out on a lagoon. As you canoe through the waters, you may spot the peculiar Crested Hoatzin bird with its olive-colored plumage. Hike back to the skiffs, where icy towels will refresh you. After emerging from the depths of the forest and returning to the ship, you will be treated to a world-class lunch with an Amazonian flair while continuing upstream towards your next destination. This afternoon, you will have the chance to enjoy some of the myriad bird species, colorful butterflies, and noisy monkey troops, and when the sun sets and nocturnal creatures come out, you’ll encounter a whole new world of adventure.
(All Meals)
The morning is a perfect time for kayaking along the calm and inspiring rainforest waters. Your guides will take you upstream; this will be a good chance to spot iguanas lazing in the morning warmth or squirrel monkeys chattering above. Stop off in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve to look for gray and pink river dolphins. After venturing out in the skiffs, the more adventurous may choose to swim with the dolphins. On the river, you will experience abundant wildlife and nature while you search for the Amazon River’s transitional forest species, including Snail Kites, festive parrots, endangered Scarlet Macaws, Olive spotted Hummingbirds, Amazonian Parrotlets, and wood creepers.
(All Meals)
Board your aluminum skiff and begin your exploration at Calvero Lake where you will have the chance to get deep into the rainforest and its fantastic diversity of flora and fauna. Back on board, enjoy lunch while you set sail to the Yarapa River. Then go ashore for a walk on the terra firma (un-flooded forest). Your naturalist guide will explain the layers of the jungle, point out tropical flowers growing wild on the shores of creeks, epiphytes such as orchids and mosses. Learn amazing facts about the habitat and its occupants. Almost every plant has a use as a cure for something and scientific research is starting to discover many truths to these ancient remedies. Board your skiffs once again and stop at the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers, to learn about their culture, traditions and folklore. You may also visit one of the villager’s homes, to see how they live and the simplicity of their lifestyle, and purchase some of the handicrafts they make.
(All Meals)
This morning, disembark in Iquitos and head to the Manatee Rescue Center to see how they care for these gentle creatures. Learn of their importance in our ecosystem, and see why it is so important that these orphaned pups are reintroduced to the river. Afterward, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima where a dayroom awaits you at the COSTA DEL SOL WYNDHAM. After dinner at the hotel, connect with your flight home, arriving the next morning.
(B,L,D)
Prices vary by season and package. Please inquire by phone at (800) 627-1244 or email info@classicescapes.com for more information and a pricing estimate.
YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:
- Roundtrip flights between Lima and Cusco on the post-extension.
- First class accommodations at hotels and cruise ship.
- Breakfasts Daily. All meals while on the Amazon River cruise. All other meals as specified.
- 5-Days/4-Nights Cruise aboard the M/V DELFIN III with all meals included. Naturalist guides provided aboard the ship. Accommodations are in double, air-conditioned outside cabins with private facilities, based on Suite Stateroom. Upgrades are available at additional cost.
- Gratuities for baggage handling, hotel tips and taxes.
- Port charges.
- All entrance fees to places of interest visited and on sightseeing tours indicated in the itinerary.
- Complimentary passport wallet and baggage tags.
- Complimentary emergency evacuation insurance.
The only thing predictable about Peru’s weather is its unpredictability. In fact, it’s not uncommon to experience all four seasons in a single day. Generally speaking, Peru has two seasons, wet and dry, but in a country as geographically diverse as Peru, local weather patterns vary greatly. In the highlands, the dry season is between June and October. The desert coast is arid. From January to March the sky is clear and the air tends to be hot and sticky. Peruvians go to the beach at this time.
The rest of the year the gray coastal mist known as garua moves in. The Amazon experiences rain, heat and more rain and heat – the wettest months are December through May, but even then, it rarely rains for more than a few hours at a time and the water levels are high, meaning you do more boat activities, as opposed to the dry month when you can do more trekking.
The rest of the year the gray coastal mist known as garua moves in. The Amazon experiences rain, heat and more rain and heat – the wettest months are December through May, but even then, it rarely rains for more than a few hours at a time and the water levels are high, meaning you do more boat activities, as opposed to the dry month when you can do more trekking.
