Peruvian Rivers & Rainforest

from 

AU$25,379

per person
 
Duration: 19 Nights
Destination: Peru
Region: South America
Deal Code: PA12N0HE

 

 

Description

Your fly, stay and cruise package includes:

  • Economy class flight to Lima, returning from Cusco
  • 11 day Peruvian Rivers & Rainforest Discovery cruise onboard Aria Amazon, Lima return
  • Accommodation: 2 nights in Lima, 7 nights on the luxurious Aria Amazon, 1 night in Lima
  • 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients
  • Complimentary house wine and beer, spirits, soft drinks, tea, and coffee
  • 9 days of excursions, all fully hosted by English-speaking local experts & naturalist guides
  • Flights included between Lima and Iquitos
  • Gratuities for onboard personnel are included during the cruise/tour
  • Airport arrival transfer
  • 9 day Premium Peru Guided Holiday by Intrepid, Lima to Cusco
  • 6 nights accommodation in premium hotels & 2 in feature stays
  • 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
  • Transport by Plane, Train, Private vehicle, Boat
  • 1 night accommodation in Cusco post tour
  • Private transfer from hotel to airport

***Rate based on twin share for travel 22 March to 10 April 2023***

***Alternative dates available, a surcharge may apply***


Peruvian Rivers & Rainforest Discovery Cruise
Peru is a land of mysteries, legends and ancient cultures. You’ll experience the diverse landscapes from Lima to the Amazon Rainforest. Your journey starts in the country’s capital, Lima. Known as the “City of Kings”, this melting pot of culture will captivate you from the first moment. Admire the colorful colonial architecture, visit the San Francisco Monastery and wander through the bohemian district of Barranco. From there, head to Iquitos, the largest city in the Amazon rainforest. Delight in the exotic fruits and flavourful cuisine. Once you take to the waters of the Amazon rainforest, you’ll explore the vibrant wildlife and lush greenery alongside your naturalist guide. Stargaze on the “Enchanted Lake” with nothing but a clear sky above you. Journey to the merging point of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers where the Amazon River begins. A mesmerizing exploration of land and sea, this adventure will delight all of your senses.

Day 1: Lima
Arrive at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the beautiful Country Club Lima Hotel. Its charm and comfort will offer you the perfect home for your exploration of the city.

Day 2: Lima
Known as the “City of Kings,” Lima was founded in 1535. A melting pot of cultures, flavors and history, this bustling metropolis has something for everyone, and today you get to discover it all.
Featured Excursion: Lima City Tour

Day 3: Lima, Fly to Iquitos (Nauta), Embark
You will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the airport for your flight to Iquitos. Upon your arrival at Iquitos International Airport, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the Aria Amazon. the evening, you will be welcomed with a reception dinner by Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Famous for his innovative take on Amazonian cuisine, this dinner will be bursting in flavours unique to the Peruvian Amazon.
Featured Excursion: Marañón River skiff ride

Day 4: Yanayacu-Pucate River, Marañón River
Your day starts at the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, the second largest protected natural area in Peru. Kayak, canoe and swim in the black waters of the Yanayacu-Pucate River. In the afternoon, learn about traditional customs of the area at a remote village along the Marañón River. Once the sun sets, we’ll gaze at the night sky, where you’ll have a crystal-clear view of planets and constellations.
Featured Excursions: Village Tour > Yanayacu-Pucate River Excursion

Day 5: Samiria River, Nauta Caño (Amazonian Natural Park)
Today we’re exploring the vibrant wildlife and lush greenery thriving in the Amazon. Your naturalist guide will teach you all about the diverse flora and fauna unique to the region before setting off on a guided jungle walk. You’ll finish the day stargazing on the “Enchanted Lake.”
Featured Excursions: Samiria River and Jungle Walk > Stargazing on the “Enchanted Lake”

Day 6: Nauta
One of the oldest inhabited areas in the Peruvian Amazon, Nauta is nestled between the Marañón and Ucayali Rivers. You’ll explore the town’s market, which is full of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables. From there, it’s a short journey to the birthplace of the Amazon River.
Featured Excursions: Nauta market visit > Birthplace of the Amazon

Day 7: Ucayali River, Pacaya River
Experience life as an Amazon River dweller as you cruise along the Ucayali River. Search for the famous pink dolphins and other wildlife lurking just beyond the river. Once the sun sets, we’ll take to the Pacaya River, on the lookout for nocturnal beasts.
Featured Excursions: Evening skiff tour on the Pacaya River > Skiff tour along the Ucayali River

Day 8: Pacaya River, Ucayali River, Tapiche River
Your day starts early today with a skiff excursion along the Pacaya River, where you’ll venture into the rainforest to see some wildlife. Following lunch, you’ll participate in a paiche fishing demonstration. The paiche is the second largest fish in the world. We’ll end the day watching for the pink river dolphins on the Ucayali River.
Featured Excursions: Skiff tour on the Pacaya River > Paiche fishing demonstration > Skiff tour on the Ucayali River

Day 9: Clavero Lake, San Jose de Sarapanga Forest
Spend the morning jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water Yarapa River or Clavero Lake. In the afternoon, see the unbelievable giant water lilies of the San Jose de Sarapanga forest.
Featured Excursions: Yarapa River & Clavero Lake > Jungle walk in the San Jose de Sarapanga forest

Day 10: Nauta (Iquitos), Disembark, Fly to Lima
Take a morning walk through the town of Nauta before disembarking the Aria Amazon. Your guide will take you on a few excursions on your way to the Iquitos airport. Once you’ve arrived in Lima, you’ll be transferred to the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport for your last night.
Featured Excursions: Manatee Rescue Center > San Juan craft market > Nauta town visit

Day 11: Lima
Your majestic Peru adventure ends this morning. Your guide will walk you from the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport hotel to the Lima airport check in.


Premium Peru
Welcome to Peru, where colourful cities rub shoulders with wild rainforests and ancient monuments. Join a local leader to discover the Incan, indigenous and modern sides of Peru on an immersive nine-day Premium journey. From the colonial charm of Lima to the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest, the historically rich city of Cusco and the spectacular Incan ruins of Machu Picchu – this adventure takes you straight to the heart of it all. Take time to soak up quiet moments of local life and get beneath the surface of a remarkable country that’s anything but ordinary.

Included Premium Peru activities:

  • Lima - Downtown walking tour
  • Lima - Alameda Chabuca Granda tour and tastings
  • Lima - San Francisco Monastery and the Catacombs
  • Lima - Welcome Dinner
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Amazon Jungle - Night jungle walk
  • Amazon Jungle - Medicinal garden tour
  • Amazon Jungle - Macaw clay lick
  • Amazon Jungle - Night boat tour
  • Amazon Jungle - Oxbow Lake
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee)
  • Cusco - Walking tour
  • Cusco - Cathedral tour with Specialist Historian Guide
  • Cusco – Xapiri Art Gallery and Coffee Shop Visit
  • Ollantaytambo - Archaeological site
  • Sacred Valley - Community workshops visit
  • Sacred Valley – Sacsayhuaman
  • Sacred Valley - Home-cooked lunch
  • Machu Picchu - Guided visit
  • Ollantaytambo - 360 degree train to Aguas Calientes
  • Machu Picchu - Second visit

Day 1: Lima
Welcome to Peru! Your adventure begins in Lima, where you will be collected from the airport on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Here you will meet your small group of fellow travellers and your local leader for a 2pm welcome meeting. Afterwards, head out to get to know the city on a walking tour of downtown Lima with your leader. Admire the colonial buildings of Plaza Mayor and visit the eerie catacombs of the Saint Francis Monastery, then head away from the tourist trail to Alameda de Chabuca Granda – an area popular with the locals. Stop off at the colourful street food stalls to sample some of Lima’s favourite sweet treats, like Peruvian donuts and mazamorra morada; porridge made from purple corn. But be sure to leave some room as tonight’s dinner is really something special. Lima has one of the world’s most revered culinary scenes, and this evening you’ll head to one of the city’s best restaurants, set in a historic house in the artistic Barranco neighbourhood. Inspired by the home-cooked food of his mother, the creative chef offers up traditional Peruvian dishes with the atmosphere of a welcoming family home.

Day 2: Amazon Jungle
Today you will catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. On arrival in the afternoon, take a bus to the community port of Infierno where you will board motorised canoes and head upstream into the Amazon rainforest. Keep an eye out for macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras along the way. Nestled on the banks of the Tambopata river you’ll find the Posada Amazonas, a rustic jungle lodge owned by the indigenous Ese Eja community, and your Feature Stay accommodation for the next two nights. A paradise for nature lovers, the lodge is in perfect unity with its wild surroundings and is enveloped by a swath of lush rainforest. Gorgeous rooms are built from traditional woods, adobe bricks and clay, and feature private bathrooms and an open wall, allowing you to make the most of the spectacular location and be totally immersed in nature. Profits from the lodge go back into the local indigenous community in the form of education and training. As dusk falls, set out for a night walk to discover the fascinating nocturnal activity in the surrounding areas, then retire to the lodge for dinner.

Day 3: Amazon Jungle
Embrace a very early start this morning and set off into the jungle after breakfast. Take a short walk and a short boat ride to the other side of the river, then begin a walk to the Oxbow Lake – this walk should take around an hour and a half over flat, shady terrain with plenty of stops along the way. Board an open topped catamaran to explore the lake in search of birds, monkeys and maybe some otters if you’re lucky. Return to the lodge via the same route, take some time to freshen up, then take a short walk to the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. As the name suggests, this clay wall attracts parrots in their hundreds who come to snack on the mineral rich clay each morning, offering visitors a close up look at these vibrant creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch and take some time to enjoy the views from your room or catch up on sleep, then in the afternoon, travel by boat to a medicinal garden where a community organization produces medicines from native plants. Walk a forest trail to learn about the different medicinal properties of the surrounding plants. This evening, enjoy a boat trip in search of caimans – with the engine turned off, you’ll be treated to the wild sounds of the jungle at night.

Day 4: Cusco
This morning you will travel back to Puerto Maldonado, then take a flight to Cusco, the former centre of the Incan Empire. Arrive in the early afternoon and settle in to your hotel, then head out with your leader for an orientation walk to familiarise yourself with one of South America’s oldest city and get used to the high altitude. Stop by the stunning Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city, flanked with colonial buildings and ornate churches. Visit the World Heritage-listed Cusco Cathedral, built on top of an Incan palace and one of the city's greatest repositories of art. Here you will meet with a local historian guide who will provide expert insight on the colonial art, architecture and history of this magnificent building and the city surrounding it. The evening is free for your own discoveries – Cusco offers no shortage of excellent restaurants, and as night falls the city is swept up in a flurry of live music and late-night street food stalls.

Day 5: Cusco
Today you will discover more of Cusco’s charms on a walking tour with your leader. Visit the Coricancha Temple, once the most important temple in the Incan Empire. Formerly plated in thick gold, the Spanish built a Dominican church atop its walls. Meet with a local guide to uncover the secrets of the temple and the ancient civilization that first built it. Stop of at the Xapiri Ground art gallery and cafe – no ordinary eatery, this project empowers indigenous communities to maintain their cultural traditions through collaborative art installations and fair trade practices. Afterwards, head to the San Pedro market, where you can practice your bargaining skills and take some colourful pictures, then swing by the Plaza de Armas for another look at the marvellous cathedral. The afternoon is free for further explorations – speak to your leader about the option to arrange a cooking class at a local restaurant using fair trade products, or the half-day Inkilltambo trek, exploring an archaeologic site on the city’s outskirts.

Day 6: Ollantaytambo
This morning, travel through the Sacred Valley towards Ollantaytambo, passing maize crops and fertile terraces carved high into the valley walls. Stop by the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where the massive stone blocks that form the walls of this site provide an impressive picture of how greatly developed Inca engineering was. Visit the Chichubamba community to gain a greater insight into the local lifestyle with a traditional Andean lunch and a visit to a local workshop - either making pottery or chocolate and corn beer. Continue on to Ollantaytambo, a magnificent example of Incan urban planning and the perfect warm up for Machu Picchu. Explore Ollantaytambo's archaeological site with an expert local guide who will discuss the evidence of the Incas' engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River, imposing sets of terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Late afternoon head to the hotel in Ollantaytambo and settle in for night.

Day 7: Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
Today, travel from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes in style, boarding the 360 Machu Picchu Train. High, domed windows offer up unbelievable views of the Andes, allowing you to sit back in comfort and take it all in. The train also features an open air observation carriage so you can completely immerse yourself in the remarkable landscape – have your camera ready as this scenic journey will be one worth remembering. Disembark the train in Aguas Calientes then take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu, where you will be joined by a guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of its history and the ancestral people of the region. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu may always be a mystery, since no historical records of the complex exist. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of Emperor Pachacuti. Due to visiting restrictions at Machu Picchu, we recommend exploring the Sun Gate and Inka Bridge before your guided tour starts. Your leader can advise how to get the most out of your visit. Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night before heading back up to Machu Picchu first thing in the morning for your second visit.

Day 8: Cusco
Rise before the sun and take the winding road back up to incredible Machu Picchu. On your second visit, explore more of the extraordinary architecture of the many temples, palaces and living quarters. Looking at Machu Picchu as it sits against a backdrop of forested mountains is a truly breathtaking experience. Its mortar-free design is particularly earthquake resistant and the stones are so precisely cut that, to this day, not even a knife fits between them. You'll have time along the way to take any photos you may have missed yesterday. Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, then catch a standard train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, you will make the drive back to Cusco for the evening.

Day 9: Cusco
Your Amazon and Inca adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.

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Terms & Conditions

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest Inside category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 29 July 2022 and can be withdrawn without notice. Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated. Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Hotel location and inclusions may vary depending on availability and alternative dates of travel. Visas are not included. Air credit can be used on any airline of your choice subject to schedules and availability. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Uniworld cruise price based off instant purchase. Deposit bookings require an additional cost.