Cusco and Manu Tour:

Day

Itinerary

Accommodation

Cusco City Tour: 1st day
After settle in the hotel, you will visit the highlights of Cusco City as the Cathedral (great example of the colonial architecture of the 17th century); San Blas church with the best wooden carved pulpit (a magnificent piece of art of the 17th century); and the Archbishopric's Palace with a collection of paintings of the 17th century.

Inca Trail: 1st day.
From Piscacucho (a.k.a. "Km 82") to Wayllabamba (Distance: 9 Kms / 5.6 miles). A bus will pick you up from the hotel to take you to the beginning of the Inca Trail (2,720 mts / 9,000 ft); from there you will hike for 2 hours before lunch, and then 2 hours more to reach the campsite. You will see Llactapata ruins and camp at Wayllabamba (2,950 mts / 9,800 ft) with an amazing view of the Veronica snow-capped mountain.

Inca Trail: 2nd day.
From Wayllabamba to Pacaymayo (Distance: 12 Kms / 7.5 miles). This is the toughest day of the trek. After 4 hours hiking, you will reach the Warmiwanuska pass, the highest point of the trail (4,200 meters / 14,000 ft). After a short rest at the pass, you will descend to the Pacaymayo campsite (3,600 mts / 11,900 ft); there you will lunch and rest.

Inca Trail: 3rd day.
From Pacaymayo to Winay Wayna (Distance: 16 Kms / 10 miles). This day is the nicest one, the hike starts with a climb to the Runkurakay pass (3,990 meters / 12,960 ft), from there the view of the mountains and the cloud-forest is very impressive. After the pass, the path is mostly downhill and the sceneries change dramatically. Along the path there are 3 main Inca sites: Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca and Winay Wayna. You will camp in Winay Wayna campsite at 2,700 meters (8,900 ft).

Inca Trail: 4th day.
From Winay Wayna to Machu Picchu (Distance: 5 Kms / 3.2 miles). You will wake up early in the morning (4:30 AM) to reach Inti Punku (Sun's Gate) before 6:30 AM to watch the first sun beams hit Machu Picchu (2,400 mts / 7,900 ft). Once in the Inca city you will have a guided-tour for 2 hours; afterwards, you will have free time to explore the ruins by yourself. In the afternoon, you will take the train back to Cusco (4 PM). You will be back in Cusco in the evening (8:30 PM).

Free day in Cusco:
You will have the day free to do some shopping and to tour the city by yourself.

OPTIONAL: Rafting in the Urubamba river
In the morning (9 AM), we will take you to the Urubamba river. There you will be on a raft for 2 hours and a half. The level of the white-water rafting is very good, adventurous but safe (class II and III). After a picnic lunch, you will return to Cusco at 6 PM.

Manu Excursion: 1st day
A private bus will pick you up from the hotel to take you on a 10 hours bus ride from the City of Cusco to Pilcopata. The sceneries change a lot, from rocky mountains into lush tropical forests. At the end of the day, you will arrive to the Madre de Dios river. During the bus ride you will enjoy beautiful views and you will see some wildlife.

Manu Excursion: 2nd day
After breakfast you will travel 45 minutes by bus to Atalaya, there you willl start an 8 hours journey on a 15 meters motorized canoe down the Madre de Dios river. You will see on the rivershores wildlife such as the Fasciated Tiger Herons, Purplish Jays, Skimmers, King Vultures, caimans and some of the 13 species of monkeys that live in the Manu. In the afternoon you will arrive to Blanquillo, your base camp for the following 2 days. Optional night walk before dinner.

Manu Excursion: 3rd day
Early in the morning you will go to the Macay Clay Lick. From a blind spot you will observe flocks of Macaws, Parrots and Parakeets congregating to eat the clay. After breakfast you will climb an observation tower 42 mt (140 ft) high from where you will have an amazing view of the rainforest from above the trees. Later you can explore the trails around the Blanquillo campsite. Optional night walk.

Manu Excursion: 4th day
You will have another chance to observe birds at the Macaw Clay Lick. Afterwards, you will visit the Blanco lake to watch Giant River Otters, monkeys, caimans and different species of exotic birds. In the afternoon you will travel upriver for one hour to get to the Maquisapayoj campsite, there you will spend the night at an elevated platform to observe tapirs and other mammals during the night.

Manu Excursion: 5th day
Early in the morning after breakfast you can explore the trails around the Maquisapayoj campsite to look for monkeys. You will spend the night at the Maquisapayoj campsite or at the Boca Manu village. If you travel as far as Boca Manu you can visit there a lake to observe Gian River Otters.

Manu Excursion: 6th day
You will start the journey back by boat. On the way you will stop at the Diamante tribe of the Piro native people. Along the ride you will see many animals as monkeys, herons and vultures on the trees. You will camp at the Yanayacu campsite.

Manu Excursion: 7th day
You will continue traveling upriver, always searching for wildlife. On the way you will stop for a bath at the hot springs. Then you will continue until Rio de Oro Lodge, close to Atalaya, there you will stay for the night.

Manu Excursion: 8th day
After a short boat ride to Atalaya, a private bus will take you back to Cusco City. You will arrive there at 6 PM.

Flight to Lima:
We will take you to the airport in Cusco for your flight to Lima at noon.