Day 1
Friday
Overnight flight to Lima.
Day 2
Saturday
Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon tour of the Bay of Lima by bike, discovering the best spots of the city. We will show you amazing sights around the bay, starting with Barranco, the old and bohemian neighborhood of the city, and its mansions, bars and parks. We will also visit the neighborhood of Chorrillos with its old fishing pier, beaches, and promenade and the historic Morro Solar hill. Finally, we bike through the vibrant district of Miraflores with its amazing cliff edge sidewalks and parks overlooking the ocean. We will have a snack in a traditional old bar or cafe of the area. This tour also gives you the chance to have a glance of many old houses, colonial mansions and some of the best restaurants of this city, well known of its cuisine.
Note: check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).
Day 3
Sunday
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer to your hotel. In the late morning, Private Cuzco Tour. We begin with a short walking tour of Cuzco, visiting the Korikancha temple or Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral and its Art Museum and the artisan's quarter of San Blas and San Blas church. Visit Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, and Sacsahuaman Fortress, depart to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. After the tour of Sacsahuaman Fortress we will go horseback riding nearby. Return to your hotel.
Day 4
Monday
At 9am we leave for the Urubamba River in the Sacred Valley of the Incas (north of Cuzco), where our guide will give us an a introductory chat on safety and equipment for our trip running the Urubamba. We will raft for around 2 ˝ hours in rapids class II, III, IV+ and V, depending on which route we select. We could be in Ollantaytambo Class III (runs from May to December), Quiquijana Class III (December to May) and Chuquicahuana Class III, IV and V (December to May). For this last one, which is the hardest, we always have a safety guide in a kayak along with us. More information is available regarding rapid class.
Day 5
Tuesday
Beginning at 9:00 am, we will head towards Chincheros where we will have a briefing, then we will begin our adventure by bike, passing by Huaypo lagoon, and the archaeological site of Moray and the salt mines of Salineras. Finishing the trip in Urubamba, we will have lunch. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 6
Wednesday
Morning transfer to the train station. The train takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, we will board a bus to the mountain-top citadel of Machu Picchu. We will then have a guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marshes of the Inca empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stone works of the Cuzco imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. It was associated with the earth cult revolving around the coca leaf, which was a privilege of the Inca royal family and priests. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in the village of Aguas Calientes.
Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so we may confirm your entrance to the ruins for today and tomorrow.
Day 7
Thursday
Our resident guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning for a second visit to the Machu Picchu ruins. We will go on an early morning hike through the ruins up to the Inti Punku or Sungate to see a magnificent view of the citadel and watch the wonderful sunrise. Those who are most adventurous may want to do a hike to Huayna Picchu (which means Young Mountain). This hike is quite steep and sometimes exposed. The Incas trail up the side of the Huayna Picchu and built temples and terraces on its top. It is said that the top of the mountain was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins. The trail itself forks to several points of interest. In the afternoon we will catch the train to Cuzco.
Note: Government regulations have restricted the amount of hikers on Huayna Picchu daily. If you are interested in this hike please notify your Yampu Travel Consultant at booking so we may confirm your entrance (subject to availability).
Day 8
Friday
Transfer to the airport to get your flight to Iquitos via Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to Nauta. Nauta lies between Iquitos and the Marańon River, where the DELFIN I is waiting for you.
Upon arriving at the port of Nauta, you will board the DELFIN, assisted by our experienced crew. They will help you settle into your cabin with silent A/C units and private bathrooms with fine wooden furnishings, hot showers and a variety of environmentally friendly amenities for your ultimate indulgence. It will become clear that you are traveling where few have gone before. In fact, you are part of a select group of seasoned world travelers who visit remote Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, five million acres of protected, flooded forest, roughly the size of a small Central American country. A world of flora and fauna awaits you.
Just before dusk, as the DELFIN starts its journey into the rain forest, our barman and staff will provide you with a wide variety of drinks and cocktails. Dinner is served in our cozy dining room located at the back of the ship's second deck. Aside from providing you with your first rain forest adventure, the Delfin I is also a unique culinary experience, offering the best of Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine in a cosmopolitan gourmet setting. Our chef prides himself in serving dishes in different styles and seasoned with a wide variety of herbs and spices, as well as exotic fruits.
On the top observation deck, our 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.
Finally, under the beauty of an Amazonian night filled with hundreds of stars or perhaps a full moon, and wafted by the gentle breeze of the rain forest, our staff will briefly entertain you with live music, while you enjoy an after dinner drink.
Day 9
Saturday
Dawn and dusk are ideal times for nature observation, and an early rise is therefore highly recommended. On your first morning, coffee will wake us up, and pancakes will be a delicious choice for this new morning of adventure and new surprises.
Rainy Season (Dec – May) Belluda Stream exploration Aboard the skiffs, we will explore this black water stream and start learning about the rainforest. You are now in Pacaya Samiria national reserve, where you will have the chance to see its amazing wildlife. From the skiff you can easily spot parrots, macaws and monkeys, such as the monk Saki monkey with its gray and black body, naked face and long shaggy tail. You might also see the saddle back tamarin monkey, whose high chirping notes can easily be confused with those of a flock of birds. It's also a good spot to see the beautiful morpho butterfly that flaps lazily along open corridors through forest or along river edges of lowland forest on sunny days. Different species of hawks will also be found and if we are lucky we'll see the noisy "laughing falcon," named after its loud falsetto call while sitting solitary in secondary forest and plantations.
Dry Season (Jun – Nov) Hiking at the community of Yanallpa During the dry season, you can visit the community of Yanallpa and explore two different kinds of ecosystems: flooded forest and terra firme forest. After disembarking at this native village, we'll start our morning hike. This walk affords excellent opportunities for spotting transitional species such as the snail kite, black tailed ant bird, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, etc. You'll also see tall trees filled with epiphytes, woody vines and many varieties of palm trees. After an hour we'll reach a lovely lagoon where two dugout canoes await us in the midst of one of the most remote, least visited areas in the world. This lagoon is filled with endangered and unique fresh water fish, such as the paiche, the largest in the Amazon basin, which can weigh more than 80kg (170 lbs). The paiche is considered a delicacy, and you can often hear them when they rise to the surface. We'll also look for the peculiar crested hoatzin bird with its olive-colored plumage. Hoatzins live in small family groups along forested swamps and oxbow lakes.
We will then hike back to the skiffs, where icy towels will refresh us, while we will continue to explore the surrounding wild life. We will have a good chance of finding the smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset, seen only at its sap-sucking sites low on tree trunks.
This afternoon we will head for a spectacular spot within the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve In the skiffs, where you will also experience an unforgettable encounter with gray and pink river dolphins. Enjoy a unique opportunity to swim among the dolphins. On the river you will experience abundant wildlife and nature in all its exuberance while we search for the Amazon River's transitional forest specialties such as snail kites, festive parrots, endangered scarlet macaws, olive spotted hummingbirds, Amazonian parrotlets, wood creepers, among others. Prehistoric looking iguanas laze in the sun while we travel along the shoreline searching for whatever the jungle has to offer us. Squirrel Monkeys are very active at this time of the day, when they move in large noisy troops at mid- to upper-levels of primary and secondary lowland forest.
As we continue sailing towards our next destination, the bar is open and our barman is waiting to serve you new combinations of regional fruits and drinks, while you relax aboard the Delfin as we continue our journey up the Ucayali River towards the Puinahua River.
The service continues. Wine pairings will include some of the best South American vintages. Desserts are also a wonderful treat on our menu. While feeling the warm breeze of the Amazon night, fine cigars and after dinner drinks will be available before you fall asleep to the musical sounds of the jungle. Don´t forget to look up at the sky, where the feast continues, with millions of sparkling stars set against the deep black night or perhaps a full moon that lights up the entire river.
Day 10
Sunday
This morning we will start very early and breakfast on board the skiffs, in order to see as much wildlife as possible in one of the earth´s greatest wilderness. We have reached our main goal, the Pacaya River, the very heart of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru's largest protected area with a mean annual rainfall of nearly 3,000mm, by far the largest protected wetland reserve in the world.Filled with lakes, palm swamps and streams, the reserve becomes a flooded forest in the rainy season and is one of the most beautiful places you have ever visited. An early rise is very rewarding: you'll see parrots, macaws, toucans, kingfishers, black collared hawks, southern swallows, white winged swallows, and manikins. Aside from the large variety of birds, you'll also see troops of squirrel monkeys. Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we will go in search of magnificent views and wildlife opportunities, experiencing spectacular rain forest wilderness, while searching for different species of monkeys, such as small family groups of red howler monkeys, the largest in the Amazon basin, with its bright rust-colored fur and long prehensile tail. As the sun starts to heat up, we will continue along the shores of the Pacaya river, spotting huge ceiba or kapok trees, mahogany trees, strangler figs, epiphytes such as bromeliads and orchids, palm trees and woody vines. Breakfast—cold, fresh fruit juice, fresh fruit and light sandwiches with coffee and/or tea—will be served as we float amidst a favored dolphin feeding spot.
After breakfast, you can jump in the water for a very refreshing morning swim, a once in a lifetime experience in the beautiful setting of dark, clean and warm water, deep blue skies, and a light breeze, just a perfect moment to enjoy the wild and unique Amazon rain forest at its best. We will start navigating back down the Puinahua River towards Nauta.
Rainy Season (Dec – May) Atun Poza by skiff
This afternoon we will cruise in our skiffs along a lake called Atun Poza, where we will surprise several species of egrets, herons, hawks, long-legged neotropical cormorants fishing for their dinner, and unusual and loud horned screamers. We will also have a chance to explore other black water lagoons linked to this huge lake, were wattled jacanas compete with a wide variety of spiders, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. living along the grassy edges and lily pads of freshwater swamps and marshes. We will have an excellent opportunity of seeing social spiders and how their webs embrace huge parts of a tree.
Dry Season (Jun – Nov) hiking at Atun Poza
This afternoon we will hike through this pristine and unique ecosystem, passing through a classic tropical rain forest with emergent trees and canopy trees reaching up to 55 mt. in height. Many trees have buttress roots which often extend high up the trunks while palms are abundant and many of them have stilt roots. Biologically, this kind of forest is probably one of the richest habitats on earth, supporting the most species of plants and animals per unit area. Our target is the giant ceiba or kapok tree with its large diameter. If we're lucky, we'll also see giant otters with their large bodies, dark fur with spotted throat and noisy calls. They nest in a small stream inside this forest and we must be very quiet, because if they hear us they will swim away. This forest is also very good for spotting birds such as the bluish-fronted jacamar seen in pairs in middle and lower parts of forest edges, or collared trogons, red capped cardinals, etc.
We enjoy lunch as we continue up the Puinahua River towards the Pacaya River, our destination at the very heart of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, for further exploration of the largest wetland reserve in the world.
At this time our guides will review all that we have seen and learned, with the help of videos and a slide show. This will give you the chance to see up close the birds, monkeys, reptiles, etc. This is the time to clear up any doubts. We will sail all night long as the Delfin continues its smooth journey downstream. Our barman is ready to offer you a wide choice of drinks. Coffee and tea are always available. Leaving behind the wildlife, you will continue enjoying our service as a world class traveler deserves. Tonight our chef and kitchen staff will treat you to a grilled dinner, including fresh salads, grilled vegetables, magical sauces, and wonderful combinations of different types of meat. Our staff will delight you with live music.
Day 11
Monday
This will be your last breakfast with us, so dare to try all the things you resisted: natural, fresh fruit juices, fresh fruit, cereals, fresh ground coffee.
On board our skiffs we will stop at the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers. You will have the chance 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 handcrafts they make.
After visiting the village, we will explore the Yarapa river, where there's a good chance that you'll see squirrel and cappuccino monkeys, herons, egrets and green iguanas. We will reach a beautiful lagoon called Uvos, named after a fruit that grows wild along its shores. Pink river dolphins ply its waters in search of fish. The forest also boasts abundant flora including a variety of bromeliads and orchids. Monkeys love these surroundings.
We will continue sailing downstream to the confluence of the Ucayali and the Marańon, birthplace of the Amazon river. Dolphins delight in this special setting. This is also the time to gather all of your things, pack your bags and check out.
After lunch, we will disembark at our port in Nauta. Transfer to the airport to take flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Day 12
Tuesday
We will be doing para-gliding tandem flights with an experienced instructor with you all the time. Do not miss the opportunity of flying like a bird in between buildings and taking the best pictures of Lima ever.
Day 13
Wednesday
Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home, or overlap with the add-on of your choice.
Peru
Canoeing
Horseback Riding
Delfin
