Senast uppdaterad: 2008-02-05

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Lima.

Day 2-4, The Amazon

By air to Puerto Maldonado and then by river boat to Lake Sandoval in the Tambopata Natural Reserve. Sandoval Lake is an "oxbow lake" formed generations ago by the shifting waters of the Madre de Dios River. You will have three days to explore the rainforest in the surroundings around Lake Sandoval by foot on manmade trails and by boat. The area boasts spectacular virgin lowland rainforest and exceptional wildlife. The Giant Otter, or "river wolf", hunt for fish in Sandoval Lake for an exciting display of one of the world's rarest and most endangered mammal species. Blue-and-gold and Red-bellied Macaws inhabit the flooded palm forest on the west end of Sandoval Lake. Brown Capuchin, Bolivian Squirrel, Red Howler, Saddle-backed Tamarin, and Night monkeys live in the forests surrounding the lake. In the area there are also caimans and four species of cats: Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, and Margay.

Day 5-8, Cusco

By air to Cusco in the morning. We advice you to take it easy the first day because of the high altitude. Cusco is the old Inca capital, with many old sites from its time of greatness, but also many colonial buildings. You live in San Blas, a quiet and nice area only a few minutes walk from the center of Cusco. The advantage of living in San Blas is that you can live central without being bothered by the city's heavy traffic. And from San Blas you have a splendid view over the Cusco valley. There are many interesting things to do in and around Cusco. Maybe you are interested in the Inka museum? Some afternoon you can take a city tour that shows you the city and also archeological sites outside Cusco like Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo Tambomachay and Koricancha. You can also visit Cusco's central market in the morning when people are there to buy meat, vegetables, beans, corn, potatoes and other important thing like amulets for love and business? Maybe you can buy presents to the local families in the village? If you are interested in tours outside Cusco you can take some local bus yourself, or gather a group and go on an organized tour. We recommended a tour to Urubamba, ”The sacred valley of the Incas”, with many Inca sites. Below the astronomic temple in Pisac is the village Pisac, 30 km from Cusco. Sundays is market and church day there. Or why not Chinchero? They have a Sunday market near the original Inca market place. One of the these days we will go to the ancient Inca citadel Macchu Picchu among green mountains and hills on 2.200 meters attitude. You leave early in the morning with train from Cusco and travel through the landscape in a modern tourist train. The train stops at Aguas Calientes, the little village in the valley below Macchu Picchu (The Old Mountain). When you stand down there and look up at the steep hillsides you can not see any signs of the Inca citadel 600 meters above. That is the reason why the Spanish conquistadors never found Macchu Picchu and the city remained unknown by the western world until 1911. Those who want to can climb up to the top of Huayna Picchu (The young mountain) the view from there is magnificent (but nothing for those who suffers from vertigo). After walking around for many hours in Macchu Picchu we take the train back to Cusco, where we arrive in the evening.

Day 9-11, Village stay

During a few days we will give you the chance to see and experience a part of Peru few tourists has an opportunity to do. The whole idea about the family visit is that you are getting away from the tourist places and instead will be able to see how regular Peruvians live in the highlands. Be prepared for flexibility! Keep also in mind that a family visit is harder to arrange than an ordinary tour, so have an open mind and understanding that things can be changed in the program, things that we can not predict today. The family visit will go to one of the villages in the province Limatambo in Cuscos outskirts. These days are a very special experience. The standard in the village is very simple.  Notice that sentence. In spite of that we inform about the extreme poor standard, still many travelers say after the trip that they did not understand how simple the standard was.  Dirty, cold and sometimes really ”terrible” according to our Swedish way to look at life. The keyword here is initiative. The more you give of yourself, the more you will be rewarded. Maybe you can help out in the kitchen - an unbeatable icebreaker when it comes to let go of the shyness between you and the family you stay with. I think they will be happily surprised. Another way to get a good contact with the family is to help out with the children, help out in the farming, learn how they do their handicraft and more. We really hope for a culture exchange where both parts get something out of the stay. There is to many examples where tourists, missioners and visiting foreigners has pressed down the indigenous peoples culture and created a feeling of inferior, that has led to for example begging. We hope you will give of yourself - let go of your shyness and really take initiative. Yes, the keyword for the whole family visit is initiative. What you get out of these days will depend on yourself. Back to Cusco on the last day.

Day 12

In the morning you will take the bus from Cusco and travel over the dry highland steppe that is called Altiplano (highland), the wide landscape covered by highlands grass. In the background snow-covered mountains, and in the foreground llamas or alpacas. The bus usually stops for around 10 min. in La Raya (The line) at 4321 meters, and that is the border between Cusco and Puno. Arrival at Puno in the afternoon. You are now at 3.810 meters, next to the azure blue Lago Titicaca.

Day 13-14, Lake Titicaca

During two days you will get to know mythical Lake Titicaca. The world's highest navigable lake, that means that even large ships could sail there. In the morning we leave the hotel and go to the port where we take the boat to the Uro Islands, the floating islands of reed. Then we go to the Amantani Island.  When you arrive to the island you will get a family, and with them you eat and you stay in their home for the night.  In the afternoon you have a chance to take a walk with the guide to one of the islands two peaks. From there you can enjoy the view over the fantastic azure blue lake of Titicaca.  Maybe you have time the next day to visit the island of Taquile. Then it's time to return to Puno.  We arrive there in the afternoon.

Day 15

By air back to Lima. Miraflores again, with it's banks, fashion houses, international restaurants and exclusive shops as a big contrast to the Peru you have seen during the past two weeks. This visit will show you the enormous social rift in the Peruvian society. If you have time you can go on a last shopping tour in the handicraft galleries. Or maybe you can make a short city tour in central Lima or a visit to one of Lima’s famous museums.

Day 16

The tour ends. Remember that you should be at the airport three hours before departure, according to Peruvian aviation authority advice.