The riverbank springs to life as a caiman alligator slithers to the shore, a flock of birds streaks the sky with a vivid flash of colour, the forest rings with the sound of chattering monkeys and nature reveals its clever secrets with a mesmerising show of animal instinct. Discover a ‘Lost City’ high in the Andes, scramble over the ruins of Inca fortresses and barter in the bustling Indian markets. Experience wildlife wonders and ancient civilisations on this very special tour of Peru.

• Travelling - 1 to 2
  

  Fly to Puerto Maldonado, arriving on day 2. Your Tour Guide will be on hand throughout the tour. Overnight Puerto Maldonado.

• The Amazon Basin - 3
  

  Step into a motorised dugout canoe for the first day of your wildlife adventure. Head downstream to the border with Bolivia and the mouth of the remote Heath River. The landscape alternates with forest-capped red-earth cliffs and low banks thick with cecropia trees and giant grasses. Cross the border into narrower waters where native villages come into view. Children play close to the shore and herons, hawks and cormorants swoop across the river. You won’t need any help spotting the capybara; this is the world’s largest rodent, often weighing in at a staggering 8st. Overnight Heath River.

• Breakfast With Parrots And Macaws - 4
  

  As day breaks watch flocks of parrots congregate on the river bank searching for special clay which neutralises the toxins in their diet. Observe nature in action as the instinct for survival kicks in and the birds, sometimes in their hundreds, jostle for the best position to peck up their daily fix. Up to five species of parrot participate in this feeding frenzy. They are joined by parakeet and the larger more boisterous red and green macaws. Have your camera ready for this noisy explosion of colour that only occurs at a handful of sites in the Upper Amazon Basin, and nowhere else on the planet. A floating platform provides a concealed position and breakfast is served as you observe this wondrous sight. Your Specialist Guide will be carrying a tripod-mounted spotting scope for close up viewing and the perfect photograph.

• Walking Trails - 4
  

  Follow forest trails past gigantic brazil-nut kapok and the twisted trunks of the scary strangler fig tree. Your guide will explain the medicinal qualities of dozens of plants. As you walk keep your eyes and ears open for the many species of monkeys that inhabit this region. Your nose will keep you informed of the presence of wild pigs as they regularly deploy their ‘stink glands’. Hike or cycle to the spacious plains of the Pampas del Heath. Look out for swallow-tailed hummingbird and the highly endangered maned wolf from a special raised platform which offers views over the vast expanse of grassland. At dusk visit swampland and watch rare species of nesting macaw return to feed on oil rich palm nuts. As night falls return to the lodge. Pause in total darkness and listen to the ever changing orchestra in the night air. Use your flashlight to seek out camouflaged frogs disguised as leaves, toads the size of rabbits and hairy tarantulas. Join your Specialist Guide on an evening search for the lowland tapir, the largest rainforest mammal. Ask your Tour Guide for more information on nocturnal wildlife and if you choose spend the night camping under the stars. Overnight Heath River.

• Canoes And Local Communities - 5
  

  Choose from a range of activities. Join a canoe trip downstream where the forested shoreline teems with birds. Red howler monkeys peer from the branches and herons lay in wait among the fallen trees. Ospreys circle overhead and flocks of brilliant red-capped cardinals gather on the river banks. Visit the native community of Sonene, descendants of nomadic forest tribes. Catch a glimpse of their traditional way of life, still maintained in the modern world, and purchase handicrafts decorated with local seeds. Join an evening canoe safari in search of endangered black caiman alligators. Overnight Heath River.

• Upstream To Peru - 6
  

  A dawn chorus wake up call and the time has come to leave the Heath River. This is peak rush hour for the wildlife so keep a watchful eye on the riverbank as your canoe takes you back upstream. You may be rewarded with a rare sighting of the elusive jaguar. At the mouth of the Madre de Dios River cross the river back into Peru. Follow your guide along a 2 mile trail through flooded palm forest, stopping to look at giant butterflies. As your crew paddle you across a peaceful lake to the next lodge, the surface of the water may be broken by the giant Paiche, an Amazon fish that can reach a weight of over 15 stone.

• Close Encounters Of The Natural Kind - 6
  

  After the heat of the afternoon has faded, set off by boat and explore flooded palm forest. Drift through the waters accompanied by the sound of hundreds of colourful macaws as they return for the night. The view from the water allows closer encounters with wildlife and the opportunity to witness intimate feeding and mating behaviour. Join an evening safari; your guide will point out giant otters who share these fishing waters with the rarer caiman. If the night is clear look up to the southern sky for superb vistas of the Milky Way. Overnight Sandoval.

• Mumbai/Travelling - 7
  

  On a clear morning the glorious sunrise is reflected in the open waters of the lake. Return to the Madre de Dios River and onto Puerto Maldonado for the flight to Cusco. Overnight Cusco.

• Visit The Sacred Valley - 8
  

  Discover the treasures of the Sacred Valley. Visit the vibrant Indian market at Pisac and learn of local customs from your Specialist Guide. Take in the sights and sounds as you browse the stalls. Cheerful local women in traditional dress call to you. Barter for rugs, alpaca sweaters and colourful ceramic jewellery. Grab a snack of yucca; grilled corn on the cob, and make sure you capture all the colour and atmosphere with your camera. Step back in time and listen as your guide reveals the secrets of the Incas who planned and built the original fortress settlement at Ollantaytambo. The present town largely follows the original grid system and evidence of the ancient fortress still remains. Look out for Inca ruins as you stroll through the streets of this charming town. Overnight Cusco.

• The ‘Lost City’ Of Machu Picchu - 9
  

  Board the Vistadome train for a magnificent journey high into the Andes through jungle swathed valleys. Machu Picchu was built here by the Incas although the true reason for its construction still remains a mystery. As you travel through mist-shrouded mountains imagine how Hiram Bingham must have felt when he first discovered this remote and isolated ‘Lost City’ in 1911. Your guide will bring the city alive, describing each area and its purpose. Take time to wander through the ruins and enjoy the spectacular views into the lush green Urubamba Valley thousands of feet below. This is a truly magical experience. Overnight Cusco.

• A Day In Cusco - 10
  

  A free morning. Ask your local Specialist Guide and Tour Guide for their recommendations. Shop at tiny boutiques and busy markets for Andean handicrafts, silver jewellery and antiques. Sip a ‘mate’ tea in the shady corner of a square and if you are feeling brave, dine on kuy, better known as guinea pig, and a Peruvian speciality. An included tour in the afternoon starts at the impressive colonial cathedral. Admire the many paintings and decorative altars. The Temple of the Sun was the hub of religion for the Incas and was dedicated to the Sun Cult. Imagine a time when the walls of this temple were entirely covered with gold. Take in the splendid views of Cusco from the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and visit the Inca ruins of Tambomachay and the Red Fortress of Puca-Pucara. Overnight Cusco.

• An Introduction To The ‘City Of Kings’ - 11
  

  Travel by air to Lima. Discover the ‘City of Kings’ on an included afternoon tour. Visit the Plaza de Armas with its magnificent cathedral, Archbishop’s Palace and splendid arcades. Soak in the atmosphere of the old colonial streets and visit the sophisticated districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. This evening departure for the UK.

• Travelling - 12
  

  Arrive in the UK.

Accommodation

• Cabina Quinta, Puerto Maldonado (3-Star)- 1 Night
• Heath River Wildlife Centre - 3 Nights
• Sandoval Lake Lodge - 1 Night
• Hotel Jose Antonio, Cusco (4-Star) - 4 Nights

• Flights are scheduled services of
• Flights depart at 12:00 am and return at 10:30 am

Includes

Not Included