WILDERNESS, WILDLIFE AND WILDWATER
(16 DAYS OF ADVENTURE)

LIMA- LAKE TITICACA-ALPACAS-ANDES-RAFTING-AMAZON RAINFOREST-MACAW LICK-PUERTO MALDONADO-CUSCO-MACHU PICCHU-LIMA

WWW1-08 06-Sep 21-Sep

Price per person £1425 SS £245

Min group size 6 max 16

This exceptional expedition takes you into a rarely visited part of Peru, from the shores of Lake Titicaca to the very heart of the Amazon jungle. We spend time exploring the floating islands of the Uros and visiting the Pre-Inca ruins of Silustani, whilst acclimatising to the high Altiplano. Our journey to the river takes us high into the Andes with breathtaking views of the Apolobamba and Carabaya mountain ranges, before dropping down into the Amazon rainforest. From our put in on the banks of the Rio Tambopata, we soon bid farewell to all traces of civilisation as we head into pristine jungle in search of wilderness, wildlife and wildwater.
The last few days are spent drifting silently, spotting rare wildlife and exploring tributaries. A night in a comfortable jungle lodge beside the spectacular Macaw lick gives us time to explore jungle trails, before heading downriver past goldminers and so to Puerto Maldonado and a short flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas. From here we can either return home or visit the amazing "Lost City of the Incas" - Machu Picchu.

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: On arrival at Lima Airport you will be met by an Amazonas Explorer representative and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, the remainder of the day may be spent exploring central Lima and its fascinating museums.

DAY 2: An early morning transfer back to the airport to board the first flight along the Andes to Juliaca where you will be met and transferred to our hotel in Puno near the Shores of Lake Titicaca. Today is for acclimatisation to the rarefied air of the Andean Altiplano( 3800m). Drink plenty of liquids and take it easy. In the afternoon we can explore Puno and its environs.(B)

DAY 3: Today we board a motor launch on Lake Titicaca for a fascinating visit to the floating islands of the Uros Indians. In the afternoon we explore the pre-Inca ruins of Silustani. (B,L)

DAY 4: The adventure continues as very early in the morning we board our vehicle for the start of our overland journey to the Rio Tambopata. We skirt the Northern shores of Lake Titicaca before heading high into the Andes, passing llama herds, glaciers and spectacular mountain ranges. Stopping en route for breakfast and lunch, we begin to descend through Inca terraces and so to the cloud forest where we will camp overnight. (B/L/D)

DAY 5: From here to our launching site on the banks of the Rio Tambopata the road can be a real challenge. We drop deeper into the jungle and finally to Putina Punku where we inflate the rafts and securely pack all our gear and supplies. Any excess gear can be sent back with our vehicle to await our arrival in Cusco. Following a full safety briefing and instruction in the art of white water rafting, we don our life jackets and helmets and head into the Amazon rainforest.(B/L/D)

DAY 6-11: Leaving all traces of civilisation behind, we raft exciting rapids by day and at night camp on pristine sandy beaches. The first days are full of class 2-3 rapids, starting small and technical, giving us plenty of time to practise the necessary skills required to negotiate the harder rapids to come. As tributary after tributary join the Tambopata the river increases in volume creating exciting and challenging class 4 rapids.
Plenty of time is allowed for scouting and photographing the harder rapids. Eventually the river relaxes and for the last few days, our rafts float silently through the calmer stretches, giving us unequalled opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife. Here, if we are lucky, we hope to see families of capybaras, the world's largest rodent, lone tapirs have been known to walk through the campsite at night and monkeys watch us pass from their tree top hideaways. Jaguars, jaguarundis, caimen and giant river otters have also been spotted as well as countless species of rare birds and butterflies. Time is spent exploring beautiful side creeks and, if you wish, fishing for the delicious but elusive Paiche.(B/L/D)

DAY 12: Where the Tambopata meets the Rio Tavara the river becomes flat and thus hard work. Here we are met by a motor boat and transferred a few hours down river to a comfortable jungle lodge situated beside the famous Macaw lick. Here we can enjoy the luxuries of a refreshing shower, a comfortable bed, fresh food and a cold beer. (B/L/D)

DAY 13: Perhaps the wildlife highlight of the trip still awaits us as we rise just before dawn to see the truly extraordinary spectacle of hundreds of macaws, parrots, and parakeets feasting on the minerals contained in the cliff wall. After breakfast, the motor boat transfers us further downstream, passing groups of gold miners and finally to the frontier town of Puerto Maldonado and a well earned night in a hotel. (B/L)

DAY 14: From Puerto Maldonado we take a short flight to the colonial city and ancient Inca capital of Cusco (3300m) and a luxury hotel awaits us. Once again we must acclimatise to the altitude. Today is a chance to relax, clean up, reminisce on our jungle adventure and start to explore the fascinating city of Cusco.(B)

DAY 15 : There is so much to see and do in Cusco that we dedicate the whole day to doing just that. We can visit Inca ruins, explore interesting museums, shop for a wide range of unique and interesting souvenirs or simply relax and lap up the atmosphere in one of the many excellent cafes that surround the Plaza de Armas.(B)

DAY 16 : Either fly back to Lima early morning to catch your international flight or join one of our one or two day journeys to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the majestic Lost City of the Incas- Machu Picchu.(B)

WE PROVIDE :

All airport transfers; domestic flights ( Lima - Juliaca, Puerto Maldonado - Cusco, Cusco - Lima ) ; transport to and from the river in private vehicle; state of the art rafting equipment including self-bailing rafts, 1 and 2 person inflatable canoes, Hi-flotation life-jackets, helmets, spray jackets, dry bags for personal gear, special containers for cameras; camping and cooking equipment including spacious 2 person tents and sleeping mats, mosquito-netting dining tent, tables and stools; extensive First-aid kit; professional English, German and Spanish speaking River guides, trained in first-aid and C.P.R.; Quality hotels in Lima, Juliaca, Puerto Maldonado and Cusco; comfortable Jungle lodge on the banks of the Rio Tambopata; all meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner ).

NOT INCLUDED : International flights, personal belongings, sleeping bag, airport taxes ($4 local, $25 international), personal expenses and tips. Optional trip to Machu Picchu and Sacred Valley of the Incas. Day rooms in Lima on final day are not included but can be organised if required.

The 2 day extension to Machu Picchu £250 can be arranged for a minimum of 2 persons and includes all transport in private minibus, luxury Train to and from Machu Picchu, bus transfer to and from the ruins, guided tour of Machu Picchu, entrance ticket to all local ruins, one nights accommodation in Ollantaytambo, meals on tour. Please note for groups less than five, this tour may be delegated to another local operator. Contact us for further details of this option

WHAT TO BRING :

On the Tambopata river expedition we will be experiencing all extremes of Peruvian climate, from freezing Altiplano to steamy rainforest. Not all equipment you bring with you will be needed on the rafting portions and any excess gear can be sent on to Cusco. Bring an extra bag or day-pack to store this gear in.
In the jungle, both on and off the river, we recommend you wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers to avoid the strong tropical sun and persistent sandflies. Also you should bring for the rafting portion :
Sun-hat, Hi-factor suntan lotion and lip balm, strong insect repellent, after-bite lotion, water bottle, sunglasses, swim suit, 2 pairs of light-weight shoes (one wet pair for the raft) , torch (flashlight) and spare batteries, camera and plenty of high speed film, lightweight sleeping bag and liner / sleeping sheet, towel and personal effects.
For the other portion of the trip you must bring some warm clothing for the night time in the Altiplano where it can get particularly cold. Some smarter clothing might be useful for going out in the cities but generally Peruvians dress pretty casually.

RECOMMENDED READING
Neotropical companion by John C Kricher
Exploring Cusco by Peter Frost

AND LASTLY PLEASE NOTE
The Tambopata river expedition travels through a remote and rarely visited part of Peru and we believe our clients should be aware that the remoteness that makes the Tambopata so very special can also cause certain problems. Thus, whilst Amazonas Explorer endeavours to minimise the chances of anything unexpected happening, it has to be noted that no itinerary can or should be rigidly adhered to. This is the very nature of Adventure Travel and we expect our clients to be prepared for delays and slight alterations in our programmed events.

Specific to the Rio Tambopata is the possibilities of delays due to the difficulty in reaching the river. Whilst on the river, we may experience heavy rainfall which leads to a significant rise in water levels, thus forcing us to camp and wait for more favourable conditions. We have taken all these possibilities into account when planning this expedition and have allowed sufficient leeway to enable us to successfully run this exceptional trip.

We look forward to seeing you on the river.

CONTACT GOLDEN HILL TRAVEL

Golden Hill Travel - Fellside Cottage - Witherslack- Cumbria -LA11 6RW
Tel: 015395 52281 Email: peru@goldenhilltravel.co.uk