Rivers of Life & Ancestral Trails: Luxury Amazon & Lares

Travelers who long to have a deep, authentic connection with a place they visit will appreciate this incredible 15-day journey. This trip combines the biological richness of the Amazon rainforest with highlights about the valuable cultural essence of the furthest Andean communities. We start with five days of exploration on the Zafiro, a luxury cruise boat sailing the arteries of the Amazon. We then transition up to the Andes for the Lares Adventure - a multi-day lodge-to-lodge luxury trek that is off the beaten path, straight into the heart of Quechua culture. At every point, from the wildlife jungle to the high alpine, you will be immersed and guided by our specialist guides, whose expertise and love for their land will make this expedition more than a vacation, but rather a revealing journey.

15 Day Peru Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Lima, The Gastronomic Capital

Your Peru travels will begin after you arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Lima. A representative will meet you, assist with luggage, and escort you to your luxury hotel. The rest of the day is for check-in, resting, and getting acclimated to the rhythm of South America.

Day 2: Flight to Iquitos & beginning Amazon Journey

After breakfast, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight to the city of Iquitos. From there, your private transport will arrive along the riverbanks and transport you to Nauta. Upon arrival, you will board the Zafiro, your floating luxury home. You will be greeted by the crew and will meet your specialist naturalist guide, who will mentor you on jungle exploration. The adventure starts at dusk with a night safari by skiff.

Day 3: Exploring the Pacaya Samiria Reserve

Every early wake-up comes with the sounds of the jungle. Today, guided by your expert guide, you will explore the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Skiff excursions are optimized for the wildlife spotting experience, searching for everything from monkeys and sloths to elusive pink dolphins and exotic birds while your guide shares their extensive knowledge of the species.

Day 4: Riverbank Culture & Birth of the Amazon

Today presents a cultural experience. You will visit an authentic riverbank community where your guide will create a genuine interaction so you can understand their life a community on the river. Then experience a remarkable geographical event, the Ucayali and Marañón rivers meeting at exactly the birthplace of the Amazon, a natural event that your guide will clarify with stories and facts.

Day 5: Secrets of the Forest Canopy

Today’s adventure goes higher. Your specialist guide will lead you on a walk via an impressive canopy bridge system to see a bottom-up view of the forest canopy. You will learn about the system of life that forms in the trees, an ecology lesson taught by an expert. In the afternoon, you will partake in one last water adventure before a farewell dinner.

Day 6: Disembarkation & Flight to Cusco, The Inca Heartland

After breakfast on board, you will depart the ship for the Amazon Rescue Center. For a brief moment, your guide will give you some background on why this project is important before you are taken to the Iquitos airport for your flight to Cusco. You will be met upon arrival in the capital of the Inca Empire and taken to your hotel, ushering you into the next part of your Andean adventure.

Day 7: Sacred Valley of the Incas immersion

Today you will visit the Sacred Valley. Your personal guide will lead you to the awe-inspiring ruins of Pisaq, so-called for its terraces that appear to be defying gravity. Your guide will take you on a tour through the colorful local market before continuing your journey to Ollantaytambo, which is a gigantic Incan fortress that looms over the town. You will stay overnight in a comfy hotel in the valley to rest up for the Lares adventure.

Day 8: Start of Lares Adventure: To Huacahuasi Lodge

Today, the trekking adventure will begin. You will say goodbye to the Sacred Valley and go up the mountain to the first luxury mountain lodge in the program, Huacahuasi Lodge, at 3,800 meters (12,467 ft). Throughout the journey, your certified guiding adventure will take you through local communities, giving you an amazing opportunity to meet traditional weavers and receive firsthand teachings of their ancestral art. The day is a combination of moderate hiking and cultural depth.

Day 9: Ipsaycocha Pass Challenge & Descent to Patacancha

This is the hardest day. After breakfast, you will set off to the Ipsaycocha Pass hike – an altitude of 4,450 meters (14,600 feet), and your mountain guide will set a safe and steady pace. The views will be an obvious payoff - a spectacular panoramic view of the snow-peaked mountains. You will then descend into the Patacancha Valley for your next luxury lodge and hard-earned rest.

Day 10: Highlands to Ollantaytambo Fortress

You have a relatively gradual descent hike today. Once noon has reached, you will pass through Willoq community, known for textiles, and arrive in Pallata Village for the afternoon hike. The guide will show you minor archaeological sites along the hike, so travellers can experience the historical Incas traditions along the hiking route. You will end the hike in Ollantaytambo with the chance to check out this amazing fortress again, or just relax before dinner at the local lodge.

Day 11: The Miracle of Machu Picchu

You will catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes in the morning. From there, you will climb uphill to the well-known historical site of Machu Picchu. The rest of the day is at the World Heritage site, where your specialist guide will spend the day, giving talking about its construction and historical and spiritual value. If your guide does a good job, it is easy to imagine the rocks resurrected from earth, when it comes to Inca practicality. You will stay in a lodge in Aguas Calientes.

Day 12: Second Experience of Machu Picchu & Return to Cusco

You will have the morning free at Machu Picchu for another optional and second experience: hike Huayna Picchu mountain (needs prior booking) for a different orientation of the citadel. If you switch it around, a walk down would be a leisurely public right of way. Very quaint & charming. In the afternoon, you will take the train back down to Ollantaytambo and another private transport back to your lodge in the historic city of Cusco.

Day 13: Exploring the Imperial Capital of Cusco.

Today, you will start with the history of Cusco, a walk on the Plaza de Armas, a superior cathedral, and Qorikancha is the Temple of the Sun, where they built the convent of Santo Domingo on top. The walk ends in the iconic fortress ruin, as Sacsayhuamán is the ultimate masterpiece of Inca military architecture.

Day 14: Leisure in Cusco & Flight to Lima.

A morning at leisure to visit the last sites of Cusco at your own speed. In the afternoon, your guide will escort you to the airport for your flight back to Lima and then connecting to your international flight home.

Day 15: Arrive Home

Arrive in your hometown.

15 Day Peru Itinerary Highlights

Amazonian Exclusivity: Head into the Amazon on a Zafiro luxury cruise, wildlife discovery excursions with a naturalist excursion leader.

The Cultural Lares Trek: Participate in a lodge-to-lodge trek through remote Andean valleys, interacting with local communities via a certified mountain guide who will guide you and provide translation.

Machu Picchu 101: Discover the lost city of the Incas with a specialist guide whose rich storytelling will connect you with the history and intrigue of this sacred site.

Travel Tips

Pack for: this trip requires a two-fold packing instruction, light textiles for the warm, steamy temperatures of the jungle, and technical layers for the cold, high Andes.
Acclimatization is essential: this itinerary intends to provide a gradual approach to acclimatization. You must be cognizant to be able to drink enough water. Take it easy the first few days at altitude.
Culturally responsible: As always, try to be as respectful and inquisitive toward the community you’ll be spending time with. A smile and an outreached hand of a Quechua greeting (“”Allinllachu“”) will go a very long way!

Fitness Requirements

This itinerary accommodates travelers with a good physical condition and adventurous spirit. The Lares trek is a daily hike of up to 7 hours on mountainous terrain, potentially reaching altitudes of 4,450 meters (14,600 ft.). The Amazon part is laid back, but good physical condition is necessary if you wish to get the most from the Andean section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between the Lares Trek and other more popular treks?

The Lares Trek is considered the "cultural route." Other treks are largely about ruins, the Lares route allows for a full immersion experience into the lives of Quechua Andean communities. With your trained guide as your translator and cultural intermediary, you will be mainly experiencing the people and their living traditions.

What are the accommodations like on the Lares Adventure?

You will be accommodated in luxury mountain lodges, built and run in conjunction with the locals. They provide incredible comforts in extreme locations - outdoor jacuzzis, gourmet meals, and everything you could want to comfortably recuperate after a long day trekking.

Do I need to be an experienced mountaineer to do this trek?

No, you do not need to be a technical mountaineer, but you should be in excellent physical shape with experience hiking full days. The mountain guides are appropriately certified and will manage safety, pace, and logistics, but you do need to mentally and physically contribute effort, especially related to altitude, and that requires preparation.

Rivers of Life & Ancestral Trails: A Luxury Journey Through the Amazon & Lares 15d/14n - Peru Tour