Lima, Amazon Jungle Lodge & Machu Picchu

With its stylish contemporary design, cutting-edge technology and ideal location, the flagship Casa Andina Premium Collection Miraflores hotel is the top of its class in every aspect. Once called the Miraflores Cesar's, this modern hotel icon was dramatically transformed into a luxury hotel. Its quintessential Limeno flavour reverberates in the exquisite art collection of contemporary local artists and prized colonial era antiques, in both public spaces and accommodations.

Begin the tour biking along the Cisneros and the Reserve boardwalks, arriving at the exclusive mall Larcomar, very popular among tourists, being the second place with the largest number of visitors in the country, after the imperial citadel of Cusco. You will visit the Love Park (Parque del Amor), whose design was inspired by the famous Park Guell, in Barcelona, by the renowned architect Antonio Gaudi; discovering the story behind the sculpture El Beso, the centerpiece of the park. You shall then arrive to the fascinating district of Barranco, birthplace of distinguished artists, literary authors and representative musicians of their culture; and well known for its beautiful and diverse architecture, European heritage from the beginning of the last century. A special place in this tour is the romantic Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros), whose name derives from the innumerable romances that are witnessed in this picturesque site. Tradition says that when you first see the bridge and cross it without breathing, your wish will be fulfilled.

go to the Larco Herrera Museum, an 18th century colonial-style museum housing the largest and most impressive ceramic collection in the world, with about 55,000 pre-Colombian clay pots on display. The collection concentrates on the refined ceramics of the Moche Dynasty, the people who lived along the northern coast of Peru between 200 and 700 AD. The Moche culture is recognized as accomplishing one of the greatest imaginative languages of ancient Peru through the use of creative pottery, providing clues to all aspects of their civilization without the use of the written word. One can learn about their religion, agriculture, transport, dance and music through these ceramic designs and shapes. The Moche are also renowned for their fascinating erotic pottery and the famous collection is on display in the separate 'Erotic Hall', depicting sexual practices of several Peruvian cultures in a lifelike, explicit and often humorous way. At the end of the service, transfer to your hotel.

On your arrival into Puerto Maldonado you will be met and transferred by motorised canoe up river to your lodge in the jungle.

Skirting Puerto Maldonado, you will drive 20 km to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno. The port is a communal business. The forty-five-minute boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada Amazonas will take you into the Community's Primary Forest Private Reserve.

Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips. A twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 m scaffolding canopy tower. A bannistered staircase running through the middle provides safe access to the platforms above. From atop, you obtain spectacular views of the vast expanses of standing forest cut by the Tambopata River winding through the middle. Now and then toucans, parrots or macaws are seen flying against the horizon and mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you. A daily presentation on the Infierno ecotourism project is available every night from a staff member.

Over the next two days there are many options to explore the surrounding areas. Following are some suggested highlights.

Tres Chimbadas, a system of 3 conjoined lakes and home to a family of Giant Otters - is thirty minutes by boat and then a forty five minute hike from Posada Amazonas. Once there you paddle around the lake in a catamaran searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers.

Nearby is the famous Macaw clay lick. Here you see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend on most clear days to dine on the clay and salt deposits on the river bank. Species such as Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazon, Blue-headed Parrot and Dusky headed Parakeet descend all make their way to the lick. Watch as the brown clay turns into a cascade of rainbow colors as the Amazonian parrots gorge. The clay lick is most active at dawn and during the late mornings and mid-afternoons.

A twenty minute boat ride downriver from the Posada is a trail designed by the staff of the Centro nape. The Centro nape is a communal organization that produces medicines from of forest plants and administers them to the locals of the region. The trail highlights all the different medicinal (and other) uses of plants found in the Amazon. Return to the lodge early evening.

After dinner each night you have the option of a night hike when most of the jungle wildlife is active.

Today, you will have a second day to explore your surroundings at the lodge.

After an early breakfast, you will retrace your river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado.

Casa Andina Premium Collection Cusco is a beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house, just 3 blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas, replete with authentic colonial character. It offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel but the comforts and services of a much larger property. Several rooms in the original structure of the hotel feature surviving colonial frescoes unearthed during renovation.

If you are looking for an adventure on your way to Machu Picchu at an unbeatable price, on a train with all the onboard comforts you could ask for, the Expedition train has just what you need.

The train cars of the Expedition train is steeped in the designs of Incan culture, making them the perfect way to start your trip to the Machu Picchu citadel. The Expedition gives you the chance to take in the unbelievable scenery and take incredible panoramic pictures of a journey unlike any other.

You will be waited on by a highly-trained staff member for the duration of your trip. Additionally, you will be able to enjoy a Food and Beverage service for sale, where you will find a wide variety of top quality products.

Departures are scheduled daily, with a variety of times throughout the day.

Free WiFi is available for the use of passengers at Poroy, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu Station.

Entrances to Machu Picchu are now regulated and allow entrance ON THE HOUR. Entrance times are:

6, 7, 8, 9 10, 11, 12, 1PM and 2PM.

When booking you must request the hour of entrance you require or allow your destination expert to suggest a time based on your itinerary and available train times.
NOTE: You can arrive any time after your booked hour but cannot stay any longer than 4 hours from your pre-booked hour. You are not allowed in earlier than your pre-booked time.

Colored stamps are used on the ticket to determine and monitor your entry and exit time. Tickets can be checked at any time when in the ruins.

The ruins close at 5:30PM so any entrance so any entrance after 2:00PM will only allow a stay of no more than 3 and half hours!

You will be met by your guide you upon disembarking from your train, at the Aguas Calientes train station. If you are already in Aguas Calientes, your guide will meet you at your hotel reception at approximately 12 midday. He/she will then escort you to the nearby bus stop where buses transport travelers from the town of Aguas Calientes to the ruins of Machu Picchu (it's about a 20-min bus ride up to the idyllic mountain top location). On arrival at the ruins, you will begin your guided tour. You must exit the ruins by 5:00PM.

After the tour, you will exit with your guide. If you have chosen to stay at the Sanctuary Lodge, located right at the entrance of Machu Picchu, your guide will assist with your check in.

If you are returning to Cusco, at the shuttle bus terminal in Aguas Calientes, your guide will be waiting to assist with boarding your train for your return to Cusco (departures range from approx. 4:00PM to 5:30PM- schedules vary and subject to change without notice).
NOTE: You need to be at the Aguas Calientes train station 30 minutes before your trains departure time.

El Mapi by Inkaterra is located right at the foot of the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu and just across from the train station for Cusco/Machu Picchu train. This is a very reasonably priced hotel for Machu Picchu with full amenities. While the ruins may be ancient this hotel has all the modern comforts.

The Vistadome is the ideal train for those who want to be in contact with the environment and appreciate the wonderful journey to Machu Picchu.

Surrounded entirely by glass and wagons with large panoramic windows offering incomparable scenic views and innumerous opportunities to capture amazing pictures, Vistadome travelers feel connected and part of the impressive landscape of Peru. Perurail provide travelers on board personalized and first level service to give them an unforgettable life experience.

The Vistadome has two stations of departure to Machu Picchu: Cusco (Poroy) and the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo).

The Vistadome also has air conditioning and heating, leather seats that adjust the body to provide comfort and relaxation during the entire trip.

Casa Andina Premium Collection Cusco is a beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house, just 3 blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas, replete with authentic colonial character. It offers the intimacy of a boutique hotel but the comforts and services of a much larger property. Several rooms in the original structure of the hotel feature surviving colonial frescoes unearthed during renovation.