“The amount of birds in the Amazon was amazing — we were in the Flor de Castana to see the pink dolphins, and there were thousands of birds swirling, landing, and taking off all around us! The boat was great — the staff and food were wonderful, and each evening the dining room and tables were decorated differently. They accommodated my food restrictions perfectly. The guides (and drivers!) on our excursions were informative and had great stories to share. My room on the Delfin III was lovely.
I was also awestruck at the Larco Museum in Lima; the vast quantities of beautiful artifacts and hearing about the history of his work. We could have even spent more time exploring Lima.
Paracas and Islas Ballestas were a nice complement to Lima’s hustle and bustle. The hotel was lovely and had a great view. The town of Paracas was cute, and we enjoyed the textile museum. The boat trip to the islands was interesting, and we got to see a lot of beautiful birds and penguins! The dune buggy ride is a MUST-DO — so fun, with incredible sunset views — absolutely not at all what I expected! I (being a horse person) loved visiting the paso fino farm and getting to ride! And the dune buggy ride and the scallop farm were amazing and great fun. Also the vastness and details of the pre-Incan structures at Pachacamac existing so close to nearby towns was incredible.
Renee was great at listening to us and coming up with great suggestions and alternatives. The pre-trip info was very thorough. The trip went along without a hitch, and all the details were handled so well.” Brigid S.
– Brigid, traveling with family on a 12-day adventure in Peru.
Multiple repeat Knowmad travelers Brigid, Kathy, and John were drawn to the Amazon by their love of adventure and wildlife. They rounded out the trip visiting Peru’s off-the-beaten-path ‘little Galapagos’ by boat, hidden ruins on foot, vast dunes by buggy, and a hacienda by horseback. Working with Knowmad Specialist Renee, here’s the two-week itinerary they came up with, including a luxury Amazon River cruise.
If an off-the-beaten path trip in Peru or a luxury Amazon River cruise are on your list, feel free to reach out to our team at 612-315-2894 or [email protected].
PERU ADVENTURE: Amazon Jungle to pacific coast
DAY 1 USA – Lima
Fly to Lima where you’ll be taken to your accommodations by a Knowmad representative.
- No meals – Villa Barranco, 2 Junior Suite Rooms
DAY 2 Lima
Head out on a fun day of culinary exploration in Lima (small group). Visit a local roaster before exploring the colonial streets of Barranco. Refresh with a lucuma smoothie, visit the Surquillo market and enjoy an interactive ceviche making class. Enjoy lunch at Huaca Pucllana, within a pre-Incan archaeological complex.
- B, L – Villa Barranco
DAY 3 Lima
Enjoy a private, guided exploration of Lima, visiting the government palaces and cathedrals in the historical center. Perhaps drive through San Isidro as well today. Your guide can discuss the available areas to visit on this tour. You will also stop at the Larco Museum to see Peruvian artifacts more than 5,000 years old and enjoy lunch in their beautiful gardens.
- B, L – Villa Barranco
DAY 4 Lima – Hacienda Los Ficus – Paracas
After being picked up by your guide, begin the day discovering Pachacamac, an archaeological site around 25 miles south of Lima, filled with religious temples, pyramids, and a large cemetery, dating back nearly 2,000 years. You’ll then attend a Peruvian Paso Horse Show at La Hacienda Los Ficus. Tour the stables and get a glimpse of the breeding stallions before having a delicious lunch at the hacienda. Following lunch, meet your new guide while in the Paracas and continue on with them for roughly 3 hours to your hotel.
- B, L – Hotel Paracas, 2 Deluxe Oceanfront Rooms
DAY 5 Paracas
In the morning, visit the Ballestas Islands for up close wildlife-viewing opportunities (small group). Here you may spot penguins, sea lions, and over 160 species of sea birds. Take in the sight of the Candelabra Geoglyph. Enjoy some time at leisure at your hotel, before heading out to enjoy a sunset dune buggy ride through the sand dunes and picnic before returning to your accommodations.
- B, Sunet picnic snacks – Hotel Paracas
DAY 6 Paracas
Transfer to Playa Atenas, where you’ll meet the scallop farmers and head out on a boat tour to the region’s largest scallop farm. If you’d like, dive into the cold Pacific waters and participate in harvesting scallops, or just observe as the professionals conduct this fascinating process. Enjoy a tasting of fresh scallops prepared in the traditional style of the local mariculturists. Explore the Paracas National Reserve for a few hours this afternoon —the only protected natural area in Peru that encompasses both marine territories and ecosystems.
- B, L – Hotel Paracas
DAY 7 Paracas – Lima – Iquitos – Amazonia
Early this morning, meet your Spanish-speaking driver who will transfer you ~4 hrs to the Lima airport. Fly to Iquitos and transfer in a vehicle to Nauta, where you will board the Delfin III for your Amazon cruise. Enjoy orientation and happy hour as the vessel glides into the waters of the Marañon River, spotting birds and monkeys along the way. While on board, all meals and beverages are included.
- Box B, Box L, D – Delfin III, 2 Suites
DaY 8 Amazonia
Begin the day with a skiff excursion through Yanallpa at dawn, where birds and monkeys announce the forest’s awakening. In the afternoon, venture onto the Dorado River, gliding through calm channels by kayak or perhaps trying your hand at piranha fishing.
- B, L, D – Delfin III
Day 9 Amazonia
Visit the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, the largest protected wetland reserve in the world. Swim in one of the pristine lagoons for a chance to swim with the pink dolphins before continuing to explore the narrow channels and rainforest. Then, head out on a skiff excursion through Magdalena where you can continue to encounter more of the Amazon’s incredible biodiversity.
- B, L, D – Delfin III
Day 10 Amazonia
Explore the Yarapa tributary to a hidden lagoon, observing the wildlife and local communities. Visit the Fundo Casual jungle and see the creatures of the area before a night walk to look for frogs, birds, and insects.
- B, L, D – Delfin III
DAY 11 Amazonia – Iquitos – Lima – USA
Disembark and enjoy an interactive activity about melipona stingless bees and their crucial role in the Amazon ecosystem. You will also visit the Amazon Research Center for Ornamental Fishes, where you can admire the Amazon’s vibrant aquatic life – from giant arapaima to colorful freshwater stingrays. Continue to the Iquitos airport where a Delfin representative will assist you in checking in for your flight.
In Lima, grab your luggage and check into the Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel (located across the street), where you’ll have 2 rooms to use during your layover. Then, return to the airport for your international flight home.
- B, Box L – Wyndham Airport Hotel for Day Use, 2 Rooms
DAY 12 USA
Arrive home.
Knowmad Adventures works closely with independent-minded travelers creating innovative trips to South America. Our specialists in Patagonia, Chile, Machu Picchu, Peru, Argentina, the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador and Antarctica are eager to collaborate and create a trip as unique and authentic as you are, and our experienced South American operations team guarantees you get an insider’s perspective, superior values, and a flawlessly-operated trip.
