DAY ONE: HISTORIC HEARTLAND

Welcome to the historic heartland and former capital of the Incan Empire! Plan to fly into Cusco’s Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ) anytime before the rendezvous time (6PM in the lobby of the Novotel Cusco Hotel). Once you collect your luggage, head outside to the Arrivals area and look for our guide (holding a Wild Women Expeditions sign) and private shuttle driver. Check-in at the hotel is available anytime after 3PM. Ease into your room, relax or stretch your legs–the hotel is centrally located just three blocks from Plaza de Armas. Feeling more ambitious? The hotel also has a bicycle rental service.

At 6PM, our awesome WWE guide will join us in the Novotel lobby and provide a thorough debrief on what to expect over the next few days.

Tonight we’ll swap stories over dinner at Mamá Seledonia’s, a truly feel-good restaurant that supports young mothers and teens in rural areas. Women who have expressed a passion and talent for cooking but have experienced difficulty in finding employment due to their family obligations are trained in the industry. The restaurant’s spectacular menu offers traditional fare like baked guinea pig, grilled chicken with elderberry sauce, trout ceviche, yuyo (sea algae) and grilled alpaca steak in pepper sauce. 

Today’s first big bite out of Peru is a filling one!

Meals included: Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Novotel Cusco Hotel

DAY TWO: IN THE CUCINA

After breakfast, we’ll gather at 8:30AM to immerse ourselves in all things Peruvian with a walking tour that includes all the urban must-sees in Cusco. The fusion of Inca and Spanish influences in the Stone of Twelve Angles at Inca Roca Palace on Hatun Rumilloc street is an impressive sight. We’ll also experience the pounding heart of the city, the Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by colonial arcades and four formidable churches like the “Cathedral” of Cusco built in XVI. We’ll also see the façade of the sacred Qoricancha temple which was built over an Incan palace dedicated to worship of the sun. According to archaeologists over one thousand priests and attendants lived here. 

School starts at 11AM today! We’ll have a truly sweet introduction to Peru as we join a 2 hour bean-to-bar chocolate workshop at Choco Museo. Please note that this workshop is not 100% Wild Women exclusive. We will be in a class with other participants as we learn how to make Peruvian chocolate and tisane (tea) from the roasted husks of cacao nuts. We will also be introduced to the entire scratch chocolate-making process from cacao harvest to the familiar “OMG!” tasting. Under expert direction, we’ll make our own custom milk or dark chocolates with more than 15 different add-in ingredients to choose from. Our biggest decision will be sea salt and toffee bits or sprinkles and gummies? 

Note: Lunch is independent today (nothing like having dessert first!)–and there are several tempting options within walking distance to choose from.

At 2:30PM, we will meet to participate in a Peruvian cooking class and learn the generational secrets of traditional recipes. Our Cusco food tour will begin in either a local restaurant or cooking studio–but first, we’ll have to shop! We’ll visit a local market for an introduction to local Peruvian staples and spices. There will be unfamiliar fruits, vegetables and fiery spices to taste later in the studio! During our practical class led by a professional Peruvian chef, we’ll learn how to prepare vibrant, healthy dishes using regional ingredients.

For visual learners, this class is a cinch! At the end of our lesson, we’ll pull up seats to a three-course tasting menu and quenching local drink.

Head’s up: Tonight we’ll repack our gear choosing only the items that are necessary for the next three nights in the Amazon(this will help keep the boats and cargo light). Rest assured–the rest of our luggage will be stored safely and securely until our return!

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Novotel Cusco Hotel

DAY THREE: INTO THE AMAZON

In the morning, we’ll transfer back to the airport and board our flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway city to the Amazon and capital of Madre de Dios. Upon arrival at the airport, the staff of Sandoval Lake Lodge will welcome us. We’ll drive through the city’s confines to the boat dock on the mighty Tambopata River to board our motorized canoe. We’ll make a beeline for the nearby confluence of the Madre de Dios River, the source of the Amazon tributary. Just 30 minutes downriver, we’ll land at the port where we will continue our journey by walking 3km (2 miles) to Sandoval Lake.

Birdsong and butterflies will follow us as we make our way to a narrow canal boat that will allow us to navigate the flooded forest of palms in an intimate way. This floodplain will lead us to the open waters of Sandoval Lake–our crew will silently row the boats across the lake to the lodge (boat motors are prohibited). We’ll be well-occupied scanning above and below the surface–we may see the enormous paiche, an Amazonian fish that can weigh up to 100 kilos (220lbs). Be prepared to be startled by the otherworldly and unsettling screams of the giant otter! Watch for their heads popping up along the lake’s surface to investigate us!

We’ll take five to absorb all the sights and sounds that surround us before exploring the eastern end of the lake by boat. We’ll be in the company of hundreds of blue and yellow and red-breasted macaws returning to the cover of the palm forest at night. Sandoval Lake is also home to the very curious capuchin monkey–we will be able to watch their treetop antics from the boat.

We will return to the lodge at dusk for dinner. While dessert is a typical post-dinner highlight, tonight it will be an evening boat ride in search of the caimans. They are extremely rare in the Amazon now but still common in the protected waters of Sandoval. They grow up to 4m (13 feet)!

If we are graced with a clear night, we can travel further into the lake to take in the shimmer of the southern sky constellations and unforgettable smear of the Milky Way.

Meals included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Sandoval Lake Lodge

DAY FOUR: EXPLORING THE RAINFOREST

Just before dawn we will be on the lake to have front row seats (fingers crossed) for a spectacular sunrise. Ultimately, Mother Nature decides when she would like to rise and shine! If we are lucky, we may have an encounter with the giant otters. The close-knit families are most active at this time and the bird sound that rises from the forest proves that they love daybreak as well.

From the boat we’ll observe the skill of birds fishing the depths. We will also have up close and personal moments watching the strange and primitive hoatzin (Shansho) eating leaves. This Neotropical bird is saddled with a poor digestive system–it can take up to 45 hours for them to digest fermenting leaves. They are easy to observe as they spend over 80% of their time in lounge mode. 

After a late breakfast, we’ll follow the trail through the cool understory of the immense primary rainforest and giant chestnut trees that surround the lake.

After lunch we’ll chill in the shade for an hour before striking off to the west side of the lake to explore capuchin monkey territory.

In the evening, we’ll gather for a presentation on the dynamic Peruvian jungle before dinner. After dinner, we’ll have the opportunity to spot caimans seeking out their own menu in the lake.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Sandoval Lake Lodge

DAY FIVE: PERUVIAN DELIGHTS

Depending on the group’s interest, our day can be steeped in relaxation or a day jammed with activity. For those who want to carpe diem we can have an early start in hopes of counting more bird species and witnessing the giant otters at play.

We can return to the lodge for a later breakfast, have some free time and then absorb the panoramic view from a high point along the lake before walking along an interpretive trail to learn about dozens of medicinal Amazonian plants. We’ll identify pamicho, a vital plant that is used to construct thatched roofs in local houses; the ginger candle that is touted for its anti-inflammatory properties, and the cinchona tree. Its bark has saved generations from the dire symptoms of malaria.

This path slices through both the untamed jungle and a small botanical garden dedicated to the careful cultivation of native species. 

After lunch, we’ll have some free time before gathering for a walk through the forest on the north shore of the lake–it’s the quietest and most secluded part of the forest.

In the evening, we will have one last opportunity to seek out the black caiman along the shore or go for a short walk through the woods to see who goes bump in the night!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Sandoval Lake Lodge

DAY SIX: CUSCO

After breakfast, we’ll have a final, memorable paddle through the palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On clear mornings, the sunrise and reflection in the lake is a surreal treat–but remember, it’s dependent on Mother Nature’s mood ring. We’ll return to the Madre de Dios river and head towards Puerto Maldonado for flights back to Cusco.  

Depending on airline schedules, this may require early bird departures. 

Upon arrival in Cusco, there will be a group transfer to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon can be designed by you! Feel free to explore the humming city of Cusco on your own or with a few new Wild Women pals.

If the group is game, we can wander (upward!) to the traditional neighborhood of San Blas later in the afternoon. To arrive here, it’s a short but increasingly steep walk from the Plaza de Armas. San Blas is known for its cluster of art studios, artisan workshops and some of the area’s most-loved bars and restaurants. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Boxed Lunch

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Novotel Cusco Hotel

DAY SEVEN: SACSAYHUAMAN

After breakfast (around 8AM) we’ll play amateur archaeologists and explore the Inca Ceremonial Center of Sacsayhuaman just outside the pulsing center of Cusco. The rocks are impossibly pieced together like a puzzle–rumour has it that over 10,000 workers laboured for 50 years to build the marvel. The origin of the temple of Sacsayhuaman is still a Nancy Drew mystery. 

After visiting Sacsayhuaman, we will go to the moon! Well, the Moon Temple, actually. Here, we will make a “payment” to Mother Earth under the guidance of a Shaman. The ceremony is a beautiful thank you to our beloved “Pachamama” and involves a gift of coca leaves, cereal seeds, chicha, wine and seeds that contain magical power.

Later, we’ll travel by private car through the Sacred Valley, hugging the outskirts of Cusco. Known as “Wilcamayo” to the Incas, this pastoral, fertile valley has been a historically essential source of food for those who live in the high Andes. Maize crops can be seen in patchworks along the river and covering the terraces thoughtfully stacked into the valley walls.

Our driver and guide will be sure to take us to the best selfie spots in the area. We’ll arrive at our hotel smack-dab-in-middle of the Sacred Valley (Yucay village) in the early afternoon to take advantage of the facilities. Time for a pisco sour at the hotel’s Apus Bar?

Before dinner, those who are eager for a deep stretch can enjoy a one-hour yoga session at the hotel. Dinner will be convenient tonight as well–it’s at our hotel!

Head’s up: We’ll also need to repack for Machu Picchu–this will be easy! Pack your pajamas, toiletries and daypack essentials to explore the Lost City. The rest of our luggage will remain securely at the hotel. INCA RAIL carriages and vans do not have luggage racks on board. Each travel ticket entitles passengers to board the train/vans with only one piece of hand luggage (backpack, handbag or laptop) weighing no more than 8 kg (17lb). The dimensions must be no more than 46 linear inches or 118 linear cm (height + length + width).

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: La Casona De Yucay Hotel

DAY EIGHT: THE AWAMAKI COMMUNITY

In the morning (8AM), we’ll drive along the Urubamba River towards the town of Ollantaytambo. The Inca-era cobblestones and adobe buildings of this town are otherworldly and a magnificent example of Inca urban planning (and one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish). The upper terraces of this site offer extraordinary photo opps of the tidy square-grid town below. 

We’ll also see the amazing rock formation representing the Inca god, Wiracocha.

After exploring the ruins, we’ll make our way to the Awamaki community (around 11:30AM) to learn about traditional Andean life and have lunch in one of the community member’s homes. 

We’ll meet the colourful women of the Awamaki community for an introduction to textiles and the historical connection it provides. There will be an opportunity to purchase expertly woven items which will directly support the Awamaki community. Please note–it’s not appropriate to haggle here, however, this is an ideal spot to practice your Quechua! Best to start with “Allillachu!” (Hello!)

If our visit coincides with market day, we can also browse the vendor stalls for hand-painted beads or warm ponchos.

Late in the afternoon, we’ll take the train towards the modern town of Aguas Calientes in the Urubamba River Valley. It’s known for its thermal baths…aguas calientes is Spanish for “hot waters”. If you find yourself in this kind of hot water, it’s a good thing! The train ride is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes of non-stop scenery. It’s one of the most tranquil ways to journey to Machu Picchu as the train passes along the Urubamba River and disappears into the cloud forest.

Once refreshed, we’ll hit the town for dinner at Indio Feliz, a vibey local restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tonight’s sweet sleep: El Mapi Boutique Hotel by Inkaterra

DAY NINE: LOST CITY OF THE INCAS

This morning, we will take a short bus ride up the steep, serpentine road to this monumental site. Machu Picchu, the ‘Lost City of the Incas,’ is an ancient marvel of stone palaces, towers, temples and staircases.

Located 2,430m above sea level, in the middle of a tropical mountain forest, it wasn’t until 1911 that American academic and explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon its remains. What a stumble it was! The remains are an incredible urban creation of the Inca Empire at its height and remain invisible from below, adding to the surprise factor.

Upon arrival, we will explore the upper terrace with our guide (*insert ultimate group photo here!) and tour the ruins of more than 200 houses and temples. We’ll have four hours access to the site (tickets are based on timed entry). Our tour guide will lead us around the upper terrace first. We’ll see the most important sectors of this great Inca City: Intiwatana (solar clock), the Sun Temple and the urban and agricultural sector. 

Star-struck and mesmerized by Machu, we will return to the town by bus and for lunch and wandering. In the afternoon, we’ll take the tourist train back to Ollantaytambo town, followed by a 2-hour private transfer  to our hotel in Cusco.

Head’s up: Machu Picchu visiting regulations require all visitors to follow a predetermined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only and once the guided visit commences, exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site as personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Tonight’s sweet sleep: Novotel Cusco Hotel

DAY TEN: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, there will be a group transfer to the airport. Sigh. With the hypnotic charm of Peru, Pachamama, and the arresting wonder of Machu Picchu firmly etched on our hearts, we’ll have to determine where next? Hug your fellow Wild Women goodbye, for now–what a soul-enriching time it has been. 

Meals included: Breakfast

Head’s up: Hotel check-out is 12PM