Photo Tour with Boyd Norton  - April 08

PERU 13 DAYS - 12 NIGHTS

DAY 01 APRIL 25 USA – LIMA

 Late night arrival to Lima. Representative from Andean & Rainforest Expeditions will be at the airport to meet you and help with the transfer to hotel Posada Del Inca Olivar in the elegant district of San Isidro. 

The hotel Olivar is located in the historical Olivar Park famous for its Tudor and Republican period homes. The park is ideal for early morning walk and photography.   

 DAY 02 APRIL 26 USA – LIMA

In the morning the morning we visit the Centro de Lima (Colonial Downtown).  With its magnificent squares, monasteries, churches and colonial buildings, UNESCO declared Colonial Lima in 1991 a World Heritage.  The group will have great chances to photograph Colonial and Republican style buildings.  Later the group will visit the Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Lima. 

At our “Welcome Lunch” the group will have their first taste of the unique and rich array of Peruvian cuisine.  The Kapallaq restaurant will be a perfect place to have this delicious experience.  Later in the afternoon we visit the homes and popular/folkloric art shops of Mari Solari and Nicario Jimenez. 

Mari Solari’s home/shop is famous for its fine collection of Peruvian art and collectable textiles.   Nicario Jimenez is famous for his Retablos and sculpture work.  Born in a peasant community in the high Peruvian Andes, Nicario Jimenez studied sculpture at the Centro de Capacitacion Artesanal de Huamanaga and attended the Universidad Nacional San Cristobal de Huamanga in Ayacucho, Peru.  His one person exhibitions include the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum, the Cleveland Institute of Art, the Museum of Man in San Diego, California, the North Dakota Museum of Art, and the Rhode Island School of Design.  His work was selected by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. for its "Seeds of Change" Exhibit and was subsequently purchased by the Smithsonian for its permanent collection.  Nicario has taught and lectured at the University of Miami, the University of California, San Diego, Whittier College and American University.   Jimenez's work is included in numerous prestigious public, corporate, and private collections.  Dinner on your own.  Overnight at hotel Posada del Inca Olivar.

Day 3 APRIL 27 LIMA – PUERTO MALDONADO – POSADA AMAZONAS

 Arrival & Reception by Photography Guide

Because photography in the rainforest requires a lot of patience and luck, our photography guides help with your equipment, provide subtle tips for improved use of blinds and maximize breaks with the weather and wildlife.

Transfer Airport to Puerto Maldonado Headquarters

Upon arrival from Lima, we will welcome you at the airport and drive you ten minutes to our Puerto Maldonado headquarters.  While enjoying your first taste of the forest in our gardens we will ask you to pack only the necessary gear for your next few days, and leave the rest at our storage area. This helps us keep the boats and cargo light.   

Transfer Pto Maldonado Headquarters to Tambopata River Port

Skirting Puerto Maldonado, we drive 20 kilometers to the Tambopata River Port, entering the Native Community of Infierno.  The port is a communal business.

Transfer Boat - Tambopata River Port to Posada Amazonas

The forty five minute boat ride from the Tambopata Port to Posada Amazonas will take us into the Community’s Primary Forest Private Reserve. Boxed Lunch

Orientation. Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.

Canopy Tower

A twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas leads to the 30 meter 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, or mixed species canopy flocks land in the treetop next to you. Dinner, Overnight at Posada Amazonas

DAY  4,  APRIL 28 POSADA AMAZONAS

Photography at the Posada Amazonas parrot clay lick. This clay lick is only a twenty minute walk from Posada Amazonas.  From a blind located about twenty meters away you will see dozens of parrots and parakeets descend on most clear mornings to ingest the clay on a river bank. Species such as Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazon, Blue-headed Parrot and Dusky headed Parakeet descend at this clay lick. The clay lick is most active at dawn and during the late morning and early afternoons. From the blind we have constructed next to this lick, even the amateur photographer can take good pictures of these wonderful birds. Lunch. 

Photography at the Farm. The farm is one of the few places where light will not be a problem. Ideal for photography of birds who like open areas in addition to colorful fruits and plants.Dinner

Ecotourism Lecture. A daily presentation on the Infierno ecotourism project is available every night from a staff member. Overnight at Posada Amazonas

DAY 5 , APRIL 29   POSADA AMAZONAS – TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER

                    Capirona tree

Photography at Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. Tres Chimbadas is thirty minutes by boat and forty five minutes hiking from Posada Amazonas. Once there you will  paddle around the lake in a catamaran, searching for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of our lake visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caiman, hoatzin and horned screamers. The lake provides wonderful opportunities to photograph majestic trees, water reflections and, if we are very fortunate, animal life. Although otters are frequently seen, the distances at which they are sighted usually do not make for good photography.

Posada Amazonas to Tambopata Research Center. Six and a half hours by boat from Posada Amazonas, in the pristine heart of the reserve, lies the Tambopata Research Center.  As we cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, we will leave the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 700,000 hectare uninhabited nucleus of the reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent. Boxed Lunch.

Orientation. Upon arrival, the lodge manager will welcome you and brief you with important navigation and security tips.

Photography from Overlooks: A three to five kilometer hike will lead us to overlooks commanding magnificent views of the Tambopata winding its way into the lowlands. The forest on this trail, regenerating on old bamboo forest, is good for Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey.  The overlooks provide excellent panoramic photo opportunities of the Tambopata winding its way down from the highlands. On a clear day, it will even be possible to view and photograph the snow capped Andean peaks in the distance.  At each overlook we will have good chances of encounters at eyelevel at 30-50 yards with large turkey-like birds called guans and chachalacas, or toucans, or macaws roosting on the trees. Dinner.

Macaw Project Lectures: After dinner scientists will provide an in depth look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use,  their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation. Overnight in Tambopata Research Center.

DAY6, APRIL 30  TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER  

Macaw Clay Lick Photography from the Beach: On most clear mornings of the year dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle which inspired a National Geographic cover story. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, we will observe Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings are at dawn when the lick is most active. If the river is not swollen, thereby reducing the effective beach area, photographers should have plenty of opportunities to shoot the typical clay lick photographs from distances of 50-100 meters. Breakfast.

Photography in the floodplain forest. This five kilometer trail covers the prototypical rain forest with immense  trees criss-crossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahuacos we will look for Squirrel, Brown Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries. TRC is located within this habitat. Photo opportunities for all mammals and birds on this trail will be scant as visibility and lighting are poor and animals timid. Our principal focus will be general rain forest shots as well as portraits of the huge trees that are scattered throughout this forest. Lunch.

Photography on the Pond Platform: Ten minutes upriver from the lodge is a tiny pond with a platform in the middle. It is a great place for the late afternoon where we whittle away the remains of the day as we spot waterfowl such as Muscovy duck, sunbittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers and parakeets that call this pond their home. Opportunities to photograph these beautiful birds will abound, as the lighting and visibility of the pond is excellent and these birds´ habits are predictable over short periods of time. Dinner.

Night Photography.  Night walks are great for photographing insects and frogs. We may be able to find praying mantis, cicadas, leaf mimicking grasshoppers as well huge toads, shiny green tree frogs and bizarre horned frogs. Overnight in Tambopata Research Center.

DAY 7, MAY 01 TRC – REFUGIO AMAZONAS

Time- off. Time off to relax and enjoy the lodge surroundings, wander off on your own, try out a new trail, or repeat your favorite activity.

Tambopata Research Center to Refugio Amazonas. A three and a half hour boat ride brings us to Refugio Amazonas. Boxed Lunch.

Brazil nut trail and camp: A few minutes hike from the lodge is a beautiful old growth patch of Brazil Nut forest that has been harvested for decades (if not centuries) where the precarious remains of a camp used two months a year by Brazil Nut gatherers can still be experienced. We will be demonstrating the whole process of the rain forest's only sustainably harvested product from collection through transportation to drying. Dinner.

Tambopata National Reserve Lecture. Nightly lectures prepared by the staff of Refugio Amazonas cover conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.Overnight in Refugio Amazonas 

DAY 8,  MAY 02  REFUGIO AMAZONAS– CUZCO – SACRED VALLEY

Breakfast, Transfer Boat - Refugio Amazonas to Tambopata River Port

Transfer Tambopata River Port to Pto Maldonado Headquarters

Transfer Puerto Maldonado Headquarters to Airport

We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.

Arrive in Cuzco.  The group will stop at hotel in Cuzco to use the facilities and also have some tea before departing for the Sacred Valley.  The group will stop along the way to photograph the magnificent views of cultivated field and Andean mountains through the Anta Valley.   After arrival at the Willka T’ika Guest House the group will register and have the remaining of the afternoon to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. The gardens are at the House are inviting for macro photography.   

Situated near the village of Urubanba in the Sacred Valley, this wonderful guesthouse offers grace and comfort enhanced by the magical aura of the Andes. The guest cottages at Willka T’ika are newly-built in traditional 16^th-century Spanish colonial style. Constructed from natural materials and indigenous handwork that has been used by Peruvians for thousands of years, each room has a private bathroom connected to solar water panels. The gardens are breathtaking, lavishly filled with flowers, shrubs, and flowering plants, along with Andean medicinal herbs and indigenous grains and vegetables. Willka T’ika offers gourmet meals prepared with organic, homegrown vegetables, herbs, and Andean grains.  Overnight at the Willka T’ika Guest House. B, L, D

DAY 09,  MAY 03 CHINCHERO & ANTA VALLEYS – SEMINARIO STUDIO

Following our early breakfast at Willka T’ika, we depart by private bus to the village of Chinchero (45 min.) located at 12,400 feet above sea level.  We’ll explore this picturesque village and its Inca/Colonial monuments on foot.  From Chinchero we drive to Huaypo Lagoon to begin today’s hike.  Our route will take us on a variety of terrains including dirt roads, Inca trails, and mule paths.  Fabulous mountain views, contact with local communities, and historical sites await us at every turn.  This area of Cuzco is considered the most picturesque in the region.  

From Huaypo Lagoon we cross the Altiplano of Chinchero and the Pampa de Maras until we reach the ruins of Moray (8.4 miles) located at 11,800 feet above sea level.  Generally, the hike is a gradual descent through rolling hills.  We’ll explore the ruins of Moray before our picnic lunch. 

Flute player, Sacred Valley

The circular terraces of Moray were an agricultural “research laboratory” for the Incas, who studied temperature variation from one terrace to another in order to develop different crop varieties.  Later the hardier varieties of seeds were distributed throughout the Inca empire.  On the other side of the Urubamba Valley we’ll see dramatic snowcaps peaks of the Vilcabamba and Urubamba cordilleras (mountain ranges).  Picnic lunch near the ruins of Moray.

After visiting the terraces of Moray and taking lunch, we board our bus and return to the Sacred Valley and visit the ceramic studio of Pablo and Marilu Seminario well-known popular artist. Along with his contemporary works, the Seminarios and their artisans produce ceramics with the same techniques used during Incan times.  Pablo, Marilu or an associate, will describe the techniques udes and we can watch the artisans at work.  The Seminarios also have a small shop where we can purchase a variety of attractive and well-designed items. In 07 the Field Museum of Chicago purchased a group of ceramics from the studio. They will be featured at the museum during an exhibit that will highlight the history of Peruvian ceramics from pre-Inca to contemporary times.  Later in the evening we return to Willka T’ika Guesthouse for dinner and overnight. B,PL,D  included

Note: During today’s hike a support vehicle will be available. Participants will walk at their own pace. At any time during the activity we can choose to finish the program with the support van.

DAY 10,  MAY 04 SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU

                                                                            Machu Picchu at dawn

After a very early breakfast we will be picked up at our hotel to begin our journey to Machu Picchu - the "Lost City of the Incas". After a short drive to Ollantaytambo, we will board our train for the Putucusi Rail Station where we will climb a final 2,000 feet by minibus to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, Machu Picchu was unknown to the Spaniards. Its reason for existence remains under debate. Some argue it was built and populated by the family of one Inca ruler, Pachakutek; others have proposed the principal function of Machu Picchu was to maintain a reliable supply of coca leaves for the priests and royals of Cuzco. Bingham fostered the school of thought that the city existed primarily for strategic and defensive purposes, but other findings support the hypothesis that Machu Picchu was a university where the children of the leaders of other Andean cultures conquered by the Incas were taken to be taught and brainwashed. At any rate, as we wander through the maze of empty plazas, chambers and dwellings saddled atop steep mountainsides, we will be unable to resist our own speculations at the impenetrable mystery of these stones. After lunch and thoroughly exploring the significance of a variety of stone structures and ruins, we will descend to the village of Aguas Calientes.  Overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel.

The Pueblo hotel is the winner of the National Geographic Traveler Best Practices Award for Sustainable Tourism Practices.  (May/June 2002 issue)

The Pueblo hotel is situated on five hectares of cloud forest considered to be a genetic bank.  It is surrounded by spectacular scenery and a wealth of biodiversity. The Pueblo hotel has the world largest native species orchid garden open to the public. In the hotel grounds are 372 species of native orchids, 154 bird species 108 butterfly species, more than 200 species of trees and a great variety of reptiles and mammals, including two spectacled bears. The hotel offers a wide variety of ecotourism activities that promote contact with nature and the local culture, and implements projects for researching and conserving the local flora and fauna, in cooperation with prestigious international institutions. B, L, D

DAY 11,  MAY 05 MACHU PICCHU

We will spend the morning around Aguas Calientes to photograph the market and town or back up at the ruins, continuing our exploration of the forests around the famous citadel. We will have the option of retracing the Inca Trail for as far as we like in order to photograph the cloud forest surrounding the ruins and the complex of Machu Picchu from a high vantage point.  Overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel B, L

DAY 12,  MAY 06 MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO

Free morning to explore the hotel grounds famous for its nature trail featuring over 350 native orchid species or back at the ruins of Machu Picchu. After lunch, at Toto’s House we will retrace our route to Urubamba Valley by train and travel to the city of Cuzco.  Overnight at Casa Andina San Blas B, L

DAY 13, MAY 07 CUZCO

Morning open to explore and do some shopping.  At 11,200ft. Above sea level, Cusco is the heart of Tahuantinsuyo, Peru’s pre- Colombian Empire.  Cuzco today is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America, a fascinating and colorful paradox of the past and the present.  After lunch the group will have a guided city tour.  Sites the group will visit in Cuzco with city tour:

Santo Domingo.-  This church is built over what once was the most magnificent temple in the Americas, Koricancha or Temple of the Sun.  Its courtyards were filled with life-sized gold and silver representations of all the flora and fauna of the Empire.  Pizarro’s men looted the temple as part of Inca Atahualpa royal ransom who was held prisoner in Cajamarca by the Spaniards and later killed.  An earthquake destroyed the Santo Domingo church in 1950 revealing the Inca walls that were hidden or plastered over. These walls of the Temple of the Sun are the finest example of Inca stonework in existence.

The Cathedral. - The church is located in the northeast side of the Plaza de Armas, built in 1550.  It contains over four hundred XII century paintings done by the members of the renowned Cusco School.  The Lord of the Earthquakes altar weights over 52 pounds and is made of solid gold and studded with precious stones.  The main altar is covered with sheets of silver. 

Plaza de Armas.-  Called Huacaypata by the Quechuas, signifies cry or moan, and originated in the expressions of reverence and submission with which the religious or military ceremonies were carried out in this place.  Colonial arcades, remains of ancient Inca temples and churches, today surround the plaza.

Sacsayhuaman. -  Located two kilometers from the city of Cuzco, the immense walls of the complex made up of huge stones distributed in a zigzag pattern in three platforms with an average of 1,181ft in length.  These platforms are connected by flights of stairs and doorways also in stone; one of these is 29ft tall and 15ft wide and weighs more than 100 tons.  The largest stone block found in Sacsayhuaman stands 27.88ft high and weighs 361 tons. Inca Pachacuti employed 20,000 men for the construction of the complex and it took approximately 50 years to complete.  Overnight at Casa Andina San Blas. B

DAY 14, MAY 08  CUZCO – LIMA - USA

We transfer from hotel to Cuzco airport and fly back to Lima.  We’ll check into our day room at the Olivar hotel before driving to our farewell lunch.

Our destination for lunch is Pescados Capitales Restaurant.  After lunch the group will have time at leisure to relax or doing their last shopping.  Late afternoon return to the hotel for last minute packing before departing for the airport.  B, L

 Optional Extension: Colca Canyon to photograph the Andean Condors. Contact us.