Trek across Peru from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest

This 8-day trek across Peru will take you from the snow-capped mountains at Ausangate to the thick jungles of the Amazon River Basin. With your expert bilingual guide and trekking team, travel across outstanding and diverse landscapes, where you’ll encounter wildlife from Andean condors and alpacas, to caiman alligators and howler monkeys, and much more.

In the mountains, hike along high-altitude passes passes, fish for trout in Lake Pucacocha, sink into steaming hot springs, and set up camp each night in pristine wilderness. As you descend into the Amazon, swim in bubbling streams, boat along the Madre Dios River in search of alligators, canoe to Monkey Island, and sleep each night in a jungle lodge.

Fall in love with the outstanding landscapes and immense biodiversity Peru has to offer on this spectacular 8-day trek across Peru.

Highlights

Trek the Ausengate Circuit with a full trekking team
Hike high-altitude peaks towering over 17,388 feet (5300 meters)
Travel by boat into protected wilderness of the Amazon Rainforest
Stay at remote jungle lodges
Travel with an expert bilingual guide to discover Peru’s outstanding biodiversity more in-depthly
Enjoy full board — all meals prepared by a professional cook staff
Trek across Peru and its diverse landscapes

Tour Information

Duration: 8 days/7 nights

Start location: Cusco, Peru

End location: Lima, Peru

Availability: All year round

Difficulty Level: High. High-altitude trekking.

Itinerary

Day 1: Travel from Cusco and Begin your Trek across Peru
Your trek across Peru will begin in Cusco. In the pre-dawn, you’ll travel by bus toward the village of Tinqui Ocongate where you’ll stop for breakfast before continuing onward to the trailhead at Quinsapucyu. You’ll ready your equipment here and begin your first day of trekking. You’ll enjoy spectacular views today — including the snow-capped Ausangate Mountain — and hike until you reach camp at Upis Huarmisaya. Enjoy dinner at camp before settling into your tent for the night.

Day 2: Cross the High-Mountain Arapa Pass
Today, you’ll make your ascent over Arapa Pass (16,266 feet/4958 meters asl). In the high mountains, you’ll experience unbeatable views of glacier peaks and hike along high-mountain streams and glacial lakes. You’re likely to have company along the trail as herds of llama and alpaca graze in the altiplanes.

In the afternoon, you’ll reach your campsite along the banks Lake Pucacocha. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to fish for trout (introduced to the lake by Canadians in the 19th century) and enjoy a fresh fish dinner.

Day 3: Reach 17,388 Feet at Palomani Pass
After breakfast, you’ll hike to see several turquoise lagoons before making your ascent to Palomani Pass. At an astounding 17,388 feet (5300 meters), Palomani Pass towers above the surrounding peaks. You’ll feel like you’re in heaven as you look across the truly breathtaking landscape spread out below you. Here, even iconic Andean condors fly beneath you. From Palomani Pass, you’ll descend toward your camp at Campa.

Day 4: Descend to a Small Mountain Village
Today, you’ll have time to relax and enjoy alpacas and llamas near camp before you set out for the 3-hour ascent of the last pass of your journey (16,076 feet/ 4900 meters asl). Here, you’ll observe more glacier peaks and lakes, and follow the pass between 2 snowy ranges before descending.

After lunch, you’ll leave descend from the high mountains to the small village of Pachanta, where farmers and herders speak Spanish and native Quechua. Here, you’ll camp near stunning lakes and a naturally-occurring hot spring. After 4 days in the high mountains, you’ll have the opportunity to rest your muscles and rejuvenate in the steaming, mineral-rich thermal springs.

Day 5: Say Goodbye to your Trek Team and Travel to the Amazon
Today, you’ll say goodbye to your hiking team, then set out by bus for the city of Puerto Maldonado. Watch out the window as llamas grazing in the meadows give way to the thick vegetation of the Amazon.

On the drive, you’ll make several stops for lunch, photo opportunities, and to swim in refreshing streams nearby. You’ll arrive at the Tarantula Lodge in Puerto Maldonado in time for a late dinner.

Day 6: Explore Monkey Island and Observe for Caiman Alligators
Today, you’ll wake up in the pre-dawn for breakfast and a boat ride deeper into the Amazon. You’ll settle in to your reed-wood bungalos, then set out for a morning hike in the outstanding rainforest.

After lunch at the lodge, you’ll travel by motor boat 30 minutes to Monkey Island, where you’ll have the opportunity to observe several monkey species and hundreds of monkeys that live and thrive on the island. As sunset nears, you’ll travel back to the lodge. Upon arrival, you’ll search for Caiman alligators on the river. As the sun sets and the night gets dark, you’ll see the haunting “eye-shine” of Caimans on the hunt.

Day 7: Sandoval Lake National Reserve
Today, you’ll wake up to the sound of birdsong and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. Later, you’ll hike in Tambopata National Reserve and canoe on stunning oxbow lake. You’ll see monkeys, otters, wild geese, and other species as you paddle on the water.

In the evening, back at the lodge, you’ll take a short night-hike to experience the jungle come alive after sunset.

Day 8: Experience a Parrot Clay-Lick at Dawn
Today, you’ll wake up early to enjoy an outstanding natural phenomenon — a parrot clay-lick at day break. Travel along the river in motor boat to encounter hundreds of parrots and macaws ingesting clay along the banks of the river and waking up the forest with their noisy morning routine.

After observing this stunning natural event, you’ll return to the lodge for breakfast and pack up to return to Puerto Maldonado. Your trek across Peru has come to an end. From there, you can connect with your onward travel.

What’s Included

Transportation
Accommodation: Camping and in jungle lodge
Full board
Drinking water
Experienced guide and trained paramedic
Equipment for each excursion
Trekking team
Entrance fees to national parks and reserves
Oxygen bottle for emergency

What’s Not Included

Flights
Gratuities (optional)

What to Bring

Lightweight, tight weave long cotton pants & long -sleeved cotton shirts
A fleece and a windbreaker are advisable for cool evenings
Good hiking shoes
Sun hat, glasses, and sunscreen
Insect repellent with deet
Flashlight and battery charger
Personal gear, toiletries, extra charger batteries for cameras
Your passport, yellow fever certificate and extra money in plastic bags
Sandals
If you have large feet we may not be able to find rubber boots in your size for the muddy trails. Please bring old shoes for the muddy trails.

*Contact us at info@keteka.com for a full packing list for your Trek across Peru experience.