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Departures:
Weekly. Itineraries are flexible.
Day 1 Wednesday
- Arrival in Lima
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you
in transferring to the hotel and help you in registering.
Day
2 Sunday – Lima / Iquitos
Breakfast at your hotel. In the afternoon City Tour of Lima
and Larco Museum - This half day tour visits both the colonial
and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include
the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the
exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential
areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Continue to the Larco Museum,
founded in 1926, it showcases remarkable chronological galleries
providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of
Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal
mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian
pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features the finest
gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic
archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist
attractions. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Iquitos.
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in
transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. (B)
Day
3 Monday – Iquitos / Ceiba Tops
Breakfast at your hotel. Brief
city orientation and transfer to the Explorama dock. Twenty-five
mile journey down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops, where rooms
with air conditioning and private bathrooms provide the comforts
of home in the rainforest. Afternoon hike in the beautiful primary
rainforest reserve surrounding the lodge which includes many huge
trees festooned with epiphytes. After dinner there may be local
flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or the guides are always
ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest.
Overnight Ceiba Tops.
(B,L,D)
Day
4 Tuesday – Ceiba Tops
Breakfast
at your lodge. Morning boat ride, spotting for dolphins, to visit
a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain
the local Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the
arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will also
be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and for a demonstration
of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting.
Afternoon walking excursion to the neighboring town of Indiana.
Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large
river community with its own market, high school and small hospital.
Overnight Ceiba Tops. (B,L,D)
Day
5 Wednesday – Ceiba Tops / Iquitos / Lima
Breakfast
at your lodge. Your choice of morning walking or boating excursion
to further enjoy the rainforest and Amazon River. Afternoon transfer
to Iquitos for your flight to Lima and then take your connecting
flight to Lima. Upon arrival
at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring
to the hotel and help you in registering. (B)
Day
6 Thursday – Lima / Ica
Breakfast at your hotel. Nazca Lines 2 Day Excursion with
Overnight in Ica, Locally Hosted - Today you'll travel by bus
(Cruz del Sur) along the Peruvian coast to Ica (a four hour ride).
Upon arrival in Ica a local host will transfer you to the airport
for a flight over the Nazca Lines. Are they merely huge figures
or could they be extraterrestrial landing fields? Lunch is included.
After lunch visit the Archaeological Museum of Ica. Dinner is
included. (B,L,D)
Day
7 Friday – Ica / Paracas / Lima
Breakfast at your hotel. Ballestas Islands Excursion - Early
morning you'll take a yacht ride to the Ballestas Islands passing
the Candelabro. These islands, also known as the Guano Islands,
have large concentrations of sea birds and sea lions in their
natural environment. Lunch is included. Evening arrival in Lima.
(B,L)
Day
8 Saturday – Lima / Cusco
Breakfast
at your hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco.
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in
transferring to the hotel and help you in registering. In the
afternoon free to adjust to altitude. (B)
Day
9 Sunday – Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel. Tour of Cusco and its Ruins - This
afternoon's tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in
the western hemisphere includes important landmarks of enchanting
Cusco and also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay
as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca
civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca
and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cusco's
Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas. (B)
Day
10 Monday - Cusco / Sacred Valley
Breakfast
at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to Moray, Maras and Quechuas
(Daily) – Pass through unspoiled and picturesque Andean communities
on your way to the Incan agricultural experimental center of Moray,
famous for its sunken amphitheater, made up of four circular terraces,
which appear to fade away into the earth like an artificial crater.
The site was apparently an Inca agricultural research station
filled with fertile earth and watered by complex irrigation systems,
designed for experimenting with crops at various altitudes (some
of which run down to depths of 100 meters).
Continue to the impressive Maras salt pools formed by water emerging
from a lake inside a mountain in the Urubamba Valley. An amazing
view of evaporating ponds for the extraction of salt. Learn about
ancestral techniques, which are still used, in agricultural, irrigation
and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and
rites. After lunch, visit an authentic Quechua Village to feel
the way of life of the Inca's ancestors. The Inca himself was
a noble Quechua. They live off the land and are always wearing
their colorful ponchos, see Quechua children scamper about while
woman are weaving their family's clothes. A meaningful experience!
(B,L).
Day
11 Tuesday - Sacred Valley
Breakfast
at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and
the Ollantaytambo Fortress (Daily) -Morning departure for a drive
through the fertile countryside to the colonial village of Pisac.
During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the
opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types
of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. After lunch the tour continues
to the village of Ollantaytambo for a visit to its impressive
Inca fortress.(BL)
Day
12 Wednesday – Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Breakfast
at your hotel. Excursion to Machu Picchu with overnight stay -
Early wake up for a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba
to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet
above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical
jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale
University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins
of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided
tour of the ruins and lunch are included. (B,L).
Day
13 Thursday – Machu Picchu / Cusco
Breakfast
at your hotel. Free morning to enjoy one of the most incredible
sights on earth, the ruins of Machu Picchu. Take as much time
as you need to study the mysterious ruins, hike Huayna Picchu,
stroll to the Inca Bridge or walk toward the Inca Trail to find
the legendary Sun Gate. Afternoon shuttle bus to the train station
for your return trip to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer from rail
station to hotel. (B)
Day
14 Friday – Cusco
Breakfast
at your hotel. Free day in Cusco for independent activities -
Wandering through this lovely city, exploring the astonishing
narrow streets of this tile roof colonial town will be your unforgettable
experience. Great buys are the traditional Peruvian handicrafts,
alpaca-wool sweaters and rugs, ponchos, pottery, gold and silver
jewelry, leather goods, etc. Because there is such a variety of
products, we strongly suggest that when you like any particular
item, you should buy it - you may not find the same item in other
store. (B)
Day
15 Saturday – Cusco / Lima / Home
Breakfast
at your hotel. Transfer from hotel to the airport for your flight
to Lima and then take your connecting flight to home. (B)
*** END OF OUR
SERVICES ***
Departures:
Weekly. Itineraries are flexible.
Tour Includes: Please
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Hotels to use: Please
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Useful Information: Please
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