PERU

Welcome to Lima, the “City of Kings”. Late this afternoon, we’ll meet in our hotel for our usual get-acquainted meeting. Then we’ll have our first Peruvian dinner together before visiting the spectacular Magic Water circuit in the historic Reserve Park. We’ll see the most impressive fountains, including the Tunnel of Surprises, the Labyrinth of Dreams, the Fountain of Life, the Fountain of Illusion, the Magical Fountain, and the Fountain of Fantasy.
*Hotel Antigua Miraflores (1 night)

After breakfast we board our flight to Puerto Maldonado (flight included), gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. We’ll continue by bus and motorized canoe to our rain forest lodge. An afternoon walk brings us to a Canopy Tower for far-reaching views and bird spotting. After dinner, an optional stroll let’s you observe the nocturnal denizens of the rain forest.
*Posada Amazonas Lodge (3 nights)

Wake at dawn to the sound of bird calls, and after breakfast, travel by boat and foot to an oxbow lake for an aquatic wildlife safari. On past tours we’ve seen many birds, including the colorful Macaws, Giant River Otters, Cayman, and caught Piranhas. In the afternoon, we’ll venture out on a jungle walk, keeping an eye out for wildlife while learning from a local guide about the many resources the Amazon provides.

This morning’s activity is a visit to the Bird Clay Lick and a short hike. From a nearby observation spot, we should see dozens of Parrots and Macaws descend to ingest the clay on the river bank. In the afternoon, we’ll learn about everyday life in the jungle on a visit to a working farm.

Today is primarily a travel day. After breakfast our motorized canoes speed us back to Puerta Moldanado. An afternoon flight delivers us to Cuzco (flight included) in the heart of the Andes. From there we will take a scenic bus ride to the Sacred Valley, Treasured for its climate, fertile land, and the Urubamba (Sacred) River, where we will settle in for our Andean experiences. Our Sacred Valley accommodation is above 9000 feet, so we will have a relaxed, free evening to acclimatize.
*Hacienda del Valle Hotel (2 nights)

After breakfast we will visit the ancient Incan site of Ollantaytambo.  Then we’ll visit a nearby indigenous community for our cultural connection experience. We’ll learn about the local lifestyle, traditional farming techniques, textile making, and share a home-made lunch with our hosts.

This morning we’ll take a train to Aguas Calientes, taking in gorgeous Andean scenery along the way. In the afternoon we’ll have our guided visit to Machu Picchu, the impressive Lost City of the Incas. Our guide will show us the most important sights, including the great Intiwatana (solar clock), the Sun Temple, the urban sector, and the agricultural sector. We’ll finish the day with time for photography before returning to our hotel.
Casa Andina Machu Picchu (2 nights)

Today you have the option of a morning visit to Machu Picchu again to explore on your own. Photograph the site in morning light, pet a llama, or climb one of the two accessible peaks (Huayna Picchu or Montana Machu Picchu; advance permits required) for spectacular views. Or you might choose to hike to the Sun Gate or The Inca Bridge. Your afternoon and evening are free.

After 2 days of admiring the amazing Machu Picchu, it’s time to move on to Cuzco—a fascinating combination of Incan and Spanish cultures. This colonial gem, surrounded by the high Andes, is always a tour highlight and a grand place to wrap up our tour. Our guide will give us an orientation to the city before we participate in a food and craft beer pairing, testing 6 craft beers with a selection of diverse local snacks.
*Sonesta Cuzco Hotel (2 nights)

This morning we will start by visiting the huge Inca ceremonial center of Sacsayhuamán. Its construction is impressive, with huge rocks perfectly fitted. Later, we’ll visit another important Inca site known as “Qenqo”, a place of subterranean passages and carved stone channels. Its inner sanctuary contains a carved stone table where it is said the Incas mummified their dead.  For those with sufficient energy, there are two more Inca sights to explore. Tonight we’ll gather for a last Peruvian meal together, sharing tales of our adventure together.

We’ll gather first thing in the morning in Lima and take a private bus to Paracas. From there we will be transferred to Pisco airport to overfly the Nazca Lines (flight included). Buckle up and get ready to be amazed by the magnificent symmetry and scale of the ancient designs.  The questions surrounding the Nazca Lines enigma continue to go unanswered. Some suggest they are an ancient solar calendar, others that the Lines act as ritual pathways for religious processions, and still others believe it was just a way of asking the gods for water. It will be up to us to decide for ourselves. Once on the ground again we’ll settle into our hotel and have dinner together.
*San Agustin Paracas Hotel (1 night)

In the morning we will be transferred to Paracas harbor where we board a boat bound for the Ballestas Islands. Along the way, we’ll see the famous figure known as The Candelabro, an enigmatic ancient design etched on a desert hillside. We’ll learn the most popular theories about its origins and take a few photos. An amazing variety of marine life inhabits the Ballestas, including 200+ types of migratory birds. The Islands also shelter the shy Humboldt penguin and plenty of sea lions. Then it is back to Lima in time to join the regular tour.