Unforgettable Peru and the Amazon

Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure.

Today you will visit the modern and colonial parts of the city, known as the City of Kings, starting with the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro before heading into the historic center. Once there, you will visit the impressive colonial Santo Domingo Convent followed by a walk through the Plaza de Armas. Afterwards, visit the Chocolate Museum for an appetizing experience with Peruvian cocoa. Next, visit the Museo del Pisco to taste the traditional Peruvian liquor. Leave the historic center and head to the Larco Museum, home to innumerable treasures of Peru’s ancient past. (B)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado (ticket not included). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your Amazonian lodge by taking a boat down the Madre de Dios River. Enjoy lunch and spend the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure. We recommend considering an optional guided walk through the Amazon rainforest to discover the Amazon Basin. The trail offers an excellent introduction to the jungle environment, winding past impressive flora and inhabited by exotic aerial fauna. (B,L,D)

Today is yours to explore the Amazon rainforest at your leisure. You may want to consider an optional visit to the Tambopata National Reserve. Glide in a wooden canoe across the beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake. Lake Sandoval is home to the endangered giant river otter, red howler monkeys, anacondas, turtles, caiman and colorful macaws. You also have the option of taking a walk in the forest canopy for a birds-eye-view of the forest floor. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a final Amazonian breakfast before taking your boat transfer back to the airport for your flight to Cusco (ticket not included). Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your Sacred Valley hotel. We suggest that you take the remainder of the afternoon to acclimate to the elevated climate and enjoy dinner at your leisure. (B)

Spend the day experiencing the authentic lifestyle in the Sacred Valley. Start with a visit to the picturesque Andean village of Chinchero where you will visit the home of a textile artisan to see some of his original works and techniques. Next, visit the Inca ruins of Chinchero and its traditional church. Afterwards you will head to Ollantaytambo, stopping en route for a scenic overlook of the valley and lunch at a local restaurant. Continue Ollantaytambo to see the famous terraced fields, a feat of Incan agricultural ingenuity, before heading back to your hotel for the evening at your leisure. (B,L)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station to board your train to Aguas Calientes, the village at the foot of the mystical and sacred Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, you will start the ascent to the ruins on the panoramic Vistadome train. The natural beauty of the landscape will make the train ride a thrilling journey and a highlight of your visit. At Machu Picchu, you can wander the ruins and see every corner of one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World, an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for years to come. Relax, meditate and photograph in the ruins before returning to Aguas Calientes for dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)

This morning you have the option to take a second trip up to the Machu Picchu ruins. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the train station to return to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco for check-in at your hotel and dinner at your leisure. (B)

Visit the city of Cusco, known as the Imperial City and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start at the Koricancha Temple, built by the ancient Inca in honor of the Sun God. Next, head to the Plaza de Armas to see the Cathedral, the most important temple in the city. Continue ascending to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, an impressive example of Inca military architecture. Afterwards, you will visit Qenqo, an archaeological site where the Inca celebrated the sun, moon and stars. Continue with a visit to Puca-Pucara, a site that would have served as lodging. Finally, you will visit the art workshop, Inka’s Expression, where you will learn to appreciate the many uses of Peruvian natural resources. (B)

Enjoy a final Peruvian breakfast before being transferred to the airport for your return flight home. (B)