: because trip highlights can be subject to change, please contact one of our trip specialists to discuss the specifics as they will pertain to your trip.
DAY 1 | BIENVENIDOS�LIMA
It's late, but you've finally arrived in Peru's capital city, Lima. You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel, either the Posada del Inca in San Isidro or the Antigua Miraflores.
DAY 2 | TO MIRAFLORES THEN BOHEMIAN BARRANCO
After breakfast, head to the heart of colonial Lima, an UNESCO World Heritage site with magnificent squares, monasteries, and buildings oozing with historical trappings. Centro de Lima will begin our Peruvian immersion. And who better to introduce the modern with the traditional than Lima's own, Isabel Alvarez. Isabel, a sociologist by profession, and her family welcome you to their Senorio de Sulco restaurant to lunch on her renown traditional Peruvian "Creole" cuisine. Next, visit nearby Miraflores (with ever-present bougainvillea evoking the name�s origin, "look at the flowers") for a stop at the Enrico Poli Collection. This private art gallery features stunning gold pieces from the Lord of Sipan tomb, fine pre-Inca and Inca ceramics, Cusco School paintings, intricate colonial furniture, and a large silver collection. Then it's off to Barranco, formerly the summer escape of the well-to-do, now a neighborhood of young professionals. Mari Solari, a Welsh translator wooed here by the Andean culture, owns a shop of Andean crafts. She personally welcomes us to her home with its collection of Peruvian crafts, the result of 30 years of study and travel. Dine in bohemian Barranco before heading back to Miraflores for the night. Overnight Posada del Inca in Miraflores. [B,L,D]
DAY 3 | HEAD TO THE HILLS�AREQUIPA
A short flight takes us to Arequipa, a lovely colonial city at the base of the Andes. Spend the morning relaxing in the elegant Republican splendor of the Liberator Hotel, complete with pool and lovely gardens�it'll also get you acclimatized to the 7,200-foot altitude. The valley spot gives a perfect view of the nearby peaks, the Misti Volcano, Chachani, and Pichu-Pichu, all soaring well beyond 17,000 feet. Tear yourself away to explore the town, especially the impressive Santa Catalina Convent. Founded in 1579, the convent was closed to the public until the 70s. Here, the 16th century comes to life, with more than five acres of narrow streets, plazas, and gardens reminiscent of ancient Seville. Stroll the world of noblemen's daughters, sent to a safe haven of nuns surrounded by sumptuous gardens despite the vows of poverty. Overnight Hotel Libertador. [B,L,D]
DAY 4 | THE AMAZING COLCA CANYON AND AREQUIPA
Nature takes center stage today, with an early morning trip to the Colca Canyon. The Grand Canyon may be grand, but the Colca dwarfs it at double the depth�more than 11,000 feet. Spend two days among the land of the Quechua people and their amazingly diverse natural neighbors: vicu�a and llama, condor and flamingo, ibis and coots. Among active volcanoes, cactus with fruit called tuna, high grasses known as "ichu," settle in to the Parador del Colca Inn, a miniature replica of a Colca village nestled near the canyon walls. This will be home base to explore the many villages, natural wonders, and cultural treasures of this unique region. The hot springs in walking distance of the Inn will be the perfect respite from an exciting day of discovery. [B,L,D]
DAY 5 | THE COLCA
The history and architecture of this remote area is dazzling: hanging tombs and bridges, grain deposits (colcas), dams, and sophisticated terracing; buildings from modest adobe homes to colonial churches in Mestizo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles. Many of the villages are as they were in the time of Pizarro and the 16th-century cultures (Collaguas, Cavanas). Mother Antonia, a nun who came from the Bronx more than 20 years ago, knows this region well. She speaks several of the local Yanque dialects and will introduce the people and places as no one else can. The Cruz del Condor overlook offers a bird's-eye view of the ruler of these skies, the Andean condor, the world�s largest bird�with a wingspan of ten feet or more. Then, head to the National Reserve of Aquada Blanca to meet the country's other rare animal�the wild vicuna. With luxurious fleece that almost caused its extinction, the vicuna is a beautiful creature, but one that resists domestication. You won't catch this camel cousin at your local farm (and not many zoos), so seeing it in its natural setting is a rare experience. Overnight Parador del Colca Inn. [B,L,D]
DAY 6 | ALPACA IN AREQUIPA
Journey through the canyon back to Arequipa, but not before a stop in on the herders who live and work at altitudes topping 15,000 feet. Peru is home to almost three quarters of all the alpacas in the world and the prized fibers of the alpaca, llama, and vicuna come from these high-living herds�thanks to the "shepherds" plying the ancient tradition. The scenery here is spectacular, with a full view of the Colca Valley and the high Andes. After checking back into Arequipa's Hotel Libertador, visit an alpaca garment factory store to see�and buy�the luxurious results of their labor. Overnight Hotel Libertador. [B,L,D]
DAY 7 | AREQUIPA�CUSCO�SACRED VALLEY: RUINS AND MARKETS
It�s a morning flight to Cusco and a quick hop to the village of Pisac. This picturesque town, 20 miles from Cusco on the banks of the Vilcanota River, is known for its weekly markets. Stroll the endless aisles of textiles and handicrafts or simply drink in the local color and Peruvian personalities. The ruins of Pisac, at the top of a mountain outside of town, are surrounded by some impressive Inca terraces, which still serve local farmers. After lunch, meet the residents of Ollantaytambo, a town as fascinating as its name with Incan echoes everywhere. This is the way the Quechuas lived before the Spanish arrived, with homes, canals, and streets very much intact. A fortress that stood strong against the Spanish (who could never conquer this region) stands at the top of more than 200 very steep steps. Don't miss the ruins of the Temple of the Sun: six huge stones form the center of the temple that was never completed. Settle into the Hotel Posada del Inca after a short drive to the nearby town of Yucay. [B,L,D]
DAY 8 | CHINCHEROS�MARAS�LAS SALINAS: ANDEAN VILLAGES
Stunning scenery will vie with history for dramatic effect as we head through the Andes and the valley of Anta. Chincheros is a typical Andean village, located in one of the most spectacular high plateaus with tremendous views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountain range with the majestic Salkantay Mountain, approaching 20,000 feet. Explore a bit then move on to the village of Maras for two unique sites off the beaten path. A structure evoking the Coliseum probably served the Pre-Incans as an open-air agricultural lab. After a picnic lunch, Las Salinas�the Salt Mines�open out before us. These mines have been worked continuously since Incan times and the image of white terraces carved into overhanging cliffs will be etched into your memory. Overnight Posada del Inca hotel in Yucay. [B,L,D]
DAY 9 | THE MYSTIC OF MACHU PICCHU
Ollantaytambo is our jumping off point for the train ride up through the highland jungle to the mystical Machu Picchu. The Spaniards never discovered this Incan enclave so it was protected by the towering jungle-covered ramparts of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Machu Picchu preserves the most perfect picture of what the Incan world must have been like�no trip to Peru is complete without a trek up its mighty steps. Overnight the Ruins or Pueblo Hotel. [B,L,D]
DAY 10 | MACHU PICCHU THEN CUSCO
This will be a rich day in the Andean heights, exploring the lost world of Machu Picchu: temples and fortresses only suggest the ancient purposes of this secret outpost. If you get enough of what man has wrought, hike a section of the Inca Trail before our afternoon train back to Cusco, South America�s continuously inhabited city. A free evening in the wild town of Cusco will allow you to taste a bit of the great variety of restaurants, but also a bit of salsa (as in dancing), perhaps? Overnight Posada del Inca Hotel. [B,L]
DAY 11 | TO CUSCO
Spend the whole day in Cusco, the heart of Tahuantinsuyo, Peru�s pre-Colombian Empire and a modern Peruvian town. You won't have to search long for the best in local handicrafts in shops and along the plazas. Guided tours take you to architectural wonders like the Santo Domingo church, built over the magnificent temple Coricancha or Temple of the Sun. Pizarro's men looted the gold and silver that graced its ancient courtyards. When an earthquake brought down the Santo Domingo church in 1950, it revealed hidden treasure: some of the finest examples of Inca stonework in existence. If it's real jewels you seek, head to the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, built in 1550. Besides more than four hundred 12th-century paintings done by members of the renowned Cusco School, discover a solid gold altar studded with precious stones and another swathed in sheets of silver. The immense proportions of Sacsayhuaman�s fortress just outside of town, is another architectural draw. Doorways almost three stories high, a single stone block equally large, walls football fields long--it's no surprise that it took more than 20,000 men and half a century to complete. The rest of the day is yours, to wander, relax, or check out the local nightlife. Overnight Posada del Inca in Cusco. [B,L]
DAY 12 | INTO THE JUNGLE�POSADA AMAZONAS
Today, take a short flight for the wilds of the Amazon�to Puerto Maldonado. This booming tropical frontier town, at the confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers, boasts gold mining, Brazil nut collecting, timber extraction, and (lucky for us) ecotourism. Get a quick taste of the bustling town then board a motorized canoe up the Tambopata to the ecolodge. But this is no mere transfer to our hotel�our two-hour journey (which may include lunch, depending on schedules), is a birdwatcher's dream, with numerous species of kingfishers, swallows, flycatchers, and exotic bat falcons and horned screamers. The Posada Amazonas welcomes us for an afternoon to unwind and ready ourselves for dinner and orientation. Owned jointly by Rainforest Expeditions and the Ese�eja Native Community of Tambopata, this twenty-three room lodge is luxurious yet unobtrusive, woven nicely into the natural and economic fabric of the region. [B,L,D]
DAY 13 | THE POSADA AMAZONAS
Dawn breaks in a flush of greens, yellows, reds, and blues. Head to the magnificent parrot clay lick a few minutes downriver from the lodge. Hundreds of yellow-crowned and blue-headed parrots congregate here. The parrots and scarlet macaws compete for the choice bite in a riotous spectacle before it�s broken up by a predator, like an eagle, spurring hasty departures in explosions of sound and color. And all of this before breakfast! A short hike and canoe trip around the Tres Chimbadas Lake delivers more striking fauna. Giant river otters are not your normal lake denizens and the resident family of five will keep you pointing. Look around for their neighbors: turtles, wading birds, and the hoatzin, a bird with claws on its wings. And there�s the harpy eagle. Take the hidden staircase up to a 100-foot tower to get an eagle-eye view to observe this amazing bird of prey. Look close to see its strong claws, as powerful as a bear's. Overnight Posada Amazonas. [B,L,D]
DAY 14 | BACK TO LIMA
Enjoy a last breakfast along the Amazon before flying off to Lima for the trip home. The farewell lunch at the private Paso Horse ranch near Lima will give one more view of Peru. The rest of the day will be yours to settle back at the hotel or find those Peruvian crafts you missed along the way. Head over to the airport this evening for the flight back to the U.S. [B,L]
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