Highlights of Peru

Itinerary:

DAY 1 - Depart USA *

Board your overnight flight. Depending on your flight schedule you may arrive in Lima on Day 1 in the late evening.

DAY 2 - Arrive in Lima, Peru

You will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your room is ready for checkin. This afternoon, your vacation begins with a special visit to the “Casa Diez Canseco,” the private home of the Diez Canseco family. A guided tour shows you the house, plus you will hear stories of Spanish conquerors and Peruvian Presidents, all family ancestors. Savor a “You’re Personally Invited” homecooked Peruvian meal before heading out for a city tour. See colonial sights such as the Plaza San Martin, the Cathedral and the Municipal Palace. Then visit the Church of San Francisco, with its unique wooden cupola over the imperial staircase and underground catacombs. On to Miraflores, full of shops and restaurants. Stop in the district of San Isidro on the way back to the hotel, where the evening is free. (B,PI)

DAY 3 - Lima / Cuzco / Sacred Valley

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival, head into the beautiful Sacred Valley. Stop at the Pisac Market, where there is time to bargain for Peruvian handicrafts. Then continue on to Ollantaytambo, a typical little Inca community. Towering above the town there is the huge Inca fortress, also called Ollantaytambo. Steep stone terraces rising from the edge of the town lead up to the fortress ruins at the top of the hill. There is time to admire the ruins and the town before dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

The altitude of Cuzco is 11,444 feet.

DAY 4 - Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu Transfer to the train station for your Vistadome Valley train journey to Machu Picchu. “The Lost City of the Incas” was built about 1450 and abandoned 100 years later. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You will have time to explore the ruins on your own after a guided walking tour. (B,D)

NOTE: On the train to Machu Picchu, only hand luggage can be taken. Your main suitcase will be transferred to Cuzco and stored.

Machu Picchu is built on a steep hill, with uneven pathways, rocky terrain and no handrails. Visitors should be in good health and be able to walk without assistance.

DAY 5 - Machu Picchu / Cuzco

Return to Machu Picchu for last impressions of the magnificent ruins. You are free to stroll at your own pace, or perhaps hike Wayna Picchu. Later, travel by train and coach to Cuzco, where your evening is free. (B)

DAY 6 - Cuzco

Cuzco is a city enveloped in myth and legend. With a history of more than 3,000 years, it is one of the oldest existing cities in the Americas. Traces of its Incan and Spanish heritage can still be seen today. A morning city tour shows you Cuzco’s most important landmarks, including the Inca street of Loreto, which is made of 12 cor- nered stones, the Temple of the Sun called Ahuajpinta and the Cathedral. Continue on to visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the shrines of Kenqo Tambomachay and more. The afternoon is free. Tonight, relish a Farewell Dinner and folklore show. (B,D)

DAY 7 - Cuzco / Lima

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima. The balance of the day is free. (B)

DAY 8 - Depart Lima

Transfer for your flight home. (B)

Depending on your homebound destination and connection, some guests will transfer to Lima airport in the late evening of Day 7 for an overnight flight back to the USA. Arrival in the USA will be the early morning of Day 8.

Overview:

Start this extraordinary vacation with a city tour of Lima, a place filled with contrasts left by the Incas and the “Spanish Conquistadores.” Enjoy a home-cooked Peruvian meal before continuing to the Sacred Valley, a typical Inca community. You will also explore the fortress of Ollantaytambo and tour one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, Machu Picchu. 

Your Travel Value Includes:


•Round-trip transfers between airports and hotels, including porterage at the airport

•Accommodations in twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower in hotels listed or similar

•7 breakfasts (B), 1 "You're Personally Invited" lunch (PI) and 3 dinners (D); on Galapagos extension, 14 additional meals

•Services of an English-speaking Tour Director; local host on the Galapagos extension

•Sightseeing, special features and scenic highlights as indicated in the itinerary, including admission charges where applicable

•Hotel taxes and service charges

•Portfolio of travel documents You may require a visa or be subject to an entrance fee to South American countries. Airport departure taxes may also apply at some airports in South America. Please check with your travel agent or the local consulate for current information.