Classic Peru

Day 1 Day 1: Arrive Lima

Depart aboard your flight to Lima, Peru. Meet & Greet services and transfer to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2 Lima

Welcome to Lima. Founded in 1535 by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro, this colonial city became the political and military capital of the New World until it was declared the capital of Peru in 1821. We begin our tour of Colonial and Modern Lima, “City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Continue with a visit to the Gold Museum followed by the Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum which exhibits the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art boasting an astonishing array of gold, silver, semi-precious stones and textiles. (B)

Day 3 Lima / Cuzco

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco. Meeting services upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. Morning free to relax and adjust to the high altitude. Afternoon tour of Cuzco and nearby ruins of Kenko, royal baths of Tampumachay and fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 4 Cuzco (Experimental center of Moray & Salt Pools of Maras)

Morning excursion to the Inca agricultural experimental center of Moray, famous for its sunken amphitheater, made up of four circular terraces, which appear to disappear into the earth like an artificial crater. The site was apparently an Inca agricultural research station designed for experimenting with crops at various altitudes. It is believed that the system of using terraces and watered by complex irrigation systems, enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species. Next we continue to the impressive Salt Pools of Maras emerging from a salt spring underneath the Urubamba Valley that is fed into terraced evaporative pools as a way of harvesting salt. Here we learn about ancestral techniques still used in current day agricultural, irrigation and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and rites. Return to the hotel for overnight. (B,L)

Day 5 Cuzco (Urubamba “Sacred” Valley, visit Indian Markets & Ollantaytambo Ruins)

This morning we depart for the drive through the fertile countryside making our way through the "Sacred Valley" of Urubamba to visit local Indian Markets. First we visit beautiful Chinchero, a traditional Quechua community in the highlands of Peru. Try to plan this day on Sunday which is market day when Indians from different villages meet to trade their wares and produces among themselves just as they did a century ago. We visit the local village with women weaving in the market plaza offering beautiful hand-woven textiles, old and new, available for purchase. We continue to Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortress of temples and terrace that tower over the valley. After lunch we drive to the Spanish Colonial village of Pisac and the Pisac Indian Market. Here you will have the opportunity to bargain with the local artisans for a variety of Peruvian handicrafts, jewelry and excellent bargains on Alpaca sweaters. Return to the Monasterio Hotel for overnight. (B,L)

Day 6 Cuzco / Machu Picchu

Early morning transfer to the train station to board the Vistadome Train traveling through the Urubama Valley to Machu Picchu considered the "Lost City" of the Incas. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, this significant archaeological find is situated along remote mountains, amid a semi-tropical jungle and therefore was hidden for 400 years until discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham of Yale University. From the train station, our tour bus will make the ascent to this ancient citadel to explore the temples, altars and more than 200 buildings. After lunch more exploration on your own before returning to the hotel for overnight. (B,L)

Day 7 Machu Picchu / Cuzco

Morning is free to visit the ruins once again on your own. For those seeking a bit more adventure we suggest a hike along steep stone-paved trail of Huayna Picchu, the pyramid-shape mountain above Machu Picchu for a breathtaking view of the site. This afternoon return by train to Cuzco for overnight. (B,L)

Day 8 Cuzco / Lima / Depart Peru

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Day free to relax (amount of time this day depends on airline used for you international travel). We recommend a day room at hotel and more sightseeing tours visiting museums or taking a tour to the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac dating back to 200 AD. A mere 20 miles outside of Lima, this archaeological site with its weathered adobe temples was a major religious center located devoted to the gods of the coastal cultures that were erected throughout this immense ceremonial center. Afternoon or evening transfer to the airport for the flight back home. (B)

Remarks

Not included:
Gratuities of any kind; airport departure taxes; meals unless included in the itinerary.

Inquire about our special airfares on American Airlines or LAN for this package from other US cities.