South America: The Amazon, Machu Picchu, & Peru Highlights – August 20-29, 2012
Get ready to see the South America highlights of Peru that attract tourists from around the globe. Come float through the Amazon, explore an ancient city at Machu Picchu, and see the sites of the lost Incan empire.
Itinerary:
August 20 – LOS ANGELES-LIMA
Fly from your departure city to Los Angeles where we meet and board our international overnight flight to Lima, Peru.
August 21 - LIMA-CUSCO
Upon arrival in Lima we will clear Peruvian immigrations and transfer to our domestic flight. It is on to beautiful Cusco, high in the Andes Mountains. We will be met by our local guide and transported to our hotel to rest and relax. The remainder of the day is free.
August 22 - CUSCO
Today we will be introduced to this lovely Incan city. During our Cusco tour we’ll visit the Temple of the Sun, Koricancha, where you will appreciate the incredible masonry work of the Incas. We continue to the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral with its carved woodwork, alters of silver and gold, and Inca paintings, then drive out to the Inca fortress of Sacsahuaman, on to the underground cave and temple of Kenko, and finally to Tambomachy, known as the Baths of the Inca. Overnight Cusco. (B, L)
August 23 - CUSCO-MACHU PICCHU-SACRED VALLEY
This morning we transfer to the Cusco train station where we board the Vistadome Train for Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival we are transported by motor coach to the top of the mountain to view one of the truly magnificent wonders of the world, Machu-Picchu. Here we will see one of the most renowned examples of Inca architecture, surrounded by lush rain forest. Lost in history, Machu-Picchu was not discovered until 1911 by American explorer Hiram Bingham. After our guided tour, lunch and free time at this fascinating site, we will travel back down to the station where we meet another motor coach which will take us to our hotel in the Sacred Valley. (B, L)
August 24 - SACRED VALLEY
Following breakfast we depart for the town of Chinchero which lies on the foundations of an important Inca site built in the late 1400s. Brightly dressed, the people of Chinchero gather in the main plaza to barter foodstuffs and offer visitors an array of crafts from the region against scenery of breathtaking beauty. We then visit the huge circular agricultural terraces at Moray, built by the Incas in natural sinkholes on a plateau overlooking the Urubamba valley. It has been suggested they have a cosmological meaning, but other than agricultural, their function remains a mystery. Nearby, old terraced salt mines and ponds sit below the colonial town of Maras. Overnight Sacred Valley (B, L)
August 25 - PISAC-OLLANTAYTAMBO-CUSCO
The famous Sunday market at Pisac is considered one of the most exciting of any in Peru. We begin our day here seeing the vegetables, fruits and typical handicrafts full of color and tradition as locals come from all over the area to do their trading. In the afternoon we travel to Ollantaytambo, an Inca vestige that was a military, religious and agricultural center. Here the fortress, located on the highest part of the mountain, protected the valley from invaders. The view of the valley below is overwhelming. We return to Cusco where we are free to enjoy the evening. Overnight Cusco (B, L)
August 26 - CUSCO-IQUITOS-AMAZON RAIN FOREST
The morning is free for exploring Cusco and any last minute shopping. In the afternoon we fly to Iquitos on the banks of the Amazon where we will begin our 25-mile boat ride down the river to the Ceiba Topps resort. Here air conditioned private rooms in a jungle setting provide adventure in luxury. Our local guide will begin to familiarize us with some of the plants and animals in the rain forest surrounding the hotel. Enjoy a swim in the pool or relax with a drink and Peruvian flute/guitar music. Overnight Ceiba Topps (B, D)
August 27 - AMAZON RAIN FOREST
We take the morning boat excursion to “Monkey Island”, a private reserve where more than five species of tropical primates, including small tamarins, saki, titi and large woolly monkeys are protected. The afternoon boat excursion explores for sloth, found in Cecropia trees at the water’s edge, and the two species of freshwater river dolphin that live in the Amazon – pink and grey. We will also be given a chance to catch piranha and watch for other wildlife. Weather permitting; enjoy a beautiful Amazonian sunset on the river. Overnight Ceiba Topps (B, L, D)
August 28 - AMAZON RAIN FOREST – IQUITOS
An early “bird” excursion will be offered to those looking to see exotic species with colorful plumage and song. After breakfast we board boats and continue down the Amazon River to the rustic Explorama Lodge and hike the “Bushmaster Trail” where scientific studies by the Missouri Botanical Gardens have found the world’s highest biodiversity of trees per square hectare. We continue on to visit the small village of Yagua Indians where our guide will explain their culture and how it has been affected by the passing of time. There will be an opportunity to trade for or purchase some of their local crafts. We will also be treated to a demonstration of the use of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting today. In the afternoon we walk along the local Amazon River trail stopping at a “riberenos” house, corner store and sugar cane rum factory before returning to our hotel. After collecting our belongings we return to Iquitos by boat and transfer to the airport for our night flight home. (B, L, D)
August 29 - IQUITOS-LIMA-LOS ANGELES- HOME
In Lima we board our international flight back to United States with memories of our amazing experiences in Peru.
Your Host: Alan McKay
Alan started escorting tours when he was a senior in high school. Since that time, he has traveled with hundreds of groups all over the world, including tours to England, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, China, and Thailand. His degree in history from Utah State University adds richness to the tours he escorts. He and his wife, Ida Mae, live in Ogden, Utah and are the proud parents of four sons. Alan’s love in life is to see the world with incredible people and to share his knowledge of travel with all of his groups. Come and become one of his “travel groupies” today.
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Full Tour with Airfare from Los Angeles -Double Occupancy - $3278 (includes tour and air for $2599 and taxes of $679)
Full Tour with Airfare from Los Angeles -Single Occupancy – additional $500
Credit Card Fee - $70 (only applies to final payment-pay by check to avoid it)
Deposit - $500
Be prepared for Peru airport taxes during your tour – cannot be prepaid – approx. $40-$50
Not included: Passports, gratuities for local guides and drivers
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*Trip cancellation and emergency insurance available *Passports are required *Full payment due 90 days before departure. *Cancellation charges: non-refundable after deposit and final payment is made Click Here for Current Airline Baggage Fees Click Here For Terms and Conditions