LEGACY OF THE INCAS

12 days from Lima to Lima

Day 1Arrive in Lima, Peru

Arrive in Lima, where you will be met by your Tour Director.

Day 2Lima

This morning, your Local Guide focuses on the city’s colonial heritage during a walking TOUR. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the Cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. This evening, meet your Tour Director and enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow traveling companions. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3Lima–Ica. Nazca Lines

Enjoy a scenic drive south along the Pan-American Highway to the town of Ica, the wine capital of Peru. Have your camera handy today as you board your aircraft for a FLIGHT over the Nazca plains, which can only be appreciated by air. Your pilot will point out the mysterious markings known as the NAZCA LINES, a series of drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the parched soil—some up to 1,000 feet long! Theories vary, but the most accepted belongs to German mathematician Maria Reiche, who dubbed the land the “astronomical calendar” of the ancient Peruvians. Enjoy dinner this evening at your hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4Ica–Ballestas Islands Cruise–Lima

Head north to the Bay of Paracas. CRUISE out to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. The huge Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Board your motorcoach and arrive in Lima by late afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by an ANDEAN FOLKLORIC SHOW. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5Lima–Cusco–Sacred Valley

Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Spend the day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a visit to the semi-circular KENKO Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages. See the ancient site of PUCA PUCARA before reaching the TEMPLE OF SACSAYHUAMAN, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. Next, visit PISAC, an old mountain village where you will have free time to shop for local wares such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Later, visit the Inca Fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO followed by the opportunity to visit a home, meet some of the locals, and experience their way of life. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu

This morning, board a TRAIN for a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Then, transfer to a motorcoach for the ascent to legendary MACHU PICCHU, the “Lost City of the Incas,” high above the steep valley overlaid with dense tropical jungle. Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the pre-Columbian masters of this sacred land. Tonight, stay at a nearby hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7Machu Picchu–Cusco

Your entrance to MACHU PICCHU is included for a second day. Enjoy the tranquility of the morning with free time to wander the ruins at your own pace and experience the magic that is Machu Picchu. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue on to Cusco. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 8Cusco

This morning, learn more about the Incas and their struggle against invading Spaniards on your Cusco city TOUR with visits to the imposing CATHEDRAL and the SANTO DOMINGO MONASTERY. The remainder of your day is free to explore at your leisure. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 9Cusco–Juliaca–Puno (Lake Titicaca)

Board a flight to Juliaca, where you will continue to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 10Puno. Excursion to Lake Titicaca

Today, take a motorboat trip to some of the more unique islands of LAKE TITICACA. Start with TAQUILE ISLAND, which was once part of the Inca Empire and was one of the last areas of Peru to be conquered by Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish banned traditional dress on the island, which is why the Spanish peasant dress can still be found today. Next, travel to the fascinating UROS ISLANDS, home to the Uros Indians, who were forced to live on the lake as the Inca Indians pushed farther into their territory. These islands are completely made by reeds and are continually added to as they disintegrate to the bottom of the lake. Later, your Tour Director hosts a memorable farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11Puno–Sillustani–Juliaca–Lima

Depart for Juliaca this morning, visiting the ruins of SILLUSTANI en route. At this pre-Incan burial ground, see where the ancient Aymaras buried their high priests in chullpas—above-ground, cylinder-shaped tombs dating back to the 1400s. Fly from Juliaca to Lima this afternoon. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 12Lima

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. 

Included Features

Lima 

Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit San Francisco Monastery; welcome dinner; dinner with Andean Folkloric Show; farewell dinner

Ica 

Fly over the Nazca Lines; cruise to the Ballestas Islands

Sacred Valley 

Visit the Kenko Amphitheater, Puca Pucara, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac

Machu Picchu 

Take a train through the Urubamba Valley; sightseeing with Local Guide and a second entrance to the ruins on your second day in Machu Picchu

Cusco 

Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery

Lake Titicaca 

Guided sightseeing to Taquile and Uros Islands

Sillustani 

Visit the ruins

Note 

• Maximum elevation on tour: 13,000 ft.

Accomodation

Single Room Supplement: 

$715

Triple rooms are available at no reduction.

Extra Nights per person in Lima:

in single room $149; in twin room $80; in triple room $80.



2013 prices and itineraries are subject to change. Details will be available in August 2012.