Peru Tour During the Alignment of the Planets 20
Trip Details
| Destination: | Peru |
| From: | Dec 12, 2012 |
| To: | May 23, 2012 |
| Hotel: | Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, Inkaterra Machu Picch |
| Itinerary/Activities | Day 1, Wednesday, December 12th: Depart from Los Angeles International Airport on LAN Airlines flight #601 departing at 12:25pm. Meals: in flight Day 2, Thursday, December 13th: Arrive in Lima, Peru at 12:01am (just after midnight). After clearing customs and retrieving your bags you’ll be met by a tour representative and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores, check-in. This afternoon you will tour Lima. Visit both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid is surrounded by beautiful gardens. This museum features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions. You then head to Hacienda "Los Ficus", located in Lurin valley, just 15 minutes south of Lima. The trip includes traveling across rural roads, cultivated fields and small towns. It's a private hacienda that opens its doors to the visitors on very special and exclusive occasions. The Peruvian Paso Horse is the main reason for this hacienda concept. Here you will increase your knowledge of the history of the Peruvian Paso Horse, its very own characteristics. You will see newborns as well as horses being trained to the bridle, as well as adult horses showing off all their strong qualities. You will be able to appreciate the horse with their luxurious outfit "apero", and also the typical garments of our "chalanes". You will spend one day in contact with nature, and with horses being bred in pasture. At lunch time you will enjoy typical Peruvian flavors. Of course, you can’t leave without riding the smoothest horse in the world. Return to the hotel and overnight. Meals: breakfast and lunch Day 3, Friday, December 14th: Hotel check-out in the morning and transfer to the airport to board LAN flight #2380 departing at 11:10am, arriving in Iquitos at 1:00pm. Ceiba Tops, the newest of Explorama lodges, opened in 2000, is located on the banks of the Amazon River just 40 km (25 mi) from Iquitos. Ceiba Tops offers the comforts of home, air conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, in the most luxurious of Amazonian Rainforest settings. At Ceiba Tops, elaborate gardens, a swimming pool, water slide, hammock house and the Esmeralda lounge all complement the surrounding exotic environment. Ceiba Tops is perfect for stays of one or more nights. You’ll have a reception at the airport, a brief city orientation and transfer to the Explorama dock, then a twenty-five mile journey down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops where private rooms with air conditioning and hot water provide all of the comforts of home. Afternoon hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes. After dinner there may be local flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or the guides are always ready to relate some of the many legends of the Amazon forest. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner Day 4, Saturday, December 15th: Morning boat ride, spotting for dolphins, to visit a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain the Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and for a demonstration of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting, and an afternoon walking excursion to the neighboring town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river community with its own market, high school and small hospital. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner Day 5, Sunday, December 16th: Early morning departure from Ceiba Tops by boat to the narrow motorcar crossing connecting the Amazon and Napo Rivers to continue by boat to ExplorNapo Lodge for breakfast. Hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway spanning over 500 meters (one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms, and reaching a height of over 35 meters (115 feet) but accessible without any type of climbing skill or equipment. After lunch, visit the "ReNuPeRu" Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing and the uses of some of the plants. Return to Ceiba Tops in time to enjoy the pool or hammocks before dinner. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner Day 6: Monday, December 17th: Your choice of a morning walking or boating excursion to further enjoy the rainforest and Amazon River or time to relax by the pool until departure time. You’ll have afternoon transfer to Iquitos and to the airport to board LAN Airlines flight #2395 departing at 11:25am, arriving in Cuzco at 2:55pm. After retrieving your bags you’ll be met by a tour representative and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco, check-in and overnight. Meals: breakfast Day 7, Tuesday, December 18th: This afternoon you’ll enjoy a half-day tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere. It includes not only the major landmarks of Cusco, the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas, but also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay and the Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Return to the hotel and overnight. Meals: breakfast Recommendation: Since you’ll return to the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco after your nights in the Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu we suggest packing just an overnight bag for this portion. The Casa Andina will be happy to store your remaining bags free of charge until your return. Day 8, Wednesday, December 19th: Check-out of your hotel before a morning departure begins with a drive through the fertile countryside to the colonial village of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. After lunch the tour continues to the village of Ollantaytambo, an ancient fortress, made up of temples and terraces that tower over the valley majestically. Lunch is included at a local restaurant besides the Urubamba River. After lunch continue on to the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness, check-in and overnight. Meals: breakfast and lunch Day 9, Thursday, December 20th: Day at leisure to enjoy the hotel or explore on your own. Meals: breakfast Day 10, Friday, December 21st: You start the day with a morning transfer (20 minutes), at approximately 9:00am, from your hotel to the Ollantaytambo Station where you will enjoy a 2 ½ hour train ride aboard the Peru Rail Vistadome Train through the Sacred Valley of Urubamba to Aguas Calientas and the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu. Upon arrival to Aguas Calientas you will be met by your guide at the train station and transferred to the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, check-in. After a brief rest you will transfer by bus, approximately 20 minutes to the entrance of Machu Picchu citadel. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Your private tour by an English speaking guide will last for approximately 2 hours. Lunch is provided at the Sanctuary Lodge after completion of the tour. After lunch, you have the option to return to the ruins on your own (at no extra cost), or you can take return to the hotel to relax. Enjoy dinner at the hotel and overnight. Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner Day 11, Saturday, December 22nd: Today you have the day free. A few suggestions we can make: 1) Return to Machu Picchu early in the morning for the sunrise, it’s absolutely beautiful!! A bonus, as the trains from Cuzco and Ollantaytambo don’t arrive until the late morning, the park plays host to only those who have stayed in the area overnight. Maybe you can walk up to Inti Punku (Sun gate) for an unforgettable view of the ruins, bring your camera! Your entrance fee for this day is included! 2) Aguas Calientas has many stores and restaurants, as well as thermal spring baths! You may enjoy exploring it on your own. 3) Museo de Sitio Manuel Chávez Ballón / Machu Picchu Museum. Located at the ba In the early afternoon, check-out of the hotel and meet at the station for the Vistadome Train back to Cuzco. Meeting time is at approximately 4:00pm. Upon arrival to Cuzco in the early evening (approx. 8:05pm) you’ll be met and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection Cuzco, check-in and overnight. Meals: breakfast Day 12, Sunday, December 23rd: You have the morning free to explore Cuzco on your own. IN the early afternoon check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport to board LAN Airlines flight #2038 departing at 3:30pm, arriving in Lima at 4:50pm. Meals: breakfast |
| Most memorable part of trip | Iquitos: Amazon jungle adventure - swimming with pink dolphins and experiencing the wonders of the earth. Cuzco and Machu Picchu exploration including hiking on top of the world and experiencing the hot springs. Not to mention delicious cuisine. www.myvideowebshow.com/show/travel-the-world |
| Useful tips | Once in a lifetime bucket list adventure in fantastic accomodations. |
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