TENTATIVE ITINERARY:

Sunday, 23 October 2011: Lima, Peru

Welcome to Peru! Upon your arrival in Lima very early in the morning, we will provide assistance at the airport and transfer you to CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION MIRAFLORES (Superior room). Rooms will be reserved starting Oct. 22nd to secure early check-in.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then tour the "City of Kings".

Visit the historic Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace, the City Hall, the Cathedral and  Archbishop's Palace. Visit  the Casa Aliaga, possibly the best preserved colonial mansion in the Americas, occupied by the same family since 1535.

Proceed  to  the  San  Francisco  Monastery,  a  wonderful  work of colonial  architecture.  Drive through the residential districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, where you will enjoy a magnificent view  of the Pacific Ocean and its beaches. Enjoy lunch at   La  Rosa  Nautica, an elegant Victorian style restaurant with a complete selection of  Peruvian  and cuisine located on a pier on the beach in the artsy neighborhood of Miraflores.        

After lunch, visit the Larco Herrera Museum. Housed in an 18th century colonial mansion, it  has one of the the most extensive collections of pre-Columbian art in Peru. It contains fine examples of textile work, as well as the tools ancient Peruvians used to produce textiles, metals, huaco ceramics and gold and silver pieces with semiprecious stones.

Monday, 24 October: Cuzco/Sacred Valley of the Incas

This morning you'll fly to Cuzco, where you'll be met at  the airport and driven to  the "Sacred Valley of the Incas"  to visit Ollantaytambo, the Inca fortress,  and  walk  through  the quaint streets of the nearby town. Then take a drive through the valley and bargain with vendors at a traditional market in Pisac.

Drive to the Urubamba valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will begin the tour visiting Awanakancha, where South American camelidae are bred. Learn about the superb llama, alpaca and vicuna fibers as well as the ancient weaving techiques that are still in use. Continue to Pisac for an opportunity to bargain with vendors at its handicraft market.

Enjoy lunch at Wayra Restaurant. Witness a spectacular equestrian exhibition, where the horses will amaze you with their graceful gait and impress you with their elegant look. The presentation will be led by the rhythm of live marinera music, played and danced by a group of artists.

This afternoon, visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived and evidence of how it was constructed is still visible. After exploring the site's magnificent past, stroll through the quaint streets of today's town.

Overnight at ARANWA HOTEL & SPA (Deluxe room)

Tuesday, 25 October: Luxury Train to Machu Picchu

This morning you will board the Orient Express luxury train, Hiram Bingham, named after the man who rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911. The journey will take approximately three and a half hours, during which you will brunch while enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Andes.  You will arrive at The Lost Citadel of the Incas around 1:00 pm, an hour at which you will be able to visit this stunning place practically on your own.

Take part in a private guided tour of the citadel and stroll through the archeological site before enjoying an afternoon tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel.

Tonight you'll dine and overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel.

Wednesday, 26 October: Machu Picchu

After breakfast at the Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel, enjoy free time in the early morning at the archeological site. Watching the clouds break and the skies open up to let the sun stream onto this amazing sacred site is the highlight of many travelers' visit to South America.

Later this afternoon, you'll board the Hiram Bingham train again for the royal treatment. Enjoy a a cocktail accompanied by live entertainment. After that you will be escorted to the dining car for a four-course gourmet dinner and converse with your fellow travelers about your unforgettable experiences at Machu Picchu.

Upon your return to Cuzco you will be transferred from the train station to the unique Hotel Monasterio, a converted colonial monastery.

Thursday, 27 October: Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a tour of the city, beginning at the Santo Domingo convent monastery.  Before the arrival of the Spaniards, this colonial monastery was the Koricancha temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun.  According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Included in the tour are stops at  the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. After visiting the most interesting sights of the city, you will be driven to the  countryside outside Cuzco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins  in the area.  Included are the cult center of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheater  of  Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.

Your farewell dinner tonight includes a folkloric show at a traditional restaurant in Cuzco.

Friday, 28 October, 2011: Cuzco/Lima

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet you at your hotel to transfer you to the airport in Cuzco for your return flight to Lima.

Upon your arrival in Lima, we will provide assistance at the airport and transfer you to CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION MIRAFLORES (Superior room).

Saturday, 29 October, 2011: Lima, Peru/Guayaquil, Ecuador

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet you at your hotel to transfer you to the airport your flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador if you are joining us for our Galapagos liveaboard.

We are happy to arrange your stay with the group at Oro Verde Hotel, Guayaquil, for the night in preparation for your morning flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Our Package Includes:

• Accommodation
• Transfers and meals described above
• Sightseeing with English-speaking local guide
• Hiram Bingham train to and from Machu Picchu and two days entrance fees
• Cuzco tourist tax

Not Included:

International airfare to Lima and on to Guayaquil (contact us for suggestions), domestic airfare (currently US $298.45 roundtrip Lima/Cuzco, added to your final balance), meals/beverages or optional activities not described in program above, tips, and personal expenses such as internet service, phone calls, laundry.

Deposit:

$750 deposit to hold space. Second payment of $1000 due 180 days prior to departure. Balance due 120 days prior to departure.

Portion of deposit used to book domestic flights is completely non-refundable. We highly recommend travel insurance to protect you from financial loss in case of an unforeseen cancellation.