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Itinerary

APRIL 9 – USA / LIMA: Fly from the USA to Lima, Peru. Dinner is served, and in-flight entertainment is provided. Late evening arrival in Lima. After collecting your luggage, enter the arrivals area where you will meet your tour director and coach driver. After a short welcome, depart from the airport and make your way to your hotel for overnight.

APRIL 10 – LIMA SIGHTSEEING: Enjoy breakfast in your hotel. Afterwards, depart on a sightseeing tour. Lima, also known as the “City of Kings”, was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. Located directly on the Pacific coast, Peru’s capital city is a melting pot of cultures where you will encounter people, flavors, and history from different regions. In the historical center, admire the colorful colonial architecture around the “Plaza San Martín” and the main square “Plaza de Armas”, where you can also see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Municipality. From here, visit the San Francisco Monastery and discover its underground maze of tunnels and catacombs. Finally, head to Lima’s contemporary districts, Miraflores and San Isidro, that combine beautiful parks, such as “El Olivar” and “Parque del Amor”, shopping centers, and modern architecture. In the afternoon, you will be brought to the Larco Museum to visit its amazing collection of over 45.000 objects including pre-Columbian ceramics, textiles, gold and silver pieces. Don’t miss the museum’s famous and unique erotic ceramics collection from the Mochica culture. Later this evening, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to a local restaurant. Enjoy a variety of local food in the Café Del Museo, which belongs to the Larco Museum. After your meal, you will be brought back to your hotel. (B/D)

APRIL 11 – LIMA / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY: After breakfast this morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. On arrival in Cusco, depart and make your way towards your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Located at approximately 2,800m (9,186ft.) in the Peruvian Andes, the Sacred Valley was the heartland of the Inca Empire. Bordering the Urubamba River, its fertile soils were ideal for maize production, which was an esteemed crop and key ingredient to make “chicha”, a fermented maize drink highly consumed by the Incas during festivities and ceremonies. Drive through the Sacred Valley and appreciate its stunning Andean landscapes on your way to Manos de la Comunidad. Here, you can get up close and personal with Andean camelids as you learn to differentiate llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos. The project aims to preserve and promote weaving traditions while supporting local communities. This evening, enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/D)

APRIL 12 – SACRED VALLEY: After breakfast, depart on a full day Sacred Valley excursion. Located 30km (17mi.) from Cusco, the small village of Chinchero blends history together with its Andean mountain views, Inca walls, and colonial architecture. Chinchero is the weaving center of the country and is renowned for its colorful Sunday market. Afterwards, continue to Moray and its unique circular agricultural terraces. The pre-Inca platforms have underground irrigation channels, different soils, and changing temperatures, which made it ideal for a plant nursery and research center. Walk down 30m (98ft) and appreciate its ingenuity and splendor. Close to the site or on route, a group of local women will present the traditional ways of their weaving techniques. About 12km (7mi.) away, go to Maras and admire over 3,000 salt ponds with a stunning view of the Andes Mountains in the background. To this day, a network of water canals fills the ponds, the water evaporates, and the salt is harvested by hand. Then head back to your hotel for overnight. (B)

APRIL 13 – SACRED VALLEY / OLLANTAYTAMBO / AGUAS CALIENTES: Enjoy breakfast. This morning, depart and head for Ollantaytambo, where you will explore its impressive ruins, one of the few places where the Incas won a battle against the Spaniards. Climb up the platforms and enjoy the view above the village and onto the valley. Near the ruins, visit a typical home and learn about the unique way their family has lived for generations in the Sacred Valley. Then you will enjoy a deluxe picnic lunch, with typical Peruvian dishes and snacks, including wine! After lunch, make your way to the train station where you board the panoramic train and enjoy the stunning Andean views filled with small communities and snow-capped mountains in the Sacred Valley. Arrrive to Aguas Calientes, the small village nestled at the bottom of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival, it’s a short walk to your hotel in town for the overnight. Enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B/L/D)

APRIL 14 – MACHU PICCHU: This morning, take the shuttle bus up to the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Enjoy one of the highlights of your trip with a guided tour, where you will learn about the Inca civilization, the site’s discovery, and the different theories on this mysterious and spectacular archeological site. Machu Picchu is on every traveler’s bucket list: it is undoubtedly one of the “must-see” archeological sites in the world. The most remarkable site from the Inca Empire was never found by the Spaniards and was re-discovered during the 20th century. Since then, archeologists continue to investigate, excavate, and reconstruct the ancient city that used to serve as a political, religious, and administrative center. Temples, agricultural terraces, and archeological observatories enclose a history and a mystery that go back thousands of years. After your tour, take the shuttle bus back down to Aguas Calientes and then continue by train to Ollantaytambo. From here, make your way to your hotel in Cusco. This evening, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Restaurant Cicciolina, one of Cusco’s most renowned restaurants. After your meal, you will be brought back to your hotel for overnight. (B/D)

APRIL 15 – CUSCO SIGHTSEEING: Enjoy breakfast. Afterwards, depart on a half-day tour of Cusco. Start your city tour in the “Plaza de Armas” and visit the impressive renaissance-style Cathedral. Make your way through small alleys edged with Incan walls until you reach Koricancha, the temple dedicated to the sun “Inti”. Believed to be the most important temple for the Incas, it was destroyed by the Spanish conquerors in the 16th century. Its foundations were used to build the Catholic Church Santo Domingo. Continue your journey into the past as you explore the different Inca ruins around Cusco. Your first stop is Sacsayhuaman, the Inca ceremonial fortress dedicated to the sun. Admire the gigantic rocks used to build the site and the way they were perfectly fitted together. Nearby, head to Qenqo, a temple carved in a gigantic monolith with tunnels and chambers that were hand carved by men thousands of years ago. Visit the Puca Pucara fort, an important military checkpoint for the Inca Empire. End your tour at the Inca Baths known as Tambomachay and learn about the aqueducts and channels that allow the water to flow naturally. The remainder of your day is free in Cusco. (B)

APRIL 16 – TIPON, PIKILLACTA & ANDAHUAYLILLAS: After breakfast, enjoy a half-day journey into the past as you learn about cultures from three different epochs: pre-Incan, Incan and Colonial time. Built in the early 15th century, Tipón is a perfect example of the Incas’ ingenuity: the irrigation networks and water channels come from a natural spring and still flow today. Then, explore Pikillacta, the capital of the Wari culture (550 to 1100AD) that was used mainly for ceremonies. Hike around the whole complex that spreads out across 2km2 (0.4mi2) and that contains approximately 700 buildings. Not far from here, visit the Andahuaylillas Church, considered the Sistine Chapel of the Americas because of its decorations and the artworks that were found inside. Return to your hotelk and enjoy the remainder of your afternoon at leisure in Cusco. This evening, enjoy a very special farewell evening at an exclusive private Gala Dinner and Folklore Show at the San Francisco Convent. (B/D)

APRIL 17 – CUSCO / LIMA: After breakfast this morning, enjoy some free time before transferring to Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Late afternoon arrival in Lima. On arrival, transfer from the airport to your hotel in Lima. Your evening is free in Lima. (B)

APRIL 18 – LIMA / USA: Enjoy breakfast. You will enjoy your morning and afternoon at leisure exploring Lima independently. Later this afternoon, return to the hotel to freshen up and check out before transferring to Lima airport for your late evening flight home to the US.

IMPORTANT: This tour includes walking tours. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surface.

Machu Picchu is located 2430 meters above sea level, so it’s important to be prepared for the altitude and possible altitude sickness. We recommend good shoes, the trail is without handrail and can be slippery. Walking sticks need to have a rubbery end in order to be permitted inside the Sanctuary. Bags/Backpacks bigger than 40x35x20 as well as umbrellas, selfie sticks, comestibles and plastics like bags, straws and Styrofoam are not permitted.

Elevation Information: Cusco: 3,400m/11,150ft; Urubamba: 2,800m/9,186ft; Aguas Calientes: 2,040m/6,693ft; Machu Picchu: 2,430m/7,972ft.

→ Inclusions

 Inclusions

• Roundtrip Economy air from Chicago on American Airlines
• Roundtrip domestic air from Lima to Cusco on LATAM Airlines
• Lima – 1 night, 4-Star Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe
• Sacred Valley – 2 nights, 5-Star Hotel Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado
• Aguas Calientes – 1 night, 4-Star Hotel Casa del Sol
• Cusco – 3 nights, 5-Star Hotel Casa Andina Premium Cusco
• Lima – 1 night, 4-Star Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe*
• Breakfast each morning
• 5 dinners, including a Welcome Dinner, and a Private Gala dinner and show at the San Francisco Convent Cusco
• Services of a professional Tour Director throughout
• Luxury motorcoach for transfers and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary
• Lima city sightseeing tour
• Visit San Francisco Monastery, Lima
• Visit Larco Museum, Lima
• Visit Manos de la Comunidad, Sacred Valley
• Full day Sacred Valley Excursion
• Community Weaving Presentation, Sacred Valley
• Visit Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley
• Deluxe picnic lunch in Ollantaytambo, with typical Peruvian dishes and snacks
• Roundtrip panoramic train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
• Guided visit of Machu Picchu
• Panoramic train ride from Aguas Calientas to Ollantaytambo
• Cusco city sightseeing tour
• Visit Cusco Cathedral
• Half-day excursion to Tipon, Pikillacta and Andahuaylillas Church
• Hotel porterage of one suitcase per person
• Portfolio of travel documents
• Local 24-Hour Emergency Customer Service while traveling in Peru

*Includes late afternoon checkout of Hotel Jose Antonio Deluxe on April 18.

IMPORTANT: This tour includes walking tours. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surface.

Machu Picchu is located 2430 meters above sea level, so it’s important to be prepared for the altitude and possible altitude sickness. We recommend good shoes, the trail is without handrail and can be slippery. Walking sticks need to have a rubbery end in order to be permitted inside the Sanctuary. Bags/Backpacks bigger than 40x35x20 as well as umbrellas, selfie sticks, comestibles and plastics like bags, straws and Styrofoam are not permitted.

Elevation Information: Cusco: 3,400m/11,150ft; Urubamba: 2,800m/9,186ft; Aguas Calientes: 2,040m/6,693ft; Machu Picchu: 2,430m/7,972ft.

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