Peru Timeless Wonders Expedition

... that are reminders of Peru’s rich religious and colonial past. Underrated as a tourist destination, Lima has excellent restaurants, good music, great neighborhoods for walking, and is also home to the famous Peruvian Paso horses.

Enjoy a half day city and museum tour of Lima. Lima’s historical heart is filled with beautiful colonial buildings and churches (though most are reconstructed). Visit the Plaza Mayor, dominated by the rich ochre hues of the Cathedral and the Government Palace. San Francisco Monastery is beautiful in its own right with an interior with Moorish features and with interesting underground catacombs. San Martín Plaza is quite photogenic with its terra cotta-colored buildings. Outside the historical center you’ll see the upscale residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro, including a stop overlooking the coastline.

Next you visit the Larco Herrera Museum, located in a gorgeous old hacienda. It is known for its erotic pottery collection, but it also has an excellent collection of important pre-Columbian gold pieces.

... generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences.

Today you are transferred to the airport in time for your flight.

... hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.

... dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crew members whom you may not have met, working “behind the scenes” to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON.

... to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport.

Today you will fly to Lima and connect with your flight to Puno.

Upon arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Lake Titicaca

High altitude and crystal clear air make Lake Titicaca stunningly beautiful. Home to Aymará and Quechua Indians, this region is rich in spectacular landscapes, wildlife, and archeological remains as well as folklore and legends. The Uros Indians still live on floating reed islands. Taquile Island is renown for its hand weaving techniques and its people’s communal culture which has served them well in the transition to modern times. The archeological site of the Sillustani Chullpas (funerary monuments) is one of the largest necropolises in the Americas.

... houses, boats and handicrafts, and the women are expert knitters.

Continue to Taquile where a native community of about 400 families still lives with the traditions and high principals of the Incas. Taquile is a very important site on Lake Titikaka for its archeological remains, the sacred and ceremonial sites, the festive activities and their rituals. Taquile is characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain their customs and traditional clothing. They distinguish themselves by their detailed, fine, and colorful textiles with symmetrical decorations and symbols that reflect their way of life and Andean beliefs. Lunch is included.

... and textile center where traditional weaving arts are kept alive and alpaca , llama and vicuna are on view. .

Sacred Valley

The Urubamba valley is still considered sacred by local people and its air of mysticism can be felt wherever one goes. Rural farming and weaving communities have retained unchanged their ancestral customs and traditions. The Sacred Valley’s beautiful scenery will take your breath away, but if your passion is culture, traveling through the valley will take you to incredible Inca archaeological sites, filled with history.

... fertile earth and watered by complex irrigation systems, enabled the Incas to grow more than 250 plant species.

Continue to the impressive Maras salt pools formed by water emerging from a lake inside a mountain in the Urubamba Valley. An amazing view of evaporating ponds for the extraction of salt. Learn about ancestral techniques, which are still used, in agricultural, irrigation and salt-recollection tasks, as well as in Andean festivals and rites. After lunch, visit an authentic Quechua Village to feel the way of life of the Inca’s ancestors. The Inca himself was a noble Quechua. They live off the land and are always wearing their colorful ponchos, see Quechua children scamper about while woman are weaving their family’s clothes. (The sequence of this tour may be reversed).

“Caballo de Paso” known worldwide for their smooth gaited movements and unusual spirit. No other horse combines strength, intelligence and beauty so perfectly as the Peruvian Paso Horse. The particular characteristic of the Paso Horse is precisely the reason for its name: the sublime charm of its typical step. As it walks, its front legs step very high and forward while the hooves sway to the sides in a graceful and synchronized movement. Enjoy a delightful demonstration of the skills of this unique member of the horse kingdom. Lunch at the celebrated Wayra at “Sol y Luna” in the Sacred Valley.

Moray Terraces, Maras Salt Pools & Authentic Quechua Village with lunch at Wayra- Full Day

Lunch at Wayra with Peruvian Paso Horse Show

...

Machu Picchu is reached by a 90 minute train ride from Ollanta Station in the Sacred Valley through the spectacular scenery of the Urubamba Valley. High on jungle-covered hilltops in the midst of the cloud forest, Machu Picchu was not known to the Spanish Conquerors, so much of the ancient city remains – temples, palaces, and astronomical observatories of intricate stonework. Surrounded by verdant landscapes and misty mountain peaks you’ll surely speculate about the true origins of this unique site.

Luggage on the train to Machu Picchu is limited to 11lbs per person. Please pack a separate 2-day bag for the Machu Picchu portion of your itinerary. If you are leaving from the Sacred Valley, your local guide will transfer your excess luggage to your hotel in Cusco where it will be waiting when you return from Machu Picchu. Additionally, you may bring a smaller backpack for your essentials during the Inca Trail Hike. Your other bag can stay on the train and will be collected by the hotel bellboys and delivered to your hotel and will be waiting for your when you arrive later this evening.

Disembark at Km.104 on the Cusco – Machu Picchu railroad (starting point of the hike), where you arrive at approximately 10:00 am (subject to change based on train schedules). Start with a visit to the Chachabamba archaeological complex (7,052 ft), located very close to the control point. After checking in, embark upon a 5 mile ascending trail, which after four hours, brings you to the archaeological complex of Wiñaywayna (8,692ft). This is an impressive complex made up of an agricultural center with numerous terraces, a religious sector and an urban sector. On the way, enjoy magnificent views of the Urubamba River valley, the Choquesuysuy archaeological complex located on the other side of the river, and a beautiful waterfall located just a few minutes away from Wiñaywayna. Continue on, climbing to Intipunku, or The Sun Gate. This will take an hour of hiking along a trail of flat stones on the edges of cliffs in highland jungle. From this fabulous spot, gaze upon the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu. From the Sun Gate, descend to Machu Picchu. High on jungle-covered hilltops in the midst of the cloud forest, Machu Picchu was not known to the Spanish Conquerors, so much of the ancient city remains – temples, palaces, and astronomical observatories of intricate stonework. Surrounded by verdant landscapes and misty mountain peaks you’ll surely speculate about the true origins of this unique site.

Includes: Guided Baby Inka hike (private guide), packed lunch during hike, guided tour of ruins, entrance fee & roundtrip Vistadome train ticket
Total distance: 13 km (8,08 miles)
Estimated walking time: 6-7 hours
Maximum altitude point: 2,650 m (8,692 ft)
Difficulty degree of this hike: Moderate
Departure and arrival times are approximate

You will end at your hotel located at the entrance of Machu Picchu.

... be guaranteed until booked and paid for). If you wish to climb Huanya Picchu, we recommend you make these arrangements ahead of time. Additional entrance fees and costs will apply.

In the late afternoon, you take the bus, exclusively for Hiram Bingham passengers, to the train station in Machu Picchu. Pick up your bag from the fenced-in area before boarding your train. Board your train for the three hour return journey to Cusco (departure time to be advised locally – your guide will have given you boarding time instructions). A cocktail and gastronomic dinner is served enroute.

You will be met at the Cusco Poroy train station and transferred to your hotel by shuttle vehicle where your luggage will also be waiting.

... feel for this enchanting city. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. Next we will head outside of town to visit the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, often shown on the Nat Geo or Discovery channel. Many of its stones weigh several tons and each fits perfectly into the Inca walls without bolts or nails. It was here in 1985 that Pope John presided over an outdoor mass for over 10,000 people. In addition you will visit 3 other prominent Inca ruins, each of which played an important part in Inca life. The rest of the day is free to explore Cusco on your own.