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Itinerary
Day 2: Arrive Lima Upon arrival in the Peruvian capital early this morning, we transfer to our hotel for breakfast and time to rest (rooms are ready for our early arrival). This afternoon we visit the Larco Herrera Museum whose ceramics collection, featuring a renowned set of erotic pre-Columbian pots, is unparalleled. Later we tour colonial Lima, then dine tonight at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Lima/Cusco/Sacred Valley Early this morning we transfer to the airport for the brief flight to Cusco, where upon arrival we stop for brunch, then continue on to the beautiful Sacred Valley, a region of Inca sites and indigenous villages. After stopping at the colorful Indian market at Pisac, we reach our hotel mid-afternoon. Before dinner there tonight, we attend a native ceremony, Offering to the Earth.
Day 4: Sacred Valley Today"s tour begins with a visit to the Incan farming town of Chincheros, set on a broad plateau presided over by a snow-capped mountain. Here residents live much as their ancestors did, wearing traditional clothing and conducting business and local government by traditional means. Next we tour the important salt mines in the lovely colonial town of Maras, where we enjoy lunch together. We spend the afternoon exploring Ollantaytambo, a living town and site of massive Incan ruins that still inspire wonder today. We return to our hotel late this afternoon and dine there tonight.
Day 5: Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu/Aguas Calientes Early this morning we board a train for the 1-1/2-hour journey to Aguas Calientes, where after lunch we board a bus for Machu Picchu and our first guided visit of the stunning "Lost City of the Incas."
Day 6: Machu Picchu/Cusco This morning before the crowds of day trippers arrive we take our second guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, when the early morning sun bathes the stones in a haunting, evocative light. After lunch at our hotel, we return to Cusco by train. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 7: Cusco We set out this morning on a tour of the archaeological hub of the Americas, the continent"s oldest continuously inhabited city, and UNESCO World Heritage site. Dynamic and historic, Cusco is rich with the legacies of its Inca and Spanish forebears. We stop at the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, the still beautiful "House of the Sun," an Incan masterpiece, then enjoy lunch in the home of a gracious Cusco family. This afternoon is at leisure.
Day 8: Cusco/Puno This morning we depart for the day-long journey by coach to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. As we travel through the rugged snow-capped Andes dotted with small villages and herds of llama and alpaca, we make several stops along the way: Andahuaylillas, an attractive village known for its lovely 17th-century church; the ruins at Raqchi, once the holiest site in the Incan empire; La Raya, perched on Peru's altiplano (high plane) and home to the Llama and Alpaca Research Center; and the ceramics center of Pucara. We reach our hotel on the shores of Esteves Island on Lake Titicaca late this afternoon; it's just five minutes to the center of Puno from our hotel.
Day 9: Puno/Lake Titicaca We spend the day exploring the fascinating life of Lake Titicaca, South America's largest lake and at 12,500 feet above sea level, among the world's highest navigable lakes. Up here the air is clearer, the colors sharper, and the horizon farther. By boat we visit the Floating Island of Los Uros, where the top-hatted Uros people live on "islands" made of the reeds that grow in the lake’s shallows; in fact, the Uros rely on these reeds for their boats, the small huts in which they live, household items, and the handcrafts they sell. We also visit Isla Taquile, known for the high quality textiles crafted by the indigenous people who live here; sales of their textiles support the self-sustaining Taquilenos. On our visit, we see the men in their signature woven woolen caps with floppy earpieces, and women in tailored waistcoats and multi-layered skirts. We also witness the breathtaking natural beauty surrounding us, with Bolivia’s snow-capped Cordillera range a striking backdrop to the deep blue of Lake Titicaca. Tonight we celebrate our Peruvian adventure at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 10: Puno/Lima This morning we visit the mysterious burial towers (chullpas) at Sillustani overlooking Lake Umayo. Then we transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima, arriving in the evening.
Day 11: Lima/Iquitos/Ceiba Tops. A short ride through Iquitos brings you to the pier for the 25-mile voyage (approximately 45 minutes) down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops, your comfortable home in the Amazon jungle. After lunch we take a guided hike through the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops. Tonight we enjoy dinner at our jungle lodge.
Day 12: Ceiba Tops We arise early this morning for a birding excursion; this is the best time to observe a diversity of species. We return to Ceiba Tops for lunch, then this afternoon visit a nearby river village to see first- hand the authentic life of "ribereños", the river people of the Amazon.
Day 13: Ceiba Tops/Canopy Walkway ExcursionEarly this morning we depart from Ceiba Tops, traveling by boat deep into the rainforest along the Napo River. We stop for breakfast at the ExplorNapo Lodge then hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway spanning some 1,750 feet (about 1/3 of a mile). After lunch we visit the ethno-botanical garden where a local shaman cultivates more than 240 medicinal plants.
Day 14: Ceiba Tops/Iquitos/Lima After a morning at leisure and lunch at Ceiba Tops, we return to Iquitos for the evening flight to Lima. An Odysseys Unlimited representative will meet you once again at the airport and assist with your transfer and hotel check-in.