Day 1: Arrive Lima, Peru
Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, where you are met and
transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: Cusco/Sacred Valley / Andean Weaving
Fly to Cusco and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering
Novo Andino cuisine, before driving to Urubamba in the Sacred
Valley of the Incas. Visit members of the camelid family (llamas,
alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas) and learn about the fabrics made
from their shaggy coats using ancient weaving techniques. Meet
with locals wearing their colorful traditional clothing and learn
from your guide how it differs between communities. Receive a
lesson in the Quechuan Language. Tonight, dine at your hotel.
Day 3: Urubamba / Kayak in the Scared Valley
Prepare for a unique Sacred Valley adventure on the drive to
Huaypo, a beautiful lagoon perched in the Andes. Admire the
view of the mountains as you paddle around the lagoon in sea
kayaks — a ride that reveals the natural beauty of Peru. On the
banks of Huaypo, your chef greets you with an outdoor picnic.
Enjoy leisure time at the hotel and a fun family pizza night with
star gazing (weather permitting).
Day 4: Machu Picchu / The Lost City of the Incas
View the massive stone fortress of Ollantaytambo,
site of the Incas’ greatest victory over the invading Spanish,
before boarding the Vistadome train for a scenic ascent to Machu
Picchu. Explore this breathtaking Incan citadel, following an
expert guide who paces the trek for young explorers. Imagine
those who once dwelled here and marvel at their stonework.
Day 5: Machu Picchu / Sunrise at the Ruins
Rise early to see Machu Picchu at sunrise or choose from guided
hikes to the Inti Punku (Sun Gate) or to Huayna Picchu. After
lunch, return to Cusco.
Day 6: Cusco / Exploring a Massive Stone Marvel
Journey to Sacsayhuaman — its
monumental stones precisely cut and
fitted together without mortar. Next,
tour Cusco, visiting the Cathedral
on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo
Domingo Temple. Meet locals at the market of San Pedro to
better understand the fusion of the Spanish and Incan cultures,
and continue to a produce market to learn about Peru’s 3,800
potato varieties. Later, hear an Andean music presentation by
Tito Leon, and dine at a local restaurant, one of the city’s finest,
where you receive a lesson in making traditional Peruvian
appetizers.
Day 7: Lima / In the City of Kings
Fly to Lima and check in to your hotel. Tour the city, starting with
the grid-like Plaza Mayor. View the marvelous, historic Cathedral
and the colorful guards before the Presidential Palace, followed by
a visit to the Church of San Francisco. Later, drive to modern Lima
to see pre-Incan ceramics at the Larco Herrera Museum.
Day 8: Lima / Palomino Island
Experience a half-day excursion to Palomino Island, a huge sea
lion rookery. Wearing wetsuits, jump into the water and share the
ocean with these friendly animals. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure
before a special farewell dinner at a Peruvian restaurant.
Day 9: Depart Lima
This morning, transfer to the airport and depart.