Peru Explorer (10 days)

Afternoon flight south to Lima, arriving in the evening. Meeting and transfer to Miraflores Park Hotel in fashionable Miraflores.

Transfer for early morning flight over the Andes to Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca empire and considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monasterio for overnight stay. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Cuzco and to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenkko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay.

Full day excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the town of Pisac to visit the colorful Indian Market. Plenty of time to explore and bargain for textiles and souvenirs and to roam the produce and animal sections of the market. Then continue through the valley to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, precariously perched on the mountainside, for a visit. Lunch en route and afternoon drop off at the Sol y Luna for overnight stay.

Early morning transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for VistaDome rail scenic ride to Aguas Calientes and then mini-bus 2,000 foot serpentine ascent to the top of the mountain and the entrance to the famed Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas. Enjoy a guided tour of these spectacular ruins, never found by the Spanish Conquistadores and only rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Have lunch and time to explore at your own pace. The ruins remain open until dusk. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.

Day at leisure to explore at your own pace. You'll want to plan to revisit the ruins early in the morning so you have plenty of time to explore before the day-trippers begin to arrive around 11 AM. The ruins open at 7AM and re-entry tickets are available for purchase at the ruins. Be sure to be back at the train station at Aguas Calientes in time for your return train to Cuzco, with evening arrival. Upon arrival meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monastario for overnight.

Early morning transfer to the airport for 40 minute flight east northeast to Puerto Maldonado. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the port where you board typical motorized canoe for 30 minute cruise on the Madre de Dios River to the Reserva Amazonica. Check in, have lunch and in the afternoon begin your explorations of this wildlife rich 40 square mile private ecological reserve deep in the Amazon rainforest. Walk through the trails inside the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve while your guide tells you about the primary and secondary rainforest, its components, uses, and transformation by people, and its importance to the world. Tonight you'll make a trip by canoe looking for nocturnal wildlife.

Morning excursion to Rolín Island, located in the Madre de Dios River in front of Reserva Amazónica. In association with INRENA (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales), Reserva Amazonica runs a conservation project to protect endangered primates and reintroduce them into their natural habitat. In front of this island is the Rolín Community where Reserva Amazonica promotes education and conservation programs to improve their quality of life. In the afternoon visit the only canopy walk in Southern Peru. A five minute boat transfer takes guests to the Canopy Inkaterra Interpretation Center to learn about the tree canopy's construction and about Inkaterra Association's (ITA) conservation projects. Ascend the tower and cross the tree-top bridges that offer a birds-eye view of the dense rainforest. The canopy walk lasts about 30 minutes, followed by a 15 minute walk to the wetlands to learn about the floodable ecosystem.

Today you will enjoy an excursion to Lake Sandoval, one of the most beautiful lakes in the area. This excursion through the Tambopata National Reserve begins with a journey by boat and trail (30 minutes and one hour) to Lake Sandoval, for an environmental interpretation of the area. Next a two-hour walk through the rainforest takes you to Concepción Farm for interpretation of collpas (clay licks) and jungle, followed by a visit to a botanical garden with more than 200 medicinal plants. Finish by paddling a canoe around the cochas (lagoons) while learning the natural history of the Concepción Farm. Return to the lodge by boat.

After breakfast transfer back to Puerto Maldonado. Time permitting you'll visit the Butterfly farm before transferring to the airport for your flight to Lima. Meeting upon arrival in Lima and transfer to the Miraflores Park Hotel for overnight. In the afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Lima, often called "The City of Kings" and once the seat of the Vice Royalty of Spain, including the Plaza de Armas with government palace and cathedral, the San Francisco or Santo Domingo Convent and the new suburbs of the city, and a visit to either the Gold or Archaeology Musuem.

Morning transfer to the airport for return flight to Miami. Clear immigrations and customs and make connections to your home city.