Peru

Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel. Gather with fellow travelers this evening for a festive welcome dinner.

Today is devoted to an exploration of colonial and modern Lima. Highlights include the historical center, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral of Lima, and the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco. This afternoon, visit the Larco Herrera Museum, which features the best private collection of pre-Columbian art in all of Peru. Return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for our early morning flight to Cusco, followed by lunch. En route to the Urubamba Valley, visit internationally recognized Indigenous Quechua artist and master weaver Nilda Callañaupa for a discussion and demonstration of traditional weaving techniques. Continue to Urubamba and check in to our hotel.

Spend the morning at the ruins of the massive Inca fortress/temple of Ollantaytambo, the site of the Inca’s greatest victory over the Spanish in the 16th century. Still using Inca walls, Ollantaytambo is Peru’s best surviving example of Inca town planning. Discuss the experience over an organic garden-to-table lunch. After lunch, visit the gardens and choose your own adventure from several options: return to our hotel, participate in a local hike to an archaeological site in Yucay with Professor Rick, or visit Pablo Seminario’s ceramic workshop in Urubamba, where his work is inspired by pre-Hispanic cultures. Rejoin the group for dinner together this evening.

Embark on a scenic ride with lunch aboard the Vistadome Observatory train to Aguas Calientes, the town located at the foot of Machu Picchu. Nestled in a cloud forest, Machu Picchu is arguably the most important archaeological site in the Americas. Surrounded by steep agricultural terraces, this masterfully planned site, built in the mid-1400s, was a center of worship and the private retreat of the Inca ruler Pachacútec. This “Lost City of the Incas” also included an astronomical observatory. Have lunch in town, then explore the stone temples, grassy plazas, palaces, and workshops with an expert guide. Depart for our hotel for check-in and dinner.

Return to Machu Picchu this morning for a guided visit on a different circuit, followed by lunch only steps away from the citadel. After lunch, return to Aguas Calientes to stroll the streets, visit the natural hot springs, or enjoy the amenities of our hotel, including the extensive orchid garden located on the property.

After a morning at leisure, depart Aguas Calientes on the luxury Hiram Bingham train. Experience fine dining and traditional live music as we wind our way back to Cusco. Upon arrival, check in to our hotel, a 16th-century former monastery and protected national monument.

Begin the day with a walking tour of the old town, visiting the Plaza de Armas; the Cathedral of Cusco, which dates from Spanish Viceroyalty times; and the Church and Convent of Santo Domingo that was built upon the foundations of Koricancha, the Inca temple dedicated to worship the Sun God. The rest of the day is free for independent exploration. Alternatively, opt to join Professor Rick for a visit to the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, begun by the Killke people early in the 10th century and expanded by the Incas in the 13th century. The massive stones (one weighs 125 tons!) were cut and fitted together with incredible precision and without a single glob of mortar to hold them in place.

Following breakfast, travel to the airport for our flight to Iquitos, via Lima. Upon arrival, take a tour of Iquitos before driving through the Peruvian countryside to Nauta to embark our ship. This evening, dine on Amazonian cuisine as we watch the sun set on the Marañón River.

Rise with the sun for an early morning birdwatching session along the Marañón River. After breakfast, head out for a morning wildlife excursion in search of sloths, great egrets, parrots, and Taricaya turtles. Visit an Amazon village to witness a demonstration of sustainable aguaje palm fruit harvesting. Later, we explore the Yanayacu Pucate River and go fishing for Amazonia’s notorious piranhas. End the day with a dusk excursion in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Set off on a full day excursion and experience a picnic lunch orchestrated to the tune of the jungle symphony. Go fishing along the black waters of the Samiria River and choose to go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or walking through the jungle of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a protected area covering over 5 million acres. This evening, we cruise along the Ucayali River and watch the sunset.

As the day begins, embark on a morning wildlife excursion on the Marañon River to search for sloths and birds; then visit Puerto Prado, an indigenous village where we may spot giant water lilies. In the afternoon, head out for a boat ride to the majestic Amazon River.

In the early morning, take a guided visit to the local market. Marvel at the produce of the Peruvian Amazon and sample unique regional snacks. Before departing Iquitos, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a sanctuary where orphaned Amazonian manatees are rehabilitated before their release back into the wild. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Transfer to the airport after breakfast for independent flights home.