Wonders of Peru- Amazon Cruise & Machu Picchu

Begin your day at the Larco Museum, which chronicles the development of pre-Columbian societies, and walk through its pottery storeroom where 30,000 exquisite artifacts are displayed. Continue to Lima’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known as the City of Kings, Lima was the heart of Spain’s South American empire for 300 years. Stroll through Plaza Mayor lined with grand buildings, and visit the stately Cathedral, the Monastery of Santo Domingo and Casa Aliaga, an elegant home built in 1535. This evening, gather at Casa Garcia Alvarado, a historic house, for a Welcome Reception and Dinner. After a tour, savor a home-cooked meal with one of the owners.

Check out of the hotel this morning and fly from Lima to Cusco. After you arrive, take a panoramic drive and soak up the stunning scenery of the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley, where farm fields and traditional Andean villages are tucked beneath towering mountain slopes. Check in to the Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado.

During your explorations in the Sacred Valley today, learn about the circular Moray Terraces created by the Inca in the 15th century as an experimental farm, and see the striking Maras Salt Mines, where salt has been extracted from terraced pools for centuries. Afterward, enjoy a wonderful lunch at an estate that boasts lovely grounds, scenic views and fine art. Later, meet with the residents of a mountain village and learn about daily life in this challenging environment and their traditional weaving methods.

After checking out today, visit the impressive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo, notable for its huge terraces that hug the hillside. Then, journey by train through the Sacred Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes and the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo hotel at the foot of Machu Picchu. Head up further into the Andes to remarkable Machu Picchu, once the imperial estate of the Inca ruler, Pachacútec. Explore the many temples and buildings of this skillfully engineered site, including the Temple of the Three Windows, the Sacristy and the Temple of the Sun, with your guide.

After checking out this morning, travel by train through the beautiful mountain scenery and by motor coach to Cusco. Check in to the Palacio del Inka and make your own plans in Cusco for the remainder of the day. Peru’s cuisine offers a tantalizing blend of eclectic styles and flavors. Your Travel Director can offer suggestions on where to try authentic dishes like ceviche and lomo saltado, a beef stir-fry.

Cusco, perched 11,152 feet above sea level, was the most sacred Inca city. At this UNESCO World Heritage site, visit the Cathedral, noted for its colonial art, and the Santo Domingo Church, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha Temple or ‘place of gold’, the Incas’ principal religious building dedicated to the worship of the sun. Next, meander within the imposing ruins of Sacsayhuaman, constructed with massive stones precisely fitted together without any mortar. This ancient fortress overlooks the red-tiled roofs of Cusco and the spectacular, lush countryside.

This morning, fly to Lima and connect to your flight to Iquitos, the gateway to the Amazon and accessible only by plane or boat. Admire this lively town filled with colorful tuk-tuks and 19th-century mansions on your way to Nauta. At a private port on the Marañon River, embark the Delfin III. Savor the views from the deck while your naturalist guide provides an overview of your cruise schedule and activities. As you sail by the confluence of three rivers known as Union de los Rios, delight in your first sunset in the Amazon rain forest.

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where the ship cruises, is one of Peru’s largest wildlife preserves with more than 5 million acres of astounding biodiversity. Today, board skiff boats to explore creeks and lagoons where blue and yellow macaws, toucans, umbrella birds and capybaras hide in the deep rain forest. Lucky travelers may glimpse the endangered charapa turtle, spider monkey or red macaw. Marvel at the pink dolphins, or boto, known for their intelligence and agility. During your cruise, you’ll also have the chance to fish for piranha! The Amazon is home to more than 25 different species of piranhas, including black-, white-, and red-bellied ones.

Hike into the rain forest to appreciate the bountiful flora and fauna with your naturalist guide. Spot squirrel and red howler monkeys, iguanas lazing in the sun and sloths hanging in the upper canopy. You’ll also likely see brilliant parrots, hawks, hummingbirds and “laughing” falcons. In fact, more than 1,300 species of birds are found in the Amazon! Later, back on the ship, a local expert explains how modern Peru has been shaped by its past. This evening, celebrate your memorable Peruvian adventure with your fellow travelers at a Farewell Reception.

Disembark the ship in Nauta this morning and depart by motor coach to the Iquitos airport. On your route, explore local conservation efforts at two fascinating education and research centers focusing on Amazonian fish and stingless bees. Fly to Lima and connect to your international flight to Miami, Florida.