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South America – Peru
Peru: Land of the Inca
Overview
Dates Sep 14 — Sep 23, 2008
Activity Level Moderately active
Our Peruvian adventure begins in the vibrant capital of Lima. Soak up the energy of this exciting city and its mix of native and colonial influences before visiting the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology to learn about pre-Columbian civilizations. Fly to Cuzco and explore the winding Urubamba Valley and the magnificent Inca fortresses, temples, and shrines of Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo, and the highlight of our adventure--Machu Picchu--the legendary Inca city set high in the Andes, unknown to the West for centuries. A stay at the exclusive Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located adjacent to the sacred site, allows special early entrance and unparalleled intimacy. An optional post-trip extension will be offered to the Nazca Lines.
To download a full brochure for this program, click the PDF button at the top right side of this page.
Map
Itinerary
- Day 1 U.S. / Lima
- Day 2 Lima
- Day 3 Lima / Cuzco
- Day 4 Cuzco
- Day 5 Cuzco / Urubamba Valley
- Day 6 Urubamba Valley
- Day 7 Urubamba Valley / Machu Picchu
- Day 8 Machu Picchu
- Day 9 Machu Picchu / Cuzco
- Day 10 Cuzco / Lima / U.S.
Highlights
- Enjoy a train ride for a portion of the journey to the ancient stone citadel of Machu Picchu, set dramatically in the Andean mountains.
- Watch a demonstration of ancient weaving techniques by local craftspeople in the Inca town of Chinchero.
- Walk to the Gate of the Sun, a segment of the Inca Trail approaching Machu Picchu; or climb Huayna Picchu, the peak that rises dramatically above the ancient citadel.
- View one of the world's finest collections of artifacts from Peru's pre-Columbian cultures at the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Lima.
- Ponder the splendor of Machu Picchu in the early morning or late evening light during a stay at the exclusive, adjacent Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.
Post-Tour Extension
Nazca Lines
September 23-24, 2008
Spend a day in Ica, a lush agricultural oasis surrounded by desert south of Lima. View outstanding collections of ancient weavings and artifacts at the Regional Museum of Ica before boarding single-engine aircraft for a flight over the otherworldly Nazca Lines, enormous geoglyphs of animals and geometric figures etched into the bare terrain that can be discerned only from the air and whose purpose and meaning remain a mystery. Details and rates will be sent to confirmed participants.
Program Leaders
Grace Gary
Grace Gary is the director of Nemours Mansion and Gardens in Wilmington, Delware, where she recently oversaw a $40 million restoration of the mansion and principal gardens. An architectural historian with degrees from Randolph-Macon Woman's College and the University of Virginia, she has served as director of the National Trust's Mid-Atlantic Regional Office, Preservation PA, and Longue Vue House and Gardens, as well as the first director of Colonial Williamsburg's Tourism Leadership Center. A veteran leader of nearly 30 National Trust tours, she greatly looks forward to teaching travelers about the pre-Inca, ancient Inca, and Iberian colonial architectural wonders of this fascinating land.
Sponsors
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Accommodations
Accommodations
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Located within the famed "Lost City of the Incas," the 31-room Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is an exclusive hotel located adjacent to the sacred site, allowing guests the opportunity to experience magical Machu Picchu against spectacular sunrises and moonlit nights. The Lodge boasts magnificent gardens with stunning views across Machu Picchu, and is home to many local plants and flowers. Fine chefs provide a choice of international cuisine and Andean specialties in the hotel's airy and sunlit restaurant, which enjoys wonderful views. Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Travel Awards recently ranked the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge first among the hotels in America and the Caribbean and 14th overall in the World Top 100 Hotels list.
Hotel Marriott
Hotel Libertador
Program Rates
Airfare
Airfare is not included in the program rates. Please call High Country Passage at 1-800-395-3288 for assistance with air travel arrangements.
Program Rates
From $5,650 per person, double occupancy; $7,100 single