May 1 – Arrive in Lima on your own. You’ll be met at the airport and escorted to our hotel. Hotel La Antigua Miraflores or equivalent

May 2 - City Tour, Lima – We’ll spend the day learning about historical and current day Lima. Lunch will be at a restaurant overlooking the harbor. The evening is free for you to explore the Miraflores district of Lima with its shops, parks, and cliff walk. You might decide to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B, L)

May 3 – Sacred Valley - After breakfast we’ll fly to Cusco and begin to experience the Peru of the Incas. We’ll drive in a private van with a guide to wander through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Lunch at a hacienda will feature local specialties followed by an exhibition of Peruvian Paso Horses. Tonight we’ll stay in Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town inhabited since the 13th century. Hotel Pakaritampu or equivalent (B, L)

May 4– Ollantaytambo - A short drive will take us to a rural Andean community where we’ll learn about traditional Andean weaving and Andean culture. The afternoon is free for you to explore Ollantaytambo on your own. (B, L)

May 5 – Machu Picchu - From Ollantaytambo we'll board a morning train for Machu Picchu. This is about a 2-hour ride offering spectacular views of the Andes. On our arrival our guide will meet us and take us through the main areas of Machu Picchu. After lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, you’ll have time to walk through the ruins on your own or climb to the Sun Gate with me. We’ll take an evening train back to our hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B, L) 

May 6 – Cusco – Sacsayhuaman – As we drive back to Cusco we’ll visit the ruins of Puka Pukara, Kenko, Tampu Machay, and the renowned fortress and religious site of Sacsayhuaman, famous for its cosmic energy. Tonight we’ll have dinner together at one of Cusco’s excellent restaurants. Hotel Rumi Pumku or equivalent (B, D)

May 7 - Cusco – A private tour of the major sights in Cusco with a knowledgeable local guide begins our day. Highlights include the Plaza de Armas (main square), the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the San Blas neighborhood, home to many local artists. After lunch there will be time to explore Cusco on your own using your free museum pass. This evening you can enjoy a folk dance performance. (B, L)

May 8– Cusco Culinary Tour – Today we spend a leisurely day learning about the food of Peru. We’ll visit a local market to see the variety of ingredients available to Peruvian cooks, have a cooking lesson and enjoy a cool drink Next we’ll sample some local food at a traditional restaurant. The evening is free for you to enjoy your last night in Cusco. Those interested might want to join me for a visit to the Cusco Planetarium. (B, L)

May 9 - Puno - From Cusco we'll drive to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca stopping for lunch and to view highlights along the way. We’ll arrive in Puno in the late afternoon giving us time to explore the town or just relax with a glass of wine or a Pisco Sour before dinner. Tierra Viva Puno Plaza or equivalent (B, L)

May 10 - Lake Titicaca – After breakfast we’ll begin our day on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigated lake in the world. A highlight of the day will be a visit to the floating islands of the Uros and Taquile Isla where we’ll have lunch. As we travel on our private tour of the lake we’ll learn why the Incas considered it a sacred place. (B, L)

May 11 - Lima – We’ll have lunch overlooking the lake. On our way to the Juliaca airport for our flight back to the Lima airport we’ll stop at a local farm. The trip ends when we arrive in Lima in the late afternoon. Your flight home can be scheduled for 8 pm or later. (B, L)

• US citizens do not need a visa to visit Peru.
  
• No immunizations are required for this trip.
• Participants must be able to climb a few flights of stairs and walk on uneven surfaces up to a mile at a moderate pace over the course of the day.
• Basic travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is mandatory – insurance to cover trip cancellation is highly recommended.
• Please check with me before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip is confirmed with the minimum number of participants required to operate.
• Deposit of $750 will reserve your spot. Payment of the balance is due by February 1, 2017. Refunds, less $75, will be returned upon written request until February 8, 2017. After this date, no refunds of any type will be made.