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2011 Departure Dates:
9/7, 9/28, 10/9, 11/2, 11/9, 12/7*, 12/21* *Prices may rise in December high season |
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| Day 1: Los Angeles - Lima, Peru | ||||||
| Depart Los Angeles for the flight to Lima. | ||||||
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| Day 2: Lima - City Tour (B/L/D) | ||||||
| In the morning enjoy a tour both modern and colonial Lima, found in 1535 by Francisco Pizarro. See the historical center and the San Francisco Church as well as Plaza de Armas and the Government Palace. Later, visit the fashionable district of San Isidro and Miraflores with their beautiful parks and elegant residences facing the ocean. | ||||||
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| Day 3: Lima - Islas Ballestas - Paracas National Reserve - Ica (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Early departure by bus to Paracas, after lunch, boat to the Ballestas Island, referred to as a little Galapagos. Sea lion colonies lounge on the rocks and thousands of sea birds circle overhead and strut along the rocky shoreline. After your island visit, it’s off to the giant sand dunes of Paracas National Reserve for a bit of hiking. In the afternoon, bus to Ica for overnight. | ||||||
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| Day 4: Ica - Nazca - Lima (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Optional: Nazca Lines air tour to visit this mysterious site. Since their discovery 70 years ago, these puzzling drawings in the earth have intrigued visitors and scientists. Mysterious makings are on the sand spreading over an area of 350 kms2 (135 sq miles). These lines feature several animals and plants such as the spider, the monkey, the dog, the lizard, the humming bird and condor, among others, in dimensions that range from 15 to 300 meters (16.5 to 328 yards) each, and a depth of around 30 cms (a foot). To get a bird’s-eye view of the Nazca Lines, take a short flight this morning from Ica (The over flight takes 1 hr and 15 mins). After lunch, bus ride back to Lima, we will appreciate the mysterious figure of “The Candelabro”. | ||||||
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| Day 5: Lima - Cuzco (B/L/D) | ||||||
| After breakfast, transfer to the airport
to board a short morning flight to Cuzco, capital of the Inca Empire and
located 11,000 feet above sea level. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel
located in the heart of old city. Just a few block from the Main Square.
A guided tour takes you to the main sites of this impressive city, including
the Plaza de Armas, center of the Inca Empire, where you find the beautiful
16th century cathedral built on the ruins of the Koricancha, an important
Inca temple to the Sun God. During Inca times this temple was literally
covered with gold, but within months of the arrival of the first conquistadors
this incredible wealth had all taken as treasure for Spain. The tour follows with the visit to the nearby ruins: Sacsayhuaman, Tambomachay, Kenko and Pucapucara. Sacsayhuaman, an imposing example of Inca military architecture, the fortress of Sacsayhuaman was built using large slabs of granite to safeguard the city from attack by Antis, or invading forces from the east. Tambomachay, also known as the “Banos del Inca” or the Inca baths, it was apparently a site dedicated to the worship of water and a resting place for the Inca monarch. Kenko and Pucapucara: Kenko is a ritual site built on a sole outcrop of limestone, with undergrounds galleries and semicircular amphitheater. Pucapucara was a military installation made up of stairways, terraces and large walls which once formed part of the capital’s defense system. |
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| Day 6: Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley (B/L/D) | ||||||
| This morning depart for Machu Picchu via train. The train journey from Cuzco to Machu Picchu is a high of any trip to the Andes. The scenery is simply spectacular, the recently refurbished Vistadomes allow you to enjoy it in comfort. The 3 hours journey takes you through a changing landscape. First there is a steep climb out of town into the surrounding hillside, by a means of a series of switchback turns known as “the zig zag”. Soon the train stops at the beautiful village of Poroy, and then descends into the Sacred Villages in the foothills of the Andes. From here on, there are wonderful vistas of the mountains and deep in its dramatic canyon, the beautiful Urubamba River running through the Sacred Valley. And what a destination awaits you! Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, discovered in 1911 by North American anthropologist Hiram Bingham, is one of the 7 Wonders of the world. The stunning ruins of this ancient citadel, perched on a mountain peak high in the Andes, are perhaps the greatest surviving testament of Inca civilization. You’ll have time to explore this amazing archeological site on your own. Depart for the Sacred Valley by train and transfer to your hotel. | ||||||
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| Day 7: Sacred Valley - Pisac - Urubamba Valley & Ollantaytambo Ruins - Cuzco (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Depart on a full day tour Sacred Valley of the Incas. Pisac, a picturesque Andean village with a wonderful market, here you will get a chance to buy locally made ponchos, sweaters, other handcrafted clothing, ceramics and hand painted beads. Enjoy browsing the “locals” section of the market, where villagers come from miles around, dressed in their traditional clothing, to barter and sell their produce. Continue to Ollantaytambo, located at the foot of spectacular Inca ruins. Ollantaytambo Ruins, the archaeological complex was a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military centre in the era of the Tahuantinsuyo. The Spaniards called it the Fortress of Ollantautambo, which protected the strategic entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley. Late afternoon, drive back to Cuzco. | ||||||
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| Day 8: Cuzco - Lima - Iquitos - Ceiba Tops (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Take morning flight via Lima to Iquitos. Upon arrival, transfer to the Explorama dock. Twenty-five mile journey down the Amazon River to Ceiba Tops, the newest of Explorama’s lodges, opened in 2000, where the private rooms with air conditioning provide Amazon adventure in luxury. | ||||||
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| Day 9: Ceiba Tops - Canopy Walkway (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Early morning departure from Ceiba Tops by boat to new narrow motorcar crossing connecting the Amazon and Napo Rivers to continue by boat to ExplorNapo Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, hike to the spectacular Treetop Canopy Walkway spanning over 500 meters(one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms, and reaching a height of over 35 meters (115 feet) but accessible without any type of climbing skill or equipment. After lunch, visit the “ReNePeRu” Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing and the uses of some of the plants. Return to Ceiba Tops in time to enjoy the pool or hammocks before dinner. Overnight at Ceiba Tops. | ||||||
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| Day 10: Ceiba Tops - Lima (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Early morning birding excursion. Morning boat ride to visit a small village of Yagua Indians where your guide will explain their culture and how it has been affected by the passing of time. There will be an opportunity to trade for or purchase some of their local crafts and for a demonstration of the use of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting. After noon journey back to Iquitos for your flight back to Lima. Late night transfer to airport for mid-night flight return to US. | ||||||
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| Day 11: Los Angeles | ||||||
| Today your homebound flight will bring you back in the morning to complete this pleasant trip! | ||||||
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| • This itinerary visits
destinations that are at high altitude, which may cause altitude sickness.
Please consult your doctor for preventative treatment. |
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APF Travel reserves the right to
make any changes to the itinerary or price without notice, due to any
unfortunate event such as natural disaster, war, strike, and airline
itinerary change or flight cancellation. Copyright APF Travel, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. |
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