Monograms Peru Highlights with Nazca Lines & Peru's Amazon(ISMG)
13 Day Package from Lima to Lima
Abundance…yep, we all want it. While Monograms can’t help you win the lottery, we can help you find “the land of abundance,” which is how the Quechua Indians refer to Peru. And let’s be honest, when it comes to archaeological treasures, few places compare to Peru! So let Monograms make it easy for you to travel to Peru on this 13-day vacation. We’ve arranged hotel reservations for you, buffet breakfast daily plus a few other meals, sightseeing, and transportation between cities. Plus, to help you feel comfortable in this foreign land, you’ll have access to a Local Host® in each city, a “friend” who will answer your questions, offer suggestions, and help your vacation run smoothly.On your first day in Lima, your first Local Host will meet you at your hotel and give you materials to familiarize you with the city. Your stay in Lima includes a thrilling flightseeing tour high above the mysterious Nazca Lines, a series of mammoth drawings inexplicably etched into the desert soil—some up to 1,00 feet long! Back on earth, you’ll explore Lima’s historical sights with a guided tour. Next, it’s off to Cusco, high in the Andes. In Cusco, among many sights, your included sightseeing tour features the Santo Domingo Monastery, an important temple devoted to the sun, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, built in the early 12th century with some stones weighing more than 350 tons—built without the use of modern technology and machinery! Cusco offers some fantastic gastronomic delights, so be sure to ask your Cusco Local Host for recommendations. In the Sacred Valley, visit the market town of Pisac, where you can find local wares at bargain prices, and Ollantaytambo, a great example of Inca town planning and with some of the finest examples of Inca masonry.No trip to Peru is complete without a visit to Machu Picchu, built in 1450 at the height of the Inca Empire and without a doubt one of the most magnificent settings in South America. You’ll take a train to Machu Picchu, receive an included tour, and if you desire, you’ll have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu and hike to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas, with your second included entrance to the ruins. Plus, you’ll have access to a Local Host in Machu Picchu—someone who can tell you the history and the culture like no one else.Fly to Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios and the entry to Peru’s Amazon Jungle. Embark on a motorboat ride for a journey up the Tambopata River to your Amazon Jungle lodge and meet your Naturalist Guide to begin a 3-night stay and extraordinary discoveries of the exotic life that thrives in the Peruvian rainforest!
Itinerary (2023)| Day 1 | ARRIVE IN LIMA. | | | Welcome to Lima. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums. | | Day 2 | LIMA–PISCO–PARACAS. | | | Enjoy a scenic drive south along the Pan-American Highway to Pisco, the wine capital of Peru. Have your camera handy today as you board your aircraft for flightseeing over the Nazca plains, which can only be appreciated by air. Your pilot will point out the mysterious markings known as the Nazca Lines, a series of drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the parched soil—some up to 1,000 feet long! Theories vary, but the most accepted belongs to German mathematician Maria Reiche, who dubbed the land the “astronomical calendar” of the ancient Peruvians. (B) | | Day 3 | PARACAS–BALLESTAS ISLANDS–LIMA. | | | Head north to the Bay of Paracas. Cruise out to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. The huge Candelabro, an unexplained candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Later, return to Lima. (B) | | Day 4 | LIMA. | | | Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias. (B) | | Day 5 | LIMA–CUSCO. | | | Fly to Cusco, high in the Andes. Your guided tour visits the Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. At Plaza de Armas, see the cathedral before taking a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman with its intricate stone walls, the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara. (B) | | Day 6 | CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY | | | Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, brings you to Awanakancha to learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to the market town of Pisac, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices. At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry. (B,L) | | Day 7 | SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU | | | Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. On a guided tour, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. (B,L,D) | | Day 8 | MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO | | | A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. Return to Cusco by train. (B) | | Day 9 | CUSCO–PUERTO MALDONADO. | | | At Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción: Fly to Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios and the entry to Peru’s Amazon Jungle. Embark on a motorboat ride for a journey up the Tambopata River to view the exotic wildlife. Arrive at your Amazon Jungle lodge and meet your Naturalist. After settling in, head out with your Naturalist for a nature walk along nature trails to learn about primary and secondary rainforest. At dusk, take a canoe ride to learn about the Amazonia river ecosystems, nocturnal animals’ behavior, and the southern constellations. (B,L,D) At Refugio Amazonas: Fly to Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios and the entry to Peru’s Amazon Jungle. Embark on a motorboat ride for a journey up the Tambopata River to view turtles, caimans, monkeys, and river birdlife such as capped herons, black skimmers, and kingfishers. Arrive at your unique Amazon Jungle Lodge where you will meet with your expert Naturalist who will help tailor your time in the Amazon with various included activities. (B,L,D) | | Day 10 | PERU'S AMAZON | | | At Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción: Walk into the Tambopata National Reserve with your Naturalist, then navigate by dugout canoe around Lake Sandoval, a beautiful oxbow lake. Learn about the reserve’s conservation efforts and the animals that inhabit this lake, such as the endangered giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, and black caimans. This afternoon, the canopy walkway shows you a different perspective 100 feet above ground. After night falls, your Naturalist introduces you to the nocturnal animals of the Amazon. (B,L,D)At Refugio Amazonas: During your time in the Amazon, you can choose from over 20 different, included excursions designed to satisfy your personal preferences. Some examples include taking a canoe ride to Oxbow Lake to search for the resident giant river otters, howler monkeys, macaws, and other fauna. Take a walk to the Canopy Tower to observe the forest and river and its inhabitants. Visit a local farm to meet local farmers and learn about the Amazon’s crops. You can also learn about the biodiverse flora found here and their medicinal uses on an Ethnobotanical tour. Perhaps, visit clay licks where you can watch from a blind as mammals, parrots and macaws perch to eat clay. At night, be sure to venture out with your expert guide who will help you discover the many nocturnal jungle creatures. Plus many other included options! (B,L,D) | | Day 11 | PERU'S AMAZON | | | At Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción: A short boat ride brings you to a native farm where farmers use ancient methods to grow crops. Learn about local cultivation techniques and taste some of the produce. This afternoon, visit a clay lick to observe wildlife from a blind to observe the normal routine of the fauna without disrupting the environment. (B,L,D)At Refugio Amazonas: Continue your Amazon exploration. (B,L,D) | | Day 12 | PUERTO MALDONADO–LIMA. | | | Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Lima. (B) | | Day 13 | LIMA. | | | Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B) |
Included Monograms Meals Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
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