Booking Deadline - 21 October 2006
Reserve a Space on this Tour

Space Still Available

$2974
(non-member: $3074)
Single Room–$765

   Activity Level:
     25% Easy;
     70% Moderate
       5% Strenuous
  (Moderate rating primarily
   due to altitude)

- City tour Lima and Cusco

- Machu Picchu with guided tour; plus a full day and an extra morning to explore on your own

- Lodging: 3 and 4 star hotels throughout the tour

_____________

Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows:

Arrive:

Lima (LIM) on Thursday, February 8.  Most flights arrive in the late evening.

Early Arrival:
   WTT is not making early arrival hotel arrangements for this trip.

Special Notes Regarding this Trip:
   You will need a valid passport for this trip. No VISA is required for US or Canadian citizens.

Check your expiration date. It cannot expire less than 6 months after your travel completes.

· Air from your home or air to your home

· Any departure taxes or other fees imposed by the local government that must be paid at the time of services or border crossings, etc.

· Any personal expenses, and any guide/driver gratuities.

Thursday, Feb 8: Arrive Lima, Peru

Flights arrive into Lima late in the evening. Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met by the WTT tour leader and we will transfer to the hotel.  Overnight at the Los Delfines Hotel.

Friday, Feb 9: Lima City Tour and Sacred Valley of the Incas

After breakfast this morning we will tour the "City of the Kings".  Our motor coach will take us to the Colonial landmarks and monuments that earned the historical center of Lima inclusion in UNESCO's World Heritage list. We start by visiting the Casa Aliaga, America's best preserved colonial mansion, occupied by the same family since 1535. As we drive to the Convento de los Descalzos, built in 1592, we pass through the historic district of Rimac, where you will be able to see the Paseo de Aguas and Alameda de los Descalzos, two of the most beautiful Colonial constructions in Peru. Finally we will see the San Fransisco Monastery, an architectual masterpiece.

After the tour we will fly to Cusco (airfare included). We travel by motor coach towards the “Sacred Valley of the Incas.” On your way to the hotel, we will visit Awanacancha, a center where South American camels are bred.  Learn about the renowned fiber of llamas, alpacas and vicunas as well as the ancient weaving techniques, which are still used today. We will have dinner and overnight at the Pakaritampu Hotel.

Note: The high elevation is often very taxing initially for everyone, making normal activities like walking up stairs seem difficult until you acclimate to the altitude. Anyone with breathing difficulties should not take this trip. (B, D)

Saturday, Feb 10:  Urubamba River Rafting

This morning, we will go on a rafting adventure down the Urubamba River. Don’t worry if you have never rafted. It is easy, and a whole lot of fun. We have taken many women over the years rafting with no experience and they just love it!

    There will be calm water where you can get the feel of paddling before experiencing the thrill of a little white-water in a series of Class II and III rapids.  A picnic lunch will be served en route.  Following this exciting adventure, we will travel to Ollantaytambo, the Inca Fortress, and walk through the quaint streets of the nearby town. (B, L)

Sunday, Feb 11:    Urubamba / Machu Picchu

Today we visit Machu Picchu!   We have a morning transfer to the Ollanta train station to board our rail coach for the one-and-a-half hour train ride to Machu Picchu.  Following the train trip we will take a 25-minute motor coach ascent to "The Lost City of the Incas" where you will have a guided tour of the marvelous citadel - an awe-inspiring experience. 

    After a full day we return to our hotel which is located near Machu Picchu to relax and have dinner together. Overnight Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (B, L, D)

Monday, Feb 12: Machu Picchu

This morning we strongly recommend you rise early to admire Machu Picchu at sunrise and make a second visit on your own; stroll by these extraordinary Inca remains or hike up the Huayna Picchu. The day is yours to enjoy the beauty of the area and to take advantage of the amenities at the hotel. (B, D)

Tuesday, Feb 13: Machu Picchu/Cusco

This morning take advantage to visit the citadel one last time or just enjoy the hotel and the river it sits beside. We will have lunch at the hotel before returning to Cusco by rail and transferring to the Hotel Novotel for the evening. (B, L, D)

Wednesday, Feb 14: Cusco

This morning we take a tour of the city of Cusco.  Four roads once led from Cusco’s main square to the four corners of the Inca empire that extended from what is today Ecuador and part of Colombia to northern Chile and Argentina, including all of Peru and Bolivia.  Due to its position as the capital of the Inca dynasty, contemporary Cusco, a city of 3,200 meters above sea level (10,500 ft) is a showcase of different cultures: Pre-Inca, Inca Colonial and Republican.  The Inca’s most sacred building in Cusco, the Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), forms part of the Spanish church of Santo Domingo today.

    We will travel past the Loreto alley, a fine sample of the old town and its remarkable Inca walls.  After visiting the Santo Domingo Monastery- the Legendary Koricancha – we continue to San Blas, visiting its beautiful colonial church and taking time to stroll through the many handicraft and native-art galleries in the small little square.  Roam the ancient quarters of angle stone and visit the Cathedral at the Plaza de Armas.   One of San Blas’ artisans will show you how they work.

    The afternoon is at leisure to explore on your own. This evening, dinner will be at restaurant Tunupa.   Enjoy the best panoramic view of the marvelous main square of Cusco, ancestral music and folk dances, together with Novo-Andine buffet and international cuisine. (B, D)

Thursday, Feb 15: Cusco / Lake Titicaca

Today we depart for Lake Titicaca and the town of Puno by bus. Enjoy dramatic landscape of the highland plateau as we travel to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world and surrounded incredible vistas seen at the 12,400 ft elevation of the lake.

We will stop at Andahuaylillas, a beautiful baroque church built at the beginning of the XVIIth century and very well known thanks to its beautiful mural paintings as well as in Raqchi an Inca temple built to worship Wiracocha, one of the most important Inca gods. Finally we will stop at the archeological site of Pukara (200BC-AD300). We will have lunch at a restaurant in route and overnight at the Libertador Lsla Esteves Hotel. (B, L)

Friday, Feb 16: Exploring Lake Titicaca

Today we see the lake and explore by foot and motorboat. We start with a Motorboat excursion to Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca, inhabited by Quechua speaking natives who have developed over several generations both an efficient and original social system and a fine hand weaving technique.  Afterwards proceed to the interesting and unique floating islands of the Uros.  The people on the islands still live like they did centuries ago, on floating islands they make with the totora reeds that grow on Lake Titicaca. (B, L)

Saturday, Feb 17: Puno / Lima / Return Home

After a leisurely lunch we return to Lima by air where we will say our goodbyes to Peru and each other before returning to the airport to catch our flights home. (B, L)

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