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MACHU
PICCHU EXTENSION
Please note: Day 8 of the expedition becomes Day 1 of the extension. The
actual extended trip length is five days. Hotels and order of itinerary
are subject to change.
Day
1 - Saturday - Iquitos / Lima
Following dinner we transfer to our hotel for the night.
Day
2- Sunday - Lima / Cusco / Urubamba Valley
 Our
early morning flight takes us from Lima to Cusco, a picturesque town of
red-tile roofed buildings nestled in a high valley 11,000 feet above sea
level. We meet our guide and travel by bus to the historic Urubamba
Valley, where we make a memorable stop at the colorful Pisac Indian
market.
Afterward,
we have lunch at a local restaurant and continue on to our hotel where
we arrive midafternoon. After settling in, we visit the
remote Willoq community - virtually unchanged in its social structure,
dress and language from pre-Inca times. We then make our way to the
archaeological wonder of Ollantaytambo, where ancient temples and
fortresses were constructed to protect the Sacred Valley.We arrive back
at our hotel for dinner.
Day
3- Monday - Urubamba / Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast, we
depart the Ollanta Railway Station for our train ride to Machu Picchu.
We arrive midmorning and proceed directly to the ruins. Known as the
“Lost City of the Inca," Machu Picchu's existence was virtually
forgotten until its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Our guide
points out the significance of the various stone structures and
discusses the mysteries surrounding this archaeological wonder. Late
this afternoon we transfer to our hotel, the beautiful Machu Picchu
Pueblo, for dinner.
Day 4-
Tuesday - Machu Picchu / Cusco
This morning, we rise early and
may choose to make a dawn visit to Machu Picchu or go in search of the
spectacular Andean Cock-of-the-Rock. We return to the hotel for a
delicious buffet lunch. This afternoon we return to Cusco where we enjoy
dinner at our hotel.
Day 5- Wednesday -
Cusco / Sacsayhuaman
After breakfast we set out by bus to ascend the mountains surrounding
Cusco. Here, the Inca
constructed Sacsayhuaman, a truly amazing fortress of massive stones
zigzagging along the side of a mountain. We have a farewell lunch near
the fortress and enjoy a colorful program of Andean folklore. We return
to our hotel for dinner.
Day 6 - Thursday
– Cusco / Lima
We return to the airport for our morriing flight to Lima, where we are
met and escorted to our hotel. This afternoon we visit the famous Gold
Museum, which contains one of the largest collections of Inca artifacts
in the world. Lunch and dinner are on our own.
Day 7 -
Friday - Lima / Miami
This morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to Miami.
We once again fly over the grand mountainscape of the Andes, this time
with clear impressions and wonderful memories of the “Heart of the
Inca Empire.”
Please
note: All meals included except lunch and dinner on day 6 of extension.
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