Lima was founded January 5, 1535 by Francisco Pizarro during the Catholic feast of Epiphany or the Day of the Kings. Thus Lima is known as “the city of the kings.” Because of its Spanish colonial origins, Lima is relatively easy to navigate with a center square called the Plaza de Armas and wide avenues. Bienvenido!

DAY TWO.   THE AMAZON.  From Lima, we’ll fly to Puerto Maldonado, a frontier town located in the heart of the rainforest. Getting to the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge is part of the adventure. We take a 40-minute boat ride down the Madres de Dios River to the lodge. In the late afternoon, we’ll take an excursion into the rainforest on foot to view the area’s flora and fauna.

DAY THREE.  WILDLIFE VIEWING AND LAKE SANDOVAL. At dawn we visit a parrots’ “colpa,” where hundreds of colorful parrots arrive at a salt lick that contains nutrients. Later in the morning, we leave for Monkey Island where different species of primates live in freedom, and come to seek bananas or other fruit. After a 5km walk through the luxuriant Amazonian Forest, we arrive at Lake Sandoval. We take a canoe across the lake and observe various species-such as monkeys, tortoises, birds, otters, butterflies, and caimans. After sunset on the lake we return to the lodge at dusk for dinner.

DAY FOUR.  SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS.  From the Amazon we fly to Cuzco and transfer by private bus to the Urubamba Valley, or the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our hotel is the Hotel Pakritampu, boutique accommodations nestled in the Sacred Valley. You’ll walk through beautiful gardens on your way to your room. Enjoy a Pisco Sour in the pub before your dinner of European and regional cuisines.

DAY FIVE.  INCAN RUINS AND WHITE WATER RAFTING.  In the morning, we’ll raft the Urubamba River. The rapids are class III and a good introduction to whitewater. In the afternoon, we visit the Ollantaytambo Fortress, a major Incan ruin. We walk up huge steep terraces that are built into the mountain. At the top is the temple area that overlooks the sacred valley.

DAY SIX.   JOURNEY TO MACHU PICCHU.  Early in the morning, the group will make the journey to Machu Picchu. There will be two options to access the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

Everyone will board the train that goes to Aquas Calientes, the village at the bottom of the valley below the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. At a train stop several kilometers before the village, those who are hiking the Inca trail will disembark. Those who are taking the train the entire way will stay on board.

For those who have signed up for the Inca Trail and want a moderate to strenuous hike, you get off the train at Kilometer 104, the trailhead of a section of Inca Trail. The hike takes 4 to 6 hours. You will carry your own daypack that will contain your lunch and personal items. Along the way we pass many ruins including the Winay Wayna Inca Fortress. As you walk through the Intipunku, or “the Sun Gate,” you gaze down upon the Machu Picchu Sanctuary from above. This is available to those who book well in advance and indicate at time of booking that he or she wants to do the Inca Trail hike for an additional $94 fee. You must book this additional excursion early because availability is limited and regulated by the Peruvian government.

For those who stay on the train, you’ll disembark in Aquas Calientes and be transferred to the Machu Picchu Sanctuary. You can then explore the ruins. If you want to do some hiking on the Inca Trail, you can hike toward the Sun Gate to gaze down upon Machu Picchu.

That evening the group stays in Aquas Calientes at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.

DAY SEVEN.   EXPLORING MACHU PICCHU AND THE CLIMB TO HUAYNA PICCHU.  Not discovered by westerners until 1911, Machu Picchu is considered “the lost city of the Incas,” and still remains a ruin shrouded in mystery. After exploring the main archeological sites you have the option to hike up the Huayna Picchu peak overlook. Or you can tour the site during the day at your leisure.

DAY EIGHT.  THE TRAIN TO CUZCO.  You’ll have your final opportunity to visit Machu Picchu in the morning. In the afternoon, the train takes us back up the valley and to Cuzco. Cuzco has been a hub of South American travel and trade for centuries. Massive Inca-built stonewalls line many of Cuzco’s streets. The Spanish built a central plaza and churches. Today, tourists from all parts of the world come to see Cuzco’s ancient ruins, colonial architecture, and indigenous people- the Quechua.

DAY NINE.   CUZCO.  A walking tour of Cuzco includes the Loreto Alley, Santo Domingo Monastery, and district of San Blas. We have an excursion to the archeological Inca remains of the Tambomachay Baths, Kenko Amphitheater, Puca Pucara, and the impressive fortress Sacsayhuaman.

DAY TEN.  RETURN TO LIMA.  We fly back to Lima and transfer to the hotel. A private meal is served at the Casa Aliaga, one of South America’s best-preserved colonial mansions. You can fly out late that night. Or you can stay at the hotel overnight and fly home the next day.

DAY ELEVEN.  RETURN HOME.  Fly back to the US in the morning, or travel in the evening for overnight flights that arrive in the US the next morning.