Ultimate Peru: The Amazon and Machu Picchu

Arrive in Lima and proceed through immigrations, baggage claim, and customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. A representative with a Holbrook sign will greet you outside the exit. Transfer to the hotel and check in. Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3pm.

After breakfast, attend a presentation on biodiversity in Peru by a local expert at the hotel. Afterwards visit the Larco Museum, a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art. It showcases chronological galleries that provide a thorough overview of 5,000 years of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, where you will be given a short presentation on Peruvian cuisine. In the afternoon, embark on a walking city tour of colonial Lima, visiting the main square and Santo Domingo Convent.

After breakfast, transfer to the local airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival transfer to Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion hotel which is about 45 minutes away and located between the Tambopata National Reserve and the shores of the Madre de Dios River. Simultaneously remote and accessible, this pristine haven is situated at the heart of a 439 acre ecological reserve. This afternoon take a walk through the property's nature trails, learning about the primary and secondary rainforest. This evening navigate along the Madre de Dios River for a twilight river excursion to learn about the nocturnal animals in the area.

After breakfast, walk into the Tambopata National Reserve through terra firma forest, towards Lake Sandoval. Then navigate by dugout canoe around this beautiful oxbow lake. Learn about the reserves conservation efforts, the lake formation, the water palms and the animals that inhabit this lake such as the endangered giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, black caimans, and one of the world's biggest fresh water scaled fish, paiches. Return to Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion in time for lunch. In the afternoon, take a 20 minute boat ride across the Madre de Dios River to climb the exhilarating Inkaterra Canopy Walkway and navigate the Anaconda Walk. The Inkaterra Canopy Walkway is a sophisticated and safe 1,135 foot network of seven ecologically constructed hanging suspension bridges, strung between eight treetop observation platforms above the forest floor. Originally constructed for the non profit organization, Inkaterra Asociación, to carry out conservation projects, this is an unforgettable opportunity to observe the rainforest from the rooftop and gain a sense of its colossal size. Ascend the first vertiginous tower 124 feet above ground, keeping an eye out for white throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys and the three toed sloth. Back at the base, follow the Anaconda Walk, strolling the seasonally flooded aguajales wetlands on an elevated wooden boardwalk. Come nightfall, under the cover of darkness explore the rainforest on foot as your senses heighten to movements in the undergrowth and the raucous sounds of the rainforest.

This morning enjoy some time to explore the property. Take a walk through Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción's nature trails. Learn about primary and secondary rainforest, its components, uses and transformations by humans, and its relevance for the world. See the cacao plantation, breadfruit trees, rubber trees, and more. After lunch, a short boat ride takes you to a local farm, where its inhabitants use ancient methods to grow their crops. Learn about local techniques of cultivation and taste some of the local products.

After some morning activity, check out and transfer to the local airport in Puerto Maldonado for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, meet with your local guide and transfer to the Sacred Valley. En route, visit Awanakancha Alpaca Center. The Awankancha Alpaca Center is a living museum where visitors can see llamas, alpacas and vicuna. A demonstration will show how the wool from these South American animals is used to make woven textiles. We will then continue to Sonesta Posadas Del Inaca, located in the heart of the Sacred Valley, and check in. The hotel is a remodeled 18th-century monastery located in the beautiful small town of Yucay. This town enjoyed great importance during the Inca period, where it was chosen as the area of residence of the Inca Huayna Cápac as well as the Inca Sayri Túpac in the 16th century.

This morning, visit the local Urubamba Market and participate in an onsite discussion on the importance of the Sacred Valley as the "farmer's market" for the Inca Empire. Identify and learn about the fruits and vegetables that are unique to this region. Afterwards visit Maras Salt Mines and then continue to Chinchero to visit a local weaving community where we will learn which ancient traditions are still practiced by modern day descendants of the Inca. Enjoy a traditional lunch with community members. We will end our day with an ancient Pachamama ceremony led by a shaman.

In the early morning, transfer to enjoy a rafting expedition (best April Oct). A rafting guide will welcome your group when you arrive. Here, receive rafting equipment and a safety briefing (toilet facilities and changing rooms available). After a brief practice on the flat parts of the river, start your journey on easy waters while admiring the spectacular views of the mountains and archaeological remains. Continue on to a strong class 3 rapid that includes waves and small whirlpools. Then reach the river take out located in the community of Cachiccata (Toilets and changing rooms available). After rafting, enjoy lunch in the Ollantaytambo area and visit the archeological site, learning about the engineering genius of the Inca. In the afternoon return to your hotel and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

After breakfast, take the train (Peru Rail Expedition) to Machu Picchu following the Urubamba River with spectacular views of the Andes. Upon arrival continue with a bus transfer to the Machu Picchu Ruins, where you'll have lunch at a local restaurant close by. Enjoy a two-to three-hour guided field trip in and around Machu Picchu Ruins, including a site lecture.

After breakfast explore the property. Have lunch at the hotel before taking the early afternoon train to Ollanta. Transfer to Cusco for dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast, visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman ruins. The stone fortress at Sacsayhuaman forms the head of the Puma design of old Cusco. It is a mystery how it was constructed since the stones are not found in the region and most of the blocks weigh more than a ton. The largest rock weighs more than 300 tons. Sacsayhuaman is constructed of huge polygonal blocks which interlock with one another so precisely a knife blade cannot be inserted between them. Next, visit Kenko, an Incan archaeological site located a few miles from Cusco. Due to the lack of written records from the time period, the purpose of many Incan ruins is a mystery. Though, archaeological evidence shows that the Inca built the site as a "huaca" or holy site and researchers speculate that death rituals, mummification and human sacrifice were practiced here. Researchers believe that priests used the channels carved into the site to determine whether a person lived a good life by observing the route that liquid poured into the channels chicha (fermented corn), holy water, or blood flowed. The last stop of the day is Tambomachay. This Inca site was used as a spa for Inca political elite; aqueducts and canals channel water from a nearby thermal spring into waterfalls that cascade into a small pool. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring typical Cusqueño fare before regrouping at the hotel for a presentation by a local expert on the history of Incan and Andean musical instruments. In the evening, join your group for a farewell dinner with folklore at a local restaurant.

Today, explore colonial Cusco including a visit to the Koricancha Temple and the Cathedral Complex. Lunch will be at a local café in the main plaza where you can enjoy the colonial architecture of the city. There will be some free time in the afternoon, before you transfer to Cusco airport for your late afternoon flight back to Lima. Upon arrival to Lima, check in for your international flight. There is no hotel night included on this day.

Arrive United States.