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MYSTERY EXPLORER Highlighting Ancient Mysteries Cuzco Sacred Valley of the Incas Machu Picchu Easter Island 13 Days

Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Wednesday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 - Wednesday - Miami - Lima:  Afternoon flight south to Lima, arriving in the evening. Meeting and transfer to the Miraflores Park for two night stay.

Day 2 - Thursday - Lima:  Full day exploring the main points of interest in Lima, often called "The City of Kings" and once the seat of the Vice Royalty of Spain, including the Plaza de Armas with government palace and cathedral, the San Francisco or Santo Domingo Convent and the new suburbs of the city. Enjoy lunch at the Rosa Nautica Restuarant located on a pier jutting out into the Pacific and known for its seafood. Then on to Barranco, a district of Lima full of tradition and history, with fine streets and small colonial squares, where one can still sense the Antigue spirit of Lima. Also make a visit to the Pedro Osma Museum, located in a mansion that was constructed in 1906 and bears traces of French architecture, and which once belonged to Don Pedro de Osma who dedicated his life and fortune to acquiring works of colonial Peruvian art. Here you will observe paintings, sculptures, textiles, furniture and engravings.  (B/L)

Day 3 - Friday - Lima - Cuzco: Transfer for morning flight over the Andes to Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca empire and considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monasterio for overnight stay. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Cuzco, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Cuzco was the capital of the ancient Inca Empire was founded around 1100 A.D. and thought to have been a Holy City, a must pilgrimage for any ranking citizen of the empire.  Visit the main points of interest in this historic city including the 17th century Qoricancha Temple which, together with Santo Domingo, form perhaps the most vivid illustration in Cuzco of Andean culture's collision with Western Europe. Some 4000 of the highest ranking priests and their attendants were housed here, and it was also the main astronomical observatory for the Incas.  After the Spaniards ransacked the temple and emptied it of gold (which they melted down), the exquisite polished stone walls were employed as the foundations of the Convent of Santo Domingo. Continue nearby to the fortress ruins of Sacsayhuaman with massive rocks weighing up to 130 tons forming three walls running parallel for 360 meters, with 21 bastions. Also visit the amphitheater of Kenkko (Qenqo); Puka Pukara, possibly an Inca "tambo", and the spring shrine of Tambo Machay, said to have been an Inca bath but more likely a site of a water cult. (B)

Day 4- Saturday - Cuzco-Urubamba: Full day excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop is at Awanacancha, a center of llama, alpacas and vicunas, to learn about their wool, the curing and handling, and about weaving techniques. Continue on to the town of Pisac and wind uphill to the ruins of Pisac to view these ruins cascading down the mountain before returning to Pisac to visit the handicraft market. Also make a stop at Pablo Seminario's Ceramic Studio where Pablo and his wife are dedicated to sculpting the red clay found in the valley using techniques and designs from ancient Peruvian cultures. Have lunch en route today and at the end of your visits, transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, the Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado for overnight stay. (B/L)

Day 5 - Sunday - Urubamba-Machu Picchu:  Early morning transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for VistaDome rail service to Machu Picchu Pueblo for mini-bus 2,000 foot serpentine ascent to the top of the mountain and the entrance to famed Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas. Enjoy a guided tour of these spectacular ruins, never found by the Spanish Conquistadores and only rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911, have lunch and time to explore at your own pace. The ruins remain open until dusk. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge at the ruins. (B/L/D)

Day 6 - Monday - Machu Picchu-Cuzco: Day at leisure to explore at your own pace. Today plan to re-visit the ruins early in the morning so you have plenty of time to explore at your own pace before the day-trippers begin to arrive around 11 AM. The ruins open at 7AM; re-entry tickets to the ruins including Wayna Picchu Trail entry and roundtrip shuttle bus tickets will be provided to you. Be sure to be back at the train station at Machu Picchu Pueblo in time for your return train to Cuzco on the famed luxury Hiram Bingham train with cocktails, entertainment and three course dinner en route, arriving at the Poroy station in the evening.  Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monastario for overnight. (B)

Day 7 - Tuesday - Cuzco-Lima-Santiago:  Late morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima where you will connect to your flight to Santiago. Meeting upon arrival and assistance with getting to the Airport Holiday Inn for overnight. (B)

Day 8 - Wednesday - Santiago - Easter Island: Morning assistance with departure procedures for your flight to Easter Island arriving mid-day. Upon arrival, meeting and transfer to the explora Mike Rapu for three night stay. During your stay you will enjoy all meals, open bar and daily choice of activities and excursions.  This afternoon you'll begin discovering this mysterious island, probably the most remarkable open air museum to be found anywhere. Here, in profusion, are the material remains of a sophisticated and complex culture which produced spectacular religious architecture, gigantic sculptures, roads, towers, great stone quarries, petroglyphs, masonry line caves and many other unique monuments. (B/L/D)

Easter Island, the singularly most remote island on earth, is one of the most remarkable open air museums to be found anywhere. Here are found in profusion the material remains of a sophisticated and complex culture which produced spectacular religious architecture, gigantic sculptures, roads, towers, great stone quarries, petroglyphs & other monuments.

Located some 2300 miles from the Central Coast of Chile, the island's surface is less than 104 miles squared. It is a perfect triangle not quite 15 miles long and only a little over 7 miles wide at the widest point. Easter Island possesses a characteristic marine subtropical climate that is profoundly influenced by wind and maritime currents. The average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, with highs of  82 during the summer and between the high 50's and low 70's during the winter. May is the wettest month although it can rain any time of the year.

Day 9 - Thursday - Easter Island: Today enjoy activities and excursions as offered by explora Mike Rapu. (B/L/D)

Day 10 - Friday - Easter Island:  Again today, in both the morning and afternoon, you'll enjoy activities and excursions as offered by explora Mike Rapu. (B/L/D)

Day 11 - Saturday - Easter Island - Santiago:  Late morning transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to the Santiago Ritz Carlton for overnight. (B)

Day 12 - Sunday - Depart Santiago: Spend the day exploring the highlights of Santiago, fourth largest city in South America, and beautifully set among a backdrop of snow-capped Andes. Visit the main points of interest in this cosmopolitan city including the Pre-Columbian Art Museum with one of the most complete collections of ceramics, textiles and relics of American culture. Then drive south of Santiago through the Casablanca valley to the San Antonio Valley and the Matetic Vineyards and Winery. Located in a completely enclosed valley, which is 9,000 hectares in length and perpendicular to the ocean, it enjoys extraordinary light and possesses the ideal climatic and topographic conditions for both red and white wines. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch in the Equilibrium Restaurant. At the appropriate time make the return transfer directly to the airport in Santiago to check-in for your international overnight flight back to the States.

Day 13 - Monday - Arrive USA: Your flight to the US arrives this morning. Clear customs and immigrations and make connections to your home city.

PLEASE NOTE - IMPORTANT:
The following Payment, Change and Cancellation Policies are for general information only.
This is a sample program which will be customized to fit your Trip Wishes, Travel Style and Parameters.
Your personal customized program will carry Terms & Conditions specifically applicable to your program's inclusions
and will be the governing Terms & Conditions.