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Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Friday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 - Monday - Miami - Lima: Afternoon flight south to Lima, arriving in the evening. Meeting and transfer to Miraflores Park Hotel in fashionable Miraflores.

Day 2 - Tuesday - Lima: Morning visit to 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. Afternoon at leisure to explore Lima at your own pace. (B)

Day 3 - Wednesday - Lima - Cuzco: Transfer for early 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 two night stay. Afternoon visit to the main points of interest in Cuzco, considered to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, and to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenkko, Puka Pukara and Tambo Machay. (B)

Day 4 - Thursday - Cuzco: Day at leisure to explore this ancient Inca capital at your own pace. The Plaza de Armas is lined with shops and restaurants, and the area of San Blas filled with shops selling artwork. You could also arrange a half day excursion to visit the small town of Andahuaylillas with fine early 17th century church with splendid frescoes and a gilded main altar, and Piquillacta, Huari (pre-Inca) ruins. (B)

Day 5 - Friday - Cuzco - Machu Picchu:  Early morning transfer to the train station for three hour scenic journey through the Andes and the fabled Sacred Valley of the Incas to Aguas Calientes where buses take you up the 2,000 foot serpentine road to the fabled Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. 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 re-enter the ruins in the late afternoon to explore at your own pace. Overnight at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge at the ruins. (B/L/D)

Day 6 - Saturday - Machu Picchu - Urubamba:  Day at leisure to explore at your own pace - you can re-visit the ruins, hike up to the Sun Gate or hike up Huayna Picchu (for the sure-footed only). Re-entry tickets are available at the main entrance to the ruins; the ruins open at 7:00 AM. Be sure to be back at the train station in Machu Picchu Pueblo a half hour before your train departure to Ollanta station where you will be met and transferred to the Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the Urubamba Valley. (B/L)

Day 7 - Sunday - Urubamba - Cuzco: Pick-up at your hotel and enjoy a visit to the town of Pisac with colorful Indian Market - plenty of time to explore and bargain for textiles and souvenirs, and to roam the produce and animal sections of the market. Then continue through the valley to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, precariously perched on the mountainside, for a visit. Lunch en route and late afternoon return to Cuzco for overnight at the Hotel Monasterio. (B/L)

Day 8 - Monday - Cuzco - Puerto Maldonado & Manu Wildlife Center: Early morning transfer to the airport in Cuzco for flight to Puerto Maldonado where you transfer by van to Santa Rosa village, about 3 hours overland.  From there you take a 15 minute motorlaunch across the Inambari river and another overland transfer by can to Boca Colcoardo Village and finally a three hour motorized boat ride up the Madre de Dios to theManu Wildlife Center.  As they say:  "Getting there is half the fun"! (B/L/D)

NOTE: You should leave the Sacred Valley dressed for the rainforest - lightweight clothing, long sleeves, long pants, good walking shoes and have your rainforest essentials in your day gear pack. Also remember to leave your large traditional suitcases back in Cuzco and pack only a duffel-style bag for your rainforest visit.

ABOUT THE MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE: Covering an area of more than 5 1/2 million acres, running from the cold altiplano above the tree line into the Amazonian lowlands, Manu Biosphere Reserve is one of the earth's largest conservation units. This great area harbors more than 1,000 bird species (one out of every none on earth), 2,000 kinds of plants and 200 types of mammals including 13 species of monkeys. This is one of the most bio-diverse areas on earth. It is comprised of three zones: the National Park, into which only scientists and researches with a pass from the Ministry of Agriculture are allowed; the Cultural or Reserved Zone, set aside for eco-tourism and applied scientific research; and Multiple Use Zone for native groups and colonists.

ABOUT MANU WILDLIFE CENTER: Located on the north bank of the Madre de Dios River, just east of the Manu River, the Wildlife Center has 15 double-occupancy fully screened private bungalows, each with private baths. The main dining room is screened and has a comfortable seating area and a small library of wildlife articles and books. Pathways connecting the buildings are well manicured gravel paths, lit in the evening by kerosene torches. Bungalows have candles for lighting; the dining area uses both candles and kerosene lanterns. Though it is just 150 feet (uphill) from the Madre de Dios River, mosquitoes and pesky no-see-ums are not a major problem precisely because the lodge is up and away from the river banks.

Around the lodge is more than 30 miles of trails, half in scientific grid systems. There is a new canopy tower - a huge, all metal circular staircase to the top of a huge tree, level with the forest canopy - a great quiet niche in the sky for bird-watching.

Day 9 - Tuesday - Manu Wildlife Center: Before dawn wake-up to visit one of the best Macaw clay licks accessible to the average traveler - the Blanquillo Macaw Lick. Just a short 20 minute motorlaunch ride from the lodge, you board a mobile blind especially designed to take you within a hundred feet of the lick. There is comfortable seating, and breakfast is brought along. You will have a prime seat to witness one of nature's greatest spectacles - the raucous, riotous but orderly visits by hundreds of parrots and macaws to the lick to get a beak full of the clay that plays a still mysterious important part of their life. Mid--afternoon motorlaunch across the river, followed by a forest walk to an ox-bow lake where a native catamaran will take you in search of a family of Giant River Otters and of the illusive prehistoric looking Hoatzin. Plenty of rainforest and wildlife opportunities available, limited only by your desire and energy. This evening you will have a chance to visit the largest known Tapir clay lick. You'll take a two mile walk through the forest to the specially designed observation platform complete with mosquito netting and special mattresses, perched 17 feet above the lick itself. The lumbering 600 pound tapirs visit the lick all night long. With strong flashlights you will be able to have a truly unique wildlife experience. (B/L/D)

Day 10 - Wednesday - Manu Wildlife Center: You will spend the day exploring some of the more than 30 miles of trails that surround the lodge, with an excellent chance to encounter some of the 12 species of monkeys, which include the Monk Saki and Emperor Tamarin, which inhabit the surrounding forest. Early morning and late afternoon are the most active wildlife viewing times. And this evening you can return to the Tapir lick for a second visit if you wish. (B/L/D)

Day 11 - Thursday - Manu Wildlife Center - Puerto Maldonado - Cuzco: Early breakfast and return back to Cuzco via the series of motorlaunch and van transfers that originally got you to the Manu Wildlife Center. Upon arrival from Puerto Maldonado, meeting and transfer to the Hotel Monasterio for overnight. (B)

Day 12 - Friday - Cuzco - Lima:  Morning transfer to the airport for return flight to Lima.  Meeting and transfer to the Miraflores Park Hotel for overnight.  Balance of the day at leisure to explore at your own pace.

Day 13 - Saturday - Lima - Miami:  Morning transfer to the airport for return flight to the USA. Clear immigrations and customs and make connections to your home city.

EXTENSION TO BOLIVIA: You can extend your trip by staying Friday in Cuzco, for another day of exploration of this ancient Inca capital. Then on Saturday fly from Cuzco to La Paz and from the airport visit Tiahuanaco Ruins before transferring to the Hotel Inca Utama on the shores of Lake Titicaca for two night stay. During your stay at the Inca Utama you will visit their Andean Roots Cultural Complex, visit the Museum of the Kallawayas and the Alajpacha, their native observatory to learn the legends of the southern skies. On Sunday, make a full day excursion on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake on earth, with visits at Sun Island (legendary birthplace of the Incas), Moon Island and Copacabana. On Monday, early morning transfer to the airport in La Paz for return flight to the USA arriving in the late afternoon. Additional costs range from $942 per person in triple room to $1233 for one person in single room, including additional air fare, transfers, tours and hotel accommodations.

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.