Lost Empire
Mysteries of Peru
May 22 – June 3, 2007
ABOVE THE CLOUDS
Peruvians have always lived the High Life, if for no other reason
than their location. Peru lies on the western edge of South America,
along the world’s longest mountain chain. The Andes Mountain Range,
which covers much of Peru, averages 13,000 feet above sea level. Sure,
there are beaches on the Pacific coast and the lowlands leading into
the Amazon rainforests, but it is the height of everything here that
attracts attention. Cusco is one of the highest cities in the world;
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, and all the
most important tourist attractions have their heads in the clouds.
Machu Picchu is so wondrous
that it almost defies description. Among the most impressive features
of the once-vast Incan civilization were enormous temples, palaces,
fortresses and public works, skillfully erected with a minimum of engineering
equipment. Machu Picchu, a sacred site of the Incas, is now acknowledged
as South America’s most spectacular site on the continent. Its
remote location in nearly impassable terrain high above a river canyon
cloud forest virtually guaranteed it would become the “Lost City
of the Incas.” It remained lost and forgotten for 400 years, and
to this day it retains an air of grandeur and mystery.
Lake Titicaca sits at
12,421 ft. above sea level. One of its more unique features is a group
of 40 floating islands formed by totora reeds, whose inhabitants live
exactly the way their ancestors have for centuries. Another more stationary
island is Taquil, which has many Incan ruins and where residents create
some of the finest quality hand-woven textiles and clothing in all of
Peru.
On the Pampas of San José, an ancient
Peruvian society designed a massive network of stylized lines and figures
of plants and animals. Due to its unique characteristics, these Nazca
Lines are one of the most interesting archaeological mysteries
of the world. Some researchers consider the Nazca lines to be the biggest
astronomical observatory in the world; others believe them to have been
sacred paths. A new theory claims that the Lines are related to an underground
water system. The only good way to get a true sense of their size is
by viewing them from the air.
Spanish conquistadors called Peru part
of a “New World.” However, this place was actually an old
world “Lost Empire,” with a rich history extending back
thousands of years before Pizarro ever turned up wearing funny clothing.
This Memorial Day, ponder the mysteries of the past from a very lofty
perspective with Toto Tours in Peru
ITINERARY
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Leave Home
Today you will need to make flight arrangements getting you from your
home city to Miami, Florida, in order to connect with our Lan Peru group
flight to South America. Our flight leaves at 1:20am tomorrow morning,
so you will need to be in Miami no later than 11:00pm today.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Bound for Lima
At 1:20am our group flight departs the Miami International Airport
bound for Lima, Peru, landing at 5:50am. A motorcoach driver will meet
the group and transfer us to our hotel for a buffet breakfast and a
full morning at leisure, during which you may choose to catch up on
your sleep. Lunch will be on your own.
This afternoon take a city sightseeing tour
of Colonial Lima, Peru’s capital since 1535. From the Spanish
conquistador historical era there still survive old mansions, churches
and convents as well as the third most ancient bull ring in the world.
This huge city of six million has the best archeological museums devoted
to Incan and pre-Incan societies. This evening Toto Tours hosts a Welcome
Dinner with live entertainment at La
Rosa Nautica Restaurant. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Cusco
After breakfast at the hotel our group meets in the lobby to transfer
to the airport for our flight to Cusco, one of the world’s highest
cities. We are met upon arrival at the airport and assisted with the
transfer to our city-center hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure
to rest and adjust to the high altitude. (Breakfast)
Friday, May 25, 2007
Urubamba Valley
After breakfast enjoy a full day tour to Sacred Valley of the Incas,
including the colorful Pisac market. Lunch is included. Visit the village
of Pisac and its authentic and traditional Indian Market, where the
locals barter their products. Continue through the Urubamba Valley to
Ollantaytambo, favorite residence of the Incas. Tour the ruins and also
see the terraces running up the steep slope to the top of a mountain,
where a carved stone throne allowed the ruler a magnificent view of
his domain. Return to Cusco for a free evening and overnight. (Breakfast
/ Lunch)
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Cusco Sightseeing
Cusco was the former capital of the four regions that formed the Inca
Empire. Founded in 1534 over Inca foundations, it is the oldest city
in the hemisphere and the gateway to Machu Picchu. Also known as the
“Imperial City,” it has a charming mixture of Inca and colonial
architecture.
After breakfast, our city sightseeing includes
the Plaza de Armas (Main Square), the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Monastery
(Korikancha temple) and the nearby archaeological remains of Tambomachay,
Inca Baths, Kenko, Amphitheater, Puca Pucara and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
Return to our hotel in the afternoon, and the remainder of the day is
free. (Breakfast)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Machu Picchu
After a very early breakfast at the hotel we leave our luggage behind
and take only an overnight bag with us to the Cusco train station. Departing
at 6:00am, our 3.5 hour journey aboard comfortable, vista-domed cars
takes us through a beautiful and ever-changing landscape of mountains,
valleys and a dramatic river canyon.
Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the most spectacular
example of the Inca architecture. Located high above Urumbamba River,
Machu Picchu rises suddenly on top of the magnificent Vilcabamba mountain.
It is a harsh city of stone built in forbidding rock heights thousands
of feet above the river. Built for magical and religious purposes, it
is considered the “University of Worship.” At Machu Picchu,
man becomes aware of both his insignificance and his greatness.
Disembark the train at Aguas Calientes,
then walk through the town to the place where we catch a bus up the
zigzag road to the site. We are fortunate to stay at the only hotel
atop the mountain at the entrance to Machu Picchu—the exclusive
Orient Express Hotels’ Sanctuary Lodge. Residents of the Lodge
have unparalleled opportunities to visit the site both at night and
at sunrise (additional admission charges apply) when all the tourist
hordes have departed.
After getting organized in our rooms, enjoy
a guided tour through the ancient City of Machu Picchu. Buffet lunch
and dinner are included at the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. (All
Meals)
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunrise at the Citadel / Cusco
Rise early to admire Machu Picchu at sunrise, strolling through the
Incan remains or hiking up to the top of Huayna Picchu (the small mountain
looming over the site). By virtue of the fact that we are staying at
the only hotel beside the site, we have this magical place almost to
ourselves during the early morning hours. After lunch at the Inkaterra
Restaurant we retrace our journey via motorcoach and train for our final
overnight in Cusco. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Flight to Juliaca / Puno at Lake Titicaca
After breakfast, enjoy a lazy morning to do as you please. This afternoon
we transfer to the airport for a flight to Juliaca on the Altiplano,
the most extensive expanse of high plateau on earth after Tibet. We
are met by our coach and driver upon arrival and taken to the city of
Puno, believed to be the cradle of Incan civilization. It is located
at the edge of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake, at
12,421 ft. above sea level. After hotel check-in, the remainder of the
day is at your leisure. (Breakfast)
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Lake Titicaca
After breakfast embark on a full-day excursion on Lake Titicaca to
the Uros Floating Islands, a group of 40 floating islands formed by
totora reeds. Its inhabitants are remnants of one of the oldest cultures
on the continent. They live the way their ancestors did, strictly keeping
to their customs and idiosyncrasies. We also visit Taquile Island about
30 miles offshore, known for its many Incan ruins and highly regarded
hand-woven textiles and clothing. In late afternoon, we return to our
hotel in Puno for overnight. (Breakfast
/ Lunch)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Paracas
After breakfast we return to the Juliaca airport for a flight to Lima.
Upon arrival we immediately depart by bus for the short trip to Paracas
in the Ica Region, south of Lima along the Pacific coast. Enjoy lunch
at Hacienda
San Jose, after which we check into our hotel. The remainder
of the day is free. Overnight in Paracas. (Breakfast
/ Lunch)
Friday, June 1, 2007
Balletas Island / Nazca Lines
After breakfast we visit Ballestas Island, one of the best marine
reserves in the world. Here we can observe sea lions, penguins and more
than 60 species of sea birds. Towering over the landscape is a huge
“Candelabra” drawn in a sand slope.
A highlight of the day will be our sightseeing
flight over the enigmatic Nazca Lines, an area of approximately 310
miles of Pampa, where mysterious lines were discovered in 1927. The
full scale and dimensions of these lines can only be fully appreciated
from the air. They represent diverse animal figures, such as a spider,
monkey, dog, lizard, hummingbird, and condor.
After a late lunch at Mossone Hotel, we transfer
back to Lima and the remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in
Lima. (Breakfast / Lunch)
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Free Day / Optional
Excursion / Farewell Dinner
As always, breakfast is provided at the hotel. The entire day is free
at leisure to explore the museums, stroll around the city center or
do some last-minute souvenir shopping. We have organized an Optional
Excursion to Caral, the oldest city in the Americas. Click
on the link for details.
Our group gathers in the hotel lobby this evening
before transfering to our festive Farewell Dinner with live entertainment
at Junius
Restaurant. (Breakfast /
Dinner)
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Departure
After breakfast transfer to the Lima Airport for our morning flight
back to Miami. We depart at 10:40am, and arrive in Miami at 5:25pm. (Breakfast)
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