PERU’S SACRED LANDS

Journey to the Majestic Land of the Ancient Inca!

April 12 – 19, 2014

Mystical Peru, land of the ancient Incas, From charming and picturesque Cusco, to the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas, to mysterious Machu Picchu, the Crown Jewel of the Andes, plus Lima.

Peru truly offers visually stimulating and exciting experiences! Learn how age-old craft traditions have been preserved and passed down to people who still practice these timeless arts today. Immerse yourself in Peruvian culture as you travel the country, learning about its history, architecture and artifacts … all part of an incredible holiday.

Special Added Features:

• Visit to the unique Pisac market
• Visit Ollantaytambo, the Sanctuary of the Wind
• Explore enigmatic Machu Picchu
• Dinner in Cusco with traditional Andean musicians and folklore dancers
• Special farewell dinner in Lima at the famous Rosa Nautica restaurant

Special Volunteer Program in Peru’s Sacred Valley 

Community Development: Participating in a local volunteer program including providing general care and to the children, teaching them how to use the computer, etc.

Gift-giving to children: It’s wonderful because they have very little and are genuinely appreciative of even smallest presents. Pencils, crayons, colors, pens, story books or educational toys, etc. are great motivators for the kids. Materials for the different activities can be bought in Cusco and brought to Willoq. Activities will last between 2 to 4 hours, depending on the ones selected and our specific interest. No age restrictions. Details with final documents.

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1: Saturday, April 12:  Depart for Lima

Depart to JFK and to Lima this evening.

Day 2: Sunday, April 13: Onwards to Cusco (D)

Morning arrival in Lima where we connect at the International  Airport  for our 1+ hour flight to Cusco over the spectacular Andes Mountains.  Arrive in Cusco and transfer to our hotel. This will be a day of rest, so our lungs and body in general can adjust to the altitude change. In the late afternoon the entire group will gather and go to a welcome dinner with traditional Andean musicians and folklore dancers. The tour begins!  Overnight in Cusco.

Day 3, Monday, April 14: In Cusco (B)

After a leisurely breakfast we’ll board a private bus and venture out into the streets of Cusco. Our first stop will be at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former colonial monastery was previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Continue the tour, stopping at the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. Later, drive to the countryside to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area, including Sacsayhuaman, the fortress where the Inca’s last stand in Cusco against the Spanish took place, the temple and amphitheater of Kenko, and the breathtaking Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. Return to Cusco for  the afternoon and evening on your own for independent exploration and shopping. Overnight in Cusco.

Day 4- Tuesday, April 15: In Cusco – To Pisac, Ollantaytambo In the Sacred Valley  — Willoq Volunteer Project (B/L/D)                  

We start our day with a visit to the charming village of Pisac and its traditional handicraft marketplace to shop for locally-made colorful sweaters, ponchos, gloves, hats, jewelry, textiles and more. We continue to the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, one of the oldest Inca towns in Peru.  The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived in the region. Stroll the streets of today’s town, and if time permits, visit Seminario Studio, dedicated to the discovery of techniques and designs from ancient Peruvian cultures.   Then it’s on to a unique site, the Willoq, a small village in the Peruvian Andes that is sustained by the sale of its colorful textiles by the native craftswomen. This tour offers the chance to experience and share with local residents the Andean tradition of reciprocity (Ayni). The goal is for the community to coordinate tourist  activities in its territory, interacting with visitors and helping them understand the community’s rich historical and cultural legacy.  While the local women sell their wares in the market, the kids gather in wait for the treats they know will come from the market-goers. The local children wait patiently as you’d expect a crowd of kids looking to satisfy their sweet-tooths. This scene brings that entire village to life – the bright colors, the sweetness of the kids, the ruggedness of the life high in the Andes.  We will have lunch with the local children and do a volunteer program. Return to Cusco for dinner.

Day 5. Wednesday, April 16:  To Machu Picchu (B/L/D)

This morning, transfer to the train station and board the train to Machu Picchu. Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes, we’ll be assisted and taken on a 25-minute coach ride to “The Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, when he was searching for the legendary “Lost City of the Incas,” documented by Spanish soldiers in the 1500s. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the marvelous citadel, an awe-inspiring experience. Later, feel free to stroll around the archaeological site. Lunch will be served at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. This evening, dinner at our hotel.

Day 7, Friday, April 18:  To Lima and departure for New York (B/D)

After breakfast, early transfer to the airport for our 90 minute flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, and our transfer to our hotel. Along the way we will have a 2 1/2 hour panoramic sightseeing tour of Lima, declared World Heritage by UNESCO. Arrive at the Plaza Mayor where we see the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral of Lima, imposing buildings still in use. We will also discover the San Francisco Church, which stores an enviable collection of ancient books and has a network of catacombs open to the public, including churches and monuments. We return to the hotel to relax a bit and have lunch on our own. The afternoon is free for relaxing, shopping and independent exploration. Then it’s off to for our farewell dinner (with our luggage) at la Rosa Nautica, located in Pier 4 of the Lima Beach Circuit at Miraflores, an elegant Victorian style restaurant that offers an eager public the most complete selection of Peruvian and international cuisine, as well as the most sophisticated bar to be found on the Pacific shores. All of this combined with an incomparable view and the peace which can only be found where infinity begins. After dinner we will be transfer from the restaurant to the airport to board our non-stop flight back home.

Day 8, Saturday, April 19: Arrival in New York

Early arrival at JFK.

Price Includes:

• Transportation from Montauk to JFK
• Round trip air transportation from New York to Lima
• Inter-Peru Flights
• Rail transportation to/from Machu Picchu
• All activities described in the above itinerary
• Hotel accommodations
• Daily buffet breakfasts
• Additional lunches and dinners
• Traditional Folklore show and dinner in Cusco
• Farewell dinner at the famous la Rosa Nautica
• Volunteer Program in Willoq, a small Andean Village
• Transfers on arrival and departure
• Group transportation within Peru by coach
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Entrance fees to archaeological sites as described
• Specialized guides

Hotels or similar

• Cusco: Eco Inn (3 nights)
• Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu): The Inka Town Hotel (1 night)
• Cusco: Eco Inn (1 night)
• Lima: Britania Miraflores (Day Room before overnight flight home)

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

NOTE: Special Optional BOOK NOW-PAY LATER Credit Card payment plan using PayPal
(Click Here for Details)

Price Per Person, Double Occupancy INCLUDING all air taxes, security charges and fuel supplements:
$2,789 payments via check or money order
$2,935 payments via credit card through secured Pay Pal

PLUS – Prepaid gratuities to guides, drivers, etc:
$75 payments via check or money order
$79 payments via credit card

Single Room Supplement:
$349 payments via check or money order
$369 payments via credit card

NOTE: The Single Room Supplement applies for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour.

ROOMMATES: We will be happy to try to find a suitable roommate for those who are traveling alone and would like to share a room. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until 30 days before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If by that date we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.

Please read our RMC Travel Terms and Conditions.

Travel Insurance:

RMC highly recommends the purchase of Trip Cancellation/Interruption Travel Insurance, and we therefore provide you with an easy way to contact RMC’s preferred insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance.

If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323