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Second Half South America Gold Tour17 days duration (19 days including travel days to and from South America). We will have the opportunity to see the historic and interesting cities of Lima, Cuzco and La Paz. The pre-Inca, Inca and Spanish transitions are very visible, especially in Cuzco where one culture has built upon that of the other. We stay in a luxury Amazon Jungle lodge and undertake a Canopy Walk in pristine jungle. From Cuzco we visit Pisac and the Sacred Valley before travelling by Vistadome Train to Machu Picchu Village, where we overnight and therefore have the opportunity to view the site when the least number of visitors are there. We then take the Orient Express Train to Puno. From here we have an overnight stay on the Sun Island as we cross Lake Titicaca enroute to La Paz. This is a culturally exciting tour which takes in the very best sites and is conducted at a leisurely pace to give us time to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of the areas visited.
On arrival into Lima we will be met and taken to our well-appointed hotel where we have accommodation for two nights. Lima, “The City of the Kings” is a very beautiful city. It was the first seat of Government of Spain in 1535 and still has many perfectly preserved buildings from the Colonial Period. It is also famous for its fine gold and silver.
This afternoon we will be taken to the world famous Lima Gold Museum, where there is also one of the world’s largest collections of armoury. (D)
This morning we will be taken on a tour of Greater Colonial Lima. The tour visits the Casa Aliaga, one of South America’s oldest Spanish homes and still inhabited by the original family (an Inca Tours Australian exclusive!) and the Franciscan Monastery. We will see the Government Palace and the Plaza de Armas. We drive by the flower market to the elegant residential tree-lined avenues of San Isidro and Miraflores to Parque del Amor, where we will enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. (B)
Early this morning we will be transferred to Lima Airport to board our flight via Cuzco, to Puerto Maldonado, in the Amazon Basin near the border of Peru and Bolivia. On arrival we will be met and transferred from the airport to the reception area. We will leave our large bags locked here until our return. You may have time to view the Inkaterra Butterfly House.
The Tambopata National Reserve and Peru hold various records in butterflies’ species numbers: there are 3,800 species in Peru and many of these can be found at the Butterfly House, which showcases the varied beauty and adaptability of these colourful insects. We are then transferred to the river dock. A 45-minute journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe brings us to Reserva Amazonica, a private ecological reserve and research centre and our home for three nights. We will enjoy a late lunch on arrival. Later this afternoon we take a guided walk on one of the trails in the Reserva Amazonica Natural Reserve. The trails offer an excellent introduction to the environment of the jungle. Our expert jungle guide will explain the primary and secondary rainforest features, introduce us to some species of rainforest trees, point out hard to find insects and listen to exotic birds. This evening we enjoy a guided boat ride where we should witness the enchanting transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment, as animals and birds of the daytime are replaced by species especially adapted to the night. (BLD)
Your journey to Tambopata National Reserve offers a range of land and river excursions that introduce you to the magic of the Amazon rainforest. (BLD)
Today we enjoy a long walk along the captivating world of Gamitana Creek. The sights, scents and sounds of the jungle will surround us as we walk for two and a half hours, rambling through the rain forest along the banks of this winding, dark-water creek that is home to piranha, caimans, turtles and an abundance of brightly coloured birds. When we reach the embarkation point we board a canoe and navigate a two-hour ride down stream to the Gamitana Model Farm, appreciating the rich plant and animal life along the way. Enjoy a short guided tour to learn how a native farm operates.
This afternoon we will take a five-minute boat ride to the Canopy Inkaterra Interpretation Centre. After ascending the first tower, at 30 metres above the forest floor, we will literally walk through the treetops for one and a half hours along suspension bridges that link eight observation platforms. Enjoy landscapes and vistas that would be unimaginable from below, while on the look-out for giant strangler fig trees, orchids, toucans, woodpeckers, trogons and with luck, monkeys or sloths. After our descent from the canopy, experience the Anaconda Walk for about 30 minutes along the 200 metre wooden bridge over the Aguajales Swamps. In this lush eco system, we may observe various species of amphibians, serpents, birds, mammals and abundant flora and trees of this flooded marshland. The walk finishes by returning to the lodge. (BLD)
This morning we will be transferred back to the airport for our flight to Cuzco, the Inca Capital. On arrival in Cuzco we will be met and driven to a lower altitude in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we have accommodation in this stunning destination for two nights. (BD)
This morning we take you to visit a famous site situated here: the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo. We will then continue to the famous and traditional Indian Market of Pisac where we will have time to bargain with the local Indians for their fabulous artefacts and weavings. After lunch at the Casa Orihuela (an Inca Tours Australian exclusive), we will continue back to our hotel where our afternoon is at leisure. (BL)
After breakfast we have an early morning transfer to the Ollanta Train Station for our two-day excursion to Machu Picchu. We follow the Urubamba River on one of the world’s great train journeys. Machu Picchu, known as the “Lost City of the Incas” is undoubtedly the best known and most spectacular archaeological site on the continent and is considered a must for all visitors to Peru.
Our lunch is provided at Machu Picchu and tonight we will be accommodated at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, below the ruins in the village of Aguas Calientes, an absolute highlight in itself! (BLD)
We have the morning free to further explore the ruins of Machu Picchu without the hassle of large crowds or take one of the guided walks through our hotel grounds. You may choose a rainforest experience, orchid walk or bird watching excursion – all in the grounds of our hotel! Alternatively, the village of Aguas Calientes has an extensive local market where you can continue with your souvenir shopping.
Early this afternoon we make our way back to the train station for our return journey to Ollanta where on arrival, we will be met and driven to Cuzco. On arrival we will be taken to our hotel where we will stay for three fabulous nights. (B)
Cuzco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Massive Inca-built stone walls line most of Cuzco’s central streets to form the foundations of Colonial and modern buildings. The streets are often stepped and narrow and thronged with Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas. This morning we take you on a very comprehensive tour of Cuzco that includes the Main Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), as well as other city highlights, such as the local markets. The tour then visits one of the other very important Inca Ruins in the area outside Cuzco: Sacsayhuaman.
This afternoon is at leisure. Tonight enjoy dinner in town. (BD)
Today is at leisure to further enjoy this wonderful destination. (B)
Early this morning we will be transferred to the train station for our Orient Express Train across the Andean Altiplano, via the La Raya Pass (until recently the highest rail pass in the world) and on to Juliaca. This journey takes about 10 hours and will provide a wonderful insight into Indian life as it has been for hundreds of years. We will experience some of the world’s most spectacular views and the only area in the world where the almost extinct Vicuna still exist.
On arrival in Juliaca we will be met and transferred to our Puno hotel on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where we have accommodation tonight. (BL)
Early this morning we will be met and transferred to Copacabana and on the way we will see the churches of Pomata and Juli. On arrival at Copacabana we will have a short tour of the shrine and local market. We will then board the hydrofoil and travel to the Moon Island. On arrival we will enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Titicaca and will also visit the Sun Virgins Temple, Inak Uyu. We then continue to the Sun Island where we see the Sun Temple and take a moderately strenuous climb to our accommodation for tonight, the Sun Island Eco Lodge. On arrival we will enjoy lunch.
Our afternoon is at leisure to explore our surroundings or to visit a local community. This evening we will enjoy dinner at our lodge. (BLD)
This morning is at leisure. Later we will visit the Inca staircase and sacred fountain to touch the water that is believed to give eternal youth and happiness. We then have lunch at Uma Kollu Restaurant. Afterwards we will visit a small handicraft market. We will then take the Hydrofoil to Huatajata. We will enjoy a visit to the Andean Roots Eco Village in Huatajata, including the Altiplano Museum, which documents the cultural heritage of the Aymaras and the Incas, Colonial life and even the Jacques Cousteau expedition to the lake.
We then continue to La Paz by road where we will be taken to our hotel for two nights. (BL)
This morning we will be taken on a comprehensive city tour of La Paz and the spectacular Moon Valley, on the outskirts of the city. We visit the Indian and Pagan sacrificial markets, Calle Jaen with its museums, San Francisco Church, Plaza Murillo, National Congress, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, the areas of Obrajes, Calacoto and finally the very unusual eroded formations of the Moon Valley. Our afternoon is at leisure. (BD)
This morning we will be transferred to La Paz Airport to connect with our flight back to Santiago, via Arica and Antofagasta. On arrival into Santiago we will be met and transferred to our luxury hotel for tonight and tomorrow. Tonight we host a farewell dinner. (BD)
Today is at leisure in the Chilean Capital. This evening we will be transferred to Santiago Airport for our flight to Auckland, departing soon before midnight. You will have full use of your hotel room until our transfer this evening. (B)
Today is spent inflight as we recross the International Date Line and ‘lose’ one day. (Meals Inflight)
This morning we will arrive into Auckland before continuing on to Australia. (Meals Inflight)
All prices are subject to currency fluctuations, additional airline charges and changes in costs from ground suppliers. We reserve the right to vary any part of the tour at our sole discretion as circumstances may require.
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