Arrive To: Arrivals in Lima.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3 p.m.

Lodging: Casa Andina Select

Breakfast: At hotel restaurant.

Morning: Program orientation session.

Lecture: Overview & Diversity of Peru.

Field trip to the Archaeological Museum.

This is Peru's oldest and largest state museum. It is housed in an old colonial mansion on Plaza Bolivar, in the Pueblo Libre District of Lima. The museum displays a large collection of ceramics, textiles, sculptures, and ancient Peruvian metals dating back to pre-Hispanic times. Some notable pieces in this collection are the Raimondi Stela and Tello Obelisk. Another portion of the exhibits focuses on the country's colonial and Republican periods.

Lunch: At local restaurant.

Afternoon: Walking orientation through Lima including the Cathedral.

The most important church in any town in Peru is usually called La Catedral (Cathedral). In the case of Lima, La Catedral is also the most important church in all of Peru. This beautiful colonial building in the Plaza de las Armas presumably houses the remains of Francisco Pizarro--whether the bones are authentic or not is a matter of conjecture.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Casa Andina Select

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Flight to Iquitos/Cachaza Factory/Cruise the Napo River.

Breakfast: At the hotel. **

**In the event the group is confirmed on the early morning flight to Iquitos, a light breakfast will be served on the flight.

Morning: Transfer to the airport to board a flight to Iquitos.

Arrive in Iquitos. Transfer to the main dock and board the MV Jungle Discovery.

After being welcomed aboard, participants will enjoy a general ship orientation, including an introduction to the crew and a safety briefing.

As the ship lifts anchor and begins to leave Iquitos, observe the riverfront area, local lumber factories,and small riverine villages along the way.



Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: At the Yanamono Creek, pay a visit to a local factory that specializes in making sugarcane liquor called "cachaza" (cachaça, if made in Brazil). Learn about the history of this potent alcoholic beverage and observe the distillation process that transforms pressed sugar cane juice into a tasty beverage.

As the day begins to wind down, board motorized canoes and navigate downstream towards the mouth of the Napo River. Search for resident wildlife such as pink and gray river dolphins, herons, and numerous other wading birds.

Return to the boat for the night.

Dinner: On board the boat.

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Cultural Interaction with Indigenous Peoples/Forest Hike/Nighttime Nature Excursion.

Breakfast: This morning we will be moored at Palometa Creek, near Pebas Village.

After boarding motorized canoes, enjoy a guided excursion to a nearby black water lake in search of birds--such as the exotic Hoatzin--and other resident wildlife.

Return to the boat for breakfast.



Morning: After a delicious breakfast, embark on a cultural field trip to a Bora or Wuitoto Indian community.

The indigenous population in this area continues to hold fast to their customs, utlizing traditional handmade tools to accomplish everyday tasks, surviving off the land, and living in thatched buildings.

Return to the boat.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: After lunch, take part in a guided hike through old and new growth forest at Limon Creek.

Study the incredible vegetation found in the rainforest, from low lying plants such as moss and ferns, to giant Kapok trees. Admire the diversity of shapes and sizes of foliage and vines, and learn about the incredible medicinal properties of various plant specimens. Scan the forest canopy for Squirrel and Capuchin monkeys, Yellow-headed Caracaras, and Oriole Blackbirds. But don't forget to mind your step! The deceivingly dull forest floor is alive with all nature of insects and reptiles hiding beneath the layers of decomposing leaves and other forest debris. Look out for industrious leaf-cutter ants as they march home with the fruits of their labor.

Return to the boat.

Dinner: On board the boat.

Evening: Cap the day with a nighttime boat excursion. Search for nocturnal animal species and revel in the rhythmic music of the forest.

The lack of light pollution in the region makes for some good star gazing opportunities!

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Wildlife on the Amazon River/Life in a Jungle Village/Piranha Fishing & Nighttime Caiman Spotting.

Breakfast: Early morning boat excursion along the banks of the Amazon River. Search for monkeys, toucans, parrots, kingfishers, and other wildlife as the jungle begins to wake up.

Return to the boat for breakfast.

Morning: At mid-morning, stop at Paranaquiro for a visit to a typical Amazon village.

As the boat continues its journey down the Amazon River, notice the people who live along its banks; learn about their way of life, study the simple architecture of their thatched dwellings, and delight in the local children who are oftentimes seen waving from the shore.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: Arrive at Caballo Cocha Lake's channel. For the next hour, enjoy navigating up the narrow channel and searching for wildlife along the verdant riverbanks. Look for gray and pink Amazon River dolphins that tend to congregate near the mouth of the channel.

Disembark at Caballo Cocha. After a short walk, board motorized canoes in search of a good fishing spot. With a makeshift fishing rod and a hook baited with a piece of beef, try your hand at catching piranhas (pirañas). Learn the real truth behind this much maligned prehistoric-looking freshwater fish.

Return to the boat.

Dinner: On board the boat.

Evening: After dinner, embark on a caiman spotting excursion. With the aid of flashlights, look for pairs of reflective eyes above the water's surface. If you are lucky, you might get to see a caiman up close when your trained guide attempts to catch one bare-handed!

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Amazon's Three Frontiers/Wildlife on the Cayaru River.

Breakfast: On board the boat.

Morning: After breakfast, board motorized canoes and transfer to the border cities of Leticia, Colombia and Tabatinga, Brazil (no need for visas since you will be in transit). Take the opportunity to walk about these neighboring communities and study the interesting blend of Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous cultures.

Return to the boat.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: From the comfort of the observation deck, study the passing jungle and its wildlife as we navigate up the Amazon River on the way back to Iquitos.

Time permitting, enjoy a brief stop at Micos Island, Columbia to try and spot resident monkey species and admire the iconic Victoria Amazonica Lily pads.

Later in the day, stop at a segment of the Cayaru River to look for birds, sloths, and monkeys.

Dinner: On board the boat.

Evening: Optional star gazing from the observation deck.

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Early Morning Bird Watching/Jungle Survival Lesson/ Rainforest Hike.

Breakfast: Early this morning, board motorized canoes and explore one of the area's many oxbow lakes in search of resident birds. The initial morning hours present great viewing opportunities as birds tend to be most active during the early hours of the day and at sundown.

Return to the boat for breakfast.

Morning: After breakfast, join your naturalist guide on an extensive walk through old growth and new growth forest, near the San Juan of Camucheros village.

During your hike, you will learn about survival techniques such as finding food and water, recognizing what plants to use for medicinal purposes, and how to build a fire. Familiarize yourself with rainforest ecology and savor your proximity to nature during this full morning in the jungle.

Return to the boat.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: Disembark and venture into the rainforest in search of orchids, ferns, Ceiba trees, strangler figs, bromeliads, and numerous other plant life.

Visit a nearby black-water channel to look for macaws, toucans, tanagers, woodpeckers and more.

Return to the boat.

Dinner: On board the boat.

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Amazonia Cruise -
Early Morning Birding/Yagua Village/Fishing on the Apayacu River.

Breakfast: Early morning wake-up call. With binoculars in hand, board a motorized canoe to a nearby black-water lake for birding activities. Pink river dolphins are known to frequent the Ampiyacu River, so be on the lookout along the way!

Return to the boat for breakfast.

Morning: Enjoy a morning of cultural interaction during a field trip to a Yagua Indian village. Familiarize yourself with blowgun hunting techniques and observe traditional dances as the villagers welcome all to learn about their way of life and cultural traditions.

Bartering is an accepted practice in this region. Those wishing to do so, can attempt to exchange their modern/store-bought products for locally made crafts.

Return to the boat.

Lunch: On board the boat.

Afternoon: Spend a fun afternoon fishing for black and red piranhas on the Apayacu River.



Dinner: On board the boat.

Lodging: M/V Jungle Discovery

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Yucay/Sacred Valley of the Incas -
Flight to Cusco/Scenic Drive to Sacred Valley/Pisac Market/Introduction to Machu Picchu.

Breakfast: On board the boat.

Morning: Arrive in Iquitos and disembark.

Transfer to the airport

Morning flight to Cusco (via Lima)

Traditional Inca welcome with coca tea upon arrival at the Cusco airport.

Visit the Pisac Market and watch local artisans at work.

The Pisac Market dates back to the ancient Peruvian days when people in the highlands depended on trade. The traditional produce market is held on Sundays, when natives come to trade vegetables, herbs and potatoes for other goods like matches, oranges and medicines. During other days of the week, the town hosts a handicrafts market where all nature of locally made crafts can be seen on display.



Lunch: Box lunch en route.

Afternoon: Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

Lecture: Late afternoon tea with an expert on the Machu Picchu ruins who will discuss the spiritual and mystical significance of the Inca sites.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Posada del Inca

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sacred Valley of the Incas -
Chincheros Town/Andean Agriculture/ Ollantaytambo Ruins.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Morning visit to Chincheros town including a visit to a weaving cooperative, where you will meet with locals and learn about traditional weaving styles and techniques.

Weaving is a way of life in Chincheros, as important for preserving ancient traditions as it is for earning a livelihood. Located in the Peruvian Andes on the Inca road between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Chincheros was an early Inca center built by emperor Tupa Inca as his country estate. During Inca reign, textiles were woven and offered to mark special occasions, from peace treaties and sacrifices to marriage ceremonies and puberty rites. In Chincheros, children grow up playing with their mother's spindle and loom. By age six or seven, most children learn to weave by watching their elders. They begin by weaving jakimas, or narrow ribbons, before moving on to more complicated pieces.

Learn about Andean agricultural techniques during visits to local farms.

Lecture: The Agriculture of the Incas.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Field trip to Ollantaytambo Ruins with a local guide who will highlight the engineering genius of the Inca.

The Ollantaytambo Ruins are not ruins in the traditional sense. Ollantaytambo is a town with original buildings of Inca construction where the Inca retreated to make their last stand in the highlands against the Spanish. Running water still flows through the town in aqueducts and the agricultural terraces above the town are still in use. The pinnacle above the town is a small burial ground.



Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Posada del Inca

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Train to Machu Picchu following the Urubamba River with spectacular views of the Andes.

Upon arrival, continue with a bus transfer to the Machu Picchu Ruins

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant near the ruins.

Afternoon: Full afternoon guided field trip in and around Machu Picchu Ruins, including site lecture.

This ancient Inca city was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a Yale graduate and U.S. senator fascinated with Inca archaeology. Bingham found Machu Picchu, with the help of a local farmer who knew about the ruins, while searching for Vilcabamba and Vitcos. He hypothesized that the site was a "citadel," existing for strategic and defense purposes. He also speculated that the site was a refuge for Cusco's Virgins of the Sun, based upon the finding of skulls there, although not scientifically classified as female. Breakthroughs in archaeology since 1985 have, taken as a whole, supported the emerging view of Machu Picchu as a ceremonial and administrative center for a very populous region. Machu Picchu was built, flourished, and fell into demise within a period of 100 years.



Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: El Mapi Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Guided excursion around the town of Aguas Calientes with a visit to the local market.

Participants who wish to revisit Machu Picchu, can skip the morning excursion and use that time to return to the ruins (at an additional cost) on their own.

NOTE: New regulations reduced the daily quota of visitors allowed to enter Machu Picchu and nearby archaeological sites (e.g., Huayna Picchu) , and entrance tickets are no longer sold on site. Participants wishing to visit the ruins on this day must obtain their tickets in advance. Please contact the program provider for more information.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: Transfer to train station

Early afternoon train to Ollantaytambo station and bus transfer to Cusco

Arrive at hotel and check-in.

Time at leisure.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Lodging: Casa Andina Private Collection – Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Field trip to the Sacsayhuaman Ruins

The fortress of Sacsayhuaman forms the head of the Puma design of old Cusco. It is a wonder of technical achievement and a testament to human will. It is a mystery how it was constructed, since the stones are not found in the region, and most of the blocks weigh more than a ton. The largest rock weighs more than 300 tons. Sacsayhuaman is constructed of huge polygonal blocks which interlock with one another. The stones are so precisely placed that a knife blade cannot be inserted between them.

Excursion through the city of Cusco.

The center of Cusco is a history lesson. Modern and colonial buildings are built on top of Inca foundations, and colonial churches dominate the central square.

Lunch: Lunch at a café in the main plaza where you can enjoy the colonial architecture of the city.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure.

Pre-dinner presentation by expert on the history of Inca and Andean musical instruments.

Dinner: Enjoy traditional Andean cuisine at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Casa Andina Private Collection – Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport.

Mid-morning flight to Lima.

Arrive in Lima and transfer to the hotel.



Lunch: Enjoy a presentation on Peruvian cuisine at a local restaurant, followed by a farewell lunch.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure to explore Lima, finish packing, or rest at your hotel.

Dinner: Light dinner at the hotel.

Evening: Depending on the flight schedules, some participants might need to leave for the international airport this night. These participants will not miss any program activities.



Lodging: Casa Andina Select

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Depart From: Transfer to the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima for flight back to the U.S.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Breakfast: Breakfast (dependent on flight times) at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast