Road Scholar : Home
The Incas and the Amazon: An Active Grandparent Adventure

Program Number: 20941RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/25/2013 - 7/7/2013; 7/5/2013 - 7/17/2013; 6/25/2014 - 7/7/2014; 7/9/2014 - 7/21/2014;
Duration: 12 nights
Location: Peru
Price starting at: $3,792.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Intergenerational
Intergenerational 		Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 34; 12 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 11 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian    

Program intended for grandchildren from 15 - 17 years of age.

With a young learner at your side, experience the excitement of three very different parts of Peru. Journey to a jungle lodge in the Peruvian Amazon, one of the planet’s most beautiful and biodiverse environments. Continue high into the Andes to raft the swelling waters of the Urubamba River and unlock the mysteries of the mighty Inca. Then meet penguins, sea lions and more swooping seabirds than anyone could count on the Paracas Peninsula.




Highlights

• Learn the fascinating story of the Incas as you explore the Lost City of Machu Picchu and experience Incan food, art and music.
• Explore the Peruvian Amazon through expert-led forest walks, river kayaking and boat excursions.
• Grab a sandboard and swoosh down the sloping, golden dunes near Paracas.



Activity Particulars

Lots of walking on uneven terrain. Conditions can be hot and humid. Elevations of 11,000 feet.




Date Specific Information

6-25-2013

This departure will be for grandchildren ages 15--17.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



7-5-2013

This departure is for grandchildren ages 12-14.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



6-25-2014

Program intended for grandchildren from 15 - 17 years of age. If you would like to include the parents of the granchildren or other family members, please refer to program # 20942.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



7-9-2014

Program intended for grandchildren from 12 - 14 years of age. If you would like to include the parents of the granchildren or other family members, please refer to program # 20942.
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Lima, 1 night; flight to Puerto Maldonado, boat to Tambopata, 3 nights; boat to Puerto Maldonado, flight to Cusco, coach to Urubamba Valley, 4 nights; coach to Cusco, 1 night; flight to Lima; coach to Paracas, 2 nights; coach to Lima, 1 night; departure.



Arrival Lima
1 night
Flight to Puerto Maldonado
Boat to Tambopata-Candamo
3 nights

After spending a night in Lima, fly east to Puerto Maldonado, a small city in the Peruvian Amazon, then take a scenic riverboat ride to the jungle lodge that serves as the base for your Amazon exploration. Search for giant river otters and caimans at an Amazon lake, visit a clay lick where dozens of colorful parrots gather and look for nocturnal creatures on a nighttime nature walk. Kayak to a jungle village to meet the local shaman and the people who live there and learn about their way of life, including using rainforest plants to treat ailments.



Boat to Puerto Maldonado
Flight to Cusco
Coach to Urubamba Valley
4 nights
Coach to Cusco
1 night

Journey next to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Encounter alpacas and other South American camelids up close at a ranch. Visit a local market then cook an “Inca dinner” using the produce you selected. Enjoy an exhilarating morning of rafting on the Urubamba River. An expert-led field trip brings you high into the mountains to find the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Discover more about the Incas at the Sacsayhuaman fortress complex on the outskirts of Cusco. Learn about the art and music of the Incas through interactive, hands-on activities.



Flight to Lima
Coach to Paracas
2 nights
Coach to Lima
1 night
Departure

Venture to the Paracas Peninsula, a subtropical desert jutting into the Pacific Ocean. Explore the Paracas National Reserve, home to 36 species of land and marine mammals and hundreds of species of migrating birds. Take a boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands to look for fur seals, sea lions and Humboldt Penguins. Try a unique sport practiced in this region: sandboarding, similar to snowboarding with sand dunes in place of snow.




Peru

Known as the land of the Incas, Peru was home to an ancient civilization that thrived from the 12th century to 1532, when Francisco Pizarro conquered it. Although a prominent memory in history, prior civilizations like the Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Moche and Wari set the foundations for the Inca Empire. Peru is divided into three zones: the coast, the Andean mountain range and the Amazon jungle basin, all of which are culturally and linguistically different.
Accommodations
Lima: Hotel near airport (first night), hotel in the seaside Miraflores district (final night). Tambopata: Rainforest lodge great for wildlife viewing. Urubamba Valley: Hotel in a former colonial monastery surrounded by mountains. Cusco: Historic, centrally located hotel. Paracas: Beach hotel with outdoor pool.
Meals and Lodgings
   Ramada Airport Costa del Sol Hotel
  Lima, Peru 1 night
   Posada Amazonas
  Infierno Community/Tambopata National Reserve, Peru 3 nights
   Posada del Inca Yucay
  Sacred Valley/Yucay, Peru 4 nights
   Royal Inka I Hotel
  Cusco, Peru 1 night
   DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Paracas
  Paracas, Peru 2 nights
   Casa Andina Select
  Lima, Peru 1 night
 Ramada Airport Costa del Sol Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Contact info: Av. Elmer Faucett s/n Aeropuerto
Internacional Jorge Chávez
Lima,   Peru
phone: +5117112000
web: www.costadelsolperu.com/lima/esp/index.php
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes

 Posada Amazonas
Type: Lodge
  Description: The Posada Amazonas is a jungle lodge located within the territory of the Infierno Community (a 2,000 hectare, private, communal reserve) adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve. Its great accessibility from Puerto Maldonado makes it an easy choice for travelers looking to have an introductory experience in Amazonia. To get there you must fly to Puerto Maldonado from Lima or Cusco on daily commercial flights lasting 45 or 90 minutes respectively. From the airport guests are transported by truck to the Infierno River Port to board boats for a forty five minute trip to Posada Amazonas. Posada Amazonas is located ten minutes walking from the river. Posada Amazonas has no electricity. Light is provided by numerous kerosene lamps and candles. A generator is turned on once a day to recharge batteries for guests or lodge facilities. At night it is very dark, so guests are encouraged to bring a good flashlight.
  Contact info: Infierno Community adjacent to Tambopata National Reserve
00000000,   Peru
phone: +511 719-6422
web: www.perunature.com
  Room amenities: The rooms are 7 x 4 meters so they can comfortably hold three beds, although most are set up for two. The walls dividing each room are built using cane, and extend from the floor to about 2.5 meters height making each room private. The side that looks out to the forest does not have a wall or screening of any kind, acting as a large window facing the forest. The lodge was able to incorporate this "luxurious" design is because mosquitos are not really a problem around the lodge clearing and the open section allows for an intimate contact with the rainforest. A second small window on the opposite side, set up very high, keeps the rooms well ventilated. Doors are replaced with drapes. Rooms are not soundproof. Each room has a private bathroom with hot and cold water. Rooms and bathrooms are separated by drapes. Each room has beds, mosquito nets, bedside tables and hammocks or lounge chairs. Rooms are decorated with bas- relief wood-carvings representing stories and characters from Ese-eja traditions.
  Facility amenities: Posada Amazonas is built using a combination of traditional native materials (wood, palm fronds, wild cane and clay) and architecture and modern day eco-lodge technology. The lodge itself consists of a complex of four sections: rooms, dining area and kitchen, relaxation area and internal support facilities. The entire roof of the lodge is constructed using high quality crisneja palm fronds, whereas the floors are of tropical mahogany. The rooms complex is built of four 9 X 24 meter structures with six rooms per facility, for a total of 30 bedrooms.
  Smoking allowed: No

 Posada del Inca Yucay
Type: Three-Star Hotel
  Description: The hotel is a former 18th-century, colonial style Franciscan monastery. The posada is set in gardens at the heart of the Sacred Valley.
  Contact info: Plaza Manco II de Yucay
Urubamba,   Peru
phone: +51 84 201 107
web: www.sonesta.com/SacredValley
  Room amenities: 84 rooms with climate control, television and direct-dial telephone and safe deposit. Hair dryers are available upon request.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant and bar, business center with Internet access, room service, laundry service, shop and Andean market. The Kallpa Wasi Spa has massage, gym, sauna, outdoor Jacuzzi and yoga classes.
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Royal Inka I Hotel
Type: Hotel
  Description: Like other buildings in the historic section of Cusco, the hotel has an interesting story to tell about its origins. It was built in the 1560s, only a few decades after Spanish forces conquered the Inca capital. Tiled roofs, balconies, arched doorways, Inca stone foundations, and an airy central courtyard reflect the building’s colonial origins and add to the hotel’s charm.
  Contact info: Plaza Regocijo 299
Cusco,   Peru
phone: +51-84-263276
web: www.royalinkahotel.pe/
  Room amenities: Temperature control, phone, TV, and in-room safe. Rooms have views of Cusco's historic streets or the attractive inner coutryard.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, bar, laundry service, and WiFi.
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Paracas
Type: Resort
  Description: This attractive hotel is situated along Paracas Beach, on the Paracas Peninsula in southern Peru. In addition to being just a short drive from the Pisco International Airport, the hotel is well situated for day-trips to neighboring Paracas National Reserve.
  Contact info: Lote 30-34 Urb. Santo Domingo
Paracas, Pisco 34,   Peru
phone: +51-1-6171000
web: doubletree3.hilton.com/en/hotels/peru/doubletree-resort-by-hilton-hotel-paracas-peru-PIOPEDT/index.html
  Room amenities: Large balcony with views of Paracas Bay or the hotel gardens, living room area, kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, high-speed wireless internet, TV with premium channels, alarm clock radio with MP3 device and modern bathroom with hair dryer.
  Facility amenities: Business center, fitness center, meeting rooms, catering services, swimming pool, restaurant, and a bar.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Casa Andina Select
Type: Hotel
  Description: The Casa Andina Select hotel is located in Lima's trendy Miraflores neighborhood, within easy access to restaurants and local attractions. The newly constructed hotel has 155 rooms with modern installations and various amenities meant to satisfy the needs of both leisure and business travelers.
  Contact info: Calle Schell 452
Miraflores, Lima,   Peru
phone: +51-1-2139739
web: www.casa-andina.com
  Room amenities: Comfortable rooms with private baths, hair dryer, AC, safety deposit box, minibar, soundproof windows, direct dial phone, and cable TV.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, Spa, gym, sun terrace with Jacuzzi, conference rooms, business center, high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access, laundry service, valet service, currency exchange, 24 hr front desk, luggage storage, and souvenir shop.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: Subject to availability. Please contact the Program Coordinator, Holbrook Travel, at 1-800-866-7111 or roadscholarprograms@holbrooktravel.com for information on availability and rates.


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Arrivals at the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru. Hotel check-in starts at 3 p.m. You will be staying at Ramada Airport Costa del Sol Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Departures from the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru. Hotel check-out by 11 a.m. You will be staying at Casa Andina Select the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. A Yellow Fever certificate is required for this program due to travel to Puerto Maldonado/Amazonia. Consult your doctor and/or public health officials concerning recommended vaccinations specific to Peru. Participants traveling with a minor will need to have a notarized letter of consent from the parents or legal guardians, indicating that the child is allowed to travel with the assigned adult.
  Required innoculations:
Yes: A Yellow Fever certificate is required for this program due to the visit to Puerto Maldonado. Consult your doctor and/or public health officials concerning recommended vaccinations specific to Peru. To obtain a list of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) travelers' health recommendations please call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov.
  Parking availability:
Not applicable.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
To Start of Program
  Location:  Lima
  Nearest city or town:  Lima
  Nearest airport:  Jorge Chaves Lima Callo International Airport
  Transportation to site: The Ramada Costa del Sol Hotel is located adjacent to Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport, on Avenida Elmer Faucett, and is accessable via a pedestrian crossing. There is no need for special transportation.
  From End of Program
  Location: Lima
  Transportation from site: Taxi services are available at the hotel. If you wish to hire a taxi, please ask for assistance at the hotel’s front desk.
    (Additional transportation information same as above)


Required innoculations:

Yes: A Yellow Fever certificate is required for this program due to the visit to Puerto Maldonado. Consult your doctor and/or public health officials concerning recommended vaccinations specific to Peru. To obtain a list of Centers for Disease Control (CDC) travelers' health recommendations please call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.cdc.gov.

Elevation Note: Machu Picchu: 8,200 ft/Cusco: 10,859 ft
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Depart the U.S./Arrive in Lima, Peru.
(Tuesday, June 25)
   
 Arrive To: Road Scholar group flights arrive in Lima.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim, and Customs. After completing Customs formalities and exiting the restricted arrivals area, please take a moment to look for the Road Scholar representative who will be holding a Road Scholar sign (only applies to group flights).

The hotel is located adjacent to the international airport, on Avenida Elmer Faucett, and can be accessed from the airport via a pedestrian crossing.

**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.
   
Accommodations: Ramada Airport Costa del Sol Hotel

Day 2: Flight to Puerto Maldonado/Boat Ride to Lodge/Wildlife Observation at Canopy Tower.
(Wednesday, June 26)
   
 Breakfast: At hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Check-out of the hotel. Walk across the street to the airport in order to catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado (approx. 2:55 hours/with one stop). Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, transfer by bus to the Infierno River Port (approximately 12 miles).

Board a boat at the Infierno River Port for a scenic boat ride to the lodge (approx. 1 hour).
 Lunch: Boxed lunch on the boat.
 Afternoon: Arrive at the lodge and check-in.
Orientation and welcome to the lodge.

This afternoon, enjoy a field trip to the Canopy Tower.

A twenty minute walk from the lodge leads to the 100 ft scaffolding canopy tower. Platforms are located at different heights, so that visitors can view the various levels of the rainforest and study the differences in flora and fauna. There are approximately 200 steps to get from the base of the tower to the very top. From the top platform there are spectacular views of the vast expanses of forest and the course of the Tambopata River. Toucans, parrots or macaws can often be seen silhouetted against the horizon and mixed species of canopy flocks frequent the treetops around the tower.

Walk back to the lodge.
 Dinner: In the lodge's dining room.
 Evening: Enjoy a presentation on a local ecotourism project conducted with the local community.
   
Accommodations: Posada Amazonas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Wildlife Boat Ride at Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake/Ethnobotanical Visit with Local Community/Guided Night Walk.
(Thursday, June 27)
   
 Breakfast: In the lodge's dining room.
 Morning: Field trip to Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake.

To reach the lake, we will take a 30 minute boat ride and then hike on trails for approximately 45 minutes. Once at the lake, we will board a catamaran and paddle the calm waters in search of a resident family of giant river otters as well as caimans, hoatzins, and horned screamers the live in the area.

Return to the lodge.
 Lunch: In the lodge's dining room.
 Afternoon: After lunch, enjoy an ethnobotanical activity during a visit to a local community.

Kayak down the river to a local community. After meeting the shaman and going through the required introductions (translated by local guides), accompany residents on an exploratory walk to learn about medicinal plants. Learn how to identify and use rainforest plants to treat all nature of ailments.

Kayak back to the lodge.
 Dinner: In the lodge's dining room.
 Evening: This evening, enjoy a guided night walk in search of nocturnal wildlife. Bring your flashlights and join an expert guide in identifying forest animals that are rarely seen during the day.
   
Accommodations: Posada Amazonas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Parrot Clay Lick/Rainforest Hike/Local Farm Visit.
(Friday, June 28)
   
 Breakfast: In the lodge's dining room.
 Morning: Early morning field trip to a parrot clay lick.

After a 20 minute walk on forest trails, take cover behind an observation blind positioned approximately 50 ft from the clay lick. Marvel at the dozens of chattering parrots and parakeets that congregate along the river bank to eat clay. Commonly seen species include Mealy and Yellow- headed Amazons, Blue-headed Parrots and Dusky-headed Parakeets.

After visiting the clay lick, take part in a two-hour guided forest hike. Pay homage to the region's largest tree--a giant Ceiba tree. Learn about the layers of the rainforest and its unique flora along the way.

Return to the lodge.
 Lunch: In the lodge's dining room.
 Afternoon: Afternoon visit to a local farm.

A short, 30 minute, boat ride takes us downriver to a local farm. Accompany the farmer on a walk around several crops, some familiar and some not so familiar, to learn about agricultural practices in the area. Discover the important part each plant and tree plays in the survival of people living in this remote jungle region.

Return to the lodge.
 Dinner: In the lodge's dining room.
   
Accommodations: Posada Amazonas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Boat Transfer to Puerto Maldonado/Flight to Cusco/Awanakancha Alpaca Center/Evening Discussion.
(Saturday, June 29)
   
 Breakfast: In the lodge's dining room.
 Morning: Say farewell to the Tambopata region and board a boat to Puerto Maldonado. Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Cusco (approx. 1 hour flight).

Arrive in Cusco and transfer from the airport to the Sacred Valley.
 Lunch: Boxed lunch en route.
 Afternoon: Visit Awanakancha Alpaca Center and learn about the four different camelids (vicuña, llama, alpaca, and guanaco) found in Peru. While viewing the animals up close, try to take note of the differences in size, fur, head shape, etc. so that you can tell them apart during your travels in the highlands.

Arrive at the hotel and check-in, followed by time at leisure to rest or enjoy hotel amenities.
 Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.
 Evening: Discussion about life in the Sacred Valley during the time of the Incas.
   
Accommodations: Posada del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Local Produce Market Visit/Cultural Interaction at Local Community/Music and Food of the Andes.
(Sunday, June 30)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Morning visit to a local market and on-site discussion on the importance of the Sacred Valley as the ‘farmer’s market’ for the Inca Empire. Identify and learn about the fruits and vegetables that are unique to this region. Select items from the market to be cooked and sampled at dinner.

Learn which ancient traditions are still practiced by modern day descendents of the Inca during a visit to a local weaving community at Chinchero.

Weaving is a way of life in Chinchero—as important for preserving ancient traditions as it is for earning a livelihood. The town, located on the Inca road between Cusco and Machu Picchu, 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 Chinchero, local 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.
 Lunch: Enjoy a traditional lunch with members of the local community.
 Afternoon: Transfer to the Moray archaeological site to learn about Inca agriculture.

Researchers and archaeologists theorize that the Inca site at Moray was once used for agricultural studies and experiments. The unique terraces at this site are laid out in concentric circles within three large pits measuring as much as 100 feet in depth.

Return to the hotel.
Time at leisure to rest, catch up on your reading, or enjoy the hotel's amenities.

Participate in a cooking session at the hotel and learn to prepare the fresh foods purchased at the market in the morning.
 Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.
 Evening: Introduction to the music of the Andes.
   
Accommodations: Posada del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Rafting on the Urubamba River/Orientation to Ollantaytambo.
(Monday, July 1)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: This morning, embark on an exhilarating rafting adventure on the Urubamba River.
 Lunch: Picnic lunch.
 Afternoon: Return to the hotel.

Enjoy some time at leisure at the hotel before continuing with afternoon activities.

Field trip to Ollantaytambo town and ruins. Enjoy a guided walk through the town and examine remnants of Inca construction still in use today. Running water still flows through the town in aqueducts built hundreds of years ago during the reign of Emperor Pachacuti. Continue to the ruins of Ollantaytambo where the Incas made their last stand against the Spanish.

Return to the hotel.
 Dinner: Early dinner at the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Posada del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Train Ride Through the Andes/Exploring Machu Picchu.
(Tuesday, July 2)

Note: Participants should try and get plenty of rest the night before in preparation for the very early start on this day.
   
 Breakfast: Early breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Transfer to the Ollantaytambo Station to catch a train to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu.

Disembark at Aguas Calientes Station. Board a bus for the transfer up the mountain, on a series of switchbacks, that will take us to the Machu Picchu complex.

Field trip to Machu Picchu.

Hiram Bingham found Machu Picchu in 1911, 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.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant in the vicinity of the ruins.
 Afternoon: Board a bus and transfer back to Aguas Calientes. Catch a train back to Ollantaytambo Station and transfer to the hotel.
 Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Posada del Inca Yucay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Cusco/Sacsayhuaman Ruins/Orientation to Cusco/Music of the Inca.
(Wednesday, July 3)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Say farewell to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and begin your journey to Cusco.

Before reaching Cusco, visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman ruins and enjoy a discussion on the religious rituals of the Inca.

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.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant in Cusco.
 Afternoon: Orientation to the city of Cusco with a hands on art session which incorporates the religious symbols of the Inca and the Spanish.

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the western hemisphere. The Inca considered Cusco to be the center of not only their empire, but the center of the world. After its conquest, the Spanish looted the city and began to build a new city on the original Inca foundations. Present day Cusco is a cultural center for colonial South America.

Interactive session with a musician who discusses and demonstrates the musical instruments of the Inca and the importance of music to their religious ceremonies.
 Dinner: At a local restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Royal Inka I Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Flight to Lima/Transfer to Paracas/Paracas National Reserve.
(Thursday, July 4)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Transfer to the airport to board a flight to Lima (approx. 1:25 hours)
Arrive in Lima and begin transfer to Paracas.

The small fishing village of Paracas is located on the edge of the Paracas National Reserve-- 160 miles south of Lima. Sweeping up from the Antarctic, the Humboldt Current causes upwellings of plankton-rich water-- the foundation of an ecological pyramid crowned by thousands of breeding cormorants, boobies, gulls and terns, and mammals such as whales, dolphins and sea lions. In addition, during the southern winter, many shearwaters, petrels, and even albatrosses migrate from Antarctica to the Pacific coast of Peru. The Humboldt Current is home to the most productive fisheries in the world, and this area is reputed to be the largest producer of fishmeal on earth.
 Lunch: At local restaurant, en route to Paracas.
 Afternoon: Field trip to the Paracas National Reserve.
 Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Paracas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Wildlife Viewing at Ballestras Islands/Sand Boarding on Dunes.
(Friday, July 5)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Enjoy a boat ride to the Ballestas islands. On the way to the small archipelago, take a moment to admire views of "El Candelabro" on a hillside overlooking the bay. The mysterious drawing, reminiscent of a candelabra, dates back to pre-Inca times. While navigating around the islands (visitors are not allowed to disembark), look for fur seals, sea lions, and penguins. The prolific birdlife will be incorporated into a discussion on the abundance of the Humboldt Current as a food source.

Return to the mainland.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Participate in a unique desert sport practiced in the region--sand boarding! Lie down, sit or stand (similar to snowboarding) on specially designed sand boards and ride the golden dunes! The area near Paracas is home to the annual Peru Sand Boarding Cup.

Return to the hotel.
 Dinner: Farewell dinner. Celebrate with a barbecue dinner alfresco, under the southern skies.
   
Accommodations: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Paracas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Transfer to Lima/Cultural Interaction at Local Afro-Peruvian Community.
(Saturday, July 6)
   
 Breakfast: At the hotel restaurant.
 Morning: Begin transfer back to Lima.

En route, visit a local Afro-Peruvian community to learn about their culture and dance traditions.
 Lunch: At a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Arrive at the hotel and check-in.

Time at leisure to rest, do some packing, or enjoy hotel amenities.
 Dinner: At the hotel restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Casa Andina Select
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Depart for U.S./Arrive in the U.S.
(Sunday, July 7)
   
 Depart From: Transfer to airport for international flight 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: At the local restaurant (dependent on flight times).
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide


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Description: This beautifully illustrated field guide contains all you need to know about rainforest mammals in Central and South America. It has color plates, range maps and detailed descriptions of each animal, including information about their biology, behavior and natural habitats.



A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peru


Author: Clive Byers


Description: A handy shirt pocket guide.



Birds of Peru


Author: Tom Schulenberg, Dan Stotz, John O'Neill, Dan Lane


Description: Gorgeously illustrated, this authoritative guide covers nearly 20% of the world's birds.



Culture Smart! Peru


Author: John Forrest


Description: A concise, well-illustrated and practical guide to local customs, etiquette and culture.



Monuments of the Incas


Author: John Hemming


Description: John Hemming brings the story of the Inca up to date in this revised edition of his classic overview, featuring Edward Ranney's exquisitely detailed, large format black-and-white photographs of Inca sites from Ingapirca to Incallacta. Originally published in 1982 and long out of print, this new edition includes 31 site plans and maps.



Peru Map


Author: Berndtson & Berndtson


Description: A laminated map of Peru with city plans.



Peru, Birds of the Forest


Author: Rainforest Publications


Description: A handy, double-sided laminated card depicting 100 commonly encountered par-rots, motmots, hummingbirds and other forest birds of Peru.



Peru, Travellers' Wildlife Guides


Author: David L. Pearson, Les Beletsky


Description: Featuring 500 illustrations of the birds, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and insects of the Amazon, Andes and Pacific Coast.



The Conquest of the Incas


Author: John Hemming


Description: This well-researched book provides a historical account of the 16th century Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru and neighboring countries. John Hemming is an anthropologist, writer, and explorer with an extensive travel background. He is also a member of the Royal Geographic Society.



The Ice Maiden: Inca Mummies, Mountain Gods, and Sacred Sites in the Andes


Author: Johan Reinhard


Description: Archaeologist Johan Reinhard brings together tales of his own adventures and plenty of Inca history in this account of his discovery of Juanita, a 500-year-old mummy found in the Peruvian Andes.



The Inca Trail, Cuzco & Machu Picchu


Author: Richard Danbury


Description: Not just for those hiking the Inca Trail, this compact guide is an excellent overview of the culture and history and attractions of Cuzco and the Sacred Valley. With a chapter on Lima, good maps, travel information and photographs.



The Incas and their Ancestors, The Archaeology of Peru


Author: Michael Moseley


Description: An outstanding illustrated survey of the archaeology of the Inca, Moche and Nasca civilizations. With hundreds of color illustrations and line drawings, it's an in-depth look at the ancient cultures and history of Peru. A great general introduction.



The Incas, People of the Sun


Author: Carmen Bernard, Paul Bahn (translator)


Description: Featuring hundreds of drawings and photographs, a chronology and long excerpts from the journals of early explorers, this is a colorful pocket encyclopedia of Inca history and archaeology.



The Last Days of the Incas


Author: Kim Macquarrie


Description: MacQuarrie tackles the personality, aspirations and greed of Francisco Pizarro in this vivid account of the conquest of a continent.





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