Peru/Chile/Easter Island

Machu Picchu & Rapa Nui: Discovering Two Mysterious Civilizations

Program No. 23246RJ
Two iconic, ancient sites are yours to discover as you explore Machu Picchu and Rapa Nui with local experts, and uncover the fascinating history and culture that surrounds them.

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At a Glance

In the remote landscapes of South America two mysterious civilizations hide, puzzling historians and summoning explorers since their discovery centuries ago. Along with expert instructors, take an archaeological dive into the past as you witness the awe-inspiring enigmas of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Machu Picchu. Undiscovered by Spanish conquistadors, these snapshots into human history have remained amazingly intact, offering invaluable insight into Incan and Polynesian cultures. Meet fascinating locals in the surrounding towns to learn more about the region’s history as you draw your own conclusions about the creation of these mysterious civilizations.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Alongside a local expert, explore the agricultural and urban sides of Machu Picchu and learn the history of the Incan abandonment of the city.
  • Experience an in-depth discovery of the archaeological sites on Rapa Nui including three notable temples and the most mysterious site, Ahu Vinapu.
  • Discover the wealth of archaeological history with historians in Peru at ruins of Pisac, Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo in the heart of the Inca’s Sacred Valley.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Nicole Flores
Nicole Flores was born and raised in Chile. Her passion about her country and the region influenced her to lead programs within South America since 1998, including several trips to Antarctica where she deliver lectures about her passion She is a true believer in lifetime learning finding in travelling the best source of inspiration to share her knowledge and keep learning. Nicole is a great natural storyteller and also mastered this skill learning from the best in Chile.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Nicole Flores
Nicole Flores View biography
Nicole Flores was born and raised in Chile. Her passion about her country and the region influenced her to lead programs within South America since 1998, including several trips to Antarctica where she deliver lectures about her passion She is a true believer in lifetime learning finding in travelling the best source of inspiration to share her knowledge and keep learning. Nicole is a great natural storyteller and also mastered this skill learning from the best in Chile.
Profile Image of Luis Geldres Carillo
Luis Geldres Carillo View biography
Luis Geldres Carillo enjoys sharing the history and culture of South America with lifelong learners from around the globe. When working with groups, he strives to enhance each participant’s experience by creating an enjoyable and educational adventure. Luis has traveled throughout Peru and has had the opportunity to explore Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, and the U.S. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, singing, playing soccer, reading and spending time with his wife and two sons.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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15 days
14 nights
31 meals
13 B 11 L 7 D
DAY
1
In Transit, Arrive Lima, Orientation, Peruvian History & Art
Lima
L,D
Innside Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off motor-coach; driving approx. 16 miles total; about 1.5 hours combined, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles total throughout the day; periods of standing up to an hour at a time at museums and galleries; flights of stairs between floors at Barbosa Collection.

Morning: Once checked in at the hotel and settled, we will gather in our private meeting room for Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All field trips and lectures will be led by our Group Leader, unless otherwise specified. Transportation will be provided primarily by motor-coach, unless otherwise noted. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Lunch: At the hotel, enjoy a plated meal, with water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will then transfer via bus for an expert-led field trip to the Barbosa Stern Collection where we will gain an in-depth understanding of Peruvian history, the Spanish conquest, and how it influenced indigenous culture, all during an exclusive visit to this privately owned art collection. Next, we will board our bus and travel to discover an amazing private collection of Pre-Colombian art at the Larco Museum, built on the remains of an Incan pyramid. Our Lima expert will provide insight to the origins of the collection as well as the practices and beliefs of Pre-Incan cultures represented through the ceramics, gold, and erotic art of the collection.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a 3-course plated meal from a select menu including a choice of entrée, plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages will be available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
2
Lima City Exploration, Ceviche Lunch, Free Time
Lima
B,L
Innside Hotel

Activity note: Driving approx. 15 miles total throughout the day; about 1.5 hours combined, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles; periods of standing; about 1.5 hours on our feet, with breaks; flights of stairs with and without railings to reach upper floors at some field trip locations. Mostly flat, paved terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We will transfer by bus for an expert-led walking field trip through the historic center of downtown Lima. First, we will explore La Catedral de Lima and next the catacombs of St Francis of Assisi where the story of Peru’s colonization unfolds in the paintings, wood carvings, and artifacts housed in these religious buildings. During our visits, we will learn from our local expert how the Spanish synchronized indigenous religions and Catholicism as a means to integrate and conquer the region, and how artistic skills brought by the Spanish blossomed in the hands of local Peruvians. Next, we Road Scholars will enjoy exclusive entry not available to the public into the private home of a local family – one of the few houses remaining in the historic center – to learn from the family about their history and how they lived in colonial times through the present.

Lunch: At a favorite local restaurant in Barranco, be treated to a traditional Peruvian meal of ceviche. Peru’s national dish, ceviche is made from fresh raw fish that is cured in citrus juices along with other ingredients to compliment the flavors. Alternatives available for vegetarians. Coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time. This time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
3
Fly to Cusco, Plaza de Armas, Sacsayhuaman, Sacred Valley
Urubamba Valley
B,L,D
Sonesta Posada del Inca - Sacred Valley - Yucay Hotel

Activity note: Driving approx. 50 miles total throughout the day; about three hours combined, with stops for field trips. Flight is about 1.5 hours. Walking up to two miles; periods of standing up to one hour at a time at the Sacsayhuaman ruins; unpaved paths, cobblestone streets, uneven curbs, some stone steps without railings. Walking and standing for 45 minutes at where the terrain may be rough and uneven.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After an early check-out from the hotel, transfer to Lima Airport and board the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, the capital city of the Incas and now itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we will transfer to the Plaza de Armas. Led by our local expert, observe the layers of history where colonial architecture rests atop Incan foundations.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, enjoy a plated meals with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Over coffee after lunch, a local expert will provide a lecture on the rise and fall of the Incan Empire to help set more of the groundwork for our journey. Next, transfer by bus for an independent walking exploration of the ruins of Sacsayhuaman where extremely large stones are seamlessly built into walls and terraces providing views of the valley to the southeast, and were once used as a protective fortress guarding the city. Afterward, we will complete our scenic mountain transfer by motor-coach to the Sacred Valley, where we will check in to our hotel upon arrival.

Dinner: At the hotel, enjoy a plated meal from a select menu with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Sacred Valley, Pisac Ruins, Ollantaytambo
Urubamba Valley
B,L
Sonesta Posada del Inca - Sacred Valley - Yucay Hotel

Activity note: Driving approx. 83 miles total throughout the day; about three hours combined, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles total over the course of the day; periods of standing; approx. three hours spent on our feet; rocky terrain with steps sans railings; elevation change of approx. 250 feet and a maximum of roughly 9,507 feet above sea level.

Breakfast: At the hotel, enjoy a breakfast buffet featuring a variety of hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: Setting out from the hotel, we will drive through the valley to the ruins of Pisac. The original site of this Inca city was larger than Machu Picchu and home to 8,000 inhabitants until the 1600s when the Spanish forced rebellious inhabitants down into the valley below. The views over the remains of this impressive site encompass the valley, mountains, and the new town of Pisac far below. With our local expert, we will walk around the archaeological site as well as the market of Pisac. We will then transfer to Ollantaytambo.

Lunch: We will have a meal with water included while visiting the Sacred Valley Project.

Afternoon: We will head to the Sacred Valley Project, an educational initiative that provides local female students from low income families with board and opportunities to further their schooling. While here, we will visit with the dorm mother and director of the project to learn about the work they are doing. Our next stop will be the ruins of Ollantaytambo, which hug a mountainside at the end of the Sacred Valley and are one of the few Incan sites not built over by the Spanish. Climbing the steps to the summit reveals the geography of the Sacred Valley and the experience explains the importance of this location, which is at the crossroads of the three major Incan routes: to the jungle, to Machu Picchu, and to Cusco. Stroll through the streets of the town – one of the only actual Inca towns in all of South America with Inca-style houses still virtually unchanged since the 1500s – and step inside one of the houses to learn from our local experts about the family’s heritage. We will afterward return to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
5
Train to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu (Aguas Caliente)
B,L
El Mapi Hotel

Activity note: Driving approx. 19 miles to train station; about one hour. Getting on/off train; ride is approx. 28 miles; about 1.5 hours. Use of public bus; short walk to bus stop; ride is approx. 5.5 miles each way to/from ruins; about 1/2 hour on dirt road. Walking approx. 2.5 miles total for the day; about three hours at Machu Picchu; rocky terrain with slopes, no handrails; maximum elevation of approx. 7,988 feet. Luggage will be transported via private vehicle; pack a day bag for the journey.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Once checked out of the hotel, we will transfer by motor-coach to the train station for our railway ride to Aguas Calientes where we will check in to our hotel upon arrival. We will then complete our journey and enjoy a field trip at Machu Picchu, perhaps the most iconic site of the Inca World, and a great renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site. With our local expert, visit this ancient ceremonial city, explore the agricultural and urban sides of Machu Picchu, and learn about the history of the Incan abandonment of the city as well as its construction during Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

Lunch: At Sanctuary Lodge, enjoy a tasty buffet meal with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will board a shared shuttle from Machu Picchu and return to the hotel in Aguas Calientes. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for independent exploration.

Dinner: On your own to explore the regional cuisine in the center of Aguas Calientes, which has many eateries to choose from.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
6
Transfer to Cuzco, Weaving Cooperative
Cuzco
B,L
Costa del Sol Ramada

Activity note: Walking approx. 1.5 miles total throughout the day; about one hour combined; mostly flat, paved terrain. Getting on/off a train; ride is approx. 28 miles; about 1.5 hours. Driving approx. 51 miles total throughout the day; about two hours combined, with stops. Porters will handle luggage.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Upon checking out of the hotel, we will walk a short distance to board the train for transfer from Aguas Calientes Station to Ollantaytambo where we will connect with our motor-coach for the remainder of the ride to Cuzco. We will then make a visit to the Traditional Textiles Center Cusco in Chinchero where we will learn from a member of the NGO who will share the history of the cooperative, introduce us to this time-honored cultural art form, and provide a demonstration. The arts of dying, spinning and weaving are a means of interpreting Incan culture through traditional customs. Techniques, designs, and quality, which were once taught to every female child, had fallen into disuse and the traditional craft knowledge was being lost. The Chinchero Cultural Project was created to protect and revive the back-strap weaving traditions of the Chinchero and Cusco regions of Peru.

Lunch: With the women of the weaving cooperative, enjoy a lunch of traditional foods.

Afternoon: We will then transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
7
Almudena Cemetery, Qoricancha Palace, Free Time in Cusco
Cuzco
B,D
Costa del Sol Ramada

Activity note: Driving approximately 3.5 miles total for the day; less than one hour combined, with stops for field trips. Walking approx.four miles total; about three hours total throughout the day; periods of standing at field trip locations.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After arriving via bus, we will set out on a walking exploration led by our local expert to visit the Almudena Cemetery and the iconic cathedral, construction on which started in 1560 C.E. and finished in 1664. The cathedral contains some of the best manifestations of colonial goldsmithing and wood carving, as well as a valuable collection of canvases from the Escuela Cusqueña (Academy of Cusco). Afterwards, we will take a trip to San Pedro Market and the Qoricancha Palace, which was the most important temple in the Inca Empire. Dedicated to Inti, the Sun God, the walls and floors were once covered in sheets of solid gold. We will have some time to take a look around the market with our local expert and Group Leader before exploring the temple and learning about its history.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
8
Fly to Santiago – Chile
Santiago
B,D
DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Activity note: Today is a long travel day; the flight from Cuzco to Lima departs very early in the morning and the flight into Santiago arrives in the evening. Airline schedules are beyond the control of Road Scholar. Driving approx. four miles to airport; about 1/2 hour. Flight from Cusco to Lima is approx. 1.5 hours; Lima to Santiago is approx. 3.5 hours for a total of roughly 5 hours airborne; responsible for own luggage in airport. Driving from airport to Santiago hotel is approx. 12 miles; about 1/2 hour.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Rising early, we will transfer to the airport in Cuzco for the flight to Lima, and await our connection flight to Santiago, Chile.

Lunch: On your own during the layover at the airport in Lima, Peru.

Afternoon: Board the flight to Santiago, Chile, and arrive in the early evening for transfer and check in to the hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel, enjoy plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

DAY
9
Santiago, Museum of Memory and Human Rights, Free Time
Santiago
B,L
DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Activity note: Driving approximately 20 miles total; about two hours, with stops for field trips. Walking up to two miles throughout the day. Getting on/off a funicular rail car.

Breakfast: At the hotel, enjoy a breakfast buffet, including milk, juice, coffee, tea, and water.

Morning: Chile's capital city is a sprawling metropolis wedged between the Andes and another coastal mountain range, and is home to 6 million Santiaguinos – one third of Chile's population. We will discover the city's main landmarks including a stop outside the presidential La Moneda Palace. Originally a colonial mint, it was designed by Italian architect, Joaquín Toesca. We will then walk through the Plaza de Armas main square, surrounded by beautiful buildings.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we will have plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

DAY
10
Fly Santiago to Easter Island, Moai of Rapa Nui
Easter Island
B,L,D
Hotel Otai

Activity note: Early rise for airport transfer; approx. 11 miles to airport; about 1/2 hour. Flight from Santiago to Rapa Nui is approx. six hours. Due to a change in time zone, we will lose two hours. Getting on/off the bus for field trips; driving approximately 3.5 miles for Tahai field trip; about 1/2 hour, with stops. Walking approx. 1/2 mile total for the day; uneven and unpaved walking paths, limited shade; periods of standing during field trip locations.

Breakfast: Aboard the motor-coach during transfer to the airport, we will have boxed breakfasts provided by the hotel.

Morning: Rising early, we will board our motor-coach for transfer to Santiago Airport for the flight to Easter Island. Once landed, we will transfer to the hotel via motor-coach and check in.

Lunch: At the hotel, we will have a light plated lunch with coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: After some time to rest, we will set out by bus for field study of Tahai as an introduction to the famous monoliths of Rapa Nui. “Moai” is from the Rapanui language and means statue, or figurine. Ahu has two meanings in Easter Island culture: The first is the flat base of the stone where the moai are supported, and the second is a sacred ceremonial place where there are numerous supports for the moai. Our first stop will be at Ahu Vai Ure, which is topped by five moai including Ahu Tahai (680 CE), Ahu Ko te Riku (12th century CE), and a 15.5-foot high 20 ton moai, which is topped by a pukao (red scoria top knot). These three ahu, all facing inland, are part of one ceremonial compound, which was restored in the 1960s by the late archaeologist, William Mulloy. Located near Hangaroa at the edge of the ocean, the area also has excellent examples of hare paenga (boat-shaped house foundations), hare moa (chicken houses), umu (earth ovens), occupation caves, and a boat ramp. The road along this coast is rough, but there are many ahu in this section of the island. At Hanga Kio`e, a small bay just past town, we will see two more ahu restored by Mulloy. Ahu #1, is surmounted by a small moai, and Ahu #2 has a fragment of a statue. They were part of a larger site that includes Ahu Akapu with its solitary moai. The wall of Ahu Akapu originally reached to Ahu #2. Dr. Mulloy’s gravesite is also located at Tahai.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we will enjoy plated meals featuring local ingredients. Coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We will then return to the hotel for the remainder of the evening at leisure.

DAY
11
Field Studies at Ahu Vinapu, Tongariki & Anakena
Easter Island
B,L
Hotel Otai

Activity note: Driving approximately 30 miles roundtrip, with frequent stops for field trips; about 1.5 hours total drive time. Walking up to two miles total throughout the day; periods of standing up to one hour at a time; navigating up/down into the quarry, uneven terrain, unpaved paths, stairs at some locations, limited shade.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will enjoy plated meals featuring local ingredients. Coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Morning: Heading out by bus, we will begin our full day field study to archaeological sites along the south coast starting at Ahu Vinapu, an archaeological site that has raised many questions over the years because of the similarity in appearance and construction to the pre-Columbian structures found in Cusco, Peru. Located here are the ruins of three notable temples, one of which has unusually finely shaped and fitted walls, constructed of huge stones. We will then continue to Ahu Akahanga, which is known as the platform of the king with its four ahu, twelve moai of various sizes and shapes, and eight pukao, some carved with petroglyphs. On the front of the main ahu is red scoria fascia, carved with petroglyphs. In the rear is the head of an old moai incorporated amongst the stones. Afterward, we will make our way to Rano Raraku, the quarry of the moai. As we climb the mountain on foot, we will view the quarry from which the massive moai were carved out of the hard basalt. Moai in all stages of production cover its southern flank - unfinished giants still imprisoned in stone, including the largest one ever attempted at 70 feet long!

Lunch: At the National Park picnic area at Rano Raraku, we will have a picnic deli lunch.

Afternoon: We will depart for Tongariki, the largest ahu (temple platform) on the island. Demolished in 1960 by the tremendous force of a Pacific tsunami (tidal wave) generated by an earthquake in Valdivia (southern Chile), Tongariki has recently been restored by Chilean archaeologists Claudio Cristino and Sergio Rapu, with the help of Japanese archaeologists and the Rapa Nui people. Once again, it supports its 15 moai. Next, we will continue to Anakena, a beautiful, sheltered white sand beach surrounded by swaying palm trees where we will have some time to swim. This beach, the largest in Rapa Nui, is where Hotu Matu`a is said to have beached his canoe and lived in one of several caves while waiting for his boat-shaped house to be completed. While the foundations of an unusually large oval house (82 feet long) are visible nearby, it contained no traces of very early habitation. Afterward, we will return to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to sample the local fare.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
12
Parque Nacional Rapa Nui, Free Time
Easter Island
B,D
Hotel Otai

Activity note: Driving approximately 25 miles roundtrip to Parque Nacional Rapa Nui; about 1.5 hours roundtrip. Walking approx. one mile total throughout the day; periods of standing; uneven terrain, unpaved walking paths, some stairs necessary to access sites.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: From the hotel, we will board our bus and transfer for a field study at the Parque Nacional Rapa Nui to study Rano Kau crater and Orongo Ceremonial Village, two of the truly great sights of Rapa Nui. The park, which is on the southwestern point of the triangle, provides spectacular views of the whole island. The ceremonial village, Orongo, is on the seaward edge of the crater of Rano Kao. Rano Kao houses a huge crater lake, a bog filled with native totora reeds floating on fresh water. Afterward, return to the hotel.

Lunch: On your own to explore the regional cuisine.

Afternoon: Free time in Hanga Roa. You may wish to visit the Padre Sebastian Englert Archaeological Museum, the local craft market, or stop at the local post office to get a stamp in your passport with a unique moai statues stamp. The stamp doesn't have any legal effect - it's just for fun!

Dinner: At Te Ra`ai restaurant, we will be treated to a delicious traditional dinner cooked in an umu (traditional Rapa Nui earth oven). Soft drinks and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: Engage in some Rapa Nui-style face-painting and a traditional Rapa Nui dance show. Return to the hotel after the show for the remainder of the evening at leisure.

DAY
13
Fly from Rapa Nui to Santiago
Santiago
B,L,D
DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Activity note: Short bus transfers to/from airports; about 1/2 hour total. Flight from Rapa Nui to Santiago is approx. five hours. Due to a change in time zone, we will regain two hours.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will transfer to the airport and board our flight back to Santiago, Chile.

Lunch: Aboard the flight, an included meal will be served.

Afternoon: Upon arrival in Santiago, we will transfer to the hotel for check-in. The remainder of the evening will be free for you to enjoy as you like.

Dinner: At the at arrival - Dinner ( one main dish + dessert ) and water.

Evening: At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out in the morning and departures tomorrow afternoon.

DAY
14
Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, Program Concludes
In Flight
B,L

Activity note: Driving approximately 142 miles total throughout the day; about three hours, with stops for field trips. Walking approx. two miles throughout the day; periods of standing up to two hours; up and downhill; mostly paved terrain. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will have a buffet breakfast with milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we will set out on an exploration of Chile's Pacific coast via motor-coach with a local expert. During our journey, we will go to two neighboring but quite different coastal cities, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. Valparaíso, our first stop, is the second largest city in Chile and it enjoys a spectacular location between the mountains and the sea. This historic port and university town is famous for its more than 50 small hills connected by an ingenious network of twisting streets, stairways, cable car lines, flower filled balconies, and lookout platforms, all over a unique cityscape with spectacular views of the bay from which the city takes its name. On foot, we will examine the Historic Quarter of the old town and the new, visiting the Plaza de la Victoria to see its lovely Neptune Fountain, the famous Turri Clock, the docks and fisherman's wharf, and the Naval Academy.

Lunch: At a local home in Valparaiso, enjoy a delicious home made meal ( family style in a local home host by the family ) perfect place to toast with "terremoto" local alcoholic drink and share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.

Afternoon: We will board the coach for a short ride north to Viña del Mar, Chile's premier coastal resort famous for its beaches and a bustling commercial sector. Viña del Mar is known as the Ciudad Jardín, or “Garden City,” thanks to its lavish gardens and subtropical atmosphere. This city was founded in 1874 due to the economic development mainly achieved by the mining activity and the good rank reached by the aristocracy that allowed them to continually travel to Europe where residents developed a love for European architecture. As we travel through town via motor-coach, we will make stops at the beach and enjoy the garden parks during some time for independent exploration. Afterward, we will climb aboard our motor-coach and depart for the airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Dinner: On your own at the airport.

DAY
15
In Transit From Program
In Flight





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