Magnificient Machu Picchu and the Amazon

• Your adventure begins in the vibrant and friendly city of Lima. On arrival here, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from &Beyond and taken to your hotel.
• Founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, the bustling city of Lima has become one of South America’s largest cities. Museums, ancient archaeological sites, beautiful beaches, wondrous nature reserves, vibrant nightlife, and the thrill of adventure sports, give Peru’s capital an authentic and unique personality.
• The city is also known for its outstanding cuisine, which encompasses specialties from ceviche and traditional coastal cooking to refined global fare. This energetic, sprawling metropolis promises visitors an unforgettable experience that is rich in culture, and high in excitement.

• Nestled at the foot of verdant hills the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado, the Sacred Valley resides.
• Boasting a magnificent natural setting, the Sacred Valley of the Incas can be appreciated for its rich flora and fauna, bird watching, and adventure sports as well as its archaeological wealth.
• Visit Awanacancha, a project that preserves ancient textile-making techniques. Continue to the fabric dyeing area where there is a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to the textiles. Peruse the fabric dyeing area featuring a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to textiles, and watch a weaving demonstration. You will have the opportunity to purchase the finished products from their boutique store.
• Venture to the local village of Pisac, famous for its colourful market which attracts travellers from all over the world. Try your hand at bartering for local sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewellery, local handicrafts, and unique souvenirs.
• Discover Moray, an impressive system of circular agricultural terraces, considered a crop lab used to create micro-climates and grow various products.
• Be captivated by the salt mines, or the famous “salt pools” of Maras. It’s fascinating to watch locals harvest the salt, a process that hasn’t changed in thousands of years.
• Relish lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari, tucked away in the lush, vegetation-filled private estate of the Lambarri-Orihuela family in the village of Huayoccari. The Hacienda houses the owners private collection of pre-Colombian, Incan and colonial artefacts.
• Explore Ollantaytambo, a lovely village that preserves the designs of Inca buildings. Among this place’s most impressive attractions are the ceremonial temple in worship of water and a fortress that guarded the entrance to the valley to repel any invasions.

• Visit the town of Ollantaytambo, with its Inca streets of stone, traditional square homes, and small markets. Explore its ruins and hike up to an Incan temple for a majestic view of the town.
• Depart from Ollantaytambo Train Station to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome train. Watch the valleys, mountains and quaint villages pass by as you look through the train’s large, panoramic windows.
• Explore the fascinating citadel of Machu Picchu for three hours accompanied by your expert guide. Discover the myths, stories and theories shrouding this mysterious masterpiece. Your guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza, and the Temple of the Sun.
• Surrounded by the cloud forest, you’ll see the heights of the mountain Wayna Pikchu (Huayna Picchu) rising over the site, and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) once a fortress of Machu Picchu and the entrance point to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.
• Enjoy the prospects of a walk through Machu Picchu at sunrise, something which people of strong spirituality believe to be the highlight of a visit to Machu Picchu.
• Choose between one or two of these hikes:
• Huayna Picchu, one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort.
• Inti Punku or Sun Gate, it takes about an hour each way and is an uphill strenuous hike on the way out to the Gate.
• Inca Bridge, constructed of a few narrow logs perched above a sheer vertical drop – is believed to have served as a secret entrance to Machu Picchu.
• Machu Picchu Mountain, large granite steps comprise most of its trail and wind all the way to the top. The steep climb is a challenging but rewarding hike and the 360-degree views at the top are a gorgeous reward.

• Embark on a guided city tour of historical Cusco, magnificently preserved, and resplendent with colonial architecture. It showcases the apex of indigenous Quechua culture. Beautiful Spanish colonial buildings are juxtaposed with Incan walls lining the square, and a contemporary thriving nightlife flourishes.
• Visit notable sites on the Main Square such as the Cathedral of Cusco, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco; in addition to its official status as a place of worship, it has become a major repository of Cusco’s colonial art and holds many archaeological artefacts and relics.
• Discover Koricancha Temple, the most impressive example of how Inca and Hispanic cultures fused together.

Explore the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuamán, built overlooking the city of Cusco. The ‘fortress’ is composed of three large terraced walls, which are said to represent the ‘Teeth of the Jaguar’.

• Board the Aria Amazon, a luxurious cruise ship, and start the day like Amazon River inhabitants, cruising along the Ucayali River. As these farmers and fishermen go about their business, we search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Later in the day, we return to the skiffs, to ride along the black waters of the Pacaya River at dusk, searching for the mysterious wildlife that come out after dark and with extraordinary stargazing
• Enjoy a paiche fishing demonstration, the second largest river fish in the world and venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.
• Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Come afternoon, take a short jungle walk in the San Jose de Sarapanga forest and see the unforgettable giant water lilies.

• Visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits.
• Explore the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. Peruse the San Juan craft market on route to the airport for some last minute purchases.
• Wave a fond farewell as you arrive in Lima, to connect with your outbound flight.