Peru with machu picchu!

One of the most amazing man-made wonders of the world! Join us for this special trip to Peru, including Spanish Colonial Lima, Cusco in the sky, and the scenic Vistadome train to and from Aguas Calientes—gateway to Machu Picchu! Please reserve now as we have limited space on this popular itinerary! (800) 576-4905 or RailandSail.com

Included in your fully escorted travels:   

· International economy airfare (SEA,PDX,SFO, LAX)

  -Other gateways by arrangement

· 2 nights deluxe Lima hotel

· 2 nights premium Sacred Valley hotel 

· 1 nights superior Machu Picchu hotel

· 2 nights deluxe Cusco hotel

· Lima city tour

· Sacred Valley & Pisac tours

· Vistadome train excursions

· Guided tour of Machu Picchu

· Cusco & Imperial City tours

· Meals as listed

· Domestic airfare roundtrip Lima/Cusco

· All airport transfers and tours mentioned

· Time for personal discoveries

· Private professional, English-speaking guides

· Experienced USA Tour Manager

· PLEASE CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE

· Rail & Sail Insurance quotes: (800) 576-4905 

Day 1 — Monday September 8 — Depart for South America!

Meet at your check-in counter for our flights

south! In the evening we arrive in Lima, Peru and check in to our hotel in the Miraflores district.

Meals: inflight services

Day 2 — Tuesday September 9 — Explore Lima Today we explore Colonial Lima. Visit the Main Square and admire the exteriors of the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the City Hall. At the Cathedral we learn the religious history of Peru. We will continue to the San Francisco Convent and its “Catacombs”. Afterwards, we will head to Larco Museum, an eighteenth-century Viceregal mansion that houses more than 3,000 years of Peru's pre-Columbian history. Meals: breakfast, welcome lunch.

Day 3 — Wednesday September 10 — Pisac & the Sacred Valley Enjoy breakfast, then we make our way to the airport for our flight to Cusco. Today we make our way to the Sacred Valley to relax and get accus-tomed to the higher elevation (9,000 feet). We stop for a short visit to the Awana Kancha textile center to learn about the various types of camelids (Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas, and Guanacos) that live in the An-des region. A few miles farther along, we will reach Pisac, a beautiful place where Incan and Colonial in-fluences have reached a perfect balance and created the unique way of life of the local inhabitants. We will get a chance to explore this quaint town, famous for its artisan markets where we can find extraordi-narily fine jewelry and ceramic and textile craftwork. Before going to our hotel we will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Meals: breakfast, lunch at local restaurant.

Day 4 — Thursday September 11 — Explore the Sacred Valley This morning, we visit the archaeological site of Moray. Used as an agricultural testing ground, the site's system of circular terraces descends 490 feet. We continue until we reach the Salt Pans of Maras. The sight of this still-operating salt mine, in use since Incan times, will amaze you. Later, enjoy lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari. Finally, we will visit the In-can town of Ollantaytambo. We will discover the large archaeological complex of what used to serve as a wayside inn for royal delegations on long journeys. Surviving structures here include multiple walls and towers that were used to protect the citadel from possible invasions. Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 5 — Friday September 12 — Rail to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome train After breakfast the our scenic adventure by rail begins! The comfortable train ride to Aguas Calientes is packed full of spectacu-lar vistas. On our arrival, we will take a bus that will drop us at the citadel of Machu Picchu itself. Un-earthed for the world by Hiram Bingham more than a century ago, Machu Picchu is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Its architectural beauty, spectacular natural setting, and the energy that radi-ates from its enigmatic buildings will take your breath away. We will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas as we take a tour of the magical citadel led by one of our guides. Afterwards we will enjoy a deli-cious lunch at a local restaurant. Meals: breakfast, lunch at local restaurant, dinner

Day 6 — Saturday September 13 — 2nd visit to to Machu Picchu, and Vistadome train to Cusco A nice second chance to visit Machu Picchu if the weather was not so nice on the first visit. Otherwise a morning at leisure before we reboard the Vistadome train for a beautiful trip back through the valley and to Cusco and our hotel for the night. Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 7 — Sunday September 14 — Cusco

Today we explore the nearby ruins including the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a colossal structure of enor-mous stones. We also visit Qenqo, the religious center and a panoramic view of Puca-Pucara, the red for-tress, and Tambomachay with their water fountains. Afterwards, we continue to the Imperial City and stroll through the Main Square, where we will discover the Cathedral and admire its exquisite vestibules and priceless paintings from the Cusco School of the 17th and 18th centuries. We will continue with a visit to one of the most impressive buildings of Incan Cusco: the Qoricancha (the Golden Temple) - a tem-ple dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, whose interior walls were said to have been covered in gold. Meals: breakfast, farewell dinner

Day 8 — Monday September 15 — Fly to Lima, International flights home

Today we depart Cusco on our domestic flight to Lima. From there, return home on included international flights or join our tour of the Galapagos Islands and Amazon Jungle. See it online at Railandsail.com!

Meals: breakfast