Peru – Journey to the Majestic Land of the Ancient Inca!

From charming and picturesque colonial Cusco, to the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas, to mysterious
Machu Picchu – the Crown Jewel of the Andes and the country’s capital, Lima,
Peru offers a unique visually stimulating and exciting experience!

Your Journey Includes:

• Roundtrip air transportation
• Inter-Peru Flights
• Other tour-related transportation in Peru
• First Class hotel accommodations in wonderful hotels
• Daily breakfast
• 4 lunches
• 5 dinners
• All site entrance fees
• Pre-paid Gratuities
• Fully escorted and guided by local Peruvian Guides
• Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, including luggage handling
• All site entrance fees

Special Added Features

• Visit to the unique Pisac market
• Lunch at a typical Peruvian Hacienda restaurant
• Visit Ollantaytambo, an old Inca village
• Explore enigmatic Machu Picchu
• Sightseeing tour of colonial Cuzco
• Special farewell dinner at the famous La Rosa Nautica restaurant

Volunteer Nurses/Doctor Program to provide

• Assessment of Vital signs (Blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature)
• Assessment Heart and Lung sounds
• Teaching Healthy diets, diabetic &, hypertension prevention & Dental health
• Vision and hearing assessments handouts
  – At the Inca village of Willoq
  – At the Samana Wasi Children’s Home
  – At the famed Aniqum Hospital, Lima Peru’s children’s burn rehabilitation hospital

 TOUR ITINERARY

(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1: Saturday, January 7:  Depart for Lima

Depart for Lima this evening.

Day 2: Sunday, January 8: Onwards  to Cusco & Sacred Valley: Urubamba (L/D)

Morning arrival in Lima, where we connect at the International Airport in Lima for our 1+ hour flight to Cusco over the spectacular Andes Mountain. Arrive Cusco where we board our mini-van and depart to the lush Sacred Valley of the Incas, home to a number of typical Andean village as we see villagers going about everyday life. En route, isit  Awanakancha to learn about llamas, alpacas, vicunas and the ancient weaving techniques that are still used today. On to the charming village of Pisac and its traditional handicraft marketplace to shop for locally-made colorful sweaters, ponchos, gloves, hats, jewelry, textiles and more. Lunch at the Tunupa Restaurant before continuing through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to our hotel. Time to refresh ourselves before dinner.

Day 3, Monday, January 9: In the Sacred Valley:  Willoq & Clinic Visit (B/L/D)

We start our day with a visit to a unique site, the Willoq, a small village in the Peruvian Andes that is sustained by the sale of its colorful textiles by the native craftswomen. This tour offers the chance to experience and share with local residents the Andean tradition of reciprocity (Ayni). The goal is for the community itself to coordinate tourist activities in its territory, interacting with visitors and helping them understand the community’s rich historical and cultural legacy.  While the local women sell their wares in the market, the kids gather in wait for the treats they know will come from the market-goers. The local children wait patiently as you’d expect a crowd of kids looking to satisfy their sweet-tooths. This scene brings that entire village to life the bright colors, the sweetness of the kids, the ruggedness of the life high in the Andes. This morning participate in the Community Service program. Box lunch in Willoq. In the afternoon we will visit a local health centers that provides medical attention to lower-income families in the Urubamba Valley. An opportunity to interact with physicians, administrators and/or local nurses that provide health care services to those in need. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4, Tuesday, January 10: In the Sacred Valley  –  Visit to Samana Wasi Children’s Home (B/L/D)

We depart after breakfast for our half hour ride through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, a small village that has been continuously occupied since Inca times. Our Guide will take us on a short walking tour through some of the streets, where we will see original Inca doorways and other construction. We continue with a visit nearby Samana Wasi (“House of Rest” in the indigenous Quechua language), a home for abandoned children and neglected elderly founded by local Urubamba residents Sr. Anton Ponce de Leon Paiva and his wife Regia Astete Ponce de Leon. Samana, as it is known locally, was built on Anton’s family land, and has been in operation since the late 1980’s. Anton and Regia have brought together two of the most disenfranchised segments of the population; here they live with and learn from each other. There are approximately 25 children who live there; they range in age from 2 to 18 years. An elderly grandmother came to live there 5 years ago.  Children live at Samana and go to school in Urubamba. Volunteers at the Home teach them other subjects, such as music, weaving, ceramics, etc. These people are also surrogate aunties and uncles to the children, as well as cooks, laundry persons, groundskeepers, farmers, etc. The children take part in the daily chores and help to tend the vegetable gardens.  They are not adopted out, but live as a family unit, with Poppy Anton, Mama Regia, and their brothers and sisters, until they are 18. At this time they are able to attend a university or seek employment. Several of the children have left Samana, have graduated from a university, have jobs in various fields, are married with families of their own, and are now contributing members of society.  There is no government support for the Samana Wasi; it is funded solely through private donations  During our afternoon we will learn more about the history of Samana, as well as its present day operations and goals for the future in caring for the children and elders who live there. We will see the children at work on their afternoon chores, as well as in art or music classes, and have an opportunity to visit with some of them and ask them questions.  Lunch today is at the Wayra Ranch as we indulge in a local gastronomic feast. We will also see the famed Peruvian Peso horse, renowned for the smoothest gait in the world as we view an equestrian demonstration to the rhythm of marienra music. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5. Wednesday, January 11: To Machu Picchu & Cuzco (B/L)

This morning, transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station and board the train to Machu Picchu. Upon arriving at Aguas Calientes,  a small village at the base of Machu Picchu, we will embark on a 25-minute coach ride to “The Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. We will enjoy a guided tour of the marvelous citadel, an awe-inspiring experience. Later, feel free to stroll around the archaeological site. Lunch will be served at the top of Machu Picchu before we return to the village and board our train for Cuzco. Dinner on your own this evening.

Day 6, Thursday, January 12: In Cuzco (B/D)

We start our morning with a tour of  Cuzco, beginning at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former Colonial monastery was previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Continue the tour, stopping at the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. Later, drive to the countryside to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in  the area, including Sacsayhuaman, the fortress where the Inca’s last stand in Cusco against the Spanish took place the temple and amphitheater of Kenko, and the breathtaking Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. Return to Cusco for dinner and entertainment at a local restaurant.

Day 7, Friday, January 13: To Lima: Aniquem Hospital Program  (B/D)

After breakfast, we depart Cusco for our short flight to Lima. Upon arrival, we will transfer for our visit to the Aniquem Hospital.   Aniquem is a non-profit organization working since 1999 in the prevention and rehabilitation of children burn survivors.  Services at Aniquem are free of charge to patients in poverty and extreme poverty that have suffered severe burns. Patients come from all the country. Acute treatment is usually covered by the state in public hospitals but rehabilitation is not covered and therefore they frequently see patients with complicated hyper trophic scars, queloids and scars contractures. Aniquem is the only center in the country that works in the support of patients with facial disfigurement.  Their work covers a broad spectrum of the needs of burn survivors and have treated approximately 1,700 patients with severe burns, from the opening of the outpatient burn rehabilitation center in 2002.  Return to our hotel where we have the balance of the day free for independent exploration and shopping. Special farewell dinner at the famous La Rosa Nautica. Overnight in Lima.

Day 8, Saturday, January 14: TO USA

Full day at leisure to relax and explore Lima,  and do some great shopping.  Afternoon checkout at your hotel and transfer to the airport for your non-stop overnight flight to JFK

Day 9, Sunday, January 15: Arrival JFK

Early morning arrival at JFK

Your Hotels (or similar)

• 3- nights accommodation at the La Hacienda Hotel in Urubamba (Sacred Valley)
• 2 -nights accommodation at the Eco Inn Cusco Hotel in Cuzco
• 1 -night accommodation at the Britania Miraflores Hotel in Lima

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary for group tour leaders.

It is a suggestion to assist teachers, religious leaders, organization heads, authors, speakers and other leaders who are planning a travel program for their group.

Your organization could go on a tour like this.
To get started CLICK HERE