Become immersed in the world of the ancient Inca and their present-day descendants through definitive attractions and immersive experiences. In Cusco, you will behold sites such as Sacsayhuaman fortress, whose massive stones – some weighing 200 tons – fit together so perfectly no mortar was necessary. You will also explore the ruins of iconic Machu Picchu, an Inca royal retreat still shrouded in mystery. While visiting an Andean highland community, you will interact with villagers descended from the Incas that will demonstrate their traditions and way of life.
Special Note: As this is an active program that takes place at high altitudes, we strongly recommend that all guests should consult with their physician regarding their ability to participate prior to signing up. Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour. This program is not recommended for those guests traveling with wheelchair or with walking difficulties due to the amount of walking, steps and uneven ground to be negotiated.
Note: This program starts in Lima and ends in Chile, therefore arriving flights must be booked into Lima International Airport.
DAY 1
After flying into Lima International Airport, we will be met by a representative and transferred to the AC Hotel by Marriott in Miraflores district, a five-star hotel in the heart of Lima.
The day is at your leisure. Meals are on your own.
Check in time at the hotel is at 3:00pm.
Should you have an early arrival you may wish to book an extra night so that you have a room available upon your arrival.
DAY 2
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for our flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, embark on a city tour of Cusco.
After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the splendid Baroque-style Cusco Cathedral, built in the mid-1500s on the foundations of an Inca palace. Many of the stones used in its construction were looted from the nearby Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Continuing, our next stop is the sacred site of Koricancha. Here we will admire the lovely Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo that was built on the foundations of the Temple of the Sun, the most sumptuous temple in the Inca Empire. The curved, mortar-less masonry wall at the west end of the church is one of the greatest existing examples of Inca stonework.
Then, visit the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Strategically located on a hill overlooking Cusco, the fortress was constructed without mortar like many other Inca structures. Yet the enormous stones (some weighing 200 tons) of the remaining walls fit so tightly that not even a thin blade of grass can slide between them. The craftsmanship is a stunning example of the Inca’s sophisticated construction techniques and architectural skills.
After the visit of the city and sights, check into the J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel or similar for overnight. Dinner on your own.
NOTE: All rooms at the J.W. Marriott have an oxygen enriched system to help you acclimate to the altitude. This upgrade service has been included in this package.
Note: We suggest flying with a carry-on only – any other suitcases will be kept in hotel storage and waiting at the hotel upon your return to Lima on Day 5.
DAY 3
Following breakfast, drive further into the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”. The route with wonderful landscapes will take us to the Ollantaytambo Fortress. Visit the site before heading to the Ollantaytambo station to board the Hiram Bingham Train. Brunch will be served during the journey, as we take in the spectacular Andean scenery.
Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, drive to the ruins of Machu Picchu to explore this famous “Lost City of the Incas.” Constructed as a royal retreat for the Inca emperor Pachacuti in the 1400s, Machu Picchu was abandoned less than 100 years later, its population probably devastated by smallpox. Because the Spanish conquistadors never found this hidden city, Bingham discovered it largely intact.
Architectural highlights include the Temple of the Sun, designed much like the one in Cusco, several other temples, hundreds of terraces, and a mysterious carved stone situated on a raised platform that towers above the plaza. The stone may have been used for astronomical observations, but no one knows for certain. The Inca had no written language, so there is no record of Machu Picchu’s ultimate purpose. Scholars are still striving to uncover clues as to its mysteries.
After visiting Machu Picchu, board the First Class Train to begin our journey back to Ollantaytambo Train Station. Dinner will be served aboard the train. Upon arrival, transfer to J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel or similar for overnight.
DAY 4
After breakfast, visit an Andean highland community and meet the Quechua-speaking farmers and weavers who live there, having a personal encounter with local lifeways and traditions.
This is a visit to the magical and inspiring world of Quechua highlanders, in which we learn how traditional people live today in the Andean countryside.
We participate in the daily activities of this place that they call the village of beautiful flowers, visiting the kitchens to see a colorful variety of local foods on display, under preparation, and being cooked upon wood-fired mud-brick stoves.
The welcoming and hospitable villagers will offer us a demonstration of textile technique and design -- an essential feature of Peruvian life for millenia. They will share this knowledge with us, and reveal the symbolic meanings encoded into their cloth and styles of dress.
Then, after a short walk with our village companions to the accompaniment of flutes and drums, we enter the heart of the Andean agricultural cycle -- as vital today as it was in Inca times -- as our Quechua hosts show us how they hand-turn the soil on the mountainsides and invite us to join them in blessing their earth, their animals, and the new-plowed land.
In this celebration of profound Andean traditions inherited from the Inca past, we gain a privileged experience for ourselves today.
Then, we drive to the local restaurant for lunch.
Dinner is at the hotel. Overnight at J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel or similar
DAY 5
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago de Chile. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
The rest of the day is at leisure with lunch and dinner on your own. Overnight at Ritz Carlton Hotel.
DAY 6
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the port to embark the ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step:
• Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
• Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
• All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
After arriving at the Lima International Airport, you will transfer to your hotel, where you will spend a relaxing afternoon and evening. Any meals are on your own today.
Although every effort will be made to have the room available before the 3:00pm check in, this cannot be guaranteed. If you are arriving early, you may wish to book an extra night to ensure that a room is ready upon your arrival.
Meet and Greet and transfers
• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2 - timings subject to change based on actual flight details
6:00am Wake-up call
7:00am Buffet breakfast at the hotel (not private)
8:00am Meet at the hotel
8:10am Transfer to the airport
9:10am Arrive at the airport and check-in for your flight
11:10am Flight to Cusco LA2015 (subject to change)
12:30pm Arrive in Cusco
1:00pm Drive to the restaurant for lunch
3:00pm Visit the Cathedral and main square for photo opportunity
4:00pm Drive to Koricancha Temple
4:15pm Visit Koricancha Temple
5:00pm Transfer to Sacsayhuaman fortress
5:15pm Visit Sacsayhuaman fortress
6:00pm Drive back to the hotel
Dinner on your own
Overnight at the J.W. Marriott or similar hotel
DAY 3
6:15am Wake-up call
6:45am Buffet breakfast at the hotel (not private)
7:30am Drive to Ollantaytambo Fortress
9:20am Visit Ollantaytambo Fortress
10:20am Drive to the train station to board train to Aguas Calientes
10:40am Board the Hiram Bingham Train (subject to change)
10:53am Hiram Bingham Train to Aguas Calientes (brunch on board)
12:24pm Walk to the bus station
12:40pm Bus drive to Machu Picchu Citadel
1:10pm Guided visit of the Citadel
4:00pm Bus drive back to Aguas Calientes
6:15pm Walk to the train station
6:45pm Board the First Class Train (subject to change)
7:00pm First Class Train return trip (dinner on board)
8:41pm Arrive at the station and drive back to your hotel
10:45pm Arrive at the hotel for overnight
Overnight at J.W. Marriott or similar hotel
DAY 4
7:00am Wake-up call
8:00am Buffet breakfast at the hotel (not private)
9:00am Transfer to the Andean community
10:15am Visit the Andean community
12:15pm Transfer to local restaurant
1:30pm Arrival and lunch
3:00pm Transfer to your hotel in Cusco
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at J.W. Marriott or similar hotel
DAY 5 - timings subject to change based on actual flight details
8:00am Wake-up call
9:00am Buffet breakfast at hotel (not private)
10:00am Drive to Cusco Airport
10:30am Arrive at airport and check-in for your flight
12:25pm Flight to Santiago de Chile LA2366 (subject to change)
1:45pm Arrival in Santiago de Chile and transfer to the hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own
Overnight at the Ritz Carlton Hotel or similar hotel in Santiago
DAY 6
9:00am Buffet breakfast at hotel (not private)
10:30am Transfer to the port to embark the ship
Expected Weather:
From mid-November until the end of April is considered to be the wet season, with the peak rainfall occurring during January and February. Although it may not rain every day or for even for a few days at a time, there is a significant chance that you will encounter wet weather. Be prepared with appropriate clothing and even an umbrella. Daily temperatures average 18 °C (64 °F), but unlike the dry season, nighttime temperatures are just a few degrees lower.
What to Bring:
• Bring comfortable, casual clothing in natural, “breathable” fabrics. Temperatures will change as altitudes and the time changes, so it’s best to bring shorts, as well as long trousers and layered clothing. Religious sites require conservative dress. Both males and females should cover their arms, legs and shoulders.
• Local standards dictate a neat, clean outfit for dining in restaurants and touring urban areas. For men: long trousers and a shirt with a collar. For ladies: trousers or a knee-length (or longer) skirt with a modest top. Formal clothing is not necessary.
• A sweater or lightweight jacket for the cooler evening temperatures.
• A lightweight (preferably non-plastic) raincoat or poncho, and an umbrella.
• Comfortable walking shoes with low or no heels.
• Sunglasses with a strap, sun block, a sunhat, and insect repellent.
• Please note that the use of walking sticks is prohibited in Machu Picchu unless they are needed by guests with mobility problems.
Local Currency:
Peru’s currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.).
Electricity:
The current is 220 volts AC. In most hotel bathrooms, there is an electrical outlet with 110 volts for electric shavers, but this should not be used for travel irons or hair dryers. Most hotel rooms are equipped with hairdryers. We recommend bringing your own travel adaptor for electronic devices if they do not conform to the above voltage.
Luggage information:
For domestic flights on this program, it is permitted to check one piece of 23Kg (50 pounds) per person and 1 carry-on of 8Kg (17.5 pounds) per person.
For international flights on this program, it is permitted to check two pieces of 23Kg (50 pounds) per person and 1 carry-on of 8Kg (17.5 pounds) per person.
Guests having excess or overweight luggage will be charged a fee upon check in at the airport.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type)
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which the Cruise Line nor our local ground operator be responsible for.
Documents and Visa Requirements:
Foreign passengers entering Peru must have a passport valid at least 6 months past the day of arrival in Peru. Travelers to Peru will receive a card from Peruvian immigration upon arrival stating the length of approved stay (usually 90 days).
VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase for this program otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time or incorrect names on flight tickets will result in either denial of travel or ticket re-purchase and guests will be responsible for any fees incurred.
Aircraft type (subject to change):
Airbus 320
Accommodations:
AC Hotel by Marriott in Lima
Malecón de la Reserva, Miraflores, Lima, Peru
Phone: +51 1 5969480
J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel
Esquina de la Calle Ruinas 432 y San Agustín, Cusco, Peru
Phone: +51 84 582200
Ritz Carlton Santiago Hotel
El Alcalde 15, Las Condes, Chile
Phone: +56 2 24708500
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified in advance. If you are not notified of changes before departure, then you will be staying at the hotel listed in this program.
Program includes:
• English-speaking guides and escort
• 1 night in City View Rooms at AC Hotel by Marriott in Lima or similar on a bed & breakfast basis
• 3 nights in Deluxe Rooms at the J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel in Cusco or similar on a bed & breakfast basis
• 1 night in Deluxe Rooms at Ritz Carlton Hotel in Santiago de Chile or similar on a bed & breakfast basis
• Oxygen-enriched Rooms at the J.W. Marriott El Convento Hotel in Cusco
• Entrance fees to Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo, Cusco Cathedral and Machu Picchu
• Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu
• First Class train from Machu Picchu
• Gratuities for luggage porterage and restaurants
• 2 lunches at local restaurant (2 glass of local wine or beer, 1 water or soft drink, and 1 hot beverage)
• 1 dinner at the hotel in Cusco (2 glass of local wine or beer, 1 water or soft drink, and 1 hot beverage)
• 1 Brunch on board the Hiram Bingham Train (including 2 non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages)
• 1 Dinner on board the First Class Train (including 2 non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages)
• Bottled water and snacks on coaches
• Airport transfers
• Luggage storage and shipment in Lima
• 1 piece of luggage of 23kg + 1 carry-on of 8Kg, per person for domestic flight
• 2 pieces of luggage of 23kg each + 1 carry-on of 8Kg, for the international flight
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights (independent of the cruise line) are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Program Excludes:
• Drinks and meals not mentioned above
• Personal expenses and hotel incidentals such as laundry, phone calls, room service, and minibar
• Gratuities to drivers and guides
• Excess or overweight luggage fees
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include: inclines, cobblestones, sand, and gravel or natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation. Weather appropriate clothing; hats; sunglasses; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are generally recommended.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land Programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.
