Travel

• Day 1 Depart Canada: Board your overnight flight. Depending on your flight schedule you may arrive in Lima on Day 1 in the late evening. In this case, your hotel room will be available for check-in.
• Day 2 Lima, Peru: Arrive Lima. You will be met and transferred to your hotel where your room is ready for check-in. Your Lima tour starts with a special "Be My Guest" lunch at Casa Diez Canseco. Take a tour of the private home of the Diez Canseco family, listening to stories of the Spanish conquerors and Peruvian Presidents from which the family descended. After a delicious three-course meal, continue on to see the Plaza Mayor, with its Colonial era treasures the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Archbishop's Palace. Next to the magnificent 16th century San Francisco Monastery, whose cloisters are adorned with tiles from Seville. Return to your hotel, where your evening is free.
• Day 3 Lima/Cuzco/Sacred Valley: Fly to Cuzco this morning to begin your adventure in the Sacred Valley. Head into the scenic countryside and stop at the market in Pisac. There is time to bargain for Peruvian arts and crafts before driving across the Valley. This is one of the most beautiful areas found anywhere in the world. At Ollantaytambo, a walking tour introduces you to the quaint village. Just outside of town, admire the ruins of a mighty Inca fortress. Later, travel to your hotel in Yucay.
• Day 4 Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu: This morning, transfer to the train station for the Vistadome Valley train journey to Machu Picchu. There is time to explore the magnificent ruins of the "Lost City of the Incas" on your own after a guided walking tour with a local expert. Enjoy lunch before making the short trip to your hotel in Aguas Calientes, at the foot of spectacular Machu Picchu.
• Day 5 Machu Picchu/Cuzco: Return to Machu Picchu with your local guide for last impressions of this extraordinary monument. Hiking enthusiasts may want to climb Wayna Picchu. The view from the top of the mountain is unforgettable! Later, travel by train and coach back to Cuzco, where the evening is free.
• Day 6 Cuzco: Cuzco is a city enveloped in myth and legend. With a history of more than 3,000 years, it is one of the oldest existing cities in the Americas. Traces of its Incan and Spanish heritage can still be seen today. A morning city tour shows you the Plaza de Armas and the impressive Cathedral. Then, visit the San Blas district, with its historic church and its wealth of arts and crafts. Also, visit several Inca ruins including the fortresses of Sacsayhuaman and Tambomachay. The remainder of the day is free to continue exploring the city the Inca called the "home of the gods" on your own. Dinner tonight is at a popular local restaurant complete with festive Peruvian folkloric music.
• Day 7 Cuzco/Puno: A day of great scenery and history as you head to Lake Titicaca, the cradle of the Aymara civilization, the birthplace of the Inca Empire and a sacred site to the Inca. Along the way, visit the charming highland villages of Racchi, with its interesting and important archaeological complex, and Andahuaylillas, known for the 7th century church, considered the "Sistine Chapel of the Americas" because of the beautiful works of art and wall murals. Your last stop is ancient Sillustani and its necropolis, where you can see the intriguing "chullpas" or burial towers of the Colla people. This site pre-dates the Inca in Peru. End the day in Puno, founded in 1668 and 12,600 feet above sea level. Tonight, relax at your hotel, which overlooks Lake Titicaca.
• Day 8 Lake Titicaca: Set sail for a fascinating day on Lake Titicaca. Bordering Peru and Bolivia, this is one of the highest navigable lakes in the world. First, visit one of the floating islands of the Uros. For hundreds of years the livelihood of this unique "water tribe" has been based on the benefits of the totora reed. The reed is used to build their homes, boats, and the islands they live on. Call in on one of their traditional communities and learn of their intriguing lifestyle. Next, travel to Taquile Island and meet the Quechua-speaking natives who are renowned for their hand-weaving techniques, an art developed over the centuries. After lunch, return to Puno.
• Day 9 Puno/Lima/Ica: Depart from Puno this morning and fly to Lima. From here, coach along the famous Pan American Highway, dotted with villages and vistas of the blue Pacific. Arrive in sunny Ica, founded in 1563, and where some of the best "Pisco," the local wine, is made.
• Day 10 Ica/Nazca Lines: Start the day with a highlight: board your aircraft for the flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines a series of drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the parched soil thousands of years ago, some up to 1,000 feet long. The drawings include the "Spaceman," the "Monkey" and the "Condor." After this breathtaking experience, enjoy lunch, then on to visit the Hacienda El Catador. Here, see how Pisco is distilled. There is a chance to taste it and perhaps buy a bottle or two to bring home with you. Finally, visit the Ica Archaeological Museum with its collection of Nazca Indian artifacts. Later, relish dinner at the hotel.
• Day 11 Ica/Ballestas/Lima: Board a motorboat and cruise to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including sea lions, boobies, and Humboldt penguins. The bay's beautiful red and white flamingos supposedly inspired General San Martin to design the independence flag for Peru. The huge Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Leave Ica, stopping for lunch at a favorite restaurant. Later, savor a Farewell Dinner in Lima.
• Day 12 Depart Lima/Canada: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

The altitude of Lake Titicaca is 12,600 feet and Cuzco is 11,444 feet.