Compare Mysteries Of The Inca Empire With Peru's Amazon & Galapagos Cruise by Tours4Fun

Day 1 ARRIVE IN LIMA, PERU

Welcome to Lima, where you will be met by a Monograms representative.

Day 2 LIMA - PUERTO MALDONADO - TAMBOPATA ECO LODGE

Fly to Puerto Maldonado, entry to Peru's Amazon Jungle. Take a motorboat journey up the Tambopata River to view turtles, caimans, monkeys, and birdlife. Arrive at your Amazon Jungle lodge within Tambopata National Reserve. This afternoon, head out with your Naturalist in search of saddleback tamarins, brown capuchins, agoutis, blue-morpho butterflies, trogons, toucans, and many other species commonly spotted here. As night falls, head out on foot to search for nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 3 TAMBOPATA ECO LODGE

Enjoy a Naturalist-guided canoe ride and walk to see the flora and fauna that thrive in the Amazon. After lunch, head back out with your Naturalist to learn about the endemic plants in this region and spot some more wildlife. This evening, venture back out by canoe with your Naturalist to appreciate the sounds of the jungle at night. (B,L,D)

Day 4 TAMBOPATA ECO LODGE

For more insight into the Amazon, let your Naturalist know what included adventure you would like to take advantage of today"it's your choice! (B,L,D)

Day 5 TAMBOPATA ECO LODGE - PUERTO MALDONADO - LIMA

Return to Puerto Maldonado, fly to Lima. Heralded as the "City of Kings" by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums. (B)

Day 6 LIMA

Sightseeing today focuses on Lima's colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once capital of Spain's South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro's remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)

Day 7 LIMA - CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY

Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Awanakancha and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into precious fibers for ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisac, a charming village with a famous Indian market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel in the peaceful Sacred Valley. (B,D)

Day 8 SACRED VALLEY

Start the day with a visit to the village of Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest"the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. See how the temple area at the top of the terraces was the perfect defensive stronghold, then visit a local home in this Incan town to experience life in a traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Next, visit the Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chicheria for a taste of a chicha, a typical Inca drink in Peru. (B)

Day 9 SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU

Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the "Lost City of the Incas." Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Listen as your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandonded when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. Many mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day. (B,D)

Day 10 MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, return to Cusco, former capital of the Inca Empire. (B)

Day 11 CUSCO

Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas until the Spanish toppled it. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, housing a magnificent collection of artwork, including a depiction of The Last Supper that portrays the apostles dining on cuy (guinea pig). Continue to the hillside overlooking Cusco for a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here, then see the ruins of Kenko and Puca Pucara before returning to Cusco. (B,D)

Day 12 CUSCO - JULIACA - PUNO

Fly to Juliaca, then transfer to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to found the Inca Empire. (B)

Day 13 PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA

Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its man-made islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. This is evident by the Spanish peasant dresses made of Andean textiles"the islanders make some of the finest in all of Peru. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros Indians construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 14 PUNO - JULIACA - LIMA

Return to Juliaca, stopping at the pre-Incan burial grounds of Sillustani en route. See the above-ground tombs, chullpas, in which the Aymara Indians buried their high priests. You will be welcomed into a local home for an inside look at life here. Later, a short flight returns you to Lima, where you will transfer to your hotel. (B)

Day 15 LIMA - QUITO, ECUADOR

Board a flight for Quito. (B)

Day 16 QUITO - BALTRA (EMBARKATION) - GALÁPAGOS CRUISING

Fly to Baltra and visit the highlands of Santa Cruz, marked by extinct volcanoes, lava tubes, and astonishing plantlife. Here, witness giant tortoises in a natural reserve and learn about efforts to conserve these ancient creatures. Continue to the port where you will board the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)

Day 17 GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: GENOVESA ISLAND

Wake up at Genovesa Island and encounter a small fur seal grotto before taking a walk up Prince Philip's Steps to see large nesting colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies. Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels can be observed flying in all directions and, if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a short-eared Owl. After lunch on board, visit Darwin Bay to observe frigate birds, red-footed boobies, herons, lava gulls, and many other bird species. (B,L,D)

Day 18 GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ & SANTA FÉ ISLANDS

Back on Santa Cruz, walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos are often found. Climb Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas. On Santa Fe, a large sea lion colony greets you on its white-sand beach. Walk through a cactus forest in search of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, the largest in the islands and distinctively paler than its counterparts. This island is home to a number of endemic species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, a variety of finches, and one of the four species of Galapagos mockingbirds. (B,L,D)

Day 19 GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: MOSQUERA ISLET - BALTRA (DISEMBARKATION) - QUITO

Your final visit takes you to Mosquera Islet. This flat, sandy island has a large colony of sea lions and is an excellent site for observing shorebirds such as herons and Lava Gulls. Take a dip in the waters and snorkel to see the abundant sea life. Later, disembark and fly to Quito. (B)

Day 20 QUITO

Included sightseeing showcases Quito's treasures: Independence Plaza, the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery, and the Jesuit's La Compania Church with its stunning golden altars. (B)

Day 21 QUITO

Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)