Brazil and Peru Classic I (with Machu Picchu overnight)
10 Days / 9 Nights

Day 2 - Sugar Loaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay (B)

Morning tour Sugar Loaf Mountain in Guanabara Bay an ascend by cable car for panoramic view. Next proceed to downtown Rio. In season (October - February) take optional "Carnival Behind the Scenes" tour to meet the artists and get a special preview of work in progress on the carnival floats and costumes. The rest of the year the optional tour will feature the "Secrets of Old Rio", a walking tour through the historic avenues, squares and backstreets of Rio. The balance of the day is free.

Day 4 - Rio de Janeiro - Lima (B)

Transfer to the airport and fly to Lima, Peru, the "City of Kings" famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, extraordinary museums and cuisine. Lima is internationally recognized as the "Gastronomic Capital of the Americas", and its cuisine is considered among the most diverse and exquisite in the world on par with French cuisine. Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Day 5 - Lima City Tour and Larco Museum (B)

Tour of Modern and Colonial Lima including the world famous Larco Museum - This half-day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Continue to the Larco Museum, founded in 1926, it displays remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid is surrounded by beautiful gardens. The Larco Museum also features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.

Magic Water Circuit ( From Wednesday to Sunday )

Late afternoon visit the Magic Water Circuit at Parque de la Reserva. This recently remodeled park boasts 12 beautiful water fountains that literally "dance" under an awesome choreography of music, lights and laser beams. This park is the pride of Lima and has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest water fountain park in the world. The 80-meter high water fountain is an impressive view.

Day 6 - Lima - Cusco (B)

Early morning transfer from the hotel to the airport for a short but spectacular flight over the snowcapped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet.

Upon arrival a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.

Tour of Cusco and Nearby Ruins

Visitors are caught up in the excitement of touring the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. The tour visits important landmarks such us Cusco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church, Plaza de Armas and Koricancha "The Temple of the Sun". This tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere also includes the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture.

Day 7 - Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex (B,L)

Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress - Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where an Indian Market takes place Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Other days you will tour the religious nucleus and archaeological site of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry.

Continue to the Ollantaytambo archaeological complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo was an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a "Living Inca Town" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. Lunch is at a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River.

Day 8 - Machu Picchu with overnight stay (B,L)

Morning train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. Lunch is at the Orient Express' Sanctuary Lodge located just a few steps from the Inca citadel.

Day 9 - Machu Picchu Free Day. Return train ride (B)

Free morning to enjoy one of the most incredible sights on earth, the sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Take as much time as you need to study these magnificent ruins, hike the steep stone-paved trail of Huayna Picchu, the pyramid-shape mountain above Machu Picchu for a breathtaking view of the site, or stroll to the Inca Bridge a secret entrance used by the Inca's army or walk toward the Inca Trail to find the historic Intipunku or Sun Gate. Afternoon return train ride.