Discover the mysterious world of the Inca's in 2009! Explore their fascinating world on Tauck’s new 13-day Latin America's Bolivia and Peru tour and discover the impact of the Spanish conquistadors on cultures from out of the mists of history. From Francisco Pizarro’s colonial Lima to the Sacred Valley of the Incas to Machu Picchu to Cusco to Lake Titicaca to La Paz, wonders await at every turn. In Peru tour ancient Inca strongholds and sacred sites surrounded by the majestic Andes Mountains. Admire the skill and craftsmanship of ancient artisans whose medium was gold. Immerse yourself in the inspiring ruins at Machu Picchu and learn the secrets of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Rail journeys to Machu Picchu and through the Andes reveal spectacular scenery. Stay at a splendid resort on the shores of the world’s highest navigable lake and encounter people living much as their ancestors did on floating islands made of reeds; meet the builders of a famous reed boat that crossed the Atlantic. Colonial La Paz entices with its architecture and cultural diversity. See and do it all from fine hotels in great locations on our new Bolivia and Peru tour.

* All prices are per person in U.S. dollars

2009 Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Peru!
Our Bolivia and Peru tour begins in Lima. Upon arrival at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, you’ll be met by a Tauck representative and transferred to the Miraflores Park Hotel, your home for your first three nights.
Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru

Day 2: Explore Lima, "City of Kings"
Your Peru tour begins in the lovely colonial center of Lima, originally mapped out by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, which appears on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. You’ll be inspired by its age-old beauty and venerable tradition during a tour this morning. Some of Lima’s most historic buildings surround the splendid Plaza Major; see the Archbishop’s Palace, with its fine carved balcony, and the opulent Government Palace, the official residence of the president of Peru. Visit the impressive, 16th-century Cathedral of Lima, whose first stone was laid by Pizarro in 1535 and in which he is buried. An excellent example of Peruvian Baroque architecture, the rather stark exterior of the 17th-century Church of San Pedro belies its ornate interior. Get a sense of what life was like for the wealthy of Lima years ago at Casa de Aliaga, a beautifully preserved colonial mansion that has been owned by the same family for 17 generations. Then visit the Gold Museum, housing many examples of ancient metal-working skills and artistry. Please join us for a special welcome cocktail reception and dinner in an intriguing private home.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru

Day 3: Artistic expression
Choose between two very different encounters with art today as your Peru tour continues. Visit the impressive collection at the Lima Art Museum to view fine examples of Peru’s pre-Colombian and Colonial-era gold and silver work, and paintings in the style of the School of Cusco. Or, take an optional flightseeing excursion (offered at an additional cost of $400 per person) and “go back” in time to view the mysterious Nazca Lines etched into the high plateau of the Nazca Desert from the air (see “Available Tour Options” for details). Hundreds of huge, individual “drawings” are only recognizable from the air – a vantage point not available to the ancient Nazca people who lived in the area; the origin and purpose of the Nazca Lines continue to create great speculation. Later, visit the Archeological Museum in Ica to learn more about the ancient cultures that once thrived here. No matter what you conclude about how and why the lines came to be, you’ll never forget seeing them for yourself.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru

Day 4: Into the Sacred Valley
Your Peru tour adventure continues as a short flight this morning takes you from cosmopolitan Lima to Cusco. Did you know that South America’s iconic llama and the iconic camel of the Middle East are both camelids and thus “kissing cousins,” although they live half a world apart? En route to Urubama in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, meet the llamas and alpacas that are so associated with the Andes during a visit to a farm that raises them, and enjoy lunch at the historic Hacienda Orihuela. This evening, you’ll be treated to special entertainment representing Quechua lore and Inca mythology followed by dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Casa Andina Classic Sacred Valley, Urubamba, Peru

Day 5: Life in Ollantaytambo
Like Egypt’s pyramids, mystery surrounds the construction methods used to build the massive stone fortress of Ollantaytambo. One of the best preserved of the Inca settlements, this living museum reveals much about what life was like here in the 15th century during a tour; the people of the town of Ollantaytambo still practice a very traditional lifestyle. Return to your hotel for a demonstration of Peruvian cuisine preparation, followed by a scrumptious buffet lunch. This afternoon brings a choice. Perhaps you’ll want to spend time enjoying the amenities of your hotel, taking a horseback ride or being pampered in the spa (at additional cost). Or, join us for an off-the-beaten-path excursion through small villages to explore two other impressive sites in the Sacred Valley. At first, the circular Inca crop terraces at Moray appear to be an amphitheater but become more like a bowl as we descend. The view looking up from the bottom is unforgettable. Continue on to Las Salinas de Maras, thousands of clever geometric terraces where salt is harvested from the waters of a salty spring that have been in use since pre-Inca times.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Casa Andina Classic Sacred Valley, Urubamba, Peru

Day 6: A rail journey to another time
Board the Vistadome train in Ollantaytambo and travel upwards through mist-shrouded peaks that the Incas believed to be sacred to Aguas Calientes, gateway to the “lost city of the Incas,” Machu Picchu. Spending the afternoon exploring this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site, recently named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” with our local guides will be an unforgettable highlight of your Peru tour. Inspiration is everywhere amidst the architectural and aesthetic genius evidenced in the palaces, temples, houses and baths of this mountaintop, totally self-contained city. It is said by some that if you are a spiritually sensitive person and touch your forehead to the Intihuatana stone – still a precise indicator of the two annual equinoxes – you’ll be able to see into the spirit world!
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel, Aguas Calientes, Peru

Day 7: From the past to the present
This morning is yours to do as you please, which might include returning to explore more of Machu Picchu before taking a walk through the hotel’s stunning gardens, home to many species of orchids and birds. After lunch, again board the Vistadome train for the return trip to Cusco. The beautiful Hotel Monasterio, named the “Best Hotel in South America” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2007, will be your home for the next two nights. Originally built in 1592, this 16th-century former monastery in the center of Cusco will indulge you with its unique atmosphere, unequaled charm and gracious hospitality.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru

Day 8: South America's oldest cityBlue-footed Boobie Birds
Just about everywhere you look in Cusco, you’ll see reminders and remnants of its Inca past and its importance to them as the “navel of the world.” Begin the day with a walk through the bustling modern-day market, populated by hundreds of vendors selling everything from produce to flowers and household items, before setting off to explore Cusco. Discover the ruins of the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, “the House of the Sun,” an important Inca stronghold. Nowhere is the collision between Western Europe and the Inca culture more apparent than at the Convent of Santo Domingo. After the extraordinary Inca Temple of the Sun at Koriqancha was ransacked by the Spanish conquerors, its amazing stone walls became the foundation for the Baroque Convent of Santo Domingo, which is built atop the temple. The 16th-century Cathedral of Cusco, whose massive altar is made of solid silver, is a splendid example of Spanish colonial churches in the “New World.” Perhaps you’ll hear the tolling of the Maria Angola bell, the largest in South America, during your visit. After an afternoon at leisure, join us for a lecture by an archeologist from Cusco University to learn more about all that you’ve seen today during your Peru tour.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru

Day 9: Into the Andes and on to the lake
Board the Andean Explorer for a highlight of Tauck’s Peru tour – a spectacular rail journey through majestic peaks and across the Andean plains from Cusco to the shores of Lake Titicaca, the most sacred lake in the Inca world. Once you’re aboard and settled in our private vintage rail car, you’ll be treated to Andean music and a fashion show; lunch and afternoon tea will be served on the train. You’ll spend the next two nights on the banks of the world’s highest navigable lake at Libertador Lake Titicaca Puno Hotel, a lovely property providing wonderful views of Lake Titicaca.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Libertador Lake Titicaca Puno Hotel, Puno, Peru

Day 10: Where time stands still
Legend has it that the Inca empire began at Lake Titicaca when the sun god summoned his children from its chilly waters and sent them forth to establish Cusco. Centuries later, some of the indigenous people of the area dwell on forty-five Islas Flotantes de los Uro, floating islands made from reeds that dot the lake, living much as their ancestors did and still following their ancestral customs. During a powerboat cruise on the lake, view some of these islands and go ashore to meet the inhabitants and discover what their lives are like. Later on Taquile Island, visit the home of an Aymara family who will prepare lunch for you and perform some of their traditional dances. You’ll no doubt notice that on Taquile all the men seem to be industriously knitting, and you’ll see some of the items that they produce. After returning to the hotel, you’re free to spend the afternoon as you choose.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Libertador Lake Titicaca Puno Hotel, Puno, Peru

Day 11: Bolivia bound
Today, you’ll cross the border between Peru and Bolivia by boat via Lake Titicaca. En route, stop at Juli, once the capital of the lake area, to see a cathedral before continuing on to your first stop in Bolivia, the Island of the Sun. The ancient Aymara and Quechua peoples believed that the sun and the gods were born here and founded the Inca Empire… and many of their descendants still hold that belief. With a population of about 5,000, the only means of transportation between the five villages on the island is the donkey. Pass through the narrow Straits of Tiquina to Huatajata where you’ll meet the Lamachi family, builders of the reed boat RA II used by famed explorer and archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl to prove his theory that ancient vessels could cross vast oceans. Explore the beliefs and traditions of the Kallawayas, naturopathic healers who have been using plants and herbs to cure the sick in the mountains of Bolivia since the days of the Inca Empire; they use a secret language to pass on their medical knowledge. Continue on to La Paz, the highest capital city on earth, for a two-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Camino Real Hotel, La Paz, Bolivia

Day 12: Lively La Paz
Begun on the pre-existing site of an Aymara village, La Paz was founded in 1548 by Spaniards. The highest capital city in the world, La Paz is home to the highest golf course in the world; in the thin air, a good tee shot will travel an amazing distance! Soak up some local color in the bustling Indian Market and browse in the Mercato de las Brujas, the Witches’ Market, for magic amulets, potions, spells or plants reputed to have healing powers. From the Plaza Murillo, you’ll see the colonial-era Government Palace, known as the Burned Palace because it was set on fire during eight different revolutions; the Congress building had been a convent, a jail and a university before being renovated in 1904 to house the congress of Bolivia. Then, head out of town to the Valle De La Luna, or Valley of the Moon, a stone landscape of deep gullies and bizarre rock formations. Explore more of La Paz as you please this afternoon before joining us for our farewell reception and dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Camino Real Hotel, La Paz, Bolivia

Day 13: Say adios to the Andes
Your Bolivia and Peru tour ends in La Paz. A transfer from the Camino Real Hotel to La Paz Airport is included. Please allow two hours for airport check-in formalities. Thank you for traveling with Tauck World Discovery. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home. Hasta la vista!
Meals: Breakfast

Departure Dates: 

 Tour Inclusions:

• Spectacular rail journeys through the Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca aboard a vintage rail car on the Andean Explorer, and to Machu Picchu on Vistadome
• A private family-hosted hacienda dinner outside La Paz and a private hacienda dinner in Lima
• A performance based on Quechua & Inca mythology by the renowned Peruvian folkloric group, Yuyachkani
• Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Cusco, historic Lima and Machu Picchu
• A special cooking demonstration by a Peruvian chef
• Private excursion to meet residents of Lake Titicaca’s floating reed islands
• Visit to the museum of the Limachi Brothers, builders of Thor Heyerdahl’s reed boats
• Private nature walks and art museum visits
• Most meals – 30 (12 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 9 dinners)
• Airport transfers, taxes, and porterage