Your Itinerary
Day 1Miami–Lima
Board your overnight flight to Lima. (If your flight arrives today, your room is available to you.)
Day 2Arrive in Lima
Rooms are ready upon arrival early this morning. This afternoon, your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the Cathedral, where the skeleton of Francisco Pizarro is sealed in a wooden coffin, and the San Francisco Monastery with its eerie burial crypts. (B)
Day 3Lima–Cuzco
Fly to Cuzco nestled high in the Andes. Your guided tour visits the Santo Domingo Monastery, previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. In the Plaza de Armas, see the Cathedral before taking a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, with its intricate stone walls, the amphitheatre of Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara. (B)
Day 4Cuzco
A short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, brings you to Awanakancha, where you will learn about the importance of the alpaca (llama) for Inca cultures as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to the market town of Pisac. Handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry can be bought here at bargain prices. At the other end of the valley, visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, where some of the finest examples of Inca masonry can be seen. Tonight in Cuzco, maybe sample area cuisine at one of the numerous restaurants recommended by your Local Host. (B,L)
Day 5Cuzco–Machu Picchu
Transfer to Ollanta and board a train bound for Machu Picchu, discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. On a guided tour, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas, or hike to the peak of Huayna Picchu. (B,L,D)
Day 6Machu Picchu–Cuzco
A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco, where your Local Host will recommend options for your free time. Perhaps visit the Inca Museum or wander through the artisan district of San Blas. (B)
Day 7Cuzco–Lima
Fly to Lima. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day 8Lima–Rio de Janeiro
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio. (B)
Day 9Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
An included city tour takes you to bustling downtown Rio, where modern office towers stand next to relics of the Portuguese colonial past. View the Sambodromo and the Cathedral before visiting 300-foot-high Sugar Loaf Mountain. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can savor spectacular vistas of the city and beaches. The afternoon and evening are at leisure. (B)
Day 10Rio de Janeiro
Enjoy a full day at leisure. Your Local Host will suggest an optional Jeep tour to the rainforest in the middle of the city, Tijuca National Park and its bird sanctuary. This afternoon, you may elect to discover historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and site of the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II. Tonight, opt to join a fun churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style, followed by a Samba show, where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B)
Day 11Rio de Janeiro
A day of leisure or you may wish to enjoy a Guanabara Bay cruise, offering spectacular views of Rio and its beaches. (B)
Day 12Rio de Janeiro–Iguassu Falls
Fly to Iguassu Falls at the crossroads of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. This masterpiece of nature encompasses 275 separate falls and spans almost two miles. The afternoon is dedicated to enjoying the spectacle of this 2-mile-wide torrential downpour. With some cataracts as high as 250 feet, it’s nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make this an unforgettable natural wonder. (B)
Day 13Iguassu Falls
Today on the Argentine side of the Falls, ride the Ecological Jungle Train and enjoy a closer perspective on a walking tour of this side of the Falls. (B)
Day 14Iguassu Falls–Manaus
Head to the airport for your flight to Manaus, gateway to Brazil’s Amazon. Later, guided sightseeing shows you the opulent sites from Manaus’ rubber boom at the turn of last century, like São Sebastião Square and Palácio Rio Negro. Next, proceed to the famous Opera House, built almost entirely of European materials during the rubber boom and inaugurated in 1896. Top off your tour with a stroll through the Municipal Market and learn about the region’s local fish, fruits, and medicinal herbs. (B)
Day 15Manaus (Embarkation)
Transfer to the pier and embark your cruise ship, the Iberostar Grand Amazon, your home for the next three nights. Stops will be made at locations along the Amazon’s Rio Solimões, offering excursions to explore the Amazon jungle and local vegetation, see indigenous animals, and even visit local river communities. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s welcome cocktail party before dinner. (B,D)
Day 16Cruising: Rainforest Walk & Piranha Fishing
This morning, board a panga boat for a ride to the shore and embark on a Naturalist-guided walk through the rainforest in the Manacapurú region. Along the trail, learn how natives subsist off the flora. You’ll also hear about some of the medicinal qualities each plant possesses. Keep an eye open for Capuchin and Howler Monkeys! After a lecture on the region and lunch on board, head back out via Panga and try your hand at piranha fishing. Tonight, under the dark of night, cruise the waterways on a Caiman-spotting expedition. (B,L,D)
Day 17Cruising: Bird Watching & Local Home Visit
Enjoy the sunrise over the Amazon as you depart on a bird-watching safari in search of the many endemic birds of the Janauacá Lake region. Later, visit a local home for an up-close view of how the native communities live and work. This afternoon, a cruise through some of the Amazon tributaries allows you the chance to spot wildlife. Your final evening on board begins with a gala dinner followed by a Brazilian Folkloric Show, the perfect finale to your vacation. (B,L,D)
Day 18Meeting of The Waters–Manaus (Disembarkation)–Miami
En route back to Manaus, cruise the Meeting of the Waters, where the chocolate-colored Rio Negro meets with the yellow-gray Rio Solimões to form the mighty Amazon. For four miles the differently colored bodies of water flow side by side and never mix! Say goodbye to the Amazon when you disembark in Manaus and transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. (B)