Machu Picchu, Choquequirao ruins & the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru

Peru is a land of extremes, where exquisite natural beauty cradles 3,000 years of human history. Andean peaks plunge to Amazonian rainforest, deserts touch the ocean, and opportunity for adventure abounds. Join Felicia and select local guides on a Peru expedition in May 2009. Home to the oldest civilization in the Americas, Peru has a rich cultural heritage; UNESCO has named ten World Heritage Sites in Peru. On this eco-cultural adventure, we’ll travel to seven of Peru’s treasured sites and cities: Isla Bellastas, Arequipa, Machu Picchu, Nazca, Cusco, and Lima! In addition, we’ll trek 4,000 feet up to the “Cradle of Gold,” Choquequirao, the sister city to Machu Picchu.

This tour includes seeing the sites of Lima and Cusco, as well as having the chance to experience a fantastic trek through the Peruvian Andes. This is a rugged, remote trek which leads you through a diversity of climates to reach the archaeological complex of Choquequirao, stronghold of Manco Inca. Legend has it that the Inca rebelled against the Spaniards and, taking all the gold and treasure that he could lay his hands on, set off into the jungle to found a new nation. The rough terrain makes this a physically challenging but rewarding trek. When you reach the plateau of Choquequirao (3000m), with its impressive views of the Cordillera Vilcabamba, you will feel that you have reached a land that time forgot. This trip starts with a visit to the Saywite Stone and is rounded off with the classic Machu Picchu.