Upon arrival in Lima, you will be met by ROmanCE VOYAGES representatives and transfer to Lima Marriott Hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean and chic Miraflores district. To welcome you, we have a special evening planned at Casa Aliaga, the home of Don Jeronimo de Aliaga, a trusted and loyal lieutenant to Francisco Pizarro during the conquest of Peru. In honor of his loyalty, Pizarro awarded Aliaga an original huaca (Indian temple) which he transformed into this magnificent home in 1535, the same year Lima was founded. It is still owned and occupied by the seventeenth generation of the Aliaga family. The interiors are beautifully hand-crafted and original furnishings decorate every room. It is one of the finest and most perfectly preserved Spanish Colonial mansions in the Americas. We will have an exclusive tour of the mansion followed by a cocktail reception and gala dinner.

Transfer from the Lima Marriott to Lima airport. ROmanCE VOYAGES will provide assistance to your flight to Cusco. Check into the famed Hotel Monasterio , operated by the 5-star Orient Express Hotels, upon arrival. The monastery was originally built on the site of the palace of Inca King Amaru Qhala. In 1598, it was founded as the Seminary of San Antonio Abad by the sixth Bishop of Cuzco to train Catholic priests. Today, it is a national historical landmark and has retained its character and charm. It is a splendid example of the colonial renaissance style.

Our day begins with a bit of leisure and time for adjustment to the altitude. Cusco is at a towering 11,300 feet. In the afternoon we will tour the city starting with the Santo Domingo Convent Monastery. This former colonial monastery was also the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. According to history, it was covered in gold and filled with golden statuary and religious articles. Other stops will include the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. After touring the best sights in Cusco we travel by luxury coach to the countryside outside Cusco to visit the most remarkable Inca ruins: the cult centre of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko, the Inca Baths of Tambomachay and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.

On Wednesday we will transfer to Poroy Station and board the super-deluxe Hiram Bingham train, operated by the famed Orient Express.

You will be treated to a rail experience right out of an Agatha Christy novel for the descent through the Urabama Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes just below the citadel. The train is named after Sir Hiram Bingham who discovered Machu Picchu in 1911. The journey will take approximately three and a half hours, during which you will enjoy a first-class brunch while enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Andes.

From Aguas Calientes we board busses for a quick trip up to Machu Picchu, arriving at the summit around 1:00pm and check into the Sanctuary Lodge for one night. The Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located at the gates to Machu Picchu. ROmanCE VOYAGES has booked the entire lodge for our guest's exclusive use. An extensive, guided tour and plenty of free time ensures you get the best possible experience at Machu Picchu. Enjoy afternoon tea and dinner at the lodge before retiring for the evening. But, please, don't go to bed too early, the view of the ancient citadel by moonlight is an amazing experience.

Wake up early for the amazing sunrise over the citadel then enjoy the balance of the morning at your leisure. We will board the Hiram Bingham and begin return to Cusco late in the afternoon.

Enjoy red carpet service onboard. Cocktails will be served while locals entertain. After cocktails, we retire to the elegant dining car for a 4-course gourmet dinner. The train ride alone will be an unforgettable experience.

We returning to Poroy station in Cusco and transfer back to the Hotel Monasterio.

On Friday, we travel by luxury coach to the Urubamba valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, to visit the Inca temple fortress of Ollantaytambo. Scientists believe that construction began here well before the Incas. Mysteriously, building ceased and the site was abandoned just prior to the arrival of the Spanish. The granite was brought 2.5 miles from the quarry. The ancient Quechua stonemasons were so meticulous; you will find it impossible to insert a credit card in any of the amazing joins. After marveling at this magnificent fortress we will stroll the quaint streets of the present town. Traveling from town to Pisac, we will have a chance to bargain with the vendors at the famous handicraft market.

We will lunch at Casa Hacienda Orihuela, where the Orihuelas, a family of great art collectors, will be your hosts. The house has a vast collection of popular and colonial art, ceramics, paintings, weapons, photography, ceremonial vessels and
the ceramic bulls of Pucara.

In the afternoon, we return to Cusco spending the night at the Hotel Monasterio.

Today we fly back to Lima and the Lima Marriott.

Our tour will include more of the colonial landmarks and monuments that earned the historic center of Lima inclusion in UNESCO's 'World Heritage' list. Starting with the Convento de los Descalzos, built in 1592, we pass through the historic district of Rimac, where we see the Paseo de Aguas and Alameda de los Descalzos, two of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial construction in Peru. Finally, we visit the San Francisco Monastery, an architectural masterpiece, and the renowned Gold Museum and its priceless collection of pre-Columbian gold artifacts. Afterwards, we travel back to the Lima Marriot for a relaxed, quiet evening on your own.

After breakfast and check out, it's off to the airport for our flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival in Iquitos, staff will assist you in transferring to the El Dorado Plaza Hotel. The balance of the day will be at your leisure to explore Iquitos.

After an early reception at the hotel and a brief orientation, guides will transfer us to the Explorama dock. We will begin a twenty-five mile journey down the Amazon River to the deluxe Ceiba Tops lodge. This is the most luxurious lodge within the towering primal rainforest. Enjoy private rooms, hot and cold running water, air conditioning, and a host of amenities making this a most elegant Amazon adventure in luxury. Afternoon brings a hike in the beautiful rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops. Return to the lodge for dinner. After dinner enjoy local flute or guitar music at the "El Tucan" Bar or relax while your guides relate some of the many local legends.

Early morning brings a bird watching excursion and a boat ride looking for the elusive gray and pink Amazon River dolphins and a visit to a small village of local Indians. Your guide will offer a unique window into the lives and culture of these ancient people. There will be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and a demonstration of the use of the blowgun, which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting. After lunch, we travel to the neighboring town of Indiana, originally a small Franciscan Mission; it is now a large river community with its own market, schools and small hospital. If the weather permits, we will be treated to a beautiful Amazonian sunset on the river.

We will have another early morning departure from Ceiba Tops by boat along the Amazon onto the Napo River and the ExplorNapo Lodge for breakfast. This is the most exciting part of the Cieba Tops. We will hike the spectacular Canopy Walkway suspended over 155 feet high within the actual tree top canopy of the rain forest. The walkway spans more than 500 meters about one-third of a mile. Connected by tree platforms, it is accessible without any type of climbing skills or equipment. This is by far the finest way to see the flora and fauna of the rainforest up close. You will see birds, orchids and monkeys you would never be able to see from the forest floor. After lunch, visit the "ReNuPeRu" Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a local shaman who will explain the lore, history and medicinal use of these fantastic plants. We will then return to Ceiba Tops for some relaxation. Take time to enjoy the pool or hammocks before dinner.

You have your choice of morning and afternoon walking or boating excursions arranged your guide to further explore the rainforest and Amazon River. There will also be plenty of time to relax by the pool or in the hammock house.

Today, we leave Cieba Tops and transfer back to Iquitos and the El Dorado. Evening will be at your leisure.

*Due to the ever-changing nature of the rainforest, day-by-day activities may vary due to weather conditions.