Days 1/2 Miami/Lima

Board your flight to Lima, where you will be escorted to your hotel, known for its understated elegance. Next day, enjoy a guided tour of Peru’s ancient capital. Visit the Plaza de Armas, a UNESCO World Heritage site; stop by the Archaeological Museum; and take in the spectacular ocean views. Optional trips to the Gold Museum or ancient pueblos can also be arranged. Enjoy a traditional dinner in a pre-Columbian temple. SONESTA EL OLIVAR HOTEL. (Meals Aloft; B, D)

Day 3 Lima/Nazca Lines/Paracas

Drive south to Ica and then board a plane for one of the great mysteries of South America: the Nazca Lines, visible only from air. Over 2,000 years ago, massive line drawings were etched into the Pampa Coloradan plateau. Natural forces have preserved the images, believed to have been created for the gods. After lunch, visit the Regional Museum for a close look at well-preserved mummies that reveal the Nazca’s practice of surgery. In the evening, relax at your hotel, renowned for exceptional service and numerous activities. HOTEL LIBERTADOR PARACAS. (B,L,D)

Day 4 Paracas/Ballestas Islands

Explore Paracas National Reserve, one of the top marine conservation centers in the world. Visit the renowned archaeological museum and drive along the peninsula to see its diverse inhabitants: whales, sea lions, otters, the Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Diving Petrel and Blue-footed Boobies. Continue on a short boat trip past the famed “Candelabra” petroglyph to the Ballestas Islands, known as the Galapagos of Peru because of their impressive marine life. HOTEL LIBERTADOR PARACAS.

Day 5 Paracas/Pachacamac/Lima

Enjoy the morning in Paracas before departing for the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac, once one of the holiest shrines in the central Andes. “The Earth’s Creator” is noted for its great pyramidal temples and the frescoes adorning its walls. An on-site museum features ceramics, textiles and idols found in the complex. SONESTA EL OLIVAR HOTEL. (B)

Day 6 Iquitos/Nauta/Maranon River

Catch a glimpse of the Amazon as you fly to the rainforest city of Iquitos and board your bus to Nauta, where you luxury vessel awaits. The M/V AQUA comprises of 12 over-sized suites, each handsomely decorated with exquisite views. On board, enjoy gourmet cuisine and highly skilled naturalists. Sunset is a kaleidoscope of colors and at night, the dark sky lights up with shooting stars. AQUA. (B,D)

Day 7 Maranon River/Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

In the morning board skiffs to explore the vast Amazon flooded forest, going through a ‘gallery forest,’ where narrow vegetation creates a tunnel of leaves. Search for parrots, macaws and monk saki monkeys, all easily spotted from your skiff. After lunch visit a local village where you’ll have the opportunity to meet with natives and discover how they learn to cultivate wild plants and trees for their livelihood. AQUA. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Pacaya Samiria/San Martin De Tipishca

This morning choose from two optional excursions, one to enter into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve in search of howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys and many bird species, along with the wide variety of flora and fauna available in the region. Enjoy a fantastic picnic lunch before returning back to the vessel. On the other excursion, learn about the various sustainable resource management projects going on in the Amazon and visit where locals plant palm trees for oil. You may see artificial nests set to protect turtle eggs, and learn of the importance of various plants in the rainforest, including the famous Kapok Trees of the Amazon basin. Enjoy a siesta aboard the ship after lunch, and enjoy a late afternoon skiff excursion in search of rare primates, alligators, caimans, tree boas, frogs and over 200 species of birds. AQUA. (B,L,D)

Day 9 Yanayaquilla/Charo Lake

Early in the morning, enjoy breakfast and look forwards to an unbelievable encounter with gray and pink river dolphins as you stop by a popular dolphin feeding spot. Listen as the sounds of the Amazon rainforest greets you as you journey towards Charo Lake through the Tahuayo River. At Charo, enjoy an opportunity to go fishing for over 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon Basin, including the infamous piranha. Return to ship and enjoy a specially prepared farewell dinner. AQUA. (B,L,D)

Days 10/11Iquitos/Lima/Miami

Enjoy a last excursion to see how natives live along the Amazon as you float by the lively riverside community of Belen. See houses and shops that float on the river, and watch as locals go about their daily lives. In the afternoon, return to Iquitos where you’ll visit the Manatee Rescue Center to learn of the conservation efforts to save this wondrous animal and shop for crafts and souvenirs at the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market. In the evening, board your flight back to Lima where you’re transferred to your hotel. The following day, return home a changed person as you take a bit of the Amazon back with you. RAMADA HOTEL. (B,L,D; B,Meals Aloft)

Post-Extension to Cusco & Machu Picchu

Fly to Cusco, once the capital of the Incan Empire a lovely city with colorful indigenous culture. Visit the Incan ruins at Ollantaytambo and the town of Pisac with its bustling market and magnificent citadel. Then it’s off by rail to legendary Machu Picchu – the ‘lost’ city of the Incas. Hike into a mystical past marked by the remains of temples, houses, terraces, gardens and the stunning Sun Gate. Return to Cusco and explore the nearby temples of the Sun and the Moon, as well as the fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES:

• Flights from Miami/Internal flights within Peru (Quoted separately).

• Superior accommodations as indicated

• 5-Days/4-Nights Cruise on AQUA with all meals included. Naturalist guide provided aboard the ship.  Accommodations are in double cabin suites with private facilities.

• Continental or buffet breakfasts daily. All other meals as specified.

• Gratuities for baggage handling, hotel tips and taxes.

• All entrance fees to places of interest visited and on sightseeing tours indicated in the itinerary.

• Complimentary passport wallet and baggage tags.