JULY 2 -13, 2012

This 12 day itinerary introduces us to female success stories in Peru, all of them from very different ethnic, geographic and socio–economic backgrounds.  From Silvia Stern, daughter of German-Jewish immigrants who along with her husband started what now is Peru´s most renowned private collection of colonial art, to Nilda Callañaupa, an Andean native who rose from poverty and now heads a National Geographic- sponsored project to preserve ancient weaving techniques –  it is through their eyes that we will discover what it means (and meant) to be a woman in Peru.

Includes:  Lima (3 nights) Urumbama Sacred Valley (2 nights), Machu Picchu (1 night), Cuzco (2 nights), Puno (2 nights) Amantani Island (1 night) 

DAY 01:            USA - LIMA

·   Greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel

·    Overnight in Lima

DAY 02:             LIMA

·    Buffet breakfast

·    AM at leisure

·    PM Larco Herrera Museum (guided by the museum’s curator) and Barbosa-Stern private colonial art collection  (guided by the owner, Sylvia Stern, and her son, Aldo Barbosa)

When we think about the highest exponents of colonial culture in Latin America, the Peruvian School naturally comes to mind. It is a blend of two cultural traditions: the Andean and the European. Colonial art is extraordinarily represented in the Barbosa-Stern Collection. Since 1966, Eduardo Barbosa and his wife Silvia Stern have collected an impressive compilation of Spanish colonial art. Mr. and Mrs. Barbosa-Stern´s sons inherited the love for colonial art, and are now in charge of preserving their family´s private collection. The visit will be co-guided by mother Silvia and youngest son Aldo.

·    Dinner at “LA HUACA PUCLLANA” restaurant

·    Overnight in Lima

·    B, D

DAY 03:            LIMA – CUZCO – URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Transfer to the airport and assistance with flight

·    Flight to Cuzco

·    Greet and transfer to Urubamba Sacred Valley

·    On route visit Nilda Cañallaupa´s National Geographic sponsored native weaving project

Textile production has profound historic and cultural significance in the Andes, and this project is part of  a highly successful National Geographic Society-supported initiative to rescue and revive this way of life.  Women are the owners and drivers of this activity, and we will see how their processes of spinning, the gathering and use of natural dyes, the setting up of looms and the creation of designs, are fundamental to the family and social bonds of these highland communities.

·    Gourmet picnic lunch with “Tribute to the Mother Earth” Andean religious ceremony

·    Overnight in Urubamba Sacred Valley

·    B, L

DAY 04:            URUBAMBA  SACRED VALLEY

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Full-day Potato Park indigenous bio-cultural heritage area (guided by specialist Maywa Blanco)

The Potato Park focuses on preserving the critical role and interdependency of indigenous bio-cultural heritage (IBCH) for local rights, livelihoods, conservation and sustainable use of agro-biodiversity.  The Andes are the center of potato origin and diversity, produced and preserved throughout centuries by its people. Maywa Blanco, born and raised in Cuzco, holds a Bachelors degree in Agronomy from Cuzco´s San Antonio Abad University and a Masters degree in Science from Michigan State.  A college and school teacher, Maywa will masterfully guide us through this community-based project, explaining how the lifestyle of these agricultural-based communities revolves around the potato and what the role of women is the social structure.

·    Lunch included

·    Overnight in Urubamba Sacred Valley

·    B, L

DAY 05:            URUBAMBA SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Transfer to the train station and VISTADOME train to Machu Picchu

·    Guided tour of the ruins (by historian Roger Valencia)

·    Lunch included

·    Overnight and dinner in Machu Picchu

·    B, L, D

DAY 06:            MACHU PICCHU - CUZCO

·   Buffet breakfast

·    Solo visit to the ruins (bus and entrance included)

·    VISTADOME train to Cuzco

·   Greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel

·    Overnight in Cuzco

·    B

DAY 07:             CUZCO

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Full-day Cuzco Art Safari (guided by historian Roger Valencia)

Walking along the cobblestone streets while marveling at the flawless Incan stonework, picturing a time and place when the Incas had a massive empire, guests will learn about the Cusco School of Art, an expression born by the blend of European and Andean. At the colonial Main Square we will visit the Cathedral, which contains one of the city’s greatest samples of Mestizo art. After, the Inca Historical Museum provides us with a fine overview of the history of the Inca Empire. The painting of a wedding of an Inca princess and a Spanish noble man found in La Compañia de Jesus helps us understand Mestizo identity. The final stop is the archbishop’s private art collection.

·    Lunch included

·    Dinner at BACCO restaurant

·    Overnight in Cuzco

·    B, L, D

DAY 08:            CUZCO – PUNO

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Full-day transfer to Puno (touristic bus), including:

1.    Andahuaylillas: : This chapel is considered to be the "Sistine Chapel" of America. In spite of its modest architecture, the inside decoration is impressive, as it contains an outstanding collection of the Cuzco Academy. Inside the church there are some remains of Inca buildings.

2.    Raqchi: Archaeological evidence suggests that Raqchi was a complex village with multiple many purpose buildings; including farming terraces, "kanchas" (apartments), "wayranas" (buildings having only 3 walls), "qolqas" (storehouses), different shrines, religious water fountains, etc. The most important building within the complex is the "Wiraqocha Temple", that according to ancient chroniclers was made built by Inka Wiraqocha in homage to the Superior Invisible God of the Andean people: "Apu Kon Titi Wiraqocha".

3.    Pukara is famous for its pottery, especially the well-known “Toritos de Pucara” (Little Bulls of Pucara). The "Museo Litico de Pucara" (Pucara Stone Museum), displaying a selection of anthropomorphic monoliths, zoomorphic sculptures, ceramics, and other objects from the Pucara pre-Inca Culture (original and replica pieces).

4.    Lunch included

·    Overnight in Puno 

·    B, L

DAY 09:            PUNO – AMANTANI ISLAND

·    Buffet breakfast

·    Transfer to the port of Puno

1.  Uros Islands: The Uros descend from a millennial culture that according to legends believe they are the owners of the lake. Uros used to say that they have black blood because they did not feel the cold.. The purpose of the island settlements was originally defensive, and if a threat arose they could be moved. The largest island retains a watchtower almost entirely constructed of reeds. The Uros traded with the Aymara tribe on the mainland, interbreeding with them and eventually abandoning the Uro language for that of the Aymara. About 500 years ago they lost their original language. When conquered by the Inca Empire, they had to pay taxes to them, and often were made slaves.

2.  Amantani Island: Amantaní is an island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, with approximately 800 families. The island has two mountain peaks, Pachatata (Father Earth) and Pachamama (Mother Earth), with ancient Inca and Tiwanaku ruins on top of both. The hillsides are terraced, mostly worked by hand and planted with wheat, quinoa, potatoes, and other vegetables. Livestock, including alpacas, also graze the slopes. The temples at the top of the peaks are generally closed during the year. Entrance is permitted on January 20, the annual feast day, at which time the island's population divides in two, with each group gathering at its respective temple. A race is then held from each peak to a point somewhere between the two, and a representative of each group is chosen to run. According to tradition, a victory for Pachamama portends a bountiful harvest in the year to come.

·    Lunch included

·    Overnight and dinner in  family homes in Amantani Island

·    B, L, D

DAY 10:            AMANTANI ISLAND - PUNO

·    Breakfast

·    AM activities in Amantani Island

·    Lunch

·    Boat transfer to Puno

·    Overnight in Puno 

·    B, L

DAY 11:            PUNO - LIMA

·    Buffet breakfast

·    At proper time transfer to the airport  and assistance

·    Flight to Lima

·    Greet upon arrival and transfer to hotel

·    Balance of the day at leisure

·    Overnight in Lima 

·    B

DAY 12:            LIMA - USA

·    Buffet breakfast

·    AM at leisure

·    Private ceviche and pisco sour cooking classes at chef Penelope Alzamora´s beach house

·    Transfer to the airport and assistance with flight

·    Flight to USA

·    B, L

LODGING:  

LIMA - San Agustin Exclusive 4* (www.hotelessanagustin.com.pe)

URUBAMBA - Sonesta Posada del Inca 3* (www.sonesta.com/sacredvalley)

MACHU PICCHU - El Mapi Hotel 3* (www.elmapihotel.com)

CUZCO - Casa Andina Classic 3* (www.casa-andina.com)

PUNO - Sonesta osada del Inca 3* (www.sonesta.com)

PRESENTERS:

ULLA HOLMQUIST is the Head Curator of the Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum and University Professor.  She has extensively researched and published about site museums and community development, archaeology, pre- Hispanic art, and the role of women in ancient Peru.

NILDA CALLAÑAUPA is the founder and head of The Center for Traditional Textiles – CTTC -  (www.incas.org) in Cuzco, an NGO dedicated to preserving the textile heritage of the Andean people.  A native of the village of Chinchero, by the age of 14, she was presenting at the Smithsonian Institute and the American Museum of Natural History.  CTTC also provides shelter for women in distress, insures that young girls connect with their elders, and helps native weavers control the marketing of their textiles.

PENELOPE ALZAMORA was born in Lima and introduced to traditional Peruvian food by her family.  She studied hotel management in Newbury College (Boston) and Culinary Arts in Johnson & Wells (Providence) and started a successful catering business in Lima and the well-known“Bohemia Café y Mas” restaurant.

ROGER VALENCIA was born in Cuzco and has been named the best guide in  Cuzco by Peru ́s Ministry of Tourism.  Fluent in Spanish, Quechua, English, German and Italian, he has hosted and guided many royalty and world political leaders.

INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:  Private Transfers and Tours, Vista Dome Train to Machu Picchu and Cuzco, Entrance Fees to Sites, Meals Indicated on Itinerary (11 B, 8 L, 4 D)  Tips for Luggage Porters and Waiters

NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:  International and Domestic Airfare, Airport Taxes - Domestic - US $6 and International - US $31, Meals and Services not Mentioned on Itinerary, Tips for Guides and Bus Drivers

NOTE:  - Airfares vary depending on airline  As a reference a round trip Lima-Cuzco-Lima is $375 per person on LAN Peru, but only $250 - $280 per person on TACA Peru.  But if you fly LAN International between the US and Peru, you will get the domestic air at a reduced price from them.  LAN flies to Peru direct from NYC, MIA, LAX, and SFO.  We will help you if you like with your travel plans.

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