In the morning, we will tour the colonial section of Quito, walking along the narrow cobblestone streets. We will see Independence Plaza, the local Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Archbishop's Palace, and either La Compania Church or the Church of San Francisco. Afterward, we will see the Middle of the World Monument, located right on the Equator. In the afternoon, we will take a bus to Otavolo, arriving in the evening with a brief orientation and welcome dinner. This is where we will spend the night.

This morning visit Peguche, known for its beautiful waterfall. Then, take a tour of the market in Otavalo, one of the largest in South America run by the local Otavalenos. Here, enjoy the lively market atmosphere and browse the various stalls for traditional goods such as hand-woven cloth and rugs, jewelry and more. This afternoon, transfer to Papallacta located in the Andes Mountains. The remainder of the day is at leisure or join the optional tour to Papallacta's spas and hot springs, for which it is famous

After breakfast, transfer by bus to La Punta Ahuano on the Napo River where you will board a canoe that will take you to your Amazon lodge*. Enjoy the serene tranquility that the lodge has to offer and prepare to be amazed by both the wildlife and the culture inherent to the Amazon. In the afternoon, visit Ahuano and a local Quechua community interpretation center to learn about their way of life firsthand before returning to the hotel
*Upon arrival the lodge is approximately a 5-10 minute walk uphill from where passengers will exit the canoe. Passengers are required to transport their own carry on luggage

After a canoe ride you can hike in the Misicocha Private Nature Reserve for approximately two hours while viewing the beautiful flora and fauna up-close. The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest ecosystem, so be sure to keep an eye out for the innumerable species of tropical plants and insects. Admire the views as you cross suspended bridges and fly through the jungle on a short zip line basket ride. At the end of the hike, take a rafting trip on a traditional balsa log raft*. Balance of the day is at leisure or, choose to participate in one of the optional tours, including the Butterfly Farm & Balsa Wood Carving Demonstration, Cacao Farm & AmaZOOnico Rescue Center or Canopy Adventure Park
*This is an active hike and sections of the path include steps. Also, those who participate in the rafting trip will need to step through the water to reach the raft and will get wet during the ride
Optional: Butterfly Farm & Balsa Wood Carving Demonstration
Optional: Cacao Farm & AmaZOOnico Rescue Center
Optional: Canopy Adventure Park

This morning, board a canoe for the short trip to La Punta Ahuano, continuing by coach to Patate. Stop along the way to visit the powerful El Pailon del Diablo (hike to and from El Pailon del Diablo waterfall) , one of Ecuador's most beautiful waterfalls. Drive to Banos, an idyllic little town known for its hot thermal baths and the sometimes steamy Tungurahua Volcano. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, watch a demonstration on vegetable ivory, a traditional craft that utilizes palm nuts to make jewelry and animal carvings. In late afternoon, check into your resort hotel in Banos. Balance of the day is at leisure to enjoy all the amenities offered by your hotel or, explore the town of Banos, a short walk away

Today, take a tour of a beautiful rose plantation. Although roses are not native to Ecuador, the country has a perfect environment for rose cultivation and is presently one of the world's major producers. On the plantation, you'll learn more about the farming process, from planting to exporting. After lunch, continue to the hotel in Quito for this evening's "Farewell to Ecuador" dinner

Today we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima, Peru. Upon our arrival there, we will transfer to the local hotel before getting to spend the rest of the day at our own leisure.

This morning's tour of Lima, with its 2000 years of history, begins at the colonial center of the city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its historic buildings surrounding the splendid Plaza Mayor. View the impressive Palace of the Archbishop with its fine carved balcony, the opulent Government Palace, official residence of the President, and the 16th century Cathedral of Lima whose first stone was laid by Pizarro. Continue to the 17th century Monasterio de San Francisco complex with its magnificent tiles, ornate carved ceilings, exceptional paintings and world-renowned library. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure or join the optional Pachacamac Pre-Inca Ruins tour. Visit the archaeological site of Pachacamac, one of the largest religious centers in pre-Inca times on the Peruvian coast. This afternoon, join your Tour Manager for an orientation meeting. Tonight, perhaps attend the optional Evening Larco Herrera Museum with dinner. Experience one of Lima's most magnificent museums by night on this tour, that also includes a light supper. Admire the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian masterpieces and a stunning exhibition of gold and priceless jewels

Depart Lima this morning by flight to Cuzco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire and the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America. Upon arrival, drive through the rugged mountainous region with its magnificent panoramas, along roads with farms and small villages to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route, stop in Chinchero. Here, have an authentic Peruvian lunch followed by a demonstration of the ancient Andean tradition of making textiles from naturally dyed handwoven alpaca wool. Remarkably, the source for the vibrant colors are dyes that come from plants, minerals, and insects. Wander around the complex and shop for souvenirs among the fine textiles and other local treasures. This evening, dinner with music is at a lovely restaurant

We will be able to enjoy the morning at our own leisure in the Sacred Valley and explore some of the ruins independently. Alternatively, we will also have the option to tour Moray, a remarkable agricultural center that demonstrates the Incas' mastery of high-altitude crop growing, and Maras, known for its nearby salt evaporation ponds. This afternoon, we will visit the impressive fortress of Ollantaytambo. In the evening, we will go to the countryside home of a local Peruvian family for a traditional dinner.

Early morning transfer to the Sacred Valley's Ollanta Station to board the Vistadome Train that travels through misty peaks to the astonishing ancient citadel of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas", designated by UNESCO as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Machu Picchu was virtually unknown to the western world until Hiram Bingham's re-discovery in 1911. Spend the morning viewing the unforgettable wonders of this 15th century retreat, abandoned nearly 100 years later with the arrival of the conquistadors. See the highlights of the site including the imposing Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved rock likely used as a sundial by the ancient Incas. The images of this significant archaeological site will be a long-lasting memory. Return to the Sacred Valley in the early evening and transfer to your hotel in Cuzco for overnight

We will spend our day today discovering the imperial city of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire. In this lively city, we will see the influence of both Incan and Spanish cultures. We will take the time to explore and shop for the finest handicrafts and textiles in all of Peru. We will go on a "Behind the Scenes" tour of the city, visiting a local market to try some fresh-baked chuta bread and shop for ingredients to use in this afternoon's cooking lesson. We will stop at the Cuzco Cemetery to learn about Andean life and death and meet with a local shaman (holy man). Then, we will take a cooking lesson and get to eat our delicious creations when they are ready. In the afternoon, we will go on an optional excursion to see the highlights of Cusco, like the Colonial Cathedral, the Temple of the Sun, and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Tonight, we will savor the culinary delights of Andean cuisine at a local restaurant.

Depart Cuzco early in the morning on a long drive today. Enjoy spectacular scenery as you drive through the Andes mountain range and the Andean plains to Puno on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. In this area, South American camelids (llamas and alpacas) graze on the immense plateaus and plains. En route visit the 15th century Temple of Wiracocha, with its elaborate stonework, the largest Inca temple ever discovered. Today, Raqchi remains home to many farmers, ranchers and artisans. Then, you arrive at pristine Lake Titicaca sitting majestically at 12,500 feet above sea level, backed by the snowcapped peaks of Bolivia's Cordillera Real range. This is the highest navigable lake in the world and South America's largest fresh water lake. A box lunch will be provided en route before arriving in Puno for overnight

This morning, an excursion by boat transports you from Puno to the fascinating Uros Floating Islands where the indigenous people of the area, the Uros, live on islands that dot the lake. The Uros live very much the same as their ancestors did and still follow the ancient customs and traditions. These islands are completely man-made structures, using the totora reeds from the lake to build the islands and houses. Return to Puno for the remainder of the day at leisure. Or, take the optional tour to the Sillustani Tombs, the pre-Incan burial ground on the shores of Lake Umayo. The tombs here are built above the ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, vestiges of the Colla people before they were conquered by the Incas in the 15th century. Evening is at leisure in Puno

We will depart Puno by flying to Lima, where we will spend the rest of the day at our own leisure. In the evening, we will have dinner with the group, enjoying more Peruvian specialties.

Bon Voyage! Today, guests will transfer from the hotel to the airport for their departure flights.