Itinerary Fam Trip Virtuoso 2011

Treasures of Peru Familiarization Trip, May 4-13, 2011 Itinerary Summary 10 Days / 09 Nights Lake Titicaca (3 nights); Lima (1 night); Iquitos (4 nights) Summary: LIMA – May 4th Arrival to Lima Overnight at Country Club Hotel LAKE TITICACA – May 5th Visit to Historic Lima and Casa Aliaga Larco Herrara Museum Lunch at Café del Museo Flight to Juliaca Airport Dinner and overnight at Titilaka LAKE TITICACA – May 6th A la carte excursions included Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at Titilaka LAKE TITICACA – May 7th A la carte excursions included Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at Titilaka LAKE TITICACA /LIMA – May 8th Breakfast at Titilaka Flight to Lima Dinner at Ignacio Masias’ Home Overnight at Country Club LIMA / IQUITOS – May 9th Breakfast at your hotel Culinary Tour Lunch at Huaca Pucllana Flight to Iquitos Start Cruise on Aria IQUITOS – May 10th A la carte excursions Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight on Aria IQUITOS – May 11th A la carte excursions Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight on Aria IQUITOS – May 12th A la carte excursions

Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight on Aria

IQUITOS / LIMA – May 13th A la carte excursiones Breakfast and lunch on Aria Flight back to Lima First Class Lounge Service at Lima Airport DETAILED EXPERIENCE: Wednesday 04 May 2011 LIMA You will be greeted and picked up at the Lima airport. You will be taken to the Country Club Hotel to rest.

Thursday 05 May 2011 LIMA Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a half-day visit to the exceptional Larco Herrera Museum, founded in 1926. Browse the museum’s display of 45,000 archaeological objects considered to be pre-Columbian art icons around the world. Everything is chronologically exhibited in impressive galleries showing the continuous development of 3,000 years of Peru’s pre-Columbian history. Take pleasure in its beautiful gardens, located inside a unique viceroyalty mansion dating back to the XVIII century and appreciate the museum’s finest old Peruvian gold and silver collection as well one of the most famous erotic art collections.

Larco Herrera Museum is also renowned for its famous and fascinating erotic pottery collection which is on display in the separate “Erotic Hall”, depicting sexual practices of several Peruvian cultures. At the end of the services you will be transported to your hotel.

Lunch and pisco sour lessons at Café del Museo.

You will be taken to the Lima Airport for your flight to Juliaca.

LAKE TITICACA

Upon arrival at the Lodge, check-in, rest and enjoy the scenery.

Evening cocktails are served with light snacks.

Overnight at Titilaka in a suite.

Friday 06 May 2011 The second day is very active. Begin with a healthy breakfast on the terrace with a variety of fresh fruit, local cereals and prepare for the excursion to Taquile Island on a 45-minute boat ride across the lake. Taquile is considered the most interesting island on the area because of its pristine way of life, unique history and amazing crafts. The Taquile people are of Quechua origin, as opposed to the majority of region’s locals who are of Aymara origin. As part of the Inca Empire, the island has archaeological remains located on the peak of its mountain. From the island, you can view the impressive snow caped Cordillera Real in Bolivia. The island enjoys a favorable microclimate for agriculture, producing crops that don’t normally grow at these altitudes. As you walk around the island, you will see meet men knitting outdoors, creating some of the finest handicrafts in Peru.

Return to the hotel for lunch and siesta. After tea, choose from one of the excursions near the hotel. Socca, east of the lodge is a rustic community. Walk through the broad sandy shores between wetlands and farms where you can appreciate the local dress, and pace. Take pleasure in the magnificent scenery as the sun sets and the first stars set in.

Cocktail at 6:30 pm followed by dinner.

Overnight at Titilaka in a suite.

Saturday 07 May 2011 After rising at the hour that suits you, enjoy breakfast in bed or if you wish wake at dawn to a magnificent sunrise.

Enjoy a guided visit to Uros floating isles on Lake Titicaca, located on the National Reserve of Titicaca on the Bay of Puno. Made from totora reeds, these Islands are home of the Uros community which pre-dates the Incan civilization. They call themselves kot-suña or people of the lake who claim to have "black blood", as they are consequently immune to the cold and consider themselves the owners of the lake and its waters. They continue living on the islands by fishing, weaving and now, tourism.

After enjoy lunch and afterwards, you can kayak, ride a bike or explore the surroundings on a rowboat with a local guide birdwatcher to see ducks, Andean seagulls, flamingos and grebes

near Perka a quiet community with limited contact with foreigners.

Enjoy its beaches and some aperitifs on the shores. Return to the hotel for lunch and a siesta.

After teatime you could either sail across the lake or hike nearby. The hike to Titilaka Arc is a ascend to a stone arch on top of a hills behind the hotel, from where you can behold the immensity of the lake and the local communities and enjoying cocktails Return to the hotel for dinner at 7:30 pm.

Overnight at Titilaka in a suite.

Sunday 08 May 2011 After breakfast, you can enjoy a variety of light excursions. After lunch, you will visit Sillustani on your way to the airport.

Enjoy a guided excursion to Sillustani, a peninsula facing the Umayo lagoon, located at a short distance from Puno. This site was a burial ground for the Pucara, Tiahuanaco and Ccolla preInca cultures that lived in the region in different times, long before the Inca expansion. The tower-like structures known as Chullpas, which symbolized life and birth, are ancient and impressive tombs from the pre-Inca period that served as burial places for chiefs and important people. Later the site was inhabited by the Incas, who made their own version of these towers. That is why there are two types - the rough, smaller pre-Inca towers, and the smooth, larger ones made by the Incas. The biggest tower took about 50 years to be made and consists of rocks weighing anywhere from 2 to 6 tons. An interesting site to visit that combines archaeology, history and rustic landscapes.

Farewell takes place at the Juliaca airport or train Station where you will board your plane or train to your next destination.

Overnight at Country Club Lima Hotel in a Gran Clase room.

Monday 09 May 2011 Breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy a unique culinary experience. Visit a local Market and enjoy with the different fishes and sea fruit demonstration, try the local fruit and learn about our typical vegetables. Learn about how to prepare Ceviche with a masterly presentation at one of the best local seafood restaurant.

Participate in the Peruvian drinks demonstration; guided visit to a Pisco tavern and cellar and learn how to prepare Pisco Sour and other Peruvian cocktails. You will have the chance to taste our famous national drink, the Pisco in different presentations.

Lunch at la Huaca Pucllana, overlooking pre-Colombian ruins. After lunch, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Iquitos.

Your guides await you, as your flight from Lima glides in for landing at Iquitos International Airport.

After you’ve claimed your luggage, you will board an air-conditioned bus for your journey to the river.

5:40 p.m. Transfer to Nauta’s main wharf.

Enjoy a scenic one-and-a-half hour drive through the Peruvian countryside to the small village of Nauta. You will be traveling along the only road out of town . . . and it only goes as far as Nauta.

7:10 p.m. Check-In From the moment you step on board, you will enjoy the M/V Aria’s atmosphere of low-key luxury. As you settle into your handsomely appointed, over-sized suite, you will feel the vessel begin to move; the beginning of one of the great adventures of your life. Stand on the Upper Deck to take in the view, as the M/V Aria leaves Iquitos behind.

Over the next four days, you will also sail along the largest tributaries of the Amazon, as well as the mighty Amazon itself. You are embarking on a spectacular adventure, to a place visited by only a few of the most experienced world travelers.

7:30 p.m. Safety Drill and Briefing on the Upper Deck Before dinner we will perform a routine safety drill. Then it’s into the air-conditioned lounge, where you will learn about life onboard, and will have the first of the nightly briefings about your adventure to follow. You will meet the naturalist guides and the cruise director, who will use video, photos, and maps to explain the details of your journey into the Amazon.

8:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner Sit down, relax, sample some fine South American wine, and enjoy the truly world-class cuisine, created by Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of the best in all of Lima. Schiaffino’s recipes, with the imaginative use of local products – fruit, fish, spices – make every meal a delightful adventure. (The menu always offers choices, including a vegetarian option.) Toast the beginning of a beautiful journey.

Perhaps enjoy a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring.

Tuesday 10 May 2011 MARAÑON RIVER/CHOROYACU/SAN PEDRO DE TIPISHCA/PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE 7:00 a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Boat Ride Expedition This morning we will board the skiffs to explore part of the vast Amazon flooded forest. Your guides will tell you about the rainforest and its dynamic life, as we explore what scientists call a “gallery forest,” because of its narrow vegetation, creating a tunnel of leaves. As we float through this tunnel, it is easy to spot parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk saki monkeys, very close to the skiff.

12:30 p.m. Lunch 4:00 p.m. Jungle Walk and Village Visit On this walk, your guides will introduce you to native people doing subsistence farming, and will tell you how they learned to cultivate wild plants and trees to earn farm income. As your adventure takes you deep into the primary forest, your guides will also show you the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle – and will reveal some of the plants’ secrets.

7:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aria 8:00 p.m. Dinner Wednesday 11 May 2011 TACSHA RIVER/PACAYA SAMIRIA/SAN MARTIN DE TIPISHCA 6:30 a.m. Breakfast Today you can choose between two options: Option 1: Full-day excursion to Primary forest with a Picnic Lunch 7:30 a.m. This morning you will board your skiff to go deep into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, along the Samiria River. Along the route, we will have the opportunity to see various species of monkey, such as howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, saddleback tamarin monkeys and many bird species such as blue, yellow and scarlet macaws as well as toucans and some species of river hawks.

We will arrive at the PV2 Tacsha watchpost, where we will follow a path deep into the rainforest. Enjoy a generous picnic lunch, before we begin our journey back to our vessel.

5:30 p.m. Arrive at the M/V Aria.

Option 2: Guided Jungle Walk/Siesta/Monkey and Dolphin Expedition 7:30 a.m. Guided Jungle Walk in the Primary Forest This morning your Naturalist Guide will tell you all about sustainable resource management projects in Amazonia, and will take you to one of these projects, where villagers are planting

palms to obtain oil.

Your Guide may also show you the artificial nests created on the sand to protect turtle eggs.

Then we will take you deep into the jungle, where you will encounter wildlife and learn firsthand about the important medicinal value of many jungle plants. We will also show you famous Kapok Trees (ceiba pentandra), the tallest trees in the Amazon Basin.

12:00 p.m. Return to the M/V Aria 1:00 p.m. Lunch, followed by a Siesta 4:00 p.m. Caiman Expedition In this late afternoon skiff excursion, keep your eyes directed toward the jungle canopy, where you can spot at least several kinds of primates—some of the 13 species of monkeys resident in the National Reserve. Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of tamarins and dusky titi monkeys, as well as pigmy marmoset monkeys. Watch for alligators, and keep your binoculars at the ready, as you are likely to see more than 200 species of birds. As the sun sets and our searchlight comes on, keep your eyes out for caimans, tree boas, tarantulas, and frogs.

7:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aria 8:30 p.m. Dinner

Thursday 12 May 2011 YANAYAQUILLO/TAHUAYO/CHARO LAKE 6:30 a.m. Yanayaquillo Exploration and Breakfast Aboard the Skiffs Back on the river as the sun rises, you will see a treasure trove of wildlife, including parrots, macaws, toucans, and many kinds of monkeys—as well as some “surprise” species that you have never seen before. Enjoy a “bag breakfast” of light sandwiches and fresh juice. Since we will stop near a popular dolphin feeding spot, you will see quite a show as you enjoy your meal.

11:30 a.m. Return to the M/V Aria As our journey nears its end, your luxurious home away from home starts to sail back down the river toward Iquitos. It isn’t over yet however. A new adventure awaits you this afternoon.

12:30 p.m. Lunch 3:30 p.m. Charo Lake Fishing Trip This afternoon, we will travel to this splendid “hot spot” lake, where you will be certain to catch some of the more than 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon basin. Our key focus will be on piranhas, those small, sharp-teethed carnivorous fish with a big reputation for being scary. Catching one will make for great cocktail conversation back home.

6:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aria Once we are back onboard, the ship will continue its journey down stream, sailing toward Iquitos through the night.

7:00 p.m. Briefing in the Top Lounge - Recap of Itinerary and Sightings.

8:00 p.m. Farewell Dinner Leaving the peace and beauty of the jungle behind, we will enjoy our final dinner together, swapping stories about the wonderful experiences shared on the river.

9:00 p.m. Crew Presentation After dinner, your guides will introduce some of the crew members that you have not yet met, but who have been busy with the “behind the scenes” work that has helped to create a seamless experience.

Friday 13 May 2011 ARRIVAL IN IQUITOS/CHECK OUT AND DISEMBARK AT THE MAIN WHARF/CITY TOUR/TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT 7:30 a.m. Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Morning Excursion The excursions today depend on the level of the river. Weather and time permitting, this will be the last opportunity to see how people live along the Amazon—by floating in skiffs through the lively riverside community of Belen, in Iquitos. Here, where the houses and shops actually float on the river during some months, you will see the bustling food market for the entire Peruvian Amazon. All local inhabitants throughout the region sell and purchase goods here.

10:00 a.m. Return to the M/V Aria. Sadly, it’s time to finish packing. Please leave your packed suitcases in your suite for pickup before going to lunch.

12.00 p.m. Light Lunch 1:15 p.m. Disembarkation/City Tour/Manatee Rescue Center/Transfer to the Airport Your afternoon in the remote city of Iquitos, accessible only by river or air, will not disappoint.

This bustling town, complete with a house built by Gustave Eiffel, was once a rich center of the rubber industry. Before we head for the airport, we will take you to visit the Manatee Rescue

Center, where biologists and volunteers care for endangered Amazon manatees that conservation authorities have seized from local people, including fishermen. Biologists will give a presentation about the project and its efforts to help these helpless mammals. You will also see how the manatees are cared for and are prepared for re-introduction into their natural habitat. Finally, we will stop at the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market, for a last chance to shop for local crafts.

4:30 p.m. Check in at Iquitos International Airport Your guides will help you with check-in, and will stay with you until you have boarded your flight back to Lima.

5:50 p.m. Your Flight Departs for Lima Arrival to Lima Airport. You will be assisted with the check in for your international flight. You will be able to use Lima’s first class lounge while waiting for your international departure.

The itinerary is subject to change, due to weather and other conditions. All times indicated are approximate, and are also subject to change.

End of Services

Itinerary Includes: • • • • •

Hotels as indicated in the itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary Transfers, visits and excursions in private transportation Excursions and visits with local English speaking guide Booking Fee

Itinerary Does Not Include: • •

Personal expenses Local taxes (19% V.A.T. is applicable only to Peruvian and foreign resident of Peru, in order to be exempted you will need to show your passport and Andean Immigration Card).

FAM TRIP VIRTUOSO EXTENSION 2011 03Days / 02 Nights Machu Picchu (1 night); Cusco (1 night) Summary: LIMA / MACHU PICCHU –Day 1 Transfer to Lima airport Transfer from Cusco Airport to Cusco city.

Private transfer to Ollantaytambo train station Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes Overnight at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.

MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO – Day 2

Private guided excursion to Machu Picchu Buffet lunch at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Vistadome train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo Private transfer from Ollantaytambo Station to Cusco Overnight at Inkaterra La Casona.

CUSCO/ LIMA – Day 3

Free day to explore Cusco Transfer to airport for your flight out to Lima Detailed experience: DAY 01 LIMA / MACHU PICCHU (8000 ft. – 2432 m.a.s.l.)

After breakfast you will be transferred to Lima Airport in order to board your Flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo Train Station.

(Approximate time of travel: 2 hours).

The Sacred Valley is a good starting point for your journey, with its moderate altitude, pleasant climate, beautiful scenery, picturesque villages, and friendly local people. It offers a great opportunity to explore Inca sites, local artisan markets, and if you choose, to do some adventure hiking or rafting.

Board the train to Aguas Calientes (6693 ft. – 2034 m.a.s.l.). The Vistadome service includes carriages provided with panoramic windows enhancing scenic views and photographic moments. During the journey a snack is supplied. (Approximate time of travel by train: 1 hour, 30 minutes).

Reception at the train station by the hotel’s representatives followed by a short walk and assistance to Inkaterra Machu Picchu.

Evening at leisure to relax or enjoy some of the hotel’s most charming attractions that include the reading room, the wall in the main dining room displaying scores of Pre-Columbian artifacts, the lounge’s crackling fireplaces, and the Andean sauna, an igloo made from indigenous bamboo and fresh eucalyptus leaves, in the UNU Spa (Prices for services at the UNU Spa are available at the front desk of the Hotel).

Overnight at Inkaterra Machu Picchu

DAY 02 MACHU PICCHU/ SACRED VALLEY (9000 ft. – 2735 m.a.s.l.)

Buffet breakfast at the hotel followed by a short walk from the hotel; take a 30minute bus ride to Machu Picchu Citadel.

In ancient days, Machu Picchu served as the favored country retreat for the royal family and Inca nobility. The surrounding mountains, the natural beauty of its cloud forest, and its significantly lower altitude than Cusco, inspired the Incas to build Machu Picchu Citadel, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Explore the enigmatic citadel of Machu Picchu accompanied with your guide for three hours.

Your expert guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza and the Temple of the Sun. This is an opportunity to revel in the energy and atmosphere of one of the most significant and spectacular archaeological sites on the planet, surrounded by the cloud forest, Wayna Picchu and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate), the entrance to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.

After the excursion, enjoy lunch at CafĂŠ Inkaterra. Afterwards you will board the Vistadome Train back. (Approximate time of travel by train: 1 hour, 30 minutes).

Upon arriving at Ollantaytambo Train Station you will be contacted by our Guest Services Representative and transferred to Cusco city.

Overnight at Inkaterra La Casona.

DAY 03 CUSCO / LIMA

Breakfast at your hotel.

You will be able to enjoy a free day in the city of Cusco.

You will be transferred from your hotel back to Lima.

END OF OUR SERVICES Itinerary Includes: • Hotels as indicated in the itinerary • Meals as indicated in the itinerary • Transfers, visits and excursions in private transportation • Train Tickets (Vistadome Service) • Bus tickets to and from Machu Picchu Citadel • Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Citadel • Excursions and visits with local English speaking guide • Tips for hotel and airport staff • Entrance fee for main archeological sites in Cusco • Local airport taxes Itinerary Does Not Include: • Hotels and meals not described in the itinerary • Personal expenses • Tickets to ruins or other unspecified Parks • Local taxes (19% V.A.T. is applicable only to Peruvian and foreign resident of Peru, in order to be exempted you will need to show your passport and Andean Immigration Card).

Rate per person: US $ 800.00