June 5-16, 2023 | Peru, Machu Picchu and the Amazon

This tour will focus on the treasures of South America’s most fascinating country. We’ll fly to Lima and enjoy the colonial history of America’s oldest city. A short flight takes us to the Peruvian Amazon for two days for a jungle experience you’ll never forget. We’ll enjoy ample time in Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Pisac and, of course, Machu Picchu. We’ll travel by coach into the Sacred Valley to the end of the road. We’ll take a ninety minute train ride to Machu Picchu and sleep in the nearby town (which has lovely accommodations). We’ll have an entire day to enjoy Machu Picchu the next day before returning to Cusco.

And for those who would like to see another AMAZING place, you’ll have the chance to extend your tour to include Lake Titicaca before returning to Lima, and back to the US. It is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE and nobody in Utah has taken more groups to Peru that we have.

June 5, 2023:  This morning we’ll depart for our Peruvian adventure.  We’ll fly via Atlanta or Houston to Lima, Peru, arriving in the late evening, local time.   Our hotel is the lovely Costa del Sol Hotel in the parking lot of the airport which is just steps away and very convenient. (D)

June 6:  After a good night’s rest, we’ll walk back over to the airport (50 yards) for our morning flight to the jungle.  In just over an hour, we’ll go from the barren landscape of Lima to the lush jungle of the Peruvian Amazon.  We land in Puerto Maldanado and board our boat for a 30 minute ride on the majestic Madre de Dios River into the Amazon Jungle.  We stay at the VERY comfortable Corto Maltes with all the amenities for a very pleasant stay.  You’ll have your own bungalow with comfortable beds/private bathroom/shower while you enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle.  Upon arrival (and after lunch and a rest in your porch hammock), we’ll take an educational stroll into the primary growth jungle to see the incredible flora in the area.  It is fascinating! (ever seen a walking palm tree?)  Dinner is waiting for us when we return.  The food and the activities in the jungle are superb.  This evening, our boat will take us up river in the dark (with our spotlights) to look for the white Cayman or Capybara.  (B, L, D)

June 7:  We have a full day in store as we explore this fascinating part of the world. Half of Peru is made up of jungle and the biodiversity here is legendary. We’ll get up early today and take our boats about 15 minutes to the entrance of the Sandoval National Park. We’ll walk (on a raised boardwalk that is completely flat) through the jungle about 2 miles to Lake Sandoval, a natural lake formed by a meandering river. The scenery is simply magnificent. Our guides will row us on the lake as we enjoy the bird life, monkeys, giant otters (that live in the lake) and more. It is a surreal experience. We then return to our lodge for an authentic jungle lunch. After a rest, we’ll meet with a family of Amazon Natives who come from their village to share what life is like in the jungle – and it is very interesting. Those who wish will then have the option to climb the recently completed tower that goes above the jungle canopy to see the flying Scarlet Macaws or other birdlife in the area. It’s all close to our comfortable lodge. And if you’d rather stay at the lodge and swim and rest, that’s an option too. The lodge is owned by a French couple and the food here is DELICIOUS (as it is in all of Peru). B, L, D

June 8: This morning we’ll see one of nature’s most interesting daily rituals.  Those interested can arise just after sunrise and take a 15-20 minute walk into the jungle where we’ll watch as dozens of wild parrots descend from the skies onto a wall of clay.  They eat the clay to coat their stomachs so they can then go out and eat unripe fruit.  We’ll come back and enjoy breakfast before boarding our boats back to Puerto Maldanado where we’ll show you the colorful and lively local market.  They we take a 40 minute flight to Cusco, once the capitol of most of South America.  We’ll go to our hotel and allow our bodies to adjust to the altitude.  During our rest, we’ll have an interesting lecture about the Incas and the Spaniards which will provide important background as we prepare to see these great sites.   In the late afternoon, we’ll stroll into the beautiful Plaza de Armas (main square) and walk the original Incan streets that have been here for over 500 years.  The massive stones, fit perfectly together, still line the sides of these historic streets. The Cathedral built by the Spaniards in the 16^th century towers over the area.  It is one of the world’s most interesting cities and capital of a great empire.  A delicious dinner is included tonight in Cusco.  We stay at the Jose Antonio Hotel – a lovely 4 star property on the main avenue. (B, D)

June 9:  The Sacred Valley of the Incas is so named because of the reverence they felt for this area.  With towering mountains on both sides, and scores of ruins, and fertile fields, it is an interesting place to visit.  Travel distances are short and there is much to see.  We’ll visit the well-known Incan fortress of Sacsayhuaman whose gigantic 3-tiered walls were built from 18-foot boulders that weigh over 300 tons each.  The views of Cusco below are breathtaking.  From there it’s a short drive to Pisac for lunch. On the way, we’ll see and feed some llamas and alpacas. We will then give you some time for shopping in the local Pisac Market.  It is colorful, interesting and a bargain.  We’ll also see the Pisac Ruins that guarded this sacred valley, and the best example of the agricultural terraces which the Incas perfected.  We’ll return to Cusco in the early evening.  Free evening to enjoy dinner on your own.  There are many restaurants with English menus.  (B, L)

June 10:  Today we take a look at the other side of the sacred valley. We’ll stop in Chincheros this morning for an interesting weaving demonstration before continuing to beautiful Urubamba where we’ll enjoy a delicious buffet lunch.  We’ll then continue 30 minutes to Ollantaytambo at the “end of the road” and learn the interesting history of this important ancient Inca city.  We will then board our Vista Dome train for an unforgettable 90 minute train ride toward Machu Picchu.  The scenery changes from dry mountain valleys to lush, tropical mountains as you DESCEND to 7,000 feet above sea level, several thousand feet lower than Cusco.  By 5:30, we’ll arrive at Aguas Calientes, the small town near Machu Picchu.  We’ll check into our hotel and enjoy a free evening in this charming town.   It is impossible to describe the majestic mountain scene.  You just have to see it to believe it.  We’ll stay at a comfortable hotel right on the river.  (B, L)

June 11:  The big day has arrived.  We’ll take a 20 minutes bus ride from our hotel and ascend to this Wonder of the World.  Machu Picchu is perched majestically atop a green, lush mountain with higher, foliage-covered mountains surrounding it.  Behind the mountains are show-capped glaciers.  The site will NEVER leave your memory.  It is simply one of the most awe-inspiring single landscapes anywhere in the world (in my opinion).   Our local guide will spend a couple of hours with us taking us through the ruins followed by time to enjoy it on your own.  There is much to learn and see.  You will repeatedly look around you in absolute amazement at the scene.  The brave ones can take the hour hike to the top of Wayna Picchu, overlooking the ruins (extra cost and limited space). You’ll have plenty of time to see Machu Picchu in depth. In the late afternoon, we’ll board our train which departs around 4:00.  We’ll be back in Cusco by 8:00.  A light dinner is included.  (B, D)

June 12:  This morning we’ll participate in a humanitarian activity (details to be announced as we get closer).  Those interested can donate and participate in a life changing afternoon that you won’t forget.  We have done this for the past 20+ years and it is a sweet experience for all involved. We’ve included a box lunch. This afternoon, you’ll have some free time to do some shopping, visit the 16^th Century Cathedral, take a walk or just relax.  Around 4:00, your guide will take you to Cusco’s most historic building:  Koricancha (Temple of the Sun).  This was the main source of gold for the Spanish conquistadors and is a fascinating place to visit.  Cusco was the “City of Gold”.  The Spaniards wrote about finding “fountains flowing with gold” and “streets paved with gold” as they entered the city in 1500’s.    We’ll have a delicious buffet dinner with entertainment tonight in Cusco.  (B, D).

June 13: Today we’ll board our hour long flight back to Lima where we’ll spend the day seeing some interesting sites. Lima may not be the highlight of the tour, but there are some very important things to see.  Founded by Pizarro in the 1500’s, Lima is the American continent’s oldest European-founded city.  We’ll see the interesting Plaza de Armas, 500 year old Francisco Church and more.   We’ll also see Lima’s newest attraction:  The Water Fountain Park.  Trust me.  This is worth seeing!  We then return to the airport for our overnight flight home, arriving the morning of June 14^th.  (B)

Price of tour includes:

*All flights within Peru

*All ground transportation aboard private luxury motor coach

*All lodging at excellent hotels and 18 meals

*Local tour guides in Lima, the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu

*Vista-Dome train to Machu Picchu

*Entrance fees to all archeological sites

*Webb Tours Director throughout

*Luggage handling for one piece of luggage.

*Passport fees, international airfare/taxes and tips for local guides are not included.

OPTIONAL PUNO/LAKE TITICACA EXTENSION:

About 250 miles south of Cusco on the high plains near the Bolivia border is the world’s highest navigable lake.  It is called Lake Titicaca, and it sits at roughly 12,700 feet above sea level.  The Uros people once felt threatened by the Inca Empire and fled to the shores of the lake.  To better protect themselves, they devised a system whereby they constructed floating islands on the shallow part of the lake, using the natural cattail type rush called the Totora plant.  Its dense roots support the top layer which is constantly replaced with new reeds on top of the layers beneath.  The islands change in size, and more are created as the need arises.  On the shores of the lake, is the interesting town of Puno dating back to pre-inca times.  It is an interesting place to visit. 

Extension Itinerary:  If you choose the extension, your itinerary will be as follows:

June 13: Arise early this morning and enjoy a full day transfer from Cusco to Puno aboard a luxury coach for tourists.  We’ll see some interesting scenery, my favorite colonial church in Peru, archeological sites (Raqchi) and the interesting towns.  A buffet lunch and informed guide are included as you travel.  We make lots of stops and arrive by about 6:00 PM.  Dinner is on your own at the hotel.  We stay at the 4 star Jose Antonio on the lake. (B, L)

June 14:  Today we have a morning tour on Lake Titicaca.  We go by boat into the National Reserve which is a protected area for the Uros people who inhabit these fascinating, man-made islands.  We’ll go onto one of the islands and meet the local inhabitants.  They will give us a demonstration of how they build the islands.  They’ll invite us into their homes and give us a feel for life on the islands (those interested can see the island where the LDS church was located, and where all on the island are members).  We’ll then enjoy a 60 minute ride the Island of Taquile where we’ll meet the locals living in the middle of Lake Titicaca.  We’ll have fresh lake trout for lunch overlooking the lake. It’s fascinating.  We’ll show you more of the island and return to our hotel. A nice farewell dinner is included this evening.  (B, L, D)

June 15:  This morning we go to the airport and take our flight back to Lima (we’ll show you the same things as listed on June 13 above).  We will catch an overnight flight back to the states, arriving on June 16. (B)

Extension price is $475 PER PERSON

Extension includes luxury tourist coach to Puno, 2 nights lodging, 6 meals, all tours, guides, Lake Titicaca floating islands and Isla de Taquile, and flight to Lima.

Registration Information:

To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $400 per person.  When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour.  A letter with instructions, hotel itinerary flight information (if applicable) and luggage tags will be sent roughly 90 days prior to departure at which time the balance will be due.  You do not need to pay the balance until after you receive that packet.  We require final payments in the form of a check.  If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card.  Webb Tours accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. A 2% fee applies to final payments made by credit card.

Cancellation Penalties

We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason.  If it is 90 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded.  If airline tickets are purchased prior to that time (with your permission), they become the property of the traveler and are not refundable.  All other funds will be returned if cancellation occurs outside of 120 days.  If it is within 120 days, we will charge you only what Webb Tours cannot recover.  In some cases, we can recover all of it.  In others, we cannot.  Cruise lines, airlines, hotels and other service providers require funds in advance and have their own rules about what will be refunded once paid.  We must follow their guidelines.  For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased.  However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets.  If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers.  Our travelers know us to be very fair in this regard.

Cancellation Insurance: 

Cancellation insurance is also available should you be interested.  The insurance provider that we us is Travelex Insurance.  You can learn about them at www.travelexinsurance.com.  With this insurance, most of your money will be returned to you in case you have to cancel for covered reasons (illness or death of an immediate family member) at the last minute.  The price for the insurance varies based on the price of the trip and the age of the participant (at the time the insurance is purchased). 

If you are interested in the insurance, you can purchase it through Webb Tours at any time. The insurance goes into effect once purchased.  If you have any pre-existing conditions, it is best to purchase the insurance within 14 days of making your initial deposit as that will cover an illness that may result from a pre-existing condition. If you don’t have pre-existing conditions, you can purchase the insurance any time between now and the time you make your final payment.  Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made.  Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for Travelex.  To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date.  Insurance also includes the following items:

Trip interruption up to 150% of the cost of the trip (if you have to leave in the middle of the trip)

• Trip delay: $750
• Missed Connection: $750
• Baggage & Personal Effects (for lost luggage): $1,000
• Baggage Delay: $200
• Emergency medical/dental expenses: $50,000
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: $500,000
• Accidental death/dismemberment during travel: $25,000

Per person prices are as follows:

Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:

WEBB TOURS

2378 Evergreen Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT  84109

Tel. (801) 278-3101

or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519

Or call us and register over the phone.  We hope you can join us.