KARIN MULLER

Author, filmmaker, photographer, and adventurer Karin Muller set out 11 years ago to travel and document the world’s great historic highways. Her 4,000-mile trek from Quito to Santiago resulted in an acclaimed international television documentary, Along the Inca Road, on National Geographic Explorer and the National Geographic Channel, and a book published by Adventure Press. During the seven months she spent documenting Inca culture, Karin learned how to build a traditional reed boat and round up endangered vicuñas in Peru’s high plateaus.

Karin will accompany the September 2005 departure and the March 2006 departures.

KITTY COLEY

Geologist and naturalist Kitty Coley is a popular National Geographic Expeditions leader who has led many expeditions to Machu Picchu and through the Peruvian Andes. Working closely with a local expert on Inca history, Kitty delves into how the Andes formed and in turn how the resultant geology, climate, fauna, and flora influenced the Inca’s history and architecture. In the rain forest along the Amazon River, Kitty will share her in-depth knowledge of local animals and plant life.

Kitty will accompany the October departures.

DAVID SCOTT SILVERBERG

Geographer David Scott Silverberg (Ph.D., MIT) has received research grants from the National Geographic Society and is currently lead professor for Humboldt State University's Natural History and Environmental Studies programs in Ecuador, Ladakh, Baja, and Alaska-Yukon. His special interests include Incan/Amazonian natural and bio-cultural history, environmental studies, conservation biology, and protected area studies. David has long had an interest in the Amazon and the Andes, and he researches and teaches there for three months each year.

David will accompany the November departure.

GUILLERMO COCK

Archaeologist, author, and National Geographic grantee Guillermo Cock is an expert on Andean cultures whose discovery of thousands of ancient Inca mummies was featured in National Geographic magazine. We will visit his laboratory near Lima on our expedition.

Day 1 Miami/Lima, Peru
Depart Miami for Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Swissotel

Day 2 Lima
Spend the day exploring colonial and modern Lima, founded in the 1500s by conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Visit the Plaza Mayor, City Hall, the baroque San Francisco Church, and the stunning cathedral, which dates back to 1555. Tonight, enjoy dinner at Casa Garcia Alverado, a private colonial home built in 1912.
(B,L,D)

Day 3 Lima/Puerto Maldonado/Tambopata
Fly to Puerto Maldonado and embark on a boat trip into the heart of the rain forest, taking you to Reserva Amazonica Lodge. Set on a private ecological reserve, the lodge is built from local materials in native style. After lunch, enjoy a spectacular canopy walk to observe orchids and tree-dwelling creatures, 130 feet above the ground.
Reserva Amazonica Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 4 Tambopata
Before breakfast, join an expedition to catch colorful local birds in a mist net for close, handheld examination. Later, board a dugout canoe for a paddle across the still waters of Lake Sandoval. Spot native fauna such as macaws and other parrots, turtles, piranhas, and maybe a giant Amazonian river otter. After lunch, board a small boat to visit Monkey Island, a private sanctuary housing six species of monkeys. Along the way, look for hundreds of bird species found in this area, such as macaws, jabirus, and wood storks.
(B,L,D)

Day 5 Tambopata
Meet farmers, and see how they incorporate environmentally friendly practices into their farming of sugarcane, bananas, and cacao. Board a motorboat to explore Gamitana Creek in search of birds, tortoises, and alligators. Learn about local fishing techniques and have lunch on one of the creek beaches before returning to the lodge. At dinner, enjoy a local specialty while listening to Amazonian music around an outdoor fire.
(B,L,D)

Day 6 Puerto Maldonado/Cusco/Urubamba
Fly to Cusco and continue to the sacred valley of the Inca, once the ceremonial center for Inca rulers. At the colorful village of Pisac, visit the ruins of an Inca fortress perched on a hilltop among steep farming terraces and dramatic architecture. Explore ritual baths fed by aqueducts, a large Inca cemetery, and towers that may have been astronomical observatories.
Casa Andina (B,L,D)

Day 7 Urubamba
North of Cusco, visit Chinchero’s enormous Inca wall and one of the most important colonial-era churches. Attend a weaving demonstration by National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa, then continue on to the Huayocari Hacienda for a delightful lunch of regional specialties, hosted by the owner. Tour the Ollantaytambo Inca fortress, and admire the curving terraces following the contours of the rocks overlooking the Urubamba Valley.
(B,L,D)

Day 8 Urubamba/Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, in its isolated mountaintop setting, is one of the world’s most awe-inspiring sites. The sacred citadel was abandoned by the Inca, reclaimed by the jungle, and lost to history until it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and excavated with financial support from the National Geographic Society. Learn about the mysteries of “the lost city of the Inca” on a guided walk through the site. On a special nighttime visit to Machu Picchu, meet a shaman who will describe Inca spiritual beliefs.
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 9 Machu Picchu/Cusco
Enjoy a full morning and lunch at Machu Picchu. Explore the ruins on your own, or take a challenging hike up Huayna Picchu for a magnificent view of the site before boarding the train for the scenic ride back to Cusco.
Hotel Monasterio (B,L)

Day 10 Cusco
Explore Inca culture in the Cusco region. Visit the excavations of Sacsahuaman, the Kenko religious center, Puca Pucara fortress, and Tambomachay Inca Baths. In Cusco, stroll the narrow streets of the old town, pause at an artisan’s workshop, and join the curator for a tour of the cathedral, featuring a high altar made of solid silver.
(B,L,D)

Day 11 Cusco/Lima
Fly to Lima for a private visit to the laboratory of archaeologist Guillermo Cock, whose discovery of thousands of ancient Inca mummies was featured in National Geographic magazine and funded by a National Geographic grant. This evening, visit the Larco Herrera Museum. After a tour of the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art, join the museum’s director for a reception and farewell dinner.
Swissôtel (B,D)

Day 12 Lima/Miami
Transfer to the Lima airport for the return flight to Miami.
(B)

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