Peru offers visitors such wealth and diversity as are rarely found in the world. Important ancient cultures have left their mark here: Inca, Moche, Chimu, Nasca and Paracas among many other civilizations followed one another, making the history of Peru one of the richest, and its archaeological legacy one of the most important. Pre-inca temples are interspersed with colonial cities, sensual deserts and exuberant tropical forests, not to mention the imposing Andes Mountains and contemporary cities mix with ancient cultures and ancestral traditions. Adventure, history, culture, nature and so much more can be experienced in a single country.

Join Kosher Expeditions as we explore in the footsteps of the ancient Incas high in the Andes and the untouched natural beauty of the Amazon along the world greatest river and rainforest. Your 10 day all-inclusive luxury adventure offers a-once-in-a-lifetime experience as we explore the wonders of Peru.

Our tour is divided into five area components of Peru:

Lima: “The City of Kings” - Since its foundation in 1535 by the conqueror of Peru, Francisco Pizarro, Lima, has been the capital of Peru. Its magnificent colonial architecture led UNESCO to declare the Historic Centre of Lima a World Heritage Site. Baroque and neoclassical churches and convents, balconies dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries, colonial town houses and beautiful public spaces speak of a past in which Lima was Spain's richest vice regal capital in the Americas. You will spend a total of 3-days in Lima including a city tour and Shabbat with the local Jewish community.

Cusco: In Inca times it was the imperial capital and as such represented not only political control but was also a centre for worship and ritual. Since the arrival of the Spanish Cusco has become a city of contrasts where splendid colonial buildings were erected on the foundations of an impressive Inca architecture noted for its fine masonry. The beauty and cultural value of this city led it to be declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO, it is also known as the archaeological capital of the Americas.

Sacred Valley of the Incas: On its way to form the Amazon, the river Urubamba has carved a spectacularly beautiful valley known as the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”. Along its length there are fine colonial villages where ancient customs survive together with impressive Inca ruins.

Machu Picchu: 120 km from the city of Cusco, Machu Picchu is without doubt one of the few places on earth where not only the works of man take your breath away with their perfection and harmony of shape, but the surrounding countryside is also astonishingly beautiful. What is even more surprising is how the Incas managed to combine architecture and nature in such a way that one complements the other to make an inseparable whole. The Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary was declared a Natural and Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983, a double distinction which it shares with few other places.

Amazon River and Iquitos: The River Amazon, the largest in the world, has always been a place of pilgrimage for different types of explorers, adventurers and profiteers. Today the Amazon now attracts biologists and forestry engineers studying the great arboreal and biological diversity found in the forest, anthropologists seeking a little more knowledge of the ethnic groups that live along the river Amazon and travelers wanting to see something of the mysteries of this great river. Here we explore the wonders of the Amazonian Rainforest from river cruising, to canopy walks and cultural encounters with the local communities and tribes of the region.

Tour Dates:

Jan 28 - Feb 6 2008
June 30 – July 8 2008
August 18 -27 2008

*Custom tour dates available year round. Please call for details.

Tour includes:

Luxury hotel accommodations

Full time Kosher Expeditions tour leader, guides / naturalists

Shabbat with the Jewish community of Lima

All activities and touring listed in the itinerary

All transfers including domestic air

All Glatt kosher meals cooked fresh on-site under strict supervision

For detailed information please visit our website at www.kosherexpeditions.com