The Incas . . . Sons of the Sun . . . mysterious builders of stone fortresses, mountaintop citadels and golden temples. According to legend Manco Inca and Mama Ocllo, the first Inca rulers, came forth from Lake Titicaca to unite warring tribes under a common language and a unified religion, creating one of the most fabulous of ancient empires, Tawantinsuyo, “the four quarters of the world.” At its apex in the late fifteenth century, this impressive kingdom spanned an area more than five times the size of the state of California! The Incas governed this vast realm, which was connected by thousands of miles of stone-paved highways, from their cultural and religious center in Cusco. Persecuted by Spanish conquistadores, much of the Inca’s history was destroyed. Even so, many stone monuments stand today, a testament to the skill of their master architects.

Designed for those who wish to deepen their appreciation of the Incas, this exciting cultural and archaeological adventure takes us into the very heart of Tawantinsuyo. We begin in the Inca’s Sacred Valley, joining Quechua villagers at the traditional market in Pisac before surveying the ruins overlooking town. Next, we visit a family in Chinchero, enjoy a weaving demonstration by master craftswomen and view the fortress at Ollantaytambo. The following morning we take the train to Machu Picchu and spend two full days exploring this jewel of Inca architecture and the nearby village of Aguas Calientes. Returning to Cusco by train, we visit splendid royal palaces and admire the precise stonework of the Coricancha, Sacsayhuaman and other pre-Columbian sites. Our adventure ends with a tour of Lima’s magnificent Larco Herrera Museum.