Peru: Peoples, Cultures, and the Natural World
Lake Titicaca, Andes, Altiplano, Amazon
Interim, 2009
Professors Nancy Mandlove, Spanish and Latin American Studies and Begoña Caballero García, Spanish
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International Flights-Schedule* Country
Info. &Advisories Latest update 12/1/08 (Asterisk indicates section has been updated.)
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Our 18 day exploration of the natural and cultural history of Peru will take us to the high Andes, the unique environment of Lake Titicaca on the border between Peru and Bolivia, and to the low elevation rainforest of the upper Amazon. After a brief overnight in Lima, we fly to Cusco, where we will explore the Spanish colonial city built in the 16th century on Inca foundations. From Cusco we go by train through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to the ceremonial site of Macchu Pichu, located among spectacular Andean peaks. We then travel on across the high altiplano to Puno at the edge of Lake Titicaca. We will visit the reed islands of the Uros culture and spend the night with indigenous families on the island of Amantani. Our journey to the Amazon begins with a flight to Iquitos and then travel by boat several hours up river to a lodge at the edge of the Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo indigenous and ecological reserve. Our ten days in the Amazon will include canoeing, hiking, wildlife observation, visits to local villages, sessions with native shaman, canopy exploration via the Amazon's longest zipline, swimming with pink dolphins, piranha fishing, and optional camping and jungle survival training.