Lima (Callao), Peru
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizzaro as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or “City of Kings.” It soon grew into the capital of Spain’s Viceroyalty of Peru and established the oldest university in the Americas, the National University of San Marcos. One of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America, Lima's extravagant collection of architecture spans the centuries: early colonial, Spanish baroque, neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings all adorn the cityscape. The historic center, graced with hundreds of balconies built during the viceroyalty era, is a UNESCO Site.
Lima was founded in 1535 by Francisco Pizzaro as La Ciudad de los Reyes, or “City of Kings.” It soon grew into the capital of Spain’s Viceroyalty of Peru and established the oldest university in the Americas, the National University of San Marcos. One of the most cosmopolitan cities in South America, Lima's extravagant collection of architecture spans the centuries: early colonial, Spanish baroque, neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings all adorn the cityscape. The historic center, graced with hundreds of balconies built during the viceroyalty era, is a UNESCO Site.
Shore Excursions
Shore excursions vary by each itinerary and are subject to change.
Best of Lima
Gain a deeper understanding of Lima’s history by viewing its ancient art and exploring its colonial structures.
Antiquities and Architecture
Gain a deeper understanding of Lima’s history by viewing its ancient art and exploring its colonial structures. Board your motor coach and drive to the Larco Museum, a colonial mansion built atop a pre-Columbian, 7th-century pyramid. As you walk up to the museum, take in the colorful flowers that populate its garden. Once inside, uncover 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history as you walk through their extensive collections, including Mochica Portrait Bottles and pre-Hispanic gold and silver works. Continue driving through the streets of Lima to Santo Domingo Church. Here, you will see its Rococo-style belltower and wander through its ornate turquoise and gold interior. Finally, stroll to the city’s main square and view the towering Cathedral of Lima and the Presidential Palace before returning to your ship.
Machu Picchu Overland
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to the former capital of Cusco, during a 5-day overland.
Discover the Lost City of the Incas
Explore the world of the Incas, from Machu Picchu to the former capital of Cusco, during a 5-day overland. Discover the former capital of their vast and powerful Andean highland empire and admire the beauty of the Sacred Valley as you experience daily life and traditions in a local village. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.
Day 1 - Cusco, Peru
Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, deep in the Andes Mountains and once the capital of the mighty Incan Empire. Enjoy lunch, followed by a panoramic tour of the city. Cusco is home to important historic sites, including Sacsayhuamán; the Plaza de Armas, the main square surrounded by colonial arcades; and the imposing cathedral, built with slabs of red granite. Later, check in to your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner this evening. (L, D)
Day 2 - Cusco, Peru
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive through the Andean highlands to the Sacred Valley, once the agricultural heartland of the Incan Empire. Visit a local community, where you will have an opportunity to gain insight into the everyday life and traditions of its inhabitants. Take a guided walk through the village, accompanied by traditional music. Afterward, savor a traditional lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon, return to Cusco and spend the evening at your leisure. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Cusco, Peru
Transfer to the station, then board your train for a panoramic journey to the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 7,972 feet above sea level, this remote mountaintop city was abandoned by the Incas during the mid-16th century, reclaimed by the jungle and stayed virtually unknown until its rediscovery in 1911. Take a guided tour around its most significant sights, then board your train and return to Cusco. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Panama City, Panama
After breakfast, head to the airport for your flight to Panama City, transfering via Lima. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and spend the rest of your day at your leisure. Your Viking Tour Director is on hand to help you plan your time in Panama City. (B, L)
Day 5 - Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Fuerte Amador, where you will rejoin your awaiting ship. (B)
The following meals are included for all days as listed: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Please note: Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair. Once booked, the overland is non-refundable.
Single occupancy rates apply.
Wildlife of the Galápagos Overland
Discover the diverse wildlife of the Galápagos and come face-to-face with some of the world’s rarest species.
Observe Rare Species in Remote Rocky Territory
Discover the diverse wildlife of the Galápagos and come face-to-face with some of the world’s rarest species. These remote islands inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and are home to fascinating creatures, including the stars of the animal kingdom, Galápagos giant tortoises. Please note: sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair.
Day 1 - Quito, Ecuador
Disembark your ship and transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel. Quito was one of the first cities recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, you will enjoy a panoramic excursion to see its well-preserved historic city center. See the Church and Convent of San Francisco, La Compañía and the stately Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Cathedral. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 - Galápagos Islands
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island in the Galápagos Islands. Ferry across the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, where you will see endangered Galápagos tortoises in their natural habitat. Afterward, check in to your hotel, where you can enjoy dinner later this evening. (B, L, D)
Days 3 & 4 - Galápagos Islands
Today, you will explore one of the nearby uninhabited Galápagos Islands. Board a boat with your naturalist guide, who will point out the islands’ geological formations and spectacular flora and fauna. This evening, return to your lodgings on Santa Cruz Island. (B, L, D)
*Note: Due to the carefully controlled environment of the Galápagos Islands and national park regulations, visits are subject to change without notice. Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Day 5 - Panama City (Fuerte Amador), Panama
After breakfast, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, famous for its tortoise conservation and breeding programs. Then, travel to view the Twin Craters—a geologic formation caused by the collapse of surface materials into empty magma chambers. Afterward, head to the airport for your flight to Panama City, transfering via Guayaquil. Upon arrival, board your motor coach and journey to Fuerte Amador, where you will rejoin your awaiting ship. (B, L)
The following meals are included for all days as listed: B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner
Please note: Specific wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. Sites on this program are not accessible and cannot accommodate guests who rely on a walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter/wheelchair. Once booked, the overland is non-refundable.
Single occupancy rates apply.
Amano Museum & Bohemian Barranco
Admire the artistic legacy of Peru through ancient textiles, a famous photographer’s work and artisanal crafts.
Small-Group Discovery of Peru’s Legacy of Textiles and Art
Admire the artistic legacy of Peru through ancient textiles, a famous photographer’s work and artisanal crafts. Take a drive to the Amano Museum to view its collection of 600 pre-Columbian textiles. These were recovered from around Peru by Japanese businessman Yoshitaro Amano, who settled in Lima. Learn how these beautifully detailed items were woven and the stories they tell, and view the special collection dedicated to the Chancay culture. Continue to the bohemian Barranco district, now a thriving creative hub. Visit the Pedro de Osma Museum, housed in a majestic 19th-century summer mansion where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of Lima’s former bourgeois glory, before strolling across the wooden Bridge of Sighs. After lunch, enjoy free time to shop at Dédalo, where art, decorative objects and jewelry have been gathered from artisan communities around Peru.
Civilizations of Peru
Learn about the fascinating history of the many civilizations that inhabited Peru throughout the ages.
Ancient Peruvian Heritage and Traditions
Learn about the fascinating history of the many civilizations that inhabited Peru throughout the ages. Begin your tour with a visit to the Larco Museum, housed in a colonial mansion set atop a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid in the traditional district of Pueblo Libre. View 3,000 years of Peruvian history as you browse the many artifacts on display, including a large collection of pre-Hispanic pieces of gold and silver. Later, drive to the outskirts of Lima to visit Pachacamac. Built in 200 AD and named after the Pacha Kamaq, or “Earth-Maker God,” this was one of the main religious centers of the region until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Explore the remnants of the complex’s temples and step pyramids. Complete your tour with an appetizing lunch at a local hacienda, where you can experience local cuisine and customs, and enjoy a traditional Paso horse show.
Coastal Wildlife of Peru
Enjoy Lima’s rich marine wildlife as you sail along the scenic coastline of Peru.
Discover Lima’s Marine Life
Enjoy Lima’s rich marine wildlife as you sail along the scenic coastline of Peru. Meet your guide and drive to the Callao Yacht Club, where you will see yachts, warships and merchant vessels that illustrate Lima’s seafaring traditions. Embark by ship and sail past San Lorenzo Island, Peru’s largest at five miles long. It was once used as a cemetery by the earliest inhabitants of Peru. Peruvian independence heroes from the Battle of Callao are also buried here. Continue on to the Palomino Islands and through their rocky landscape, home to a colony of sea lions. These inquisitive residents will swim out to greet any human visitors. If you wish, don a wetsuit and dive in to the waters for a closer encounter with these friendly creatures. Sail back between the islets, inhabited by numerous bird species including the second-largest Humboldt penguin colony in Peru, before returning to your ship.
Peruvian Cuisine & Famous Cocktail
Discover the secrets of Peruvian cuisine and learn how to prepare a Pisco sour.
Make a Pisco Sour and Enjoy Fusion Dishes
Discover the secrets of Peruvian cuisine and learn how to prepare a Pisco sour. Embark your motor coach and head to the Barranco district. Perched atop coastal cliffs, this is one of the most colorful and artistic districts of Lima’s barrios. See beautiful colonial houses intermingled with bars, restaurants and craft shops that give this neighborhood its lively atmosphere. Meet a local mixologist who will teach you how to prepare the perfect Pisco sour. Created in the 1920s at Lima’s Morris Bar, this famous cocktail is a Peruvian favorite based on the local Pisco brandy. Enjoy your own delicious creation at the end of your lesson. Later, learn the secrets of Peruvian cuisine during a cooking demonstration by a leading chef. See how local ingredients are infused with the flavors of European, Asian and African cuisine to create several dishes which you will then enjoy. After lunch, you will return to your ship.
Casas of Lima
Embark on a journey through Lima’s rich past by exploring two distinctive houses and their artwork.
Art and History in Lima’s Historic Houses
Embark on a journey through Lima’s rich past by exploring two distinctive houses and their artwork. First, drive to the exclusive San Isidro neighborhood to visit Casa Luna, or “Moon House.” Built by a Swiss citizen, it is one of the few houses in the town preserved in its original condition. Admire its extensive private collection of nativity scenes curated from across the world. The homeowners will describe these intricate dioramas and show you examples of their artwork. Afterward, continue on to Casa Solariega de Aliaga, built in 1535 and thought to be Lima’s oldest house. It is still inhabited by descendants of the original owner, Jerónimo de Aliaga, one of the first Spanish conquistadors to arrive in Peru. Step back in time through its doors to admire the beautiful interiors, with their valuable paintings and antiques. Lunch, accompanied by traditional Peruvian music, will be served before you return to your ship.
