Peru/Chile/Easter Island
Machu Picchu & Rapa Nui: Discovering Two Mysterious Civilizations
Program No. 23246RJ
Two iconic, ancient sites are yours to discover as you explore Machu Picchu and Rapa Nui with local experts, and uncover the fascinating history and culture that surround them.
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15 days
14 nights
30 meals
13B 10L 7D
3
Fly to Cusco, Pisaq Ruines and Sacred Valley
Urubamba Valley
4
Ollantaytambo Ruines, Urubamba Market. Sacred Valley project
Urubamba Valley
5
Panoramic Train to Aguas Calientes. Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu (Aguas Caliente)
8
Fly to Santiago – Chile
Santiago
10
Fly Santiago to Easter Island, Moai of Rapa Nui
Easter Island
11
Field Studies at Ahu Vinapu, Tongariki & Anakena
Easter Island
12
Parque Nacional Rapa Nui, Free Time
Easter Island
13
Fly from Rapa Nui to Santiago
Santiago
15
In Transit From Program
In Flight
At a Glance
In the remote landscapes of South America two mysterious civilizations hide, puzzling historians and summoning explorers since their discovery centuries ago. Along with expert instructors, take an archaeological dive into the past as you witness the awe-inspiring enigmas of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Machu Picchu. Undiscovered by Spanish conquistadors, these snapshots into human history have remained amazingly intact, offering invaluable insight into Incan and Polynesian cultures. Meet fascinating locals in the surrounding towns to learn more about the region’s history as you draw your own conclusions about the creation of these mysterious civilizations.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Elevations up to 11.000 feet in Cusco, Peru. Walking and standing up to two miles a day in a variety of conditions.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Alongside a local expert, explore the agricultural and urban sides of Machu Picchu and learn the history of the Incan abandonment of the city.
- Experience an in-depth discovery of the archaeological sites on Rapa Nui including three notable temples and the most mysterious site, Ahu Vinapu.
- Discover the wealth of archaeological history with historians in Peru at ruins of Pisac, Sacsayhuamán and Ollantaytambo in the heart of the Inca’s Sacred Valley.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Nicole Flores
Nicole Flores was born and raised in Chile. Her passion about her country and the region influenced her to lead programs within South America since 1998, including several trips to Antarctica where she deliver lectures about her passion She is a true believer in lifetime learning finding in travelling the best source of inspiration to share her knowledge and keep learning. Nicole is a great natural storyteller and also mastered this skill learning from the best in Chile.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Nicole Flores
View biography
Nicole Flores was born and raised in Chile. Her passion about her country and the region influenced her to lead programs within South America since 1998, including several trips to Antarctica where she deliver lectures about her passion She is a true believer in lifetime learning finding in travelling the best source of inspiration to share her knowledge and keep learning. Nicole is a great natural storyteller and also mastered this skill learning from the best in Chile.
Ricardo Uribe
View biography
Ricardo Uribe comes from Patagonia in Chile. After developing an interest in the ocean through meeting scientists at his mother's hostel in his youth, he studied physical oceanography at the Univesidad Católica de Valparaiso. He then worked for the government in Washington, D.C. in the area of environmental conservation. After nearly 12 years had passed, Ricardo felt it was time to come back to Chile. He is a lover of music, having learned to play the bagpipes.
Suggested Reading List
(8 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Machu Picchu & Rapa Nui: Discovering Two Mysterious Civilizations
Program Number: 23246
Easter Island's Silent Sentinels The Sculpture and Architecture of Rapa Nui
This richly illustrated book of the history, culture, and art of Easter Island is the first to examine in detail the island’s vernacular architecture, often overshadowed by its giant stone statues. It shows the conjecturally reconstructed prehistoric pole houses; the ahu, the sculptures’ platform, as a spectacular expression of prehistoric megalithic architecture; and the Easter Island Statue Project’s inventory of the colossal moai sculptures.
Stone Offerings
Torrey captures the dramatic setting, solitude and intricate construction of the Inca site of Machu Picchu in 100 striking color photographs taken over a few days at summer and winter solstice.
Lost City of the Incas
This first-rate adventure story by the man who brought Machu Picchu to the attention of the world 100 years ago is not just a gripping tale of exploration and archaeology, it also sets the scene for any visitor to the site.
Inca Trail: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Map
This fact-filled map shows the whole of the Sacred Valley, from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, on one side, and, on the reverse, the area surrounding the sanctuary in splendid, topographic detail (1:50,000). It's the best map for those making the trek from kilometer 88 to the site and an excellent choice for those exploring by bus or train.
The Machu Picchu Guidebook
With maps and site plans, a segment on new discoveries, a wildlife section and a fold-out full color painting of the city as it may have looked during a solstice celebration in 1530.
The Statues That Walked, Unraveling the Mystery of Easter Island
Drawing on archaeological evidence and their own work, Hunt and Lip challenge Jared Diamond's view of eco-catastrophe in this convincing new history of Rapa Nui.
The Incas
Featuring archival drawings and photographs, a chronology and chapters on Atahualpa, the Conquistadors and Hiram Bingham, this handy book (previously published as People of the Sun) illuminates the daily life, monuments and history of the Incas.
Easter Island, the Essential Guide
An archaeologist who has worked on Rapa Nui since the 1980s and past president of the Easter Island Foundation, Sanger covers the history, archaeology, people and practicalities of Easter Island in this authoritative guide.