Ports of Call Excursions: Lima

Museums of Lima

Duration: 41/2 hours

Price: $146 per person, minimum 2 persons.

Departure for visit two of the most important museums in Lima: Larco Archaeological Museum and Gold Museum. The Larco Museum was founded in 1926, is the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian art; with an astonishing array of gold, silver, semi-precious stones and textiles. The collection's predominant strength is in Mochica ceramics, from the north coast of Peru, of which the erotic ones are the most famous. Their notoriety ought not to obscure the fact that the museum presents a complete view of the cultural development of ancient Peru through a selection of its 45,000 pieces, housed in

a colonial building of the 18th century. Continue the visit to the privately-operated Gold of Peru Museum (Museo de Oro del Perú); gold, ceramic and textile masterpieces form the most magnificent collection of ancient Peruvian art in the world, treasures little-known and rarely exhibited outside the country. Objects include monumental necklaces, funerary masks, scepters, ceremonial cups, tumis (sacrificial knives), nose rings, earrings and idols, all fashioned of sumptuous gold and semi-precious stones. The downstairs vault features the gold artifacts. The second floor gallery contains marvelous ceramics and textiles and the annex gallery (behind the main building) features textiles and feather mantos of unbelievable quality.

City tour : Colonial and Modern Lima

Duration: 3 hours

Price: $83 per person, minimum 2 persons.

Departure for a four-hour guided tour of Colonial and Modern Lima. This half-day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro.

Shopping Tour

Duration: 3 hours

Price: $74 per person, minimum 2 persons.

Departure a 3 hour shopping tour. In Lima there are shops featuring all kind of handicrafts, as well as gold jewelry and silverware with typical Peruvian potteries. Alpaca textiles, the product of ancient tradition, well known for their excellent quality, softness and beauty are available, too. There are also many shops in the Indian markets, which sell products made from a variety of different fabrics, such as wool, alpaca, vicuña and cotton.

Pachacamac Ruins

Duration: 4 hours

Price: $98 per person, minimum 2 persons.

A drive along the Pan-American Highway with its views across the beautiful Pacific beaches will take you years back. Visit to the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac considered by many to be the most important archaeological site near Lima. Four hundred years before the Incas, the Ishmay culture developed a major ceremonial center, featuring streets, dozens of temples fitted with ramps and the Painted Temple.

Departure: 9:30 am.
Duration: 6 hours.
From 4 to 20 passengers

City tour and Gold Museum

Duration: 4 hours

Price: $123 per person, minimum 2 persons.

Departure for a four-hour guided tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Continue to visit Peru's famous museum, which houses a priceless collection of pre-Colombian gold artifacts as well as the private armory of Miguel Mujica Gallo. Some of the cultures represented in this collection include the Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Tiahuanaco and Inca.

Pachacamac Temples and Peruvian Pace Horse Show at Hacienda Los Ficus

Duration: 7 hours

Price: $230 per person, minimum 2 persons.

A drive along the Pan-American Highway with its views across the beautiful Pacific beaches will take you years back. Visit to the pre-Inca ruins of Pachacamac considered by many to be the most important archaeological site near Lima. Four hundred years before the Incas, the Ishmay culture developed a major ceremonial center, featuring streets, dozens of temples fitted with ramps and the Painted Temple.

Continue to a delightful demonstration of the skills of the Peruvian Paso horse, a unique member of the horse kingdom. “Caballo de Paso” known worldwide for their smooth gaited movements and unusual spirit. No other horse combines strength, intelligence and beauty so perfectly as the Peruvian Paso Horse. The particular characteristic of the Paso Horse is precisely the reason for its name: the sublime charm of its typical step. As it walks, its front legs step very high and forward while the hooves sway to the sides in a graceful and synchronized movement.

Lunch is included.