Travcoa introduces new ‘Ancient Mysteries’ journey combining Easter Island and Machu Picchu with $1000 savings if booked before Oct. 31.

Travcoa, a world leader in luxury travel, announces the introduction of a new “Ancient Mysteries & Sacred Sites: Easter Island & Machu Picchu” Independent Journey, which explores two fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The itinerary features Easter Island’s newest luxury resort, the Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa as well as three luxury Orient Express hotels in Peru. In celebration of this intriguing 12-day journey, Travcoa is offering savings of $1000 per person for travel before October 31, 2012.

“Together, Easter Island and Machu Picchu encompass the mystery, power and natural splendor of two sophisticated, ancient societies,” stated Jerre Fuqua, President of Travcoa. “Our local expert guides, flexible travel dates, and luxury accommodations provide guests an extraordinary travel experience to these remote destinations for a truly unique encounter with the past.”

Travcoa’s guests will spend three days accompanied by a resident archeologist unraveling the mysteries behind the massive moai stone sculptures that are found throughout remote Easter Island. Highlights include up-close encounters with the massive moai statues; Aju Tongariki, the largest of the ahu stone platforms; Rano Raraku, a volcanic crater which served as a quarry for the island’s stone sculptures; and Rano Kau, an extinct volcano that houses a freshwater lake.

Next they will spend eight days exploring Peru including Lima, the capital city, the mountainous city of Cusco, the Urubamba Valley, also known as the ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas,’ and finally, the famed citadel of Machu Picchu. Here guests will enjoy a privately-guided tour of the ruins and a tranquil evening at the exclusive Sanctuary Lodge, the only accommodation at the site. After day visitors have departed, the guests will have the privilege of enjoying the sunset and sunrise at Machu Picchu without the crowds.

From North America, the journey departs every Saturday, connects in Lima, Peru and arrives at Easter Island early Sunday morning. Land is priced from $6,995 USD per person based on double occupancy, and special airfares are available. Exclusive to Travcoa guests: travel before October 31, 2012 and save $1,000 per person.

For more information on the Ancient Mysteries & Sacred Sites: Easter Island & Machu Picchu Independent Journey, travelers can join Travcoa’s upcoming webinar about South America taking place on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM PT. To register, visit www.travcoa.com/travel-agents.

For additional details or to request a brochure, call a travel agent or a Travcoa Journey Consultant at 1-800-992-2003, email info@travcoa.com or visit www.travcoa.com.

Travcoa has been leading luxury adventures and in-depth explorations of the world’s most interesting destinations since 1954. The company offers three types of travel experiences around the globe: small-group Escorted Journeys with comprehensive itineraries guided by professional Travel Directors; pre-designed and priced Independent Journeys for travelers who prefer private travel on a date of their choice; and Tailor-Made Journeys crafted to individual traveler specifications.

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Tara Tours Offers 7-Day ‘Machu Picchu on a Budget’ for $1294

Tara Tours is promoting a 7-day/5night journey featuring a tour with private guide in Machu Picchu, for $1,294 per person/double.

The program lands in Lima with an immediate flight to Cuzco. A quite morning is spent here in order to get used to the high altitude and to the surroundings. During the stay in Cuzco, once known as the Capital of the Inca Empire, a city tour and visit to the ruins nearby of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara, Tambomachay and other archeological sites are included.

The next day you will go by bus and train to one of the most intriguing places on earth Machu Picchu. Temples, palaces, towers and staircases are built into the side of the mountain. Here your private tour guide will take you from site to site explaining the advanced world of the Incas. Overnight in the village of Aguas Calientes, just at bottom of Machu Picchu.

The next day is at leisure, so you can go back to explore “The Lost City of Incas” or you can visit the Inca Thermal baths of Aguas Calientes and visit the local market. Mid-afternoon return to Cuzco.

On the way back, there is an opportunity to enjoy incredible views of the Andean peaks, the Urubamba Valley and the powerful Vilcanota River.

The tour departs every day from USA.

The cost per person including domestic airfare Lima-Cuzco-Lima and all ground arrangements with daily breakfast, entrance fees, train tickets, etc. is $1,294.00 based on double occupancy (single supplement cost $646)

Airfare is available from Miami from $600-$750 and add-ons from other major cities are available upon request.

You can see the full itinerary at www.taratours.com/peru.htm#Machu_Picchu_on_a_Budget.

Tara Tours Inc 12002 SW 128 CT –Suite 209 / Miami, Fla.33186 -USA 1-305-278-4464 or 1-800-327-0080 www.taratours.com

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Celebrate Centennial of Machu Picchu’s Discovery with Adventure Center’s 8-Day Peru Tour, at 15% Savings

Some of the golden treasures of Peru's rich heritage. This year marks the centennial of the discovery of Machu Picchu © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Travelers seeking to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the discovery of Machu Picchu and see all of Peru’s major highlights can do so without forsaking the comfort of a hotel bed with Adventure Center’s eight-day “Cusco & the Sacred Valley” tour – and save up to 15% on eleven 2011 departures.

Traveling round-trip from Lima, considered the ‘Gastronomic Capital of the Americas,’ guests explore the architecture of Cusco, where original Incan stonework remains intact; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu – one of the new ‘Seven World Wonders’; the Sacred Valley, located between the colorful market town of Pisac and the archeological site of Ollantaytambo; and Aguas Calientes, so named for its natural hot baths.

A visit to the Peru’s Challenge Community Project at Pumamarca, which works to create opportunities for children living in the Andes region, offers a rare opportunity to learn firsthand about the farming communities of Peru. With small group sizes of 15 or less, English-speaking tour leaders and a comprehensive itinerary that allots free time in each area, travelers enjoy the convenience of group travel and the flexibility of independent ventures.

Discounted fares for the 2011 options are US/Cdn $1,555 to $1,698 per person, double; prices for the 21 departures in 2012 range from US/Cdn $1,825 to $1,840.

A half-day tour in the Peruvian capital of Lima, a melting pot of cultures ranging from Andean to Asian, reveals reconstructed colonial architecture from Lima’s glory days and visits the Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Archbishop Palace and San Francisco Monastery. Lima’s National Museum of Anthropology, Archaeology and History of Peru traces its history from the original inhabitants to the Inca Empire and the Spanish Conquerors. In the ancient Incan capital of Cusco, visitors take in the areas surrounding the Plaza de Armas, noted for its 17^th-century Baroque cathedral, and discover evidence of Incan engineering in the ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman. The Sacred Valley reveals further examples of Incan advancement with ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals and dams, and features the Awana Kancha tourist center, the ruins at Qenko, the Inca citadel at Ollantaytambo and the village of Pisac. The Peru’s Challenge Community Project gives travelers an intimate peek into the lives of the 1,000 families that have been helped so far, as well as an inspiring view into the future. The trip culminates in a visit to the awe-inspiring stonework of Machu Picchu before returning to Lima.

Optional tours and activities allow guests to customize the tour with the areas and attractions that interest them most. Lima’s area of Miraflores, defined by flower-filled parks and beaches, is perfect for casual exploration, while the downtown area is ideal for those looking to savor the exceptional seafood Peru is known for, such as the national dish of ceviche. Free time in Cusco offers a chance to uncover Peruvian history with a tour of the Church of San Blas or a visit to its range of museums: the Inca Museum, Religious Art Museum and Santa Catalina Museum. In Aguas Calientes, guests can peruse the small shops and restaurants or relax in the hot thermal baths at the end of town. Pre- or post-tour extensions in Lima can be arranged when booking the itinerary.

Fares include seven nights’ hotel accommodation; English-speaking local tour leader; local flights: Lima-Cusco and Cusco-Lima; sightseeing and tours, including entrance fees, specified in the itinerary; airport arrival transfer; transport throughout; and seven days breakfast. Insurance, visas, gratuities, any optional tours and activities and international air – including taxes and departure transfer – are extra.

Booking information, brochures and reservations, can be obtained from travel agents or Adventure Center’s visitor-friendly web site, www.adventurecenter.com; or by phone: U.S. (800) 228-8747; Canada (866) 338-8735. Canadian travel agents needing bulk orders of brochures can order them at www.hippoexpress.com in Canada while U.S. agents should call Adventure Center.

Adventure Center has provided world-class, affordably priced adventure travel experiences with one-on-one advice for more than 35 years. Adventure Center’s Travel Specialists have personally traveled to more than 130 countries and offer knowledgeable guidance to guests in selecting an “adventure of a lifetime.”

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