South American Journeys - Cuzco - Machu Picchu - Amazon Expeditions - Astronomy In Chile - Amazon Native Folklore & Art

Our five day and four night itinerary will take you to explore the breathtaking views of the Sacred Valley, the mysterious Lost City of Machupicchu, and Cuzco, as rich in life and activity today as during the height of the Inca Empire.

The city was designed in the shape of the Puma and built to last forever.

This expedition is arranged for you to thoroughly experience the hidden natural wonders of what you can discover in the wild. From Iquitos, we travel to the town of Nauta, where the mighty Amazon River takes its name. We transfer to our boat for a journey to a small tributary, where we arrive at our destination. Nestled in a remote area surrounded by quiet streams and picturesque lakes, we are welcomed by Felicita and Don Roman Grandez, who will accommodate us in their comfortable guest houses.

In the heart of the Atacama Desert, between sand, salt lakes, multicolored lagoons, and majestic volcanoes, you will find yourself on an adventure surrounded by the beauty of an environment waiting to be discovered.

The astronomy program includes five nights of extensive astronomical observations with the best equipment and guides. Visit the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter Array) site and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) observatory. The transparency of the sky during most of the year will allow you to contemplate the magnificence of the southern sky which offers unique views of the Milky Way and of the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (the closest external galaxies) and much more.

The trip is enhanced with visits to hot springs, the geothermal Tatio Geysers, the acclaimed Le Paige Museum, The ALMA, the most powerful radio observatory on Earth, the Chuquicamata, the biggest open pit copper mine in the world, and also a tour of the Cousino-Macul vineyards.

Mili Sangama, a native of Peru, is the coauthor of Tales of the Peruvian Amazon, a collection of her grandfather's stories from the Jungle. Participants in the Native Folklore Journey will venture into the heart of the Amazon to gather knowledge of ancestral traditions, cultural legends, and indigenous beliefs from the elders and local natives. Participants will meet and visit with these interesting people in their homes and work environments. Many of them are personal friends of Mili's. Gatherings will be informal and relaxed. The trip is tailored for those who have the desire and interest to preserve nearly extinct traditions. We will also explore the world of natural medicine from local shamans and participate in authentic healing ceremonies. We will gather wild herbs, roots and seeds and learn how to use them for medicinal purposes.

South American Journeys invites you to learn the ancestral weaving techniques of the Amazon jungle. Indigenous Peruvian artists will share the skills they have developed over centuries as they design and weave clothing and accessories from palm fibers. They also create products from a type of paper mixed with bark, roots, and natural dyes from native plants.

All materials come from natural resources, as we work with farmers who collect these sustainable resources. Instead of cutting trees, we plant them.