for the experi for the experience

for the experi for the experience FEATURE TOUR PERU, 2015 PROGRAM 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS Cusco, Lima & Puerto Maldonado (may be fully customized for your group) Day 1: Lima Meet and transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner at the hotel Meals included: Dinner Overnight at El Tambo 2 Peru Standard room www.eltamboperu.com Day 2: Lima HALF DAY LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM & ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM (PRIVATE SERVICE) Visit Larco Museum, private collection exhibiting more than 45,000 pieces, mostly ceramics, collected by Peruvian archeologist don Rafael Larco Hoyle. It is exhibited in a fitted-out venue in the old estate and it s well known by its collection of erotic ceramics. Up next, visit the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology. This small but well organized museum, located in the district of Pueblo Libre, offers you

one of the best perspectives of art and archaeology of thousand-year-old Peru, presented in a chronological order, enabling you a full understanding. The museum holds pieces such as Raimondi Stela and the Tello Obelisk, both from Chavin culture; textiles and mummies from Paracas culture; and Nazca and Mochica ceramics, among the most important ones. Lunch is included in the hotel. This is a short, nighttime city tour of the City of the Kings historic center, where the most important historical monuments and buildings are found. Afterwards, there will be an excellent dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at El Tambo 2 Peru Standard room www.eltamboperu.com Day 3: Lima, Cusco At coordinated time, you will transfer to the airport to board your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Cusco. HALF DAY CITY TOUR, ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES & MAP (PRIVATE SERVICE) Get to know the city of Cusco, an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and possessor of a style all its own. The tour begins at the Koricancha Temple, an old Incan palace and main center for the worship of the sun god, Inti. Once the Spanish conquered Peru, the Dominican order built a lovely church over top this temple s foundations: the church of Santo Domingo, which is still there today. Your next destination is the Main Square, and then the adventure continues at the Sacsayhuaman Fortress built of enormous stone blocks expertly shaped by the Incas. It is strategically located at the top of a hill overlooking the city of Cuzco. What a view of the city! The tour continues with visits to three archeological sites three archeological sites: Qenko, Puca-Pucara, and Tambomachay, important religious and administrative centers for the Incas. But your day is not finished, for you will return to the city for a stopover at the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, one of the few museums dedicated to exhibiting artworks from ancient Peruvian cultures. Lunch is included in the hotel VISIT TO CUSCO PLANETARIUM (PRIVATE SERVICE) In the evening, you will be transferred to Planetarium Cusco, 15 minutes from the city center, for a unique experience.

You will visit two rooms of interpretation, where by panels show a first overview of the relationship of the Andean man with the cosmos. Later on experience, you will visit a small dome, which by a team of specialized virtual projection of a starry sky and drawings of constellations, both with motion simulation is done. The presentation of the Inca constellations is also given here. The evening is completed in the outdoors, where, if the weather permits direct to what they call "the world's oldest show" with telescopes and other instruments of observation is stellar observation. Dinner & folklore show at Tunupa restaurant. Overnight at Eco Inn Cusco Standard room www.ecoinnhotels.com Day 4: Cusco You will visit the neighborhood of San Blas, where the finest artisans in Cusco live and work. Next in the tour you will visit the Inka Museum, located in an old Colonial period house built by Spanish Admiral Francisco Alderete Maldonado. Around these parts, it s popularly called the Admiral s House. The exhibits show the history of the city of Cuzco that is intimately linked to the Incan past that permeates this iconic city. Lunch at Mutu Food & Drink Restaurant At the evening, you will have the opportunity to participate in the staging of native dances at The Qosqo Native Art Center, which is the "First Group of Music and Folkloric Dances of Peru" founded in 1924. You will enjoy of the variety of presentations. Dinner is included in the hotel. Overnight at Eco Inn Cusco Standard room www.ecoinnhotels.com Day 5: Cusco FULL DAY MISMINAY - Sacred Valley Community (PRIVATE SERVICE) The excursion begins in the community of Misminay, elevation 3700 meters, in the Urubamba Valley, where the townsfolk will greet you. You will be able to join with the families as they perform their daily tasks, like plowing or harvesting, depending on the time of year. You can also participate in an offering to the earth (a rite that honors the earth mother) and enjoy a traditional lunch made by the community women from ingredients organically grown in their fields. In addition, you will see them spin and dye wool thread using natural dyes as well as weave fabric following their ancient techniques.

Dinner is included in the hotel Overnight at La Casona de Yucay Hotel located at Sacred Valley Standard room www.hotelcasonayucay.com Day 6: Cusco At coordinate time, you will transfer to the train station to board your train Expedition to Aguas Calientes FULL DAY MACHU PICCHU with guide on board (PRIVATE SERVICE) You are going to visit one of the most important energy centers of the world: Machu Picchu. You will travel by train to the town of Aguas Calientes, an experience in which you will see the striking scenery of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Upon your arrival, you will ride a bus to the Machu Picchu archeological site and tour every nook and cranny of this New 7 Wonder of the World and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site: an unforgettable experience. Once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the site on your own, to relax, or to meditate. At the agreed upon hour, you will descend to Aguas Calientes and, later on, board the train for the return trip to Cusco; you will stop at the Ollantaytambo Station and be picked up and driven to your hotel. Dinner is included in the hotel Overnight at Eco Inn Cusco Standard room www.ecoinnhotels.com Day 7: Cusco, Puerto Maldonado At coordinate time, you will transfer to the airport to take your flight to Puerto Maldonado

Start your journey arriving to Puerto Maldonado and checking-in at the Inkaterra Lounge (Butterfly house), where the staff will welcome you and give you the necessary information for your stay. Navigate by outboard motorized canoe along the Madre de Dios River to Hacienda Concepción (approximately 25-minute navigation). Taste a buffet lunch with organic ingredients and native flavors. After lunch, take a walk through conception trails, where you will discover and learn about primary and secondary rainforest, it components, uses, transformations by the human being, and its relevance for the world. At dusk navigate by outboard motorized canoe, at the Twilight river excursion. Sailing on the Madre de Dios River, you will learn about its ecosystem, Amazonian creeks, nocturnal animals behavior, and the southern constellations. In the evening enjoy a nice dinner at the dining room in the Casa Grande. Overnight at Hacienda Concepcion www.inkaterra.com.pe Day 8: Puerto Maldonado New experiences are ahead and after taking a nutritious buffet Breakfast, get ready for a long trek through terra firma into the Tambopata National Reserve towards Lake Sandoval. Here you will understand why Madre de Dios is called the biodiversity capital of Peru, while learning about the Reserve s conservation efforts and the lake s formation. Navigate by dugout canoe across this mirrorlike oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and one of the world s biggest fresh water scaled fish, the paiche (Arapaima gigas). Back to the lodge for lunch, and later on the Inkaterra Canopy Walkaway & Anaconda Walk waits for you. Take a 20-minute ride by outboard motorized canoe to the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway Interpretation Center where you will learn about its construction and the conservation projects of ITA-Inkaterra Asociación (NGO). Ascend one of the two 98-foot towers (30 m.) and cross the 7 hanging bridges that connect the treetops at 91 ft. high (28 m.). Enjoy the breathtaking vistas and get the chance to watch whitethroated toucans (Ramphastos tucanus), woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) and the three-toed sloth (Choleopus hoffmani). After descending keep on feeling the incredible primary rainforest energy going along the 200-meter wooden bridge over the aguajales swamps. You will learn about the fauna and flora of this flooded ecosystem. At night get ready for an adventure at the Hidden Rainforest excursion, where you will explore the Amazon rainforest that gives way to nocturnal animals who display intriguing behavior patterns, and enhanced senses as adaptation mechanisms. Listen to nocturnal living nature sounds, and penetrate this hidden world. End up your day with a pleasant dinner. Overnight at Hacienda Concepcion www.inkaterra.com.pe Day 9: Puerto Maldonado

After breakfast buffet, take a ride back to Puerto Maldonado by outboard motorized canoe. Arrive at the Inkaterra Lounge (Butterfly House) where you may wait for your flight back home or to your next destination, while visiting this beautiful Butterfly House and learning about the fascinating transformation of these colorful insects, bred in our laboratory. Meals included: Breakfast << END OF SERVICES >> The following prices are per person, based on 2015 rates and are subject to availability at the hotels mentioned: Special Itinerary for High School 15-20 21-25 26-30 Single Suppl. 9 days / 8 nights Price per person Double Occupancy CAD $2079.00 per student with 2 free sharing 1 room CAD $2209.00 per student with 3 free sharing 2 rooms CAD $2069.00 per student with 3 free sharing 2 rooms CAD $2159.00 per student with 4 free sharing 2 rooms CAD $2059.00 per student with 4 free sharing 2 rooms CAD $399.00 Triple Discount CAD $12.00 *Air tickets are not included for the passengers** *Accommodation quoted as detailed above* *Services quoted in Private Service* *Hotels are subject to availability until confirmation, in case not finding reference hotels available, we will confirm with other hotels keeping the same category. OTHERS: Carbon bonds: Passengers have the chance to offset their carbon footprint while they travel by purchasing bonds from $10, equivalent to 1 ton. This way they will be contributing to conservation projects in the Peruvian Amazon. Including All services, lodging, food, and beverages mentioned in the trip description, plus taxes, tourist tickets, and entrance fees. All excursions come with a guide in the English language. Our prices include entrance fees and tourist ticket costs to determined historical, natural, or religious landmarks that are managed by the local authorities in many cases. Costs may

increase without prior warning. We will notify you of these immediately and adjust the prices accordingly. Not including Early check-in, late check-out, services and food not listed in the itinerary, beverages during the meals, hotel extras, and personal expenses. Domestic and international airfare. Tips for guides, drivers, and waitresses, if not specified in the description. Travel insurance RBC Youth/Student Insurance - price is dependent upon the student package price What are the requirements/restrictions for the Youth/Student Package? A minimum of 16 individuals purchasing the Youth/Student Package (YSP) insurance coverage travelling together to a common destination is required to qualify Individuals must be 29 years of age and under, fulltime students attending elementary school, high school, college or university, and travelling for a maximum of 30 days Chaperones (under 65 years of age) appointed by an Elementary School or High School are eligible for YSP rates when travelling with a full-time student under 18 years of age. There is a maximum of one chaperone for every five students. Chaperones who do not qualify for YSP rates must purchase Deluxe Package coverage (PT) and will receive an endorsement for the YSP policy School Board risk #45 coverage. YSP cannot be combined with any other products except Deluxe Package or CP (if travelling within Canada) General Conditions A quote for a program or service does not represent a valid reservation. You need to expressly request a reservation. All quotes are subject to availability and to price adjustments due to availability. The rates will again be confirmed at the time the reservation is booked. Rates do not apply to the following holidays: Holy Week, Inti Raymi (the week of June 24), Independence Day celebrations (Week of July 28 and 29), November 1, Christmas and New Years (December 23 31 and January 1), and any long weekend that these holidays may generate. Standard hotel guest rooms. We do not recommend triple rooms for the sake of passenger comfort. A triple guest room is a double room + additional bed. Rates for VAT-exempt lodgings (The VAT in Peru is 18% and represented on receipts as IGV). For the exemption to be effective, passengers must check-in at the hotel with their original passport as well as their Andean Immigration Card, both duly stamped by the Peruvian Immigration Department. National ID cards are only valid for passengers coming from MERCOSUR countries and Affiliated States. Shared services (SIB) include either a Spanish or English guide, yet some services may come with a bilingual guide. You must present your passport when boarding all flights. National ID cards are only valid for passengers coming from MERCOSUR countries.

We need the complete flight itinerary and its corresponding record locator. Without this information, we cannot solve any problem that might occur because of airline-generated flight changes. Prices are valid if all services are booked through Merit Group Travel. If any service (hotel, train, etc.) is not booked through us, we will apply a surcharge or fee and notify you of it at the proper time. Train to Machu Picchu Remember that Merit Group Travel needs complete passenger information (full name, type and number of document, nationality, and date of birth) at least 60 days prior to the date of the trip in order to guarantee seating on the chosen train. This is the only way of assuring you have the proper seats. ONBOARD LUGGAGE POLICY Allowable passenger carryon bags: Any luggage not meeting the measurements cannot be taken aboard. 1 bag or backpack WEIGHT: 05kg/11lb SIZE 62 inches/157cm (length + width + height) All luggage exceeding the allowable measurement/weight can be stowed on the luggage car available on these trains: Route Departure Arrival Ollantaytambo Machu Picchu 8:53 a.m. 10:23 a.m. Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo 1:58 p.m. 3:38 p.m. For the Rainforest: o Any bag stowed in the baggage car weighing up to 10 kg is free of charge. Starting at 11 kg, 1.80 USD (tax included) will be charged. Because the jungle is constantly changing, there may be changes in day to day activities, depending on the weather. The suggested itinerary may be altered due to flight schedules, so the itinerary will be finalized once flight times are confirmed. Email: ron.jeffery@merit.ca Phone: 403-708-3605 Fax: 403-282-9233 www.meritgrouptravel.com Office: 180 MacEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary T2N 1N4 Email: karen.ryks@merit.ca Phone: 780-439-3096 x 227 Fax: 780-439-9414 Located upstairs at the Adventure Travel Company at 8103 104 St, Edmonton, AB T6E 4E4