Day 1

Welcome to Perú! Upon waking and after breakfast, we embark on a tour of Lima and nearby sites including the “Muralla”, a park in downtown Lima.  Our tour will be guided by the mayor of La Victoria, including the historic Cathedrals and plaza which are all more than 450 years old.  After the tour we will have lunch and return to our hotel, rest and prepare for our first drum circle and the opportunity to buy Afro-Peruvian instruments. In the evening we will attend La Peña Don Porfirio, where traditional Afro-Peruvian music is cultivated in the quaint Barranco District of Lima. This is “Huevito’s” weekly hang and features the best Lomo Saltado in all of Perú!   Overnight in Lima. 

Day 2

A mid morning master class on Afro-Peruvian jazz music will link this traditional art form with jazz music in preparation for the evening concert.   Optional activities may include following the band to press commitments, shopping or resting.  After dinner, a nighttime walk to the nearby jazz club called the Jazz Zone for an evening with Gabriel Alegria’s Afro-Peruvian Sextet in the Miraflores district. Overnight in Lima. 

Day 3

After breakfast we will enjoy Yuri Juarez’s lecture demonstration and discussion about Afro-Peruvian musical traditions.   Lunch will take place overlooking the Pacific Ocean, followed by an afternoon visit to the temple of Pachacamac and nearby ruins.  Gabriel’s piece Las Hijas del Sol is about Pachacamac. In the evening a trip to Laritza, where you will taste the world’s best gelato ice cream, made with tropical fruits not found anywhere else in the world.  Our second drum circle will expand our knowledge of our instruments.  Overnight in Lima. 

Day 4

A drive south down the coast will feature fascinating scenery.  Our first stop will be Pucusana, the small fishing village that is the namesake of the band’s next album.  Farther south upon arrival in Paracas, we will enjoy lunch on the reserve.  This is the fantastic and most incredible ecosystem where the ocean meets the desert (the cover of Gabriel’s record  Nuevo Mundo was shot in Paracas!).  When darkness falls we travel back to Chincha where we will check into our hotel.  Our drum circle and zapateo session will take place out of doors! Overnight in Chincha. 

Day 5

The Afro-Peruvian Sextet concerts will most likely take place on the streets of Tambo de Mora, Cruz Verde or El Carmen.  These are towns that were devastated by the most recent earthquake in Perú.  The band contributes to these towns with every Tour Perú.   Late night drive back north.  Overnight in Lima. 

Day 6

We will take a mid morning flight to Cusco, considered by many to be the “center of the worlds energy” and one of the most stunningly beautiful locations on our planet.  This is one of the most important destinations in the world.  Located at 3600 meters above sea level, we will take the first day to rest and get used to the altitude.   An early evening walk through downtown Cusco may be a choice for some, while others may prefer to rest.  Overnight in Cusco. 

Day 7

The Sacred Valley of the Incas.  A private coach will glide through the Andes mountains as we visit an Alpaca farm, Ollantaytambo, the last fortress of the Inca empire, and the Pizaq Market where hand made arts and crafts of the highest quality are made.  Stunning scenery during this all day tour abounds.  Fresh trout will be had for lunch right along the Urubamba river.  An evening encounter with local musicians will allow us to experience Andean music.  Overnight in Cusco. 

Day 8

An early morning call will find us on a specially equipped train headed for Macchu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas.  Considered to be one of the seven wonders of the universe, Macchu Picchu stands alone on our planet as the most formidable archaelogical structure of early civilization.  This wonder stands where the Andes mountains meet the Amazon jungle, generating a spectacular climate.  A bilingual tour will take us through the history and current scholarship regarding the lost city of the Incas.  The afternoon will be spent amongst the mountains.   Dinner will be had at the foot of the Mountain in a town called Aguas Calientes.   Overnight in Cusco. 

Day 9

A walk up to the Plazoleta San Cristobal will allow us to view the entire city of Cusco from above.  An early afternoon master class and spiritual music making demonstration by local musicians will take place.  Some participants may rehearse in the afternoon for a possible performance with the Sextet.  Evening concert in the Municipal Theater of Cusco by the Gabriel Alegria Afro-Peruvian Sextet.  Overnight in Cusco. 

Day 10

All great things do sadly come to an end and so we take our flight back to Lima mid morning.  The afternoon is to have lunch, relax, shop and pack before departing for the airport in Lima in the evening. Undoubtedly there will most likely be some “Peruvian goodbyes”… which have been known to last up to several hours!