Day 1 - arrive Quito
Depart from your home city arrive into Quito where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Quito
for your overnight. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2 - Quito - Otavalo Market - Quito
Our local staff will meet and by tour bus north on the Pan-American Highway through some of the
most scenic areas of the Ecuadorean Andes. Passing by flower and fruit plantations, the mountains
and the wonderfully placed lake of San Pablo before arriving into Otovalo. The first stop will be
in the Otavalo Market for the annual show where many of the local indians sell & barter their hand
made textiles, home grown fruits & a variety of vegetables. After a hour & half of mingling with
the locals you will proceed to visit several small Indian towns like Peguche which are known for
their weavers. Here a variety of tapestries, sweaters and other products made of alpaca & wool can
be purchased. Later you will proceed to Cotacachi, known for its fine genuine leather work.
These locally made pieces are shipped all over the world. Everything from leather coats, purses
to even belts are available at great prices. To conclude your shopping day the trip would
not be complete with out a visit to San Antonio de Ibarra. Here they are known for the excellent
wood carvings. You as well may be able to view one of the local craftsman whittling away at one of
the many projects that fill the day of the Andean lifestyle. Before departing back to the city life
you will stop at a local hacienda restaurant to enjoy a typical lunch Ecuadorian style.
Early evening return to Quito and the hotel. Overnight at the hotel. (CB/L)
Day 3 - Colonial Quito - Equator Tour
Mid morning tour of the Colonial City of Quito, including Metropolitan Cathedral, Carondelet
(Government Palace) located in Independence square, and the churches of La Merced, San Francisco
or San Agustin. Which have paintings and dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Afternoon
we will visit the Equator Monument and the Anthropological Museum. Here you can stand on the center
of the earth where the equator meets all visitors. Return to the hotel afterwards.
Overnight at the hotel.(CB)
Day 4 - Quito - Baltra - FRAGATA - Plazas & Santa Cruz Islands - Charles Darwin Station
You will be met and transferred to the Quito airport to the Tame flight to Baltra. You will be met & transferred
to Itabaca Channel (between Baltra and Santa Cruz islands) to cross by small ferry Then continue by
road through the highlands of Santa Cruz to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Visit the Charles Darwin
Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many
land birds. To take fullest advantage of arrival day, boarding of the Fragata will be at late afternoon
(no earlier than 17:30). Naturalist's briefing on the next day's activities, welcome cocktail offered
with the dinner. (CB/L/D)
Day 5 - Santa Cruz & Santa Fe Islands
This morning we will take an excursion by bus to the highlands of SANTA CRUZ Island. The Scenery will
continuously change as you ascend through all seven vegetation zones of the Galapagos. When present
(June-January), passengers will be able to view the giant tortoises at a farm in the highlands.
Then we will visit Santa Fe Island, where you will see blur foot booby, masked booby, lava lizard,
land iguana, giant tortoise, and leaf-toes geckoes. Recap and a briefing before dinner.
(B/L/D)
Day 6 - Espanola Island - Punta Suarez, Espanola (Hood)
This morning, we visit Gardner Bay, ESPANOLA (Hood) which is situated on the north eastern portion
of Espanola facing Gardner Islet. We walk along the long sand beach and see many colonies of sea lions
and Darwing Finches. There is a good opportunity to swim and snorkel amongst the Galapagos sea life.
We will disembark at Punta Suarez, Espanola (Hood), an island loaded with wildlife. As we land on the
beach, we are greeted by a noisy colony of sea lions and curios mockingbirds. Here, you'll see the waived
albatross, who in season performs his strange mating ritual, colonies of blue footed and masked boobies
busily care for their young. Darwin' Finches, the Galapagos Dove, Hawk and swallow tailed gulls find
shelter under the cliffs, along with the beautiful red-billed tropic birds. Marine Iguanas with unique
traces of red and green (found only on Hood) soak up sun on at the rocks sharing the shoreline with the
colorful sally light foot crabs, next to the famous "blow hole". After dinner and weather permitting,
stargazing on deck while enjoying the oceans breaze. (B/L/D)
Day 7 - Floreana Island - Devils Crown
After breakfast, we will visit Floreana Island, the sites Post Office, Point Cormorant and Devil's
Crown. In Post Office we will visit the famous barrel, a do-it-yourself postal service set up by 18th
century whalers. Cruise by "loberia" islet with sea lions colonies. Then we will visit Point Cormorant,
home to an olivine-crystal beach & pink flamingos inhabiting a secluded lagoon. A short walk away is
a white-sand beach where sea turtles nest. Nearby is Devil�s Crown with a beautiful coral formation
and great snorkeling.(B/L/D)
Day 8 - North Seymour & Bachas - Baltra - Guayaqill - Lima
This morning you will visit North Seymour which is a uplifted island. Prior to becoming part of the
Galapagos chain of isles was the ocean�s bed. After making a dry landing at North Seymour a nice hike
along the coast and the interior of the island observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate
birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. ( shorter walk is also available.)
Later you will be transferred to Baltra Airport and the departing TAME flight to Guayaquil at 4:45 p.m.
transfer on your own to the to the departing flight to Lima. You will be met and transferred to the hotel
located in Miraflores. Overnight at the hotel. (B/L)
Day 9 - Lima - Cuzco - Colonial City Tour & Sacsayhauman Park
You will be met and transferred to the Lima airport for your short flight ( 1 hour )to Cuzco where you will be met
and escorted to your hotel. Relax the remainder of the morning with a cup of the local tea to help
acclimate to the 11,200 ft. altitude of Cuzco. In the afternoon our guide will meet you at your
hotel and take you to the historical and archaeological sites inside the City of Cuzco and to the
most important archaeological ruins of Kenko, Tambo Machay, Pucapucara and Sacsayhauman. Return to
your hotel in the early evening. Overnight at the hotel. (B)
Day 10 - Cuzco - Pisac Market - Ollantaytambo Fortress
Today our guide will take you into the Sacred Valley of the Inca where its breath taking scenery through the Andean
mountains lead to the Indian market town of Pisac. Here you will have time to mingle and shop just as the
locals have for hundreds of years. After lunch at a small hacienda our guides will take you to the Inca
fort of Ollantaytambo where the Inca fought their final battles against the Spanish tyrants.
Afterwards, remain in the Sacred Valley. (3:45 p.m) Overnight at the hotel. (BB/L)
Day 11 - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu
You will be assisted to the Ollantaytambo train station for the 8:00 a.m. Vista dome First Class
train. As it winds through the Andean Mountains, you will pass through several small villages where
the local Indian farmers manage their farms and reside just as they have for hundreds of years.
After the scenic ride you arrive at the final stop Aguas Calientes about ( 9:45 a.m. )Here, you
will notice that the weather has changed to a tropical climate. You can now appreciate the
abundance of plants typical for this region and the Amazon basin. Here you will board the tourist
bus and proceed up a incredible winding road that leads to the fabled site of Machu Picchu.
Thousands of people from around the world frequent this magnificent ancient site to pay homage and
grasp the spectacular views of Machu Picchu�s 7,800 ft. plateau. Upon your arrival ( 10:15 a.m. )
your guide will explain the history and the myths that surround this archaeological wonder. After
your tour, you will be transferred by bus to the base of Machu Picchu and the town of Aguas
Calientes. Lunch will be served at the local hotel.( 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.) Remainder of the day on
your own. Ovenight at the hotel.(BB/L)( Note: Overnight at Sanctuary Lodge incl. BB/L/D,
the Pueblo Hotel incl. BB & D )
Day 12 - Machu Picchu ( freeday ) - Cuzco
Today you will have the full day to explore Machu Picchu and its surroundings on your own.
(We suggest to take a picnic basket on a short hike to Wayna Picchu or to the Inti Puku Pass
( Gate of the Sun ) where you can get a birds eye view of this massive site. In the late afternoon
you will depart Machu Picchu with many memories that a picture will never tell.
After your return to Cuzco you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel. ( BB )
Note: 2nd day re-entry into Machu Picchu not incl.
Day 13 - Cuzco - Lima
Our staff will transfer you to the Cuzco airport for your short flight to to Lima. You will be met
and transferred to the hotel located in Miraflores. ( optional Museum tours available )
Overnight at the hotel. (BB)
Day 14 - depart Peru
You will be met and transferred to the Lima airport for the departing flight out of Peru.(BB)
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NOTE : All hotels include either Continental or Buffet breakfast.
Not included : International air, visas, departure taxes, additional meals / incidentals.
Note room type: BV = Best View; CR = Colonial; DR = Deluxe; JS = Junior Suite.
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