Day 1 - Friday - USA - Quito
Depart from your home city and arrive to Quito. You will be met and transferred to the Hotel. Overnight at the Quito hotel.
Day 2- Saturday - Quito Otovalo & Cotapachi Markets - 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, shoes, 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 Quito Hotel. Over night at the Quito Hotel. ( CB / L )
Day 3 - Sunday - Quito - City Tour
Full day tours 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. Return to Quito and the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel. ( CB )
Day 4 - Monday - SAN CRISTÓBAL - ESTRELLA del MAR - LOBOS ISLAND
Morning you will be met and transferred to the Quito airport to the Tame flight #193 departing at 9:15 a.m. arriving San Cristobal Island at 9:45 a.m. Here you will be met & transferred from the San Cristobal airport travellers pass through an airport inspection point to insure that no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the islands and pay the required park entrance fee of $100.00. Here Guides will meet you, collect your luggage and escort you on the short bus ride to the harbor. Motorized rafts, called ‘Pangas’ will transport you to the M/Y Estrella del Mar and our crew will welcome you onboard. After a briefing and a light lunch the first site is visit.
Monday Afternoon: Lobos Island
About 1 hour travel across a small channel, will take you to Isla Lobos. The name means Sea Lion Island, which is certainly appropriate since many sea lions frolic, leap and make their homes here. This island is also a great place for snorkeling opportunities as well as to view blue-footed boobies. ( CB/L/D )
Day 5 - Tuesday - ESPAÑOLA: SUAREZ POINT, GARDNER BAY
This morning we will take an excursion to one of the oldest of the islands, Hood is small and flat with no visible volcanic crater or vent. Punta Suarez is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious and bold Hood Island mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the brilliantly colored marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air.
Tuesday Afternoon: Hood (Española) Island—Gardner Bay
Gardner Bay is on the eastern shore and has a magnificent beach. This beach is frequented by a transient colony of sea lions, and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island you'll pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross, huge birds with a 6-foot wingspan. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world’s population of this species. ( B/L/D )
Day 6 - Wednesday - FLOREANA: CORMORANT POINT, DEVIL'S CROWN, POST OFFICE BAY
Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches; the landing beach is of volcanic origin and is composed of olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tinge. At the end of the short trail is a carbonate beach of very fine white sand, formed by the erosion of coral skeletons; it is a nesting site for green sea turtles. Between these two beaches is a salt lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts, and other wading birds. An old eroded volcanic cone called Devil's Crown is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates and it is not uncommon to see red-billed tropicbirds in rocky crevices. The center of the crown is an outstanding snorkeling spot full of sea lions and colorful fish.
Wednesday Afternoon: Floreana—Post Office Bay / Devil's Crown
An old eroded volcanic cone called Devil's Crown is a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates and it is not uncommon to see red-billed tropicbirds in rocky crevices. The center of Devil's Crown is an outstanding snorkeling spot full of sea lions and colorful fish. ( B/L/D )
Day 7- Thursday - Isabela Island - Puerto Villamil - Tintoreras
Located on the southeastern coast of Isabela in the Galapagos Islands. Puerto Villamil is the main settlement areas on Isabela Island. A small peaceful town with a laid back atmosphere offers quite a different experience than the tourist shops on Puerto Ayora. Villamil is often considered the most beautiful site in the Galapagos with its long white sand, palm lined beaches. Behind Villamil are several brackish water lagoons where Pink Flamingoes, Common Stilts, Whimbrels, White-Cheeked Pintails, Gallinules are usually seen. The lagoons are nesting areas between November - April. The beaches and lagoons near Villamil are home to the best migratory bird viewing in the Galapagos Islands.
We will also visit Las Tintoreras lagoon. Located 5 minutes from Port of Villamil, this site allows the visitor to observe the White tipped shark. In this site there is a trail from where there is the possibility to observe other plants and animals. ( B/L/D )
Day 8 - Friday - Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Station - Highlands
Charles Darwin Research Station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora reached by a 8 minute walk from the dock. and it is particularlly interesting to naturalists and conservationists. Puerto Ayora is the place where boats get their supplies and visitors have the opportunity to visit souvenir shops, small markets and other places of amenities. The highlands are located in the northern part of the island and can reach elevations up to 1500 meters. The vegetation here is abundant, lush and the weather moist. The points of interest that are often visited are the lava tubes and the twin craters called Los Gemelos. Some of the birds that can be spotted are the vermillion flycatcher, short eared owls and woodpeckers. ( B/L/D )
Day 9 - Saturday Morning: Bartolome
Bartolome is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches, luxuriant green mangroves and a colony of penguins. Activities will include swimming and snorkeling and a climb to the summit of the island for one of the most breathtaking views in all the Galapagos. From the summit you will have the best view of the often-photographed Pinnacle Rock.
Saturday Afternoon: North Seymour
North Seymour was like a few other islands, uplifted by underground seismic activity. This tiny island is packed with countless sea lions and it's one of the most popular breeding grounds for sea birds. A very large colony of frigate birds nest here, and it's almost guaranteed to see a few males proudly displaying their red pouches to impress a mate. It is also one of the best places to see blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of their courtship dance, which is quite peculiar and amusing. Also, while visiting this island, you might very well witness a great show of acrobatic flight, namely a frigate bird robbing a booby, a gull or even another frigate bird of their food. ( B/L/D )
Day 10 - Sunday Morning: South Plaza
This small steep-cliffed island was formed by uplifted lava and is covered by opuntia cactuses - a tree like cactus endemic to Galapagos. It is also home to one of the largest sea lion colonies. Be careful not to get too close! Each colony is lead by a bull and consists of 15-20 females. After about 3 months of playing king, these bulls retire to the "Bachelors" colony and rest. These colonies consist also of very young bulls that are still too young to hold a territory or be a threat to the reining bull. Also, on South Plaza, you will find the lazy but colorful yellow and red land iguana. This animal likes this island because of its richness in the opuntia cactus, which is an iguana delicacy. There are about 700 iguanas on the island and this species seems to be one of the smallest iguana species.
Sunday Afternoon: Santa Fe Island
Unlike most of the islands in the Galapagos that were formed by volcanic eruptions, Santa Fe was formed by an uplift caused by tectonic activity. This means that the island does not have the typical cone shape. Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region - a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. Hike along the coastline and discover colorful flora and fauna. The well-known land iguanas here can grow over five feet long. The Sanfa Fe species of iguana are more bright yellow and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine. In true Galapagos style the opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, has responded by growing tall and woody - up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles flit by as dark shadows against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe's beautiful anchorage. After a long hike, relax with a swim in the calm waters of the beautiful bay, or snorkel along in the company of sea lions at the base of the rocks. ( B/L/D )
Day 11 - Monday - San Cristobal Island - Interpretation Center - Guayaquill - Lima
San Cristóbal is the easternmost island in Galapagos; on its southwestern side is the own town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the providence of Galapagos. On Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the Interpretation Center newly opened by the Galapagos National park in 1998, which is truly an extraordinary contribution to the information and education of the islands communities and the travelers; its 80% is focus in the anthropology of the Galapagos, the 20% is scientific. Free time will be offered at leisure in the town. After our visit to the interpretation center you will be transferred to San Cristobal or Baltra airport and the TAME flight #192 departing at 12:45 p.m. arriving Guayaquil at 4:45 p.m. transfer to the connecting flight to Lima. You will be met and transferred to the hotel located in Lima. Overnight at the Hotel. ( B )
Day 12 - Tuesday - Colonial Lima & Gold Museum - Lima
Morning on your own. Afternoon tours of Colonial Lima visiting the Main Square, the site of Spanish foundation by Francisco Pizarro. Continue to the Cathedral, built in 1625 of Spanish baroque style and the Government Palace, with its traditional & colorful changing of the presidential guard, then to San Francisco Church and Monastery: Lima’s biggest religious complex with a convent, museum of colonial art, cloisters and catacombs. Later choice of any Museum where priceless pre-Columbian ceramic, weaving’s, gold, silver & copper artifacts from previous civilizations like Nazca, Paracas, Wari, Chavin, Moche, Lambayeque, Chimu & Inca can be viewed. Early evening return to your Hotel. Overnight at the Hotel. ( BB )
Day 13 - Wednesday - Lima - Cuzco - Arch & Colonial City Tour Cuzco
You will be met and transferred to the Lima airport for flight to Cuzco. Our staff will meet and transfer you to the Hotel. Remainder of the morning to acclimate to the 11,300 ft. altitude in the Inca capital of Cuzco. In the afternoon (1 :45 p.m. ) our staff will meet and transfer you by bus for a City tour of Cuzco and the Colonial and Inca sites of La Cathedral, Santo Domingo Convent or Q’oricancha, Tambo Machay, Kenko, Sacsayhauman & Pucapucara. Early evening return to Cuzco and the Hotel. (5:45 -6:15 p.m.) Over night at the hotel. ( BB/D )
Day 14 - Thursday - Cuzco - Pisac - Ollantaytambo
Our staff will meet and transfer you in the morning (8:45 -9:00 a.m.) into the Sacred Valley of the Inca passing by the Inca terraces and farm land of this fertile region until the town of Pisac and proceed to the Ancient Pisac Market for the annual show where many of the local Indians sell & barter their hand made textiles, fresh fruits & vegetables. After a hour or so of mingling with the locals you will proceed to have lunch at a local hacienda restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Afterwards continue to Ollantaytambo and the oldest continuously habituated town of the Inca. Here there are several structures of importance to the Inca. At the top of the sixteen massive terraces are the ever impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo Fortress where it is known the Inca fought some of their fiercest & strongest battles. The huge precisely carved stones were transported somehow by hundreds of men down one mountain range to the Ollantaytambo location and fitted perfectly to support a strategic fortress that has bared the test of time. Also found here are "silos" or grain mills that are directly adjacent to the fortress and were to have maintained thousands of pounds of grain for the Inca and its people. Some of which was most likely produced by the surrounding agricultural terracing where a variety of crops were grown. Afterwards remain in Ollantaytambo and transfer to the adobe but modern Pakaritampu. ( 4:00 p.m.) Overnight at the Pakaritampu. ( BB/L )
Day 15 - Friday - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu
You will be assisted to the Ollanta train station for the morning train departing at( 8:00a.m.) Here you will transfer by auto wagon train winding into the Andean Mountains passing through several small villages where the local Indian farmers manage their farms and reside just as they have for hundreds of years. After a long but scenic ride (1½ hours) you arrive into the final stop at Aguas Calientes. Here the temperatures will have changed to that of tropical and a abundance of plants typical for this region of the Amazon basin can be appreciated. Here you will board the tourist bus & proceed up a incredible winding road that leads to the fabled site of Machu Picchu. Upon your arrival ( 10:15 a.m.) your guide will explain the history & the myths that surround this archaeological wonder. Thousands of people from around the world frequent thismagnificent ancient site to pay homage and grasp the spectacular views of Machu Picchu’s 7'800 ft. plateau that reaches into the clouds and heavens above. After your tour transfer to the Sanctuary Lodge Hotel or continue by bus to the base of Machu Picchu and the town of Aguas Calientes where a local Hotel will be the accomodations for the night.( 1:30 - 2:00 p.m.) Remainder of the day on your own. Overnight at the Hotel. ( BB/L ) ( based on hotel you stay at some incl. lunch and dinner )
Day 16 - Saturday - Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Full day on your own in Aguas Calientes where you can take a short hike to visit a local butterfly farm, the orchid trail or bird watch for the many variety of semi tropical birds that are habitants of this area. You may as well choose to re-enter Machu Picchu where you can watch the sunrise, hike to the top of Huayna Picchu, visit the Inti Punku Pass (Gate of the Sun ) or explore and take more photographs of the area. In the late afternoon you will bid farewell to the lost city of Machu Picchu and proceed to the Aguas Calientes train station where you will board the ( 3:00 p.m. ) auto wagon train for your return to Cuzco. After your arrival into the Cuzco train station ( 6:45 - 7:00 p.m.) our staff will meet and transfer you to the hotel. Overnight at the Hotel. ( BB)
( 2nd day entry fees not incl.)
Day 17 - Sunday - Cuzco - Free day
Free day on your own to visit several of the small shops and vendors or stop by the local Cuzco Museum to view some original Inca artifacts and other pieces of art collected for your viewing pleasure. Overnight at the hotel. ( BB )
Day 18 - Monday Cuzco - Puno
Early morning you will be met & transferred by tour bus from Cuzco to Puno. ( 8 hrs.) with stops and guided tours of Pikillaqta, Andahuaylillas, Rachi & Sicuani. Later continue on to Puno with a late a afternoon arrival where you will be met & transferred to the Hotel. The remainder of the evening on your own. Overnight at the hotel. ( B )
Day 19 - Tuesday - Puno - Uros - Puno
Early morning departure to Lake Titicaca where you will go by boat to the floating Uros Islands. Here the community of Uros Indians descendants live as they have some what unchanged in their traditions for hundreds of years. You will as well have time for mingling, shopping or even to barter on this secluded island from the mainland. Return to Puno and continue to the Chullpas of Sillustani or pre Inca funerary towers. Here you can view the structures that once housed the remains of these ancient ancestors of the Highland region of Lake Titicaca. All that remains are that of the stonework, all else has been lost and looted by grave robbers years ago. Late afternoon return to Puno and the Hotel. Overnight at the hotel. ( B )
Day 20 - Wednesday - Puno - Juliaca - Lima
You will be met and transferred to the Juliaca airport for your flight departing to Lima. You will be met and transferred to the Hotel located in Lima. Optional tours available on request. Over night at the Hotel. ( BB )
Day 21 - Thursday - Lima - USA
You will be met & transferred to the Lima airport and the flight departing out. ( BB )
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