Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru
judy October 25th, 2007
Discover Galapagos, Ecuador & Peru
15-day expedition featuring Quito, Otavalo, Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu
May 11-26, 2008 May 11, Sun: ARRIVE QUITO
Airport pickup and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Café Cultura Hotel.
May 12, Mon: QUITOOTAVALO (B,L,D)
Morning pick up at your hotel for a private walking visit of Old Quito followed by a visit to Quito’s most important museum. We depart early in the morning and drive north to visit "El Mirador de Guápulo" (viewpoint). From here we have an impressive view of Quito’s churches, colonial style houses and the surrounding valleys.
After spending some time to enjoy the views, we head south towards Quito’s colonial center. Here we will have a chance to visit this colonial center that is filled with churches, museums and monuments and is one of the world’s cultural heritage sites. We will also walk around La Plaza de la Independencia that is surrounded by the Presidential Palace.
From here we will drive to Otavalo. Traveling north from Quito you reach Calderon, famous for its hand-made bread-dough figures. Continuing down the road you arrive at the Awakening Valley, home to the Otavaleños. Stay at the Hacienda Pinsaqui, rich in centuries of history.
May 13, Tue: OTAVALOQUITO (B,L)
This morning we will visit the famous Otavalo market, with its wonderful textiles, native paintings, ceramics, jewelry, tapestries and much more at bargain prices. Visit the village of Peguche where wool tapestries are made and San Antonio de Ibarra, a center known for its woodcarvings.
We will then make our way to Cotacachi, famous for its handmade leather designs; here you can buy leather clothing direct from local designers. Move on to Iluman, a town of shamans. Late afternoon return to Quito. Overnight at Café Cultura.
May 14, Wed: FLY QUITO/BALTRABARTOLOME (B,L,D)
Morning airport transfer for flight to Galapagos. Baltra is a military base where the airport is located. Here all passengers must pay the Galápagos Entrance Fee ($100 USD cash per person), upon their arrival in Galápagos. Guides and transport will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your vessel to begin your Galápagos cruise aboard the Cormorant II.
The Cormorant II catamaran (91 ft/28 m) started sailing the Galapagos in 2006. It has 8 cabins to accommodate 16 passengers: 6 cabins with lower twin beds and 2 cabins with a lower double bed. All cabins have a private bathroom & shower, hot water and are fully air-conditioned. The Cormorant II offers a spacious dining room, TV, DVD, stereo, library, an inside bar and upper deck bar, jacuzzi, satellite internet and spacious sundeck with reclining chairs. All the cabins are exterior and located on the main deck with outside views.
Bartolome is a small island located east of James Island. Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is the distinctive characteristic of this island. It has two visitor sites. At the first one, you may swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where penguins are usually seen, or walk to the other side of the island to see sea turtles nesting (from January to March) and sharks swimming close to shore. (Dry landing)
At the other site, you can climb to the highest point of the island. On your way up, you will encounter different formations of volcanic origin including spatter and tuff cones, lava flows and lava tubes. Once on the summit, there is a spectacular view of the surroundings. On this island we can also see sea lions, Galápagos penguins, pelicans, Galápagos hawks, turtles, sharks, pioneer plants and landscape. (Dry landing)
May 15, Thu: FERNANDINA (Punta Espinoza)/ISABELA (Urbina Bay) (B,L,D)
Fernandina is the youngest island in Galápagos. The most recent volcanic eruption in Fernandina happened in 1995. Volcano La Cumbre dominates the landscape, and from its base, lava fields extend towards the ocean.
Punta Espinoza is a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unique Galápagos species can be seen, including flightless cormorants, snakes, Galápagos penguins and Galápagos hawks. It is also one of the sites with the largest colonies of marine iguanas, and an excellent place to observe the behavior of the sea lions.
Following the trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared: an Aa (Hawaiian names for lava) lava flow and a Pahoehoe lava flow. Lava cacti can also be seen here. (Dry landing)
Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago with a total area of 1,771 sq. miles (4,588 sq. Km). Composed by six shield volcanoes that have merged into a single landmass, it also has the highest point in the islands, Wolf Volcano. Urbina Bay is an easy landing on a gentle sloping beach. This area is very interesting in that it is a perfect example of the geological activity of the islands. In 1954 over 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the marine reef at the edge of the shore were uplifted by 13 feet (4 meters). (Wet landing)
May 16, Fri, ISABELA (Elizabeth Bay, Punta Moreno) (B,L,D)
At Elizabeth Bay, through the mangrove, you can see rays, turtles, sea lions, and circling overhead, Galápagos hawks. A colony of penguins inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. (View
from boat) Punta Moreno is on the southwestern side of Isabela. From here there is a spectacular view of the Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. Here there are a number of lagoons with different kinds of birds such as frigate birds, flamencos
May 17, Sat, FLOREANA (Devils Crown, Post Office Bay, Punta Cormorant) (B,L,D)
Floreana is one of the most interesting Islands in the Galápagos with some of the first human inhabitants dating back to the 1930’s. Floreana has a colorful history of pirates, whalers, convicts and colonists. Devil’s Crown is a volcanic crater that has been eroded by the waves. The inside of the crown is a perfect environment for coral reef that attracts other marine life, making this one of the best snorkeling sites in Galápagos. Post Office Bay is one of the most intriguing sites because of a wooden barrel that was put there in the 18th-century by a group of whalers. From that time, tourists and seamen have used it as a post office. Visitors sift through the pile of postcards and letters deposited inside the barrel, and if they find one that they can deliver personally to its destination, they take it with them. (Wet landing) Punta Cormorant, here the landing is on a beach with green olivine sand. Several trails on the island allow you to explore and experience a brackish lagoon where long, skinny-legged flamingoes wade through the water, sifting shrimp with their curved bills. White-cheeked pintail ducks, stilts, and other shorebirds feed along with the flamingoes. The trail then goes over a hill to a stunning white beach consisting of ground coral where the green sea turtles nest. (Wet landing)
May 18, Sun, SANTA CRUZ (Darwin Station)/BALTRA /RETURN QUITO (B)
Santa Cruz Island is the second largest island in the Galápagos. Puerto Ayora is a charming town on the southeast shore of Santa Cruz and is the economic center of this archipelago. The Charles Darwin Research Station is located near the south shore town of Puerto Ayora. Scientists, park rangers and park managers make huge efforts to preserve and protect the Galápagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Station is also a tortoise breeding and rearing center, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. (Dry landing). Arrive Quito, airport pickup and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Café Cultura Hotel.
May 19, Mon, QUITOLIMA (B)
Airport transfer for flight to Lima. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Depending upon your arrival time, this morning or this afternoon you will have a city and museum tour.
Lima City Tour & Archeological Museum. Enjoy a private, fully comprehensive tour of the "City of Kings". Morning or afternoon pickup at your hotel. The tour begins in the downtown colonial district. Visit Plaza de Armas where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall as well as the XVII century San Francisco church and catacombs (a world cultural heritage site). We will also visit the other colonial architectural jewels, including the Torre Tagle Palace (a beautiful mansion dating back to the 18th century). The tour continues to the fascinating Larco Archeological Museum.
The Larco Archeological Museum. Founded in 1926, the Larco Museum showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history. Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th-century built over a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, one of the most visited Peruvian tourist attractions.
For an unforgettable experience, Larco is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also choose to enter the storage area with its 45.000 classified archaeological objects. Its masterpieces are considered worldwide icons of Pre-Columbian art and have been in the world’s leading museums. Tour ends with return to your hotel. Overnight at Antigua Miraflores Hotel.
May 20, Tue, LIMACUSCO (B)
Morning transfer to Lima airport for departure flight to Cusco (center of the Inca Empire). Arrive Cusco, airport pickup and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax, acclimatize to the altitude (10,856 ft.) and take in this most famous and historic of Incan cities. Overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection Cuco.
May 21, Wed, CUSCO (B)
Guided walking tour to visit the local markets of Cusco, the colonial Cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. Afterwards we will depart for a tour of Cusco’s temples and visit each distinct Inca sight: the fortress of Sacsayhuaman with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with its carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; the small fortress of Puka Pukara that protected the royal capital from attacks and the water temple Tambo Machay. Overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco.
May 22, Thu, CUSCOSACRED VALLEYOLLANTAYTAMBO (B,L)
Full day guided excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be the picturesque town of Pisac and it’s open-air market; this is a great opportunity to get souvenirs. After lunch, we continue down the Urubamba valley to reach the charming town of Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.).
Here we will have plenty of time to explore the town and the impressive Inca fortress that towers nearby. The Urubamba valley was an important agricultural area in Inca times, as manifested by the many Inca remains dispersed throughout the valley. Overnight at Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco.
May 23, Fri, MACHU PICCHU (B)
Early transfer from your hotel to the train station at Ollantaytambo. The scenery during this two-hour ride down the Urubamba gorge changes from mountain vegetation to cloud forest. Arrival at the station and a bus ride will bring you to the mountain citadel of Machu Picchu (7,800 ft.), for a full day guided tour.
Machu Picchu (Old Mountain in Quechua, the ancient language of the Incas) is deemed one of the worlds finest examples of landscape architecture and recently was named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. It was both a center of worship and astronomic observatory, as well as the private retreat of the family of the Inca ruler Pachacútec.
Afternoon return to nearby Aguas Calientes and overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
May 24, Sat, MACHU PICCHUCUSCO (B)
Optional early rise for those who want to experience the serene beauty of Machu Picchu in the morning (great opportunity for crowd less photos). The other option is to sleep in, relax and explore around the village. At 3 pm the mid-afternoon train takes us to Cusco where a private vehicle is waiting to transfer us back to our hotel, Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco.
May 25, Sun, CUSCOLIMAMEXICO CITY (B)
Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight. Trip extensions to other regions can also be arranged.
May 26, Mon, MEXICO CITYHOME
Arrive in Mexico City and transfer home.
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This trip involves easy to moderate walking at high elevations (above 10,000 ft.). Good walking/aerobic fitness is required. Any physical activity at high altitude can be a challenge. It is the traveler’s responsibility to best evaluate their physical ability to meet the stated Physical Requirements.
TRIP COST PER PERSON* based on shared accommodations: $6,475 usd
including airfare Mexico City-Quito-Galapagos-Quito-Lima-Cusco-Lima-Mexico City. Rates also available without airfare if you wish to book your own or use frequent flyer miles.
DEPOSIT: $500 usd
FINAL PAYMENT DUE: March 3, 2008
FARE NOTES:
* All fares are in US dollars.
* All fares are per person based on double occupancy. There are no single accommodations. The yacht has eight double cabins, each with private bath. We will maintain a list of single passengers looking to share a cabin, but cannot guarantee a cabin mate. Single occupancy of a double cabin is at double the fare quoted.
INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:
* Bilingual guides for all tours as noted. * Bilingual/naturalist guide while on yacht (Level II) * All airfare as noted. * All airport/hotel transfers as noted.
* Port charges are included.
* All land transport during the itinerary.
* The cost of entry for all scheduled tours.
* All hotel accommodations (on a twin share basis including continental breakfast).
* All meals as noted, accommodations and country representative.
NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP COST:
* Transfers to Mexico City for international flights.
* Total trip cost is calculated on international airfare Mexico City-Quito-Lima-Mexico City effective in December 2007. Any significant increase in airfare (more than 5%) will be added as a surcharge to the final payment.
* Air taxes are subject to change.
* On international flights from Quito there is an airport tax of $40.80.
* Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park ($100 Adults/$50 children US dollars, cash only, must be paid upon arrival at the airport in Galapagos. Rate is subject to change without notice.)
* Visitor Control Card for Galapagos Tourists - Every passenger traveling to the islands has to buy a transit card for $10, also paid at the airport upon arrival. * Lunches and dinners in the cities (unless otherwise noted). * Personal expenses (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, laundry, airport taxes, etc.).
* Comprehensive travel insurance.
HOTELS: 4-star accommodations, twin share basis
Quito: Café Cultura
Otavalo: Hacienda Pinsaqui
Lima: Antigua Miraflores Hotel
Cusco: Casa Andina Private Collection
Sacred Valley: Casa Andina Private Collection
Aguas Calientes: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel
SNORKELING
Snorkeling equipment is provided free on board the Cormorant II and includes mask and snorkel.
WETSUITS
Wetsuits and fins can be reserved (please indicate size upon reservation small, medium or large). Wetsuit - $40 per person. Fins - $20 per person.
Scuba Diving is available on the Cormorant; please contact us for more information.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: Perfect Journeys and Go South Adventures (GSA) highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance for all adventures to Latin America. As a courtesy for our clients we will provide, in a separate e-mail, a quote with policy information for travel insurance. You may purchase this policy directly through Perfect Journeys, GSA or use as a comparison for other policies.
FINAL TRIP DETAILS (sent 2 weeks before your trip)
1) Confirmed Day-to-Day Itinerary
2) Arrival Transfer Information
3) Hotel & Emergency Contact Information
4) Internal Flight Details (within destination country)