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Day 1 Monday - Arrival in Quito
Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the JW Marriott Hotel and help you in registering.
Day 2 Tuesday - City Tour / Mitad del Mundo
Quito Scenic Tour - Drive through this overwhelmingly beautiful city down the broad avenues of the northern residential section. See the modern Legislative Palace whose stone murals record the country's history and the impressive San Agustín Monastery and its Sala Capitular. Go downtown to Independence Plaza, the town's oldest colonial center, and to La Compañía Church, famous for its ornate facade and glittering golden altars. Visit San Francisco Cathedral which is one of the first great religious buildings in the New World and the home of the works of the famous Indian artist, Caspicara.
Afterwards we drive to the centre of the world, where the earth is divided into the northern and southern hemisphere. From the Equator proceeds the Mitad del Mundo. After a visit of the interesting natural history museum, we go back to Quito. Overnight at the JW Marriott Hotel.(BB)
Day 3 Wednesday - Quito / Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Isla San Cristóbal
Transfer from hotel to the airport for flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival transfer to the M/V Galapagos Explorer for a 3 night cruise including all meals and shore excursions. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Isla San Cristóbal: In the morning visit to the Interpretation Center inaugurated in 1998. State-of-the-art facility offers complete education on both the islands and its human population. Short visit to the town followed by and transfer to the airport for the flight to mainland Ecuador. Islas Lobos, situated less than an hour's ride from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Lobos Islet is a seasonal nesting location for the Blue-footed Booby. Snorkeling. Galapagos Giant Tortoise Breeding Center: The most important breeding center in the Archipelago as measured by the number of tortoises. Galapagos Giant Tortoises and their newly hatchlings are raised in the Center as part of the National Park's Tortoise Reintroduction Programs. Ochoa Beach, Isla San Cristobal: In the afternoon free time to walk on the beach. You can do snorkeling . Beautiful beach for swimming, sea anemones, beach vegetation, sea birds, seashore birds lagoon birds, mangrove trees. Alternatives available, depending of the flight schedule. (Full board)
Day 4 Thursday - Punta Suárez, Española Island
Its rocks count among the oldest in the Archipelago. Some geologists describe the 60 km2 island as the remains of an eroded archaic volcano. One of the most spectacular sites of the Galápagos Explore Punta Suarez, looking for Californian Sea Lions surfing the breaking waves and groups of Marine Iguanas basking in the sun. Further in land, both Masked and Blue-footed Boobies nest beside the trails. The only site in the Galapagos to spot the Galapagos Albatross (a seasonal sight) Hike a trail towards the cliffs to the Blowhole, a fissure in the lava cliffs where seawater jets high in the air.
Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island: Santa Cruz is the second largest island of the Archipelago. Colonized since the 1920´s, Puerto Ayora is the most important harbor of the islands. The headquarters of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Station are also located in this town and the latter is part of our visit. Option 1: Visit Darwin Station to learn about the research activities conducted on the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a Galapagos Giant Tortoise breeding and rearing center. Here tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. Afterwards, you can stroll through Puerto Ayora, the largest town on the islands.
Option 2: Board a bus for a 45-minute ride through changing vegetation zones to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here, about 40 Giant Tortoises live in the wild. By approaching quietly, you can find and observe a tortoise turtle on your own. We also hike through tunnels made by cooling lava.
(Full board)
Day 5 Friday - Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island / Prince Phillip's Steps
Genovesa is the only northern island of the Archipelago open to visitors This 14 sq km. island is the tip of a submerged shield volcano that rises 76 meters above the sea level. Its central crater is filled with salt water. Ocean erosion created the Darwin Bay on the southern slope. Genovesa lacks on reptiles, except for the Marine Iguanas. It is a paradise for sea birds, including large colonies of the Red-footed Boobies and Great Frigatebirds. Swimming, snorkeling and dingy rides are available. Prince Phillip's Steps This is the breeding ground for the tree-loving Red-footed Booby and the ground-nesting Masked Booby. This is also home to four species of Darwin Finches: the Large Ground Finch, Sharp-beaked Ground Finch, Large Cactus Finch and Warbler Finch.
Natural history enthusiasts will recall that Charles Darwin's observation of varied adaptations of finches beaks helped inspire his theories on natural selection. Genovesa is also home to the indigenous Galapagos Mockingbird and the Galapagos Dove. If we have time, we'll snorkel at El Barranco on the west side of Darwin Bay. (Full board)
Day 6 Saturday - Cerro Brujo / Guayaquil / Lima
Breakfast on board. Flight to Guayaquil for your connecting flight to Lima. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the Country Club Lima Hotel and help you in registering. (ABB)
Day 7 Sunday - Lima
Breakfast at your hotel. Tour of Colonial and Modern Lima and a Visit to the Gold Museum - This half day tour visits both the colonial and modern sections of this "City of Kings." Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and palace, and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace modern day seat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In modern Lima, drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro. Then visit Peru's famous museum which houses a priceless collection of pre-Colombian gold artifacts as well as the private armory of Miguel Mujica Gallo. Some of the cultures represented in this collection include the Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Tiahuanaco and Inca. Overnight at the Country Club Lima Hotel. (ABB)
Day 8 Monday - Lima / Cusco
Breakfast at your hotel. Flight to Cusco. Tour of Cusco and its Ruins - This afternoon's tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere includes important landmarks of enchanting Cusco and also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tambomachay as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cusco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cusco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church and the Plaza de Armas. Overnight at the Monasterio Hotel. (ABB)
Day 9 Tuesday - Pisac and Ollantaytambo
Breakfast at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to the Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress (Tu, Th, Su) -Morning departure for a drive through the fertile countryside to the colonial village of Pisac. During your visit to the bustling marketplace you will have the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewelry. After lunch the tour continues to the village of Ollantaytambo for a visit to its impressive Inca fortress. Overnight at the Monasterio Hotel. (ABB,L)
Day 10 Wednesday - Machu Picchu
Breakfast at your hotel. Full Day Excursion to Machu Picchu - Early wake up for a train ride through the sacred valley of Urubamba to the "Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, it was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca "Virgins of the Sun" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Guided tour of the ruins upon arrival. All transfers are included. Lunch in Machu Picchu. In the afternoon return to Cusco. Overnight at the Monasterio Hotel. (ABB,L)
Day 11 Thursday - Cusco / Home
Transfer to the airport for flight home. |
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Our tour packages include:
Domestic flights within Ecuador and Peru
All listed airport-hotel transfers with baggage handling at airports and hotels
All listed tours and excursions
Service of bilingual licensed tour guide
4 Days / 3 Nights aboard M/V Galapagos Explorer in double accommodation in Classic Suite
All entrance fees during tours and excursions, except the Galapagos Islands Park tax ($100)
All transportation during the tours and excursions (bus, train, boat as applicable)
Hotel accommodation at indicated hotels (Hotel category: Luxury)
Hotel tax and service charge
Daily breakfast when indicated as B, CB, AB, BB, CBB, ABB (see below for codes)
Meals listed in the itinerary as L for lunch and D for dinner
24-hour emergency phone numbers
Not included:
International flights - Quoted separately
Airport departure taxes
Excess baggage charges
Expenses of personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, bottled water, etc
Tips to tour guides, driver and bell boys
Services not listed in the itinerary
Galapagos National Park tax
Breakfast Codes:
B Breakfast, CB Continental Breakfast, AB American Breakfast, BB Buffet Breakfast, CBB Continental Buffet Breakfast,
ABB American Buffet Breakfast
Price per person:
Based in 2 people in double accommodation in sharing services: £1725.00
Based in 2 people in double accommodation in private services (*): £1859.00
Single Supplement: £489.00
(*) Private transportation service is not available on M/V Galapagos Explorer |
