10 Days / 9 Nights
Day 1 - Friday
Arrival In Quito. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist
you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.
Day 2 - Saturday
Full day tour to Otavalo Indian Market - Early morning departure for a
drive along the Pan-American highway to visit one of South America's most
famous Indian fairs, the Otavalo Market. En route to the market, a quick
stop at Calderon allows the opportunity to see how the popular marzipan
"bread dolls" are made and to make "bargain price"
purchases of them. Arriving at Otavalo, take a walk through the bustling
produce market where the Indians meet to trade among themselves. Continue
to the tourist market which is piled high with colorful ponchos, tapestries,
woolen goods, and Indian jewelry. In the afternoon drive to the woodcarving
center of San Antonio de Ibarra and to the village of Cotacachi, famous
for its leather handicrafts. Lunch en route.
Day 3 - Sunday
Transfer from hotel to the airport for departure. Flight to the Galapagos
Islands Ship - M/V Ambasador I: 4 Days/3 Nights ("A", Sunday-Wednesday)
cruising the islands. All meals and shore excursions during the cruise
are included. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist
you in transferring to the M/V AMBASADOR I for midday departure. Afternoon
at North Seymour Island. Hosting today's visit to North Seymour are some
of the friendliest sea lions you have ever met. These noisy, waddling
guides will compete to capture your undivided attention as you visit the
other inhabitants of the island, the Blue-footed boobies, Swallowtail
gulls, and frigate birds.
The Galapagos - San Cristobal And Hood Islands Just off Stephen's Bay on San Cristobal island we find a towering mass of rock known as "Leon Dormido" or sleeping lion. Rising 486 feet above the water, "Leon Dormido" is a favorite nesting spot of Masked and Blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. Punta Suarez is a favorite gathering place for the Hood Island inhabitants. At a town meeting you are likely to see many of the communities important citizens such as the local politicians - the Long-billed mockingbirds, the local bandits - the Masked Boobies, as well as the Galapagos edition of "punk rockers" - the Sally Light-foot crabs, milling around with such notables as Blue-footed boobies, finches, and frigate birds.
The Galapagos - Santa Cruz Academy Bay on Santa Cruz Island is the location of the internationally famous Charles Darwin Research Station. This is one of the few places in the islands where the giant tortoises may still be seen. Another point of interest is Turtle Cove, a mangrove lagoon which is a favorite haunt of the Green sea turtles. Our afternoon excursion, we visit a newly opened site on the northern tip of Santa Cruz, called Cerro Dragon which means Dragon Hill. Along the trail, we find the endemic land iguanas that were once part of the Darwin Station's breeding program. These repatriated iguanas are orange-yellow in color and have large spines along their backs. We must be very quiet not to scare the pink flamingos that are feeding in the salt water lagoon. From on top the hill, we can enjoy a view of the bay.
Morning arrival in Baltra. Transfer to airport for departure. Flight to Guayaquil and on to Lima. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering.
Breakfast at your hotel. Morning free. 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.
Breakfast at your hotel. Early morning transfer from the hotel to the airport for a short but spectacular flight over the snowcapped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cuzco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival at the airport a host will meet and assist you in transferring to the hotel and in registering. Tour of Cuzco and its ruins - This afternoon's tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere includes not only the important landmarks of enchanting Cuzco but also the nearby ruins of Kenko, Puca-pucara, Tampumachay, as well as the Sacsayhuaman fortress. Once the center of the Inca civilization, modern Cuzco is a delightful combination of Inca and colonial architecture. During the tour, you will visit Cuzco's Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church, and the Plaza de Armas.
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the train station. Train - Cuzco/Machu Picchu 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 semitropical 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. Train usually leaves Cuzco at 7:00 AM, arrives in Machu Picchu at 10:30 AM, leaves Machu Picchu at 3:30 PM, arrives in Cuzco at 7:00 PM. Your local host will confirm schedule. Lunch in Machu Picchu.
Breakfast at your hotel. Transfer from hotel to the airport for departure.