Day 1
Flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to your hotel.
Day 2
Full-day colonial Quito tour and the Equator
The tour begins with a visit to Independence Square, where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. We will also visit the Church of La Compańia (1605), with its amazing gilt altars. This is considered the finest example of baroque art in America, and the Moorish influence can also be noted in the intricate designs carved on the magnificent red–and-gold columns and ceilings. Afterward, we will take you to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535). This is the oldest Ecuadorian church, and the main altar inside is also a fine example of baroque carving. Its collection of artwork, including paintings, sculpture and furniture, dates back to the 16th century. Finally, we will drive up to the highest viewpoint of the city, “El Panecillo,” for a spectacular view of Quito and the opportunity to see the Winged Virgin, the only such statue of the Virgin Mary in South America.
Day 3
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to the Galapagos. Arriving at Baltra Island, we will visit Dragon Hill in Santa Cruz Island. After a 15-minute bus ride from the airport to the Baltra pier and a zodiac ride, you’ll board the ship and settle into your cabin. On your first day in Galapagos, you’ll visit a bay on the northwest corner of Santa Cruz Island known as Dragon Hill since long ago because of the land iguanas that lived there.
Most of the year, you can see flamingos in marshland lakes as well as some migratory birds. You may also see Darwin Finches, hood mockingbirds and lava lizards. This area has arid vegetation where you can find some oppuntia cactus, palo santo\ and some other endemic plants. In the beach zone, you can see some endemic coast plants and also some marine iguanas, sea lions, American oystercatchers, pelicans and a colony of small blue-footed boobies. The visit has a wet landing and a two-kilometer flat trail (two hours hiking), so we suggest comfortable walking shoes, walking sticks (if necessary) and binoculars for bird watching at the marshland lakes.
Day 4
Bartolomé Island and James (Santiago) Island
The first destination is Bartolomé, an island of varied volcanic formations with a 350-foot summit and a fabulous 360ş view. Depending upon the weather, you may be able to spot five other islands—one of the most spectacular views of the archipelago. You’ll make a wet landing in a cove to see a small colony of Galapagos penguins, the only penguins north of the equator. Sea lions are also found here. Behind the beach can be found red and white mangroves, salt bush, and morning glory and prickly pear cactuses.
Afternoon: Puerto Egas, James Island
This afternoon, you’ll visit Puerto Egas on James Island. The landing is on a black beach with eroded rock formations in the background. The trail crosses the dry interior, where the remains of a salt-mining enterprise can still be seen, and then continues along the coast. Intertidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms. Land iguanas are scattered around, feeding on exposed algae while oystercatchers try to capture crabs. The trail then leads to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where fur seals can be seen. Puerto Egas is a good spot for taking pictures.
Day 5
Fernandina and Isabela Islands
On the youngest and westernmost island in Galapagos, you’ll land at Punta Espinoza, a narrow stretch of land where some of the most unusual Galapagos species can be seen. While the panga driver skillfully eludes the reef to reach the landing site near a small mangrove forest, look for penguins diving off the rocks into the water. Sally Lightfoot Crabs disperse on the lava near the shore, and herons, sandpipers and wimbrels explore the mangrove roots. Marine iguanas congregate in larger groups here than on any other island.
Following a trail inland, two different types of lava flows can be seen and compared. At the tip of one of the small peninsulas, Flightless Cormorants are found. Without predators on the island, these serpent-necked birds adapted for swimming and not for flight—another example of evolution at work in nature’s laboratory.
Afternoon: Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island
Largest of the Galapagos Islands, Isabela is composed of six shield volcanoes merged into a single land mass. Wolf Volcano on Isabela is also the highest point in the archipelago. The Galapagos Explorer II is one of only a few fast, well-equipped boats able to make the long journey from the central islands to the visitor sites on the western side of Isabela. The trip is more than worthwhile, however, for the unique species that occur only in this part of the archipelago, and because the landscape, with massive volcanoes silhouetted against the sky, offers a striking contrast to the lower-lying islands of the east.
Our visit to Punta Vicente Roca, which is located on the northwestern tip of Isabela Island, is done in dinghies. They are launched on a coastal dinghy-ride that skirts 450-foot cliffs. Blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and pelicans can be seen here. Also, very many sea-turtles feed along this shoreline. As we reach a rocky pile of large basalt, there are colonies of fur-seals, sea lions and marine iguanas in groups, basking in the sun.
Continuing along the sheer cliffs, the dinghy now approaches a secluded cove where dark and yellow rock are superposed. Now we are close to the large cave that allows for snorkeling or sightseeing.
Snorkeling at the cave produces a great variety of marine life, especially marine invertebrates.
The water is often murky and very cold—thus it is called the Galapagos Ice-box. Therefore, one must snorkel very close to the rock in order to see anything but it may produce some of the most exciting snorkeling in Galapagos. Manta rays, sea turtles, sea-lions, sting-rays, many fish, even dolphins & sunfish have been seen and snorkeled with in this bay. The scenery is breathtaking.
Day 6
Seymour Norte, Santa Cruz Island
A small, flat island, with rocks and a long sandy stretch where sea lions and marine iguanas hang out next to a surf wave. The interior has a Palo Santo, a small Opuntia cactus forest with blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate bird colonies. An hour and a half visit and a dry landing. You will then 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 turtle on your own. You also hike to tunnels made by cooling lava.
Day 7
San Cristobal Island/Guayaquil - Lima
Considering the changes in the flight schedules, weather conditions and national park regulations, we have included several alternatives to the visits offered to our passengers the last day of the cruise programs. Some of the options are detailed below:
- La Loberia:
Sea lion colony, marine iguanas, warblers, finches, blue-footed boobies.
- Isla Lobos:
Situated less than an hour’s ride from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Lobos is a seasonal nesting location for the blue-footed booby. Snorkeling.
- El Junco Lake:
Fresh water lake and water reservoir located at 700 meters above sea level, great views, miconias, ferns, sedges, clubmoss, tree ferns, white-cheeked pintails, common gallinules
- Interpretation Center
Donated by the Spanish government in 1998, this state-of-the-art facility offers both tourists and inhabitants a complete education on the islands. Your visit to the archipelago is taken to a new level, since inauguration of the center.
Afternoon transfer to airport to take the flight to Quito and connect with the flight to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Day 8
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of Cuzco, visit the Korikancha Temple or Temple of the Sun. Visits to the Cathedral and its Art Museum and the artisans’ quarter of San Blas. After your visits, you’ll continue to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. Return to your hotel.
Day 9
Morning, transfer to the train station. Train takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, we will board a bus to the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu. We will then have a guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marshes of the Inca empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stoneworks of the Cuzco imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. It was associated with the earth cult revolving around the coca leaf, which was a privilege of the Inca royal family and priests. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in the village of Aguas Calientes.
Day 10
Day of leisure. You may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu, or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. In the afternoon, we will board the train to return to Cuzco. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Tickets are available for purchase only in the town of Aguas Calientes. Please ask your travel consultant if you would like these to be included for you.
Day 11
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of Lima—always one of the most important cities in South America since its founding in 1535. Journey through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martín and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and visit San Francisco Convent, religious building from the late 16th century, and its catacombs. Also drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
Day 12
Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home.
Galapagos Explorer II
Blue Footed Boobie
Machu Picchu
