Tour Details - DISCOVER THE GALAPAGOS & PERU - MAIN DECK
DISCOVER THE GALAPAGOS & PERU - MAIN DECK
DISCOUNTS ON EVERY TOUR, UP TO 10% !!!
Tour Duration: 15 days Tour Code: WGG-M2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$5914 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN LIMA Welcome to Lima. This "City of Kings" was once the capital of the Spanish South American Empire.
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LIMA Today, your Local Guide focuses on the city's colonial heritage during today's walking tour. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the CATHEDRAL, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima, are housed. From here, stroll to the venerable SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. Also visit the LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM, housing an impressive collection of Peruvian pre-Columbian artefacts. This evening, meet your Tour Director and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow travelling companions. (B,D)
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LIMA - CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Continue into the Sacred Valley to AWANAKANCHA and learn the importance of the alpaca (llama) for Inca cultures as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Visit the semi-circular KENKO Amphitheatre with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages and see the ancient site of PUCA PUCARA before reaching the TEMPLE OF SACSAYHUAMAN, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones - with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons - was built. Next, visit PISAC, an old mountain village where you enjoy free time in the town centre to browse the colourful stalls where vendors sell their handicrafts, ranging from fine alpaca sweaters and blankets to hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Enjoy a relaxing dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D)
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SACRED VALLEY - MACHU PICCHU Begin the morning with a visit to the Inca fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO followed by a visit to a local home to meet some locals and experience their way of life. Next, board your TRAIN for a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley, then ascend to legendary MACHU PICCHU, the "Lost City of the Incas", discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the pre-Columbian masters of this sacred land. (B,L,D)
5
MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO Your entrance to Machu Picchu is included for a second day. Enjoy the tranquillity of the morning while wandering the ruins at your own pace and experiencing the magic that is Machu Picchu. After lunch, return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco. (B,L)
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CUSCO Today, learn more about the Incas and their struggle against the invading Spaniards. Visit the imposing CATHEDRAL and the SANTO DOMINGO MONASTERY on your guided tour. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by ANDEAN FOLKLORIC MUSIC. (B,D)
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CUSCO - QUITO, ECUADOR Today, fly to Quito, the capital of Ecuador and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and begin the Ecuadorian portion of your vacation. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D)
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QUITO Your Local Host introduces this city on an included sightseeing tour that showcases its treasures: the historic stone murals of the LEGISLATIVE PALACE, Independence Plaza and the 16th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY, the Jesuit's LA COMPANIA CHURCH with its stunning golden altars, and the impressive paintings at the WORKSHOP & MUSEUM of Oswaldo Guayasamin. Be sure to have your photo taken in front of the EQUATORIAL MONUMENT, the "Centre of the World". (B)
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QUITO. EXCURSION TO OTAVALO An in-depth experience into the traditional ways of the Otavalo people is in store for you today. First, visit OTAVALO'S famous INDIAN MARKET full of textiles, clothes, vegetables, and much more. Next, in Peguche, famous for its exquisite weavings, you have the opportunity to visit homes and observe handicrafts being made. Finally, enjoy Andean delicacies prepared the traditional way at a HOMEHOSTED LUNCH before returning to Quito. (B,L)
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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (EMBARKATION) CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ Take a morning flight to Baltra, one of the remote Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the sleek Santa Cruz and enjoy five days of CRUISING among various Galapagos Islands. Each day, travel ashore to the remote islands with your expert Naturalist, who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Giant tortoises, Galapagos fur sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigates, and finches are just some of the many endemic species you will find on land. You will also have the chance to snorkel in the turquoise waters with colourful tropical fish, playful sea lions, and maybe even an equatorial penguin or shark! Visit LAS BACHAS on Santa Cruz Island, where abandoned WWII military barges can be found. Today, it is an important nesting area for the East Pacific Green Sea Turtle. You will also see brackish lagoons just steps away from the sea and white sand beach, which is a feeding ground for various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. Return to the ship for a briefing on the next day's adventure, followed by a Capitan's welcome cocktail and dinner. (B,L,D)
NOTE: The ship's itinerary may vary according to Galapagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited.
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CRUISING GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: JAMES ISLAND After breakfast, join your Naturalist for a short panga ride to ESPUMILLA BEACH, a coffee-coloured sand beach on James Island. In the nearby mangrove forest, watch where you step, as this is common nesting area for sea turtles. Also keep an eye out for Galapagos finches, marine iguanas, and sea lions, as well as flamingos and pintail ducks in the nearby lagoons. This afternoon, land at PUERTO EGAS on James Island, known for its black sand beach and a landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds as well as a colony of fur sea lions, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. You have the chance to snorkel or swim from the beach, or ride on the glass-bottom boat. (B,L,D)
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CRUISING GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: RABIDA & BARTOLOME ISLANDS Disembark at RABIDA ISLAND on a red-coloured beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Stroll along the beach of this small island as your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, pelicans, boobies, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin's finches. Very close to the beach, hidden behind a strip of green saltbush, is a salt pond where, at times, greater flamingos migrate. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species like the Galapagos dolphin and submarine landscapes. After lunch, en route to our next island, dolphins are often spotted. At BARTOLOME ISLAND, hike to the summit for a stunning view of two beautiful bays and fascinating formations of lava flows and spatter cones, including the iconic Pinnacle Rock. You will also have the chance to snorkel and possibly see Galapagos penguins in tropical waters and even some sharks and rays! (B,L,D)
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CRUISING GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: TOWER ISLAND Upon arrival at TOWER ISLAND, your visit to Prince Philip's Steps begins with a scenic panga ride along the cliffs to see the large number of nesting colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and shore and seabirds in the cliffs' ledges. Disembark at the base of Prince Philip's Steps and climb up the stairs to a trail where birdlife abounds. A walk with your Naturalist reveals large colonies of masked boobies, bluefooted boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels, and even short-eared owls. In the afternoon, disembark at DARWIN BAY to observe thousands of birds - mainly frigatebirds, red-footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. Return to the beach for swimming and snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbor. The more adventurous can snorkel below the cliffs. (B,L,D)
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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (DISEMBARKATION) SAN CRISTOBAL - QUITO After breakfast, depart for SAN CRISTOBAL, where Charles Darwin first set foot in the Galapagos back in 1835. Visit the GALAPAGUERA at Cerro Colorado to see the breeding program of giant tortoises and learn about this endangered species and its promising recovery. While here, watch for the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird and Chatham Lava Lizard - both species are endemic to this island and seen nowhere else in the Galapagos. Head to the airport for your return flight to Quito. This evening, gather with your fellow traveling companions as your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner to celebrate an unforgettable experience. (B,D)
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QUITO Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
CRUISE: 4-night cruise in the Galapagos in an outside stateroom (Main Deck) LIMA: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Cathedral, San Francisco Monastery and Larco Herrera Museum; welcome dinner SACRED VALLEY: Visit Awanakancha, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman; visit the Ollantaytambo ruins and the market town of Pisac MACHU PICCHU: Take a scenic train ride through Urubamba Valley; guided visit to the Inca ruins and a second entrance to the ruins on your second day in Machu Picchu CUSCO: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery; enjoy dinner with Andean music QUITO: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Legislative Palace, San Francisco Monastery, La Compania Church, Workshop & Museum of Oswaldo Guayasamin, and Equatorial Monument; farewell dinner OTAVALO: Visit an ancient Indian market; home-hosted lunch GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: Four nights cruising Galapagos National Park aboard the Santa Cruz; guided sightseeing each day with a local Naturalist ALL INTRA-TOUR FLIGHTS MEALS American breakfast daily (B), 8 lunches (L), 10 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Lima and a farewell dinner in Quito
Meals Breakfast - 14 Lunch - 8 Dinner - 10
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Optional Excursions
