Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Ecuador
& 4 night Galapagos Islands cruise
12 days / 11 nights
From $5306 per person, double occupancy for 2009
Includes airfare Lima-Quito, domestic
airfare, accommodations, Galapagos Entrance Tax, tours,
transfers and meals as specified. 
All Lost World Adventures itineraries are
privately guided, and may be modified to suit personal
travel dates, interests and budgets.
Day 1: US – Lima
Airport reception and transfer to
your hotel. Overnight accommodations at the new (opened
June 2007) Hotel Costa del Sol Ramada Lima, with daily
buffet breakfast included. Conveniently close to the airport,
this four star hotel features 130 rooms, restaurant, bar,
business center, wireless internet, spa, and beauty salon.
Day 2: Lima – Cuzco
Fly to Cuzco this morning (10,750
ft), the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America
and capital of the Inca Empire. Much of colonial Cuzco
was built on Inca foundations, and your guide will point
out Inca stonework along the many streets. Overnight accommodations
at the centrally located Posada
del Inca Hotel.
After settling in set off on a tour of
Cuzco and the nearby Inca ruins. Cuzco, the oldest continuously
inhabited city on the continent, was the capital of the
Inca Empire and is considered by many Quechua peoples
to be the spiritual center of the world. Much of colonial
Cuzco was built on Inca foundations, and your guide will
point out Inca stonework along the many streets. Visit
the main square, the Cathedral, Santo Domingo Church,
as well as a first introduction to Inca stonework at the
ruins of Puka-Pukara, Qenqo, Tambo Machay, and the renowned
fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco and the surrounding
valley. (B)
Day 3: Pisac & Ollantaytambo
This morning, depart with your guide
for a full-day excursion to the village and ruins of Pisac
located 20 miles from Cuzco. After exploring the ruins
you will visit a colorful Indian market where you'll be
able to trade with locals for a variety of handicrafts,
including woolen sweaters and ponchos. Lunch will be served
in Urubamba, followed by a tour of the town and fortress
of Ollantaytambo located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
(B,L)
Day 4: Cuzco – Machu
Picchu
Set off on a scenic four-hour trip
through the Urubamba Valley, followed by a 20-minute bus
ride up to the breathtaking "Lost City of the Incas"--Machu
Picchu. Set in the saddle of a mountain 1,000 feet above
the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu escaped ransacking by
the Spaniards. Explore the walls, stairways, temples and
terraces with your guide. For the more energetic, a moderate
2-mile hike up to the Sun Gate offers fabulous views overlooking
this ancient wonder. Overnight at Machu
Picchu Pueblo Hotel, or for an additional charge,
upgrade to the Machu
Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located adjacent to the ruins.
(B,L)
Day 5: Machu Picchu –
Cuzco
Enjoy a full morning visit to the
citadel and return to Cuzco in the afternoon. Overnight
accommodations at the Posada
del Inca Hotel. (B)
Day 6: Cuzco – Lima -
Quito
Transfer to the Cuzco Airport for
your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, proceed on your own
to the international terminal for your flight to Quito,
Ecuador.
Airport reception and transfer to
your hotel.
Overnight accommodations at the Hotel
Patio Andaluz, located in the heart of historic "Old
Quito" and surrounded by churches, museums and national
monuments. The hotel is an official National Treasure
and holds centuries of history within its walls. It was
part of the original Solaris (original building sites)
that constituted the City of San Francisco of Quito at
the time of its foundation. This charming boutique hotel
offers colonial charm and excellent service. Daily breakfast
included. (B)
Day 7: Quito – Galapagos
- Baltra, Santa Cruz
Transfer to the airport for your flight
to the Galapagos Islands. Set sail on the M/Y
Coral. Look from the deck
for dolphins, whales and perhaps even a hammerhead shark.
The boat is also likely to be accompanied by tiny Audubon’s
shearwaters and playful sea lions. Arrive on Santa Cruz,
the second largest island in the archipelago and location
of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Plant species
on this island include opuntia, croton, palo santo and
cryptocarpus bushes. Keep an eye out for the Darwin finch
as you hike aroung the “Los Gemelos” sink holes.
Visit the “lava tubes”, fascinating tunnels
over 1km in length. (B,L,D)
*Galapagos Entrance Tax will be included
in trip cost.
Day 8: RABIDA (JERVIS) - SANTIAGO
You will arrive at Rabida (Jervis).
This small island has plenty of things to see: pink flamingos,
large-billed flycatchers, Galapagos doves and pelicans,
boobies and Darwin finches. There is sparse vegetation
here except for prickly pear cactus trees. On the northern
coast, you may swim with the sea lions on a magnificent
red sand beach, which offers an opportunity to observe
their behavior. Dominant males mark out territories along
the shore and patrol them noisily, defending against other
males who might want to invade the "harem."
In the afternoon, you'll land at
Puerto Egas of James Bay on the west side of the island
of Santiago. Here, there is a long flat black lava shoreline,
where eroded shapes form lava pools, caves and inlets
which house a great variety of wildlife. This is a great
place to see colonies of marine iguanas basking in the
sun. These fascinating reptiles dive for extended periods
feeding on seaweed and are the only lizard known to eat
algae. The tide pools contain hundreds of brilliantly
colored red sally-light foot crabs, which attract hunting
herons of all the commonly found species. These inlets
are also the favorite haunts of the Galapagos fur seal
and you can snorkel with them along with the many species
of tropical fish. (B, L, D)
Day 9: FERNANDINA (NARBOROUGH)
- ISABELA (ALBEMARLE)
This 642 square km. island is the
third largest and the most westerly in the Galapagos.
It is also considered the youngest and its recently formed
volcanic landscapes are most impressive. Punta Espinoza
is located just across from Tagus Cove and is known for
one of the greatest concentrations of endemic marine iguanas
sharing the space with sally-light foot crabs, flightless
cormorants, Galapagos penguins and sea lions. A dry landing
is required in order to reach the two paths - one to the
point and the other to some recently formed lava fields.
Here you can see various pioneer plants such as the Brachycereus
cactus, as well as pa hoe hoe and lava formations and
mangroves extending into the sea. At Point Vicente Roca,
you will hike to the top of the Ecuador Volcano for a
striking view and boobies, gulls and sea lions. Snorkeling
is possible although the water is cold. (B, L, D)
Day 10: BARTOLOME - SANTA
CRUZ
Dry landing on Bartolome. Arriving
on this island, passengers will see volcanic formations
including lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After
a hike to the summit visitors will have an impressive
view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded
tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. During the ascent travelers
will often see a large colony of Marine Iguanas and Lava
Lizards. Red Mangroves, Tiquilla, and various cacti all
add to the experience. Visitors also enjoy a chance to
cool off while snorkeling. Here travelers often see the
Galapagos Penguin, Sea Turtles, and White Tipped Sharks
from a safe distance.
Arrive in the afternoon at Black
Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas beach in the north
of Santa Cruz Island. This excursion provides passengers
with a "panga" ride though the mangrove, during
which the outboard motor of the small boat is turned off.
This allows the close observation of Sea Turtles, White
Tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Yellow Rays.
(B, L, D)
Day 11: SANTA CRUZ (Indefatigable)
- BALTRA - QUITO
This morning, enjoy a visit
to the Island of Santa Cruz. This 968 square km. island
is the second largest and the most populated of the Archipelago.
Puerto Ayora is the main town along the south coast and
it is just a 20-minute walk by road northeast to the Charles
Darwin Research Station, one of your visit sites. The
Station is a center for research and conservation of the
Galapagos species, especially the 11 surviving species
of tortoise. Admire the impressive giant prickly-pear
cactus forest and many land birds.
In the late morning, you will transfer
to the airport for your return flight to Quito (or Guayaquil).
Airport reception and transfer to
your overnight accommodations at the Patio Andaluz, breakfast
included. (B)
Day 12: Quito – US
Hotel pickup and transfer to the airport.
(B)
Contact
us for a customized itinerary or return to the Peru
Itineraries.
