From $4,076.00
Book now!A journey thru culture, traditions, history nature and archaeology
Galapagos Islands Program Cruise on the First Class Motor Catamaran Archipell I
Ten Days / Nine Nights
Minimum Two persons
Departures from USA: May 24, July 19, October 18, November 15, 2015
ITINERARY
Day 1: Sunday – Arrival in Quito
Meeting, assistance and private transfer from airport to hotel for overnight.
Overnight accommodations Hotel Boutique Anahi – Double Room
Day 2: Monday – Quito / Galapagos Islands
Baltra Airport / North Seymour Island (B/L/D)
Motor Catamaran Archipell I – Five Day Cruise – Itinerary B1
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer from hotel to airport for your flight to Baltra Airport. Upon arrival our guide will be waiting for you at Baltra Airport and once the group is completed he/she will accompany you to the Archipell I Catamaran which is anchored in Baltra harbor. After arrival on board, we will check in and give you general information. Lunch will be provided. Afterwards, you will start with your first excursion to North Seymour. It is located slightly to the north of Baltra. It is a low, flat island, formed as a result of submarine lava formation uplift. Covered with low vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. It really is one of the highlights of this island. (L, D)
Day 3: Tuesday – Genovesa / El Barranco / Darwin Bay (B/L/D)
El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps) is a staircase carved out of stone. This will lead you to a wide plateau, where you can observe large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and bahama ducks. During this easy stroll you will cross a little Scalesia woodland, in which you can observe the short-eared owl. The same path will lead you back to your catamaran. Darwin Bay is the only sandy beach found in the crater of Genovesa Island. Colonies of great frigates are found along the beach. The males exhibit their red balloon pouch to females in hope of a match. Red-footed boobies nest in the trees in contrast to the other two booby species which nest in the ground.
Day 4: Wednesday – Bartolomé / Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay (B/L/D)
At Bartolomé Island you will ascend to admire the spectacular panorama of Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of Pinnacle Rock are excellent for snorkeling and for discovering the marvelous Galapagos underwater world. In the afternoon, you will visit Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago Island. We land on a white coral sand beach and begin our walk over lava that flowed less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of the Galapagos.
Day 5: Thursday – Santa Cruz Island / Highlands / The Charles Darwin Research Station & Tortuga Bay (B/L/D)
The Highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. There you will visit the private farm “Las Primicias”. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the giant turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from a very close distance. Charles Darwin Research Station features an information center, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. In the tortoise breeding station you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which get prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. This was the home of the famous Lonesome George turtle. (If your cruise takes only 4 days after this visit you will fly back to mainland Ecuador). Tortuga Bay is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos. The sunsets here are just stunning. It is also a favorite place for sea turtles (which gave the name to the beach), sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, flamingos and lava gulls which are endemic to the Islands. Last night at the charming Hotel Fernandina in Puerto Ayora
Day 6: Friday – Santa Cruz Island / Twins / Baltra Airport /Guayaquil / Lima (B)
On our last day, we will visit “Los Gemelos” (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers, inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature. The short, easy hike to each of the twins is teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in liverwort. After this visit you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your flight to Guayaquil and connecting flight to Lima. Upon arrival there, transfer to hotel for overnight
Overnight accommodations Hotel Casa Andina Select Miraflores – Double Room
Day 7: Saturday – Tour of modern and colonial Lima (B/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning we will have a tour through Lima’s streets and plazas. Starting at the Love Park in Miraflores, with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean, and then heading to the Huaca Pucllana, ceremonial center of the Lima culture. Later we will go to San Isidro, financial center of the city. After this, we go on to the Main Square where the Government Palace and the Town Hall are located. We will visit the Cathedral and explore the Santo Domingo Convent, along which corridors San Martin de Porras and San Rosa de Lima used to walk around in 17th century, and where their remains rest today.
Afternoon at leisure.
Dinner and folkloric Show at Dama Juana restaurant. Overnight stay in Lima.
Overnight accommodations Hotel Casa Andina Select Miraflores – Double Room
Day 8: Sunday – Lima / Cusco (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport and flight to Cusco. On arrival, meet and greet, transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we will start our Imperial Cusco city tour visiting the Sacsayhuaman Archaeological Park, an impressive fortress of colossal dimensions with rocks that are up to 4 meters tall and surrounded by beautiful views blending together perfectly. Then we will continue to explore Q’enqo, the Puma shrine, and see the sacrificial altar embedded inside a rock cave and Tambomachay and its sacred fountains of life. On the route, we will have a panoramic view of Puca Pucará watchtower which guarded the city entrance. After this, we will visit the Korikancha temple, Inti God shrine, on which the Santo Domingo church was built. According to the chronicles, this temple was completely covered in gold in Inca times. Finally, we will go to the Main Square in order to visit the Cathedral and its valuable and beautiful colonial masterpieces such as The Cross which arrived along with the first conquers. Overnight stay in Cusco.
Overnight accommodations Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco – Double Room
Day 9: Monday – Cusco / Machu Picchu / Cusco (B/L)
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, pick-up from your hotel to take you to the train station to board train to Machu Picchu. A train trip away to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We arrive at the Aguas Calientes station where our staff will assist us on boarding the bus to go up the winding road to Machu Picchu, amid a spectacular view of the Urubamba River and its canyon. The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, will astonish us with its terraces, ceremonial shrines, steps and urban areas. Energy is all around us. After a guided visit, we will have lunch at one of the restaurants in the area. At the arranged time, we will return to Cusco by train and will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight stay in Cusco.
Overnight accommodations Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco – Double Room
Day 10: Depart Cusco (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning transfer from hotel to airport for your flight to Lima and the USA or to your next destination.
RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY: $ 4,076.00
RATE INCLUDES:
QUITO: Private transfers airport/hotel/airport. One night hotel accommodations at Hotel Boutique Anahi. Includes breakfast and 22% taxes and services fees
GALAPAGOS PROGRAM: Round trip air Quito/Galapagos/Guayaquil ($512.00) taxes and fuel surcharges. Five day Galapagos program includes four day/three nights aboard the First Class Motor Catamaran Archipell and one night at First Class Hotel Fernandina based on double occupancy. Fully escorted daily excursions in Galapagos by English speaking naturalist guides. Daily briefings. All meals during the cruise and hotel as per itinerary. Airport assistance in Guayaquil.
LIMA: Private transfers airport/hotel/airport. First class hotel accommodations at Hotel Casa Andina Select Miraflores. Daily breakfast. City tour of modern and colonial Lima. Dinner and folkloric show.
CUSCO & MACHU PICCHU: Private transfers airport/hotel/airport. Accommodations at Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco. Daily breakfast. Combined tour of Cusco city and nearby ruins. Transfers between hotel and train station. Full day excursion to Machu Picchu via Vistadome train service. Buffet lunch.
NOT INCLUDED:
International air USA/Quito and return from Lima to USA. Local and regional air Guayaquil/Lima/Cusco/Lima. Air fares to be quoted separately on request. Please check with us on our special add-on roundtrip air fare from Miami or from over 50 cities in the USA. Galapagos National Park entrance fees $120 per person. Land services, tours not indicated in itinerary. Meals not indicated in itinerary. Gratuities and tips to guides.
