WONDER OF THE WORLD. Galapagos, Machu Picchu & Titicaca lake. 16 days

This program offers you the most fascinating natural and cultural attractions of two fantastic countries, Ecuador and Peru: In Ecuador you have the opportunity to visit Galapagos National Park, a Natural World Heritage Site and a living laboratory of animal and plant species found nowhere else on the planet. In Peru you will discover the most important cultural centers of the Inca civilization by exploring the beautiful and ancient Cusco, The Sacred Valley of the Incas and Machu Picchu ruins. We finish our special journey by visiting the spectacular Titicaca Lake.
Day 1: Arrival to Guayaquil
Arrival to Guayaquil, a great demonstration of modern urbanism and the main commercial center of Ecuador. Overnight at selected hotel.

Day 2: Scenery ride to Cuenca – city tour – return to Guayaquil
Early morning we start our ride along tropical plantations of bananas, coffee, cocoa and tropical fruits, very soon we notice the change of altitude and vegetation as we go up to the Andes. At the top of the mountain range we pass by the amazing natural landscape of the El Cajas National Park, formed by moorland type vegetation with over 250 lagoons of glacier origin. We then continue down to the beautiful city of Cuenca. Here we will do a walking tour of the old town visiting magnificent churches, beautiful old buildings, flower and handicrafts markets, art galleries, workshops and all the wonders that Cuenca, with its colonial style and pleasant atmosphere, offers its visitors. We will also ride along the Tomebamba River, while admiring the ancient houses perched on the river bank above. Then we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the vantage point of Turi. We will also visit a ceramic art gallery, a straw hat factory or an artist’s workshop. Late in the afternoon we go to the airport and return to the coastal city of Guayaquil by plane. – L –
For the Galapagos Island trip, you could choose from an 8 or 5 days cruise around the islands on one of the several boat options and categories available; or take our special land based or island hopping programs: Active Galapagos 7days or Enchanted Galapagos 5 days. These trips visit the least crowded places where cruise boats don’t go.

For this 16 days program we list an 8 days itinerary of a first class boat, which visits the following sites:

Day 3: Flight to Baltra Island Galapagos – North Seymour Island
Morning arrival to Baltra where you will be met by your guide and transferred to the dock to board the boat. A short navigation will take us to North Seymour Island, where after a dry landing, we do a walk along a coastal trail. Here we will encounter a colony of swallow tailed gulls and lots of sea lions. This site is also known for being a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and the largest colony of the magnificent frigate birds. You can also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the marine iguanas and land iguanas. – L, D -

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station – Highlands
Today we anchor at the harbour of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the main town and tourist gathering of the archipelago. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park offices are based on Santa Cruz Island. The Darwin station encompasses an information centre, a museum, a library and the tortoise breeding station as well. Here you will have an opportunity to visit some of the best scientists of the Galápagos, park rangers and park managers, who make huge efforts to preserve this Unesco World Heritage Site and conduct the conservation of the islands.
In the tortoise breeding and rearing centre you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most famous inhabitant of this island is Lonesome George. He is the only survivor of his specific turtle species and hasn’t been able to breed.

In the afternoon we will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz. The lush landscape there differs from the arid scenery found on the smaller lower islands. On the way up we cross the different vegetation zones, from the dry lower region full of cacti to the woods of scalesia in the higlands. Here you will visit the tortoise reserve El Chato. L, D –

Day 5: Española Island: Gardener Bay - Suarez Point
Española or Hood is the southernmost and oldest island of the Galápagos archipelago. Because of its isolated position you can explore a lot of endemic wildlife. In the morning you will have an excursion to Suarez Point which is one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago, with a long list of species found along its cliffs and sand or pebble beaches. In addition to five species of nesting seabirds there are the curious Hood mockingbirds, Galapagos doves and Galapagos hawks. Several types of reptiles, including the marine iguana and the oversized lava lizard, are unique to this island. When heavy swells are running, Point Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting 30 yards into the air. The walkabout on a stony path is about 2km (duration about 3 hours). Gardener Bay is on the eastern shore with turquoise shot colored water and a magnificent beach. Around the small islets nearby, snorkelers will find lots of fish and sometimes turtles and sharks. The bay is also frequented by a transient colony of sea lions which like to swim with you. Birds, like the endemic Hood-Mockingbird and different species of Darwin finches, are omnipresent. – L, D -

Day 6: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point – Devil’s Crown – Post Office Bay
Floreana is the remains of a half submerged volcanic cone. Parasitic cones dominate the gentle landscape. Punta Cormorant has a nice trail, which combines a green olivine sand beach, a blackish lagoon with flamingos and a white sand beach considered as one of the main nesting sites for sea turtles. Close to the shore snorkeling is great at the Devil’s Crown, where sharks are often spoted. Floreana was the first inhabited island of the archipelago and is endowed with a bizarre collection of stories. At Post Office Bay whalers opened an unofficial post barrel which is still used by all the visitors and where the cost still remains zero. - L, D –

Day 7: Isabela Island: Punta Moreno – Elizabeth Bay
This day will lead us to the largest island of the archipelago, Island Isabela. With a surface of 4588 sq km the isle engages more than the half of the land area of whole Galápagos. At Punta Moreno, a young volcanic landscape with numerous fresh-water pools and lagoons, you can see flamingos, bahama ducks and other birds. Then you will go to the mangrove area of Elizabeth Bay with little islands off-shore. Here you can see little Galapagos dwarf penguins as well as schools of manta rays, turtles and other giants of the ocean such as whale-sharks and more. The mangrove woods are the home of different seabirds and herons. – L, D –

Day 8: Urbina Bay at Isabela Island - Punta Espinoza at Fernandina Island
Our next visitor site is Bahia Urbina. As a result of a strong outbreak of the volcano Alcedo in the year 1954 suddenly large sections of the coast were pushed up approximately 4 m, so you can observe coral reefs here ashore. Meanwhile the reefs are covered with trees of chamomile and muyuyo. Furthermore you can observe terrestrial iguanas and the rare Mangrove finch from really close. From January to June occasionally giant tortoises, which live in the highlands, are visiting the bay.
In the afternoon you will visit Fernandina Island which is not only the westernmost but also the youngest and most pristine Island found in Galapagos. The last eruption of the volcano La Cumbre in 2005 created huge interesting fields of lava. Punta Espinoza, is located within a fascinating lava scenery with Lava-Cacti and growing mangroves on the surface of the lava. Beside this unique scenery you will come in contact with numerous animals here. The highlights are sea lions, penguins, the flightless cormorant (especially in spring and summer) and one of the biggest iguana colonies of Galápagos. Snorkelling is great here. – L, D –

Day 9: Puerto Egas at James Island - Bartolome Island
Today we land at Santiago Island, also known as James, or San Salvador Island, which is the fourth largest island in the archipelago. The influences of the former salt mine workers and their imported animals are still alive on the island. The last tries to populate Santiago Island were given up forty years ago. Puerto Egas has a black sandy beach where we land great for snorkeling and swimming with sea lions. After a short walk of about 2 km along the coast you will reach the cliffy lava coast with natural pools where sea lionsand fur seals take a bath, herons and other sea and coastal birds are found as well as lots of marine iguanas and red sally light-foot crabs on the rocky shores. Once in Bartolome Island we will ascend a lookout point from where you can admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous needle shaped rock, the so called Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some fine snorkeling spots from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world with a good chance to encounter penguins or the softly gliding turtles. – L, D -

Day 10: Black Turtle – return flight to Guayaquil - flight to Lima
Our last site is Black Turtle Cove at Santa Cruz Island, where we do a dinghy ride to observe schools of white tip sharks, golden rays and sea turtles in the calm waters surrounded by a dense mangrove forest. Afterwards you will be escorted to Baltra airport to fly back to Guayaquil. Later in the afternoon we fly to Lima and overnight at a selected hotel.

Day 11: Flight Lima – Cusco – city tour & nearby ruins
Early morning transfer to Lima’s airport for flight to Cusco and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon we will have a city tour of Cusco that is recognized as “The archaeological Capital of the America”. Cusco exists in the present and past at the same time, the whole city is covered with archaeological remains, both Incaic and colonial and many of the present buildings were built on the bases of Incaic walls and trails. The main attractions to visit are: Main Square, Cathedral and Korikancha (Temple of Sun). We then continue not far from the city to the surrounding ruins: Sacsahuaman fortress, Kenko (sacred site), Puca-Pucara (red fortress) and Tambomachay (Inca fountains). Return and overnight at a hotel in Cusco.

Day 12: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Today we have a journey full of history, archaeology, indigenous culture and traditions as we visit the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the Urubamba river we find the villages of Pisac with its famous colourful indigenous market, then visit the remarkable Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo with its magnificent mountain starway and huge stones weighting over 50 tons each. We also visit the picturesque town of Chincheros where we find a rich indigenous culture and the typical constructions where Spanish built on top of Inca remains, process done for architectural and religious purposes. We have lunch at a one of the beautiful country haciendas of the valley. Overnight near Ollantaytambo. This trip has to be taken on market days Tue / Thu & Sun. – L, D

Day 13: Machu Picchu
After breakfast we drive to near Ollantaytambo train station to catch the train to the fabulous mountain top citadel of Machu Picchu ruins. The tracks end at the town of Aguas Calientes and then we take a bus up to the Lost City of the Incas. Once at the ruins we will enjoy one of the most unbelievable and breathtaking experiences as we walk through the ruins and hear from the guide all the history behind this place. . Since it was discovered in 1911, Machu Picchu has been considered as one of the most important architectonic and archaeological monuments on the planet because of its incredible and naturally harmonious features. In the afternoon we return to Ollantaytambo and transfer by bus to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. - L -

Day 14: Scenery ride from Cusco to Puno
Departure by tourist bus to Puno (ticket included) along the high Andean plains. On route we will have some guided visits to interesting sites on the way, we will cross La Raya pass at 4335 m, then visit an Inca Temple located in the picturesque little village of Raqchi. Also you will visit the interesting temple of Andahuaylillas or Sistine Chapel of America. Each visit lasts 20 to 40 minutes. The lunch on the route is included. In the afternoon we arrive to Puno, the most important lacustrian port in Peru located on the Titicaca Lake. – L, D -

Day 15: Lake Titicaca: Uros & Taquile Islands
Today we take a boat on the Titicaca lake to visit the floating, reeds made, islands of Uros. These islands are anchored by logs and connected to each other by ropes; the main activities of the people who live here are fishing and handcrafting several items that they sell to visitors. We then we continue to Taquile Island which offers a spectacular view from its hills. Its inhabitants are skilled artisans famous for the colouring and originality of their fabrics and garments, as well as for their anden music. Afternoon return to Puno`s hotel. – L, D –

Day 16: Transfer Puno – Juliaca – return flight to Lima
Early morning we drive for about 1 ½ hours from Puno to Juliaca`s airport for catching a flight back to Lima.
End of services
Included
Private transportation, bilingual professional certified guides, accommodation on double basis at selected tourist superior and/or first class hotels, lodges haciendas and Galapagos boat, all breakfasts and meals as listed on itinerary, all excursions mentioned above, main land’s national park entrances and fees, equipment used on activities, 8 days Galapagos tour on first class boat (itinerary according to boat selected). L=Lunch, D= Dinner
Not included
International and local flights, airport taxes, personal drinks, return flight tickets to Galapagos, Galapagos national park entrance fee ($100) and migration card ($10), travel insurance & personal expenses