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May
17
Machu Picchu and Galapagos
Filed Under Packages
There are few travel opportunities in the Western Hemisphere, or even the world, that offer such a unique blend of both cultural and natural attractions.
The melange of Spanish colonialism and ancient Incan civilization brings a singular distinction to your visits in Lima, Cuzco, Quito, and of course, legendary Machu Picchu — a haunting display of mountain-peak ruins, standing as testimony to the Incas´ desperate attempt to retain their culture from European colonizers.
From the rich histories of Peru and Ecuador, your journey continues to perhaps the most fascinating archipelago on Earth — the Galapagos Islands. This crossroads of evolution was officially discovered in 1535, but is easily best-known as the inspiration for Charles Darwin´s On the Origin of Species.
The island habitats that so impressed Darwin are no less incredible today.
Traveling in small, intimate groups, observe and photograph birds, reptiles, mammals, and plants while learning about their evolution, habits, and peculiarities. The fearless wildlife is just one of many surprises that makes this fascinating adventure so much fun.
Some of the features of the trip.
- Each departure limited to less than 30 guests.
- Deluxe accommodations at the;
- Swissotel Lima (3 nights total)
- Hotel Libertador in Cuzco (2 nights total)
- Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (1 night)
- Swissotel Quito (2 nights)
- and Hilton Colon Guayaquil (1 night)
- Exclusive concierge service at INTRAV hospitality desks.
- Four days and nights cruising the Galapagos Islands aboard the 90-passenger expedition ship, Santa Cruz; naturalist talks on board.
- All flights within Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands.
- 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, and 7 dinners, including these special events: captain´s welcome aboard reception/dinner on board ship and farewell dinner in Guayaquil.
- All sightseeing and shore excursions.
- Services of a professional INTRAV travel director, as well as a distinguished group of experts and naturalists.
- All transfers between airports and hotels for INTRAV~Air passengers traveling on scheduled dates of departure and return, including tips to hotel porters for luggage handling.
- Full pretrip information and assistance.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart the U.S.A./Lima, Peru
Retaining much of its colonial grandeur, this vibrant Peruvian capital exudes a sense of old-world charm.
You´ll stay at the Swissotel Lima, located just minutes from the city´s finest
shopping, restaurants, and art galleries.
Day 2 - Lima
Travel to the elegant beachfront community of Miraflores, where you´ll enjoy lunch at Rosa Nautica - set dramatically on the pier jutting out over the Pacific.
During a tour of Lima, see the heart of the city at Plaza de Armas - site of the Presidential Palace, cathedral, Archbishop´s Palace, and City Hall - and the nearby Franciscan monastery (the largest remaining from colonial times).
Day 3 - Cuzco, Peru
Founded as a tribal center around 1150, Cuzco evolved into an opulent city protected by the fortress of Sacsayhuaman. During your stay, enjoy comfortable accommodations at the Hotel Libertador - a restored 16th-century conquistador´s villa.
Explore Cuzco´s civic square and its Cathedral Plaza de Armas, which houses a solid silver altar; and visit Santo Domingo, a 17th-century church built on the original site of the Incan Temple of the Sun.
Stop briefly at Cuzco´s Christ the Redeemer statue before continuing to Sacsayhuaman Fortress - a bold example of Incan architectural skill.
Then savor a Peruvian dinner and folkloric show later tonight at your hotel.
Day 4 - Machu Picchu, Peru
An unforgettable experience awaits as you depart Cuzco by narrow-gauge railcar for the legendary Lost City of the Incas, where you´ll stay one night at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel.
With convenient access for afternoon and early-morning visits, your unique Andean town-style hotel affords the extraordinary opportunity to see this spectacular site in an unhurried and thoughtful manner.
Walk the narrow passageways and gaze upon the surroundings as knowledgeable guides help lift the mysterious veil that blankets this region, much like the clouds that envelop its jagged peaks. Machu Picchu will prove to be a life-changing experience.
Day 5 - Machu Picchu/Cuzco
An additional morning tour, focusing on important sites that may have been missed during your earlier visit, offers ample time to once again enjoy the sheer beauty and solitude of the site before Machu Picchu´s daytime visitors arrive.
Return by narrow-gauge railcar to Cuzco and your retained room at the Hotel Libertador.
Day 6 - Lima (Return Visit)
Return to Lima for a tasteful lunch of nouveau-Andean cuisine at La Huaca Pucllana Restaurant - set within the excavation compound of an adobe pyramid built by Lima´s pre-Inca inhabitants.
Then enjoy a visit to the Mujica Gallo Collection of pre-Columbian artifacts at the Gold Museum; also see the Arms of the World Collection and many fine tapestries.
Stop at Miraflores artisan market en route back to the Swissotel Lima for overnight.
Day 7-8 - Quito, Ecuador
Once a prosperous town of the Kingdom of Quitus and the northern capital of the Incan empire, ancient Quito was destroyed in 1534 and reestablished as a center of Spanish colonialism.
Nestled in the Andes beneath Pichincha volcano, this UNESCO city´s impressive
setting is equaled by its rich architectural and artistic legacy.
You´ll stay two nights at the Swissotel Quito, conveniently located at the city´s colonial heart. An afternoon tour begins at Plaza Independencia, where you´ll see the 17th-century Presidential Palace and several area churches, including
South America´s oldest - the baroque San Francisco.
Another outing travels northward to the Equatorial Monument, where you can set foot on both halves of the world while straddling the line between the Northern and Southern hemispheres at 0 degrees latitude.
You´ll also visit Pakakuna, one of South America´s largest privately owned botanical gardens, dramatically set in Pichincha´s shadow.
This beautiful kichwa (or hiding place in the native Indian language)
showcases more than 500 plant and floral varieties from all over the world.
Day 9 - Baltra Island (Embark Santa Cruz)/ Cruising the Galapagos
Fly to Baltra and embark the 90-passenger Santa Cruz for a memorable four-day cruise that visits landing sites exclusive to this itinerary.
First, arrive at Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island´s northern shore, where a scenic panga ride highlights the habitat´s waterways. Mangrove forests, sheets of lava, arid-zone vegetation, and a brackish lagoon support pelicans, boobies, and frigate birds, as well as land and marine iguanas.
Day 10 - Cruising the Galapagos/ Bartholome and San Salvador Islands
Search for elusive whales and dolphins amid the volcanic seascape during a sunrise cruise en route to Bartolome´s Sullivan Bay, where majestic Pinnacle Rock beckons visitors to its 359-foot summit.
White beaches tempt travelers, while a glass-bottom boat reveals the stunning underwater world. On San Salvador, with its narrow beach and surreal lava formations, follow along the trail to a sea lion colony. Beforehand, perhaps even snorkel with them face-to-face ´ a playful encounter.
Day 11 - Cruising the Galapagos/ Genovesa and North Seymour Islands
Arrive this morning at Darwin Bay, where few ships other than the Santa Cruz can anchor.
Graced by turquoise waters and a coralline beach, Genovesa is a birder´s paradise - see red-footed and masked boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, and mockingbirds.
The more adventurous can don snorkel gear and search for hammerhead sharks along the cliffs. After lunch, land at North Seymour - one of the Galapagos´ few uplifted islands that once formed part of the ocean´s bed. Here, sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls abound.
Day 12 - Cruising the Galapagos/Santa Fe (Barrington) and Santa Cruz Islands
Newer to the ship´s route, Santa Fe - claiming some of the archipelago´s oldest geological phenomena - invites exploration.
Stroll through the tall forest of opuntia cactus, populated by endemic land iguanas. Then sail for Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island´s southern shore.
Venture inland to the Darwin Research Station, where you´ll learn more about the islands´ giant tortoises. Then glimpse life along main street before trekking into the highlands for a visit to Los Gemelos - your best chance to view giant tortoises in the wild, as well as Darwin´s famous finches.
Day 13 - San Cristobal (Disembark Santa Cruz)/Guayaquil, Ecuador
Just as Charles Darwin did in 1835, disembark the Santa Cruz at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Home to 4,000 Galapaguenos, this provincial capital boasts the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where you´ll discover the islands´ natural and human history.
Explore this quaint town on your own, then fly to Guayaquil - a natural port city and ommercial center. There is time to rest at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil before tonight´s farewell dinner.
Day 14 - Return to the U.S.A.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the United States.
This is just one of many itineraries.
This Machu Picchu and Galapagos package was put together by Intrav. There are several tour companies that have similar tours let us know your interests and we will find the right vacation package for you. Contact one of our specialist and find the right Machu Picchu and Galapagos package for you.
Comments
9 Responses to “Machu Picchu and Galapagos”
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Sounds like a wonderful trip.
What is package price for two from Tampa, FL?
Tanks.
Ursula Foerster
sounds like a fun trip. Need price for 2 from houston, tx in june or july
Jim Please feel free to call our main office at 800 541-9075. There are several packages to choose from depending on your dates and who you want to take.
We have approximately 10 couples that would like to do this trip in Jan. or Feb. of 2009. What is the package price pp from San Francisco. We’re all interested in snorkeling, is that something this trip offers? Is there a more ideal time of month to go? We don’t have to be locked into Jan/Feb.
Re: Machu Picchu - Do we need a day to get acclimated to the altitude? Thanks, glinda
Glinda, Please contact our corporate office at 800 541-9075. We would like to know a little more about what you expect and what to do.
Travel dates and package price for 2 please.
This trip has been on our radar screen for 2 years, so please give me more detail.
Thank you.
Kay, I have passed off your information to Barbara. You can reach her at 813 871-1404.
we need price for this package for 2 adults and child age 13.
How easy is it to find vegetarian food???in Peru and Galapagos
Suba,
I would think that it would not be to hard to find vegetarian food in South America. But please contact one of out South American specialist near you.
http://willtrav.com/about/