Trail of the Incas and Galapagos

Transcription

1 Trail of the ncas and Galapagos 16 Day tour February 23 - March 10, 2015 TOUR Host: Rev Johan Olivier Featuring: Lima Cusco Sacred Valley Sacsayhuaman Machu Picchu Aguas Calientes Misminay Village Quito Four-night galapagos Cruise

2 Trail of the ncas and Galapagos Join us on an adventure to South America and discover why this area has attracted adventurers from around the globe. Enjoy historic sites, music and cuisine in Lima, in the foothills of the Andes. Wander the cobblestone streets and bargain for treasures in the colourful markets of Cusco then discover the ancient nca citadel of Machu Picchu. Admire Quito, with unspoiled plazas and lavishly decorated cathedrals. Spend four nights aboard a luxury vessel exploring the Galapagos archipelago, one of the richest marine sanctuaries in the world. Encounter 200 year-old giant tortoises, bluefooted boobies and other unique wildlife with an expert Naturalist Guide along to make sense of it all. This is your chance to experience the trail of the ncas and the legendary Galapagos! Galapagos slands 4 PACFC OCEAN 2 = overnights Equator 2 Quito ECUADOR PERU Lima 2 Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) Cusco Monday, February 23 Day 1 Departure Day Our excitement grows as we meet our travelling companions at the airport. Our flight takes us to Lima, the "City of Kings" founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in We are transferred to our hotel where we will be staying for two nights. Tuesday, February 24 BD Day 2 Free Morning - Lima Tour After our late night arrival, we have the morning to sleep in, relax and enjoy the amenities of our hotel. We start our visit to Peru with a tour of colonial and modern Lima. ncluded is a visit to the historical centre of Lima, declared a World Heritage Site (WHS) by UNESCO. We'll see the Cathedral, Main Square, Government Palace and City Hall. Then we'll visit the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Our last stop will be a visit to the impressive Larco Museum. Tonight we enjoy a special dinner and folklore show. Wednesday, February 25 BD Day 3 To Cusco After breakfast we transfer to the airport for a flight to Cusco, the fabled capital of the ncan Empire. We check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free to relax and acclimatize to the high altitude (3400 metres above sea level). Thursday, February 26 BLD Day 4 Sacred Valley Today we have a full-day tour of the Valley of the Urubamba - the Sacred Valley of the ncas. ncluded is a visit to the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times. We will have time to interact with the local people as they barter their products including the artisans from the region who sell their woven alpaca wool blankets, ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions and jewellery. After lunch at a local restaurant we visit Ollantaytambo, an inhabited nca town with original nca water channels and stone streets. We explore the impressive ruins of the fortress above Ollantaytambo, and then return to Cusco via the traditional market town of Chinchero. Friday, February 27 BLD Day 5 Cusco Tour - Sacsayhuaman Our tour of Cusco (WHS) starts with a visit to the centuries-old civic square and the Cathedral Plaza de Armas, which houses a solid silver altar. Next we'll visit Santo Domingo, the 17th century church built on the original site of the ncan Temple of the Sun. There will be a stop at a panoramic viewpoint for pictures. We'll also visit the ncan fortress of Sacsayhuaman, overlooking Cusco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. This afternoon we'll pack a small bag to take with us tomorrow for our overnight near Machu Picchu. Later tonight we savour a Peruvian dinner and folkloric show. Saturday, February 28 BLD Day 6 Machu Picchu An adventure to remember as we take the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley to the town of Aguas Calientes, situated in the valley below the Lost City of the ncas, Machu Picchu (WHS). We are taken by bus up to the ruins where we have a guided tour of one of the most spectacular ancient cities in the world. This fabulous city features houses, temples, warehouses and a large central square; all connected by narrow roads and steps that are surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side. After the tour we'll have some free time to enjoy this spiritual wonder. Lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge will be included. We return to Aguas Calientes and our hotel for the night. Sunday, March 1 BD Day 7 Aguas Calientes - Cusco This morning we have the opportunity to spend some time in the colourful market town of Aguas Calientes. Or, for an additional cost of approximately $100, we can return to the Machu Picchu site to do more exploring on our own (must be booked in advance). n the afternoon we'll board the train and return to Cusco and our hotel. Monday, March 2 BLD Day 8 Misminay Village Today we take a break from traditional tourism and embark on an intercultural experience off the beaten path. We travel 75 minutes from

3 Cuzco to visit Misminay, a small Andean village. n this rural community we will have the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their way of life. Each person in the group will choose one activity that interests them: weaving, agriculture or ethnobotany (how local herbs are used to combat illness)..after a warm greeting by the townsfolk, we will split into smaller groups according to our selection, then later we meet to enjoy a delicious brunch made using their local products. Tuesday, March 3 BD Day 9 To Quito Today we fly from Cusco to Lima and then connect to Quito, Ecuador. During the 13th century, Quito (WHS) was the prosperous centre of the Kingdom of Quitus. t later became the northern capital of the nca Empire. n the 16th and 17th centuries, colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel. Wednesday, March 4 BD Day 10 Quito Tour - Middle of the World This morning we will tour this beautiful city, visiting Quito s colonial quarter - the largest and best preserved in South America - to admire its treasures of art and architecture. We will see ndependence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop s Palace, as well as many other historic buildings. After lunch we will be taken to the Middle of the Earth, where we can stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one foot in the Southern Hemisphere. Our guide will entertain us with demonstrations on the equator, and on either side of it. The rest of the afternoon is at our leisure. Thursday, March 5 BLD Day 11 Start Galapagos Cruise Our morning flight takes us to San Cristóbal, Galapagos slands (WHS) where we are met by our naturalist guide and taken to board the M/V Galapagos Legend, a 100-passenger expedition vessel and Save up to $500 per person Ask us about our Early Booking and Rostad Frequent Traveller discounts our home for the next four nights. This ship provides us with the stability and amenities of a large ship but the intimacy of a smaller vessel. This itinerary is subject to change as determined by the Galapagos National Park. n the afternoon we visit the nterpretation Centre to learn about the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate and the arrival of different animal species. Then we hike up Tijeretas Hill for an impressive view and where we can observe great frigate birds. Friday, March 6 BLD Day 12 Cruising Galapagos We visit Gardner Bay on Española sland this morning. We walk along a beautiful white coral beach occupied by a colony of sea lions. We should be able to spot Galapagos hawks, American oystercatchers, Galapagos ground doves, Hood mockingbirds, yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas and Darwin s finches. We ll have the opportunity to snorkel and see a variety of marine wildlife such as king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays and whitetipped reef sharks. This afternoon we stop at Suarez Point. Besides large sea lion colonies, we see several varieties of sea birds including the world s largest colony of waved albatross. We ll also admire the dramatic Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water 23 metres in the air. Saturday, March 7 BLD Day 13 Cruising Galapagos This morning we disembark at Post Office Bay on the island of Floreana. n 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them to their destinations. Visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel. We ll have an hour for snorkeling. n the afternoon we land on a beach at Cormorant Point. We hike to a lagoon where you can usually see a large population of special inclusions flamingos. The trail continues to a beach that is an important nesting site of the green pacific sea turtle. We return to the beach where we may disembark for an hour of swimming or snorkeling. Sunday, March 8 BLD Day 14 Cruising Galapagos We make a dry landing on the south side of Santa Cruz sland and take a bus ride to the Highlands, a nature reserve for giant tortoises, which can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and live up to years. This afternoon we visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre where the Galapagos giant tortoise breeding program takes place. We also walk through a prickly-pear cactus forest where we admire a variety of Darwin s finches and other land birds. Monday, March 9 BD Day 15 Cruising Galapagos - To Quito This morning we circumnavigate the islet of Daphne, an eroded tuff cone formation, created by successive volcanic activity. We can view Darwins s finches, blue-footed boobies, nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, swallow-tailed gulls and brown noddies. Then we go to Baltra Airport for our flight back to Quito on the mainland. A farewell dinner at a local restaurant is planned and later in the evening we return to the airport to continue our journey home. TOUR ACTVTY LEVEL Challenging Tuesday, March 10 Day 16 Arrive home Today we arrive home with an abundance of souvenirs and unforgettable memories of our time in South America. You may encounter more strenuous activities such as longer walking tours and travel over rough terrain, extreme temperatures, or high altitudes. Members should be in good physical condition. Dinner and Folklore Show in Lima Peruvian Dinner and Folkloric show in Cusco VistadomeTrain ride through Urubamba Valley Special dinner in Quito tour host Rev Johan Olivier 20 Quebec St Guelph, ON N1H 2T4 Home: (519) Office: (519) Cell: (519) johan@knoxguelph.ca prices Toronto $9395 Halifax $9545 Ottawa $9445 Calgary $9595 Prices from other cities available upon request. Prices are per person based on double occupancy in a Standard Plus Cabin on the cruise. Cabin categories are subject to availability and will be assigned on a firstcome first-served basis. When you make your deposit, you will select your preferred cabin category from those remaining in our allotment. For single occupancy, call for prices and availability. Cabin upgrade Costs Category Description Price Junior Suite $ 500 Legend Suite $ 900 Balcony Suite $ 1300 This tour is not subject to GST/HST. Price ncludes Return economy class airfare Current airline taxes, fuel surcharges and airport fees ($420) Airfare and taxes Lima to Cusco and return Airfare and taxes Lima to Quito and return Airfare and taxes Quito to Galapagos and return First class hotels First class motorcoaches Standard Plus outside cabin on cruise Fuel surcharge on cruise Meals as shown (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Professional tour guide Naturalist Guide during cruise Sightseeing tours including entrance fees Galapagos National Park Fee and Transit Card Luggage handling at hotels Tipping for all included services Rostad Tours travel gift Tour documentation and travel information Not ncluded: Meals not shown, Beverages, tems of a personal nature, Any airline luggage fees, ncreases to surcharges, taxes or fees, nsurance.

4 Tour Conditions & nformation Reservations A deposit of $500 per person is required to make a reservation on this tour. This deposit is completely refundable up to 125 days prior to departure. A confirmation of your reservation will be forwarded to you after the deposit is received. Final Payment The final payment is due no later than 125 days before departure. f you are joining the tour within 125 days of departure, full payment is required. Credit Card Payments For payments made by credit card, we reserve the right to have credit card charges processed by the suppliers of travel services such as the airline, cruise line, etc. All credit card payments will be processed in Canadian dollars. Shared & sngle accommodation Passengers must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a room or if they prefer a single room. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated. f you do not have a roommate we will attempt to find a suitable travelling companion to share a room with you. f we are unable to find a roommate, you will be charged the full single supplement. Reservation Changes f you want to change your reservation, such as change your departure city or plan an extended stay, you must submit your request in writing at least 125 days prior to departure. f planning an extension, an additional non-refundable payment may be required in order to reserve flights and other arrangements. Any subsequent changes, cancellations of extension arrangements or changes requested within 125 days of departure are subject to a service fee of $100 per person in addition to any fees charged by the various travel suppliers. Tour PRCe The prices shown are based on currency levels, airfares, and taxes valid as at May 15, 2014 and are subject to change. Once you have paid in full we guarantee that there will be no price increases due to currency exchange fluctuations or airfare increases. Fuel surcharges t has become common practice for airlines, cruise lines and motorcoach companies to apply surcharges due to the volatile price of fuel. These surcharges are included in the price of the tour based on surcharges in effect as at May 15, 2014 and are subject to change. Cancellations Your deposit is fully refundable for any reason up to 125 days prior to departure. Cancellations after this date are subject to the following cancellation charges: 125 to 91 days prior to $ 3000 departure 90 to 61 days $ to 0 days $ 9000 f you cancel, you will receive back all money paid towards the tour less the applicable cancellation fee. The charges apply to the base price of the tour only and do not include cancellation charges for any extra arrangements such as single supplement, accommodation upgrades, additional tours, etc. nsurance We recommend that all passengers buy insurance to protect themselves against any possible cancellation charges or out-of-country medical expenses. An all-inclusive policy which has cancellation, hospital/medical and baggage coverage will be offered to Alberta residents prior to making their final payment. For passengers residing outside of Alberta, we will explain how you can obtain our special group rates for travel insurance direct from Reliable Life nsurance. As your deposit is fully refundable until 125 days prior to departure, you do not need to purchase insurance until that date. Passports A passport is required for all tour participants. Some countries require that your passport to be valid for at least three months and some at least six months past your intended return date. f you do not already have a passport, or if your current passport will expire within this period, apply for your new passport at least 125 days before departure. Health Requirements During walking tours you will likely experience uneven ground, cobblestone streets and various amounts of steps or stairs. For your enjoyment, and in fairness to your fellow passengers, you should be in good physical condition, with the ability to stand for reasonable periods of time and walk several kilometres easily. Should you feel a particular excursion may be too strenuous, you are welcome to forego the sightseeing tour and rest or explore on your own. At the time of printing, no inoculations are required for this tour. Tour Documents The tour documents (hotel list, flight itinerary, name tag, etc.) will be sent approximately 30 days prior to departure. Please notify our office in writing if you require any information in advance of this date. Baggage Allowance Tour members are allowed one suitcase per person with the total dimensions not to exceed 60 (i.e. 30 length + 20 height + 10 width) and a maximum weight of 20 kg. Your suitcase will be portered at all hotels but tour members are responsible for their flight bags/carry-on luggage at all times. Rostad Tours accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any baggage or any tour member s personal belongings. tinerary VaRations Rostad Tours reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour due to airline schedule changes or any other circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to keep the tour as close as possible to the original itinerary. Tour MembershP Rostad Tours reserves the right to reject any person as a tour member and to expel from the tour any person whose actions are deemed to be detrimental to the enjoyment of the tour by the other passengers. Children 6 years of age and under at the time the tour departs are considered too young to travel on tour. ResponsBlity Rostad Tours Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta act as agents for the various owners or contractors providing hotels, means of transportation or other services. ssuance and acceptance of the tour documents shall be deemed to be consent to the condition that Rostad Tours Ltd. shall not become liable or responsible in any way for any personal or property loss, damage or injury, howsoever caused or arising. n the event that we are forced to cancel a tour due to insufficient registrations, Rostad Tours Ltd. s sole responsibility shall be the refund of all monies paid to Rostad Tours by the tour participant Palliser Drive SW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2V 4W5 Toll Free: Phone: (403) Fax: (403) tours@rostad.com

5 M/V Galapagos Legend Explore the enchanting islands of the Galapagos on a 100-passenger Expedition Ship. The m/v Galapagos Legend offers a world-class cruise experience, featuring fully-equipped ocean view cabins and suites, a wide variety of open decks for lounging and sea-gazing and ample indoor areas with panoramic windows. t has all the amenities of a large cruise liner, yet it is small enough to maintain an intimate flavour while exploring these amazing islands. Experience a well balanced blend of vacation and adventure, with daily walking excursions and plenty of snorkeling and swimming opportunities. See unique and fascinating animals with no fear of man, breathtaking landscapes, beautiful tropical waters and distinctly coloured beaches. All shore landings are in small groups of 16 in Zodiacs (rigid inflatable boats) with convenient access to and from the Sea Deck. Onboard, soak up the sun on the Sky Deck by the pool and socialize with fellow travellers. The broad observation deck allows you to spot dolphins and whales as the ship smoothly navigates the rich Galapagos waters. All cabins come with lower beds, private bathroom that offers fresh hot and cold water and a hair dryer, air conditioning, background music, safety deposit boxes, closed-circuit television, telephone, 110/220 volt outlets, and wall-to-wall carpeting. Typical day on your Galapagos cruise: 6:45 Wake-up call 7:00 Breakfast 8:00 Visit to the sland. Hiking, snorkelling Landing: wet, Terrain: flat, Difficulty: intermediate 11:00 Back to the ship 12:00 Lunch 14:30 Special activity; leisure time, lecture or deep-water snorkeling 16:00 Visit to the sland. Hiking, dinghy ride, kayaking Landing: dry, Terrain: steep & lava, Difficulty: intermediate 18:00 Back on board 18:00 ce cream festival, BBQ, or scheduled activities on board 19:40 Lecture 20:00 Dinner 21:00 Karaoke, Neptune Party, stargazing or scheduled night entertainment

6 M/V Galapagos Legend 100 Passengers Moon Deck A. Observatory / Stargazing Sun terrace / Chill out area Sky Deck B. Sun terrace and pool C. Fisherman s bar D. BBQ area E. Kids corner, games F. Auditorium G. Bar and lounge / nternet H. Dolphin s observation deck. Jogging track G Moon Deck H Sky Deck Earth Deck J. SPA: Jacuzzi, gym, sauna K. Hammocks L. Massages M. Reception N. Boutique O. nterpretation corner J J J K L 22 A R M N P O Earth Deck Sea Deck P. Embarkation area Q. Restaurant R. Medical service Cabins: STANDARD STANDARD PLUS JUNOR SUTE P BALCONY SUTE Q Sea Deck BALCONY SUTE PLUS LEGEND SUTE Technical Specifications Length: 301 feet / 92 m. Wide: 47 feet / 15 m. Decks: 5 Made in: Germany Refurbished in: September 2007 Passengers: 100 Crew: 80 Guides: 7 multilingual naturalists Speed: 17 knots Cruise Speed: 15 knots Life Boats: 2 for 52 passengers each Life Rafts: Dinghies: Safety: 2 for 25 passengers each 6 for 16 passengers each SMS, RS Standard Plus Cabin Junior Suite Cabin Standard Plus Cabins size average 11 sq. m. / 118 sq. ft. They have low twin beds or double, AC, phone service, video system with LCD TV for cabin s entertainment, safety deposit box and private bathroom. Junior Suites have panoramic windows and average 15 sq. m. /161 sq. ft. Several are interconnected with other cabins.they have low twin beds or queen size, AC, phone service, video system with LCD TV for cabin s entertainment, safety deposit box and private bathroom.

7 PASSENGER REGSTRATON FORM Please complete this form and mail it to the Tour Host or directly To Rostad Tours f paying by credit card, you may also register by phone or fax this form to Rostad Tours PASSENGER NFORMATON Trail of the ncas and Galapagos Departs: February 23, 2015 Olivier1502 (1): Date of Birth: 19 / / Title Last Name First Name Year/Month/Day (2): Date of Birth: 19 / / Mailing Address : City/Town: Prov/State: Postal Code/Zip: Phone: Home ( ) - Work: ( ) - Type of Accommodation Requested: Twin/Double or Single Departure City: Roommate (if known): f unknown, would you like us to find you a roommate? CRUSE NFORMATON Cabin Category: (1st choice) (2nd choice) Cruise Special Requests: PRVACY: Rostad Tours is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. The main purpose of collecting your personal information is to arrange travel products and services for you. Accordingly, personal information required for this purpose may be shared with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel insurance companies, tour operators and other travel-related vendors. t may also be used to provide you with information regarding future travel opportunities. We will not sell or trade your personal information with third parties. Our complete Privacy Policy is available at our website at or, if you wish, we can send you a copy via or by postal mail. PAYMENT NFORMATON Deposit Required (per person): $500x = Total: Deposit is fully refundable until October 21, 2014 Payment Method: Visa Mastercard Cheque (made payable to Rostad Tours) Credit Card # Expires: / Month/Year Cardholder Name: Please note that we reserve the right to have credit card payments processed by third parties such as Cardholder Signature: airlines, cruise lines, etc. Mail with payment to either address below: Rev Johan Olivier 20 Quebec ST Guelph, ON N1H 2T4 OR Rostad Tours 10, 3109 Palliser Drive SW Calgary, AB Canada T2V 4W5