Costa Rica, Peru and Ecuador Inca Mysteries and Galápagos Islands (MS Fram)

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1 OFFICE: Marina Plaza, Dubai - UAE Travel period Duration 15 October days Costa Rica, Peru and Ecuador Inca Mysteries and Galápagos Islands (MS Fram) Puerto Limón, Costa Rica - Guayaquil, Ecuador Our journey begins in beautiful Costa Rica and the pristine beaches at Bocos del Toro before transiting the amazing Panama Canal, to experience this engineering marvel up close. Next, we explore fascinating archaeological sites and lost cultures before arriving at one of the world s great travel destinations: the Galápagos Islands. Explore some of the most important archaeological sites in South America Pass through the Panama Canal Visit the historic centre of Quito, the world s first UNESCO World Heritage site Discover the wondrous Galápagos Islands, home to Darwin s theory of evolution The itinerary This is an expedition where the elements rule, so the weather and wind conditions will determine our final schedule. Safety is paramount and the captain will decide the sailing itinerary during the voyage. Therefore, this itinerary is just an indication of what you can experience, and why every expedition with us is unique.

2 Departure 15 October 2019 Departs from San José, Costa Rica DAY 1 Better Things Ahead Location: San José, Costa Rica We arrive in the Costa Rican capital, San José, and transfer to our hotel in the city centre. San José s moniker towards better things aptly coins the spirit of our upcoming adventure. Stroll the streets and discover the neo-classical grandeur of this unique Central American metropolis. As Lonely Planet writes, give this city a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised. Get a good night s sleep because we start the journey of a lifetime the next day. DAY 2 Caribbean Side of Costa Rica Location: Puerto Limón A er breakfast we head east towards the Caribbean coast to visit the tropical rain forests of Tortuguero National Park. A boat ride along the Tortuguero Canals completes a lovely day of sightseeing before we transfer to MS Fram at nearby Puerto Limón for embarkation. Puerto Limón is the largest city on Costa Rica s Caribbean coast and one of the oldest cities on the continent. The port was established in 1502 when Christopher Columbus landed here during his exploration of the New World. DAY 3 Island Style Location: Bocas del Toro We begin our continent-crossing journey along the Caribbean coast of Panama, setting our course first for Bocas del Toro, an archipelago of nine main islands, 52 cays, and thousands of islets. Colourful and brimming with Caribbean-style clapboard houses, home to a UNESCO World Heritage site and Panama's first National Marine Park, Bocas del Toro is one of Panama's most visited eco-tourism destinations. Considered the Galápagos of

3 the Caribbean, Bocas del Toro is also one of the most biologically diverse places on earth. DAY 4 Connecting Two Oceans Location: Panama Canal We leave the Caribbean and enter the Panama Canal near the city of Colón. Experience the thrill of canal transit and the intricacy of the locks system firsthand, as MS Fram is li ed more than 26 metres (85 ) above sea level, from one body of water to the next. We enter the Pacific Ocean near the town of Balboa. DAY 5 Marvellous Marine Life Location: Puerto Piña We arrive midday at Puerto Piña, a small coastal community near the border with Colombia. The village lies beside the Bahía Piña, a narrow bay between two promontories that are frequented by humpback whales and bottlenose dolphins. Bahia Piña, in the province of Darien, attracts deep-sea fishermen from around the world. Numerous fishing world records have been broken here, more than anywhere else on earth. A diversity of marine species inhabit Bahía Piña, including sharks, dolphins, rays, and humpback whales. Rich in natural beauty, the area is ideal for hiking along trails in the jungle, kayaking, relaxing on the beach and swimming. DAY 6 Over the Bounding Main Location: At sea Enjoy a relaxing day at sea. Listen in as our experienced lecturers share their extensive knowledge, or spend time on deck fully enjoying the serenity of a day at sea. DAY 7

4 The Other Galápagos Location: Isla de la Plata In the a ernoon, we arrive at Isla de la Plata, part of Machalilla National Park, Ecuador s only coastal national park. The island is known as Ecuador s other Galápagos because of its abundance of marine birdlife. Isla de la Plata translates to Silver Island, and is the home to blue-footed boobies, nesting waved albatrosses and frigate birds, among others. The island is fantastic for hikers and features many bird watching trails. The island also o ers great opportunities to swim and snorkel. DAY 8 Serenity at Sea Location: At sea Our Expedition team continues its lecture programme, sharing their extensive knowledge and experience, as well as summarizing the voyage so far and letting you know about plans for the exciting days ahead. Our onboard expedition photographer will also be available to help you with the basics of expedition photography. DAY 9 Temple of the Sun and Moon Location: Salaverry, Peru The small port of Salaverry, Peru, near the city of Trujillo, is the starting point for the excursion to the ancient Chimu kingdom ( A.D.), which built its capital by the banks of the Moche River. The ancient city of Chan Chan ("Sun Sun"), in Trujillo, covers an area of 20 square km and was constructed with clay, mud, pebbles, straw and cane. Considered the largest mud-brick citadel of the Americas in pre-hispanic times, it is a remarkable piece of architecture that was listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in DAY 10

5 Another Relaxing Day at Sea Location: At sea Kick back and enjoy another full day at sea. Take part in the lecture series presented by the Expedition team or simply tune into the meditative rhythm of the ocean. DAY 11 UNESCO Site and Ancient History Location: Callao, Peru/ Quito, Ecuador We have arrived at the port of Callao and start our day by transferring to a morning flight at nearby Lima to Quito. Here you are picked up and transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure and explore Quito, nestled at the foot of the Pichincha volcano and known for its eternal spring-like climate. Originally settled by the Quitu tribe in the first millennium, Quito was eventually integrated into the Inca Empire before being destroyed and re-founded in 1534 by Spanish conquistador, Sebastian de Benalcázar. Quito flourished for nearly three centuries under Spanish colonial rule, as evidenced by the historic centre s splendidly restored colonial buildings and churches lining narrow, cobbled streets. Due to the city s preservation of its mixed past, UNESCO declared Quito the first of its World Heritage sites in Quito is also the world s second-highest capital city at 2,850 m (9,350 ). In the evening, enjoy a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant to kick o our visit to Ecuador. DAY 12 Explore the Quito Area Location: Quito, Ecuador A er breakfast, we drive north to the equator and visit the Inti Ñan Museum. A erwards, we ascend the Teleférico one of Quito s most popular attractions o ering spectacular and easily accessible views of the city. The ride lasts only 10 minutes but takes us to an altitude of 4,050 m (13,300 ). At the top, the lookout o ers visitors incredible views of Quito and its surrounding valleys and snow-covered volcanoes (along with co ee, snacks, and oxygen for the short of breath). Bring a sweater or light jacket - it can get chilly up there!

6 Cruise to the Galápagos Islands: From Costa Rica to Ecua We then return to the city and enjoy lunch in the charming colonial quarter. This a ernoon's sightseeing demonstrates some of the reasons why Ecuador's capital earned its honour as UNESCO s first World Heritage site. Dinner will be served at the hotel. DAY 13 Glorious Galápagos Location: Quito/Baltra Island/Santa Cruz Island Breakfast at hotel. Depart the hotel and drive to Quito Airport for the flight to the Galápagos Islands (via Guayaquil). Upon arrival at Baltra s airport, we meet the local representative and board a bus for the short transfer to Itabaca Channel, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island. Here, we board a small ferry that crosses the azure waters of the channel to Santa Cruz, a journey that takes about five minutes. On the other side, we travel through a rural agricultural area surrounded by wild landscapes and many di erent species of flora and fauna. We may well spot the finches that are famous for being the basis of Darwin's theory of evolution. See the famous Galápagos land tortoises in their natural environment and learn how private ranches help protect these special creatures and their habitat. Tortoises of all di erent ages and sizes gather here: Small young ones with shining carapaces, and older ones with weathered and worn shells. Lunch will be served in the highlands. The well-known Lava Tunnels are another amazing experience. Formed by lava flows from the volcanoes, they range from the highlands down to the sea. Join an amazing half-hour hike through one of the tunnels to where it gets too small to pass. A naturalist guide will share in detail the story of the origin of these fascinating tunnels. A erwards, we continue to our hotel in the town of Puerto Ayora. Once settled, we walk to the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station, which hosts educational museums on both the history and development of the Galápagos Islands, and protection of their natural heritage. Native giant land tortoises can also be observed. Many di erent tortoise species exist in the Galápagos and the station is the only place where most of the species reside at one site. The a ernoon is at your leisure to explore small yet picturesque Puerto Ayora and its many shops with local arts and cra s. We later enjoy dinner at the hotel s cosy restaurant. DAY Galápagos Island Hopping Location: Galapágos Islands A er enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we have two full days to tour one of the nearby, uninhabited islands by boat. Please note that only one of the four islands listed below will be visited per day:

7 4/23/2018 Cruise to the Galápagos Islands: From Costa Rica to Ecuador Hurtigruten Bartolomé Island, famous for Pinnacle Rock and Galápagos penguins; or South Plaza Island, home to a colony of land iguanas; or Santa Fe Island, known for having the islands most sea beautiful coves; or North Seymour Island, considered a microcosm of the entire archipelago. The visits are regulated by the Galápagos National Park and we are notified of permission 30 days prior to the visit. Regardless of the islands we visit, lunch is served on board the vessel during the tour. Later, we have dinner at the hotel and overnight. DAY 16 Homeward Bound Location: Baltra Island/Guayaquil, Ecuador A er breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Baltra s airport for the flight to Guayaquil. En route to the airport, we stop at The Twins or Los Gemelos, two impressive volcanic depressions in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. A er our flight from Baltra Island to Guayaquil, we are met by a representative, who assists with the international flight connection. A box lunch will be provided. Have a safe and pleasant trip home! Arrival 30 October 2019 Location Baltra Island/Guayaquil, Ecuador