A 14 day itinerary discovering the highlights of Ecuador visiting Quito and Galapagos Island- and Peru visiting Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. An exclusively designed 14 days itinerary through Galapagos s highlights including five star accommodations, privileged entry into the exclusive doors of the Latin American world, the most detailed travel arrangements possible and all of the extemporary amenities South America has to offer. Most activities throughout your stay are flexible: We may re-arrange practically any last moment changes according to weather conditions or simply your mood at that moment
THESCHEDULE Day 1 Arrive in Quito. Day 2 Fly to Baltra Board Coral I & II Cruise Day 3 Galapagos Full board Day 4 Galapagos Full board Day 5 Galapagos Full board Day 6 Galapagos Full board Day 7 Galapagos Full board Day 8 Galapagos Full board Day 9 Flight to Guayaquil and connect with your international flight towards Lima Day 10 Fly to Cusco. Then drive to the mythical Sacred Valley Day 11 Visit Urubamba valley Day 12 Take the train to Machu Picchu and combine with one day Inca trail Day 13 Visit Machu Picchu ruins in the afternoon take your train back to Cusco Day 14 Visit Cusco and sourrandings. Take your domestic flight to Lima and catch your international flight back home.
ACCOMMODATION DESTINATION Quito Galápagos Lima HOTEL. DAY Plaza Grande Hotel www.plazagrandequito.com/en/ Coral I or II Yacht www.coralyacht.com/ Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport www.costadelsolperu.com/peru/hotels/lima Urubamba Valley Pakaritampu Hotel www.pakaritampu.com/en-us/ Machu Picchu Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel www.inkaterra.com Cusco Plaza de Armas Hotel www.cuscoplazadearmas.com/en/ I
Day1: Galapagos Nestled deep within the valley of towering Andean volcanoes, at 2,800m (around 10,000 feet) above sea level, Quito s spectacular old town extends over 320 hectares the largest historic centre in the Americas. The city s diverse cultures have generated a treasure trove of artistic, cultural and historic wealth, safeguarded down the centuries to the present. UNESCO recognized this fact in November 1978 when it declared Quito the first World Heritage Site. The declaration states: Quito forms a harmonious ensemble sui generis, where the actions of man and of nature are brought together to create a work unique and transcendent of its kind. Quito s historical heritage is only equaled by the energy and vibrancy of its thousands of residents. Accommodation: Plaza Grande Hotel
Day2: Galapagos Welcome to Galapagos!!! More than 230 islands, islets and rocks born of volcanoes make up the Galapagos archipelago. Their isolation, during million years, has created ecosystems unique in the whole planet with countless endemic species of flora and fauna, which were studied by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the Beagle in 1835. His observations and collections contributed to the inception of his theory of evolution by natural selection. Today, efforts to preserve unspoiled this paradisiacal natural realm have turned it one of the most important wildlife reserves in the world.
Galápagos Coral I & II Both motor yachts, Coral I & II, have comfortable lounges and bar areas with large viewing windows and plenty of outside space for observation the sea and shores while on your Galapagos Islands holidays. The food on board both yachts is delightful and the tour service is friendly, with each vessel surpassing the standards you would expect from a first-class motor yacht for ensuring that your cruise in the Galapagos Islands is an extraordinary experience. Coral I, Its 18 eighteen spacious cabins decorated in a nautical motif, while there is plenty of room in each for storage. All of the beds in all cabins are lower and can be arranged as matrimonial as well as single and double beds. Each cabin in the Coral 1 motor yacht has its own private bathroom, with the accommodations handmade and crafted out of dark wood. Coral II, has 11 cabins located on two decks (2 cabins with single upper and lower berths, 6 cabins with lower double and upper single berths, 2 superior cabins on the upper deck with
double beds). Each cabin has its own full private bath and is handsomely decorated with wooden fixtures. Accommodation:Coral1 Capacity: 36 passengers in 18 cabins. Cabins: 18 cabins - 2 Standard Cabins, 8 Standard plus Cabins, 8 Junior Cabins. Features: 2 Standard Cabins (9m2/97ft2) twin beds that can be made into one double; carpeted, with skylight; private bathroom; hairdryer; air conditioning; safety deposit box; dressing table; storage; LCD TV with 5 channels and music; telephone for internal, local and international calls. o 8 Standard plus Cabins (11m2/118ft2) as Standard Cabins but larger and with 2 skylights. o 8 Junior Cabins (12m2/129ft2) as Standard Cabins but larger with panoramic windows. o Accommodation:Coral2 Capacity: 20 passengers in 11 cabins. Cabins: 11 cabins - 1 Standard Cabins, 6 Standard plus Cabins, 4 Junior Cabins. Features: 1 Standard Cabin (9m2/97ft2) twin beds that can be made into one double; carpeted, with skylight; private bathroom; hairdryer; air conditioning; safety deposit box; dressing table; storage; LCD TV with 5 channels and music; telephone for internal, local and international calls. o 6 Standard plus Cabins (11m2/118ft2) as Standard Cabins but larger and with 2 skylights. o 4 Junior Cabins (12m2/129ft2) as Standard Cabins but larger with panoramic windows. o Facilities: Restaurant; lounge and bar; small library; boutique; sun deck; BBQ area; Jacuzzi; observation areas.
You will visit The Fausto Llerena tortoise breeding center, that is located in Puerto Ayora. The Fausto Llerena Center receives about 7,800 visitors a month and currently houses 925 youth and 70 adult turtles. It has been the primary center for the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Project. This project, which began in the 1970 s has been an incredible success in helping repopulate the Galapagos Giant Tortoise population. Accommodation: Coral I or II
Day3: Galapagos Today you will visit Floreana Island Devil s Crown Post Office Bay Cormorant Point Floreana, officially Santa María, is located at the far south of the archipelago. The island is associated with a strange and curious history of its inhabitants. Snorkeling around this area is one of the best in the Galapagos. Devil s Crown is one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos, this volcanic crater has been eroded by the waves leaving the northern and southern sides poking out of the water. The coral reef in the middle is perfect for attracting marine life. Snorkelers enjoy the variety of marine life and exciting currents that rush through the crown, creating an exhilarating experience. You will also visit the Post Office Bay. In the 18th century, whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.
Cormorant Point hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The Green Beach is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Four Sand Beach is composed of white coral. Accommodation: Coral I or II Far away & Long ago - Luxury South America +54-11-5368-0414/9299 Email: ingrid@falasa.com Cell phone +54-9-11-3063-0086 Page 13 Website: www.faraway.travel
Day4: Galapagos Today you will visit Española Island Gardner Bay Suarez Point Gardner Bay, on the eastern side of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. It has an ample white sandy beach with a myriad of sea lions, perfect for relaxing. Its rocky shores make this site a great place for diving and snorkeling. In the afternoon you will go to Suarez Point. This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the ocean front, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photograph opportunities. Accommodation: Coral I or II Far away & Long ago - Luxury Sou th Amer ica +54-11-5368-0414 /9299 l asa. com Email: i ngri d@fa Ce ll phone +54-9-11-3063-0086 Page 14 it : e www. faraway.t rave l Webs
Day 5: Galapagos Today visit Daphne Island / Baltra Island Santa Cruz Island Whale Bay Daphne Major and Daphne Minor are located between Santa Cruz and Santiago Islands. Most tourists are restricted from visiting these islands by the Galapagos National Park; however, the islands continue to be a popular stop for scientists researching the unique qualities of the Galapagos finches. You will circle Daphne Major Island and see the eroded tuff cone with two craters. Later you will head to Santa Cruz Island where you will find Whale Bay, a cove of green sand at the base of Dragon Hill on the west coast of Santa Cruz. Accommodation: Coral I or II
Day 6: Galapagos Today you will visit Isabela Island -Tagus Cove / Fernandina Island Espinoza Point. Tagus Cove is located across from Fernandina Island, near the Bolivar Channel dividing the two islands. This spot has been frequented by ships since the 1800s, using the area as an anchorage site. Trails winding by Lake Darwin up to a ridge display wonderful views, you will be able to spot penguins and flightless cormorants. Punta Tortuga, just north of Tagus Cove, is another lovely beach surrounded by mangroves. Fernandina is the third largest island in the archipelago and has a single visitor site: Punta Espinoza, located at the northeastern tip of the island. Punta Espinoza is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. There is a vivid description Captain given by Benjamin Morrell that from its anchorage at Bay Banks witnessed and recorded an eruption of Fernandina in the decade of the 1820s that probably gave rise to the Point. The last recorded eruption occurred in May 2005 that lasted three days. The greatest explosive eruption was in 1968, where two thirds of the caldera floor collapsed inwards to a depth of 300m.
Punta Espinoza is a place famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, among others. It is an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus nesioticus), which grow on young lava and survive with little water. In the past two land iguanas could be found at this site, but in 1989 they died of starvation. These iguanas came down from the flanks of the volcano, where they are numerous. The trail in this area will take you past little beaches with sea lions. Accommodation: Coral I or II
Day7: Galapagos Today you will visit Isabela Island Urbina (Urvina) Bay Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling. The trail starts on the beach where a wet landing is made, the tour is approximately 3200m, and runs through sand substrates, pumice rock, lava, coral and vegetable formations in a coastal area that has had a lift; in addition burrows of land iguanas can be seen. It is an ideal place to observe spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) and green (Panulirus gracilis). This is a good site for snorkelers. Accommodation: Coral I or II
Day8: Galapagos Today you will visit Santiago Island Bucaneer Cove Espumilla Beach Sullivan Bay Santiago Island has a narrow, steep-sided point of land, which provides an extraordinarily beautiful landscape complete with cliffs and pinnacles where hundreds of marine birds rest. During the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates used this site for maintaining their ships, and supplying themselves with fresh water, meat, and firewood. You will start your day visiting Buccaneer Cove, a testament to the fact that Santiago Island was once a refuge for British buccaneers. These pirates would anchor in the protected bay to make repairs and stock up on tortoise meat among other things. The steep cliffs, where hundreds of seabirds perch in front of the dark red sand beach, are a magnificent site. Later you will head to Espumilla Beach and Sullivan Bay. t / il: i i l. i ll it :..t l
Espumilla Beach is a popular place for marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The crabs attract the hunting herons, performing the dance of predator and prey. With an abundance of marine life including octopi, moray eels, and sharks, snorkeling is highly recommended. In Sullivan Bay there is a good snorkeling place at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock that leans into the bay. A small family of penguin s lives in the shadows of the Pinnacle, and a dinghy ride is sometimes taken to locate them. A short walk across the sand dune takes you to the southern beach, where harmless blacktipped reef sharks and rays are often seen in the warm, shallow water.the summit trail is a dusty walk through volcanic ash, and the park wardens have built wooden steps up the hill to prevent further erosion. From the summit, in the distance, you can see most of the central islands, the peaks of Isabela to the west, and on a clear day Marchena and Pinta to the north. Accommodation: Coral I or II
Day9: Galapagos Today you will go to Baltra Island to take your flight to the mainland. You will be transferred to Baltra airport, where your mainland flight awaits. Upon your arrival you will be taken to Lo Nuestro Restaurante in a private transfer to join the Smeltz for lunch. Lo Nuestro, offers since 1993 the best of the Ecuadorian food.
It is a place full of traditions, history and culinary habits transmitted from generation to generation. Each one of its dishes are delight for its unique and extraordinary quality. A select variety of seafood and typical food, offers the best of our cuisine, rescuing also part of our history. On the walls are hung articles and news that create an environment where you can breathe the tradition preserved through the time. Welcome to Peru! Upon your arrival in Lima, our English-speaking representative, Raul Varela, will be expecting you at the arrivals hall with a sign bearing your name. He will escort you to your hotel and assist you with check-in.
Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada Lima Airport
Day10: SacredValley The Urubamba Valley stretches north of Cusco. The valley was formed by the Urubamba River; it lies at lower altitude making its climate milder. The Valley was the resting and leisure area for the Incas and the Spanish conquistadors who came later. The valley was, and continues to be, an important agricultural center. I recommend that you take it easy for a couple of hours. Relax, lay down, drink plenty of liquid and acclimatize to the high altitude.
On the way to Cusco and providing a good opportunity to acclimatize, your Archeology specialized private guide will show you the town of Pisac and its local market and ruins. This archaeological site, considered one of the most important in Cusco, lies near the town of Pisac, of colonial origin. Located 40 minutes away from Cusco, is at a lower altitude of 2900m/9514ft. This extensive site is located on-top of a hill, with stunning terracing following the contours of the hill. The most impressive feature is the agricultural terracing, which sweeps around the south and east flanks of the mountain in huge and graceful curves. It is unknown when Inca Písac was built but it was most likely built no earlier than 1440. Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish conquistadores destroyed Inca Písac in the early 1530s. The modern town of Písac was built in the valley by Viceroy Toledo during the 1570s. Its local market is one of the richest of the area. Along the way to Pisac, stop for a short visit of Awanacancha, where you will have the opportunity to see the different camelids that live in the Andes such as llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos. Alpacas have thick wool commonly used for textiles while the vicuñas are smaller and have delicate fur that is considered the finest in the world. Following your visit you will be transferred to Pisac to visit the archaeological complex. You will enjoy lunch at one of our recommended local restaurant Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel Far away & Long ago - Luxury Sou th Amer ica +54-11-5368-0414/9299 l asa. com Email: i ngri d@fa Ce ll phone +54-9-11-3063-0086 Page 25 it : e www. faraway.t rave l Webs
Day11: SacredValley Today will be all about exploring the fascinating surroundings of the Sacred Valley. José Angel will meet you at 9.00am at your hotel. You will visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, and its town. The latter is unique in that it still preserves its original Inca architectural layout. During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti who conquered the region, built the town and a ceremonial center. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Peru it served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui, leader of the Inca resistance.
Later you will be driven to the enigmatic Inca site of Moray, which is thought to have been a centre for agricultural experimentation. Your drive will continue through a high savannah until you descend into a gorge where terraces, this time holding salt deposits, are visible. These salt terraces have been in uninterrupted use since pre-inca times. From Maras, you can walk down to the river (45 minutes) along narrow rural paths. You will reach the river and cross the bridge to meet your vehicle.
Next, you will head over to the lovely traditional Hacienda Huayoccari, owned and lived-in by one of the oldest land-owning families in Cusco where you will enjoy a local lunch. Accommodation: Pakaritampu Hotel
Day12 : SacredValley Today, g to Ollanta train station to board the Vistadome train towards Machu Picchu. The pick up time will be 6.00am As the name implies, the Vistadome features spectacular panoramic windows with incredible scenic views, connecting you with the magnificent landscapes and offering you ample opportunities to photograph this amazing journey. This service is PeruRail s mid-range option, offering comfort and quality as well as onboard snacks and refreshments. Where the Vistadome lacks in sheer elegance, it makes up in its focus on engaging its guests with the breathtaking and ever-changing surroundings. F 3063-0086 E
As the train journey starts, you will cross maize and potato fields typical of Andean Valleys and studded with Inca terracing and ruins. Soon after, the valley becomes a canyon. *Most of the trek is uphill and with a fair number of precipices. On the way you will visit Wiñay Wayna, a remarkable Inca site that is only approachable on footu The total trek covers approximately 12km (7.5mi) which is about six to seven hours of hiking.
Machu Picchu, also known as "The Lost City of the Incas" is one of the world's most celebrated archaeological sites and rightly so. Its location is spectacular. It is nestled in the Andean cloud forest on a high ridge straddling between two mountains...with the Urubamba river curling like a snake below it. The mountain scenery surrounding it is magnificent. The site itself is also spectacular, with some of the finest and more complex Inca architecture known. Machu Picchu (Quechua: Machu Pikchu [ˈmɑtʃu ˈpixtʃu], "Old Peak") is a pre-columbian 15thcentury Inca site located 2,430 metres (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometres (50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438 1472), the great Inca who started the expansion of the huge empire. Although known locally, it was unknown to the outside world before being brought to international attention in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Since then, Machu Picchu has become an important tourist attraction. Since the site was never known to the Spanish during their conquest, it is highly significant as a relatively intact cultural site. Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.
You will enjoy dinner at the hotel. Accommodation: Inkaterra Hotel Day13: Cusco Continue discovering Machu Picchu Ruins in a second visit.
In the afternoon, you will go back to Aguas Calientes to catch the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo train station. Your train departs at 3.20pm. Accommodation: Plaza de Armas Hotel
Day14: Cusco After enjoying your breakfast and checking out, you will begin your visit at Plaza de Armas in the city center. Make your way around the city as you are filled in with all of the enriching history and important moments that took place in the streets and buildings before you. Visit the renaissance-style Cathedral, certainly one of the most imposing structures in the city, and admire the exquisite stonework of Koricancha, or the Inca Sun Temple. You ll also get to walk around the bustling, open-air San Pedro market, where you will be mesmerized by the variety of unique fruits and potatoes. Cusco is a magnificent town, probably one of the most beautiful in South America, boasting superb Spanish colonial architecture built on Inca foundations. The fine Inca masonry can still be seen along the narrow streets and plazas of this lovely town. There are many sights to see, which you may visit in your own time such museums, convents, art and crafts workshops and shops. It is a lively town with good restaurants, bars and cafes. Cusco is the perfect base to explore the surrounding landscapes, villages, markets and ruins.
Later, explore the incredibly rich outskirts of the city. There is far more to Cusco than just the sites in the city centre. This expansive city not only has interesting ruins all around its edges, but also has delights hidden in its suburban neighbourhoods. Spend the last part of the day getting to know the most important Inca archaeological sites around Cusco as well as lesservisited neighborhood markets. Your visit will primarily focus on the temple-fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the only Inca site known to boast megalithic architecture; its towering zigzag terrace walls include many of the largest cut stones incorporated into any structure in the world. Enjoy your back home! Far away & Long ago - Luxury Sou h Amer ca +54-11-5368-0414 9299 Ema ngr d@fa asa com Ce phone +54-9-11-3063-0086 Page 36 Webs e www faraway rave