Peru Splendors With Galapagos Cruise Sunday, March 24 Friday, April 5, Days/12 Nights

Peru Splendors With Galapagos Cruise Sunday, March 24 Friday, April 5, 2019 13 Days/12 Nights Explore Peru from its amazing archaeological treasures to its gastronomic delights, from its rich history to its melting pot of cultures. Explore pre-columbian ruins, Spanish colonial buildings and remnants of colonial mansions. Cruise through the Galapagos Islands and witness frigate birds, sea lions, land iguanas and more! Of course, no vacation to Peru is complete without visiting Machu Picchu located in a gorgeous mountain setting above the Urubamba Valley. Stand in awe as you witness one of the most majestic images in all of South America! Day 1: Arrive Lima, Peru Arrive in Lima, where you will be met by your Tour Director. Dinner is on your own this evening. Day 2: Lima After breakfast enjoy a leisurely morning, then enjoy an afternoon city tour led by a local guide and learn of the city s colonial heritage. Your tour will begin at the Plaza de Armas to witness the Government Palace and the cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals and for a special treat; stop at the local Peruvian Food Market to get a real taste of life for the local people. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at one of Lima s Peruvian restaurants with your fellow traveling companions. Day 3: Lima/Cusco/Sacred Valley After breakfast, fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will have lunch and experience an El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. These ceremonies thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health and safe travels have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas. Next, stop at

Awanakancha to meet local families who preserve the ancient technique of Pre- Columbian weaving using South American camelid fibers. Here is your chance to get up close to the various camelids, including alpaca, llama, guanaco, and vicuña, indigenous to the region. Continue to Pisac, an old mountain village, where you will have free time to shop its famous market for local wares such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, and enjoy a special dinner at the hotel. Day 4: Sacred Valley Machu Picchu After breakfast, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by the opportunity to visit a Home, meet some of the locals and experience their way of life. Next, board the Vistadome train for a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Then, transfer to a motor coach for the ascent to legendary Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, high above the steep valley overlaid with dense tropical jungle. Your local guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the pre-columbian masters of this sacred land. Tonight, stay at a nearby hotel. Dinner is included this evening. Day 5: Mach Picchu/Cusco After breakfast, spend the day exploring Machu Picchu. Enjoy the tranquility of the morning, with free time to wander the ruins at your own pace and experience the magic that is Machu Picchu. After an included lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue on to Cusco. Day 6: Cusco After breakfast, learn more about the Incas and their struggle against invading Spaniards on your Cusco city tour. Visit the imposing Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery. A special treat is in store for you when you are greeted by a group of Andean musicians dressed in colorful Inca textiles. They will escort you on a Pasacalle through Cusco while playing traditional music and performing ancient dances an experience you won t soon forget! Also visit the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons was built. The remainder of your day is free to explore at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Day 7: Cusco/Lima/Quito, Ecuador After breakfast, fly to Quito, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 8: Quito After breakfast, join a local guide and embark on a city tour. Witness sights such as: the Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church and the Basilica. Enjoy dinner on your own this evening. Day 9: Quito/Baltra/Santa Cruz (Embarkation Santa Cruz) Fly to Baltra and transfer to Santa Cruz Island and the highlands. While here, visit a Tortoise Reserve and witness giant tortoises found in their natural habitat. You can also explore lava tubes and pit craters. Board the Galápagos Legend for your 3-night cruise. Day 10: Cruising Genovesa Island Wake up at Genovesa Island and encounter a small fur seal grotto before taking a walk up Prince Philip s Steps, where you will see large nesting colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies. Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels can be observed flying in all directions and, if you re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl. After lunch on board, visit Darwin Bay to observe frigate birds, red-footed boobies, herons, lava gulls, and many other bird species. Day 11: Cruising Santa Cruz and Sante Fe Islands Back at Santa Cruz, walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos are often found. Climb Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin s finches, yellow warblers, and Galápagos doves. At Santa Fe, a large sea lion colony greets you on its white-sand beach. Walk through a cactus forest in search of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, the largest in the islands and distinctively paler. This island is home to a number of endemic species, including the Galápagos Hawk, Galápagos Snake, a variety of finches, and one of the four species of Galápagos mockingbirds. Day 12: Cruising Mosquera Islet/Baltra (Disembarkation Guayaquil) After breakfast, visit Mosquera Islet located between North Seymour and Baltra Islands. This flat, sandy island has a large colony of sea lions and is an excellent site for observing shorebirds such as herons and Lava Gulls. Take a dip in the waters and snorkel to see the abundant sea life. Later, fly to Guayaquil, where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Day 13: Guayaquil After breakfast this morning, transfer to the airport for flights home.

Your Package Includes: 12 Nights accommodations (Including 3-nights on the Galapagos Legend Cruise ship) 12 Breakfasts 5 Lunches 7 Dinners Walking tour of Lima led by a local guide Visit the San Francisco Monastery Time to explore the Peruvian Food Market Mother Earth Ceremony performed by a local shaman Visit to Awanakancha camelid farm Time to explore Pisac, an old mountain village Visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo Scenic train ride through the lush Urubamba Valley Time to explore Machu Picchu Guided tour of Cusco led by Andean musicians Visit the Cathedral Visit the Santo Domingo Visit the Kenko Amphitheater Visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman Guided tour of Quito led by a local guide Visit the Independence Square Visit the San Francisco Plaza Church Visit the Basilica Time to visit the Santa Cruz Tortoise Reserve Time to explore Genovesa Island Visit to Darwin Bay Climb Dragon Hill Visit Mosquere Islet Baggage handling for one piece of luggage per traveler Fully escorted Motor coach transportation Taxes and Gratuities (NOTE: Gratuities for the full-time escort, local guide s and coach driver are not included and are at your discretion based on service.) Pricing Information: Per person double occupancy from: 4,582.00 NOTE: Above price does not include round trip air transportation. Notch Above Tours will gladly arrange air transportation as well as pre and post night stays upon request. NOTE: Above price does not include intra vacation airfare from Lima Cusco; Cusco Lima; Lima Quito; Quito Galapagos and Galapagos Guayaquil. The cost of this will be provided upon booking.