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First Half South America Sensations & Galapagos Islands (25 days)25 days duration
This morning you make your way to the airport for your flight to South America. As you cross the Date Line you ‘gain’ a day, so you arrive into Santiago also on Saturday. Here you remain in transit until you board your flight to Quito in Ecuador, departing later this afternoon. On arrival you are met and taken to your hotel for four nights.
This morning we are taken on a Quito City Tour. We see the stone carved facade of the House of Congress, before continuing to Independence Square, the Presidential Palace and the Cathedral. We also visit the church of La Compana from 1605 with its golden alters, the finest example of Baroque art in South America. We also see the church and monastery of San Francisco from 1535.
Later we are taken to the Equatorial Monument north of Quito. It marks latitude 0 or the exact “middle of the world”. Here you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere! (BL)
Following breakfast we travel north from Quito to reach the Awakening Valley, renowned for its colourful, bread-dough figures. We then pass through the beautiful Andean landscape before reaching Otavalo, home of the Otavalo Indians, a prosperous and enterprising indigenous group. We spend the day at the Otavalo Markets discovering enticing items such as textiles, paintings, ceramics, leather goods, jewellery, tapestries and more. Lunch is served at a typical hacienda. Before returning to Quito we visit Peguche, an Indian Village near Otavalo. (BL)
Our adventure starts in Quito when we are collected from our hotel and taken by road, through the panoramic scenery that surrounds the city, to Machachi. On arrival at Machachi we undertake a short walk in the moorlands. Lunch is then served at a local hacienda. A blazing fireplace warms the dining room, where we enjoy a wonderful meal made from fresh local produce. There will be time to explore the surroundings on foot before we return to Quito in the afternoon. (BL)
Early this morning we are collected from our hotel and taken to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island in the Galapagos. On arrival we are met and taken to our cruise boat for a fabulous four-night cruise.
After lunch we visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island for a walk to a saltwater lagoon that is occasionally visited by flamingos. From there the trail leads up to Dragon Hill which offers a beautiful view of the bay. This area is a nesting site for numerous reintroduced land iguanas. There is also a peculiar scalesia tree forest. (BLD)
This morning we visit Rabida Island, arriving on the volcano-formed, dark red beach that is frequented by sea lions. Rabida is considered the geographic centre of the Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks of all the islands. This afternoon we will visit the dark sand beach at Egas Port. Most of the landscape is tuft-stone layers and lava flows. The area is prime for observing hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, oyster catcher and the yellow crowned night heron. Here we also see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide, alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is also a colony of fur-seals. On this beach we can snorkel in search of octopus, sea horse, star fish and other sea life. (BLD)
After breakfast we will disembark at Espinosa Point. Here we will see large marine iguanas. We will also observe the flightless cormorants nesting sites, the Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations we will see the brachycereus cactus and two kinds of lava formations “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and “AA”. After lunch we will arrive at Tagus Cover on the Galapagos’ largest island, Isabela. Here we will learn about the eruption of five volcanoes that formed this island. (BLD)
After breakfast we visit Bartolome Island to see volcanic formations such as lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit, we enjoy the view of surrounding islands, including the eroded tuft cone of Pinnacle Rock. During this hike, we often see large colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla and cacti. After this we have the chance to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles and white tipped sharks.
Later we arrive at Black Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas Beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island. We will take a dinghy through the mangroves, allowing closer observation of the marine turtles, white tipped sharks, spotted eagle rays and yellow rays. (BLD)
This morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed by international scientists conducting research projects. Here we can admire the giant tortoises involved in the breeding program. We are then taken to Baltra Airport for our flight to Guayaquil on the mainland. On arrival we are met and taken to our hotel for tonight. (B)
Early today we are taken to the airport for our flight to Lima, Peru. On arrival we are met and taken to our well-appointed hotel where we have accommodation for two nights. Lima, “The City of the Kings” as it was known, is a very beautiful city. It was the first seat of Government of Spain in 1535 and still has many perfectly preserved buildings from the Colonial Period. (B)
This morning we are taken on a tour of Greater Lima, visiting the three distinct historical periods of this capital city: Pre-Columbian, Colonial and Modern. The tour visits the Franciscan Monastery and the Casa Aliaga (an Inca Tours exclusive in Australia!), one of South America’s oldest Spanish homes and still inhabited by descendants of the original family. After seeing the Government Palace and the Plaza de Armas we drive through the elegant residential tree-lined avenues of San Isidro and Miraflores, to Parque del Amor with its views of the Pacific Ocean. (B)
This morning we are taken to Lima Airport for our flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon Basin, near the border of Peru and Bolivia. On arrival we are met and driven to the river dock. A half hour journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe brings us to the start of the trail. The walk to the lodge takes about an hour. The trail takes us through a flooded forest of 30 metre high Mauritia Palms.
After lunch and a siesta, we board a catamaran and set off to explore Sandoval Lake. Here in the flooded forest, it is possible to drift beneath babbling red-bellied Macaws as they return to the forest for the night. We are returned to the lodge at nightfall for dinner. (BLD)
We have an early excursion on the lake for a possible encounter with the lake’s giant otters. Most of the water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well and we may see some prehistoric-looking Hoatzins. These odd, leaf-eating birds are the size of chickens and sport bare blue faces, red eyes and punk rock type crests. After breakfast we set off into the cool canopy of the tall virgin forest to see some towering wild Brazil Nut Trees. (BLD)
This morning we are taken back to Puerto Maldonado Airport for our flight to Cuzco. On arrival we are met and driven to our hotel at a lower altitude in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Here we spend two relaxing nights. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy this most stunning destination. (B)
This morning we visit the famous Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo. From here we are taken to the traditional Indian Market of Pisac where you have time to bargain with the local Indians for their fabulous weavings and ceramics. Afternoon at leisure. (BL)
This morning we are taken to Ollanta Train Station for our two-day excursion to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas” as it is known. We follow the Urubamba River on one of the world’s great train journeys. On arrival at Aguas Calientes township, we take the shuttle bus up to the Machu Picchu ruins for a comprehensive tour of the site.
Our accommodation tonight is in Aguas Calientes, the village below the ruins—an absolute highlight in itself! (BLD)
Your morning is at leisure to further explore Machu Picchu without the hassle of large crowds. This afternoon you make your way to the train station for our return journey to Cuzco: the Inca capital. On arrival we are met and taken to our hotel for two fabulous nights.
Cuzco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Massive Inca-built stone walls line most of Cuzco’s central streets to form the foundations of Colonial and modern buildings. (B)
This morning we are taken on a tour of Cuzco that includes the Main Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas, the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), as well as other city highlights, such as the local markets. The tour then visits the most important Inca Ruin on the outskirts of Cuzco: Sacsayhuaman. (B)
This morning we are taken to the train station for our Orient Express journey across the Andean Altiplano, via the La Raya Pass, one of the highest rail pass in the world, and on to Juliaca. This journey takes about 10 hours and will provide a wonderful insight into life as it has been for hundreds of years. We experience some of the world’s most spectacular views and the only area in the world where the Vicuna still exist in large numbers.
On arrival in Juliaca we are met and taken to our Puno hotel on the shores of Lake Titicaca. (BL)
Early this morning we are taken to Copacabana with a visit the churches of Pomata and Juli on the way. On arrival at Copacabana we undertake a short tour of the shrine and local market before boarding the hydrofoil to travel to the Moon Island. Here we enjoy a breathtaking view of Lake Titicaca before visiting the Sun Virgins Temple: Inak Uyu.
Later we continue to the Sun Island where we visit the Sun Temple and undertake a panoramic trek to our lodge for tonight. Your afternoon is at leisure to visit the local community. (BLD)
Today we visit the Inca stair case and sacred fountain to touch the water that is believed to give eternal youth. Prior to taking the hydrofoil to Huatajata we have lunch and visit a small handicraft market. On arrival in Hautajata we make a visit to the Andean Roots Eco Village and Altiplano Museum where we hear about the cultural heritage of the Aymaras and the Incas, their traditions and wisdom.
Later we are driven to our hotel in La Paz for two nights. (BL)
This morning we undertake a tour of La Paz and the spectacular Moon Valley. We visit the Indian and Pagan sacrificial markets, Calle Jaen with its museums, San Francisco Church, Plaza Murillo, National Congress, the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Obrajes, Calacoto and finally, the unusual formations of the Moon Valley outside of La Paz. (B)
This morning we are taken to La Paz Airport for our flight to Santiago. On arrival we are in transit until we board our flight home departing later tonight. (B)
Today is spent in flight as we re-cross the Date Line and ‘lose’ a day.
This morning we arrive in Auckland before continuing on to our final destination where the tour ends. Welcome Home!
All prices are subject to currency fluctuations, additional airline charges and changes in costs from ground suppliers. We reserve the right to vary any part of the tour at our sole discretion as circumstances may require.
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