Day 1 (Sun) ARRIVE LIMA
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Arrival and transfer to your hotel. If you arrive early, we can arrange optional tours to explore the city, including museum visits, and other sites of interests.
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Day 2 (Mon) LIMA - CUSCO
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In the morning, you'll take a short flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire. Your Peru tour begins as Southern Explorations' guides pick you up at the airport, stopping for a quick tour of the colonial Plaza de Armas. From there, you will be taken to your hotel and be free for the rest of the day to explore the city and acclimatize to the altitude (10,856 ft). (B)
Day 3 (Tue) CUSCO
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This morning, your Peru travels take you on a guided walking tour through the colorful markets of Cusco, the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After a lunch of regional cuisine, depart for an afternoon tour of prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. You'll see the fortress ofSacsayhuamán, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with its carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; the small Puka Pukara fortress that protected the royal capital from attacks; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel to relax or further explore the fascinating mix of Cusco cultures. (B)
Day 4 (Wed) CUSCO - SACRED VALLEY
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Today you'll take a day-long guided excursion that passes through snowcapped mountains to reach the legendary Sacred Valley of the Incas. Among the sights along the way are Inca agricultural terraces that climb steep valley walls and the ruined temples of Pisac with panoramic views of jagged granite peaks before stopping in the town of the same name. Here you'll visit one of the best textile markets in the Andes and learn about the local Peru culture. Following lunch, you'll travel on to Ollantaytambo (9,185 ft.), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. You'll stay overnight at a hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B)
Day 5 (Thu) SACRED VALLEY - OLLANTAYTAMBO - MACHU PICCHU
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The views from Machu Picchu down into the valley of the Urubamba are as spectacular as the views of the ancient city itself This morning you'll have time to enjoy breakfast at the hotel and take a refreshing walking tour of the town and its Inca ruins before heading to the Ollantaytambo train station for today's unforgettable trip. Making its way east, the train follows the Urubamba River into a magnificent cloud forest, arriving at the Aguas Calientes station. Here you'll have a traditional lunch of Peru cuisine before meeting the bus to take you the rest of the way to Machu Picchu (7,875 ft.). You'll spend the afternoon exploring these most famous of Inca ruins, returning in the late afternoon to nearby Aguas Calientes where you'll be spending the night at a local hotel. You'll have time for a soothing soak in the hot springs and a tasty dinner before turning in early to be rested for tomorrow's unforgettable Machu Picchu experience. (B)
Day 6 (Fri) MACHU PICCHU - CHINCHEROS ARTISAN MARKET - CUSCO
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Today, you'll have the opportunity to see sunrise at Machu Picchu before the crowds arrive and spend more time among the ruins. You may wish to climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu or take a picturesque walk to the Temple of the Moon. At midday, you'll return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before catching an early afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo. A private van will be waiting at the train station to travel to the collective textile market at Chincheros, where the traditional weaving methods of the Sacred Valley will be explained and you'll see some of the best textiles available in Peru. This is the ideal place for last-minute shopping before returning to your Cusco hotel for the evening. (B)
Day 7 (Sat) CUSCO - LIMA - QUITO
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In the morning you'll be taken to the airport for the return flight to Lima and your connecting international flight to Quito. Arrival and transfer to your Quito hotel. (B)
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Day 8 (Sun) QUITO or GUAYAQUIL - SAN CRISTÓBAL (Hiking)
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The morning begins with a transfer to the airport for the flight to San Cristóbal Island. After arrival and check-in at a comfortable hotel, enjoy a welcome lunch and briefing. You’ll hike out of town to the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, for an overview of the island’s geology, evolution and natural history. From here take an invigorating hike to nearby Frigate Hill where you witness breathtaking views of the coastline and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the other side. This is an excellent bird watching spot where magnificent frigate birds, with wing spans of over six feet, soar above. The great frigates share the hill with blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and Darwin's finches. On the way back, you'll stop for a tropical swim along the white sands of Carola or Mann Beach. Spend the night at a charming San Cristóbal hotel. The remainder of the evening is free to explore this quaint island town. (B,L)
Day 9 (Mon) SAN CRISTÓBAL (Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling)
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From the sparkling coast, slip into sleek ocean kayaks and spend the day paddling along the turquoise waters to Playa Ochoa, watching sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds from bays and coves along the way. You will stop in Darwin Bay, the first landing site of the MS Beagle. After reaching Playa Ochoa, you will continue to nearby Isla Lobos looking for marine iguanas and swimming with friendly sea lions. Enjoy a hearty lunch before paddling to Roca Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone often covered with seabirds. The jutting rocks offer excellent snorkeling in the Galapagos. Here, marine life is abundant, with hammerheads, white-tipped sharks, eagle rays, golden rays, clams, starfish, marine invertebrates and dozens of tropical fish species swimming in and out of the rocky channels. Return to the hotel to relax for the evening. (B, L)
Day 10 (Tue) SAN CRISTÓBAL - SANTA CRUZ (Hiking)
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After breakfast, you'll take a fast boat from San Cristóbal to the island of Santa Cruz, where you'll be transferred to El Chato Reserve, a natural habitat of the Galapagos tortoise. Here you’ll hike to learn about these giant and search for pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches and frigate birds may be seen bathing in freshwater lakes. You'll explore unique volcanic tunnel formations in lava caves, and if the weather is clear, be able to see Media Luna, an ancient collapsed crater at the top of the island. You’ll continue to Los Gemelos, two volcanic craters near the top of the island and hike around through a beautiful Scalesia forest. This is the habitat for the short eared owl, one of two owl species on Santa Cruz. In the afternoon we return to Puerto Ayora and your hotel. (B, L)
Day 11 (Wed) SANTA CRUZ (Charles Darwin Center, Sea Kayaking and Hiking)
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After breakfast, you'll visit famed Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about Galapagos conservation and wildlife management efforts. Here we meet Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species. After exploring the Research Station, we will slip into kayaks and paddle through the calm turquoise waters of Divine Bay and Punta Estrada, winding through high-walled lava channels home to white-tipped sharks and rays. Above, colonies of blue-footed boobies, tropic birds, herons, crabs and marine iguanas perch along the cliffs. Making the relaxing paddle back to Puerto Ayora, we hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the archipelago and nesting site of thousands of marine turtles. This four mile loop is on trails through dry forest habitat home to hundreds of iguanas. You'll return to your hotel in the afternoon and have the evening free to sample the cuisine and nightlife. (B, L)
Day 12 (Thu) ISABELA ISLAND (Biking, Hiking and Snorkeling)
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In the morning, travel by boat to Puerto Villamil, capital of Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos. During the crossing we will be on the lookout for migrating dolphins and whales (July to October). Isabela was formed by the merging of six shield volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf. All but one of these volcanoes is still active, making this island one of the Earth's most volcanically active places. Despite the island's potential for destruction, Isabela's wildlife is rich beyond comparison. You arrive and prepare to mountain bike the beautiful coastline, enjoying its scenery and ample wildlife. You first visit the Wall of Tears, a wall built from lava blocks by prisoners between 1946 and 1959 when Isabela was used as a penal colony. The wall was intended to keep prisoners busy and represents an interesting history of the island. You continue mountain biking approximately 6 miles along the coast exploring the white sand beaches, mangroves, and brackish lagoons. The area is filled with impressive birdlife, including herons, flamingos, finches, American oyster catchers, and many shore birds. Sea lions and marine iguanas can also be found. After returning for lunch, we set out to hike and snorkel Tintoreras, a small set of wildlife-filled islets within the bay. Here you may be able to encounter the Galapagos Penguin, the only penguin that lives near the equator. Sharks, sea lions, illusive marine turtles and other wildlife abounds. Return to the hotel in the afternoon for a relaxing evening and dinner. (B,L,D)
Day 13 (Fri) ISABELA ISLAND (Hiking)
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After breakfast, travel to Santo Tomas, where the road ends in the highlands. The day's explorations are through a world of recent geological history still in the making. You hike dirt trails to reach the rim of volcano Sierra Negra which possesses the second largest caldera in the world. From this high vantage point, the views of the five by six-mile wide caldera and Perry Isthmus are astonishing. Sierra Negra is an active volcano that last erupted in October 2005. Following a satisfying lunch, you may choose to continue on the optional trek to Volcano Chico, an impressive area offering fumaroles and extraordinary lava formations. This site is a natural museum containing examples of the geologic occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands. In the late afternoon, return to Puerto Villamil for your last afternoon on its exotic white beaches and to stay overnight at the hotel. (B, L,D)
Day 14 (Sat) ISABELA - SANTA CRUZ - BALTRA - QUITO or GUAYAQUIL
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The morning begins with a peaceful boat ride back to Santa Cruz Island where you transfer by bus to Baltra Island for the return flight to Quito. Depending upon weather conditions and schedules, you may alternatively take a flight back to Baltra Island to connect with your return flight to Quito. Arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to your comfortable Quito hotel. (B)
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Day 15 (Sun) QUITO or GUAYAQUIL - HOME
Transfer to the airport for the international departure home, the end of Southern Explorations services. If you are interested in more Galapagos tours, trip extensions to other regions or extra days in Quito, we would be happy to arrange them. (B)
Key:
(B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
