After the River boat cruise in the Amazon Jungle, we fly back to Quito and have two days to explore, relax and look around. There is a great market on the Saturday and maybe Sunday we will go to Mindo - a part of the Rainforest nearby........ and here's the Galapagos trip itinerary, then Machu Picchu and home again.
Day 11 (Sat, Oct 03, 2009): Quito.
Free day. Overnight at Hotel Quito. (B)
Day 12 (Sun, Oct 04, 2009): Quito.
Free day. Overnight at Hotel Quito. (B)
DAY 13 (Mon, Oct 05, 2009): Quito/Baltra Airport/North Seymour.
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Galapagos. Passengers are
picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to board the M/V
Galapagos Legend.
North Seymour (dry landing). Guests will encounter swallow tail gulls and sea
lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue footed boobies, and has the largest
colony of the magnificent frigate bird. Travelers will also spot both the marine
iguanas and land iguanas and will have snorkeling opportunities. Overnight aboard
the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 14 (Tue, Oct 06, 2009): Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)/Cormorant Point
(Floreana).
Dragon Hill (wet landing). Passengers walk to a saltwater lagoon behind the beach,
where on occasion many pink flamingos can be observed. This trail leads up to
Dragon Hill, which offers a lovely view of the bay. This is a nesting site for
reintroduced land iguanas, and there is also a Scalesia tree forest. Passengers may
opt to take a dinghy to Venice islet and observe the vegetation and marine animals
like spotted eagle rays, golden rays, mullets, sharks and sea turtles. Land iguanas
have often been observed as well.
Cormorant Point (wet landing). Visitors will hike from the black mangrove beds to a
large, brackish lagoon, which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the
Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos
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millwork, passion flower and button mangrove. Novice snorkelers can practice on
the main beach with the playful sea lions; experienced snorkelers can roam around
Devils Crown. Please keep in mind this is an open-water activity; there is nothing to
step on. Overnight aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 (Wed, Oct 07, 2009): Suarez Point (Espanola)/La Galapaguera (San
Cristobal).
Suarez Point (dry landing). Visitors will learn more about the lava terrain and cross
the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for
bird watching. Many species, such as the hooded mocking bird and red billed tropic
bird can be spotted and observed closely. You will also see a large colony of marine
iguanas, lava lizards, and sally light foot crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter
colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. The nesting grounds sometimes
overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed
gulls and then reach the world’s largest colony of waved albatross. A major highlight
is their mating season, from May through December. You’ll visit the famous
blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75 ft).
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (dry landing). Passengers will visit San Cristobal
breeding center and learn about the National Park’s breeding program with the giant
tortoises. Passengers will observe some animals in their natural environment.
Overnight aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 16 (Thu, Oct 08, 2009): Punta Carrion/Bartolome.
Punta Carrion. During this visit you can snorkel and see a variety of fish, rays and
perhaps the harmless white tip reef sharks. From Punta Carrion the short navigation
is through the beautiful Itabaca Channel with its turquoise waters.
Bartolome (dry landing). Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava bombs,
spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you’ll be impressed by the
view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock.
During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see colonies of marine iguanas,
lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti. Visitors will be able to snorkel and see the
Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.
Overnight aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 17 (Fri, Oct 09, 2009): Urbina Bay (Isabela)/Espinosa Point (Fernandina).
Urbina Bay (wet landing). Passengers will visit the fossil beach and coral area.
Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas
and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkeling.
Espinosa Point (dry landing). Visitors will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling
with sally-light foot crabs, as well as flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos
penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic
formations observers will spot brachycereus cactus, and “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and “AA”
lava formations. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea. Overnight aboard
the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
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DAY 18 (Sat, Oct 10, 2009): Egas Port (Santiago)/Rabida.
Egas Port (wet landing). Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows.
You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned
night herons and oyster catchers. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon
algae beds alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals
swimming in deep pools of cool water. Here you can swim and snorkel and find
octopuses, sea horses, star fish.
Rabida (wet landing). The volcano-formed beach is dark red and frequented by sea
lions. It’s considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most
diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands. You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where
flamingos can sometimes be found. July through September is a good time to
observe brown pelicans nesting in the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of
Darwin’s finches can also be observed. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, as
well as snorkel. Overnight aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 19 (Sun, Oct 11, 2009): Charles Darwin Research Station/Highlands
(Santa Cruz).
Charles Darwin Research Station. Travelers will visit the Charles Darwin
Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research
and conservation projects. Here you can admire the giant tortoises that are part of
the breeding program. Visitors can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and
many land birds. Later on, you’ll have some free time to walk around town and shop
for souvenirs.
Highlands of Santa Cruz. You can visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to
observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, you can walk inside the dormant
lava tubes. Overnight aboard the Galapagos Legend. (B,L,D)
DAY 20 (Mon, Oct 12, 2009): Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)/Baltra Airport/
Guayaquil/Lima.
Bachas Beach (wet landing). This beach is located on the north side of Santa Cruz
Island. Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and
have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to Baltra airport for the
flight to Guayaquil and then Lima, Peru. After passing through immigration and
customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative
will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred
to your hotel. Overnight at Casa Andina Miraflores. (B)
DAY 21 (Tue, Oct 13, 2009): Lima/City Tour.
In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Lima. You will visit downtown Lima and
see several examples of the Spanish architecture of the colonial period including the
Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the Church of San
Francisco and Catacombs. After that, you will see Huaca Huallamarca, a restored
adobe pyramid dating from the pre-Inca period located in San Isidro. You will tour
the upscale residential and commercial district of Miraflores and see the Parque del
Amor, a seaside park with a huge statue of a kissing couple, before returning to your
hotel. Overnight at Casa Andina Miraflores. (B)
DAY 22 (Wed, Oct 14, 2009): Lima/Cusco/City Tour.
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be
transferred to your hotel. Because of the high altitude (10,660 feet above sea level),
we recommend that you rest for a short period. In the afternoon, you will have a city
tour that includes a walk through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha (‘site of gold’),
typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman
Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Overnight at Casa Andina
Cusco. (B)
DAY 23 (Thu, Oct 15, 2009): Cusco/Sacred Valley of the Incas/Cusco.
Full-day private excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, including the Indian
artisan market in Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Overnight at Casa
Andina Cusco. (B,L)
Note: The Indian market opens only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from
October to March, and daily from April to September.
DAY 24 (Fri, Oct 16, 2009): Sacred Valley of the Incas/Machu Picchu.
Early morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City
of the Incas’ (7,900 ft.). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of
worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest
overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas
constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The
agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area
contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the
Sanctuary Lodge. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to
Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be taken to Cusco. Overnight at Casa
Andina Cusco. (B,L)
DAY 25 (Sat, Oct 17, 2009): Cusco/Lima.
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima and your final destination.
Depending upon the time of your departure flight from Lima, you can choose to
leave Cusco on a mid-afternoon flight to Lima and stay at the airport until your flight
departs, or leave Cusco on a morning flight to Lima, pay for a day use hotel (from
$30) and transfers to and from the airport ($25 each way) to rest before your flight
and enjoy your last day in Lima. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
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