Day 1 - Fly from USA to Quito
Day 2 - Tour Quito & drive through forests up to the volcanoes
,
Quito
We begin our journey in Ecuador, the country that owns the Galapagos Islands. We land in Quito, a beautiful location about 9,000 feet above sea level. It is in the shadows of two giant volcanoes that we visit. The Spanish conquistadors established small villages on the coast but found the heat and humidity of this equatorial region oppressive. Soon they discovered the lush forest high up in the mountains and established their capitals in places like Quito. Ecuador's capital, sits high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850m.
Constructed in 1534 on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th- and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles. These include the cathedral, in the Plaza Grande square, and ultra-ornate Compañia de Jesús Jesuit church
Day 2 - Tour Quito & drive through forests up to the volcanoes
,
Quito
We begin our journey in Ecuador, the country that owns the Galapagos Islands. We land in Quito, a beautiful location about 9,000 feet above sea level. It is in the shadows of two giant volcanoes that we visit. The Spanish conquistadors established small villages on the coast but found the heat and humidity of this equatorial region oppressive. Soon they discovered the lush forest high up in the mountains and established their capitals in places like Quito. Ecuador's capital, sits high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850m.
Constructed in 1534 on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th- and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles. These include the cathedral, in the Plaza Grande square, and ultra-ornate Compañia de Jesús Jesuit church
Day 3 - Fly to Santa Cruz Island: Highlands
Santa Cruz Island: Highlands
Dry landing. Galapagos' mountains are home to many species of birds. These include vermillion flycatchers and yellow warblers as well as tree and ground finches and vermillion flycatchers. You can see the many ecosystems on the island from the road to the reserve. It is a great way to experience the diversity. From the coast, the road winds through the agricultural zone to reach dense and humid forests. You may also see Galapagos Giant Tortoises wandering in the paddocks and often seen along the road. This is an ideal spot for bird watchers as almost all land birds on the island live or migrate here.
Santa Cruz Island: Highlands
Dry landing. Galapagos' mountains are home to many species of birds. These include vermillion flycatchers and yellow warblers as well as tree and ground finches and vermillion flycatchers. You can see the many ecosystems on the island from the road to the reserve. It is a great way to experience the diversity. From the coast, the road winds through the agricultural zone to reach dense and humid forests. You may also see Galapagos Giant Tortoises wandering in the paddocks and often seen along the road. This is an ideal spot for bird watchers as almost all land birds on the island live or migrate here.
Day 4 - Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point & Espinoza Point
Vicente Roca Point
Deep-water snorkeling is possible at the Bolivar Channel, Vicente Roca Point. Accessible by water only, we ride a dinghy along the coast to see a wide variety of coastal birds, including Nazca and brown pelicans, penguins and flightless cormorants. This area of the Galapagos is a great place to deep snorkel because of its abundance of marine life.
Espinosa Point
Espinosa Point offers a panoramic view of Isabela Island and Bolivar Channel. This area is home to some of the most diverse endemic marine fauna in the Galapagos. The largest and most primitive-looking marine Iguanas can be seen here, mingling alongside sea lions or Sally Lightfoot crabs. Fernandina offers a rare opportunity to see flightless cormorants nesting at Galapagos penguins' nesting sites and the Galapagos Hawk, the "King” of predators on the islands. The majority of Fernandina terrain is covered by AA and Pa-hoehoe lava formations. In the inland, vegetation is sparse with very few brachycereus and cacti. Mangroves can be found at the beaches
Vicente Roca Point
Deep-water snorkeling is possible at the Bolivar Channel, Vicente Roca Point. Accessible by water only, we ride a dinghy along the coast to see a wide variety of coastal birds, including Nazca and brown pelicans, penguins and flightless cormorants. This area of the Galapagos is a great place to deep snorkel because of its abundance of marine life.
Espinosa Point
Espinosa Point offers a panoramic view of Isabela Island and Bolivar Channel. This area is home to some of the most diverse endemic marine fauna in the Galapagos. The largest and most primitive-looking marine Iguanas can be seen here, mingling alongside sea lions or Sally Lightfoot crabs. Fernandina offers a rare opportunity to see flightless cormorants nesting at Galapagos penguins' nesting sites and the Galapagos Hawk, the "King” of predators on the islands. The majority of Fernandina terrain is covered by AA and Pa-hoehoe lava formations. In the inland, vegetation is sparse with very few brachycereus and cacti. Mangroves can be found at the beaches
Day 5 - Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
Urbina Bay:
Wet landing (might prove difficult due to tides) You can find large tortoises and land iguanas on this volcanic black beach. A short walk inland will bring you to snorkeling, where you can swim with sea turtles and sea lions as well as many tropical fish. Urbina Bay is home to many different plants, each with a different range of flowers. This attracts different insects, birds and reptiles. The island's highlight is the coral reef, which was created by the 1954 seismic activity. Here you can see Alcedo Volcano. Whale watching is possible from Urbina to Tagus Cove during May-December.
Tagus Cove
We have a dry landing at Tagus Cove. Now we are on Galapagos largest island, where we will learn more about the eruptions of the five volcanoes which formed it. This trail takes you to Darwin's saltwater crater lake, with spectacular views of volcanic formations and lava fields. The same route will take us back to Darwin's salt-water crater lake. We will enjoy a dinghy ride along the shoreline, which is home to a wide variety of marine wildlife. We will also see terns and flightless cormorants. Depending on the season, we may also be able to admire the Galapagos Penguins, the only species of penguin that lives in the tropics. There are approximately 2,000 penguins living on the islands. Others live further south. You will be able to snorkel in deep waters. The curious reminder of a fascinating past is Graffiti, which is believed to be left behind by 19th-century pirates.
Urbina Bay:
Wet landing (might prove difficult due to tides) You can find large tortoises and land iguanas on this volcanic black beach. A short walk inland will bring you to snorkeling, where you can swim with sea turtles and sea lions as well as many tropical fish. Urbina Bay is home to many different plants, each with a different range of flowers. This attracts different insects, birds and reptiles. The island's highlight is the coral reef, which was created by the 1954 seismic activity. Here you can see Alcedo Volcano. Whale watching is possible from Urbina to Tagus Cove during May-December.
Tagus Cove
We have a dry landing at Tagus Cove. Now we are on Galapagos largest island, where we will learn more about the eruptions of the five volcanoes which formed it. This trail takes you to Darwin's saltwater crater lake, with spectacular views of volcanic formations and lava fields. The same route will take us back to Darwin's salt-water crater lake. We will enjoy a dinghy ride along the shoreline, which is home to a wide variety of marine wildlife. We will also see terns and flightless cormorants. Depending on the season, we may also be able to admire the Galapagos Penguins, the only species of penguin that lives in the tropics. There are approximately 2,000 penguins living on the islands. Others live further south. You will be able to snorkel in deep waters. The curious reminder of a fascinating past is Graffiti, which is believed to be left behind by 19th-century pirates.
Day 6 - Santiago Island: Egas Port & Sullivan Bay
Egas Port
Wet landing. Egas Port, a volcanic sand beach of black color, was visited by Darwin in 1835. The trail's first section is made of volcanic ash, which is eroded tuff. The second half is uneven volcanic basaltic rock terrain. Santiago shore's unique and strikingly layered terrain is home to many animals, including the yellow-crowned nightheon. You can easily see colonies of endemic fur sealings in volcanic rock pools.
Sullivan Bay
Wet landing. This is a site of significant geologic importance, located in the southeast portion of Santiago Island. It is home to large relative young pa-hoehoe lava flows that were formed in the last quarter century. In the middle of the lava flow, older reddish-yellowcolored tuff cones appear. The fissures are home to Mollugo plants, which have yellow-to-orange-colored whorled leaves. It is like walking on solidified lava. There are tree molds that can be found. This indicates that large-sized plants were once found in those crevices until past eruptions destroyed the island's flora.
Egas Port
Wet landing. Egas Port, a volcanic sand beach of black color, was visited by Darwin in 1835. The trail's first section is made of volcanic ash, which is eroded tuff. The second half is uneven volcanic basaltic rock terrain. Santiago shore's unique and strikingly layered terrain is home to many animals, including the yellow-crowned nightheon. You can easily see colonies of endemic fur sealings in volcanic rock pools.
Sullivan Bay
Wet landing. This is a site of significant geologic importance, located in the southeast portion of Santiago Island. It is home to large relative young pa-hoehoe lava flows that were formed in the last quarter century. In the middle of the lava flow, older reddish-yellowcolored tuff cones appear. The fissures are home to Mollugo plants, which have yellow-to-orange-colored whorled leaves. It is like walking on solidified lava. There are tree molds that can be found. This indicates that large-sized plants were once found in those crevices until past eruptions destroyed the island's flora.
Day 7 : Santa Cruz Island: Bachas Beach & Departure
Wet landing. Two small flamingo lakes are located on the north side Santa Cruz. They were used by iguanas to sunbathe. This beach is the primary nesting site for sea turtles in the Galapagos. The average turtle will lay 70 eggs per season, which is three to four times the normal number. This paradisiacal spot will also contain the remains of barges, which were sunk long ago when the United States Navy had a base on Baltra Island during World War II. Locals changed the name barges to "Bachas"
Passengers will be taken to the airport to catch their return flight to Guayaquil, or Quito, after the visit.
Wet landing. Two small flamingo lakes are located on the north side Santa Cruz. They were used by iguanas to sunbathe. This beach is the primary nesting site for sea turtles in the Galapagos. The average turtle will lay 70 eggs per season, which is three to four times the normal number. This paradisiacal spot will also contain the remains of barges, which were sunk long ago when the United States Navy had a base on Baltra Island during World War II. Locals changed the name barges to "Bachas"
Passengers will be taken to the airport to catch their return flight to Guayaquil, or Quito, after the visit.
Day 8 : Fly to USA or to Lima for Extension
Day 9 Gold Museum, Cathedral Square, Pyramid of LIMA
Lima’s gold museum houses amazing conquistador and Inca relics. The cathedral and cathedral square can have a festival can break out at any time. We'll show you the living quarters around the square where noble women lived during the Spanish Inquisition. To keep their ladies safe, they would not let them out of the house. To keep them semi-happy the noblemen built very large balconies so their ladies could breath! In the cathedral you just might see sunlight streaming through the roof. That's because the roof is just there to keep out the sunlight, not the rain, because it rains a few inches a year, and most of that is just in mist. Downspouts, gutters and storm drains are virtually non-existent.
Lima’s gold museum houses amazing conquistador and Inca relics. The cathedral and cathedral square can have a festival can break out at any time. We'll show you the living quarters around the square where noble women lived during the Spanish Inquisition. To keep their ladies safe, they would not let them out of the house. To keep them semi-happy the noblemen built very large balconies so their ladies could breath! In the cathedral you just might see sunlight streaming through the roof. That's because the roof is just there to keep out the sunlight, not the rain, because it rains a few inches a year, and most of that is just in mist. Downspouts, gutters and storm drains are virtually non-existent.
Day 11
Drive to Sacsayhuauman fortress walls
an ancient fortress made of giant blocks of rock,
smoothed and precision cut that is nearly inexplicable.
Drive to Sacsayhuauman fortress walls
an ancient fortress made of giant blocks of rock,
smoothed and precision cut that is nearly inexplicable.
Day 13 Train down to Machu Picchu.. Overnight near ruins.
Take the train DOWN to Machu Picchu. Unlike most tours that see Machu Picchu and then take the train back the same day, we have a nice hotel 20 minutes away from the ancient ruins.
Explore lower Machu Picchu, then the upper levels, leaving time for someone who would like to climb the famous sugar loaf.
Take the train DOWN to Machu Picchu. Unlike most tours that see Machu Picchu and then take the train back the same day, we have a nice hotel 20 minutes away from the ancient ruins.
Explore lower Machu Picchu, then the upper levels, leaving time for someone who would like to climb the famous sugar loaf.
Day 15 Fly to USA