Galápagos

PLEASE NOTE:

This itinerary provides the perfect framework for a spectacular journey but it is an example only. All journeys will be individually designed and quoted on a case by case basis.

DAY 1 | LIMA

Arrive to Peru and check into your accommodation at Hotel B.

DAY 2 | AMAZON

Fly to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival re-organize your bags to take only necessary items to the lodge. Transfer to the port and make your way by boat to the lodge. Check in and enjoy dinner and rest this evening.

DAY 3 | AMAZON

The ‘a la carte’ list of activities will be explained to you and you can head out with your guide to explore the Amazon – perhaps look for parrot clay licks, do the money search, mammal clay lick walk searching for animals such as deer to guans to parakeets. This evening you can enjoy a night time walk or a lecture at the lodge.

DAY 4 | AMAZON

Enjoy more of the ‘a la carte’ activities such as for kids, the ‘circle of fire’ the ‘rainforest tattoo’ or the ‘children’s trail’. You might wish to climb the canopy tower or do a jungle farm visit.

DAY 5 | AMAZON

A further day allows to explore all that the Amazon has to offer – maybe do the overlook trail, the medicinal plants trail, head to Oxbow Lake where you may even see a caiman, or do the Palm Swamp trail and learn about the flora along with potentially spotting macaws, monkeys, snakes and more.

DAY 6 | CUSCO

Return back to Puerto Maldonado and fly to Cusco. Check into your accommodation at El Mercado, arriving late afternoon and the evening is at leisure.

DAY 7 | CUSCO

Head out for a half day city tour of Cusco. The afternoon and evening are at leisure for you to people watch, walk about or even to rest

DAY 8 | SACRED VALLEY

Depart early from Cusco to commence your four-night Lares Adventure. Visit the market at Pisaq. Arrive to Viacha and learn about its unique farming practices. Enjoy a traditional Pachamanca for lunch, then explore the archaeological complex at Pisaq.

DAY 9 | SACRED VALLEY

Venture deeper into the Lares region passing by remote archaeological site. After lunch elect to visit a traditional weaver’s village or take a scenic drive/hike to the remote village of Huacahuasi.

DAY 10 | SACRED VALLEY

This morning learn about the heritage and day-to-day activities of the Huacahuasi community. Then either head out on a hike to Ollantaytambo or to the local community of Totra. If you don’t want to walk, drive to the ethnographic museum or explore the valley by mountain bike. After lunch at the Urubamba River countryside, make your way to Ollantaytambo.

DAY 11 | SACRED VALLEY

Rise early to visit the Incan ruins at Ollantaytambo. Then take a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, the town before the Machu Picchu Sanctuary.

DAY 12 | CUSCO

At dawn, make your way up to Machu Picchu by bus and watch the sun rise. Explore with your guide and if time allows/permits are available, hike Huayna Picchu. Enjoy lunch back in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco in the afternoon/early evening by train and private coach, checking into El Mercado for one more night.

DAY 13 | LIMA

Check out of your accommodation before lunch and fly to Lima, checking into the Casa Republica. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure.

DAY 14 | QUITO

This morning with your guide, explore the highlights of Lima, before transferring to the airport to fly to Quito. Arrive late this evening and stay at the Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel, located right across the road from the airport.

DAY 15 | GALÁPAGOS

Fly to San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos and after a bus and zodiac ride, board your boat, the MV Origina for your 7 night Southern and Central Route itinerary. Enjoy lunch and safety drill, choose your snorkel equipment and return to San Cristobal to explore the caldera of El Junco, an extinct volcano. This evening enjoy a welcome cocktail reception with your Captain and crew, and get to know other guests on board.

DAY 16 | GALÁPAGOS

Start the day with a zodiac ride to look for wildlife at Cerro Brujo, or Wizard Hill, looking out for birds such as brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and more. Enjoy time at the beach to swim, stand up paddle board or swim with sea-lions, then after a bbq lunch on the sun deck, head ashore at Punta Pitt for a hike to search for all three species of boobies. At Pitt Rock you can snorkel with sea lions and colourful fish. Return to the yacht for dinner and to rest, read guide books or to look out at the stars in the sky.

DAY 17 | GALÁPAGOS

Arrive to Punta Suarez on Espanola Island and see endemic species such as the waved albatross. Watch out for marine iguanas sunbathing on the dark rocks. Walk to the dramatic blow-hole and see the colourful sally light-foot crabs along with Darwin’s finches, red-billed tropicbirds, Galápagos hawks and more. After a bbq lunch back on board and a demonstration on how to make Ecuadorian ceviche, you can choose to snorkel at Tortuga Rock and explore the caves covered with invertebrates. Disembark at Gardner Bay to admire the colonies of sea lions, and swim, snorkel, stand-up paddleboard or sunbathe. Return to the yacht for a briefing and for dinner.

DAY 18 | GALÁPAGOS

Step ashore at Punta Cormoran’ts beach with the sounds of sea lions, lava herons and blue-footed boobies as you walk around Floreana (Charles) Island. Arrive to a brackish lagoon to see Bahama ducks, common stilts, Galápagos flycatchers and bright pink flamingoes. The trail leads to a beach where sea turtles lay their eggs and sting rays swim in the shallow water. Snorkel at Devil’s Crown or Champion Islet where pass by colourful fish, white-tipped sharks, sea-turtles spotted eagle rays and sea stars. After lunch back on the boat, stop at Floreana/Post Office Bay to put a letter in the box and to see if you can find one from someone who lives near you to hand-deliver. Head out to Baroness Point to look out for sea turtles and rays. Enjoy dinner on board and a pirate themed party this evening.

DAY 19 | GALÁPAGOS

Disembark this morning at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island and travel by bus to see the lava tunnels at El Mirador and Los Gemelos, a pair of massive craters. Visit a privately owned ranch where tortoises roam free. Enjoy lunch back on board the yacht, then this afternoon visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Explore Puerto Ayora town, home to 24,000 people and either have dinner back on board the boat, or in town if you prefer.

DAY 20 | GALÁPAGOS

Wake in solitude again this morning and either hike around Bartolome Island ending with a panoramic view of Pinnacle Rock, or enjoy a zodiac ride around the island looking for penguins. Wade in from the beach and snorkel with schools or tropical fish, white-tipped reef sharks or Galapagos Penguins. After a bbq lunch head out for a zodiac excursion at Caleta Tortuga Negra through a series of coves and inlets surrounded by mangroves. A multi-course dinner is enjoyed again back onboard.

DAY 21 | GALÁPAGOS

Start out at South Plazas and look out for birds such as swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, small ground finches and red-billed tropic birds. Look out for bachelor sea lions and you’ll have the opportunity to see land iguanas up close, During lunch sail to North Seymour Island and admire the frigate birds, then have a final opportunity to snorkel in deeper water looking for sharks, sea lions, starfish and a variety of tropical fish. Enjoy a champagne toast back on board with your Captain to celebrate a wonderful week, along with a farewell party, and instructions for disembarkation tomorrow.

DAY 22 | GUAYAQUIL

Disembark the yacht after breakfast and visit the interpretation centre on San Cristobal to discover more about the human history of the Galápagos Islands. Enjoy some last minute photos before transferring to the airport, then flying to Guayaquil on the mainland. Check into the Wyndham Hotel and the evening is at leisure.

DAY 23 | END OF ARRANGEMENTS

After breakfast, check out of your accommodation and your itinerary comes to an end.