AVALON 2012: DISCOVER THE GALAPAGOS & PERU W/AMAZON EXT (WGGE)
19 days from Lima to Quito or 19 days incl. travel
Fantastic treasures await on this cruise vacation of Peru and the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy a walking tour of Lima; guided sightseeing in Quito and Cusco, former capital of the Inca Empire; and an excursion to Otavalo's famous Indian market. Also visit ancient Puca Pucara, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, and mystical Machu Picchu. Then, fly to Baltra Island for a fantastic 4-night Galapagos Islands cruise. In the company of a local Naturalist, you'll encounter indigenous plants and animals found only in the Galapagos Islands. You'll even pay a visit to the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station! Fly to Coca, where you'll travel by canoe to your lodge in the Amazon Jungle. Spend three nights here and enjoy a rainforest canopy walk, guided night tour, cruise through the forest, and a visit of Kapok Tree Tower. Ancient ruins, spectacular scenery, an amazing variety of animals in their natural environment, and historic buildings-this vacation has it all!
HOTELS
LIMA Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores (MD), SACRED VALLEY Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley (SF), MACHU PICCHU Sumaq Hotel (F), CUSCO Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco (SF), QUITO Swissotel Quito (SF), GALAPAGOS CRUISE Santa Cruz, AMAZON Sacha Lodge (BA)
HOTELS
LIMA Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores (MD), SACRED VALLEY Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley (SF), MACHU PICCHU Sumaq Hotel (F), CUSCO Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco (SF), QUITO Swissotel Quito (SF), GALAPAGOS CRUISE Santa Cruz, AMAZON Sacha Lodge (BA)
Details
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Duration
- 19 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Lima | Welcome to Lima. This 'City of Kings' was once the capital of the Spanish South American Empire. |
| Day 2 | Lima | Today, your Local Guide focuses on the city's colonial heritage during today's walking tour. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the CATHEDRAL, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima, are housed. From here, stroll to the venerable SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. Also visit the LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM, housing an impressive collection of Peruvian pre-Columbian artifacts. This evening, meet your Tour Director and enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant with your fellow traveling companions. (B,D) |
| Day 3 | Sacred Valley | Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Continue into the Sacred Valley to AWANAKANCHA and learn the importance of the alpaca (llama) for Inca cultures as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Visit the semi-circular KENKO Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages and see the ancient site of PUCA PUCARA before reaching the TEMPLE OF SACSAYHUAMAN, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones-with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons-was built. Next, visit PISAC, an old mountain village where you enjoy free time in the town center to browse the colorful stalls where vendors sell their handicrafts, ranging from fine alpaca sweaters and blankets to hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Enjoy a relaxing dinner at your hotel. (B,L,D) |
| Day 4 | Machu Picchu | Begin the morning with a visit to the Inca fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO followed by a visit to a local home to meet some locals and experience their way of life. Next, board your TRAIN for a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley, then ascend to legendary MACHU PICCHU, the 'Lost City of the Incas,' discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the pre-Columbian masters of this sacred land. (B,L,D) |
| Day 5 | Cusco | Your entrance to Machu Picchu is included for a second day. Enjoy the tranquility of the morning while wandering the ruins at your own pace and experiencing the magic that is Machu Picchu. After lunch, return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco. (B,L) |
| Day 6 | Cusco | Today, learn more about the Incas and their struggle against the invading Spaniards. Visit the imposing CATHEDRAL and the SANTO DOMINGO MONASTERY on your guided tour. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by ANDEAN FOLKLORIC MUSIC. (B,D) |
| Day 7 | Quito | Today, fly to Quito, the capital of Ecuador and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and begin the Ecuadorian portion of your vacation. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant tonight. (B,D) |
| Day 8 | Quito | Your Local Host introduces this city on an included sightseeing tour that showcases its treasures: the historic stone murals of the LEGISLATIVE PALACE, Independence Plaza and the 16th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY, the Jesuit's LA COMPANIA CHURCH with its stunning golden altars, and the impressive paintings at the WORKSHOP & MUSEUM of Oswaldo Guayasamin. Be sure to have your photo taken in front of the EQUATORIAL MONUMENT, the 'Center of the World.' (B) |
| Day 9 | Quito | An in-depth experience into the traditional ways of the Otavalo people is in store for you today. First, visit OTAVALO'S famous INDIAN MARKET full of textiles, clothes, vegetables, and much more. Next, in Peguche, famous for its exquisite weavings, you have the opportunity to visit homes and observe handicrafts being made. Finally, enjoy Andean delicacies prepared the traditional way at a HOME-HOSTED LUNCH before returning to Quito. (B,L) |
| Day 10 | Galapagos Islands (Embarkation) Cruising: Santa Cruz Island | Take a morning flight to Baltra, one of the remote Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the sleek Santa Cruz and enjoy five days of CRUISING among various Galapagos Islands. Each day, travel ashore to the remote islands with your expert Naturalist, who introduces you to the unique fauna living free and fearless of man. Giant tortoises, Galapagos fur sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, frigates, and finches are just some of the many endemic species you will find on land. You will also have the chance to snorkel in the turquoise waters with colorful tropical fish, playful sea lions, and maybe even an equatorial penguin or shark! Visit LAS BACHAS on Santa Cruz Island, where abandoned WWII military barges can be found. Today, it is an important nesting area for the East Pacific Green Sea Turtle. You will also see brackish lagoons just steps away from the sea and white sand beach, which is a feeding ground for various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. Return to the ship for a briefing on the next day's adventure, followed by a Capitan's welcome cocktail and dinner. (B,L,D) NOTE: The ship's itinerary may vary according to Galapagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited. |
| Day 11 | Cruising Galapagos Islands: James Island | After breakfast, join your Naturalist for a short panga ride to ESPUMILLA BEACH, a coffee-colored sand beach on James Island. In the nearby mangrove forest, watch where you step, as this is common nesting area for sea turtles. Also keep an eye out for Galapagos finches, marine iguanas, and sea lions, as well as flamingos and pintail ducks in the nearby lagoons. This afternoon, land at PUERTO EGAS on James Island, known for its black sand beach and a landscape of tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds as well as a colony of fur sea lions, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. You have the chance to snorkel or swim from the beach, or ride on the glass-bottom boat. (B,L,D) |
| Day 12 | Cruising Galapagos Islands: Rabida & Bartolome Islands | Disembark at RABIDA ISLAND on a red-colored beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Stroll along the beach of this small island as your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, pelicans, boobies, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin's finches. Very close to the beach, hidden behind a strip of green saltbush, is a salt pond where, at times, greater flamingos migrate. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species like the Galapagos dolphin and submarine landscapes. After lunch, en route to our next island, dolphins are often spotted. At BARTOLOME ISLAND, hike to the summit for a stunning view of two beautiful bays and fascinating formations of lava flows and spatter cones, including the iconic Pinnacle Rock. You will also have the chance to snorkel and possibly see Galapagos penguins in tropical waters and even some sharks and rays! (B,L,D) |
| Day 13 | Cruising Galapagos Islands: Tower Island | Upon arrival at TOWER ISLAND, your visit to Prince Philip's Steps begins with a scenic panga ride along the cliffs to see the large number of nesting colonies of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and shore and seabirds in the cliffs' ledges. Disembark at the base of Prince Philip's Steps and climb up the stairs to a trail where birdlife abounds. A walk with your Naturalist reveals large colonies of masked boobies, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels, and even short-eared owls. In the afternoon, disembark at DARWIN BAY to observe thousands of birds-mainly frigatebirds, red-footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. Return to the beach for swimming and snorkelling at this beautiful natural harbor. The more adventurous can snorkel below the cliffs. (B,L,D) |
| Day 14 | Quito | After breakfast, depart for Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on SAN CRISTOBAL, where Charles Darwin first set foot in the Galapagos back in 1835. This island is home to seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigatebirds, and various shore birds. Also watch for the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird and Chatham Lava Lizard-both species are endemic to this island and seen nowhere else in the Galapagos. Head to the airport for your return flight to Quito. This evening, gather with your fellow traveling companions as your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner to celebrate an unforgettable experience. (B,D) |
| Day 15 | Coca | Fly from Quito to Coca and travel by CANOE to your Amazon lodge. The Ecuadorian Amazon is the world's largest remaining tropical rainforest, where more life hums, buzzes, chatters, and bubbles than anywhere else on the planet. One Amazonian tree can host more ant species than all of the British Isles put together, one hectare of forest boasts almost as many frog species as all of North America, and the great expanse of jungle contains more than 20% of the earth's vascular plant species. Here you can find a monkey small enough to sit on your fingertip, an 8-pound toad, a spider that eats birds, and the world's largest snake-the 30-foot-long anaconda. (B,L,D) |
| Day 16 | Amazon | Today, begin on the suspended CANOPY WALK, boasting views of the rainforest canopy, where your Naturalist will point out many different species of vibrantly colored birds. Continue through the jungle below and learn of the medicinal plants and immense biodiversity that have been used by the native cultures for hundreds of years. After a picnic lunch in the primary forest, return to the lodge by canoe. Tonight, accompany your Local Guide on a night WALK or CANOE ride to discover creatures rarely seen during the day-you many even spot a caiman or two! (B,L,D) |
| Day 17 | Amazon | This morning you may opt to visit a parrot clay lick, a site where parrots and parakeets by the thousands can usually be seen. Later, depart on a Napo River CRUISE through the flooded forest in search of the varied wildlife. Here you will have a good chance of seeing troops of squirrel, capuchin, and howler monkeys-and maybe even the incredibly well-camouflaged 3-toed sloth. After time spent fishing for piranhas, arrive at the KAPOK TREE TOWER, perched 135 feet high. Get close-up views of birds as the sun sets on volcano Mount Sumaco and the Andes. (B,L,D) |
| Day 18 | Quito | Depart the lodge for Coca and board your return flight to Quito. (B) |
| Day 19 | Quito | Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- US$ Price Details
Intra-Vacation Price: $1030Prices based on double room occupancy.Single Room Supplement: $2425Triple rooms are not available Extra Nights per person in Lima:in single room $152; in twin room $82Extra Nights per person in Quito:in single room $183; in twin room $98Cruise pricing is based on Main Deck cabins. Upgrades are available. Please call for prices.
Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your vacation may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices:
Air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $250 non-refundable deposit is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e., air-inclusive vacation.) However, once your airfare is confirmed and Avalon Waterways has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
We also accept your reservation on a land-only basis:
While booking your vacation air-inclusive gives you various advantages, you can also choose the land-only option. But remember, airlines' special fares generally apply to very brief periods. (Our low air-inclusive fares apply throughout the year.) Plus, to get these 'deals' you often are required to pay full fare at the time of booking.
Taxes & fees
Taxes and fees are subject to change and are not guaranteed until full land and air deposit are received.
Applicable Taxes and Fees (Airfare & Charges Not Included in the Price)
Air-Inclusive Vacations
Air-inclusive prices provided online include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees between $200-$375 depending on your itinerary. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked.
Not Included In Your Vacation Price (Air-Inclusive, Land-Only or Cruise-Only)
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as 'included' in the itinerary; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; excess baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.
