We arrive in Quito, Ecuador. Escorted transfer between airport and hotel. Overnight in Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Escorted transfer to the airport to board your flight to the astonished Galapagos Islands (1 hour.)

The Galapagos Islands on board the M/V Santa Cruz. During the 8 days / 7 nights you will have comfort and safety aboard the vessel in which a full board program is included. You will thoroughly enjoy the variety of colourful tropical fruit juices every morning, and the generous buffet for lunch, with many fresh salads, cold cuts, cheeses, seafood and of course, plenty of vegetarian options. All meals are free seating with no dress code.

Baltra Island
Morning arrival to Baltra Island by TAME flight and immediate transfer to the dock to board M/V Santa Cruz. Welcome introductory briefing, and lunch.

North Seymour Island
Afternoon disembarkation (dry landing) for a walk along the coast and the interior of the island, observing bird colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas.
Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.

This morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina. Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife. Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their space with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. Lunch on board.

Punta Moreno has a low-lying rocky shoreline surrounded by black and red mangrove lagoons, and abundant shore birds. It offers close views of volcanoes Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul. It has a desolate and pristine landscape of impressively immense black lava flows and an extraordinary and unusual arid-zone vegetation. Darwin's finches, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds, penguins, cormorants, brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies can be seen.
Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.

Possibility to snorkel from the pangas around Champion Islet or a ride on the glass-bottom boat. Return on board and navigate to Post Office Bay. Wet landing at the historic barrel that served as a post office, to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Lunch on board.

Disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts, sandpipers, etc. Return to the beach and possibility to swim; there is great snorkeling at this site or kayak from the beach.
Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.

Morning disembarkation at Rabida Island (wet landing) on a red-colored beach, due to the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. A gratifying stroll along the beach of this small island (1.9 sq. mi.) allows the observation of a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, 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 to. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, both for beginners as well as for experienced snorkelers, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. During navigation to our next island, we will keep our eyes open for dolphins. Lunch on board.

The sand at Las Bachas is made of powdered coral, which makes it white and soft, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles. The Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant on the lava rocks along the water's edge. Flamingoes, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and whimbrels can be observed.
Next day’s expedition plan and welcome cocktail.

Island, an Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters geology formation, Los Gemelos. From December to mid-April a visit to see the giant tortoises in the wild may be included, if weather conditions are good. Lunch at one of the farms in the highlands.

Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on Yacht La Pinta.
Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.

Sullivan Bay is on the east coast of Santiago just across Bartolome Island. We land on a white coral sand beach and begin our walk over lava that flowed less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos. This site is most interesting for the geography of the lava flows, the intricate squiggles, cracks, and designs of the liquid lava as it solidified. After 110 years, life is starting to return to the flows, with occasional tufts of grass and cactus growing in the cracks. Optional panga ride, Glass-bottom boat or snorkeling is possible. Lunch on board.

Wet landing for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. This is a great opportunity to see land and marine birds. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of Galápagos fur seals. Opportunity for snorkeling and swimming from the beach.
Next day’s expedition plan and dinner.

Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. This small attractive port is the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands (population 4,000), along a crescent-shaped bay. Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, located in a natural setting, where visitors can obtain information that will help them understand more the natural history of the Galápagos, with a great emphasis on human history and conservation. Later this morning visit the breeding center for tortoises (La Galapaguera) at Cerro Colorado, including a 45-minute bus ride. Seeing the semi-saddle back shape of the tortoises can be a great way to understand adaptation to dry-tropical environments. The rewarding fauna of this island may not only be the giant tortoises, since many island-specific endemics are found here. It includes mockingbirds, lava lizards, and the vermilion flycatchers. Return to boat for lunch.

In the afternoon, A dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers will bring us to Cerro Brujo for a wet landing at a white coraline beach . The beach is a great open walking area, with rewarding birdwatching. There are seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds. Also, look for Galapagos sea lions. Highlights ashore include the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird, Chatham Lava Lizard; both species are endemic to this island, and seen nowhere else in Galapagos. We may also spot Yellow Warblers, Galapagos flycatchers.These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos.
Farewell cocktail and departure briefing.

Transfer to the airport to board your Galapagos Islands- Guayaquil flight. Assistance at Guayaquil airport to take the flight to Lima (2.5 hours approx).

Upon your arrival to Lima you will be met by an airport supervisor and representative who will assist you with your luggage and escort you to the hotel located within walking distance of the Lima Airport. Assistance at the hotel with the check-in procedures. You will be provided with information regarding the rest of the itinerary. 

Early this morning transfer to the Lima airport to board your flight to the city of Cusco (1 hour.) Morning at leisure in order to adapt to the sudden change in altitude.

During the afternoon a transfer will take you to the city of Cusco, the “Navel of the World” for the Incas. Cusco remains today a city that blends colonial Spanish charm with older, more austere remains of pre-Columbian glory. A sightseeing tour of the city of Cusco that includes a visit of the city's most important historical monuments, the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, the Koricancha Temple, and a visit to the surrounding ruin of the Sacsayhuaman Fortress. After the excursion you will be driven back to your hotel.

Early in the morning you will travel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Discover the Inca site of Pisac, dating from the 1400s (and possibly earlier) and resting high amid the red rocks of the mountain; the village, established in the late 1500s, is at the base of the valley. Terraces, water ducts and steps have been cut out of solid rock, and in the upper sector of the ruins, the main Sun Temple is equal of anything at Machu Picchu. Above the temple lie still more ruins, mostly unexcavated, and among the higher crevices and rocky overhangs several ancient burial sites are hidden.

Enjoy a fabulous typical Andean lunch at one of the best restaurants in the area. After lunch, an early afternoon visit to the colourful market fair or “mercado” of Pisac” where the idea of “trueque” (goods exchange) was used for centuries. Afterwards, stop at Awanacancha, to observe traditional Andean weaving and see the four types of camel-related Andean animals – llamas, guanacos, alpacas and vicunas. Discover the methods of ancient weaving techniques.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel very early this morning. You will be driven to the Ollantaytambo train station to board the alpine train, for a dramatic train ride to Machu Picchu, the great mountain-top city abandoned by the Inca Empire, reclaimed by the jungle and lost to humanity until its rediscovery in 1911.

The legendary 'Lost City of Machu Picchu' is without a doubt one of the world's most impressive archaeological sites. Upon arrival to the ruins, a guided excursion through the lost citadel, followed by lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Afternoon at leisure and return to Aguas Calientes village to rest in your hotel.

Morning at leisure at Aguas Calientes village. If you want, you will have the opportunity to visit Machu Picchu ruins for a second time. (Additional cost.)

In the afternoon, you will return to the city of Cusco by train. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to your hotel.

Transfer and drive to the airport to board your flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima you will be met by your guide and driver who will take you on a guided visit of the city of Lima.

Also known as the City of Kings, Lima is long considered the colonial capital of South America, Lima is a thriving city of some 8 million inhabitants. The historic downtown area has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Its fine architecture should not be missed.

After the visit of the city you will enjoy a delicious sea food lunch in a Victorian mansion 50 yards into the Pacific Ocean; La Rosa Nautica Restaurant offers spectacular views, and excellent service. Today’s excursions conclude with a visit to the famed Larco Herrera Museum, containing a priceless collection of pre-Columbian artefacts, an ancient pre-Inca erotic pottery, one of South America’s finest.
Evening transfer and assistance to the airport to board your international flight home.