|
DAY 1: ARRIVE QUITO Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met and transferred to the Swissotel for one night. One of the oldest cities in the Americas, Quito is also one of the highest capitals of the world at 9,200 feet above sea level. Quito has a well-preserved Old Town, where many of the original colonial buildings are still in use. One can spend all afternoon strolling the lovely lanes of this ancient district. Quito also has a New Town, full of skyscrapers, apartment buildings, restaurants, bars and museums. Perhaps the distinguishing characteristic of the city is the surrounding landscape. Mountains and volcanoes -- including the active Pichincha Volcano -- can be seen in every direction. Enjoy this evening at leisure to rest after a long journey. DAY 2: QUITO Today begin your private tour of Quito with a visit to the Teleferico, on the slopes of the Pichincha volcano. Enjoy the views of the city and the surrounding mountains as you ascend Pichincha in a cable car to an altitude of 4,100m (13,450 ft.) After returning to the base, you will take a short drive to the imposing Parliament Building, with its impressive stone mural. Next, visit St. Augustine Convent, where you will view its Colonial patio, cloisters, coffered ceilings and a well-preserved collection of paintings depicting the life of St. Augustine. Visit Independence Plaza bordered by the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop’s Palace. Finally, pass by the Church of San Francisco, a magnificent structure whose exceptional façade and atrium lead to an opulent gold interior, where the Virgin of Quito is found at the main altar. (B) DAY 3: OTAVALO EXCURSION Today you will be picked up for a full day excursion to the ancient Otavalo Indian Market. The town of Otavalo lies to the north of Quito in a beautiful location in the middle of the Sunrise Valley. The scenic drive takes you through a stunning stretch of the Andes Mountain Range. Otavalo’s great open-air market dates back centuries to pre-Incan times and is famous for its lively gathering of local merchants. The market is open 6 days a week and offers a variety of local crafts, such as leather, woodcarvings, and weavings. Spend some time strolling the cobblestone streets of this picturesque town, keeping an eye out for good buys. Afterwards, you may visit one of the workshops in Peguche or San Antonio de Ibarra. Or you may choose to take a walk to the Cuicocha Lagoon. Enjoy lunch at one of the local haciendas before returning to Quito this afternoon. (B,L) DAY 4: QUITO – CUENCA This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cuenca. Upon arrival you will be taken to the Mansión Alcázar where you’ll spend the next night. Cuenca, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, is one of Ecuador’s most charming cities. It was the second largest city in the Incan empire (Peru’s Cusco was the largest) and today is Ecuador’s third largest, although it retains the charm of a small town. Many of the city’s historic churches were built upon the foundations of old Incan palaces. Cuenca has a rich history that predates even the Incas, when the Cañaris lived here. Today enjoy a tour of this historic city, visiting the many inviting squares, resplendent cathedrals, local markets and the Central Bank Museum. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel in the afternoon. (B,L) DAY 5: INGAPIRCA EXCURSION - GUAYAQUIL This morning you will travel by road to the remarkable ruins of Ingapirca, a scenic journey through country landscapes (approximately 2 hours). Before arriving to Ingapirca, you will have the opportunity to visit the church of the “Virgin del Rocío,” located on the top of a small hill. You will also visit a small workshop where traditional hats are made. Ingapirca means ‘stonewall of the Incas’ in the Quechua language. Upon arrival in Ingapirca, you will begin your tour of these ancient ruins, considered to be the most fascinating in the country. This site was once dedicated to the powerful Incan deity, Inti, or “the Sun.” After, take a short tour of the Ingapirca museum before returning to Cuenca. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival you will be taken to the Hilton Colon Guayaquil for one night. (B,L) DAY 6: GUAYAQUIL – BALTRA,DRAGON HILL/SANTA CRUZ ISLAND This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Baltra. Upon arrival, after passing through the Galapagos “customs” you will be met by a representative from the ship and transferred by bus (20 minutes) to the dock to board the Galapagos Explorer. After the cabin assignment and an introductory welcome talk you will enjoy lunch, followed by a practice emergency boat drill. The first afternoon of the Galapagos trip takes you to Dragon Hill and Santa Cruz island. On the north shore of Santa Cruz is Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill); take a dinghy ride among the mangrove-lined islets to see the landscape and coastline, shaped by volcanic activity. Keep your eyes peeled for birds, including frigates, pelicans and, of course, the famous boobies. The dinghy can navigate in shallow water, so you can frequently see marine turtles, rays, and sharks. A dry landing will be followed by a walk that skirts a water lagoon, home to flamingoes, common stilts, pintail ducks, and a variety of shore and lagoon birds. Further along the trail, head to Dragon Hill for its beautiful view. Land iguanas that were reintroduced by the Charles Darwin Research Station have a nesting site here and you may also see Darwin’s finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic flycatcher, and yellow warblers. (B,L,D) *Please note that US citizens are required to pay $100 per person upon arrival to the Galapagos Islands. This national park fee cannot be pre-paid and must be paid directly upon arrival. DAY 7: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND,PUERTO EGAS/JAMES ISLAND This morning, start the day with a hike to the summit of Bartolome Island, a lovely excursion. The climb is steep but there is a wooden staircase. Take a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock and spend some time on the beach or snorkeling next to Galapagos Penguins. For those who prefer to stay dry, a trip on a glass-bottom boat allows good views of what’s happening beneath the surface of the water. After lunch, spend the afternoon at Puerto Egas, a good location to spot shore birds -- the black shores make the birds easy to see. Walk a trail to a colony of fur sea lions. At low tide, you can see marine iguanas grazing on the mineral-rich algae beds. Before dinner, enjoy a briefing on the sights for tomorrow and then, weather permitting, spend some time stargazing on the ship’s deck. (B,L,D) DAY 8: PUNTA ESPINOZA/FERNANDINA ISLAND Start today with a dinghy ride to observe Galapagos Penguins and flightless cormorants before landing on shore for a one-mile walk on Fernandina Island. Fernandina has no introduced mammals but does have a busy population of marine iguanas, sea lions, sally-light foot crabs and hawks. The lava terrain requires good walking shoes and the landscape seems barren compared with some of the other islands. In the afternoon, continue on to Isabela Island. Take a boat trip to see the area of Punta Vicente Roca; this cliff at the west coast of Isabela is a particularly good spot from which to view mantas, sharks, and sea turtles. (B,L,D) DAY 9: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND,PUERTO AYORA/SANTA CRUZ ISLAND This morning will focus on North Seymour Island, one of the few uplifted islands in the Galapagos. A dry landing is followed by a view of the coast and interior of the island while also keeping an eye out for colonies of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and swallow-tail gulls. In the afternoon, land at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island to see the famous giant tortoises in their wild habitat. In addition, visitors are routinely surprised by the vermilion flycatcher, who scarlet feathers stand out in sharp contrast to the green forest. (B,L,D) DAY 10: PUERTO BAQUERIZO MORENO/ SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND - GUAYAQUIL Disembark today at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a small port that is the provincial capital of the Galapagos Islands. With a population of 4,000 spread along the crescent-shaped bay, it is an attractive little town. In the morning, visit to El Junco Lagoon, the only permanent fresh-water lagoon in the islands. In the afternoon, you may choose to visit the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, where you can learn more about the history of the area, or you may wish to visit Islas Lobos, where a small islet will show a sea lion colony, blue frigate birds, and blue-footed boobies. Upon your return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, transfer by bus to the airport for your flight back to the continent. Upon arrival in Guayaquil, you will be transferred to the Hilton Colon Guayaquil for two nights. (B,L) DAY 11: GUAYAQUIL The gateway to the Galapagos, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and its financial capital. In recent years, the city has undergone a tremendous amount of renovation and reinvestment in its tourist attractions. The new malecón has added an unmistakable charm to the city’s riverfront. Begin the day with a visit to the Parque Seminario, known for the hundreds of iguanas that live here and mingle with local passersby. Afterwards, pay a visit to the gothic Cathedral. Continue for a walk down the famous malecón, observing many of the city’s most important buildings and monuments, such as the Palacio Municipal and La Rotonda, the statue that commemorates the meeting of Simon Bolivar and Jose San Martin in 1822. Finally visit the district of Las Peñas, an old neighborhood on Cerro Santa Ana hill, made up of brightly colored houses with a great view of the surrounding area. (B) DAY 12: DEPART GUAYAQUIL Enjoy this morning at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. This afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your international departure flight. (B) |