YACHTS FILL UP EARLY, ESPECIALLY FOR SUMMER MONTHS. LARGER GROUPS SHOULD ALWAYS BOOK MONTHS IN ADVANCE. IF YOU HAVE A GROUP AND WISH TO TRAVEL IN THE SUMMER, WE SUGGEST YOU BOOK A YEAR IN ADVANCE TO LOCK IN A BOAT.
In this section you will find a short description of the daily possibilities. The tour leader will offer a program on almost every day but the program is informal and by no means obligatory leaving lots of room for your own initiative. Your guides will organize and accompany some activities and will also make suggestions so that you are free to dine or explore on your own.
Day 1 Depart USA – Arrival Lima
Depart USA to Peru. Upon arrival in Lima, transfer to your hotel.
Day 2 Lima
This morning, tour Lima, including the "Huaca Pucllana," Plaza Mayor-Government Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace and the San Francisco Monastery. Afternoon free.
Day 3 Lima - Cusco
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Cusco. Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire. It is the oldest inhabited city in Latin America. In earlier centuries it was referred to as “the navel of the world” as it was concidered the center of civilization. The city is over 10,000 feet above sea level so you will need to be careful not to over exert yourself. Nestled between green hills you not only find old Inca ruins with massive stone walls but many Spanish colonia buildings, countless churches and museums loaded with Inca artifacts and mummies. In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour including visits to Korikancha, Old Town, and the nearby Inca ruins of Tambomachay, Kenko, and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman.
Day 4 Cusco – Sacred Valley - Overnight Cusco
You will drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas to visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Stroll through the Inca town where time seems to have stopped 500 years ago. Enjoy lunch (on your own) at a nearby inn, and shop in the lively and colorful Indian Pisac market where locals, following ancient traditions, sell or exchange their products. Overnight Cusco.
Day 5 Urubamba – Aguas Calientes (at the base of Machu Picchu)
We will take a beautiful train ride on the "Backpacker" train to Urabamba and Aguas Calientes, which is 20 minutes from Machu Picchu. We will have the afternoon to explore the area. Those who want a head start can visit Machu Picchu today. The group will go early the next morning. It is the most impressive of the Inca ruins, Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas” which was only rediscovered as of 1911. It is impressive not only because of the extent of its perservation, but specially due to its awesome location high in the mountainns. No one knew of its existence for centuries. Transfer to the train station for a spectacular train ride to Aguas Calientes, the closest little village to Machu Picchu. From here you will begin your guided tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the main plaza, the royal quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the circular tower, the sacred Sun Dial and burial grounds. One theory about this complex is that it may have housed “Virgins of the Sun” or perhaps, an order of nuns, as a grave of 175 bodies was discovered, almost all women.
Day 6 Aguas Caliente - Machu Picchu Cusco
We make a very early morning visit to Machu Picchu to arrive before the crowds. We stay until mid-afternoon. In the afternoon, transfer to the train station for your return journey to Cusco. Or, remain in Cusco to enjoy a free day. There are many quaint and beautiful city squares and a variety of small restaruants. It is also possible to visit a charming little village such as Pisac and check out the local markets, the ruins or go for a walking tour in the neighborhood. In the evening, we offer an optional folklore show.
Day 7 Cusco - Puno
Transfer to the bus station for your journey to Puno, driving along the dramatic landscapes of the highland plateau. Upon arrival in Puno, transfer to your hotel. Travel by motor-boat to Taquile Island on Lake Titicaca, inhabited by quechua-speaking natives who have developed an efficient and unique social system, as well as a fine hand-weaving technique.
Day 8 Puno
Close to Puno are the floating reed islands that are still inhabited by about 300 Uros Indians. They offer all kinds of nice souvenirs and you may go on a tour on small hand-made reed boats. The islands themselves move a little bit when you walk on them and, if you stand still too long in one spot, water will slowly run over your shoes. You will have to communicate with the Uros with your hands and feet, because the people on the island usually only speak the native language of “Quechua”. The island is still very traditional. There are no cars and only recently electricity is available for a few hours per day. You make take a beautiful hike on the island to, for example, the ruins of the temple of Pachamama, Mother Earth.
Day 9 Puno – Lima
Early morning visit the "Chullpas" of Sillustani, where the ancient Aymaras buried their high priests in cylinder-shaped tombs. Continue to Juliaca Airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Lima.
Day 10 Lima – Quito (Flight)
Day 11 Quito
Day 12 Quito – Otavalo
Day 13 Otavalo – Quito
Day 14 Quito – Baltra flight Galapagos – Board Yacht
Day 15 Galapagos Cruise
Day 16 Galapagos Cruise
Day 17 Galapagos Cruise
Day 18 Galapagos Cruise ends Balta – Quito flight
Daty 19 Quito - US
The following description is a sample itinerary, which may vary, depending on the boat available at time of booking. After our arrival on the small island Baltra, we immediately board the boat to pay a short visit to the nearby Bachas Islands. The next day we visit one of the Plazas islands. After which, we sail to Isla Sante Fe, the larger of the two Plazas islands, about 7 miles wide. Here we can take our first peek at the land iguanas and go for a walk in the unusual forest of cacti. The Isla Santa Fe has a cactus forest and is the habitat for very rare types of iguanas that are only found on this island. Even though they are quite shy, with a little bit of luck you can view this famous breed of iguana.
The Isla Española is also known by the English name, “Hood”. To get to the shore you must wade through the clear seawater for a short distance. A so-called “wet landing” is often witnessed by sea lions, which hardly react, to your arrival. It is claimed that the animals on the Galapagos Islands barely developed an instinctive fear of people, since the islands are practically uninhabited. On Española, you can also admire the Galapagos Albatross. The breeding season begins in early spring and the rest of the year the spastic chicks stumble around the weather beaten lava surface of the island. An estimated 12,000 couples breed here every year. Outside the breeding season, you can see the albatross over the ocean along the shores of Columbia, Ecuador and Peru. But the birds always return to these rocks in the Pacific Ocean where they were born. During a walk (watch where you step!) in the neighborhood of Punta Suarez, you will most likely come across the blue-foot Galapagos penguins. We have lunch at the beach where you have time to do a little snorkeling. Floreana is especially infamous for its first inhabitants, most of whom died a mysterious death. Only the offspring of the Witmer family survived. The lagoons between the bays are the homes for huge flocks of flamingos accompanied by many other bird species. Post Office Bay is actually the historic post office of the Galapagos archipelago. There used to be a barrel filled with mail and every passing ship would pick up mail for their destination.
On the north side of the island, you find cultivated land. This is where most people live, raising cattle and growing coffee, even though living on the Galapagos Islands is not being encouraged. On the south side of the island, spread throughout many low-rise buildings, are the research laboratory and the work place of the Darwin Research Station. The fact that the turtles from various islands vary in shape, inspired Darwin, and helped him to develop his influential theory of evolution documented in his book, On the Origin of Species. We spend the night in a hotel on the island and the next morning, we make the crossover to Baltra for the flight to Quito where we depart the following day for home.
If you book a private trip, you will also have the option to book a 4-day cruise or an 8-day cruise. Most trips are booked on Tourist Class or Tourist Superior yachts, but you may inquire if you would like to book a 1st Class Yacht. Different yachts depart on different days of the week, so trips may be reconfigured to accommodate the yacht departure dates.
Sample cruise itineraries.
5-DAY TOUR
Day 1: Flight to Baltra Island. p.m. Visit Black Turtle Cove. D.
Day 2: Visit: a.m. North Seymour Island. p.m. Plazas islands. B, L, D.
Day 3: Visit Lobos Island: a.m. Interpretation Center. p.m. Tijeretas. B, L, D.
Day 4: Visit Española Island B, L, D.
Day 5: Arrival at Baltra Island: a.m. Visit Gemelos and transfer to the airport. B.
8-DAY TOUR:
Day 1: Flight to Baltra Island. p.m. Visit Black Turtle Cove. D.
Day 2: Visit: a.m. North Seymour Island. p.m. Plazas islands. B, L, D.
Day 3: Visit Lobos Island: a.m. Interpretation Center. p.m. Tijeretas. B, L, D.
Day 4: Visit Española Island B, L, D.
Day 5: Arrival at Baltra Island: a.m. Visit Gemelos (early morning optional visit to Charles Darwin Station) and Santa Fe. B, L, D.
Day 6: Visit: a.m. Sombrero Chino. p.m. Puerto Egas B, L, D.
Day 7: Visit: a.m. Sullivan Bay. p.m. Bartolome Island. B, L, D.
Day 8: Visit: a.m. Bachas and transfer to the airport in Baltra. B.
4-DAY TOUR:
Day 1: Arrival at Baltra Island: p.m. Visit Santa Fe. B, L, D.
Day 2: Visit: a.m. Visit Sombrero Chino. p.m. Visit Puerto Egas B, L, D.
Day 3: Visit: a.m. Sullivan Bay. p.m. Bartolome Island. B, L, D.
Day 4: Visit: a.m. Bachas and transfer to the airport in Baltra. B.
