Your Itinerary
LIMA, PERU
Welcome to Lima—Cosmopolitan, Colonial, and Pre-Columbian Culture Enjoy free time today before your Peruvian Andes and Galápagos adventure begins. Explore the fascinating Peruvian capital—where high-rises tower above ancient temples and colorful colonial architecture.
LIMA
Peruvian Treasures, Presidential Palaces, and Pizarro’s ConquestsCLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Lima—to see the colonial Old Quarter, Plaza de Armas, the presidential Government Palace, and the ornate Cathedral—founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Visit the San Francisco Monastery and see its famous catacombs.DISCOVERY This evening, join a Guided Tour of Lima’s Larco Herrera Museum—on the site of a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid. With the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art, see 5,000 years of art, artifacts, and archaeological treasures. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner in the beautiful Peruvian café here.(B,D)
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Alpacas, Llamas, and Ancient Andes VillagesFly to the ancient Andean city of Cusco—former capital of the Inca Empire—on your way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. DISCOVERY Take a Guided Tour of Awanakancha to encounter llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos and learn about their vital role in Peruvian culture. Continue to the old mountain village of Pisac to browse the local market and colorful stalls for alpaca sweaters, woven blankets, and handmade jewelry.This evening, enjoy dining on Andean and Western dishes with wine.(B,L,D)
SACRED VALLEY
Stone Temples and Formidable FortressesCLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo to visit the ruins including the Sun Temple and Princess Baths fountain.DISCOVERY Join an Escorted Visit to a native Incan home in the village of Ollantaytambo to experience the way of life enduring since the 13th century. Andean Heights and Hidden Secrets of the Inca’s Lost City CLASSIC All aboard the 360° train to Aguas Calientes enjoying spectacular views of the lush countryside of Urubamba Valley along the way from the panoramic windows or the open-air carriage. From Aguas Calientes, take the winding road to Machu Picchu.ACTIVE Take a Guided Walk of Machu Picchu to explore the “Lost City of the Incas” high atop the Andes. 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.DISCOVERY Enjoy your overnight stay at the foot of the mountain with a gourmet dinner including wine.(B,D)
MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
A Miraculous Sanctuary in a Tropical Mountain Forest CLASSIC Take a second included Guided Excursion to Machu Picchu. Set out early to see the sunrise over the ruins, and wander through perfectly assembled stone walls and terraces amid the natural landscape as a hidden sanctuary.After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. (B,L)
CUSCO
Conquistadors, Churches, and the Colorful Culture of Peru CLASSIC A Guided Walking Tour of Cusco reveals more on the struggle between the Incas and the invading Spaniards. Visit the imposing Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery. Next, see the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages and 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.DISCOVERY Tonight, enjoy dinner inspired by Peru’s eclectic mix of cultures.(B,D)
QUITO, ECUADOR
Bienvenido a Ecuador! South America’s Most Biodiverse Country Fly to Quito, capital of Ecuador and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and begin the Ecuadorian portion of your vacation. DISCOVERY Tonight, enjoy dinner at a famed local restaurant with delicious regional cuisine.(B,D)
QUITO. EXCURSION TO OTAVALO
Traditions Woven through Generations in the Andean Highlands CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion to Otavalo’s Indian market—brimming with colorful woven textiles, traditional Ecuadorean apparel, produce, and craftwork.DISCOVERY Visit the Warmi Kawsay social project in the Topo community. Learn about the project’s mission of better facilitate tourism to create awareness and progress in gender equality and the empowerment of Indigenous women. Also visit the town of Peguche—famous for its exquisitely handcrafted weavings. Take an Escorted Tour of local homes to observe the handiwork in creating woven blankets and clothing that are so important to life in the Andes highlands.DISCOVERY Enjoy an authentic Andean Dining Experience with lunch served in a local hacienda.(B,L)
QUITO
A Gold Altar, Artistic Avenues, and Two Hemispheres at One TimeDISCOVERY Travel through the Tandayapa Valley to the Andean Chocó cloud forest and nature reserve. The Alambi Reserve, renowned for bird watching, is home to more than 250 species of birds, including 30 different hummingbirds. While here, visit the hummingbird garden to observe these characteristic birds in their natural habitat.CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Quito that showcases the colonial city’s historic sites, including the impressive Legislative Palace with its enormous, sculpted mural of Ecuadorean history. You’ll also see Independence Plaza and visit the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery, and La Compañía Church—the exquisite Jesuit cathedral with its spectacular Spanish baroque architecture—more than 160 years in the making.DISCOVERY Take a Guided Walk down Calle La Ronda—one of Quito’s oldest streets—with artist’s workshops and galleries. Later, visit a local chocolate factory to taste for yourself why Ecuador is one of the world’s finest chocolate producers.CLASSIC Join a Guided Excursion to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo—the “middle of the world.” Stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time at the exact location of the Earth’s Equator.(B)
SAN CRISTOBAL–GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS (EMBARKATION)
Protected Giant Tortoises and Highly Adaptable Birds This morning, fly to the remote Galápagos Island of San Cristobal where you’ll embark on a five-day cruise on the Treasure of Galápagos.CLASSIC Take a Naturalist-Led Excursion to the highlands of San Cristobal to visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve. Learn about the island’s endangered giant tortoise population and the reserve’s conservation efforts.DISCOVERY Your expert Naturalist Guide will point out other wildlife on the island, including songbirds like the yellow warbler, Galápagos large-billed flycatchers, and the Chatham mockingbird (unique to this island), that put Darwin on track of his evolution theory.Enjoy a Captain’s welcome dinner on board this evening.NOTE: The ship’s itinerary may vary according to Galápagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited.(B,L,D)
ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Sky-High Ocean Spray and Diverse Life In and Out of the WaterCLASSIC Take a Guided Excursion with your expert Naturalist to explore the southeastern part of the archipelago. Visit the glistening white coral beaches of Gardner Bay to see Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, seabirds, and hawks. Watch for three species of Darwin finches—a hallmark of his research.DISCOVERY Enjoy a prime snorkeling spot in Gardner Bay’s pristine waters to spot a kaleidoscope of multi-colored reef fish, reef sharks, and the amazing Pacific green turtles.ACTIVE This afternoon, your Naturalist Guide takes you to the sheer cliffs of Punta Suárez to witness the spectacular spray from an ocean blowhole. Watch for the blue-footed and Nazca boobies, and other remarkable bird species, including the waved albatross. Be on the lookout for the male Christmas iguana that turns red and green during mating season.(B,L,D)
FLOREANA ISLAND
Pink Flamingos, Gliding Rays, and a Message in a Barrel CLASSIC Join a Naturalist-Led Excursion to Floreana’s Post Office Bay—with its historic 18th-century whalers’ postal service—consisting of a barrel—to drop mail with the hopes that future travelers will carry it back to the mainland.ACTIVE Explore the island’s channels by panga boat, or take a swim with playful sea lions. This afternoon, join your Naturalist Guide for an easy hike at Cormorant Point in search of greater flamingos, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles, or take another opportunity to snorkel with reef fish, turtles, and rays gliding through the crystal shallows.(B,L,D)
SANTA FÉ ISLAND
A Prehistoric Volcano and Prickly Cactus ForestACTIVE Take a Naturalist Guided Hike to explore Barrington Bay—home to one of the most ancient volcanoes in the Galápagos, animal species found nowhere else in the world, and a forest of giant prickly pear cacti—mainstay of the land iguana, endemic only to Santa Fé Island. Keep an eye out for other species exclusive to the island, including the Galápagos hawk, snake, and mockingbird.Take time to enjoy the inviting waters off Barrington Bay to snorkel with sea lions and vibrantly colored fish, before cruising to Santa Cruz Island.DISCOVERY You’ll also visit Tortuga Bay for a Naturalist Guided Excursion to Santa Cruz Island—the nesting place of the Pacific green turtle, marine iguanas, and the giant Galápagos tortoise.This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner served especially for your final night on board. (B,L,D)
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
Guarding the Gentle Giants of the Highlands DISCOVERY Take a Naturalist Guided Excursion to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve. You’ll have the opportunity to observe Galápagos tortoises in the wild and learn how these gentle giants are studied and protected across the archipelago.Continue to the airport for your return flight to Quito. (B)
QUITO, ECUADOR
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.(B)