Incas, Amazon and Galapagos

B - Breakfast | L - Lunch | D - Dinner

Day 1 Lima

Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel. There are no planned activities, so explore the city on our own. In the evening we will meet our guide and fellow group members to go over the details of our trip.

Day 2-3 Iquitos/Amazon Jungle lodge (2B,2L,2D)

An early transfer in the morning takes us to the airport for the flight north to the remote jungle city of Iquitos, near the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. A 45 miles (70 km) journey by motorized canoe transports us to the jungle lodge is our base for the next two nights. Enjoy a variety of activities with our naturalist local guide including jungle walks, boat rides and wildlife spotting.

Day 4 Lima (B)

We journey back upriver to Iquitos in the morning to the airport for the flight south, back to Lima. In the afternoon we'll enjoy a walking orientation tour of the bustling Miraflores district of Lima, with its great shopping, wonderful restaurants and beautiful parks along the coastline.

Day 5-6 Puno (2B,L)

We transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Juliaca. A short transfer takes us to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca - the largest lake in the world above 6,600 ft. Along the way, we stop at the fascinating site of Sillustani Ruins and funeral towers and visit a local farm. On day 6 we head out by boat across Lake Titicaca where we visit the floating reed islands of the Uros people. We visit with the local people to learn about their very unique way of life, try out a ride in a reed boat and enjoy a typical lunch. Our afternoon is at leisure to further explore the town of Puno.

Day 7 Cuzco (B)

Today we take a beautiful 6-hour journey across the Altiplano from Puno to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire. Cuzco is considered the mecca of Peru and rightly so. This beautiful colonial town offers much to the visitor with its nearby ruins, museums, churches and lively atmosphere.

Day 8 Sacred Valley (1B,1L,1D)

An early start takes us from Cuzco with a local guide into the Sacred Valley for a full day tour. The first stop is an an interactive visit to a Planeterra Community Weaving Project, before moving on for a tour of the Pisac ruins and handicraft market, and the Inca town and ruins of Ollantaytambo. This evening, we enjoy a traditional Pachamanca-style dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 9-12 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (4B,3L,3D)

We embark upon a once-in-a-lifetime journey on the ancient trail of the Incas and do it in style. Our deluxe trek offers comfortable mattresses, gourmet food and upgraded camping facilities. Friendly local porters and guides ensure that our trip is worry-free. The 4-day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is physically challenging but worthwhile and the excursion is within the ability of most reasonably fit. It is a 25-mile hike, with three high passes to be crossed, one of which reaches an elevation of 13776 ft. We depart Ollantaytambo for km 82 where we begin our walk in the footsteps of the Incas. With breathtaking views at every step, we move from high plateau areas to dense cloud forest. Depending on the season, we may see a great variety of flora, including miniature and large orchids, and fiery rhododendron bushes. We pass several smaller ruin sites, the first of which is Llactapata. On our second day, we climb the long steep path to Dead Woman’s Pass. At 13769 ft above sea level, this pass is the highest point of the trek. The second pass of the hike is at 13776 ft where on clear days, we enjoy superb views of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. The trail goes through some beautiful cloud forest on the gentle climb to the third pass, where we walk through a causeway and a tunnel, both original Inca constructions. The highest point of the third pass is at 12136 ft. On clear days we are rewarded with beautiful views of the Urubamba Valley below. Soon we reach the serene ruins of Phuyupatamarca, or the 'Town above the Clouds', at about 11972 ft above sea level. We camp here or an hour and a half further along close to Wiñay Wayna ruins, a grandiose terraced hillside site, with panoramic views of the valley below and just a short hike from Machu Picchu. On the final day of the hike we climb the steps to the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. When the morning is clear, there is no way to describe the feeling of the first views of Machu Picchu, as the mist rises off the mountains early in the morning and the famous site appears in front of us. Return to Cuzco by train in the afternoon of day 12.

Those choosing not to do the Inca Trail, follow the below itinerary:

Day 9-12 Cuzco, Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu (4B)

For those not hiking the Inca trail, we return back to Cuzco on Day 9 where we visit a Planeterra street kids drop-in home. Before we arrive, we stop at a local market where we have the opportunity to buy gifts (food, pencils, stationery) for the project, if you choose. Day 10 is at leisure with numerous optional activities for us to choose from. On Day 11, we enjoy a scenic train ride through the Andes to Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. We take a brief orientation tour of the town and the remainder of the day is free for optional activities; visit the hot springs, shop or venture up to Machu Picchu to have more time to explore. On Day 12, we rise early to meet up with the hikers at Machu Picchu for our guided tour, then return to Cuzco later in the afternoon.

Day 13 Lima (B)

A morning flight brings us back to Lima around midday. In the afternoon, we enjoy a guided tour of the historical center of Lima, followed by a unique visit to Pueblo Libre, known for its historic association with Pisco production. We watch a demonstration of how to make the most popular Peruvian drink and enjoy a typical pisco sour with the locals while soaking in the atmosphere.

Day 14 Lima (B)

Today we delve into Peru’s mysterious past on a guided visit of the Museo de la Nacion, the country’s premiere archeological museum. Our afternoon is at leisure for some last minute shopping or to enjoy a walk around Miraflores or the Larco Mar shopping center.

Day 15 Lima/Quito (B)

We fly to Quito where we will be met and transferred to our hotel. Our flight is unescorted, not included and must be pre-booked.

Day 16 Baltra/Black turtle cove (B,L,D)

We will rise early to catch our flight to Baltra, in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, we are met by our expert naturalist guide and transfer to the catamaran. After lunch and a briefing, we embark on our first excursion to visit Black Turtle Cove, an area of small mangrove surrounded inlets where we can view various bird and marine life including herons, pelicans, mustard rays, white tipped sharks and sea turtles.

Day 17 Floreana (B,L,D)

This morning, we will explore Post Office Bay, on Floreana Island. The history of Floreana Island (also called Charles) has evolved to reach near mythic proportions based on a tremulous love story chronicled in The Galapagos Affair. Later in the afternoon, we will continue to Punta Cormorant on the northern part of Floreana. The landing is on a beach of green sand, colored by olivine crystals, volcanic-derived silicate of magnesium and iron. From the beach, we will take a short hike to a lake normally inhabited by flamingos and other shore birds. We will continue to a beach of fine white sand particles known as “Flour Beach”, an important nesting site for turtles. Around the point, Devil's Crown derives its name from the broken remains of a partially submerged volcanic cone. This is a perfect spot to go snorkeling from the boat, as the waters are home to a multitude of colorful fish and sea lions.

Day 18 Española (B,L,D)

Early this morning, we arrive at Española Island (also called Hood Island), the southernmost island of the Galapagos. We will explore Garner Bay, an excellent swimming and snorkeling site where we may find ourselves swimming with sea lions or even reef sharks. We continue in the afternoon to Punta Suarez on the western side of Española Island, where views are spectacular - gargantuan waves break on jagged cliffs and large bird colonies thickly populate the interior of the island. During our hike, we will follow the trail through a rookery and learn the geological history of the island from our naturalist, including its dramatic volcanic features, climate, flora and fauna.

Day 19 Santa Cruz (B,L,D)

In the morning, we will head back to port in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island where we visit the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, an exhibition displays photos of recent volcanic eruptions, charts outlining geological formations and drawings of the evolutionary development of endemic species. In the afternoon, we will have the opportunity to visit the highlands and see giant land tortoises in the wild.

Day 20 Cerro Dragón / Rábida (B,L,D)

This morning, we visit Dragon Hill, then make our way to Rabida Island (also called Jervis Island) where our boat lands on a red sand beach. We will take a short hike along the trail leading to a salt-water lagoon, often home to wading flamingos. We will continue along another trail past the lagoon into the interior, where the revered palo santo trees grow. When burned, the branches of this tree give off a pleasing aroma and ward off mosquitoes. Walking back to the beach, we search among low-lying bushes for the nests of the prehistoric-looking pelicans. This is the best area for up-close viewing of these nesting birds and it is a rare treat to watch parent pelicans return with gullets full of fish for the squawking youngsters.

Day 21 Sullivan/ Bartolomé (B,L,D)

In the morning, we will visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to explore the huge black lava flows that are a century old. Walking along the lava trail, we will view various volcanic formations including; lava bubbles and pahoehoe, a real treat for those interested in geology and earth sciences. Afterward, we continue to Bartolomé Island and hike up to the summit for a clearer perspective of the not-too-distant volcanic origins of the area. The panoramic view from here is one of the best among the islands and a favorite spot for pictures. After the summit hike, we will stop at the beach to relax in semi-tropical tranquility. Here we find fantastic snorkeling among the submerged volcanic rock and around the base of the tower. It is not unusual to see sharks in these shallow waters, and marine turtles nest here from January through March.

Day 22 South Plazas/ Santa Fé (B,L,D)

This morning, we will visit the South Plazas Island, famous for its unusual cactus forest. There are two hikes - one leads from the beach into a sparse forest of prickly pear cactus, the other longer trail goes up a cliff side into an area inhabited by land iguanas. In the afternoon, we continue to Santa Fé Island which is well-known as a great place for observing, and swimming with, sea lions.

Day 23 North Seymour/Quito (B)

This morning, we will make a brief visit to North Seymour Island for one last look for frigate birds, blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Probably the most exciting island photographically, bird life abounds, and close to the trail we will find many nesting pairs and young chicks. Seymour is also home to the Galapagos’s largest colony of magnificent frigate birds. We will then sail to Baltra Island and transfer to the airport for our flight to Quito. The rest of our day and is at our leisure to enjoy the historic city of Quito.

Day 24 Depart Quito (B)

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