Galapagos and Inca Explorer (Inc one day Inca Trail hike) - Overland Trip

Itineraries

Arrive and transfer to the hotel.

Fly from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and transfer onto our first class yacht, the Eden. After lunch we visit Las Bachas, a white sandy beach on the southern side of Santa Cruz Island that is a major nesting site for sea turtles. (BLD)

We walk along the coast of North Seymour and then towards the interior of the island, observing colonies of blue footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, sea lions and marine iguanas. In the afternoon we arrive at Santa Fe, to a lovely white beach with colourful turquoise water, perfect for swimming and snorkelling. A forest of Opuntia cactus covers the island. Larger iguanas and many other animals can also be found on the island. (BLD)

On arrival at Espanola we visit Punta Suarez and follow a trail to see blue footed boobies and waved albatrosses nesting in their hundreds. We then head to Gardner Bay, which has a brilliant white sandy beach with hundreds of basking sea lions. (BLD)

After breakfast we disembark at Point Cormorant and take an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon nearby. There is great snorkelling from the beach at the ‘Devil's Crown’ for those who wish. In the afternoon we land at the historic Post Office Bay to learn more about the history of the islands, their early inhabitants and the adventures of local pirates and whalers. Later, a dinghy takes us to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays, sea turtles and possibly even the Galapagos penguin. (BLD)

Continue to Santa Cruz, the only inhabited island visited during the cruise and visit Puerto Ayora, the largest settlement on the islands and home to the Charles Darwin Research Station which is famous for its tortoise breeding programmes. We then drive to the highlands of Los Gemelos (Twin Craters), two deep craters in the Scalesia forest. It is possible to walk through the giant lava tubes, or visit the tortoise reserve to observe giant Galapagos tortoises in their natural surroundings. Return to Puerto Ayora, where there is further time to explore. (BLD)

From the black sand beaches of Puerto Egas in James Bay, we hike inland to the salt crater, watching out for land birds such as finches, doves, and hawks. Continuing down the rugged shoreline, we may also spot marine species such as iguanas basking on the rocks, and sea lions and sally light foot crabs lazing in the tide pools. At the end of the trail are a series of sea caves where fur seals and night herons are found resting on the shady ledges and rocky lava fringed rocks. Just north of this is Buccaneer Cove, a particularly scenic area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. Later we reach Bartolome, a small island with beautiful white sandy beaches, luxuriant green mangroves and a colony of penguins. There is the opportunity to snorkel and swim, or to climb to the summit of the volcanic crater for breathtaking views of many of the other Galapagos Islands and the famous Pinnacle Rock. (BLD)

Climb to Prince Philip’s step, where at the end of the trail we can find thousands of band-rumped storm petrels nesting in crevices at the cliff edge. Genovesa Island is formed from an exotic, partially-collapsed volcano famous for its crater walls, and we visit Darwin Bay, at the foot of the crater, where the island attracts large numbers of seabirds that come to nest and breed. A trail leads from the coral beach past tidal lagoons where lava gulls and yellow-crowned night herons can be seen, then along the low shrubs populated by hundreds of magnificent frigates, red-footed boobies, swallowed tailed gulls and brilliant storm petrels, which all mate here. (BLD)

Early in the morning we travel to Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) to look for turtles; from December to March, these beautiful animals breed here in peace and quiet. These are not the only animals we can see - if we are lucky, we can see white-tipped reef sharks or the amazing eagle ray and golden rays under our dinghy! Time to say goodbye to our boat and crew. There is time for last minute souvenir shopping in Puerto Ayora before transferring to Baltra for the flight back to Guayaquil on the mainland. Transit for your flight to Peru and Lima. Arrive and transfer to your hotel. (B)

We fly to Cuzco where the rest of the time is free to explore.  Cuzco is the old Inca capital and home to the largest and most intriguing empire in Latin America. (B)

Spare time to explore Cuzco, the old Inca capital and home to the largest and most intriguing empire in Latin America. Cuzco is packed full of amazing architecture and ruins from days gone by. (B)

Today we visit the Sacred Valley, home to a number of impressive Inca ruins, bustling markets and friendly villages like Ollantaytambo. Our trip includes a stop at the interesting Moray site, off the touristy circuit; these ruins are an amazing set of concentric terraces with a perfect shape used by the Incas as agricultural laboratory and ceremonial site to the goddess Pachamama. We spend the night in Urubamba, in the heart of the Sacred Valley. (BD)

We board the famous train that runs from the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu, a spectacular journey through a dramatic and changing landscape. We disembark at Km 104, and can hike the last part of the famous Inca Trail toward the Sun Gate, before reaching the citadel of Machu Picchu, hopefully in time for sunset. (Note: You can continue on the train to Aguas Calientes if you do not wish to hike.) Later we transfer by bus to our hotel in Aguas Calientes. (BL)

We rise early and travel by bus to the ruins at Machu Picchu to fully enjoy one of the most impressive sites to be found anywhere on the planet. We have a guided tour around this amazing ancient city, as well as having time to explore on our own. Later we travel in our comfortable train back to Cuzco where we spend the night. (B)

We take the bus to Puno, on the edge of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. On the way there is the chance to visit different sites, like the Raya High Pass, Andahuillas or Raqchi Temple, dedicated to Viracocha the Creator God of the Incas. (B)

We cross the border into Bolivia and head out onto the sparkling waters of the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca in a hydrofoil. After a quick visit to the Moon Island we arrive at Sun Island where legend says that the first Incas mystically appeared here after a direct order from the sun. One of the most sacred sites in the Inca world, the island is scattered with enigmatic ruins, including the Inca Stairway and Inca Springs. We spend the night at an eco-lodge on the island. (BLD)

A short boat transfer takes us to Copacabana. This town served as a site of religious pilgrimage for centuries, beginning with the Incas and is site of a famous basilica that is home to the famous Black Madonna. From there we drive to La Paz, the Bolivian capital and highest capital city in the world. (B)

We drive along the edge of Lake Titicaca back to Puno. Before leaving Bolivia, we stop at Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca city that was once home to 50,000 inhabitants, and one which remains largely a mystery. We spend the night in Puno. (B)

In the morning we visit the burial towers of Sillustani, situated in a beautiful setting by a lake. Built originally by a pre-Inca culture (Colla), their use was continued by the Incas, so we can appreciate the differences in the architecture. From there we transfer onto Juliaca airport for our flight back to Lima. (B)

We depart early in the morning driving along the Pan-American Highway to Pisco. From there we take a picturesque boat ride out to the Ballestas Islands, home to an abundance of birdlife, sea lions, penguins and pelicans. We also see the famous ‘candelabra’ figure etched onto the coastal hills. Later we continue to Ica, in the Peruvian desert. (B)

As we are in the area famous for their grape production, in the morning we visit a wine and pisco factory, to see how the national drink of Peru is made. Later we drive to Nazca. On arrival we visit the Chauchilla cemetery, a impressive collection of mummies, most of which still have their original hair, and their funerary ornaments. They belong to the pre-Inca Nazca culture that was responsible for the famous 'lines'. (B)

In the morning we take a flight over the Nazca Lines, mysterious lines and figures etched into the landscape. The pictures represent people, a variety of birds from hummingbirds to condors, fish, a whale, a lizard, a pair of hands and a series of intersecting grids and trapezoids, some of which are 10 km long. No one exactly knows why and when they were created or what they were meant to represent. We drive along the coast back to Lima (B)

Tour ends after breakfast. (B)