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Jewels of South America: Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu Overland Adventure (Single)
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Port
Manta, Ecuador
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$7799
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
6 Days/5 nights
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Meals Included
Meals included
6 Days/ 5 Nights
Discover the Galápagos Islands, encapsulating Ecuador’s outstanding natural environment and its wealth of marine mammals and birdlife in a dazzlingly colorful setting. From one extreme to the other, this exhilaratingly strenuous Overland Adventure also takes you high into the glorious Andes mountains. The Conquistadors searched extensively, believing Machu Picchu to be El Dorado, but they never located this lost city of the Incas.
Day 1 (L/D) Manta - Guayaquil - Galápagos
Transfer from Manta to Guayaquil Airport by road -- a four-hour drive. Your luggage is inspected by the Galápagos National Authorities to avoid introducing any harmful seeds, plants or organisms to the islands. Board a 90-minute flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Upon arrival in the islands, you’ll meet your naturalist guide on Baltra and transfer by public bus to the shores of the Itabaca Channel.
A short ferry ride brings you to Santa Cruz Island. On Santa Cruz, board a private vehicle to transfer to Puerto Ayora on the far side of the island. As you pass through rural areas, you will learn a bit about the archipelago’s agriculture and the diversity of its flora and fauna. Surrounded by wild landscapes and different species, keep a lookout for the finches famous for being the basis of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Check in at the hotel, freshen up, and enjoy lunch.
This afternoon, in the Santa Cruz Highlands, watch the famous Galápagos land tortoises in their natural environment and learn how the private ranches here assist in protecting these special animals. Listen to the tortoises as they eat leaves from the trees and crash through the undergrowth -- they are beautiful but perhaps not graceful. Tortoises of all ages and sizes gather here. The small, young ones have bright, shining carapaces; the older ones move more slowly and sport some serious cracks in their shells -- evidence of a long life. Your guide will explain the origin of the well-known lava tunnels in this area.
Dinner is served at the hotel after an exciting and memorable day.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn Galapagos Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 (B/L/D) Galápagos
Today, you will take a full-day boat tour to ONE of the following islands:
Bartolomé
An early start brings you to Itabaca Channel, where you step aboard a yacht for a day in paradise -- beautiful white beaches, clear water, and a wealth of wildlife to observe. Enjoy breakfast while watching the sunrise at sea during the two-hour boat trip. There is also a chance of spotting dolphins and other marine residents very close to the boat in the early hours. There will be either a dry or wet landing on Isla Bartolomé, where you’ll discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones -- lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. Due to its geographical location, Isla Bartolomé’s lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Hike the 300 steps to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands -- Santiago, North Seymour, Baltra, Santa Cruz and Rábida -- and the eroded tuff cone called Pinnacle Rock. The rock is home to thousands of sea birds and is the most photographed landscape in the Galápagos Islands. Change clothes and head to the beach for a short ride to Sullivan Bay for snorkeling. For those not wishing to snorkel, a dinghy ride provides a fantastic encounter with the diminutive Galápagos penguin. Back at the southern beach, the shallow sea invites you to go swimming and snorkeling with the Galápagos penguins, sharks, starfish, rays, sea turtles and plenty of other exotic and colorful fish. Enjoy the diversity of native residents, such as marine iguanas, sea lions, pelicans, and many more. Lunch is served back on the boat.
Seymour & Bachas
Get acquainted with North Seymour Island and Bachas Beach. Head to Itabaca Channel, where you step aboard a yacht for the one-hour cruise to Seymour Island. Transfer by dinghy to the rocky coast near a small Palo Santo forest consisting of gray and silver trees that are leafless most of the year. Seymour is famous for its large colonies of birds. The very special male frigatebirds, with their red pouches, attract females in breeding time. Observe the famous Galápagos blue-footed boobies here. These seabirds have a wedge-shaped tail and long, pointed wings. For courtship, the males lift first one, then the other blue foot into the air, and dance to impress the female. Other highlights of this excursion are a beach with small cliffs and a chance to observe seagulls, sea lions, marine iguanas and pelicans. Your freshly cooked lunch consists of two courses and is served on the boat. During siesta time, the yacht navigates to Bachas Beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Take a short hike to a flamingo pond just behind the beach, and afterward, refresh yourself with a swim or snorkel at this isolated beach with white sand and turquoise water. Sea lions, rays, tortoises, and tropical fish may join you in your underwater experience.
Plazas & Punta Carrion
Transfer to Itabaca Channel, where you step aboard a yacht for a day on South Plaza Island. This is one of the smaller islands of the Galápagos. Plazas welcome travelers with a bright, colorful red and green carpet of sesuvio -- an endemic plant -- and the loud, friendly barking of several sea lion families. The ocean’s turquoise water perfectly complements the white sandy beaches and the black lava rocks of the coast. Take a leisurely hike alongside basking sea lions and land iguanas found on most parts of the island. The trail leads to the highest cliff, where swallow-tailed gulls wheel through the air, and blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds glide gently on the wind. Bring along binoculars for close-up views. The view from the highest point, looking out over the ocean and the powerful waves breaking against the cliffs, is an experience you won’t forget. Afterward, the trip continues to Punta Carrion, where lunch is served on board the yacht. This is a great spot to snorkel and swim among rays, sharks, and hundreds of colorful tropical fish.
Floreana
Navigate to the small town of Puerto Velasco Ibarra, located on Floreana Island, about 2½ hours from Santa Cruz. Board local transportation known as a chiva for a 30-minute ride up to the highlands. The dirt road is surrounded by typical dry vegetation, replaced by lush, green vegetation as you gain elevation. Banana, coffee and cacao farms dot the landscape. A beautiful walk lets you observe the typical flora and encounter giant Galápagos tortoises. Continue to the place where the German Wittmer family settled in 1932, using caves as their home. Lunch is served at a small restaurant in town. La Loberia Bay is home to a small colony of sea lions. Marine iguanas rest on the rocks, and turtles populate the clear water.
Isabela
Head to Puerto Villamil -- the town on Isabela Island -- about three hours from Santa Cruz. You will visit the Isabela Tortoise Breeding Center. Your guide explains the different activities developed by the National Park to protect the fragile environment. Different species and sizes of giant Galápagos tortoises live here. Walk to the humedales (wetlands) by way of a well-maintained path. This beautiful spot is composed of lagoons, rocks, mangroves, and trees that attract flamingos and migratory birds. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. You’ll visit the Las Tintoreras scenic area with colonies of marine iguanas, sea lions, and white-tipped sharks (tintoreras) resting in the channels formed by lava flows. Snorkel in the company of sea lions, penguins and marine turtles.
Santa Fe
Formed by tectonic uplifting rather than by volcanic activity, Santa Fe boasts one of the most beautiful coves in all of the Galápagos. Some of the island’s endemic species include the Galápagos hawk, Galápagos snake, land iguanas, various types of finches, and the Galápagos mockingbird. Your visit includes a hike on a trail past salt bushes, where Galápagos hawks and Santa Fe land iguanas tend to roam. Playful sea lions will usually accompany swimmers and snorkelers during beach time.
Whichever island you visit, your day trip ends with a late afternoon return to the hotel on Santa Cruz Island.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn Galapagos Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 (B/L/D) Galápagos - Guayaquil - Lima
After breakfast, transfer to Baltra Airport for a flight to Guayaquil. Leave the airport in Guayaquil for lunch at a local restaurant. You will tour Guayaquil with a sightseeing drive along the Malecon -- the scenic route along the shores of the Guayas River. Watch for the Civic Plaza, the Moorish Tower, City Hall, and the Rotonda Monument, among other important city hotspots.
Head back to the airport for a flight to Lima. In Lima, check in at the hotel and enjoy dinner.
Hotel: Wyndham Costa del Sol Airport Hotel
Day 4 (B/L/D) Lima - Cusco
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca civilization.
Upon arrival, you will visit the sacred site of Coricancha. Here, you will admire the lovely Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo, which was built atop the foundations of the Temple of the Sun. The curved, mortar-less masonry wall at the west end of the church is one of the greatest existing examples of Inca stonework. Continue to the splendid Baroque-style Cusco Cathedral, built in the mid-1500s on the foundations of an Inca palace. Many of the stones used in its construction were looted from the nearby Sacsayhuaman fortress.
Transfer to a local restaurant for lunch.
You’ll visit Sacsayhuaman Fortress, strategically located on a hill overlooking Cusco and constructed without mortar like many other Inca structures. The craftsmanship is a stunning example of the Inca’s sophisticated construction techniques and architectural skills.
Transfer to the Sacred Valley and to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Hotel: Palacio del Inka Hotel (or similar)
Day 5: (B/L/D) Cusco - Machu Picchu - Cusco
In the morning, after breakfast, you’ll drive further into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. A route offering wonderful landscapes will take you to Ollantaytambo Fortress. You will visit this archaeological site before heading to the Ollantaytambo Station for the train to Machu Picchu.
Board the elegantly appointed Vistadome train for a scenic ride through the Sacred Valley. Panoramic windows beside and above each seat offer marvelous views. Much of the scenery is above you in the form of cliffs and sheer mountains. Skirting the Urubamba River, you will journey to Machu Picchu Station in Aguas Calientes, 6,690 feet above sea level.
In Aguas Calientes, it is just a short walk to the bus loading area and a 30-minute winding and steep ride to Machu Picchu -- the Lost City of the Incas -- at an elevation of 7,874 feet. The bus ride is on unpaved roads, but the end reward is to immerse yourself in the timeless history and intangible magic of this strange and wondrous ancient citadel. Your guided tour is an awe-inspiring, once-in-a-lifetime experience. This city was constructed by incredibly sophisticated techniques with huge blocks of stone fitted together perfectly -- an example of precision that is elusive even with today’s technology.
After your guided visit to the ruins, a buffet lunch is served in Aguas Calientes.
Time permitting, you can browse in the colorful market adjacent to the train station. Board the Vistadome train for the 1.75-hour ride back along the Sacred Valley, with a snack included. Then, transfer by road back to Cusco. You will arrive in the late evening after a day of dazzling sightseeing and wonderful memories.
Hotel: Palacio del Inka Hotel (or similar)
Day 6: (B) Cusco - General San Martín
After an early breakfast, transfer to Cusco Airport for a flight to General San Martín, where you will rejoin the ship.
Notes:
Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. You must book this overland PRIOR to sailing; the cut-off date is 90 days before the ship’s call at Manta. Wear sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Accommodation is included (hotels are subject to change). Airport assistance and transfers (if any), transportation by air-conditioned coach, any flights and entrance fees indicated in the itinerary, an English-speaking guide (unless otherwise noted), water on the vehicle, and meals (as indicated) are also included. Gratuities and personal expenses are not included. Bring your passport with you on tour. For compliance with airline ticketing requirements, please visit Login | Holland America Line to complete the immigration to complete the immigration section for online check-in no fewer than 90 days prior to the cruise. Special Notes for Galápagos: While rare, National Park and force majeure conditions can cause unexpected changes in the itinerary. Your tour may or may not include a ship escort but is guided on the Galápagos Islands. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Minimum age is 12 years. Each day in the Galápagos Islands includes a boxed lunch except as noted. Navigation by boat between the island can be rough, often with durations of 2-3 hours. Guests prone to motion sickness should consider this before booking and/or take appropriate medication. Wear your swimsuit under your clothing; bring a towel, reef-safe/biodegradable sunscreen, light clothing to act as a full cover-up for further protection from the sun, and a hat. Swim at your own risk. The boat may not be exclusive to Holland America Line guests. Special Notes for Machu Picchu: The tour to Machu Picchu requires traveling from sea level to an elevation of 11,200 feet in Cusco, which may cause altitude sickness for some guests. Terrain includes even and uneven or rugged surfaces, cobblestones, inclines, gravel, grass, and many steps in rarefied air at 7,874 feet above sea level. Guests with a heart condition and/or known respiratory difficulties should consult their physician prior to booking this tour. Wear comfortable, casual clothing in natural, breathable fabrics. Temperatures will change as elevations and time of day change. Bring shorts as well as long trousers. Dress in layers; bring a backpack to stow any layers you shed. Bring a sweater or lightweight jacket for cooler temperatures in upland regions. Heavy, unpredictable, seasonal rainfall can change some operational aspects of