Itinerary:

Day 1 – U.S. / Quito
 
Fly to Quito.


Day 2 – Quito (Ecuador)
 
Upon flight arrival at Quito, capital of Ecuador, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Meal: Dinner

Lodging: Swissotel Quito


Day 3 – Quito

Declared a "World Heritage Site"by UNESCO in 1978, Quito is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas.

Full day sightseeing of Quito; Visits of The Basílica del Voto Nacional, Basilica the highest church in Ecuador, walk the Street of the Seven Crosses Plaza Grande main square, La Compañía Church – considered the finest in Latin America, come to the heart of the Old Town, the Plaza de la Independencia Here you’ll be able to take in the Government Palace , the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Cathedral.

You will also stop at the Equatorial Monument, which marks the middle of the world. Ecuador straddles the equator, from which it takes its name.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Swissotel Quito


Day 4 – Quito / Galapagos, San Cristobal Island

San Cristobal Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Fly to the Galapagos, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to begin the cruise, arriving on San Cristobal, easternmost of the Galapagos Islands.  Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galapagos province and the location of the extraordinary Interpretation Center for Galapagos National Park.  You’ll board ship and settle into your cabin. Your seagoing home is the M/V Galapagos Explorer II, a 293-foot, first-class ocean-going cruise ship that carries 100 passengers.  Comfortable cabins feature air-conditioning, private bathrooms and a small sitting area. Experienced naturalists lead shore expeditions to seek out wildlife and help you to learn about the fascinating natural history of these volcanic islands. When you’re not exploring, you and your children can enjoy the ship’s jacuzzi, solarium and reading room without experiencing the motion of a smaller vessel.
 
Your first day in Galapagos you'll visit one location near San Cristobal Island. At Cerro Brujo (wet landing), you`ll go to the beach for swimming and snorkeling activities. You can see: blue footed boobies, brown pelicans, coast bird (whimbrels, sander lings, etc), Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers. Free time to walk on the beach.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Galapagos Explorer II


Day 5 – Española Island (Hood Island)

Morning: Punta Suarez, Hood Island

This morning you visit Hood Island, southernmost island of the archipelago.  ecause it is so isolated, the island has a large population of indigenous wildlife.  You will explore Punta Suarez, one of the most spectacular spots in the Galapagos, where you’ll look for sea lions surfing the breaking waves and groups of iguanas basking in the sun.  Further inland, Masked and Blue-footed Boobies nest beside the trails.  You can hike a trail towards the cliffs to the Blowhole, a fissure in the lava cliffs where seawater jets high in the air.

Afternoon: Gardner Bay, Hood Island

About 1km long beach that is among the most magnificent in all Galapagos. It is home to many sea lion colonies and the turquoise colored water makes a beautiful contrast to the white sand that consists of shell dust. Mocking birds fight for their territory and inspect the backpacks of the tourists. About 50m of the coast there is a rock where you can encounter tropic fish and rays while snorkeling. But more spectacular is the Gardner Rock that can be reached with a dinghy. It is home to white-tipped reef shark, cactus finch and other colorful sea dwellers and very popular among snorkel.

Activities: Walks, snorkeling in deep water (experience is required), beach.
Wildlife:   Hood Mockingbird, Lava Lizards, Galapagos Dove, Large Cactus Finch, marine iguanas and sally light-foot crab.
Vegetation: saltbush, Palo Verde, acacia and mesquite bushes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Galapagos Explorer II


Day 6 - Santa Cruz Island / Rabida Island

Wildlife viewing, hiking, Charles Darwin Research Station  & Rabida island.

Morning: Charles Darwin Station, Santa Cruz Island

Puerto Ayora Town, Charles Darwin Station

In the afternoon, you will visit Santa Cruz Island, landing in Puerto Ayora Town. Visit Darwin Station to learn about the research conducted on the island. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a Galapagos tortoise breeding and rearing center, where tortoises of different subspecies are prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats.  Afterwards, you can stroll through Puerto Ayora, largest town on the islands.

Afternoon: Rabida Island

A small island (5 km2), covered by dry and coastal vegetation, and has a central volcano of 367 m2. Rabida contains the largest variety of lava types, being red the dominant color. A salt-water lagoon provides occasional sights of Flamingos. While the beach holds a large sea lion colony, fur seals also may be seen here.  Red sands and teal waters characterize this island. Sea lions cover the waterfront, and the bull is always making a show of his bravado.  There's a short walk to the top of the trail where you can take fabulous photos of the clear waters and volcanic peaks. There's also great snorkeling. Keep near the rocks and keep your eye out for sharks and rays.

Activities:  Walks, snorkeling, bird watching.
Wildlife:  Flamingos, Galapagos Hawks, Penguins, Pelicans, Sea Lions
Vegetation: Opunia Cactus, Palo Santo, Scrubby bush

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Galapagos Explorer II


Day 7 – Santa Cruz Island / Baltra Island / Quito or Guayaquil / Lima (Peru)

Morning: Bachas Beach – Santa Cruz Island

White sand beach where you can see some nesting site for sea turtles, it is a delightful swimming beach, with a small lagoon behind, where you can see flamingos, and marine iguanas frequent the shore. Whimbrels, blue heron, pelican, Sally Lightfoot crab and other species.

Afternoon:
Disembark: passengers will take a zodiac ride to the Baltra pier and after that a 15 minutes bus ride to the Baltra airport.

Return flight to Quito or Guayaquil. Connect International flight to Lima, Peru.

Upon flight arrival in Lima, capital of Peru, transfer in for the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima


Day 8 – Lima / Cuzco / Sacred Valley

Fly to Cuzco.

Upon arrival, bus drive for Pisac, a village in the Sacred Valley on the Urubamba River. Visit the impressive Inca complex, the archaeological site of Pisac, with terraces built on its hills. To visit the site, you must walk along winding paths along a mountain cliff. Among the most important buildings are Pisaca, which is a curved wall; the Intihuatana, or the main Temple of Sun, a solar clock among a group of temples and the military zone called "Q'Allaqasa”, or the citadel. Also visit its colorful market where an artisans’ fair takes place every Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, an exhibit and sale of fine woven crafts, colorful tapestries, handicrafts and textiles from Pisac and neighboring villages.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Libertador Tambo del Inka, Sacred Valley


Day 9 – Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, “The Lost City of the Incas” was built about 1450 and abandoned 100 years later. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Travel by Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu, the famous ‘Lost City’ of the Incas. Enjoy a guided tour of what is surely one of the most spectacular archaeological sites anywhere on earth. Hidden amongst the breathtaking Andean mountains, until its ‘discovery’ in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the city is a quite exceptional collection of tombs, temples, stairways and palaces that served as a major ceremonial and agricultural centre for the Inca Empire.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, Machu Picchu


Day 10 – Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo / Cuzco

This morning you will take your train back to Cuzco. Arrival to Ollantaytambo and transfer by bus to Cuzco City.

The city of Cuzco, located at 11,150 feet (3,400 meters) above sea-level and former capital of the Inca Empire, was declared Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO in 1983 and is with no doubt one of the most important in Peru. Through its cobblestone streets are discovered Incan buildings, next to colonial buildings of Baroque Andean style.

Cuzco tour takes in the impressive Plaza de Armas, with its cathedral, the Convent of Santo Domingo and the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing zigzagged walls were built to defend the city. The once great capital of the ancient Incan empire, Cuzco is believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America and its streets present a rich treasure trove of archaeological remains, as well as a dazzling array of monuments to its colonial heritage. Also visit others archaeological sites like Puca-Puca, Kenko and Tambomachay.
 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco


Day 11 – Cuzco / Puno (Lake Titicaca)

Board the Andean Explorer for a highlight of Joie Express’ Peru tour - a spectacular rail journey meandering through majestic peaks and across the Andean plains from Cuzco to the shores of Lake Titicaca, the most sacred lake in the Inca world. Settle in for a pleasant and leisurely ride aboard your vintage rail car in the style of Europe's famous Orient Express; lunch and afternoon tea will be served on the train.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Libertador Lago Titicaca, Lake Titicaca


Day 12 – Puno (Lake Titicaca)
 
Lake Titicaca sits 12,500 ft (3,812 m) above sea level, making it one of the highest commercially navigable lakes in the world. By volume of water, it is also the largest lake in South America.

Titicaca is notable for a population of people who live on the Uros, a group of 42 or so artificial islands made of floating reeds (totora, a reed that abounds in the shallows of the lake). These unique floating tortora reed islands have become a major tourist attraction for Peru, drawing excursions from the lakeside city of Puno. Their original purpose was defensive, and they could be moved if a threat arose. Many of the islands contain watchtowers largely constructed of reeds.

This morning, we take a boat ride across Lake Titicaca to visit the unique floating Tortora reed island of the Uros – we will visit some of the small ones where each island has just two households and the main island where you find the schools, central market and administrative center. The boat journey will continue to Taquile Island where the islanders adopted the Spanish peasant dress that they are known for still using today. Taquileños are known for their fine hand-woven textiles and clothing, which are regarded as among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru. In 2005, "Taquile and Its Textile Art" were honored by being proclaimed "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO.
 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Libertador Lago Titicaca, Lake Titicaca


Day 13 – Puno / Juliaca / Lima / Paracas
 
Transfer to Juliaca for the flight to Lima.

Upon flight arrival at Lima airport, drive south to Paracas.

Travel south of Lima by the Pan-American Highway. We drive through large valley as such as Mala, Cañete, Chincha, San Clemente and finally arrive to the city of Paracas.
 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: La Hacienda Bahia Resort, Paracas


Day 14 – Paracas / Nazca Lines Flight

Transfer to the aerodrome of Pisco, from where we take light airplane for the famous Nazca Lines flight. The over flight run through south valley of Ica, Rio Grande and Palpa Valley, San Jose and finally arrive to plateau of Pampas San Jose. On the flightseeing trip you fly, to observe these mysterious, enigmatic and massive animal figures, visible only from the air, carved into the desert floor many centuries ago by the Nazca people. The flight takes one hour and 45 minutes to see the figures and lines of the Nazca civilization.

After the flight drive to the Museo Regional – Ica, place where is possible to appreciate remain of the Paracas and other ancient cultures of this region, if the time is allowed you will visit La Hacienda El Catador, here, see how Pisco is distilled before drive back Paracas.
 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: La Hacienda Bahia Resort, Paracas


Day 15 – Paracas / Lima

Trip to Ballestas Islands, the boats come out early in the morning from the pier for a spectacular tour to Ballestas Islands, located in the Bay of Paracas. It is not allowed to disembark in the islands, but the boats arrive until the banks of the islands, from where you will be able to appreciate this marvel of the nature and the marine wild life. The sea lions will probably come closer until the boat or you will see many penguins in the water. Thousands of marine birds will fly between the islands or you will be able to see their nests on the rocks of the islands.

Afternoon drive to Lima.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima


Day 16 – Lima / U.S.

This morning your sightseeing is in the fabled ‘City of Kings’, in the colonial heart of Lima, where you will visit the magnificent grandeur of the Plaza de Armas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the magnificently ornate church of San Francisco, a beautiful mix of baroque and Mudejar styling, which is renowned for its tile work and panelled ceilings.

Transfer to Larco Museum, a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, features the finest gold and silver collection from Ancient Peru and the famous erotic archaeological collection, Larco is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can also choose to enter the storage area with its 45.000 classified archaeological objects.

Then transfer to Archaeological Museum of Lima, this museum has the largest collections of pre-hispanic art and relics in the world. Some of the highlights include exceptionally well-preserved mummies from the Nasca region and the Estela Raimondi, an enormous carved stone that once resided at Chavín de Huántar, a major pre-Columbian site.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Late night flight bound for U.S.


Day 17 – U.S.

Flight arrives in U.S.