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

Fly to Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Arrival by plane to San Cristobal Island and transfer to the M/V Santa Cruz, which will be anchored at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital of the Galápagos Islands. Cabin assignment and lunch. After lunch, introductory welcome talk and boat drill.
Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island)
A dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers will bring us to Cerro Brujo's white coraline beach . Wet landing.  The area will show us good views of seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds, and some shore birds . Also, look for Galapagos sea lions.  The beach is a great open walking area, with rewarding birdwatching.   Highlights ashore include the Chatham (San Cristobal) Mockingbird, Chatham Lava Lizard; both species are endemic to this island, and seen nowhere else in Galapagos. We may also spot Yellow Warblers, Galapagos flycatchers and with luck a Vermillion flycatcher (endemic subspecies to San Cristobal).  These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos.  Back on board for an ECO Moment and briefing on the next day's activities, followed by a cocktail offered by the Captain and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz


Day 5 – Punta Suarez (Española (Hood) Island)

Morning outing at Punta Suarez (dry landing) for an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April - December), Nazca (masked boobies), blue-footed boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous blowhole. Among its landbirds, the Hood island mockingbird, and three species of Darwin’s finches are common highlights.  Also, look for red-green-black marine iguanas, and of course a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site.  For those planning not to walk the entire trail, a very short walk under easy walking conditions will be possible. Back on board for lunch.
Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)
Disembark at Punta Cormorant (wet landing) at an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed.  This outing also includes a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night for nesting (from December to May).  Possibility of snorkeling from the beach.  ECO Moment, briefing and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz


Day 6 – Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)

This morning brings us to the youngest island, Fernandina.  Disembark (dry landing) for a one-mile walk.  Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness with lots of wildlife.  Having no introduced mammals, Fernandina has a very unique environment with the highest density of marine iguanas, sharing their island habitat with sea lions, sally-light foot crabs, and hawks. Lava terrain calls for good walking shoes.  Back on board for lunch. As we sail along the Bolívar Channel, astonishing views of the Galápagos’ youngest volcanoes can be seen.  The nutrient-rich waters of the west can also bring surprises like encountering sea birds feeding, dolphins, and possibly whales.

Punta Vicente Roca (Isla Isabela)

In the afternoon, depending on the conditions of the ocean, we will schedule a snorkeling outing along the cliffs of partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, in the northern tip of Isabela Island.  Since there is no landing site at this location, we will include a coastal exploration by dinghy, where our naturalist-guides will commit to explaining the dramatic geology of the area with remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers.  This is the nesting place for flightless cormorants, the only existing marine birds in the world other than penguins that have changed their condition of flying birds to diving birds.  Wildlife here also includes Sea lions, Galápagos Fur seals, Galápagos Penguins, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies and noddy terns. This area has a very rich marine life, and is seasonally visited by green sea turtles.  Eco Moment, and details about the next day’s activities before dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz


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

Visiting the famous Charles Darwin Research Station will be certainly a rewarding adventure for this morning's program.  It will just require a different approach, in order to accomplish all our travel plans.  This outing is an optional program and an early one.  We arrive at the Itabaca Channel, between the islands of Baltra and Santa Cruz and disembark at the public dock (dry landing) for a 30-minute bus ride along the highlands in route to Puerto Ayora where changes in vegetation can be witnessed.  Upon arrival, we proceed to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the rearing in captivity program for the famous giant tortoises.  Here we will get to understand the conservation efforts promoted by this institution, and stroll among an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest where endemic land birds can be seen.  After an hour visit, return via the same route to cross the Itabaca Channel by ferry and take the bus to Baltra Island airport in time for the 12h15 flight back to the continent.

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

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima


Day 8 – Lima / Paracas

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.

Afternoon 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 9 – Paracas / Lima

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.

Afternoon drive back to Lima.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima

Day 10 – 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 11 – 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 12 – 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.
 
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco


Day 13 - Cuzco

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.

Afternoon free

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cuzco


Day 14 – 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 15 – 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 16 – Puno / Juliaca / Lima / U.S.
 
Transfer to Juliaca for the flight to Lima. Connect international flight to U.S.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch


Day 17 – U.S.

Flight arrival in U.S.