Cruise

Quito to Guayaquil 10 days / 9 nights

Quito
Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight

Quito
Enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to Antisana, the 4th tallest volcano in Ecuador. Your welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton. BD

Baltra Island & North Seymour Island
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the Isabela II. Set sail as you hear a welcome introductory briefing, and enjoy lunch. Dry land at North Seymour Island for a walk along the coast, observing bird colonies of blue-footed boobies frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. Back onboard, welcome cocktails are offered by the Captain. Your Naturalist’s briefing on the next day’s activities will precede dinner. BLD

Espanola (Hood) Island
Wet land at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is available for guests at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat. This afternoon, dry land at Punta Suarez for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. Your Naturalist’s briefing occurs before dinner. BLD

Floreana Island
Wet land at Point Cormorant for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts and sandpipers. There is great snorkeling at this site or enjoy kayaking from the beach. Wet land at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapágos penguin. BLD

Santa Cruz Island
Dry land to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. Enjoy lunch at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then take a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on the Isabela II. BLD

Genovesa (Tower) Island
Wet land for an easy stroll observing thousands of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish, you can continue walking over sharp lava and uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach and enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbor. Take a panga ride along the cliffs and then dry land on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) and a leveled walk for about a mile to the other side of this small island observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the short-eared owl. BLD

Isabela Island & Fernandina Island
Early risers will enjoy cruising right in front of famous Ecuador Volcano, which rises off the water line with one of its halves completely collapsed, and now resting underwater, while crossing the Equator. On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove was in past centuries a favorite anchor for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still found on its walls. The vegetation in the area includes the unusual palo santo trees that are leafless and look dead most of the year. An uphill hike through palo santo forest takes guests to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water. The view at the end of the trail is worth the climb. Darwin is one of Isabela’s 6 volcanoes, a remarkable contrast to the lower islands to the east of the archipelago. Dry land for a 1-mile walk on Fernandina Island. 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 space with sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. BLD

Santiago Island & Bartolome Island
Wet land at Puerto Egas for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. There are good snorkeling and swimming opportunities from the beach. Dry land at Bartolomé Island for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, and the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, to enjoy the beach, snorkeling and swimming, or a ride in the glass-bottom boat. Tonight enjoy farewell cocktails and the departure briefing. BLD

Guayaquil / Depart
After breakfast, fly to Guayaquil to catch your flight back home, or to continue on to your Machu Picchu post trip. B

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Cruise + Machu Picchu

Quito to Lima, 15 days / 14 nights

Quito
Arrive in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and transfer to the Hotel Hilton Colón Quito where you will overnight

Quito
Enjoy a walking tour of historic downtown Quito, with the best-preserved Colonial historic center in Latin America. Drive up El Ventanal for a bird’s-eye-view of the city. You may purchase an optional excursion to Antisana, the 4th tallest volcano in Ecuador. Your welcome dinner is at the Theatrum Restaurant. Overnight at the Hotel Hilton. BD

Baltra Island & North Seymour Island
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Baltra Island and transfer to the dock to board the Isabela II. Set sail as you hear a welcome introductory briefing, and enjoy lunch. Dry land at North Seymour Island for a walk along the coast, observing bird colonies of blue-footed boobies frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls and also sea lions and marine iguanas. A shorter walk is also available. Back onboard, welcome cocktails are offered by the Captain. Your Naturalist’s briefing on the next day’s activities will precede dinner. BLD

Espanola (Hood) Island
Wet land at a white coral beach where you can take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area (snorkeling equipment is available for guests at no extra cost), or ride the glass-bottom boat. This afternoon, dry land at Punta Suarez for an exciting walk on lava terrain to visit its unique sea bird colonies, including the Waved Albatrosses and the famous blowhole. A shorter walk is also available. Your Naturalist’s briefing occurs before dinner. BLD

Floreana Island
Wet land at Point Cormorant for an easy walk to see the flamingos that inhabit a brackish-water lagoon, and other birds like ducks, stilts and sandpipers. There is great snorkeling at this site or enjoy kayaking from the beach. Wet land at the historical Post Office Bay to learn about the human side of the islands, its early inhabitants and the adventures of pirates and whalers. Then, a panga ride will take you to nearby islets to observe sea lions, rays and sea turtles, boobies and possibly the Galapágos penguin. BLD

Santa Cruz Island
Dry land to visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, a Scalesia forest and the twin pit craters Los Gemelos. Enjoy lunch at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens, an impressive giant prickly pear cactus forest and many land birds. Then take a stroll along the main street of Puerto Ayora before embarking on the Isabela II. BLD

Genovesa (Tower) Island
Wet land for an easy stroll observing thousands of birds, mainly frigate birds, red footed and masked boobies, gulls, herons, finches and mockingbirds. If you wish, you can continue walking over sharp lava and uneven terrain, or just go back to the beach and enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbor. Take a panga ride along the cliffs and then dry land on rocks for a steep climb (90 feet) and a leveled walk for about a mile to the other side of this small island observing large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the short-eared owl. BLD

Isabela Island & Fernandina Island
Early risers will enjoy cruising right in front of famous Ecuador Volcano, which rises off the water line with one of its halves completely collapsed, and now resting underwater, while crossing the Equator. On the northwest of Isabela, secluded Tagus Cove was in past centuries a favorite anchor for pirates and whalers. Old graffiti is still found on its walls. The vegetation in the area includes the unusual palo santo trees that are leafless and look dead most of the year. An uphill hike through palo santo forest takes guests to the back of Darwin Crater, filled with salt water. The view at the end of the trail is worth the climb. Darwin is one of Isabela’s 6 volcanoes, a remarkable contrast to the lower islands to the east of the archipelago. Dry land for a 1-mile walk on Fernandina Island. 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 space with sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and the flightless cormorant. BLD

Santiago Island & Bartolome Island
Wet land at Puerto Egas for a mid-length walk. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds and there is a colony of fur-sea lions. There are good snorkeling and swimming opportunities from the beach. Dry land at Bartolomé Island for a hike to the summit. This is a steep climb aided by a wooden staircase, and the view from the top is worth the effort. There will be time for a panga ride around Pinnacle Rock to observe penguins, to enjoy the beach, snorkeling and swimming, or a ride in the glass-bottom boat. Tonight enjoy farewell cocktails and the departure briefing. BLD

Guayaquil / Lima
Arrive in Lima, Peru, and check into the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel, located at the airport. BD

Cusco
Fly from Lima to Cusco. Transfer to your hotel, and spend the morning at your leisure. Enjoy fine examples of Inca history on an archeological tour this afternoon, and experience a taste of Novo Andina cuisine. Overnight at the Hotel Libertador Palacio del Inka. BD

Machu Picchu
Take a guided tour of the lost citadel. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure with dinner and overnight at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel. BLD

Cusco
The morning is at your leisure with the option of returning to Machu Picchu on your own before boarding the train to Ollantaytambo. Visit the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo. Depending on the weather, either enjoy a box lunch at nearby Huaypo Lagoon or a local restaurant. Continue to Moran and return to Cusco for your farewell dinner and overnight at Hotel Libertador. BLD

Lima / Home
Transfer to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Dayrooms are available at the Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel in Lima until evening flights home. B

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner