>MACHU PICCHU, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS AND EASTER ISLAND, 16 Days 15 nights

ITINERARY

DAY 1 QUITO PICK UP
Upon arrival in Quito, reception and transfer to the select Hotel - overnight ( no meals)

DAY 2 Galapagos (Baltra Airport) (More information about The Galapagos Islands)
Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (aprox. 2 and half hour flight). Passengers will be picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to the M/VGalapagos Legend.

Bartolomé
Dry landing. Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After a hike to the summit you’ll be impressed by the view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock.
During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti.
Visitors will be able to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white tipped sharks from a safe distance.

DAY 3 Urbina Bay (Isabela)
Wet landing. Passengers will visit the fossil beach and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will have time for snorkeling.

Fernandina (Espinosa Point)
Dry landing. Visitors will see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with Sally lightfoot crabs, as well as flightless cormorants nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and sea lions.
Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot brachycereus cactus, and “pa-hoe-hoe” lava and “AA” lava formations. Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea.

DAY 4 Santiago (Egas Port)
Wet landing on a dark sand beach. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons and oyster catchers.
Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside red Sally lightfoot crabs. There is a colony of fur-seals swimming in deep pools of cool water.
Here you can swim and snorkel and find octopuses, sea horses, star fish.

Rábida (Jervis)
Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It’s considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands.
You’ll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos can sometimes be found.
July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in the salt bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin’s finches can also be observed.
You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs, as well as snorkel.

DAY 5 Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)
Travelers will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here you can admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program.
Visitors can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Later on, you’ll have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.

Santa Cruz (Highlands)
Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where you’ll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises.
Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.

Day 6 Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) / QUITO TO LIMA
Wet landing. This beach is located on north side of Santa Cruz Island.
Here you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white sand beach.
Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to the Baltra’s airport. Return flight to Quito, then you will take your Flight to Lima. Upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel (B)

Day 7 LIMA / CUSCO CITY TOUR
You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel, morning at leisure to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon 1:00pm you will be taken on a city tour and visit a local archeological sites, the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman. Kenko, Tambomachay and surroundings returning later afternoon 5:30pm to your hotel around and enjoy the hospitality of the local people (breakfast included.).

Day 8 SACRED VALLEY, PISAC, OLLANTAYTAMBO, CHINCHEROS
After breakfast at 8:45am you will be taken through the Inca Sacred Valley where life has remained almost unchanged for 500 years. You will visit the impressive village of Pisac and the Indian market, enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale and wonder at the many ethnic tribal costumes worn, not just for tourists, but as part of their heritage by the local people. The tour also include the visit to Ollantaytambo fortress and the Chinchero Market Before returning to your hotel in Cusco late afternoon (around 6:30pm)(breakfast and Lunch included)

Day 9 MACHU PICCHU 2days 1 night by train
Early morning 5:30am and after breakfast, we'll depart to the train station to our journey to Machu Picchu on Vistadome Train (4 hours) at 9:40am you will arrive to the Aguas Calientes Town from where you will go by bus to the Archeological site (20 minutes); Once there where you will have a guided tour with an English speaking professional guide follow by some time at leisure. You can stay in the area or relax in the hot springs near the Aguas Calientes town (entrance to hot springs not included) Overnight in your Hotel (breakfast included)

Day 10 Saturday - MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO
Morning at leisure to explore by your own, you can visit the citadel early when the full magnificence of the site reveals itself in all its majesty, you will have the option to hike up to Huaynapicchu, the pyramid-shaped peak that overlooks Machu Picchu (entrance and bus fee for this day not included on the rate) return to Cusco where you will arrive around 7:30pm. (breakfast included)

Day 11 CUSCO TO LIMA / LIMA TO SANTIAGO (CHILE)
After breakfast, return flight to Lima and your connecting flight to Santiago. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Day 12 SANTIAGO DE CHILE TO EASTER ISLAND
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to the Easter Islands. The flight will take approximately 5 hours
Reception at Mataveri Airport and transfer to Hotel and then make a half day excursion.
We initiate the tour about 3 pm from Hanga Roa's settlement visiting Ahu Vinapu. It was used for the islanders in the year 1.200 A.C. it includes 3 Ahu. The first has 6 moais demolished and painted of red color. The second one has a supposedly feminine moai which had two heads. Finally, the third and the most ancient moai has only removed stones. We will continue our way to the quarry Puna Pau, archaeological site to the east of Hanga Roa. It is a small crater of red dross, from where were obtained the Pukao or hats with which were crowned the moais. Along its antique exit way, there are some incomplete and abandoned moais. We will go on our tour towards Ahu Akivi, the first Ahu restored by the science in the island in the year 1960. The platform with 7 moais is characterized for being one of the few ones located in the center of the island, with its statues facing the rising sun. According the legend, these 7 moais would represent 7 exploratory young men sent before Hotu Matua'a's arrival to investigate the island. Our adventure takes to us to the cavern of Te Pahu, a place used as housing and as temporary refuge in war times. Then, we will return to Hanga Roa, total duration 3,5 hours

Day 13 EASTER ISLAND
Departing from Hanga Roa's town at about 9:30 am, going to the southeast and northeast coast of the Island visiting the Ahu Vaihu temple, which is located 10 km from Hanga Roa. It consists of a stone platform with 8 Moais and 8 pukao dispersed in the proximities. Then, we will go to Ahu Akahanga, the also called as the "platform of the king". The legend tells that Hotu Matua'a's tomb is near this place. There, we will find 4 platforms, 12 Moais, 8 Pukao and towards the interior of this Ahu; it is possible to see the best preserved village of the island.

Later, we will go to Ahu Tongariki, with 15 moais being the biggest Ahu of the island. Then, we will meet Ahu Te Pito Kura, which possesses the highest statue of the island raised in an Ahu, the moai Paro (10 meters of height and 85 tons with a Pukao of 11,5 tons). Close to this ceremonial temple is the great spherical stone that is identified as the center of the universe (Te Pito o Te Henua), as the legend tells, it was brought to the island by Hotu Matua'a in his craft.

Later, we will arrive to Ahu Nau Nau, temple of a complex construction due to its different levels where we will find 5 Moais with Pukao. There, we will see petroglyphs in the backs of the statues. We will continue our excursion to the volcano and quarry Rano Raraku, where there was carved most of the moais of the island using the volcanic rock of its hillsides. There are an estimated number of 400 moais in several stages of carved.

To finish our adventure, we will go to Anakena's wonderful beach. It is a beach of white sands chosen for the arrival of the Ariki Hotu Matua'a and his sister Avareipua. Anakena corresponds to the name of a small cave of an adjacent gully.

Returning to Hanga Roa, we will realize our last stop in the Fundo Vaitea, country estate with an extension of 6.560,80 hectares, which represents 39,6% of the total surface of the island and it was created to achieve an agricultural production capable of sustaining the needs of the whole island, which was achieved years behind.
Return to the populated Hanga Roa, total duration 8 hours.

Day 14 EASTER ISLAND
We will begin our tour at about 8:30 am from Hanga Roa to Tahai's Archaeological Complex, ceremonial center with 3 Ahu, Ahu Vai Uri with 5 moais, Ahu Tahai with 1 moai, and Ahu Lo Te Riku with 1 moai. From this site the visitors can appreciate wonderful landscapes. Then, we will go to Orongo's ceremonial city, ancient ceremonial city located in the west summit of the volcano Rano Kau. It is composed by approximately 53 houses of elliptical shape with flagstone walls and a small square access looking at the sea. In this place were realized the most important ceremony of the second period of the island, the Tangata Manu (“the bird man”). It was carried out until approximately 150 years ago, with the arrival of the first Christian missionaries. Return to Hanga Roa, total duration 3,5 hours.

Day 15 EASTER ISLAND TO SANTIAGO
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the return flight back to Santiago. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Day 16 SANTIAGO TO LIMA - TRANSFER OUT
After breakfast, return flight to Lima and your connecting flight home. End of our services.

INCLUDE:
International and domestic airfares as specify in the program, nights at select hotel based on double occupancy, all transfers, professional biligual guide service, entrance fee, transportation and meals as specify in the program.

NOT INCLUDED
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, extra expenses for flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, reconfirmation of international flights and items ofpersonal nature.

Travel to the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Easter Island 16d 15n

ITINERARY