Read a sampling of what our
clients said about their trips
My brother and I just returned from the Incan Odyssey trip that you planned for us. I want to tell you that all the arrangements that were made went very well. We were met at the various airports and hotels on time by your very courteous agents. Eduardo and Eric, in Lima, were most helpful, and a ... more Jeff Burger
Lodging, Meals, and Airfare: This tour includes accommodations for 17 nights (2 nights in Quito, 3 nights on the Galapagos Legend, 3 nights in Lima, 3 nights in Cusco, 1 night in Machu Picchu, 2 nights in Santiago, 3 nights in Easter Island), 26 meals (17 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 3 dinners), and domestic airfare in Ecuador.
Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is 8,944 feet, Machu Picchu is 7,900 feet, and Cusco is 10,912 feet.
IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program
South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA's Traveler Funding Program, we contribute $50 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You'll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.
Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more http://www.darwinfoundation.org. The remainder goes toward IGTOA's mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island
Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island are three of the most popular destinations in South America. Your tour will begin in Quito which offers spectacular views of the Andes and nearby volcanoes. You will then travel to the Galapagos Islands for a four day cruise aboard the Galapagos Legend, and to Machu Picchu, the 'Lost city of the Incas'. The last part of your tour is Easter Island, situated 2,200 miles west of Chile in the Pacific Ocean, and known for its colossal Moai statues.
The Galapagos Legend is a 100 passenger deluxe expedition ship that offers the comforts and amenities of a larger cruise liner. It is air conditioned throughout, and features 57 cabins with lower beds, private bathroom, safe, and mini bar. The ship's spacious social areas include a pool, Jacuzzi, Fisherman's Bar, observation decks, al fresco dining areas, a spacious passenger lounge, dining room, boutique, library, and conference room. Wet suits ($25) can be rented on board.
Activities: Cultural/historical sightseeing, wildlife viewing, hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking.
Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.
Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock. Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.
Day 1: Quito
Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Quito.
Day 2: City Tour of Quito/Middle of the World
In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city.
Following the city tour, you will be driven to the "Middle of the World City" complex, which is located 11 miles north of Quito. Here, you will see the monument of the equatorial line, a 98 ft high stone trapezoidal monument with a brass globe on top. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. Overnight in Quito. (B)
Day 3: Quito/Baltra Airport/Highlands of Santa Cruz/Pit Craters (Santa Cruz)
Morning transfer to the airport in Quito for the flight to Galapagos. Passengers are picked up at the airport by our guides and taken on a ten minute bus ride to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
Highlands of Santa Cruz and Pit Craters (dry landing). A 45-minute bus ride will take you to the Highlands of Santa Cruz, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where you will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island's name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, you can walk inside surprising lava tubes; you will also visit Pit Craters, created from the collapse of surface materials into chamber fissures underground. It's a great place to spot Vermilion Flycatcher as you walk inside an endemic Scalesia forest. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Egas Port/Salt Mines (Santiago)/Bartolome
Wet landing on a beach of black volcanic sand, visited by Charles Darwin in 1835. The first section of the trail is comprised of volcanic ash (eroded tuff) and the other half of partially uneven terrain is comprised of volcanic basaltic rock abutting the shoreline. The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago's shores is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds, including the bizarre Yellow-crowned Night Heron and an astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside Sally Light-foot Crabs. Colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water pools formed by volcanic rocks are also a highlight. Snorkeling here offers rarities such as octopus or squid. Optional visit to the Salt Mines where you can observe the two species of sea lions: fur and Galapagos sea lions.
Bartolome (dry landing). You will discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones-lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones-as you hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, and lava lizards. Beach time is a great opportunity to snorkel and see (perhaps swim with) Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling experiences; the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life. Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Pioneer plants are observed, so called because they are the first to establish roots on new ground. They include Tiquilia nesiotica (which is endemic to the island), and Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes. Behind the beach are dunes covered by mangroves. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 5: Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)/North Seymour
Dry landing. You will walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos can be occasionally found. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation up to Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for the endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchorage and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin's finches, Yellow Warblers and Galapagos Doves.
North Seymour (dry landing). This is perhaps one of the busiest tourist destinations on the archipelago. Located off of Baltra Island (where the airport is located), and not far from Santa Cruz, North Seymour is the most accessible for day trips out of Santa Cruz's main port, Puerto Ayora. The visit consists of a two hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles, as well as sea lions. You will also encounter land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D).
Day 6: Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz)/Baltra Airport/Quito/Lima
Bachas Beach. Wet landing on the north side of Santa Cruz. Behind the beach lie two small flamingo ponds with iguanas, coastal birds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls, as well as interesting native and endemic vegetation, red and black mangroves, salt bushes, and much more. This beach is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles in the Galapagos. A female can lay eggs three or four times with an average of 70 eggs each, but then spend 3 or 5 years without breeding. At this site, you will also find the remains of barges that sank long ago, once property of the United States Navy when they operated an airbase on Baltra Island during World War II. That is why the beach is called "Bachas" because the word "barges" in English was hard to pronounce for the local people.
After disembarking in the morning, you will go straight to the airport for your return flight to Quito, and then Lima, Peru. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)
Day 7: Lima/City Tour
In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Lima. You will visit downtown Lima and see several examples of the Spanish architecture of the colonial period including the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the Church of San Francisco and Catacombs. After that, you will see Huaca Huallamarca, a restored adobe pyramid dating from the pre-Inca period located in San Isidro. You will tour the upscale residential and commercial district of Miraflores and see the Parque del Amor, a seaside park with a huge statue of a kissing couple, before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)
Day 8: Lima/Cusco/City Tour
Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Because of the high altitude (10,660 feet above sea level), we recommend that you rest for a short period. In the afternoon, you will have a city tour that includes a walk through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha ('site of gold'), typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Overnight in Cusco. (B)
Day 9: Cusco/Sacred Valley/Awanakancha/Pisac Market/Ollantaytambo
Today you will have a full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The tour begins at Awanakancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes, where you can observe traditional textile dyeing and weaving techniques and the four types of camelids that are native to the region. You will also visit the Indian artisan market in Pisac and have lunch at a local restaurant (included). The last stop is the impressive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo that served as both a fortress and ceremonial center, and is the site of a short-lived victory by the Incas over the Spanish. Overnight in Cusco. (B,L)
Note: The Indian market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from October to March, and daily from April to September. On the days of the week that the market is not open, you will be taken to the Inca ruins above the village.
Day 10: Cusco/Machu Picchu
Morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, 'the Lost City of the Incas' (7,900 ft.). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. Free afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (B,L)
Day 11: Machu Picchu/Cusco
This is a free day to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You may want to hike Huayna Picchu or enjoy another activity. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be taken to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. (B)
Day 12: Cusco/Lima
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. You will have the afternoon free. Overnight in Lima. (B)
Day 13: Lima/Santiago
Early morning transfer for the airport for your flight to Santiago. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)
Day 14: Santiago/City Tour/Vineyard Tour
In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O'Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city's historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago's founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the afternoon, you will visit one of the following vineyards around Santiago (your choice): Concha y Torro, Cousino Macul, and Undurraga. Overnight in Santiago. (B)
Day 15: Santiago/Easter Island
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)
Day 16: Easter Island/Rano Raraku/Anakena Beach
Full day excursion visiting the archaeological center of Akahanga and the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, where all of the moai on the island were carved. You will see over 300 statues in various stages of completion, and one giant moai, 21 meters (69 ft.) tall. You will also visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (burial site), whose moai were re-erected after a tsunami flattened the statues, Ahu Te Pito Kura, site of the largest moai moved from the quarry, and the ahu Nau Nau at Anakena Beach. Picnic lunch at Anakena Beach. Overnight in Easter Island. (B,L)
Day 17: Easter Island/Orongo/Ahu Akivi
Morning visit to the Rano Kau extinct volcano crater (1.6 km in diameter), the ceremonial village of Orongo, which features the largest concentration of Petroglyphs on the island, with images of post-moai deity's, such as Tangata Manu (birdman), Make Make (the creator), and Komari, and then to Ahu Vinapu. After lunch (not included), the tour continues on to Ahu Akivi, site of the seven moais overlooking the sea, the Caves of Ana Tepahu, among the largest on the island, and Pun-a-Pau quarry, the sole source of red scoria that was used to carve the pukao (topknots) of some of the moia. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)
Day 18: Easter Island/Santiago
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago and your final destination. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island
Single
Double
Triple
3 Star
$7,419
$4,469
$4,419
4 Star
$8,659
$5,629
$5,269
5 Star
$10,569
$6,519
$6,059
Deluxe
$12,759
$7,639
n/a
All prices are in U.S. Dollars. Click here to see our prices in your currency.
NOTES:
The above prices are valid until December 10, 2013.
The Single and Double prices are based on a Standard Plus Cabin and the Triple prices are based on a Junior Suite.
Room/cabin upgrades and additional nights in each destination are available upon request.
Machu Picchu Pueblo, Hatuchay Tower, and Sanctuary Lodge accommodations include breakfast and dinner.
Upgrade to the Hiram Bingham train, which operates every day except Sunday, is available for $450 per person.
Oxygenated rooms are available at the Monasterio in Cusco for an additional $50 per room per day.
Christmas Season and High Season (from June to August) surcharges may apply.
Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island
The Price of This Tour Includes
South American Vacations' expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Airfare from Quito to Galapagos to Quito in economy class.
Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
Hotel accommodations including service fees and taxes.
Accommodations on board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
All meals scheduled on board and others as indicated on the itinerary.
Excursion to Machu Picchu via Vistadome train and other excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
Two daily excursions to the islands conducted by bi-lingual naturalist guides.
Use of snorkeling equipment.
Evening briefings and lectures.
The Price of This Tour Does Not Include
International airfare.
Domestic airfare within Peru and Chile.
Ecuadorian international departure tax (Quito $40.80).
Chilean reciprocity tax ($140).
Fuel surcharge for the ship ($90).
Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100).
Transit control card ($10).
Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
Gratuities to ship crew and guides.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Gifts and personal items.
Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of international airfare, domestic airfare within Peru and Chile, and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.
