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2009

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Day 1 - LIMA (FRIDAY)
Meeting and assistance upon arrival and transfer to Boulevard Hotel or similar for overnight.

Day 2 - LIMA / CUSCO (SATURDAY)
Pick up and transfer to the Lima airport for the flight to Cusco (airfare not included). Upon arrival, you will be met and driven to Picoaga Hotel or similar, followed by a few cups of mate de coca, whilst you iron out any questions you may have with us. At 1:45 pm Cusco city tour. This tour includes the major sites of historical interest in Cusco, including the ruins of Sacsahuaman, Kenko and Tambomachay and the temple of the Sun. Also included in this is a tourist card, giving you access to all the sites in the Cuzco area as a whole (i.e.,including outside of the City itself). This tour finishes at 18:00. Overnight (B)

Day 3 - PISAC & OLLANTAYTAMBO (SUNDAY)
(Note: This Tour is available just on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday).
You will be picked up at 8,45A.M. Full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley,
visiting: the village of Pisac, a picturesque town of creole and colonial aspect and its lndian market and craftfair. Lunch provided. In the afternoon you'll visit to the fortress of Ollantaytambo, an architectural group that in the days of the Tahuantinsuyo empire was a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military complex, then the Chincero market. At the end Return to Cusco and Overnight. (B,L)

Day 4 - CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU (overnight) (MONDAY) All day excursion by alpine train to Machu Picchu. At 5:30 a.m. you will be picked up from the hotel to the train station which leaves at 06:00 a.m.
Travel will be in "Vistadome" Class (formerly "Autowagon"). At 09:40 a.m.
you will arrive at the Aguas Calientes Station, from where you will take a
25 minutes bus ride to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Once there, you will take a guided tour, with an English speaking guide. The ruins are on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu in two separate areas: the agricultural and the urban.
Lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge (included). Overnight at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel or similar. (B,L)

Day 5 - MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO (TUESDAY)
Morning at leisure to explore the area by your own.
Suggestions:
Optional visit to the Machu Picchu ruins (entrance fee and transportation for this day not included in the rate).
Optional visit to the local hot springs - Aguas Calientes town (bring with you a bathing-suit).
In the afternoon you will take the train to Cusco. Upon arrival transfer to Picoaga Hotel or similar. ( B )

Day 6 - PUNO (WEDNESDAY)
Transfer to the train or bus station. Ten hour bus or train ride to Puno*, across the scenic high Andes landscapes only dotted by small villages and herds of the llamas and vicuñas. Upon arrival, transfer to Sonesta Posada del Inca Hotel or similar. ( B,L ) (*) Additional fare on $250 per person if travelling by train. Ask for availability.

Day 7 - UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS - TITICACA LAKE (THURSDAY) You will be picked up from your hotel at 6:40 a.m., after a 2 hour motorboat ride, you will arrive at the Uros island in the Titikaka lake.
Fishermen and hunters inhabit the floating islands of the Uros. The residents of the Uros use the cattail, a type of rush, which grows in the lake, to create the conditions that ensure the islands stay afloat. The dense roots that the plants develop support the island. The roofs are waterproof and the houses are extremely humid because of the surrounding water. At present, they speak Quechua and Aymara. Then we will visit the Taquile island, where we will have lunch in the cooperative restaurant.
There is also a cooperative shop on the plaza that sells exceptional wool goods which are of very fine quality and somewhat expensive. Taquile Island is famous for its craft production, particularly for its beautiful textiles.
The island is narrow at about 1 Km. wide and 6 to 7 Km. long. The visit could be exhausting because of the 533 steps on the stone stairway to climb to get to the village and because of the altitude (13,000 ft above sea level). On Taquile there are numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins as well as
Inca terracing. We will return in Puno in the afternoon, overnight (B,L)

Day 8 - SUN ISLAND - TITICACA LAKE (FRIDAY) You will picked up from your hotel at 6:30 am. You will go overland across the border through the colonial town of Juli, and the village of Yunguyo:
July and Pomata were very important cultural canters in the 17th century and their magnificent churches give testimony to that old splendor. You will arrive into Copacabana after about 3 hours. Copacana is the most important religious sanctuary of Bolivia, thousands of pilgrims visit every year the virgin of Copacabana also known as Native Madonna , you will visit the main square and the impressive Cathedral (1/2 hour tour). You will arrive into the Sun Island after about 1 hour of a spectacular catamaran cruise including lunch on board , this island has been identified as the birthplace of several revered entities , including the sun itself. A source of magnetic energy , the vertex of the earth and the cradle of the Inca Empire, the Inca couple Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo appeared here and founded the Sun Empire.
During a 2 hours Sun Island Tour you will visit :
• The Inca garden, the island micro climate provides the ideal location for this garden that during Inca times was full of Andean flowers , water and trees.
• The Inca Steps that was built by the Incas in order to reach the Inca Water spring • The Inca water spring, a natural water spring with 3 different openings of different tastes, this Inca made water fountain is supposed to be a source of eternal youth.
• The Sun Island Inti Wata Complex, that contains the largest amount of archaeological items founded in the island and the largest demo variety of Andean flora and fauna available in Bolivia.
• The Sun Island Kallawaya Ancient Ceremony, witchcrafts, natural medicine, art, magic, and millenary traditions are part of the mystic world of the Kallawayas heritage. The purpose of this mystic ceremony is to purify the souls of the Chinkana holy temple visitors , this Ceremony take place in a Inca altar at the top of the hill facing the temple and overlooking the lake.
You will then proceed back to Copacabana and then to Puno , we will return in Puno at 6:30 PM and overnight at Sonesta Posada del Inca or similar (B,L)

Day 9 TRANSFER TO LIMA (SATURDAY)
Morning at leisure and in the afternoon transfer to the airport where you will take a flight to Lima (airfare not included).
Upon arrival transfer to Boulevard Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 10 (SUNDAY)
Pick up and transfer to the airport to take the international flight to Quito (airfare not included) Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Quito and transfer to the Four points Sheraton Hotel or similar for overnight.

Day 11 (MONDAY)
Departure from Quito to Baltra airport in Galapagos, ( aprox. 2 hours and half flight, AIRFARE INCLUDED ). Passengers are greeted by guides at the airport and transfer to the M/V Galapagos Legend. Lunch on board of the M/V Galapagos Legend. In the afternoon visit to Dragon Hill, After a dry landing at a dock, the walk takes the passengers to a hypersalinic lagoon behind the beach often frequented by flamingos. The trail then leads up a winding trail to Dragon Hill, which offers a beautiful view of the bay, This area is a nesting site of a big number of land iguanas re-introduced by the Charles Darwin Research Station. There is also a Scalesia tree forest. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapés to the passengers. Passenger welcome & briefing, there is a cocktail and a presentation of the crew. At this time a safety drill is practiced. Free time on board, Guide’s briefing on next day activities at the auditorium. Dinner.

Day 12 (TUESDAY)
Wake up call. In each cabin there are speakers and a light music will awaken passengers softly. Buffet Breakfast Disembark at El Barranco (Prince Philip’
s Steps) in Genovesa Island, dry & wet landing and walk in lava terrain. On the sides of the walk passengers will observe red footed boobies and frigates and Palo Santo trees. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapés. Lunch. In the afternoon visit of Darwin Bay, wet landing and observation of red-footed boobies, frigates, sea lions, lava gulls and night herons, fiddler crabs, opportunity to snorkeling in the bay to observe sharks and rays. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapés.
Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities at the living room. Dinner.

Day 13 (WEDNESDAY)
Wake up call. In each cabin there are speakers and a light music will awaken passengers softly. Buffet Breakfast Disembark at Punta Suarez (Española Island), dry landing and walk on lava terrain. Aside from the sea lion colonies this is one of the most important sites for bird watching. Here as soon as you disembark many species can be spotted up close, among these the hood mocking bird, red billed tropic birds. You will also spot large marine iguanas with traces of green and red along with lava lizards and colorful sally light foot crabs. After a short trek you will run into colonies of masked and blue footed boobies and their nesting grounds sometimes overlapped over the trail. You will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls. After crossing the nesting grounds you will reach the world colony of waved albatross (15000 aprox.), they all come to the Galapagos for their mating rituals. Finally you will visit the blowhole where water shoots into the air at almost 23 m. (75 ft.). After a 3 hour trek you will want to stay longer. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapés. Lunch. In the afternoon dry landing at Baquerizo Moreno port in San Cristobal Island. You will visit the Interpretation Center, where you will learn about the natural and human history of the islands through display presentations, lasts more or less one hour. There is some time to shop in town. Return on board, the crew will welcome you with canapés to the passengers. Free time on board. Guides briefing on next day activities at the living room. Dinner.

Day 14 (THURSDAY)
Wake up call. In each cabin there are speakers and a light music will awaken passengers softly. Buffet Breakfast Disembarkation at Baltra Beach (wet landing) which is located at north of Santa Cruz Island, in this site you will be encountered by sea lions that will be found bodysurfing, marine iguanas, sea turtles and the opportunity to swim in the beach and this site is perfect for snorkeling. Return on board the M/V Galapagos Legend, Check out and depart to the airport, flight to Quito (airfare not includede). Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Quito and transfer to the Four points Sheraton Hotel or similar for overnight.

Day 15 (FRIDAY)
Today’s Quito city tour takes you to the Legislative Palace, the monastery of San Augustin, Plaza of Independence, La Compania Church, Cathedral of San Francisco & Panecillo Hill for a panoramic view of the city. Overnight at the Four Points Sheraton hotel or similar

Day 16 (SATURDAY)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your connection flight (B)

Cusco Cathedral

Machu Picchu Peru