CRUISING THE GALÁPAGOS ON BOARD THE GALÁPAGOS EXPLORER II WITH PERU and NAZCA LINES (ISZF2012)

Day 1:
Arrive Quito, Ecuador. Arrive in Quito, where you will be met by your Local Host.

Day 2:
Quito. Your included city TOUR showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and, later, the Spaniards. See Independence Square dominated by its formidable Cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the BASILICA with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)

Day 3:
Quito–San Cristobal (Embarkation)–Galápagos Cruising. Take a morning flight to San Cristobal, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the Galápagos Explorer II and enjoy five days of cruising among various Galápagos Islands. On SAN CRISTOBAL, visit Cerro Brujo, a sandy beach that is home to Sally Lightfoot crabs, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. This is an ideal spot for snorkeling as well as observing sea and shorebirds. (B,L,D)

Day 4:
Cruising: Española Island. Today, join your Naturalist for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on ESPAÑOLA ISLAND, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Here you will see the famous blowhole, as well as unique seabird colonies including the waved albatross (April.-December.), Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches. Also look for red, green, and black marine iguanas and a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. (B,L,D)

Day 5:
Cruising: Santa Cruz & Rábida Islands. On SANTA CRUZ, visit Whale Bay, one of the oldest whaling camps in the archipelago. Later, disembark at RÁBIDA ISLAND on a red-colored beach, formed from the unusually high content of iron in the volcanic material. Here, your Naturalist points out large colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a wonderful place to snorkel from the beach, due to the unique combination of underwater species and submarine landscapes. (B,L,D)

Day 6:
Cruising: Santa Cruz & South Plaza Islands. This morning, visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION, home to famous “Lonesome George” and established to help conserve the Galápagos’ natural habitats and protect the area’s famous giant tortoises. Spend some time in the town of Puerto Ayora before returning to the ship. At SOUTH PLAZA, wildlife includes sea lions, land iguanas, and hybrid iguanas, which are the result of a cross between male marine iguanas and female land iguanas. This is also a bird-watcher’s paradise, where you will see nesting swallow-tailed gulls, masked and bluefooted boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, frigatebirds, pelicans, and Audubon’s Shearwaters. (B,L,D)

Day 7:
Cruising: Baltra (Disembarkation )–Quito–Lima, Peru . After breakfast, disembark and transfer to Baltra for your flight to Lima to begin the Peru portion of your vacation. (B)

Day 8:
Lima. Your included city TOUR focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the Cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin and with its eerie burial crypts. (B)

Day 9:
Lima–Cusco. Fly to Cusco high in the Andes. Your guided TOUR visits the Santo Domingo MONASTERY, previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. In the Plaza de Armas, see the Cathedral before taking a short drive outside the city to the ruins of SACSAYHUAMAN with its intricate stone walls, amphitheatre of KENKO, and the Red Fortress of PUCA PUCARA. (B)

Day 10:
Cusco. Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley leads to the market town of PISAC. Handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry can be bought here at bargain prices. At the other end of the valley is OLLANTAYTAMBO. Here, some of the finest examples of Inca masonry can be seen. Try out area cuisine at one of the many Cusco restaurants recommended by your Local Host. (B,L)

Day 11:
Cusco–Machu Picchu. Board a TRAIN bound for MACHU PICCHU and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911. On a guided TOUR, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas, or hike to the peak of Huayna Picchu. (B,L,D)

Day 12:
Machu Picchu–Cusco. A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over MACHU PICCHU. Return to Cusco, where your Local Host will recommend options for your free time. Perhaps visit the Inca Museum or wander through the artisan district of San Blas. (B)

Day 13:
Cusco–Lima. Fly to Lima, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

Day 14:
Lima–Pisco–Nazca Lines–Paracas. Enjoy a scenic drive south along the Pan-American Highway to Pisco, the wine capital of Peru. Have your camera handy today as you board your aircraft for a FLIGHT over the Nazca plains, which can only be appreciated by air. Your pilot will point out the mysterious markings known as the Nazca Lines, a series of drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the parched soil—some up to 1,000 feet long! Theories vary, but the most accepted belongs to German mathematician Maria Reiche, who dubbed the land the “astronomical calendar” of the ancient Peruvians. (B,D)

Day 15:
Paracas–Ballestas Islands–Lima. Head north to the Bay of Paracas. CRUISE out to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. The huge Candelabro, an unexplained candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Later, return to Lima. (B)

Day 16:
Lima. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/10/2012 - 6/25/2012	$6,020
7/22/2012 - 8/6/2012	$6,040
8/5/2012 - 8/20/2012	$6,040
8/19/2012 - 9/3/2012	$6,040
10/14/2012 - 10/29/2012	$6,040
10/28/2012 - 11/12/2012	$6,040
11/11/2012 - 11/26/2012	$6,040
12/9/2012 - 12/24/2012	$6,040
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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