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| Day 1: Los Angeles - Lima, Peru | ||||||
| Depart from Los Angeles on a non-stop flight to Lima, capital of Peru. Arrive in the late evening where you will be met by your guide and be transferred to your hotel. | ||||||
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| Day 2: Lima - Cuzco (B/L/D) | ||||||
| After breakfast, take a flight via Lima to Cuzco. Enjoy an afternoon city tour of beautiful Cuzco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, including visits to the Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral (with its magnificent collection of gold and silver), the ancient fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the amphitheater of Qenko and Tambomachay and the Royal Bath of the Incas. The evening is at leisure to explore the quaint streets of Cuzco. | ||||||
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| Day 3: Cuzco - Machu Picchu (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Take a train followed by a short bus ride to Machu Picchu, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Built in the 15th century by the Inca Emperor, it is a city in the clouds located high in the Andes Mountains and surrounded by dense jungle. You will be amazed how its huge stones have been cut so precise that no mortar was needed for construction, and how the entire complex is situated making numerous structures and the entire city itself an astronomical calendar. You will have lunch at the mountain and return to Cuzco in the evening. | ||||||
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| Day 4: Cuzco - Lima (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Your group will fly back to Lima in the morning. Explore some of Lima・s most imposing colonial churches and mansions such as the Government Palace at Plaza Mayor, Cathedral of Lima and the 17th century San Francisco Monastery. Afterwards, continue to Miraflores, one of the trendiest residential, hotel and shopping areas which overlooks the Pacific Ocean. You will get a chance to pick up some final souvenirs at the Indian Market known for its Peruvian handicrafts. After dinner, you will return to your hotel to rest for the evening. | ||||||
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| Day 5: Lima - Quito (B) | ||||||
| After breakfast, your group will take a flight from Lima to Quito, Ecuador. Upon your late afternoon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel to rest a while before dinner. The remainder of the evening is free for relaxation. | ||||||
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| Day 6: Quito Full Day Tour(B) | ||||||
| Explore the bustling streets and squares
of the largest historical center in the city. Visit some of its most important
churches such as the majestic La Compania (Society of Jesus Church) and
iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and
cultural heritage. Drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan.
Finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside with its breathtaking views
of the colonial and modern city. Enjoy lunch at the famous Crater restaurant. In the afternoon, you will travel just outside of Quito to the Middle of the World complex. Visit the monument dedicated to the expedition which determined the location of the equator in the 18th century. Inside, you will tour the Ethnographic Museum detailing the various regions and ethnic tribes of Ecuador. Be sure to peruse through the wide range of handicrafts hailing from all over the country. |
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| Day 7: Quito - Galapagos for a 5 Day / 4 Night Cruise (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Depart for Baltra Airport in the Galapagos
Islands. Passengers will be picked up at the airport by our guides and taken
to the pier to board the Galapagos Deluxe Cruise. The ship will sail approximately
1:00PM. Bartolome Dry landing. This afternoon, you 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 Galapagos penguins, sea turtles and white tipped sharks from a safe distance. |
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| Day 8: Cruise: Isabela (Urbina Bay) (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Wet landing. In the morning excursion,
you will explore the fossil-filled beach and coral area created when a volcanic
eruption in 1954 raised the local reef 13 feet out of the ocean. Depending
on the season you may be able to observe giant tortoises, land iguanas and
flightless cormorants. Afterwards, we will have time for snorkeling.
Fernandina (Espinosa Point) Dry landing. In the afteroon, you will see larger groups of marine iguanas here than on any other island all mingling with Sally Lightfoot crabs, as well as flightless cormorant nesting sites and Galapagos hawks. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot lava cactus in addition to ：pa-hoe-hoe； lava and ：AA； lava formations. We will navigate through numerous mangrove beds that extend into the sea hopefully escorted by playful Galapagos penguins and sea lions. |
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| Day 9: Cruise: Santiago (Egas Port) (B/L/D) | ||||||
| Wet landing on a black sand beach. This
morning・s excursion takes you to an island whose landscape features
layered tuff-stone and volcanic rock that create countless crevices and
natural bridges. You can observe hunting herons, great blue herons, lava
herons, yellow crowned night herons and oyster catchers. You will also see
marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds alongside red Sally Lightfoot crabs.
There is a colony of fur-seals here, too, swimming in deep pools of cool
water. Here you can swim and snorkel, and find octopi, sea horses and star
fish. Rabida (aka Jervis) Wet landing. In the afternoon, you will visit a volcano-formed beach that is dark red and frequented by sea lions. It is considered the geographic center of Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks of all the Islands. You will 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 salty bushes. Boobies and nine species of Darwin・s finches can also be observed here. You can take a dinghy ride by the reefs as well as snorkel during this excursion. |
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| Day 10: Cruise: Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station) (B/L/D) | ||||||
| In the morning, you 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 learn
about the pricklypear cactus forest and many unique land birds. Later on,
you will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs. Santa Cruz (Highlands) This afternoon, you can trek through the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and visit the dormant volcano Cerro Chato, where you will be able to observe the famous giant Galapagos tortoises. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes. |
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| Day 11: Cruise: Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) / Guayaquil (B) | ||||||
| Wet landing. Your final excursion takes
you early to Bachas Beach located on north side of Santa Cruz Island. Here
you will encounter many sea birds, marine iguanas, sea turtles and have
the opportunity for a final swim in Galapagos waters from a white sand beach.
You will then return to the Galapagos Deluxe Cruise, check out and be transferred
to the Baltra Airport which is very nearby. You will fly to Guayaquil with
lunch on the plane. Guayaquil is the most populous city in Ecuador. Your
tour of the city begins with a visit to the 19th-century colonial neighborhood
of Las Penas, which is located at the foot of Cerro Santa Ana offering panoramic
views of the city and the Guayas River, and home to presidents, historians,
painters, writers and various other noteworthy figures in Ecuadorian history. Afterwards, you will walk along the banks of the Guayas River down the beautiful boardwalk of Malecon 2000, the greatest landmark of Guayaquil flanked by shopping, restaurants, gardens, monuments and theaters. You will stop by the La Rotonda monument built to pay tribute to the heroes of South American Independence, and visit the famous archaeological museum of the Central Bank. In the evening, you will enjoy a farewell banquet for your group. |
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| Day 12: Guayaquil - Los Angeles | ||||||
| Your early morning flight via Lima will bring you back home in the evening to complete this memorable trip! | ||||||
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| • This itinerary visits
destinations that are at high altitude, which may cause altitude sickness.
Please consult your doctor for preventative treatment. |
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Current Quito weather: |
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APF Travel reserves the right to
make any changes to the itinerary or price without notice, due to any
unfortunate event such as natural disaster, war, strike, and airline
itinerary change or flight cancellation. Copyright APF Travel, Inc. 2011. All Rights Reserved. |
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