Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)

Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour) 16 Days

From $10990 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

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Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)
Journeys of Discovery (16 Day Tour)

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
Experts
Operator
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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 16 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 100%
Trip ID: 125172
Start Location: mariscal-sucre-ecuador
End Location: monserrate-peru

Guaranteed:
Yes
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
1. AdventureLink has carefully handpicked the tour operators in our portfolio to give you the best possible selection and experience
2. AdventureLink does not pay the operator until your trip completes in order to ensure the highest possible standard of care
Primary Activities: River & Canal Cruising, Sightseeing
Other Activities: Snorkeling, Monuments, Museums & Expositions, Arts & Crafts, Historical Sites, Swimming, Volcanoes, World Heritage Sites, Machu Picchu, Local Markets, Monasteries
Activity Level: Basic

Join us on this unique journey to discover the natural and cultural wonders of Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. Begin in Ecuador where the M/V Galápagos Explorer II awaits you for a four-day cruise of the living laboratory where Charles Darwin studied and collected samples of exotic flora and fauna. Explore the islands by Zodiacs, hike through volcanic landscapes and swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters. Then travel in style to the ancient lands of the Incas. Expert guides introduce you to the sacred Urubamba Valley and the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuamán on private tours. Take a deluxe train to the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu and spend a night at the only hotel overlooking the ruins. Enjoy preferred access to the ruins at sunset and sunrise, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Cruise the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca. Along the way, immerse yourself in the local culture with VIP touches such as a private choir performance inside a 16th-century monastery, private tours of world-renowned art collections and a unique visit to a local school in the Urubamba Valley.

NOTE: High Altitude. This journey spends three nights in Cuzco at over 10,000 feet, and three nights in Quito at over 9,200 feet. These high altitudes will affect your blood pressure and breathing. Caution must be observed.

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Quito, Ecuador

Set in a valley ringed by snowcapped volcanoes, Quito welcomes you. Explore its many colonial churches, monasteries and museums, and visit the Equatorial Monument. Tour a rose plantation and visit the owner’s family home and private chapel. Visit the famous Otavalo market to admire the handcrafted textiles of the local, indigenous people. In the small town of Peguche — Ecuador’s center of weaving — enjoy strolling through the town’s narrow streets where quaint shops abound.

Lodging: Plaza Grande
Description: The Hotel Plaza Grande rises above Quito's central square, known as the Plaza de la Independencia.

Days 4-7: The Galápagos Islands

The M/V Galápagos Explorer II awaits you for a 5-day cruise of the living laboratory where Charles Darwin studied and collected samples of the flora and fauna. His observations on the islands’ diverse species would later become the basis for the Theory of Evolution. You’ll explore the islands by Zodiacs and find opportunities to hike along scenic pathways, swim and snorkel in crystal-clear waters.

Lodging: M/V Galápagos Explorer II
Description: The M/V Galápagos Explorer II is the most elegant vessel cruising the Galápagos’ waters. It is designed to provide both comfort and scientific information to 100 passengers visiting the Galápagos National Park. The itineraries emphasize the best of this pristine paradise and expert naturalist guides offer an environmentally friendly and educational cruise focused in the Natural History of the Galápagos. The M/V Galápagos Explorer II was built in 1990 as part of the Renaissance Cruise Line and has operated in the Galápagos Islands since February 1998. It has an overall length of 293 feet and reaches 17 knots. The vessel is adapted to eco-tourism operations.

Days 8-9: Lima, Peru

Explore the sights of colonial Lima with a visit to the San Francisco Monastery and the Plaza de Armas Square. View the world’s largest private collection of Peruvian pre-Columbian art at the Larco-Herrera Museum. Enjoy a private lunch in Casa Aliaga, the oldest private mansion in continuous use in the western hemisphere. You’ll also visit Enrico Poli’s private collection of rare Peruvian and pre-Columbian crafts.

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel
Description: Located in Malecon de la Reserva, an exclusive residential area with a spectacular ocean view, Miraflores Park Plaza Hotel is a relaxing, comfortable oasis.

Days 10-11: Urubamba Valley

Your time in the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, helps to acclimatize with the high altitude by ascending it gradually. During your stay in the Urubamba Valley — the Sacred Valley of the Incas — you’ll visit the artisan market of Pisac and explore the lovely Andean village of Chinchero. Enjoy a visit to the Willoq community, where you can learn about their culture from the children at the local school.

Lodging: Tambo del Inka
Description: The only hotel in Urubamba with a private train station to Machu Picchu, we go to every length to ensure an indelible stay, offering refined dining, a therapeutic spa, and premier fitness center, along with an emerald lagoon and blooming riverside gardens.

Day 12: Machu Picchu

Board the scenic Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, the last bastion of the Inca Empire. The photos of this spectacular citadel perched high in the mountains hardly convey the awe-inspiring feeling of being here. You’ll have the opportunity to witness a sunrise over the ruins — an unforgettable experience.

Lodging: Sanctuary Lodge
Description: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, at 8,200 feet above sea level, is the only hotel located within the very sanctuary of the Inca citadel. It is located right on the top of the mountain, only a couple of seconds from the actual ruins themselves. Reflecting the casual, intimate atmosphere of a home away from home, the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge has 29 well appointed rooms and 2 suites, with some of the best views of the world: the ruins of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Mountain. The interior garden has a variety of local flowers and orchids in addition to a beautiful panoramic view.

Days 13-14: Cuzco

High in the Andes, more than 10,000 feet above sea level, Cuzco was founded in the 15th century by the Incas and was later conquered by the Spanish. You’ll explore the Convent of Santo Domingo, known as Korikancha to the Incas, a temple devoted to worship of the sun, and tour the countryside to see the National Archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman.

Lodging: Hotel Monasterio
Description: Hotel Monasterio del Cuzco is located in a 17th-century building that was once the Seminary of San Antonio Abad. In 1995, the seminary was tastefully converted into a hotel, while still preserving its original historically relevant architecture. Today the hotel provides a unique opportunity to experience the comfort and service of a five-star hotel in an amazing museum setting.

Days 15-16: Lima & Depart for Home

Return to Lima for an afternoon at leisure before your evening flight home on Day 15, arriving home the following day.

Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel
Description: Located in Malecon de la Reserva, an exclusive residential area with a spectacular ocean view, Miraflores Park Plaza Hotel is a relaxing, comfortable oasis.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Deluxe rooms in the best available hotels.
Three meals per day, including our unique Dine-Around program that lets you enjoy any restaurant you choose with à la carte dining, or relax with room service when available*.
A professional Travel Director as your personal concierge.
Local sightseeing with professional English-speaking guides with unparalleled knowledge, including entrance fees for places visited.
Active participation and up-close encounters to experience the cultures of your.
Bottled water, soft drinks, coffee and tea included with meals; bottled water during sightseeing excursions.
All gratuities to hotel and restaurant staff and local guides and drivers.
Group or individual airport transfers on arrival and departure flights.
The TravcoAssist Travel Protection Plan, including emergency medical evacuation insurance coverage for injury or illness, and 24-hour Worldwide Live Travel Assistance through Travel Guard Assistance.

Trip Excludes

Intra-tour Airfare: $1,590 (Travcoa will issue intra-tour airfare tickets unless noted otherwise. Airfare prices are subject to change and are only guaranteed at time of final payment.)

Trip ID#: 125172

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Reviews (1)

Ellen Brabson

Thanks for making our Travcoa trips so stimulating, educational and wonderful. This is our 7th Travcoa journey - we've loved them all.
- Overall Rating
  100%
- Guide Rating
  80%
- Value Rating
  100%
- Itinerary Rating
  90%
- Accomodation Rating
  90%

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