14 Days Trip to Enchanted Galapagos Islands & Challenging Inca TrailDuration: 14 Days and 13 Nights
Departures: Daily departures from Quito Ecuador
Activities: The best of 2 countries
Airfares: NOT INCLUDED, can easily be included in the package upon request
Customizable: YES, feel free to ask for extra services or modifications
DAY 1 ARRIVAL QUITO - (SATURDAY)
Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Quito and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight. (No meals)
DAY 2 QUITO - SANTA CRUZ (SUNDAY)
Early breakfast and transportation to the Airport. Departure from Quito to Baltra (Airfare Included) (approx. 2 and half hour flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the Itabaca canal, then cross to the Island of Santa Cruz and travel to Puerto Ayora.
Santa Cruz (Highlands). One option is to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz. Passengers will visit Cerro Chato. You'll be able to observe the famous giant tortoises. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava tubes. (B, L, D)
DAY 3 ESPAÑOLA (MONDAY)
Española (Suarez Point). Dry landing. Visitors will learn about the lava terrain cross the inactive lava fields. Besides the sea lion colonies, this is a very important site for bird watching. Various bird species such as the mockingbird of Española, Nazca booby and tropic bird can be spotted and observed from very close. You will also see a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards, and rally light foot crabs.
After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of Nazca and blue-footed boobies.
The nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos doves, hawks and swallow-tailed gulls and then reach the world's largest colony of waved albatross.
A major highlight is their mating season, from May through December.
You'll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air about 23 m (75 ft).
Española (Gardner Bay). Wet landing on a white coral beach amidst a large colony of sea lions. This site has no trails, so hiking is not possible. It's an open area where you can spot Galapagos hawks, American oyster catchers, Galapagos doves, and hood mockingbirds, 3 species of Darwin finches, yellow warblers, lava lizards, and marine iguanas.
It's great for swimming and snorkeling, and you can see many Galapagos marine species like king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish, parrot fish, manta rays, white tipped reef sharks. (B, L, D)
DAY 4 FLOREANA (TUESDAY)
Floreana (Cormorant Point). Wet landing on a greenish colored beach. Visitors will hike from black mangrove beds to a large, brackish lagoon which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features endemic plants such as Scalesia cillosa, Galapagos daisies, white and black mangrove, and holy stick. Novice snorkelers can practice on the main beach with playful sea lions.
Champions After Cormorant Point, we'll make dinghy ride along the coast. One hour tour to observe: blue-footed bobbies, sea lions, marine iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls. Deep water snorkeling, this unforgettable activity lasts an hour approximately you will be swimming in an aquarium with colorful fishes, tame sharks, and rays.
Floreana (Post office) Located on the north side of Floreana Island, the bay is so-named because in 1793, Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel which served as an informal post box for sailors who passed through the Galapagos, taking with them the letters to their destinations. Today, our visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel which reach their destinations for free. It can take weeks, sometimes months, or sometimes the cards never arrive at all!.
Down a path you can observe the mocking bird of Galapagos, some species of Darwin's finches, yellow Wardle and lava lizards. (B, L, D)
DAY 5 NORTH SEYMOUR - QUITO (WEDNESDAY)
North Seymour. Dry landing. Guests will encounter swallow-tailed gulls and sea lions. This site is a major nesting colony of blue-footed boobies and has the largest colony of the magnificent frigate bird.
Travelers will also spot both iguana species, the marine iguanas and land iguanas, and then hike around the nesting sites.
Disembark at the docks (Baltra); passengers will take a bus to the airport for their flight back to the mainland via Guayaquil to Quito (Airfare Included) Meeting and assistance upon arrival in Quito and transfer to the Hotel. Overnight (B)
DAY 6 QUITO - LIMA (THURSDAY)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your connection flight to Lima (Airfare Not Included) to take an exciting extension to Peru, Cusco and Machu Picchu. Upon arrival transfer the Hotel. Overnight. (B)
DAY 7 LIMA - CUSCO (FRIDAY)
Transfer to the Lima airport for the flight to Cuzco (Airfare Not Included).
Upon arrival to Cusco Airport. Reception and transportation to the Hotel where you will receive an aromatic coca tea to stimulating for the height, will have the free morning to rest and also we suggest you have a light lunch in either your hotel or in one of the surrounded; in the evening we will depart on a City tour (entrance to the archaeological centers and museums including) we will visit the Main square, Cathedral, the Koricancha (temple of the sun) and in addition we will make a route bordering archaeological centers like Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay, tour finishes 6:30pm approximately at the main square in order you can take dinner in one of the exquisite restaurants in the area, then overnight. (B)
*Optional Buffet Dinner with Folkloric Show: Adding $24 per person
INCA TRAIL 4 DAYS 3 NIGHTS
Important Note: We will buy your Inca Trail trek permit using the names & passport numbers that you send us with your trek booking application. You must bring these same passports with you to Cusco and take them on the Inca Trail. If the name or number in your passport is different from the name and number on the trek permit, the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek and you will not be entitled to a refund. If you plan to renew your passport between making the trek booking and actually starting the trek you will must bring the 2 passports (old and new). If you make a trek booking at the student price you must send us a copy of your ISIC card at the time you pay the trek deposit. If you fail to bring your ISIC card on the trek the government authorities will not allow you to start the trek. You will not be given the opportunity to pay the extra difference in price!!!!!
DAY 8 PISCACUCHO (Km.82)-HUAYLLABAMBA (The easy day) (SATURDAY)
A spectacular early morning drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas takes us to our trailhead at Km. 82 of the Machu Picchu railroad. After getting acquainted with our trail crew we set out, crossing a footbridge to hike a gentle two hours down the Urubamba canyon, and then visit imposing sculpted Inca farming terraces and the settlement of Llaqtapata on the banks of the Cusichaca side river. We then climb a short way up the Cusichaca valley to Huayllabamba, the last inhabited village on the trail, where we camp.(L),(D).
(Walking distance approximately 12 km)
DAY 9 HUAYLLABAMBA - PACAYMAYU (The challenge day) (SUNDAY)
We climb the steep-sided Llullucha valley past a rushing stream and through enchanted native polylepis woodland. Crossing the rim of a small plateau, we abruptly find ourselves in the puna, the treeless grasslands of the high Andes. The trail traverses an open slope opposite mighty mountain crags as we ascend to the first and highest pass, Warmiwañusca (4,200m/13,776ft). Here we encounter spectacular views of the trail ahead to the second pass, and look back to the sweeping snow peaks and valleys of the Huayanay massif.
The trail to the floor of the forested Pacaymayo valley, where we make camp.(B),(L),(D)
( Walking distance approximately 9 km).
DAY 10 PACAYMAYU - WIÑAYWAYNA (The unforgettable day) (MONDAY)
We pick up an Inca stairway and ascend again past the small Inca site of Runkuracay. As we reach the second pass, the landscape opens onto spectacular new views to the snow peaks of the Pumasillo range. We descend to the ruins of Sayacmarca (Inaccessible Town), an intricate labyrinth of houses, plazas and water channels, perched precariously on a rocky spur overlooking the Aobamba valley. The Inca trail, now a massive buttressed structure of granite paving stones, continues along the steep upper fringes of the cloud forest through a colorful riot of orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns. At the third pass pinnacles topped with Inca viewing platforms overlook the archaeological complex of Phuyupatamarca (Cloud-level Town).
Pausing to explore the wondrous maze of Inca stone towers, fountains and stairways that spilling down the mountainside here, we begin a long descent through ever-changing layers of cloud forest. An Inca stairway partly cut from living granite leads us finally to our camp by the ruins of Wiñay Wayna (Forever Young), the largest and most exquisite of the Inca Trail sites.(B),(L),(D)
(Walking distance approximately 14 km)
DAY 11 WIÑAYWAYNA - MACHUPICCHU (The special day) (TUESDAY)
An early morning hike takes us across a steep mountainside through lush, humid cloud-forest of giant ferns and broad-leaf vegetation. Suddenly we cross the stone threshold of Intipunku (Sun Gate) and encounter an unforgettable sweep of natural beauty and human artistry -a backdrop of twisting gorge and forested peaks framing the magical city of Machu Picchu.
We complete the final leg down the royal flagstone walkway, past outlying shrines and buildings and into the heart of Machu Picchu, where we spend the rest of the morning with a guided tour of the highlights and some individual exploring among Machu Picchu's multitude of hidden nooks and corners, an according time, we will go down to the Aguas Calientes town to relax at the hot springs or just overnight at the select hotel in Aguas Calientes town. (B).
(Walking distance approximately 7 km)
DAY 12 MACHU PICCHU / CUZCO (WEDNESDAY)
Breakfast and rest of day at leisure by your own (entrance and bus fee to Machu Picchu not included on this day) in the afternoon return to Cusco. Reception at the train station and transfer to the Hotel where it passed the night (B).
Private Excursions upon request: You can make a second visit to Machu Picchu and have the chance to know hidden places, such as the Intipunku (Gate of the Sun) or for more adventures can take a hike to the top of Huayna Picchu (Young Mountain) to visit the Temple of the Moon and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. Or if you have good physical conditions can take a hike full of adrenaline to the Putukusi mountain opposite position than Machu Picchu which allows us to have other unforgettable views from this new wonder.
DAY 13 FULL DAY SACRED VALLEY TOUR (THURSDAY)
Breakfast. You will be picked up at 8:15 am. Full day excursion to the Urubamba Valley visiting: the colorful Indian market in Pisac where a mixture of color and tradition will be able appreciated besides will have a good opportunity to try our bargain skills on the free time to interact with the local craftsmen to purchase their hand-made souvenirs. The Valley has a distance of 31 km (19 miles) of Cusco, and an altitude of 2,970 ms (9,700 p), Pisac is located to the entrance of the Sacred Valley and followed by Ollantaytambo, the older town continuously occupied of the American continent. The narrow streets of Ollantaytambo, along with their channels that have not varied from the time Inca, evoke their ancestral inheritance, lunch in a typical restaurant and then the last visit will be to Chinchero market.
Chinchero is believed to be the mythical birthplace of the rainbow. Its major claim to tourism is its colorful Sunday market which is much less tourist-orientated than the market at Pisac. At the end, return to Cusco main square at 6:30pm approx.
The night is free for you to eat in a restaurant of your choice; although we always have plenty of suggestions for you should you require them. (B, L)
Note: Take this tour on market days: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday
Bilingual Guided tour on different days
DAY 14 TRANSFER OUT
You will be picked up from the hotel after breakfast to take the bus service to the airport (B).
INCA TRAIL INFORMATION *
OUR SERVICE INCLUDED
*Transfer by bus to km.82 (trail head)
*Entrance Fee, Inca Trail and Machu Picchu.
*A large tent, for each 2 persons.
*Mattress, one per person.
*Kitchen tent.
*Dining tent.
*Enough tables and chairs.
*English speaking professional tour guide (over 8 members, 2 guides).
*An expert cook.
*Porters (to carry tent, food, cooking equipment)
*Train Ticket (Backpacker).
*Full meals during the trek.
*Daily snack bag.
*Daily afternoon tea service.
*Daily wake up tea, and hot water for washing.
*Daily morning boiled and cold water to fill the water bottles.
*Emergency oxygen bottle and medical kit.
*Transfer train station / hotel
*Bus Ticket from Machu Picchu to Aguas Calientes
NO INCLUDED:
*Breakfast first day (you can order an early breakfast at your hotel)
*Lunch last day
*Hot springs pool visit (on your own).
*Tips to the crew (guides, cooks and porters).
*Sleeping bag
WE SUGGEST YOU TO:
- Use boots during treks and sneakers during long walks.
- Drinking lots of liquids on long excursions, especially during the Inka Trail
- Always taking an umbrella or rainwear.
YOU SHOULD BRING
-Personal sleeping bag
-Warm Jacket or Sweater
-RainGear (from nov to april)
-T-shirt , short, long pants.
-Back pack, trekking shoes, sandals
-Sun Hat , wool hat , sun glasses
-Water bottle, flash light, hat
-Personal clothing for trek
-Insect repellent - Suncream
-Personal medication
-Water Purification Tablets.
-Towels
-Toilet paper,
-Extra US$50 changed in soles for any emergency and for tipping the porters,
use the hot shower on day 3 - 2 soles and for lunch on day 4
KILOMETERS OF WALKING DAY BY DAY
Day 01 - 12 Km (Km-82 to Huayllabamba) Cusco (3400) - Chillca(2720) - Huayllabamba(2950)
Day 02 - 12 Km (Huayllabamba to Pacaymayo) Huayllabamba(2950) - Pakaymayu(3600)
Day 03 - 16 Km (Pacaymayo to Wiñayhuayna) Pakaymayo(3600) - Wiñaywayna(2700)
Day 04 - 07 Km (Wiñayhuaina to Machupicchu) Wiñayhuayna(2700) - Machupichu(2400) - Cusco(3400)
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STUDENT DISCOUNT:
Note: To apply to this discount It is necessary to send us your scan copy ISIC (International Student Identity Card) with your other information.
Without this copy we will not be able to make the discount.
When booking a trek: The government has strictly limited the number of people permitted on the Inca Trail during 2009 (permits are issued to about 200 trekkers per day plus 300 porters). We recommend that you make a trek booking as early as possible. In 2008 the trek permits for some dates sold out more than 4 months in advance!! However don't make a booking until you have all the group details (names, passport numbers, ages etc) and you are sure about your trek departure date since "these details cannot be changed after we have bought your trek permit"
* Participants need to be in good physical health and condition it is good for travelers who are in condition to hike up to ten hours, with breaks in a single day to enjoy the Inka Trail. The trekking will be difficult if you have not exercised regularly before your trip. To fully enjoy an Inka Trail adventure, we advise passengers to get into an exercise program for their own safety and enjoyment. If a passenger suffers from any medical condition, we advise him/her to consult a physician about joining an Inka Trail Expedition.
Take only the necessary items for the 4/3 days trek, You can leave the rest of your luggage at your hotel in Cusco (most of hotels and hostals has an storage rooms to keep it until your return)
PARK REGULATIONS
Park authorities may occasionally designate different campsites than those indicate The Inca Trail is part of the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, a protected area of 32,592 hectares. Every visitor must obey park regulations prohibiting littering, cutting or damaging trees, removing or damaging stones of ruins and the Trail, removing plants, killing animals, lighting open fires or camping in the archeological sites (Only authorized campsites can be used).
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Trek Options:
1. Personal porters can be hired to help carry your personal items such as clothes, sleeping bag etc. The services of a third of a porter (maximum 7kg or 14lb per person) can be hired for US$125. If you hire the services of a third of a porter (you will need to supply the small padlock). However, even with this service you will still need to take a daypack to carry your essential items such as rain poncho, warm fleece, camera and water bottle.
Please note that due to new government regulations the maximum number of porters that we can use in each group has now been capped. This is why we have had to limit the maximum amount of personal equipment that you can give to a porter to carry for you to 7kg or 14lb per person. (The maximum amount that each porter can carry on the Inca Trail has also been limited to 18kg or 40lb per porter). Approximately 30% of our clients hire the services of an extra third porter.
2. We can also provide vegetarian meals or cater for special diets at no extra cost but we need to know when you make the trek reservation.
3. You can hire sleeping bags in our office. All sleeping bags are synthetic (easy to wash). They are washed after every use and are guaranteed to be clean.
Cost: US$35 per person for the 4 day/3 night trek. Weight 2.5 kg and are rated to 12 degrees below freezing (nice and warm even during the coldest of nights experienced on the Inca Trail).
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