Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(11
days/10 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(12 days/11 nights)
Machu Picchu - Lake
Titicaca
(14 days/13 nights)
Colca Canyon - Machu
Picchu
Lake Titicaca
(16 days/15 nights)
Archaeological & Ecological
Treasures
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
Lake Titicaca (or Amazon)
(18 days/17
nights)
Colca Canyon - Amazon
Machu Picchu - Lake Titicaca
(22 days/21 nights)
Machu Picchu
(10
days/9 nights)
Machu Picchu
(13 days/12 nights)
Machu Picchu - Galapagos
(15 days/14 nights)
Galapagos - Machu Picchu
(18 days/17 nights)
Manu National Park
(8 days/7 nights)
Enchanted Isles of the Galapagos
Galapagos
(11
days/10 nights)
Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito
Galapagos - Andes
(16 days/15 nights)
Galapagos - Amazon
(16 days/15 nights)
Historic Haciendas of the Andes
Cotopaxi - Antisana
- Otavalo
(7 days/6 nights)
© 2008
Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
Galapagos Islands & the Andes
Frederic Edwin Church, Cotopaxi, 1855, oil on canvas, 28 x 42 inches.
Photo: Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Volcanoes, islands and remnants of the Incas: an Ecuadorian odyssey...
-- Kimberly Fay, LuxuryLink.com, June 2003
Land & Cruise Price (16 days/15 nights)
Royal US$ 10,440 Imperial US$ 9,915
The romance of the sea is yours aboard the luxurious, 16-passenger yacht M/S Alta. The prices and itinerary shown are typical but vary by yacht. Please select a yacht to view details about each vessel and its itinerary. Also available with a 4-night Galapagos cruise, instead of 7 nights
When considering a Galapagos cruise, note that the islands are distinct in their flora and fauna. Certain islands provide a greater or unique opportunity for observing certain species. Thus, landings on more islands reveal more species and, importantly, the amazingly different adaptations each species has made to its own insular world. Accordingly, a 7-night cruise is preferable. It also offers a greater choice of luxury vessels.
The land and cruise price includes escorted transfers, private excursions with professional guides and chauffeurs on the mainland and semi-private excursions with a certified naturalist in the Galapagos Islands, horseback riding at the Hacienda Zuleta, entrance fees except Galapagos National Park, indicated category of accommodations, all meals except beverages, all transportation except air flights, and travel insurance for guests through the age of 59 years. Over that age, there is a supplementary fee. All prices are per person based on two people sharing a guest room. For a detailed description of our services, see About Our Tours. Horseback riding at the Hacienda San Agustin de Callo is available at additional cost.
Map
Hotels
Intra-Tour Air Flights & Fares
Air fares are in addition to the land price.
Quito - Galapagos - Quito: US$ 440
Select a Yacht
4-Night or 7-Night Luxury Galapagos Cruises
7-Night Luxury Galapagos Cruises
Alta
Grace: Elegance, Beauty & Prestige...
Scheduled to start operating in the summer of 2008
In 1951, this motor yacht was acquired by Aristotle Onassis, who later gave her as a wedding gift to Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco. It was onboard this vessel that Prince Rainier and Princess Grace spent their honeymoon getaway. She has been rechristened with a name that takes her years' back into her history, to the very best of her times. Named after her late owner, Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the name is a representation of her elegance, beauty and prestige. Reservations for The Grace Experience, a seven-night journey in one of her nine spacious cabins, are now being accepted. We invite you to download a brochure and a deck plan.
M/S Alta, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Quasar Nautica.
Upon arrival in Quito, you'll be escorted to the two-century-old Hacienda La Carriona, whose stone courtyard and garden hint of the exuberant Spanish colonial lifestyle. During a five-day overland excursion along the "Avenue of the Volcanoes", from Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on earth, to Antisana, you'll admire the magnificent landscape that inspired Frederic Edwin Church's epic paintings of the Andes.
Soak in the hot springs of Papallacta, "barter with the natives" in the mystical Otavalo Valley, visit authentic workshops in artisans' pueblos and recapture the spirit of old Spanish days while staying in two other historic haciendas: Zuleta, established in 1691, and San Agustín de Callo, the 15th century Inca palace from which Atahualpa administered the Kingdom of Quito, now called Ecuador. As an Inka's client you'll sleep in one of the Inca rooms. Who knows -- maybe even Atahualpa's!
Returning to Quito, founded in 1534, and walking along the cobblestone streets of Ecuador's capital, founded in 1534, through centuries-old parks and plazas to churches filled with gold; you'll contemplate Gothic, baroque, Moorish and neo-classical art, all blended with the mestizo sentiment, and imagine you've gone back in time to the astonishing colonial world. In the evening, take a horse-drawn carriage past the beautifully illuminated facades of the Spanish monuments, and savor fusion cuisine at La Belle Epoque.
A flight the next morning takes you from the peaks of the Andes to the Galapagos Islands. Cruising for eight days aboard an intimate luxury yacht and making twice-daily landings with a naturalist, you'll encounter the animals that inspired Charles Darwin. On Bartolome, whose volcanic formations create a moonlike landscape you'll never forget, hike among marine iguanas and lava lizards, and have the rare opporunity to snorkel among penguins and marine tortoises. As you sail to other, unique isles in this magnificent archipelago, you'll see the adaptations of the wildlife to their differing environments that led Darwin to his theory of evolution by means of natural selection.
Returning for your last night in Quito, experience the finest in French cuisine at Chez Jerome. For an appreciation of Ecuador's rainforest wildlife, consider one of our luxury Amazon expeditions.
See Galapagos Geology on the Web for geology, history and related web sites.
What Luxury Link has to say about Galapagos & the Kingdom of Quito.
What You Could Add: Two or three extra days on Santa Cruz Island.
Typical 7-night itinerary, Galapagos Islands.
Map: Quasar Nautica.
Highlights
Hacienda La Carriona
Day 1: Quito, Ecuador - Hacienda La Carriona. Transfer to the Hacienda La Carriona, a monument to Ecuador's colonial history. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda La Carriona -- Suite.
Hacienda San Agustín de Callo
Day 2: Hacienda La Carriona - Cotopaxi National Park - Hacienda La Cienega - Hacienda San Agustín de Callo. Morning departure to Cotopaxi, the highest active volcano on earth. Surrounding it, you will find the moorland ecosystem of the National Park. Hike the trails, including one to the Inca ruins of El Salitre. Lunch at the historic Hacienda La Cienega. Continue to the ancient Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, an Inca palace and colonial monastery. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda San Agustín de Callo -- Mulalo Suite, Inca Tambo Suite or Las Gordas Room, all in the Inca palace.
Papallacta Hot Springs
Day 3: Hacienda San Agustín de Callo - Antisana Ecological Reserve - Papallacta Hot Springs. Departure north on the Avenue of the Volcanoes toward the majestic Antisana Volcano. We view the panorama from a private reserve at cloud-forest level that is crowned by La Mica Lake, which teems with bird life. After a box lunch, hike with the snows of Antisana as a pristine backdrop. Then, drive to the Termas de Papallacta to enjoy the hot springs and natural surroundings. Dinner and overnight in the Termas de Papallacta -- Double Room.
Hacienda Zuleta
Day 4: Papallacta Hot Springs - Hacienda Zuleta. Relax in the hot springs this morning and walk on marked paths, where nature lovers can appreciate the unique endemic species of flora and fauna. Around midday, departure north to the Awakening Valley, home of the Otavalo Indians. On the way, have lunch at an historic mill, the Molino San Juan. In the afternoon, drive along San Pablo Lake and walk through the countryside a part of the way to the Hacienda Zuleta. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda Zuleta -- Double Room.
Day 5: Hacienda Zuleta. Tours of the entire farm, on foot or on horseback, are a typical part of every guest's stay. Of special interest to many guests are the archaeological sites, working farm, hand-embroidery workshop, condor rehabilitation project, trout farm, cheese factory and stables. The hacienda is as famous for its horses and riding program as it is for its history and hospitality. Lunch at the hacienda. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda Zuleta -- Double Room.
Quito
Day 6: Hacienda Zuleta - Otavalo Indian Market - Hacienda Cusín - Cayambe - Quito. At the foot of the Imbabura Volcano, lies the valley of Otavalo. After exploring the market, visit a pre-Inca solar calendar, then choose between two options. For those more interested in native cultures, visit the village of Peguche, where musical instruments and woolen tapestries are made; the nearby sacred waterfall; San Antonio de Ibarra, known for its woodcarvings; and other artisans' pueblos. For those more interested in nature, drive up to Cuicocha Lake and hike around this flooded volcanic crater. Lunch at the Hacienda Cusín. Continue to Cayambe's "Middle of the World" Monument, then see how the pueblo's traditional biscuits and cheese are made. Returning to Quito under the shadow of the Cayambe Volcano, arrive at the Villa Colonna. Guided evening walk to the Plaza de San Francisco for dinner at the Café Tianquez. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Day 7: Quito. As you drive to the historic district, La Basílica is a striking sight to behold. Morning walking tour in the colonial quarter, highlighted by La Plaza de la Independencia, the Cathedral, La Compañia de Jesús, La Iglesia de San Francisco and La Iglesia y Convento de la Merced. At the City Museum, see what daily life was like in colonial Quito.
Lunch of Ecuadorian-European fusion cuisine at Octava de Corpus. To complete your insight into the country's archaeology, history and cultures; investigate the Central Bank Museum. Continue to El Panecillo. Return to your hotel. Early this evening, board a horse-drawn carriage for a romantic ride through the narrow streets of Old Quito. Arrive at La Belle Epoque to savor gourmet fushion cuisine. Afterward, return to your hotel. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Optionally, you may select the Intiñan Museum for your afternoon excursion:
Lunch of Ecuadorian cuisine at La Choza. Afterward, visit the Museo Intiñan. An Inca monument marking the Equator was discovered on the site, and is more exact than the position determined by the French Geodesic Mission in the mid-1700s. The museum features interactive exhibits on how the Incas located the "middle of the world", and science experiments. Return to your hotel. Early this evening, board a horse-drawn carriage for a romantic ride through the narrow streets of Old Quito. Arrive at La Belle Epoque to savor gourmet fushion cuisine. Afterward, return to your hotel. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Galapagos
Day 8: Quito - Galapagos Cruise. Transfer to the airport. Flight to the Galapagos. Entrance into the National Park, reception and transfer to your yacht. Afternoon island landing and excursion with a naturalist. Back on board. Guides' briefing on the next day's activities. Overnight on the Alta.
Days 9 - 14: Galapagos Cruise. Morning and afternoon island landings and excursions with a naturalist. Back on board. Guides' briefing on the next day's activities. Overnight on the Alta.
Quito
Day 15: Galapagos Cruise - Quito. Morning island landing and excursion with a naturalist. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Quito. Reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner of French gourmet cuisine at Chez Jerome. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Home
Day 16: Quito - Home. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Exceptions to the itinerary:
The Galapagos cruise itinerary described and illustrated below is typical but varies by yacht. Therefore, it should be used only as a guide for learning about the different islands and their wildlife.
Royal Class accommodation in Quito is a Royal Suite in the Hotel Plaza Grande.
Entrance to the Hacienda La Carriona, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda La Carriona.
Its stone courtyard and garden hint of the exuberant Spanish Colonial lifestyle...
Day 1: Quito, Ecuador - Hacienda La Carriona
Transfer to the Hacienda La Carriona, located in the beautiful Valley of Los Chillos, a brief drive south from Quito. Constructed more than two centuries ago, "La Carriona" stands as a monument to Ecuador's colonial history. Its stone courtyard and garden hint of the exuberant Spanish Colonial lifestyle, while its name reminds us that it once belonged to the renowned Carrión family. La Carriona's thick adobe walls have witnessed significant events in Ecuador's history. In the mid-1800s, the house belonged to the distinguished family, Fernández Salvador. In 1830, the patriarch of this family, Don José Fernández Salvador, was appointed president of the first Constitutional Assembly, which laid the foundation for both the Ecuadorian constitution and the nation. Today, the hacienda accommodates guests amidst tranquil surroundings. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda La Carriona -- Suite.
Cotopaxi Volcano, Ecuador.
Photo: Ecuador 365.
Day 2: Hacienda La Carriona - Cotopaxi National Park - Hacienda La Cienega - Hacienda San Agustín de Callo
Breakfast. Morning departure to Cotopaxi. The white-coned summit of the perfectly symmetrical volcano takes pride of place along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. The glaciated summit is 5,907 meters, or 19,400 feet, above sea level, making it the highest active volcano on earth. Surrounding the "King of the Andes", you will find the moorland ecosystem of the National Park, a vast wilderness of sweeping plains. Its 85,000 acres protect Andean condors, llamas, spectacled bears and many other species of highland fauna and flora. Exquisite landscapes are revealed as you hike the trails, including one to the ruins of El Salitre, whose rounded walls are rare in Inca architecture and indicate a temple of the Sun.
Lunch at the historic Hacienda La Cienega. La Cienega is one of the country's most prestigious haciendas. In colonial times, it hosted illustrious guests like the French astronomer Charles Marie de la Condamine, who participated in the French Geodesic Mission. Another famous guest was Alexander Von Humboldt, the German naturalist, who studied Cotopaxi's volcanic activity and unique alpine flora in 1802. While here, he coined the phrase "Avenue of the Volcanoes". More recently, Ecuador's presidents have stayed in the hacienda on their travels through the country and it now is open to the public.
Courtyard of the Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda San Agustín de Callo.
Sleep in an Inca palace!
Continue to the ancient Hacienda San Agustín de Callo. Around 1440 AD, the Inca emperor Tupac Yupanqui commanded the construction of a palace, and later his son, Huayna Capac, concluded the work. In turn, his son Atahualpa, the last of the Inca emperors and the king of Quito, occupied the palace on his travels to Quito and Cajamarca, before he was captured by the Spanish conquerors and executed in 1533.
The hacienda was written about by the Spanish chronicler Cieza de Leon in 1553, and is one of only two major Inca sites in Ecuador (the other is Ingapirca, near Cuenca). To this day, the remaining rooms prevail as a magnificent example of the unique style of Inca construction. The site is currently being investigated by Dr. David Brown of the University of Texas, with funding by the National Geographic Society. Previously unknown portions of Inca walls and foundations have been discovered throughout the restoration process of the house.
Las Gordas Room of the Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda San Agustín de Callo.
In 1590, the King of Spain granted large extensions of land to the religious orders in the different regions of Ecuador, with the purpose of consolidating the conquest and catholicizing the Indians. The Augustinian Order established their monastery in the region of Mulalo at this site, and with time constructed the colonial part of the house, blending the Spanish architectural style with the older Inca building.
In the 18th century, there was significant debate in the scientific community as to whether the circumference of the earth was greater around the equator or around the poles. To answer that question, Louis XV, the King of France, and the French Academy of Sciences sent the French Geodesic Mission to Ecuador (1736-44) for the purpose of measuring the roundness of the planet and the length of a degree of longitude at the equator. San Agustín de Callo housed the expedition's scientists, who witnessed two eruptions of Cotopaxi, in 1743 and 1744. In 1921, the hacienda was purchased by General Leonidas Plaza Gutierrez, president of Ecuador in 1901 and in 1912. The hacienda remains in the family and is currently owned by the general's granddaughter Mignon Plaza. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda San Agustín de Callo.
Antisana Volcano, as seen from the Papallacta Hot Springs, Ecuador.
Photo: Termas de Papallacta.
Day 3: Hacienda San Agustín de Callo - Antisana Ecological Reserve - Papallacta Hot Springs
Breakfast. Departure north on the Avenue of the Volcanoes to the village of Píntag, where the eastern range of the Andes rises toward the majestic Antisana Volcano. We view the panorama from a private reserve that starts at cloud-forest level, where it is dominated by bamboos and bromeliads, and extends past the amazing lava flows of the volcano. The reserve's plateau is crowned by La Mica Lake, which teems with bird life -- caracaras, lapwings, Andean condors and hummingbirds. After a box lunch, hike with the snows of Antisana as a pristine backdrop. Then, drive to the Termas de Papallacta, on the eastern foothills of the Andes, to enjoy the hot springs and natural surroundings. Dinner and overnight in the Termas de Papallacta -- Double Room.
Termas de Papallacta hot springs, spa and resort, Ecuador.
Photo: Termas de Papallacta.
Day 4: Papallacta Hot Springs - Hacienda Zuleta
Breakfast. Relax in the hot springs this morning and walk on marked paths, where nature lovers can appreciate the unique endemic species of flora and fauna. Around midday, departure north to the Awakening Valley, home of the Otavalo Indians. On the way, have lunch at an historic mill, the Molino San Juan.
Imbabura Volcano and San Pablo Lake, Otavalo Valley, Ecuador.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
In the afternoon, drive along San Pablo Lake and walk through the countryside a part of the way to the Hacienda Zuleta. Recently, Zuleta was opened to a limited number of guests so that the public could enjoy the many wonders it holds. To visit the hacienda is to experience four centuries of history steeped in Pre-Colombian, Spanish and Ecuadorian tradition. The original inhabitants of the Zuleta region were the peace-loving Caranquis, who have left a pyramid on the hacienda grounds. They were an agrarian-based culture and flourished in this area rich in volcanic soils from about 800 AD until the arrival of the war-faring Incas in the late 1470s. Although the Caranquis fought stoically against the Inca for forty years, they were eventually conquered and forced into Inca servitude. Yet Inca rule was short-lived. By 1533, the last Inca king, Atahualpa, had been captured and assassinated by the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro, leaving the Inca empire in collapse and a free-for-all for the land-hungry vassals of the Spanish Crown. The execution of Atahualpa by Pizarro marked the end of Inca domination in the Zuleta region, and the beginning of Spanish rule.
Courtyard of the Hacienda Zuleta, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda Zuleta.
In the late 16th century, King Carlos is believed to have bequeathed the Zuleta region to the Jesuits, who implemented their Spanish methods of farming and of cattle and sheep production. In the following years an "obraje" (small wool mill) was established. By 1691, the Hacienda house, granary and chapel were completed and the farm was in full operation. However, in 1713, under the direction of King Charles III, the property was confiscated and transferred to Canon Gabriel Zuleta, thus making Zuleta his seventeenth hacienda. From that day forth, the farm became known as Cochicaranqui de Zuleta. Upon the Canon's death, the farm passed to the Posse family, who were inspired to bring the hacienda back to its previous 17th century grandeur. Yet it wasn't until the farm was sold to Jose Maria Lasso in 1898 and passed through two more generations to Galo Plaza Lasso, the ex-President of Ecuador, bullfighter and diplomat, that Zuleta recaptured its original prosperity. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda Zuleta -- Double Room.
Rolling hills of the Hacienda Zuleta, Ecuador.
Photo: Hacienda Zuleta.
Day 5: Hacienda Zuleta
Breakfast. Tours of the entire farm, on foot or on horseback, are a typical part of every guest's stay. You are usually privately escorted by a Plaza family member, another gesture of Zuleta's renowned hospitality. Of special interest to many guests are the archaeological sites, working farm, hand-embroidery workshop, condor rehabilitation project, trout farm, cheese factory and stables. The hacienda is as famous for its horses and riding program as it is for its history and hospitality. Riding has been a Plaza family tradition for over one hundred years, and today Zuleta reflects this equestrian affinity by boasting one of the most exclusive stables in Ecuador. The hacienda is known for its Zuleteño horse which is a unique mixture of Spanish-Andalusian, English and Quarter horses. The outcome of this cross-breeding is a robust Andean horse with a good disposition for riding. Lunch at the hacienda. Dinner and overnight in the Hacienda Zuleta -- Double Room.
Otavaleña, Otavalo Valley, Ecuador.
Photo: Iolanda Costa.
Day 6: Hacienda Zuleta - Otavalo Indian Market - Hacienda Cusín - Cayambe - Quito
Breakfast. At the foot of the Imbabura Volcano, surrounded by clear lakes, patchwork-covered hills and plantations of corn, lies the valley of Otavalo, a market town ensconced in its own mystical past and whose people are proud of their cultural heritage and traditions. Time to explore the Otavalo Indian market, which dates back to pre-Inca times. The market is an experience for all senses: the aromas of traditional fare, soothing Andean panpipes, a kaleidoscope of colors, soft alpaca scarves and customary bargaining. The Otavaleños are owners of a rich inheritance, the customs of their craft; lovers of the rhythm of their music and their dance; and disciples of the legends of their earth mother, Pachamama. Experience a close encounter with this proud race of people, whose cultural integrity endures, and discover ancient haciendas, authentic workshops and the incredible landscapes and lagoons of these fertile lands of the Gods.
Iglesia de San Vicente Ferrer, Quiroga, Otavalo Valley, Ecuador.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
After exploring the market, visit a pre-Inca solar calendar, then choose between two options. For those more interested in native cultures, visit the village of Peguche, where musical instruments and woolen tapestries are made; the nearby sacred waterfall; San Antonio de Ibarra, known for its woodcarvings; and other artisans' pueblos. For those more interested in nature, drive up to Cuicocha Lake and hike around this flooded volcanic crater with its twin islets. Here, you'll observe a particular species of orchid that grows at this altitude (3,220 meters, or 10,562 feet).
Hacienda Cusín, Otavalo Valley, Ecuador.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
Lunch at the Hacienda Cusín. Cusín was purchased by the prominent Luna family from King Philip II at an auction in Spain in 1602. The estate comprised the two valleys of Gualavi and La Rinconada, and all the land between the valleys and the lake, approximately 100,000 acres. During the last 400 years, Hacienda Cusín remained, for the most part, in the hands of two different Spanish families and was operated as a farm. After falling into ruins after several decades of neglect, the hacienda was restored in 1990 and opened for international tourism.
Iglesia de San Pablo and the Imbabura Volcano, Otavalo Valley, Ecuador.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
Continue to Cayambe's very own "Middle of the World" Monument, marking the equator, then see how the pueblo's traditional biscuits and cheese are made. Returning to Quito under the shadow of the Cayambe Volcano, arrive at the Villa Colonna, a charming colonial home in the historic district. Guided walk to the Plaza de San Francisco for a simple but delicious dinner at the Café Tianquez. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Colonial Quito with
El Panecillo in the distance, Ecuador.
Photo: Dan Heller.
Day 7: Quito
Breakfast. Quito, the capital of Ecuador and a world heritage site, is located at an elevation of over 9,000 feet in the Andes mountains. Founded by Spaniards in 1534, it is one of the oldest cities in South America and has the largest colonial quarter. Walking along its cobblestone streets through centuries-old parks and plazas to churches filled with gold, you'll imagine you've gone back in time to that astonishing world.
As you drive to the historic district, the neo-Gothic La Basílica is a striking sight to behold. Though not of colonial vintage, it's the place to see bizarre and fascinating gargoyles in the form of giant tortoises, iguanas, anteaters, monkeys, pumas, condors and other Ecuadorian fauna. Begin in La Plaza de la Independencia, where the country's history was written. On one side is the Cathedral (begun in 1640), considered to be the oldest in South America. Down the Calle de las Siete Cruces (Street of the Seven Crosses) is La Compañia de Jesús (begun in 1605), one of the great baroque masterpieces of the continent. The oldest of Quito's and South America's colonial churches is the baroque La Iglesia de San Francisco (begun in 1535). It was constructed over an Inca temple and decorated with images of the sun to lure in the native people to their conquerors' religion. The Moorish style of La Iglesia y Convento de la Merced (begun in 1538 and rebuilt in 1737) is most likely explained by artists seeking refuge in South America after the expulson of the Moors from Spain in 1492. At the City Museum, see what daily life was like in colonial Quito.
La Plaza de la Independencia, Quito, Ecuador.
Photo: Mylene d'Auriol Stoessel.
This afternoon at Octava de Corpus, a lunch of Ecuadorian-European fusion cuisine served in a colonial home. To complete your insight into the country's archaeology, history and cultures; investigate Ecuador's ancient past in the pre-Inca, Inca and colonial galleries of the Central Bank Museum. Continue to El Panecillo, overlooking the colonial quarter. The significance of this hill dates back to Inca times, when it was known as Shungoloma ("hill of the heart"). Before the Spanish arrived, the local people used it as a place to worship the sun. Now, its summit is crowned by a graceful statue of the Virgin. Return to your hotel.
Early this evening, drive to La Basílica for a magnificent view of the colonial quarter. Continue along ancient Calle de las Siete Cruces (Street of the Seven Crosses) to La Plaza de la Independencia, admiring the beautifully illuminated Spanish monuments. Enjoy the night view of the historic plaza and the Cathedral, before boarding a horse-drawn carriage for a romantic ride through the narrow streets of Old Quito, past the splendid facades of La Compañia de Jesús, La Iglesia de San Francisco, La Iglesia y Convento de la Merced and traditional Calle Cuenca. Arrive at La Belle Epoque to savor gourmet fushion cuisine. Afterward, return to your hotel. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Traditional, horse-drawn carriage, Quito, Ecuador.
Photo: Hotel Plaza Grande.
Optionally, you may select the Museo Intiñan for your afternoon excursion.
Lunch of Ecuadorian cuisine at La Choza. Afterward, visit the Museo Intiñan ("Path of the Sun"), which presents the cosmic vision and customs of Ecuador's indigenous people. An Inca monument marking the Equator was discovered on the site, and is more exact than the position determined by the French Geodesic Mission in the mid-1700s. The museum features interactive exhibits on how the Incas located the "middle of the world", and science experiments, such as balancing an egg on a point and seeing the effects of the Coriolis force. Return to your hotel.
Early this evening, drive to La Basílica for a magnificent view of the colonial quarter. Continue along ancient Calle de las Siete Cruces (Street of the Seven Crosses) to La Plaza de la Independencia, admiring the beautifully illuminated Spanish monuments. Enjoy the night view of the historic plaza and the Cathedral, before boarding a horse-drawn carriage for a romantic ride through the narrow streets of Old Quito, past the splendid facades of La Compañia de Jesús, La Iglesia de San Francisco, La Iglesia y Convento de la Merced and traditional Calle Cuenca. Arrive at La Belle Epoque to savor gourmet fushion cuisine. Afterward, return to your hotel. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Land iguana and opuntia cacti, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Ron Dahlquist.
... we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact
-- that mystery of mysteries --
the first appearance of new beings on this earth.
The natural history of these islands is eminently curious, and well deserves attention. Most of the organic productions are aboriginal creations, found nowhere else; there is even a difference between the inhabitants of the different islands; yet all show a marked relationship with those of America, though separated from that continent by an open space of ocean, between 500 and 600 miles in width. The archipelago is a little world within itself, or rather a satellite attached to America, whence it has derived a few stray colonists, and has received the general character of its indigenous productions. Considering the small size of the islands, we feel the more astonished at the number of their aboriginal beings, and at their confined range. Seeing every height crowned with its crater, and the boundaries of most of the lava-streams still distinct, we are led to believe that within a period geologically recent the unbroken ocean was here spread out. Hence, both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact -- that mystery of mysteries -- the first appearance of new beings on this earth.
-- Charles Darwin, Voyage of the Beagle, 1845
Male frigate bird displaying,
Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Marco Robalino.
... from so simple a beginning
endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful
have been, and are being evolved.
Thus, from the war of nature, from famine and death, the most exalted object which we are capable of conceiving, namely, the production of higher animals, directly follows. There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed by the Creator into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being evolved.
-- Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859
Sea turtle, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Bonnie Pelnar.
Northern & Southern Islands
Day 8: Quito - Galapagos Cruise (San Cristóbal Island)
Breakfast. Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to the Galapapagos Islands. San Cristóbal Island (558 sq. km.) is the fifth largest in the archipelago and the second most populated. The town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galapagos Islands and its oldest settlement. Fauna include giant tortoises and red- blue- and masked- boobies. The native flora include candelabra cactus, palo santo (the "incense tree") and saltbrush.
The Interpretation Center, donated by Spain, focuses on the natural and cultural history of the archipelago, from its volcanic origins to the present. From the Interpretation Center, a short trail leads to Frigate Bird Hill, where both magnificent frigates and great frigates can be seen in the same colony -- ideal for learning to distinguish between the two species. Below, you'll see the harbor, where your yacht awaits. Before long, you'll be crossing from shore to the Alta, your home for the next week. Your captain and crew will be waiting to welcome you aboard.
We head northeast along the coast of San Cristóbal toward our first landing at Playa Ochoa, a turquoise bay with a white powder beach inhabited by a small colony of sea lions. A tidal lagoon sitting behind the beach is frequented by flamingos, Darwin finches and the endemic San Cristóbal Mockingbird. Playa Ochoa is a great introduction to the islands -- it offers your first opportunity to go snorkeling with sea turtles and the archipelago's playful sea lions. Overnight on the Alta.
Red-footed booby, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Day 9: Galapagos Cruise (Genovesa Island)
Genovesa Island (14 sq. km.) is one of the smallest in the archipelago but has a big reputation as "the bird island". It is the best place to see a colony of red-footed boobies, the only one of the three species present in the Galapagos that nests in trees rather than on the ground. A natural formation called Prince Philip's Steps is a bird watcher's delight. The trail leads to a plateau inhabited by red-footed boobies, masked boobies and frigate birds. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumped storm petrels at the cliff's edge, where they nest in crevices. Short-eared owls can sometimes be seen here, hunting the storm petrels during daylight hours. Other birds include red-billed tropic birds, Galapagos doves, white-cheeked pintail ducks and many more. Flora includes lava cactus, a yellow-flowered muyuyo forest and palo santo.
Baby frigate bird, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Genovesa is a collapsed volcano and ships sail directly into its large breached caldera to anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. At Darwin Bay Beach, you'll observe sea lions and, if snorkeling, hammerhead sharks below you. The island attracts vast numbers of seabirds that come here to nest and breed: red-footed boobies, great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls and storm petrels. A trail leads from the coral beach past tidal lagoons, where lava gulls and yellow-crowned night herons are seen, then along the low shrubs populated by frigates and boobies, and eventually to a cliff edge where seabirds soar. Flora includes croton bush, palo santo and saltbrush. Overnight on the Alta.
Swimming Galapagos penguin, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Bonnie Pelnar.
Day 10: Galapagos Cruise (Isabela Island & Fernandina Island)
Isabela Island (4,588 sq. km.) is the largest in the archipelago. It is formed by five young, active volcanoes, of which Volcano Wolf is the highest point in the Galapagos (1,707 meters, or 5,599 feet). On a panga ride along the cliffs of Tagus Cove, look for Galapagos penguins and other sea birds
Fernandina Island (642 sq. km.) is the third largest, youngest and westernmost in the archipelago. Many eruptions have been recorded since 1813, making Fernandina the island most likely to become volcanically active, as it did most recently in May of 2005. After a dry landing at Espinoza Point, you'll see the largest colony of marine iguanas in the islands, mingling with Sally light-foot crabs. Other fauna include Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and sea lions. There are also nesting sites of flightless cormorants. These birds have adapted to their environment by perfecting their ability to hunt for food in the ocean -- their wings, tails and feet have evolved for swimming. To see these birds is to witness evolution in action. Among the volcanic formations, observers will note "pa-hoe-hoe", other unusual lava formations and recent lava flows. Flora include brachycereus cacti and mangroves, whose beds extend into the sea, indicating a healthy and thriving ecosystem. Overnight on the Alta.
Juvenile seal lion,
Galapagos Islands.
Photo: David Bate.
Day 11: Galapagos Cruise (Isabela Island)
On Isabela Island, we'll make a wet landing at Urbina Bay. The bay, at the foot of the Alcedo Volcano, was uplifted from the sea in 1954. Flightless cormorants and pelicans nest along the coast, and sea turtles and manta rays can be seen in the bay. The highlands include large and colorful land iguanas. Other fauna include the largest population of giant tortoises (about 4,000 but difficult to spot), Galapagos hawks, magnificent frigate birds, marine iguanas, hammerhead, white-tipped and Galapagos sharks, eels, groupers and snappers. Continue to Punta Vicente Roca for dinghy sightseeing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Enjoy the high cliffs with tuff-stone, ash and other lava formations; caves; nesting sites for brown noddies and blue-footed boobies; and up-close encounters with sea lions, fur seals and the occasional dolphin. Overnight on the Alta.
Galapagos penguin, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Day 12: Galapagos Cruise (Bartolome Island & Santiago Island)
Bartolome Island (1.2 sq. km.), small and moonlike, has one of the most famous sights in the archipelago: Pinnacle Rock. After a dry landing, you will see volcanic formations, including lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. Hike to the summit for an impressive panorama of Sullivan Bay, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock, and the surrounding islands. The exotic flora of red mangroves, tiquilias and cacti all add to the experience. During the ascent, you'll see a large colony of marine iguanas and lava lizards. Snorkeling will give you a chance to cool off and see marine fauna, such as Galapagos penguins, nesting sea turtles (January to March) and white-tipped sharks.
Goldrimmed surgeonfish, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Bonnie Pelnar.
Santiago Island (585 sq. km.) is the fourth largest in the archipelago. The eroded shapes on its black lava shoreline form pools that house a variety of wildlife and are wonderful for snorkeling. Wet landing on the dark-sand beach at Puerto Egas. Most of the landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows; the surroundings are prime for observing Darwin's finches, Galapagos doves, Galapagos hawks, hunting herons, great blue herons, lava herons, American oyster catchers and yellow-crowned night herons. You'll enjoy the sight of marine iguanas grazing upon algae beds at low tide, sharing space with red Sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur seals swimming in deep pools of cool water, called "grottos". This is an excellent place for swimming and snorkeling in search of octopuses, sea horses, starfishes and other sea life caught in the small tidal pools. In the ocean, you can admire moray eels, hammerhead, white-tip and Galapagos sharks, golden and white-spotted eagle rays, jacks, wahoos, tunas, groupers, red-tailed and dog snappers, sea lions, sea turtles (November to May), black and yellow-black Galapagos corals, sea fans and sponges. Overnight on the Alta.
Giant tortoise, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Day 13: Galapagos Cruise (Santa Cruz Island)
Santa Cruz Island (986 sq. km.) is the second largest in the archipelago and the most populated. Home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, it has many trails, beaches and places for snorkeling. Flora include cacti, saltbrush and mangroves. Fauna include several of the 11 remaining subspecies of giant tortoises, marine iguanas, sharks and various species of waterbirds and landbirds, such as vermillion flycatchers and Darwin's finches. Morning excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands, where you will observe Los Gemelos, twin volcanic craters, and Cerro Chato. Chances are good for sighting the famous giant tortoises that gave these islands their name. Additionally, you can walk inside the dormant lava tubes.
Giant tortoise, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here, you can admire giant tortoises, part of the program to breed, rear and reintroduce different subspecies of tortoises back into their natural habitat. Surrounding the station is an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest with many land birds. Afterward, some free time to walk around the town of Puerto Ayora. Overnight on the Alta.
Sea lions, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate.
Day 14: Galapagos Cruise (Española Island)
Española Island (61 sq. km.) is medium in size and the most southerly. More outlying, it has been able to preserve a high portion of its endemic fauna. Aside from the sea lion colonies, this is one of the most important bird-watching sites. It is unique among the islands in having the only colony of waved albatrosses, which is also the world's largest colony. It has a beautiful white beach, the well-known blowhole and one of the most impressive and varied seabird colonies of the Galapagos.
Marine iguana and lava lizard, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Kleintours.
After a dry landing at Suarez Point, you'll learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields. As soon as you step foot on this island, many species can be spotted close up, such as a large colony of marine iguanas, lava lizards and the colorful Sally light-foot crabs. After a short trek, you'll encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies, whose nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. You'll also find giant frigate birds, red-billed tropic birds and swallow-tailed gulls. After crossing the nesting grounds, you reach the colony of about 15,000 waved albatrosses (April to November). Their mating rituals are a highlight of our visit. Nearing the end of this excursion, you'll visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air to almost 23 meters (75 feet).
Male yellow warbler,
Galapagos Islands.
Photo: David Bate.
Make a wet landing on a white-coral beach on Gardner Bay, amidst a large colony of sea lions. This site has no trails, therefore no hiking, but from this open area you can spot Galapagos hawks, American oyster catchers, Galapagos doves, hood mockingbirds, large cactus ground finches, yellow warblers, lava lizards and marine iguanas. This is a excellent place for swimming and snorkeling -- the best spot is by the rock outcropping that looks like a turtle. Often snorkelers see many of the Galapagos' marine species, such as king angel fish, creole fish, damsel fish, parrot fish, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks and many more. Overnight on the Alta.
Blue-footed boobies,
Galapagos Islands.
Photo: David Bate.
More about the distinct islands of the Galapagos
Day 15: Galapagos Cruise (San Cristóbal Island) - Quito
Two hours from San Cristóbal Island is the Sleeping Lion, a magnificent rock that rises 500 feet straight out of the sea. A split in the rock has formed towering walls on either side of a narrow passage through which small vessels can navigate. Continuing to San Cristóbal for a dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, we'll have time to walk around town before transferring to the airport for the flight to Quito. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel. Dinner of French gourmet cuisine at Chez Jerome. Overnight in the Villa Colonna.
Important note: This itinerary is subject to change without notice for various reasons, including but not limited to safety, weather, mechanical breakdown, unforeseen emergencies, and the discretion of the captain, guide, yacht operator and Galapagos National Park.
Magnificent frigate
bird, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: David Bate.
Day 16: Quito - Home
Breakfast. Early transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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