presents to the north!carolina!bar!association!the!north!shore!of!santa!cruz!island ......
TRANSCRIPT
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
LUXURY TRAVEL BY
MAGIC HAPPENS TRAVEL
PRESENTS TO THE
North Carolina Bar Association The “Three-‐Bucket-‐List Journey” to Ecuador & Peru
Discover Colonial Quito, join an expedition cruise to the Galapagos Islands and explore the Amazon region in the comfort of a luxury boat. In Peru, the capital of the Incas, visit Lima, the
Sacred Valley, the owe-‐inspiring Machu Picchu and Cuzco
May 3-‐22, 2016 Space for the complete 19-‐day program is limited to 38 people.
DEPOSITS ARE CURRENTLY BEING ACCEPTED. CALL 919.678.9800
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Proposal dated Aug 11, 2014 Your journey includes
Accommodations:
• 2 nights in Quito at the Swissotel Quito, in an Executive Room (May 3-‐May 5)
• 4 nights in Galapagos Islands at the M/V Galapagos Legend, in a Jr. Suite with Picture Window (May 5-‐May 9)
• 2 nights in Otavalo at the Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui, in a Traditional Room (May 9-‐May 11)
• 4 nights in Yasuni National Park at the Anakonda, in a Suite (May 11-‐May 15)
• 2 nights in Lima at the Hilton Miraflores, , in a Standard Room (May 15-‐May 17)
• 2 nights in Urubamba at the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel, in a Deluxe Room (May 17-‐May 19)
• 1 night in Aguas Calientes at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, in a Superior Deluxe Room (May 19-‐May 20)
• 1 night in Cuzco at the JW Marriott Hotel Cusco, in a Superior Room (May 20-‐May 21).
Optional nights can be added on upon request.
Transportation & Touring:
• Transfers, sightseeing and touring as per the attached itinerary locally hosted by Private English Speaking guides and private vehicles mainland tours; and in small groups with licensed English Speaking Naturalist while on the Galapagos and Amazon Cruise.
• Roundtrip airfare from Quito to Galapagos
• Roundtrip airfare from Quito to Coca (for the Amazon Basin Cruise)
• Entrance fees to all mentioned sites and National Parks
• Roundtrip Vistadome Train to/from Machu Picchu
• Second entrance and transportation up to Machu Picchu
Included in your Galapagos cruise
• Ocean view cabin of your choice with air-‐conditioning and private facilities.
• Airports check in assistance and baggage handling (one piece 20kls max. per person, soft bag).
• All meals on board, welcome and farewell cocktails, free coffee/tea at the 24-‐hour station.
• Two daily excursions to the islands with multilingual speaking naturalist guides English-‐Spanish in small groups.
• Transfers and dinghy rides to/from ports when in connection with schedule flights.
• Briefings, lectures and activities on board.
• Snorkeling and kayaking opportunities.
• Shuttle Service transfer from hotel in Quito to the airport prior to your cruise.
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Meals:
• All meals are included aboard the ship during your Galapagos & Amazon Cruises. Daily Buffet or Full American Breakfasts are included at the hotels as well as additional meals as indicated in the itinerary.
• One bottle of water per person for all included lunches and dinners during tours.
Pricing:
Option 1: Quito, Otavalo and Galapagos Cruise only May 3 – 11, 2016 Price per person double occupancy room/ cabin: $5358 (upgraded Cabin Categories are available upon request)
Discounted price for payment by check: $5197
Estimated supplement for airfare: Raleigh – Quito -‐ Raleigh: $997 per person, including all taxes.
Option 2: Amazon Basin Cruise only May 11 – 15, 2016 Price per person double occupancy room/ cabin: $2741 (upgraded Cabin Categories are available upon request)
Discounted price for payment by check: $2659
Estimated supplement for airfare: Raleigh – Quito -‐ Raleigh: $997 per person, including all taxes.
Option 3: Peru only May 15-‐22, 2016 Price per person double occupancy room/ cabin: $2890 Discounted price for payment by check: $2803
Estimated supplement for airfare: Raleigh – Lima – Cuzco – Lima -‐ Raleigh: $1,200 per person, including all taxes.
Option 4: Entire trip May 3-‐22, 2016 Price per person double occupancy room/ cabin: $10,980 Discounted price for payment by check: $10,650
Estimated supplement for airfare: Raleigh– Quito – Lima – Cuzco – Lima – Raleigh: $1600 per person, including all taxes.
NOTE: option 4: reservations are limited to 19 cabins / 38 people. We currently have quite a few people interested in this trip. PLEASE CALL NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPACE.
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Not included:
• Tips of any kind
• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
• Beverages with meals unless mentioned
• Items of pure personal nature
Not included in your Galapagos cruise rate:
• Cruise Fuel Surcharge of $90 for the 3 or 4 nights cruise and $180 for the 7 nights cruise (will be added to your final invoice)
• Galapagos Park Fee and Control Card of $110 per person (will be added to your final invoice)
• Medical Services
• Beverages
• Optional: Wet suits rental ($ 25 for 3 night cruises). -‐ Kayak rental ($ 30 each use) -‐ Internet ($ 32 for 10 minutes) -‐ Tips & personal expenses (tipping suggestion $ 15 for crew and $ 10 for guide -‐ per day, per person).
Deposit & Payment schedule (full program):
• Deposit required in order to book the entire program: $1250 per person • Second payment by Dec 19, 2015: $650 per person
• Final balance is due no later than February 5, 2016 • Airfare ticketing deadline will be determined by airline, once flights are booked and confirmed.
Cancelation Schedule, per person:
• From the time of booking through 185 days prior to departure (October 30, 2015): $450 will apply • From 184 days to 125 days prior to departure (December 29, 2015): $800 will apply
• From 124 days till 95 days prior to departure (January 28, 2016): $1650 will apply • From 94 days 65 days prior to departure (February 27, 2016): $2750 will apply • From 64 days through departure: 100% will apply
• After departure: no refund will be issued for non-‐used services. • Airfare are non refundable once ticketed.
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Program Itinerary
Day 1 Tuesday -‐ May 3: Depart the US / Arrive in Quito
Welcome to Quito! The capital of Ecuador has a setting that I matched by few cities. During the 13th century it was the prosperous center of the Kingdom of Quitus. It later became the northern capital of the Inca Empire. In the 16th and
17th centuries, Colonial architects built formidable temples, monasteries and mansions, creating an urban jewel designated by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Quito's artistic creativity awaits the visitor in cosmopolitan
galleries and boutiques filled with contemporary paintings, sculptures and exquisite traditional crafts. Upon arrival, meet your representative after the luggage collection area, and transfer to your hotel.
About the Swissotel Quito Hotel: Swissotel Quito is one of the city's top five-‐star luxury hotel, conveniently located in the Floresta neighborhood of Quito – both a commercial and residential area, close to Mariscal Sucre International
Airport and only 45 minutes from the new Mitad del Mundo International Airport. Five excellent restaurants offer a wide variety of international cuisine: Japanese, Swiss, Mediterranean and Ecuadorian: a menu to suit every palate. A sumptuous breakfast buffet offers a wide range of choices to energize your day. Swissotel Quito's central location
between near the old town means that guests are never far from great shopping, fascinating museums and architectural & cultural gems of the city.
Day 2 Wednesday -‐ May 4: Quito’s Colonial Center
Morning at leisure.
Early afternoon, we depart to the Historic Center of Quito for a welcome lunch. We then visit downtown Quito to relish in this urban jewel and its treasures of art and architecture. Quito's colonial quarter, the largest and best preserved of South America, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stroll starts at the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Cathedral,
the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Building and the Archbishop's Palace. Visit the temple of La Compañía de Jesús and its awesome gilded interior. Continue on to the Monastery of San Francisco, one the of great religious buildings of the New World; its impressive façade and atrium that lead to its Baroque interior influenced by Moorish style, with the
winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 Thursday -‐ May 5: Quito / Galapagos Islands
Early morning -‐ Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands, named after
the giant Galapagos tortoises. The archipelago, 1000 Km. (600 miles) off Ecuador's Pacific Coast, originated from undersea volcanic activity, six million years ago. The archipelago's 13 major islands, 6 smaller ones and scores of islets are all part of Ecuador's National Park system.
Upon arrival in Baltra, passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
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-‐ PM – Black Turtle Cove
On the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, accessible only by sea where four species of mangrove crowd from the shore out into the lagoon, turtle enjoy swimming in the calm waters, peaking their heads above the surface while -‐sh, rays and
small sharks circle
below. White-‐tipped reef sharks can be seen beneath the boat, sea birds, including pelicans, herons and egrets, all feed in the cove. This cove has been declared as a “Turtle Sanctuary”.
Difficulty level: easy
Duration: 1h00
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Friday -‐ May 6: Galapagos Islands
-‐ AM – Sullivan Bay (Santiago)
Wet landing. This site is located at the southeastern portion of Santiago Island, and offer an important geologic interest,
features extensive lava flows believed to have been formed during the last quarter of the 19th century.
Difficulty level: difficult, 1.5 km path.
Type of terrain: at volcanic lava
Duration: 1h30 walk / 1 hour snorkeling/swimming
-‐ PM – Rabida
Wet landing. Dark-‐red sand covers these unique beaches with incredible landscape; Rabida is considered the epicenter of the Galapagos Islands due to the diversity of its volcanic geology. Nesting Brown Pelicans are found from July through September and nine species of the famous Darwin’s Finches can be seen. We will also take a dinghy ride along the cliffs
to observe nesting seabirds, and snorkel othe coast, where marine life is particularly active.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: sandy
Duration: 1h30 walk / 1 hour snorkeling / 1 hour dinghy ride
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Day 5 Saturday -‐ May 7: Galapagos Islands
AM – Urbina Bay (Isabela)
Wet landing on a volcanic “black” beach. Depending on the season, we may find giant tortoises*, land iguanas* and the unusual Flightless Cormorant. After a short walk inland, snorkeling time is allotted, giving you yet another chance to
swim with sea turtles, sea lions and countless tropical -‐sh. Urbina Bay features a wide variety of plant life that changes depending on the season. We can observe the beautiful colors of plants that attract different insects, birds and reptiles. We will explore the uplifted coral reef that resulted from 1954 volcanic activity, with a spectacular view of Alcedo
Volcano.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: at
Duration: 1h30 walk / 1 hour snorkeling
-‐ PM – Tagus Cove (Isabela)
Dry landing on Galapagos’ largest island where we will learn about the eruption of the five volcanoes that form it. The trail leads to Darwin’s salt-‐water Crater Lake and excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. We will return by the same path for a dinghy ride along a shoreline full of marine wildlife, where we will admire a variety of seabirds*,
such as Blue-‐footed Booby, Brown Noddy, terns, Flightless Cormorant and depending on the season, a large number of Galapagos Penguins* which are only 35 cm. tall; the only penguin species in the world to extend its range into the northern hemisphere along the equator. They are monogamous and lay their eggs in small cracks of lava, on the lower
parts of the island near the shoreline not reached by the ocean waves. The population of penguins on the islands is about 2,000 individuals, most of which live on this western portion of Isabela; others are scattered further south on the island.
We will have an opportunity to snorkel in deep water. Grati believed to have been left by19th-‐century pirates is a curious reminder of an intriguing past.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: steep
Duration: 2 hour walk / 40 minutes dinghy ride / deep water
Snorkeling 1 hour
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Sunday -‐ May 8: Galapagos Islands
-‐ AM – Espinosa Point (Fernandina)
Dry landing. Espinosa Point is the only spot that we visit on Fernandina, and from it we can see the island of Isabela
across the Bolívar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. The
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
largest, most primitive-‐looking race of marine iguanas* are found mingling with sea lions and Sally Lightfoot Crabs; a wonderful opportunity to encounter Flightless Cormorants at their nesting sites, Galapagos Penguins and the “King” of predators on the Islands, the Galapagos Hawk. “Pa-‐hoe-‐hoe” and “AA” lava formations* cover the majority of the
terrain. Vegetation is thus scarce inland, but we encounter Brachycereus cacti and extensive mangrove beds lining the shores.
Difficulty level: intermediate
Type of terrain: rocky
Duration: 2 hours walk / 1hour snorkeling
-‐ PM – Vicente Roca Point (Isabela)
Great deep-‐water* snorkeling at one of the richest marine havens on Earth (Bolívar Channel). We take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds*; Nazca and blue-‐footed boobies, noddies, brown
pelicans, penguins, flightless cormorants. The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galapagos gives rise to an abundance of marine life.
Duration: 1 hour snorkeling / 1 hour dinghy ride
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Monday -‐ May 9: Galapagos Islands / Quito / Otavalo
-‐ AM – Highlands (Santa Cruz)
Dry landing. A 45-‐minute bus ride will take us to the Santa Cruz highlands, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where we will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises. These enormous and slow-‐moving reptiles are responsible for
the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-‐200 years.
Difficulty level: easy
Type of terrain: at & muddy sometimes (depending on season)
Duration: 45 minutes drive / 1h30 walk
After the visit passengers will be transferred to Baltra airport for return flight to Quito.
Upon arrival in Quito airport we transfer to the Otavalo for dinner and overnight at your charming hacienda.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
About the Hosteria Hacienda Pinsaqui Hotel: 1790 Hacienda Pinsaqui worked as a colonial textile enterprise with thousands of weavers exporting their fabrics to the United States. Today, this Otavalo Hotel still retains the authenticity from its earlier incarnation and is a unique travel experience.
Day 8 Tuesday -‐ May 10: Otavalo Indian Market and region
Today we enjoy a full day excursion through the land of the Otavalos and South America's most famous Indian fair along the Pan American Highway through dramatic mountain scenery to the textile market of Otavalo, where you will enjoy
visiting the many stalls full of ponchos, scarves, blankets, wall hangings, woven belts (fajas), hats, handbags and much more. Here Otavaleños barter in silence, in marked contrast to the raucous noise of other markets; take your time to negotiate the best bargains. Then proceed to Peguche, an Indian village very near Otavalo, that is home to the artisans
who do the weaving in their homes. You will learn about their culture and everyday life. Lunch is at one of the charming country inns or haciendas of the area.
Dinner at the hacienda. Or, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight to the USA.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Wednesday -‐ May 11: Otavalo / Quito / Coca / Amazon Basin Cruise
Early morning transfer to the airport in Quito. A short 30-‐minute flight takes us to the frontier town of Coca (Francisco de Orellana) – and transfer to the dock, where we will embark on a motorized canoe and navigate down river about 1 hour, to board the M/V Anakonda Amazon CRUISE. Throughout the journey we have a chance to admire the rainforest
landscape and banks of the great Napo River.
Immediately after boarding the M/V Anakonda, we continue navigating downstream. Passengers will have their first opportunities to enjoy the exciting features of our cruise ship: the spacious social areas, comfortable suites, and an
observation deck that offers spectacular views. An evening walk is organized after sunset; it gives us the opportunity to discover the forest’s nocturnal activity and listen to the incessant sounds of nature.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 Thursday -‐ May 12: Amazon Basin Cruise -‐ The Heart of Yasuni
After a delicious breakfast, we disembark on land for our first daylight close-‐and-‐personal tropical rainforest experience, where we will learn about the relationship between plants and animals while closely watching out for samples of Amazonia’s fascinating biodiversity at every turn.
After lunch, the M/V Anakonda navigates to one of the most pristine and little explored sections of Ecuadorian
Amazonia, home to the legendary pink river dolphin, black caiman and anaconda. We may also find river turtles and various species of monkeys, as well as the primitive Hoatzin, a one-‐of-‐a-‐kind bird locally known as "the Stinky Turkey". The only way to actually visit this flooded ecosystem is by canoe, a ride that will reveal the beauty of a lush jungle world.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 Friday -‐ May 13: Amazon Basin Cruise -‐ Meeting the local community
Breakfast on board. We visit a school located on the banks of the Napo River, where we will have the opportunity to interact with children of the area and learn about the educational system of a remote jungle community in Ecuador.
We return on board the M/V Anakonda for lunch and a moment to relax while we navigate upstream. We will offer a
lecture and documentary screening, and if time permits, learn about (and make) typical handicrafts of the area. In the afternoon, we explore one of the largest river islands of the Napo River.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Saturday -‐ May 14: Amazon Basin Cruise -‐ Observation Tower and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve
In the morning after breakfast, visit an observation tower 100-‐feet high, built against a giant kapok tree. From the top of the tower, we will be blessed with this unique perspective of the forest, looming over the treetops and the greatness of the Amazon Basin.
In the afternoon, we visit Limoncocha Biological Reserve, a fascinating protected area where more than 478 bird species and several monkey species have been recorded. This activity will extend into the evening, when we will have a chance to spot black caiman with the help of our flashlights. Return to the M/V Anakonda for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 Sunday -‐ May 15: Amazon Basin Cruise / Coca / Equatorial Monument / Depart Ecuador or continue to Lima
In the morning, disembark the M/V Anakonda and transfer by motorized canoe to Coca (1-‐hour ride); flight to Quito.
Upon arrival, transfer to the Equatorial Monument, 25 Kms. (16 miles) north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the
monument which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-‐style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator.
We then enjoy some free time in the Old City for shopping and dining.
Evening, transfer to the airport in Quito for your homebound flight, or continue to Lima, Peru.
Welcome to Peru! Upon Arrival in Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport meet our representative after the luggage and customs area. He/she will be carrying a sign with your name. Then drive to your hotel in Lima.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Monday -‐ May 16: Lima, the City of Kings!
(Optional early excursion) Rise & Shine! You will have an early morning departure into the famous fish market in Villa Maria del Triunfo offering an unimaginable variety of freshly caught fish and seafood. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
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This morning your tour of this ancient colonial city includes the Plaza Mayor where the Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace are located. Continue to the San Francisco Monastery, on to a specially arranged visit to Casa Aliaga, the oldest mansion in the Western Hampshire, occupied by the same royal family since 1535. You
then drive to the Pueblo Libre district to visit the Larco Herrera Museum housed in an 18th century colonial mansion that contains the most extensive collection of pre-‐Columbian art in Peru. You will observe fine examples of textile work, one of which has a world record-‐breaking 398 threads per inch, as well as the tools used by ancient Peruvians to
produce textiles, metals, Huaco ceramics and gold and silver pieces with semi-‐precious stones. The museum also holds an entire room dedicated to erotic pottery collection. Gourmet Lunch at the Café de Museo is included.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15 Tuesday -‐ May 17: Lima / Cuzco / the Sacred Valley of the Incas
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Lima's Airport for your flight to Cuzco.
Upon arrival in Cuzco (11,200 feet above sea level) meet your guide and drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas (8,000-‐9,000 feet above sea level). The first stop is Pisac where you will have the opportunity to bargain with vendors at its local
handicrafts market. For lunch enjoy authentic Andean Cuisine at a local restaurant. You will then visit the ruins the ancient Incan Fortress in Ollantaytambo. The abrupt halt in the construction of the fortress due to the arrival of the Spaniards left much evidence on site, allowing us an educated glimpse into the fine art of the Incan Masonry. The town
of Ollantaytambo itself is the most preserved Inca City where the layout of the streets, water canals and houses had remained intact for hundreds of years. Later in the evening you will pay visit to the Studio of Pablo Seminario, a local pottery artist who has gained worldwide recognition for his Inca-‐inspired naïve art. You finally arrive at your charming
hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Lunch is a treat. Enjoy fine dining at Huayoccari Hacienda Restaurant. The restaurant is an exceedingly elegant farmhouse high in the hills above the Sacred Valley. Your meals starts with a Pisco Sour Cocktail in the antique-‐filled common room or out among the gardens. Then diners, who feel as though they belong to an exclusive club, are
admitted to the wood-‐paneled dining room which has large picture windows framing views of the Andes for a simple but well-‐prepared meal of local vegetables, soups (such as crema de maiz) and fresh river trout. The place is rather
emphatically designed to feel like one is a guest in the home of a local agricultural patron, and in fact, the home and restaurant belong to the Orihuela family, one of the valley's most distinguished and oldest families.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
About the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel: Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness is built on a seventeenth century
colonial hacienda by the Vilcanota River, just one hour away from the city of Cusco and 30 minutes from Ollantaytambo train station; on the route to Machu Picchu. The hotel offers rooms decorated in colonial style as well as other modern minimalist decor. Enjoy unforgettable days in Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness and let yourself be carried away by
its mystical atmosphere in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is the magical meeting of two eras: ancients Inca culture and colonial sumptuousness in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.
104 Kensington Avenue • Norwood • NJ 07648 • 201 855 3500 • www.spiceddestinations.com
Day 16 Wednesday -‐ May 18: The Sacred Valley of the Incas
Today, the choice is yours..
You may select from our A La Carte menu of tours & adventures in the Sacred Valley, or just enjoy the facilities of your hotel, including the largest SPA in Latin America.
Tonight we celebrate together with a special Andean dinner while enjoying a spectacular Peruvian Paso Horses Show.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 17 Thursday -‐ May 19: Discover Machu Picchu
Transfer from your hotel in the Sacred Valley to the Ollantaytambo Train Station.
Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes Train Station, meet our representative and ascend the mountain by shuttle for a guided
tour of the marvelous citadel, visiting the main plaza, the royal quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the circular tower and the sacred Sun Dial and burial grounds. Then descend the mountain for check in to hotel, for a 3-‐course dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
About the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: How does one best prepare for a visit to the enigmatic Lost City of the Incas? Nothing less than a natural paradise will do — a paradise where one connects completely with the sacred energy
of the mountain. In Inkaterra’s vacation paradise and luxury boutique hotel, a pueblo of luxurious whitewashed bungalow nestles into terraced hills. Spa services use sublime natural essences, and a first-‐class restaurant boasts stunning views of the rushing Vilcanota River. The train station is only steps away. But Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel
exists in a world apart. An intimate 85-‐cottage luxury hotel in sprawling Andean style village within the secluded 12 acres of exquisite beauty, where guests follow stone pathways to their rooms, located in comfortable one-‐ or two-‐story whitewashed casitas.
Day 18 Friday -‐ May 20: Sunrise in Machu Picchu
(Optional early morning excursion) Depart your hotel and proceed to the shuttle stop in Aguas Calientes. Your transportation tickets will be provided to you in advance, including the second entrance fee to Machu Picchu.
At 7: 00 a.m., commence your climb of Huayna Picchu (”Young Mountain”). The steep climb allows unforgettable views
of Machu Picchu and the surroundings. Please remember to arrive at the starting point at least 30 minutes before the climb. Do not forget to bring with you: your tickets, water, mosquito repellent, sun glass and sun hat. Dress in layers! It could be pretty cold during the early morning hours but as soon as the sun rises the temperature rises quickly and it
could turn to be a very warm day. Once you have “conquered” the mountain you return to Aguas Calientes via the shuttle.
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Vistadome Train departs Aguas Calientes toward the Ollantaytambo Station. Please arrive to the station at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
Train arrives at the Ollanta Station where you switch to a vehicle for the last segment of the trip to your hotel in Cuzco.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 19 Saturday -‐ May 21: Cuzco, the Royal City / Depart Peru
Meet your private guide and driver for a tour of Cuzco. You start at the top of the San Blass Hill, considered as the bohemian district of Cuzco, where many artists and foreigners live. You walk down the narrow street through galleries
and studios with flowers-‐decorated balconies. On to the Farmers Market for an overwhelming variety of produce and house hold items, including dozens kind of potatoes, Indian “food court”, flowers, breads and even witchcraft items. A true “one Stop Shopping” spot! You then continue to explore the history of Cuzco, a UNESCO declared World Heritage
Site. The Colonial section of the city was mostly built in the 17th century atop the existing Incan foundations, creating a one-‐of-‐a-‐kind architecture. You visit the Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Convent, erected by the Spaniards, not by an error, directly atop the most sacred place for the Inca people; the Sun Temple. Later you depart the city for a short visit
to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuamán where some of the perfectly carved stone weigh over 130 tons! This site also hosts the reenacting of the Sun Festival on June 24th of every year. Tonight we recommend a visit and a dinner at the MAP Museum and Café.
Enjoy couple of hours at leisure for last minute shopping or visit several of the city's museums.
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the airport in Cuzco for your flight to Lima.
Upon arrival meet your driver and depart to Miraflores. Enjoy a gourmet dinner at the Huaqca Pucllana Restaurant located in a pre-‐Inca ruin in the heart of Miraflores where the cuisine is a reinterpretation of the Peruvian Criollo, tradition by Chef Marilú Madueño (Cordon Blue Paris). She combines local flavors and ingredients with contemporary
techniques, amidst an unforgettable setting. Later you return to the airport for your homebound flight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
If you would like to spend an extra night in Cuzco, we can always add a night or two;
Day 20 Sunday -‐ May 22: Arrival in the USA
Morning arrival in the USA
Variations of this 3-‐week package: The M/V Galapagos Legend holds approximately 100 passengers. The complete segment is limited to 38 people as the Anakonda river ship only has 18 cabins. Some people might want to just do the
Galapagos package with a 4-‐night cruise with the complementing land or they can see about doing a sister ship …
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL OR E-‐MAIL: Michael @ 919.678.9800 or [email protected]