Cusco & Cruise on the Galapagos Islands

Lima • Cusco • Machu Picchu • Cusco • Quito or Guayaquil • Galápagos Island

01

… / LIMA

Welcome to Peru! Arrival to Lima´s international airport. Reception by a representative of Domiruth Travel Service and transfer to selected hotel. Overnight at hotel. Check in 15:00 Hrs. (-)
Lima: 154 masl

02

LIMA – CUSCO    

Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to the airport to board your domestic flight to Cusco. (Flight is not included). Arrival and transfer to the selected hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure to acclimatize to the altitude.
In the afternoon, pick up for your City Tour Cusco where you will visit The Cathedral, Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) and the nearby ruins: Qenqo (Ceremonial and Ritual center, place where sacrifices were made), Puca Pucara (this complex was probably used by Emperor Pachacutec as a tambo), Tambomachay (also called “The Bath of the Inca”) and Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel. (B)
Cusco: 3,395 masl

03

CUSCO / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO

Breakfast at hotel.
Very early transfer to Ollanta train station to board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu town (Ex Aguas Calientes), arrival and bus to Machu Picchu. Arrival and excursion to the Citadel of Machu Picchu for 2 hours and 30 min. The guided tour include the well-know Intihuatana (Solar Clock), the Watchtower, the Inka´s Palace and the Three Windows. Lunch at local Restaurant.
Then, return to Machu Picchu town by bus and board the Vistadome train to Ollanta train station. Arrival and transfer to Cusco.
Overnight. (B, L)
Machu Picchu: 2,400 masl

04

CUSCO / LIMA / QUITO

Breakfast at hotel.
According time you will be taken to Cusco airport to board your domestic flight Cusco – Lima and wait for your own account to your connecting flight to Quito. Arrival to Quito, reception and transfer to the selected hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight. (B)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

05

QUITO

Breakfast at hotel.
Then take a Colonial city tour: Quito displays the largest colonial town of the Americas and is the first UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Enjoy the eclectic architecture ranging from the modern quarters to varied colonial facades on churches and private residences decorated and balconies built along the last five centuries. The tour includes parks like El Ejido and Alameda, the monument of Simon Bolivar, the gothic Basilica of the Heart of Jesus, Independence Square developed during the past five centuries and flanked by the Presidential and the Archbishop’s palaces dated back to XVII and XIX centuries and, the Metropolitan Cathedral with excellent samples of the Spanish renaissance. Walk along the so called street of the seven crosses and pass by the Jesuit convent, once headquarters of the first university in the country, and El Sagrario church with a unique orthodox cross lay out dated back to the seventeenth century.
Continue approximately 11 miles (18 Km.) north of down town Quito, we visit “Mitad del Mundo” (Middle of the World) and the Equator Monument situated at 0º0’0″ latitude where the eighteenth century French Geodesic Expedition erected one of the three pyramids as landmarks for their planet calculations to deduct the shape of the planet in a complex which replicates colonial architecture, a typical central plaza, a church and bull-fighting ring. We also visit the Intiñan Solar Museum, where you will find scientific and experimental aspects of being right at the Equator.
Overnight. (B)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

06

QUITO / PEGUCHE / COTACACHI / MAGDALENA COMMUNITY

Departing from Quito to the North, we drive across the colorful valleys of Guayllabamba and Cayambe. Guayllabamba is rich in fertile soil and through effective irrigation systems has become an important producer of avocado and the local cherimoya fruit. Cayambe traditionally dedicated to dairy cattle and manufacturing of dairy products, has recently enjoyed an important boom in rose farming. The breathtaking setting offers great photo opportunities and after two hours of traveling through the riveting Andean countryside, we arrive to the province of Imbabura, known as the Ecuadorian Land of Lakes.
We reach the Village of Peguche Village, home to the indigenous Kichwa people, known for its beautiful textiles the artisans in this area still practice wool weaving using techniques passed on to them by generations, great spot to visit if you like textiles. Peguche is also famous for its Andean musical instruments see firsthand how they make their wind instruments by visiting a workshop where you can purchase goods directly from the people who make them, afterwards visit Cotacachi Town, located at the foothills of the Cotacachi volcano, famous for its leather industry, and impressive landscapes. Finish with a visit to Cuicocha Lake a beautiful Crater Lake with stunning views.
Arrive to Magdalena Karanki Community for overnight at one of the Community houses.
Magdalena Karanki: A place where the indigenous Karanki people have maintained their traditions and way of life for centuries. In Magdalena you find beautiful embroidery. Enjoy a home stay experience with the Karanki people, you will stay at one of the five Guest Houses attended by the Karanki, enjoy home cooked meals, cozy fireplace and stunning views of the Andean Mountains. You get a choice of exploring the area thru horseback riding, mountain biking or hiking.
Overnight in Magdalena Karanki Community. (B, D)
Magdalena Karanki: A place where the indigenous Karanki people have maintained their traditions and way of life for centuries. In Magdalena you find beautiful embroidery. Enjoy a home stay experience with the Karanki people, you will stay at one of the five Guest Houses attended by the Karanki, enjoy home cooked meals, cozy fireplace and stunning views of the Andean Mountains. You get a choice of exploring the area thru horseback riding, mountain biking or hiking.
Otavalo: 2,550 masl

07

OTAVALO MARKET / IBARRA / SALINAS / QUITO

Early morning visit the famed indigenous market of Otavalo one of the most fascinating and largest indigenous craft markets in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes an excellent place to buy very good quality handcrafts, embroidered clothing, local ceramics, great variety of wool scarves and sweaters. Markets are meeting places for shopping, bargaining and chatter, while people of the region exchange local produce, animals, utensils, pots and pans or textiles. For visitors, the markets offer the possibility of approaching Ecuadorians at a more intimate level as you negotiate prices of variety goods or simply appreciate the skillful and generous people responsible for the elegance and beauty of the clothing and handicrafts.
Then drive to Ibarra City at the foothills of the Imbabura Volcano, here you board the Chaski Antawa Train (or Messenger Train) to Salinas, it travels on an early 20th-century railroad system that connects the northern Ecuadorian Andes and the Pacific Coast. Departing from Ibarra, the ride descends into the warm, dry valley of Ambuquí, across sugar cane plantations, magical landscapes, through tunnels and over bridges that span steep canyons, ridges and patchwork fields. Enjoy a lunch in Salinas a very important tourist destination not only because of the beautiful train ride to get there but because is home to a vibrant Afro-Ecuadorian Community, well known for its agricultural activities specially sugar cane plantations.
Overnight. (B, L)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

08

QUITO / GALAPAGOS CRUISE

Breakfast at hotel. (AV1632 6:55/9:20 – Suggested Flight) Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island (2 ½-hour flight). Arriving in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our natural guides and taken to a ten-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

 

PM – Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island)
Dry landing. In the mountains of Galapagos is possible to admire different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets (usually standing on the tortoises’ shell). The journey to the reserve offers great opportunities to see the contrasts that the island offers in reference to the variety of ecosystems. The road goes from the coast through the agricultural zone and straight up to the dense humid forests. Often, Galapagos Giant Tortoises are also seen on the way, wandering through pastures in the paddocks. This spot is a bird watchers’ haven since almost every land bird present on the island lives or migrates here.

• Difficulty level: easy
• Type of terrain: flat & muddy sometimes (seasonal conditions)
• Duration: 45-minute drive / 1 ½-hour walk
Overnight M/V Legend. (B, L, D)

09

GALAPAGOS CRUISE

AM – El Barranco, Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
Be marveled at the variety of sea life that uses the crevices of the lava cliffs for shelter. Red-billed Tropicbirds fly overhead, switching between their nests and the bay, and a small colony of fur seals may be found near the landing site. You will be dropped off at a steep stairway that begins on rocks at the foot of a path that leads through a seabird colony full of Nazca and Red-footed Boobies. At the plateau, the trail continues inland allowing you to see more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. Near the end of the trail, over a rocky lava plain, Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrels can be observed flying in all directions.
If you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl.
• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Type of terrain: rocky – lava
• Duration: 45-minute walk
PM – Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
Disembark onto a small sand and coral beach. A short trail heads west along a tidal lagoon and then up a rocky hill that leads to a point overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. Along the trail near the tidal lagoon, visitors will see pairs of Swallow-tailed Gulls, Lava Gulls, Yellow-crowned and Lava Herons. The trail continues through Palo Santo trees, Opuntia cacti, and Saltbushes inhabited by Great Frigate birds and Red-footed Boobies. This is one of the few places in the islands where visitors are guaranteed to see Red-footed Boobies. It is estimated that more than 200,000 Red-footed Boobies live in the trees and bushes of Genovesa.

• Difficulty level: Moderate
• Type of terrain: Sand & Lava
• Duration: 2 ½-hour walk aprox

Overnight M/V Legend. (B, L, D)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

10

GALAPAGOS CRUISE

AM – Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island)
Dry landing. Walk by a brackish lagoon to see flamingos. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation. Keeping up until Dragon Hill, see an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas, offering lovely views of the anchored boats and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and Galapagos doves.
• Difficulty level: intermediate
• Type of terrain: rocky
• Duration: 2-hour walk
PM – Santa Fe Island Wet landing. Santa Fe shows white sand beaches surrounded by sea lion colonies; through the island path, an endemic cactus forest is passed, home the Santa Fe land iguanas (the largest in the islands).
This island is the habitat for a number of species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, rice rats (one of the few endemic Galapagos rodents), a variety of finches and one of the four mockingbird species of the archipelago.
• Difficulty level: intermediate
• Type of terrain: rocky
• Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour deep-water snorkeling
• Overnight M/V Legend. (B, L, D)

11

GALAPAGOS CRUISE – QUITO

AM – Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)
Wet landing. On the north side of Santa Cruz; behind the beach lies two small flamingo ponds were iguanas sunbathe, see coastal birds, Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls, as well as interesting native vegetation like red and black mangrove, salt bushes. This beach is one of the main sea turtles nesting sites in the Galapagos. A turtle can lay eggs 3 or 4 times per season with an average of 70 eggs each time. At this paradisiacal site, we will also find the remains of barges that sank a long time ago, when the United States Navy operated a base during World War II on Baltra Island. Local people modified the word barges to “Bachas”.
• Difficulty level: easy
• Type of terrain: sandy
• Duration: 1-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling/ beach time
Baltra Airport
After the visit, passengers will be transferred to the airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
Shuttle transfer to Baltra airport for return flight to Quito (AV1633 10:10-14:35) (Not include). Transfer to the hotel and overnight. (B)

12

QUITO / …

Breakfast at hotel.
According time transfer to Lima´s airport to board your international flight. (Not include). (B)

Include


  • Transfer in/out in Lima, Cusco, Quito and Galapagos.
  • 11 Lodgments nights including breakfast.
  • FD Visit Machu Picchu in regular service.
  • Touristic Train Ollanta/Mapi and Mapi/Ollanta.
  • Lunch in Aguas Calientes.
  • Cruise Galapagos Legend 4d/3n in regular service.
  • Shuttle transfers and dinghy rides to/from ports when in connection with schedule flights.
  • Two daily excursions to the islands with multilingual speaking naturalist guide English-Spanish.
  • Free Coffee/tea at the 24 hours station.
  • Briefings, lectures and activities on board.
  • Snorkeling and kayaking opportunities.
  • Meals mentioned or according to the itinerary.
  • Personalized assistance.

Not Included



  • Air tickets national and international
  • Entrance fee to Galapagos.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Extras.
  • Airport taxes.
  • Overweight in Luggage.
  • Alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks.
  • Not specified meal.
  • Personal charges.
  • Other not specified.
  • Galapagos National Park fee. (100.00 adult, 50.00 children under 12). Paid directly by the passengers upon arrival in Galápagos (cash only).
  • Control card fee (20.00 each) delivered at airport.
  • Optional on board plus VAT:
  • Wet suits rental: US$ 25.00 per 3 or 4 nights cruises
  • Kayak rental: each use per person US$ 30.00
  • Internet: 10 minutes US$ 32.00.
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Tips & personal expenses. Tipping suggestion (per day per person) US$ 15 for crew and US$ 8 for guide

BOOK NOW

Fill up the form below to tell us what you are looking for

RELATED POST

PERU
SPECTACULAR

15D / 14N

PERU SPECTACULAR

15D / 14N

LIMA / PARACAS / NAZCA / AREQUIPA / COLCA CANYON / PUNO / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY / MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO / LIMA

Read More

(511) 215 6000
Ext. 2405

incoming@domiruth.com​

Font Awesome Icons

SHARE THIS POST