Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia

Exploring the Galapagos Islands aboard the M/V Legend, Cuzco, and "The Lost City of the Inkas" Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Tiahuanaco and the Highest Capital in the world "La Paz"

INCLUDING: Tips to porters at airports and ports (not at hotels); tours as mentioned in itinerary including entrance fees and English speaking tour guides; 4 star hotel accommodations for 10 nights including room taxes and service charges of 15% in Ecuador and 18% in Peru; The 4 day/3 night Galapagos Cruise aboard the M/V Legend -outside cabins-with 2 lower berths Superior cabins; round trip bus/train tickets to Machu Picchu; meals as noted B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner; all transfers to airport, hotel and ports; local airfare Quito-Galapagos-Guayaquil and Lima-Cuzco.

NOT INCLUDED: International airfare from USA to Quito-Guayaquil-Lima-La Paz-USA; Other services not mentioned in itinerary; passport, visa, tourist car fees or insurance; departure taxes: Ecuador $25.00, Peru $25.00, $5.00 each domestic flight in Peru; $100.00 Galapagos National Park tax and $30.00 Galapagos airport tax; tips to tour guides and drivers. USA departure tax.

Call (407) 282-2111 for more information or to book today! Mention code 11845464

Tour Operator
Tara Tours
Duration
17 Days
Escorted
Escorted - No
DayDestinationDescription
Day 1MiamiFRI. MIAMI-QUITO: : Depart Miami for Quito, Ecuador. After going through customs and immigration, you will be transferred to HOTEL HILTON.
Day 2QuitoSAT. QUITO: : Afternoon drive along the northern residential section and see the impressive Parliament Building. Then stroll downtown to visit the colonial temple and monasteries designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Visit San Agustine Convent with its colonial cloisters, coffered ceilings and vast collection of paintings. Continue to the Independence Plaza flanked by the Cathedral, San Francisco Convent, QuitoPresidential Palace, Municipal Building and Archbishop's Palace. Next, visit the great church and Monastery of San Francisco with the Virgin of Quito at its main altar. Your scenic tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito. HOTEL HILTON (B)
Day 3OtavaloSUN. OTAVALO COUNTRY TOUR & MARKET: : Full day excursion going north, via the Pan-American Highway to experience the colorful Market of Otavalo for excellent buys in local handicrafts. Visit the small city of Calderon, famous for its bread dolls. Also you will visit Peguche, where the Otavalo indigenous people actually do their weaving or San Antonio de Ibarra, the woodcarving center. Stop for lunch at a local hacienda and return to Quito. HOTEL HILTON (B,L)
Day 4GalapagosMON. QUITO-GALAPAGOS-M/V LEGEND Cruise A (or Cruise C) : Transfer to the airport for flight to Galapagos. Welcome at Baltra Airport . Briefing on ship's facilities at lounge given by guides as well as National Park. Safety drill practice with passengers, crew and guides.

Afternoon visit North Seymour Island . After a dry landing guests will encounter Swallow Tailed Gulls and Sea Lions. This site is also known for being a major nesting colony for Blue Footed Boobies, and the largest colony of the Magnificent Frigate Bird. (a different species from the Great Frigate Bird). Travelers will also spot both endemic species of iguanas, the Marine Iguanas and Land Iguanas. Passengers will enjoy this relaxed hike around the nesting sites. (B,L,D)

Day 5GalapagosTUE. GALAPAGOS : Morning at Genovesa Island . Best known as "the island of birds." Passengers enjoy the safe harbor of being anchored deep within the cater formed bay. A dry landing at El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps). Passengers will walk on lava terrain observing Red Footed Boobies, Frigates, and the fragrant Palo Santo trees. Thousands of Storm Petrels can be seen hovering over the open expanses. Your second visit is a refreshing wet landing, travelers visit Darwin Bay . Visitors will enjoy observing the Red-Footed Boobies, Frigates, Sea Lions, Lava Gulls, Night Herons, and Fiddler Crabs at this site. This site also offers snorkeling in the bay to observe sharks and rays at a safe distance. Passengers never forget the beaches on this island. (B,L,D)
Day 6GalapagosWED. GALAPAGOS : Espanola Island . Travelers enjoy a dry landing at Suarez Point. Upon landing visitors will learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the inactive lava fields.. Aside from the Sea Lion colonies, this is one of the most important sites for bird watching. As soon as visitors step foot on this island many species can be spotted and observed up close. Among the many species, the Hooded Mocking bird and Red Billed Tropic Bird can be seen. Travelers will also spot a large colony of Marine Iguanas, Lava Lizards, and the colorful Sally Light Foot Crabs. After a short trek visitors encounter colonies of masked and blue-footed boobies. Nesting grounds sometimes overlap the trail. Visitors will also find Galapagos Doves, Hawks and Swallow-Tailed Gulls. After crossing the nesting grounds you will reach the world's largest colony of Waved Albatross (15000 approx.), Their mating rituals are a highlight. Nearing the end of this excursion passengers will visit the famous blowhole, where water shoots into the air at almost 23 mts. (75 ft.).

Afternoon at San Cristobal Island . Dry landing at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here passengers visit the Interpretation Center providing travelers an opportunity to learn about the natural and human history of the islands through an hour-long interactive presentation. There is some time to shop in town. (B,L,D)

Day 7GuayaquilTHU. GALAPAGOS-GUAYAQUIL : Morning arrival at Black Turtle Cove located near Las Bachas beach in the north of Santa Cruz Island . This excursion provides passengers with a "panga" ride though the mangrove, during which the outboard motor of the small boat is turned off. This allows for the close observation of Sea Turtles, White Tipped Reef Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, and Yellow Rays. Transfer to the airport for flight to Guayaquil with transfer to hotel Hampton Inn (great location with many restaurants and shops around and 2 block from the malecon. (B)
Day 8LimaFRI. GUAYAQUIL- LIMA : Reception and transfer to hotel RADISSON located in the pretty district of Miraflores. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Lima, founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and called "City of Kings". Your guided tour will take you to see the most important sites of modern and colonial Lima. (B)
Day 9CuzcoSAT. LIMA-CUZCO: : Transfer to the airport for flight to Cuzco. Reception and transfer to the Hotel SONESTA CUZCO. Afternoon city tour of Cuzco and the surrounding valley and ruins of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puca-Pucara and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. (B)
Day 10Machu PicchuSUN. CUZCO-MACHU PICCHU: : Full day excursion via alpine train to Machu Picchu. Early morning transfer to the train station for your 3 1/2 hour train ride along the Urubamba river to Putucusi bridge, then by bus up to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Here your guide will explain the advanced world of the Inkas. Overnight at hotel Machu Picchu Inn (now called EL MAPI) (B)
Day 11CuzcoMON. MACHU PICCHU-CUZCO: : Morning at leisure to explore the magnificent archeological site on your own. Late afternoon return to Cuzco by train and to your hotel for overnight. SONESTA CUZCO (B)
Day 12CuzcoTUE. CUZCO: : At leisure to walk and experience "The Capital of the Inka Empire". Cuzco is like an open museum, full of Inka buildings, temples, palaces -and beautiful Spanish churches. Also great shopping! (sweaters, alpaca rugs, ceramics, silver & gold jewelry) .(B)
Day 13PunoWED. CUZCO-PUNO : Early in the morning transfer to the train station for a full day ride across the Altiplano as you pass through many villages and small towns with beautiful views of the Andean mountains and white snow peaks. Late in the afternoon arrive in Puno - and transfer to hotel CASA ANDINA. (B)
Day 14Lake TiticacaTHU. PUNO-LAKE TITICACA : Depart Puno by Hidrofoil -crossing Lake Tititcaca, to visit the colorful Andean town of Copacabana (on the Bolivain side) and the Church of Nuestra Senora de Copacabana. Continue by Hidrofoil to visit the Sun & Moon Islands and drink water from the Sacred Spring -believed to be the source of eternal life Then to Huatajata port and hotel Inca Utama. Late afternoon you will visit the Eco and Altiplano museums to learn more about the Inka civilization and the Spaniard conquistadors. After dinner you will have a chance to discover the spiritual world of the Callawayas -masters in natural medicine of the Andes. Within their concept, you must first heal the spirit before you can heal the body . A meeting with a Shaman will tell your fortunes as He casts and reads the Coca leaves. Overnight at the INKA UTAMA. (B,L,D)
Day 15La PazFRI. LAKE TITICACA-TIAHUANACO-LA PAZ : Wake up at the sound of the "Pututu" -a native alpine horn- to see the Sunrise and experience like the local people the energy of the Sun God. Depart Lake Titicaca for a half day sightseeing tour of the ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco, capital of a great civilization that started in 1580 B.C and at the height of its splendor (700 AC) covered part of Bolivia, Argentina and Peru. Here, you will see its Aqueducts, Temples, Palaces, the Gate of the Sun and some of their mysterious monoliths, then continue to La Paz for overnight. HOTEL PRESIDENTE. (B)
Day 16La PazSAT. LA PAZ : Morning city tour of the Capital of the Altiplano (13,000 feet high). You will visiting the Open Air Museum and Tiahuanaco Art collection, Casa Murillo, the local and picturesque witch Doctor street , the 16th Century San Francisco Church, the residential area of Obrajes and the unrealistic Moon Valley. HOTEL PRESIDENTE(B)
Day 17Return USASUN. LA PAZ-USA : Transfer to the airport for flight to Miami with immediate connections to more than 100 USA cities. (B)
Dates/Pricing

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DatePrice / DescriptionQuote
 $7,963.00* (USD) / Rates per person (4 stars hotels) : 2014 LAND TOUR RATES -include local airfares : Jan.02-Dec.15 - DoubleQuote
Disclaimer

DEPOSITS/PAYMENTS: US$500.00 per person at the time of booking. Full payment is due 60 days prior to departure.

CANCELLATIONS: Before departure: at any time $100 per person; 65 to 49 days $150 penalty pp; 48 to 30 days $300; 29 to 16 days 60% penalty of total cost pp; less than 15 days -no refunds.

INSURANCE: Through Insure America, cost for this program starts at US$179. Please see information on back page.

INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED: (USA to Quito-Guayaquil-Lima-La Paz-USA)

Sample cost of airfare from Miami, Florida US$800-1200

SAMPLE ADD-ONS VIA AMERICAN AIRLINES:

For same package add $240 from ATL, TPA, ORL & ZONE 1; $330 from BDL, BOS,BWI, EWR, NYC, PHL, RDU, WAS, + Zone 3 - - Add $400 from CHI, CLE, DTT; - Add $420 from DEN, DFW, HOU, MSY, SJU ZONE 2 & 4; Add $450 from LAX, SFO + ZONE 5; Add$490 from Zone 6. .(See below Zone Chart. RATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME

  
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