I T I N E R A R Y

 

March 3 - Depart from Austin via Miami to Quito, Ecuador

March 4 - Tour Quito and visit Equatorial Monument (marks spot determined to be latitudinal center of earth in 1736). Continue to Ecuadorian highlands.

March 5 - Visit Otavalo market then either horseback ride in highlands or visit Condor Park (home of Andean Condor).

March 6 - Visit Cuicocha Crater Lake. Return to Quito in afternoon.

March 7 - Fly to Baltra Island in Galapagos archipelago. Visit tortoise reserve, Scalesia forest, and Los Gemelos (geological sinkholes.  Tour Charles Darwin Research Station and visit Puerto Ayora, largest town in the islands (pop. about 8000). Board the M/Y Isabela II for cruise of islands.

March 8 - Watch sea lion bulls on Santa Fe island, free time on island to hike, snorkel, kayak or swim while seeing endemic species such as Galapagos hawk, massive land iguana, Galapagos Mockingbird.  Afternoon is on South Plaza Island--see more species such as Blue-footed Boobies and marine iguanas and crabs.

March 9 - Visit North Seymour island (shelters of a plethora of birdlife) and opportunity to snorkel. After lunch visit beach on Santa Cruz island for swimming and viewing more wildlife like Eastern Pacific (green sea turtle) and flamingos.

March 10 - Visit Bartolome island to see lava fields of nearby James Island, Pinnacle Rock and Sullivan Bay.  Glass bottom boat ride to see underwater world.  Possibly see on this island, the Galapagos penguins--only penguins found north of the equator. After lunch, travel by dingy to Sullivan Bay on James (Santiago) Island.  See uneroded lava flow on this island that flowed 100 years ago.

March 11 - Disembark and fly back to the Guayaquil, Ecuador.  Spend night in Guayaquil.

March 12 - Morning free in Guayaquil.  In afternoon fly to Lima, Peru.  

March 13 - Fly to Cusco, Peru, then depart for village of Pisac and shop in their colorful Sunday Indian Market. Stop at the Awanacancha weaving center to see traditional weaving practices.  See Peruvian Paso horses exhibition during lunch, followed by visit to village of Ollantaytambo (the only living Inca town).

March 14 - Transfer to train station for ride thru Urubamba Valley to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu.  Upon arrival, have a guided tour of the ruins.  Afternoon free for exploring ruins on our own.

March 15 - Morning free in Machu Picchu and in afternoon depart by train and bus to Cusco.

March 16 - Morning tour of Cusco and afternoon tour of surrounding area (ruins, fortress, and religious site of Sacasayhuaman).  Dinner at Pre-Colombian Museum of Art.

March 17 - Morning free.  Afternoon transfer to airport to fly back to Lima.  Spend night in Lima.

March 18 - Fly back to Austin arriving on the 19th.