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)
© 2011 Inka's Empire Corporation.
All rights reserved.
A Private Excursion
Marine iguana, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Land Price (4 days/3 nights)
Imperial US$ 2,535 per person in Galapagos Safari Camp
Imperial US$ 3,220 per person in Royal Palm Hotel
The land price includes escorted transfers, private excursions with a professional guide and chauffeur, entrance fees, a Luxury Safari Tent in the Galapagos Safari Camp or a Veranda Studio in the Royal Palm Hotel, gourmet cuisine (see details), all land and water transportation, 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 Opulent Itineraries.
Map
Hotel
Luxury Safari Tent, Galapagos Safari Camp, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
Galapagos Safari Camp.
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
The perfect way to extend your tour in the Galapagos is to add two days of land-based excursions on Santa Cruz Island with two nights at the Galapagos Safari Camp or in the Royal Palm Hotel, the most luxurious lodgings in the islands. Your private guide will take you to places not included on your cruise, such as the Tortoise Reserve, La Garrapatero Beach, Academy Bay, Tortuga Bay and the Charles Darwin Research Station, allowing you to deepen your appreciation of the Galapagos and its wildlife. With another day and night, as shown in this itinerary, you can include a boating excursion to Santa Fe Island and its Playa Escondida.
See Galapagos Geology on the Web for geology, history and related web sites.
Royal Palm Hotel, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Royal Palm Hotel. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Highlights
Santa Cruz Island
Day 1: Santa Cruz Island (Tortoise Reserve & El Garrapatero). Transfer to your hotel in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island, near the Tortoise Reserve. After lunch, observe giant tortoises in the wild at a private ranch that adjoins the reserve. Continue to El Garrapatero, one of the most exotic and beautiful beaches in the Galapagos Islands. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp -- Luxury Safari Tent -- or in the Royal Palm Hotel -- Veranda Studio.
Day 2: Santa Cruz Island (Academy Bay &Tortuga Bay). Full-day excursion on Santa Cruz Island. Once on board a private chartered boat at the main dock in Puerto Ayora, the captain takes you out of the bay towards the lighthouse at Punta Estrada to view swooping blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, herons and frolicking sea lions. Continuing into Shark Bay you can spot rays and sea turtles and observe white-tipped reef sharks. At the entrance to Academy Bay, off a small islet, you will have the opportunity to join a colony of playful sea lions. Box lunch. Continue to Tortuga Bay, with its spectacular white sand beach. On the way back to the hotel, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, you can admire the baby tortoises, part of the program to breed, rear and reintroduce different subspecies back into their natural habitat. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp -- Luxury Safari Tent -- or in the Royal Palm Hotel -- Veranda Studio.
Day 3: Santa Fe Island. Full-day boating excursion to Santa Fé Island and Playa Escondida to see land iguanas and swim with sea lions. Picnic lunch. Return to Santa Cruz Island. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp -- Luxury Safari Tent -- or in the Royal Palm Hotel -- Veranda Studio.
Your next destination
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island - Your next destination. Before breakfast this morning, if you are staying at the Galapagos Safari Camp, the owner will give you a tour of the farm, where you can enjoy the sunrise from one of the view points and continue for a walk to a cave of Galapagos Barn Owls. If are staying at the Royal Palm Hotel visit the nearby lava tunnels and Los Gemelos, twin volcanic sinkholes. Transfer to the dock for your cruise or to the airport for the flight to your next destination.
Details
Giant tortoise, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Day 1: Santa Cruz Island (Tortoise Reserve & El Garrapatero)
Breakfast. Transfer to your hotel in the Highlands of Santa Cruz Island, near the Tortoise Reserve. After lunch, observe giant tortoises in the wild at a private ranch that adjoins the reserve.
Male frigate bird displaying, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Marco Robalino. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Contine to El Garrapatero. After walking along a 20-miute trail past Opuntia cacti and Palo Santo trees, you will reach one of the most exotic and beautiful beaches in the Galapagos Islands, offering a landscape of black lava, bristling with Pioneer cacti, contrasted with shimmering white sand and a turquoise sea, safe for swimming. You can watch the blue-footed boobies and pelicans fishing in the bay, crabs scuttling into their burrows in the white sand and marine iguanas stroling along the beach, all from under the shelter of shoreline trees and bushes. Explore the mangroves or discover a small lagoon behind the beach where Bahama Ducks and, sometimes, Pink Flamingos can be seen. Walking shoes, hats and sunglasses are essential. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp or in the Royal Palm Hotel.
Sea lions, Galapagos
Islands.
Photo:
David Bate. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Day 2: Santa Cruz Island (Academy Bay &Tortuga Bay)
Breakfast. Once onboard a private chartered boat at the main dock in Puerto Ayora, the captain takes you out of the bay towards the lighthouse at Punta Estrada to view swooping blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, herons and frolicking sea lions. Continuing into Shark Bay you can spot rays and sea turtles and observe white-tipped reef sharks. At the entrance to Academy Bay, off a small islet, you will have the opportunity to join a colony of playful sea lions in the water and perfect your "sea lion rolls. Snorkel equipment, life vests and chilled drinks are provided onboard. Box lunch.
Sea turtle, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Bonnie Pelnar. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Continue to Tortuga Bay. Its spectacular white sand beach is situated about 35 minutes walking distance from Puerto Ayora. After walking through an arid, aromatic palo santo forest surrounded by cactus and birdlife, you reach a pristine, long, deserted, white sandy beach ideal for body surfing, or stroll over to a small tranquil lagoon where yoou can swim and snorkel. Watch out for pelicans, white egrets, oystercatchers, blue herons and frigate birds or take a short walk over a National Park trail to view marine iguanas and, occasionally, blue-footed boobies. Walking shoes, hats and sunglasses are essential. On the way back to the hotel, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here, you can admire the baby tortoises, part of the program to breed, rear and reintroduce different subspecies back into their natural habitat. Surrounding the station is an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest with many land birds. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp or in the Royal Palm Hotel.
Land iguana and opuntia cacti, Galapagos Islands.
Photo: Ron Dahlquist. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Day 3: Santa Fe Island
Breakfast. Full-day boating excursion to Santa Fe (24 sq. km.), a small island located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos. It is home to a number of endemic species which have bounced back from outside threats. These include the Galapagos hawk, land iguana, a variety of Darwin's finches and the Galapagos mockingbird, sea lion and marine turtle. Another attraction is Playa Escondida, one of the most beautiful coves in all of the Galapagos, where you can swim and snorkel with sea lions. Santa Fe was formed from a seismic uplift (rather than volcanoic activity), giving the island a relatively flat surface, rather than the typical conical shape. One trail leads out along the coast into the Opuntia forest, whose giant prickly-pear cactus trees are the largest in the Galapagos. The other trail leads into the highlands, where the land iguana may be seen. Picnic lunch. Return to Santa Cruz Island. Dinner and overnight at the Galapagos Safari Camp or in the Royal Palm Hotel.
Blue-footed boobies,
Galapagos Islands.
Photo: David Bate. Luxury Galapagos Islands.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island - Your next destination
Breakfast. Before breakfast this morning, if you are staying at the Galapagos Safari Camp, the owner will give you a tour of the farm, where you can enjoy the sunrise from one of the view points and continue for a walk to a cave of Galapagos Barn Owls. If are staying at the Royal Palm Hotel visit the nearby lava tunnels and Los Gemelos, twin volcanic sinkholes. Transfer to the dock for your cruise or to the airport for the flight to your next destination.
© 2011 Inka's Empire Corporation, Luxury Peru Travel & Peru Tours. All rights reserved.
