Machu Picchu & Galapagos

The tour starts at our hotel in Cuzco this morning. Hotel check-in often

isn't until 3 pm.



The Inca capital of Cuzco is among the most attractive cities in South

America, with much of the centre comprising colonial-era buildings with Inca

foundations, as well as museums, churches and pre-Columbian sites. To help

acclimatise, we have a relaxed walking tour this afternoon to discover its

historic buildings and winding streets.



It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty

of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude.

Today has been left free to explore the city in more detail. The Plaza de

Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and the Koricancha Sun Temple,

located in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The

Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local produce and there are many

handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves.



Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman

where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores.

Alternatively, you may wish to take an optional visit to the Sacred Valley of

the Incas and the incredible ruins at Pisac. Various other optional

activities can be arranged from Cuzco - your leader will have the details.

This morning we take the train to Aguas Calientes, a lively town in the

valley below Machu Picchu. This afternoon and the rest of the day is free for

visits to the hot springs or shopping in the large craft market. Our Machu

Picchu entrance ticket is valid for tomorrow, however should you wish to

visit the ruins today as well, you will need to purchase an extra ticket.

Please inform your leader at the start of the holiday if you would like to

purchase an extra entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.



For those who wish to walk to Machu Picchu, there is an optional day walk

along a section of the Inca Trail. The trail passes the ruins of Wiñay Wayna

and ascends a stone staircase to the Sun Gate for the iconic view of Machu

Picchu and its magnificent backdrop. Although this optional walk is available

at no extra cost, it must be pre-booked since numbers are strictly limited

(and a permit required). You should request this at the time of booking.



A packed lunch is included today.

In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as

early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu;

only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding

road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be

hours long. 



Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the

ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain

backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas

left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city

lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the

American historian Hiram Bingham. 



New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the

three possible visiting slots, Exodus will purchase the morning slot from

06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of

four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will

also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the

most comprehensive route. 



We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue

by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins).

Today we depart Cuzco on a flight to Quito via Lima. Quito has one of the

best-preserved colonial centres in South America and plenty of vibrant

markets to explore.

We have a half-day city tour of Quito, one of the smaller and more attractive

of the capitals of South America - 2,850m high in the western cordillera of

the Andes. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, and as always at

altitude, it is a good idea not to do anything too strenuous at first!

We explore the colonial centre with its narrow streets and hanging balconies.

The tour usually includes the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential

and the Archbishop palaces as well as La Compañia Church with its impressive

gold leaf decorations. A short drive brings us to El Panecillo Hill for a

panoramic view of the city and to admire the 45m high statue of the ‘Virgen

de Quito’, the only original Madonna with wings. Please note that entrance

fees are not included.

We return to Quito airport for the flight to Galapagos and the island of

Baltra via Guayaquil. We will take a short ferry crossing to Santa Cruz

Island, where we drive to the highlands to look for wild tortoises. We follow

this with a visit to the Charles Darwin Centre, where we learn about the

ecology of the islands and visit the centre's turtle hatchery. After this

visit, we board the boat at Puerto Ayora, the island's main town. Please make

sure that you bring your camera, sun cream and appropriate clothing:

comfortable footwear for some short walks (possibly amongst grass), light

clothes, a hat/cap and a light waterproof in case of a shower or mist

Our Galapagos Cruise alternates between two itineraries. For the next seven

days, your specific itinerary in the Galapagos depends on the departure date

of the trip (please ask your Sales Consultant if unsure).



*Itinerary A (Tower):* Walk on the tiny Plazas Islands to see a cactus

forest, land iguanas and seabirds, then cruise to the white sand beaches of

Santa Fe.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* A short walk on the tiny island of Chinese Hat

before snorkelling with Sea lions (and penguins if lucky!); on to the dark

red beach of Isla Rabida to walk amongst spatter cones, pelicans, Blue-footed

and Nazca boobies.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* A day at San Cristobal Island: the white sand beach,

Blue-footed boobys and old cone of Cerro Brujo, giant tortoise at Galapaguera

and crystal clear waters around the striking spear of Kicker Rock.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* We start three days exploring the largest island

of Isabela with the chance for early morning exploration of the mangroves at

Los Tintoreras and then walk to the huge 5-mile wide caldera on Sierra Negra

volcano. Our scheduled visit to Las Tintoreras alloted by the Galapagos

National Park is from 0600 to 0800 hrs, therefore should you wish to stay

onboard and have a lie in instead that's not a problem.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* Swim with Sea lions and Marine iguanas at the

paradisiacal beach at Gardener Bay on Espanola (Hood) Island. In the

afternoon, walk amongst Nazca and Blue-footed booby birds and nesting Waved

Albatross (in season) next to pounding surf at Punta Suarez.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* Cruising round Isabela's west side, we're likely

to see whales and dolphins. We land at Punta Moreno's swirling fresh lava

flows and also explore the islets of Elizabeth Bay with the largest colony of

penguins in the Galapagos.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* At Floreana Island snorkel in the spectacular sunken

crater of Devil's Crown amongst thousands of fish. We will then visit the

lagoon at Punta Cormorant (often with flamingos) and Post Office Bay, the

mailbox used by 18th Century whalers.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* In 1954 Urbina Bay was uplifted 4 metres and we

walk here amongst exposed coral heads, wandering giant tortoises and huge

land iguanas. We'll then make an afternoon visit to Tagus Cove and Darwin

Lake, directly opposite recently active Fernandina Volcano.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* To Dragon Hill, a nesting site for land iguanas with a

large lagoon; dramatic Sullivan Bay with a walk on a huge lava flow only 100

years old before swimming from the white-sand beach in crystal clear waters.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* Land at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina in the midst

of a huge colony of Marine iguanas; the sea life is very rich here and

supports a large Sea lion and Fur seal colony. We then cross the straights

and explore the cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* Less-visited Genovesa (also called Tower) Island is

home to an abundance of Red-footed boobies, Fur seals, Storm petrels and

Short-eared Owls. Here, we look for tropicbirds at Prince William Steps

before snorkelling, whilst at Darwin Bay, Galapagos mockingbirds also await.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* Excellent birding on Santiago (James) Island at

Puerto Egas followed by an afternoon snorkel and a walk amongst incredible

volcanic scenery up little Bartolome Island - cones, lava tubes and Pinnacle

Rock.

*Itinerary A (Tower):* We explore the mangroves of Turtle Cove at dawn

watching marine turtles rising for air; rays and herons fishing from the

trees.



*Itinerary B (Fernandina):* An early morning walk on North Seymour amidst

Palo Santo trees and Blue-footed booby colonies.

*Both itineraries:* After a late breakfast we disembark for the journey back

to Baltra to transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Guayaquil. For land

only clients, the tour ends at Guayaquil airport.* If booking an onwards

flight from Guayaquil today please ensure that it does not depart before

6pm.*