Highlights of Ecuador Peru and Colombia

Make your own way to the airport for your international flight to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Enjoy inflight meals and services. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel.




Overnight in Quito

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, one of the most famous Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel on the island of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon you will head on a tour of the highlands where you will get the opportunity to see the famous Giant Tortoises in their natural environment. After lunch in the Highlands, you will be transferred to Puerto Ayora to check in to your hotel.




Overnight on Santa Cruz Island

Early in the morning, you will travel on a public speedboat with your guide to Isabela Island, where you will take a short boat ride to Tintoreras Islet. There, you may see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, sea turtles, pelicans, and Galapagos Penguins. As the island is one of the main breeding sites for marine iguanas, this is an excellent place to see these creatures from up close. After a hike through the islet, you can snorkel* in the waters nearby with the multicolored fish, sharks, sea lions, and maybe even manta rays.



*Note that masks and tubes will be provided. Wetsuits will be available for rent.




Overnight on Isabela Island

After breakfast, your guide will take you to visit the Flamingo Lagoon, the largest coastal lagoon in the Galapagos. This is an approx. 2km trail where you will get an explanation of the vegetation and geology of the young Isabela Island. Arriving in the Flamingo Lagoon, you might be able to see flamingos feeding in this lake. This is an artificial lake — due to the excavation for construction it was made up by the rain. From there, the trail will end in the tortoise breeding center. In this place, you will learn more about the reproduction and breeding of Tortoises. The Tortoise Center of Isabela was completed in 1994 and houses tortoises from the populations of southern Isabela, many of which have experienced relatively high levels of poaching within the last 10-20 years. Visitors can see hatchlings, tortoises, and the older breeding animals. In the afternoon you will return to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz by boat.




Overnight on Santa Cruz Island

In the morning your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Quito. Quito is the largest colonial town in the Americas and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide, and you will be transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure in this lively city.




Overnight in Quito

After breakfast, prepare for a guided city tour of Quito. You will explore the Colonial District of the city, learn more about Quitos long and fascinating past, and visit Plaza de la Independencia, the citys main square. Here you can see the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, and several historic churches. You can also enjoy the breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings from the viewpoint of Penecillo Hill before returning to your hotel, where you can relax and unwind.




Overnight in Quito

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima. Known as the \"City of Kings\", Lima is famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture, extraordinary museums, and its exquisite cuisine. Upon arrival at the International Airport. you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel in Lima.




Overnight in Lima

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to the airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. Prepare for a short yet spectacular flight over the snow-capped Andes to Cusco, the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley. Drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac where an Indian Market takes place every day. During your visit to the bustling marketplace, you will get the opportunity to bargain with the natives for many different types of Peruvian handicrafts and jewellery. Continue to the Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex, the Incas built it as a fort that included a temple, agricultural terraces, and an urban area. There are two distinct sectors: The religious and worship zone, and the residential area. Ollantaytambo served as an important administrative center with probable military functions if one considers the walls and towers. There are also traces of ancient roads and aqueducts. The town of Ollantaytambo is called a \"Living Inca Town\" since the inhabitants maintain very old practices and customs. You will enjoy lunch at “Tunupa Valle” restaurant, a beautiful country estate on the shores of the Urubamba River.




Overnight in the Urubamba

In the morning you will travel on the Premium Economy train of the “Inca Rail” company through the sacred Urubamba Valley to the \"Lost City of the Incas\" — Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, the site was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungles for 400 years until it was discovered by Hiram Bingham of Yale University in 1911. Archaeologists believe that the Inca \"Virgins of the Sun\" took refuge from the Spanish Conquistadors here. Upon arrival at Aguas Calientes, you will transfer to shuttle service for a drive up the switchback road to the ruins. A knowledgeable tour guide will share the history of this mystical place of the Inca. You will enjoy a buffet lunch in a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo Rail Station, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.




Overnight in the Urubamba

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Cusco. Head on a walking tour of Cusco, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere and its nearby ruins. You will get the chance to see how the Andean and Spanish cultures co-existed and influenced this city. The tour will start at the Santo Domingo Convent, built on the site of Koricancha, which was an important ancient Inca palace and center of worship of the Sun God. The tour will continue to the Main Square and the Cathedral from the early 17th century and is a fine example of colonial baroque art. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.




Overnight in Cusco

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure or consider the optional tour below.




Overnight in Cusco

Today you will be transferred to the Cusco Airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Then, start your half-day tour of Lima. The tour will visit the colonial and modern sections of Lima. Colonial sites include the lovely Plaza Mayor (Main Square), the Government Palace and City Hall (outside views), and entry to the Cathedral of Lima and the convent of Santo Domingo. The Santo Domingo Convent is a religious and architectural gem that houses holy paintings, images, and relics of Peruvian saints, as well as written accounts of the endeavours of the Dominican Order across the country. Visit modern-day Lima and drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro.




Overnight in Lima

Today, at the arranged time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight to Bogota. Upon arrival, you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace. The Colombian capital is situated in the very center of the country at approx. 2650 meters above sea level in an area known as the Savanna of Bogotá (Sabana de Bogotá). The east side of the city is flanked by the Cordillera Oriental, foothills of the Andes Mountains. In terms of area, Bogotá is Colombias largest city: it extends more than 40 km from north to south and 20km from east to west. It is not only the main economic and industrial center but also the political heart of the country. The National Legislature, the Supreme Court of Justice, and the residence of the President of the Republic (Casa de Nariño) reside here. With its 8 million inhabitants, the city is Colombias most populous, and the huge cultural offer is among the best and largest in the country. Bogotá is home to plenty of museums such as the famous Gold Museum and the Botero Museum, theaters, and libraries.




Overnight in Bogota

Today you will be picked up from your hotel and taken on a tour of the city. Begin your tour at the Plaza de Bolívar (the citys main square), surrounded by federal government buildings, and continue to the old colonial part of the city better known as “La Candelaria”, the San Francisco Church, and the Gold Museum. End your tour with a trip in a cable car to the top of Monserrate Hill, with its breathtaking views of the city.




Overnight in Bogota

This morning, at the arranged time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Pereira. Upon arrival in Pereira, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in  the Coffee Triangle. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Colombia is famous for its coffee, but nowhere is the prized bean more important than in the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, which together make up the heart of the Zona Cafetera, also called the Eje Cafetero (Coffee Axis). Here you'll find jeeps packed with mustachioed coffee pickers; poncho-wearing senior citizens gossiping in cafes; and, of course, endless cups of piping hot arabica. Many working fincas (coffee farms) have embraced tourism and welcome visitors onto their plantations to learn all about the coffee-growing process. It is particularly interesting to visit during the harvests (April to May, October to December) when the farms are a hive of activity. The “Coffee Cultural Landscape”, inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2011.




Overnight in the Coffee Triangle

Get ready for a full-day tour around the Cocora Valley and Salento. This mystical valley is considered one of Colombia's most stunning valleys and often listed among the country's must-sees. Certainly unique are the up to 60 metre-tall wax palms of the region, which are towering into the eerie cloud forest. We can explore the valley on foot before our trip to nearby Salento, one of the coffee region's most picturesque villages. Browsing its cafés and boutiques we find ourselves among merry colours, textures and artesanal crafts. Just outside of Salento and nestled into fertile hillsides we reach Finca El Ocaso, a traditonal coffee finca. Here we learn all about the coffee production process from seed to cup.​



Note: Lunch (payable locally) is taken at a typical comedor in the Salento area.




Overnight in the Coffee Triangle

At the arranged time you will be transferred to the Armenia Airport for your flight to Cartagena via Bogotá. Upon arrival in Cartagena, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. From there you will head on a city tour. This fascinating half-day tour will start with a visit to the most important monuments in Cartagena. Start at the Convent of La Popa* (the highest point in the city) and continue your tour to the Castillo de San Felipe, an immense fort filled with history and mysteries hidden in its stonewalled tunnels. Leaving the castle, visit the monument of Zapatos Viejos — the “Old Shoes”. Certainly, the most impressive monument is the gigantic defensive wall that surrounds the old city and overlooks the sea and its well-preserved colonial architecture. During the rest of the visit, you will see the citys churches, museums, plazas, restaurants, shops, and jewelry stores. This combination of treasures makes Cartagena deserving of the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will never forget this wonderful destination!




Overnight in Cartagena



*Note: If La Popa is closed, this visit will be replaced by the San Pedro Claver Convent.

Today you will have a full day at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or unwind on the beach. Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 and is probably the most attractive city in South America today. The old part of the city is also called “the walled city”, where Cartagena conserves the beauty of its' colonial past. Narrow streets flanked by heavy oak doors, beautiful, flowered balconies, and friendly and welcoming people give Cartagena the perfect combination of colonial history and cultural experience. Beautiful beaches close by, such as the Rosario Islands, invite visitors with their crystal-clear waters and with a large variety of excursions and tours to choose from.




Overnight in Cartagena

Today you will be transferred to the Cartagena airport for your departure flight.