An early morning bus ride down Peru's south coast brings us first to Ica, center of Peruvian winemaking.  We'll visit a local vinyard and distillery, check out mummies at the Ica Museum, and try out sandboarding at Huacachina Oasis.  We'll continue on to Nazca in the early evening.
 

Buckle up and get ready to be amazed as the splendor and magnificent art of the Nazca lines unfold beneath you.  Hundreds of animals, trapezoids and ruler-straight lines lie across the rocky Nazca plateau, clearly seen only from the air.  Some say it is an ancient calendar.  Others suggest a beacon and runways for alien spacecraft.  Still others believe it was just an ancient culture's way of saying hello to their gods.  Perhaps, while soaring over them, you'll develop a theory of your own. After your flight, you'll be transferred to the bus station in Nazca for the return journey to Lima and back to the hotel.
 

After a short flight, we arrive in the city of Puerto Maldonado and transfer to a motorized dugout canoe for the trip upriver to our jungle lodge.  Our cabins at the lodge have modern bathrooms and comfortable beds with mosquito nets, and the food here is great. Take an afternoon walk through the rainforest with an experienced naturalist guide, come back for dinner, then set off again for a nocturnal jungle canoe ride to spot caiman! 

The next day's activities will include a visit to an oxbow lake to look for giant river otters, monkeys, macaws and other wildlife as well as jungle walks led by an experienced, English speaking guide.  You'll witness an array of medicinal and otherwise interesting flora and fauna, as well as gain some insight into native Amazonian peoples and traditions.
 

After an early breakfast, we'll take a motorized canoe back to Puerto Maldonado to catch the flight to Lima or Cuzco. 
 

This morning we're off to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake at 12,500 feet above sea level. The bus journey today is a beautiful one, through the same valley that the first Incas took to establish their empire in Cuzco.  Puno is a lively and bustling university town with plenty of good restaurants and pubs along its pedestrian mall.  Early to bed, though, as our Titicaca adventure begins tomorrow!
 

Boats are the transport theme today as we head out across the waters of Lake Titicaca. Our first stop is the islands of Uros, completely constructed out of totora reeds and floating on the surface of the lake. We'll take a walk across the spongy surface of these unique islands and go for a ride in a reed boat before continuing on to the island of Taquile, where we'll spend the night with a local native family. 
 

The native culture of Taquile is the most intact in probably all of the Andes, with its inhabitants maintaining the same customs and dress as they have for over 1000 years. You will truly feel as though you have gone back in time as you walk the ancient stone paths of the island and observe it's people. Overnight in Puno.
 

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Early morning flight to Lima or Cuzco. 

A morning flight to Arequipa. Arequipa is a charming colonial city at the foot of El Misti volcano, with the Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest, just a few hours away. On our included city tour, we'll visit the huge and beautiful Santa Catalina Monastery as well as the Museum of Juanita, the Inca Ice Mummy.
 

Early morning departure for the Colca Canyon. Keep a lookout for condors as we skirt the side of the canyon.  This area also has some of the most extensive Inca and pre-Inca terracing in all of Peru.  Overnight in the village of Chivay.
 

We'll spend the morning in Chivay, with a chance to soak in the town's thermal baths, before returning to the comforts of Arequipa in the early afternoon.
 

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Early morning flight onwards.  International flights may depart any time after 2pm today.

Departure from Guayaquil to Baltra (aprox.two and half hour flight). Passengers will be picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to board the boat.

Bartolome.  Dry landing. Passengers will see volcanic formations like lava
bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. After hiking to the summit you can enjoy a
great view of the surrounding islands, including Pinnacle Rock's eroded tuff
cone. During the hike to the summit, travelers will often see colonies of
marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla, and various cacti. Visitors will be
able to snorkel and see the Galapagos penguin, sea turtles, and white-tipped
reef sharks from a safe distance.
 

Urbina Bay (Isabela).  Wet landing. Passengers will visit the fossil beach
and coral area. Depending on the season you may be able to observe giant
tortoises, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. After the walk we will
have time for snorkeling. Fernandina (Espinosa Point).  Dry landing. Visitors will see the biggestmarine iguanas mingling with sally light-foot crabs, as well as flightless
cormorants at their nesting sites, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and
sea lions. Among the flora and volcanic formations observers will spot
brachycereus cactus, and "pa-hoe-hoe" lava and "AA" lava formations.
Numerous mangrove beds extend into the sea.
 

Santiago (Egas Port).  Wet landing on a dark sand beach. Most of the
landscape is tuff-stone layers and lava flows. You can observe hunting
herons, great blue herons, lava herons, yellow crowned night herons and
oyster catchers. Passengers will see marine iguanas grazing on algae beds
alongside red sally light-foot crabs. There is a colony of fur seals
swimming in deep cool-water pools. Here you can swim and snorkel and find
octopuses, sea horses, star fish.

Rábida (Jervis).  Wet landing. The volcano-formed beach is dark red and is
often occupied by sea lions. It's considered the geographic center of
Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks on the Islands.
You'll hike to a salt water lagoon, where flamingos can sometimes be found.
July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting in
the salty bushes. Boobies and 9 species of Darwin's finches can also be
observed. You can take a ride along the reefs in a dinghy, as well as
snorkel.
 

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Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station).  Travelers will visit the
Charles Darwin Research Station, staffed with international scientists
conducting biological research and conservation projects. Here guests can
admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. Visitors
can also admire the prickly-pear cactus forest and many land birds. Later
on, you'll have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
Santa Cruz (Highlands).  Travelers can trek through the highlands of Santa
Cruz and visit Cerro Chato, where they will be able to observe the famous
giant tortoises. Additionally, travelers can walk inside the dormant lava
tubes.
 

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Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach).  Wet landing. This beach is located on the north
side of Santa Cruz Island. Visitors will encounter many sea birds, marine
iguanas, sea turtles, and have the opportunity to swim on the white-sand
beach. Return to the Galapagos Legend, check out and transfer to Baltra's
airport. Return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
 

Visit the social project we support in Cuzco