2013 - APT South America

Explore the man-made reed islands on Lake Titicaca Day 16. Santiago, Dine Around Dinner. Take a tour of Santiago, then in the San Antonio Valley, taste some Chilean wine with a delicious lunch. Tonight choose where to dine. BLD Day 17. Santiago, Lima (Peru). Fly to Lima this morning and enjoy a city tour of the Historic Centre of Lima. Here, you'll see the catacombs of the monastery of San Francisco that link the religious sites of Lima, the Archbishop Palace, the Basilica Cathedral of Lima and more. Tonight dine at Brujas del Cachiche – a local restaurant. Stay: Lima, Miraflores Park Hotel by Orient-Express. Day 18. Lima, Cusco, Chincheros, BD Sacred Valley. Fly to Cusco then head for Chincheros, here you'll see a weaving demonstration. Later, in the Sacred Valley, you'll visit the home of a local family for a typical Andean meal. Two Night Stay: Sacred Valley, Tambo del Inka – part of the Luxury Collection by Starwood. BL Day 19. Sacred Valley. Today, you'll visit the community of nearby Taray and see a special school project supported by APT. Later, enjoy a Brazilian BBQ lunch in Wayra. BL Day 20. Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu. Board PeruRail's Vistadome train and travel to Machu Picchu. Enjoy lunch before a guided tour. Stay: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. BLD Hike the Famous Inca Trail The more adventurous can replace Day 20 touring with a five-hour hike to Machu Picchu, before rejoining the group for dinner at your hotel. Revisit Machu Picchu the next morning for your guided tour and morning tea. $295* per person. Must be pre-booked. Day 21. Machu Picchu, Cusco. Today you will have the opportunity to beat the morning rush, with a return visit to Machu Picchu to experience the site in true serenity at your 66 own pace. Alternatively, relax and enjoy the comforts and facilities of your hotel. Later, board Orient-Express' exclusive Hiram Bingham train for what is the most luxurious rail journey from Machu Picchu to Cusco. Two Night Stay: Cusco, Hotel Libertador Palacio del Inka. Day 22. Cusco, Dine Around Dinner. A walking tour of Cusco takes you to the Plaza de Armas, the square in the city's historic heart. You'll also visit the sacred sites of Koricancha and Santo Domingo. Later, choose from four restaurants for either lunch or dinner. Day 23. Cusco, Lake Titicaca. Today, board the Andean Explorer for a day-long rail journey into the highlands and on to Puno. Travelling in Andean Explorer Class (first class), the landscapes at the start of your trip is dominated by the Andean mountains. On the way to the Andean Plains, enjoy access to the lounge car and be treated to a three- course lunch. Two Night Stay: Puno, The Libertador Lake Titicaca, in Lake View Rooms. Day 26. Lima, Quito (Ecuador). Today board a flight to Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. On arrival check in to your hotel, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the city. Two Night Stay: Hilton Colon Quito. BD B Day 27. Quito, Otavalo. Today you'll enjoy a day trip to the Otavalo markets, notable for their textiles. Enjoy a tour here, before continuing to Cotacachi, a town famous for its leatherworks. B BD Day 28. Quito, Galápagos Islands Cruise. Fly to Baltra Island today to board the MV Galápagos Explorer II, for your four-night cruise. Later, set sail for Cerro Dragon, which is known for its flamingo lagoon. You may see one of many land iguanas foraging along the trail. Four Night Stay: MV Galápagos Explorer II, in a guaranteed Deluxe Balcony Suite. BL Day 24. Lake Titicaca. Located on the border of Peru and Bolivia, Lake Titicaca is the largest high-altitude lake in the world. Cruise to the home of the Uros people, a group of more than 40 man-made islands created from floating reeds. Afterwards, you'll visit the isolated Capachica Peninsula, where you'll enjoy great views and a traditional BBQ lunch. This afternoon, return to your hotel. Day 25. Puno, Lima. After flying back to Lima, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Tonight, enjoy a dinner at Restaurant Huaca Pucllana – set within the ruins of an archaeological compound built between 200 and 700 AD. As you dine, take in views of the colourfully illuminated adobe pyramid. Stay: Lima, Miraflores Park Hotel by Orient-Express. BD BL Day 29. Galápagos Islands Cruise. This morning visit El Baranco on Isla Genovesa, located on the southern side of Darwin Bay. The cliffs located in the south are formed by highly fluid lava flowing from what was once a shield volcano. Also present on this island is the unique Masked Booby seabird. During a boat ride around the cliffs, fur seals can be seen as well as several other species of seabirds. This afternoon visit Darwin Bay, also on Isla Genovesa, which is home to colonies of nesting Common Frigate, Nazca Booby and the Swallow-tailed gull. Here, you may also see the Red-footed Booby nests, the largest colony nesting in the Galápagos for pelagic birds. The Royal Frigate is abundant on this island and constitutes one of the main attractions here. BLD BLD Day 30. Galápagos Islands Cruise. Spend time at North Seymour island, home to flocks of Blue-footed Boobies and Swallow-tailed gulls. It hosts one of the largest populations of frigate birds, known for their red pouches. Later, cruise to the northern coast of Isla Santa Cruz. BLD

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