Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru with Ecuador's Amazon
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru with Ecuador's Amazon
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru with Ecuador's Amazon
18 Days
Visiting: Quito, Equador, Coca, Amazon Lodge, Baltra, North Seymour, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz. Excursion To The Highlands, Santa Cruz. Excursion To Punta Carrion & South Plaza Island, Santa Cruz. Excursion To Divine Bay, Guayaquil, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, South America
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ISC2-2024
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to explore the Amazon Rainforest? To follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? And, delve further south to soar higher in the Andes and the heart of Peru? If so, this Independence by Globus vacation in Ecuador and Peru is pointing you in the right direction. Ignite your independent spirit on a canoe trip downriver from Coca to your lodge in the Amazon Rainforest, where you’re in good hands with a Naturalist guide to explore the jungle from its rainforest canopy to the forest floor. Be awestruck by the wealth of wildlife that thrives in this tropical wilderness. Then, depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. Sail in luxury upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the islands of Santa Cruz, South Plaza Island, and other island sanctuaries of spectacular species. See the sights in Quito, Ecuador before setting your compass to the heart of Peru to ignite your independent spirit in Lima, Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu. Explore ancient ruins that defy explanation and encounter the captivating cultures that live on in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Timeless temples, textiles, and tantalizing dishes are all on the menu with the I-time you crave on this free-spirited sojourn in South America.
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito,Equador
Location: Quito, Equador
Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
QUITO, EQUADOR Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.QUITO-COLONIAL-CITY-VIEW.jpg
Day 2: Quito,Coca,Amazon Lodge
Location: Quito, Coca, Amazon Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE • Fly to Coca where you will be met by your Naturalist. • Travel by motorboat down the Napo River with opportunities to spot birds like herons, kingfishers, and others. • Next, transfer to a canoe and float through narrow channels looking for monkeys as well as large birds like toucans, parrots, or even macaws.• Arrive at your Amazon lodge located on Añangu Lake surrounded by pristine rainforest. • Tonight, enjoy a welcome drink, briefing, and dinner. (B,L,D)AMAZON-LODGE-NAPO-RIVER.jpg
Day 3: Amazon Lodge
Location: Amazon Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AMAZON LODGE • After an early breakfast, journey to a parrot clay lick where 11 different species of parrots, parakeets, and macaws can be seen on a daily basis. • Later, walk to a local community where you are invited to join families of the Anangu indigenous community on their daily activities, such as harvesting bananas, coco, and manioc. • Take a Naturalist-guided walk through the jungle in search of interesting plants and colorful or well-camouflaged insects.(B,L,D) AMAZON-LODGE-MACAWS-CLAY-LICK.jpg
Day 4: Amazon Lodge
Location: Amazon Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
AMAZON LODGE • This morning, ascend a canopy tower over 100 feet above the forest floor at the top of a Ceiba tree. From here, view spider monkeys, aracaris, toucans, blue and gold macaws, numerous species of tanagers, and the red-rumped cacique. • After lunch at the lodge, explore lakes and creeks on a dugout canoe in search of river otters, potoos, kingfishers, hoatzins, jacamars, hawks, and monkeys. (B,L,D) AMAZON-CANOE.jpg
Day 5: Amazon Lodge,Coca,Quito
Location: Amazon Lodge, Coca, Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
AMAZON LODGE–COCA–QUITO • Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. • The remainder of your afternoon is at leisure. (B)AMAZON-MONKEY.jpg
Day 6: Quito
Location: Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
QUITO • Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)QUITO-SAN-FRANCISCO-PLAZA.jpg
Day 7: Quito,Baltra,North Seymour,Santa Cruz
Location: Quito, Baltra, North Seymour, Santa Cruz
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
QUITO–BALTRA–NORTH SEYMOUR–SANTA CRUZ • Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos. • Upon arrival, board a yacht bound for North Seymour, an island teeming with life. You might have to give way to a passing sea lion, marine iguana, or blue-footed boobies that nest here. As you walk along the shore, see large flocks of pelicans in a dive-bomb feeding-frenzy, and one of the Galápagos’ largest nesting sites of the magnificent frigatebird. In the bushes you can see the males up close with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacs. • Return to the yacht and continue to the Finch Bay Hotel. (B,L,D)NORTH-SEYMOUR-FRIGATE.jpg
Day 8: Santa Cruz. Excursion To The Highlands
Location: Santa Cruz. Excursion To The Highlands
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO THE HIGHLANDS • Transfer to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to a farming area called El Manzanillo on the edge of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. Here, tortoises can be seen grazing year-round, along with woodpecker finches, mockingbirds, and flycatchers. • After lunch, visit a local farm, where coffee, sugar cane, and cocoa beans are grown, harvested, and prepared. • Return to the hotel and perhaps spend time on the private beach. (B,L,D)SANTA-CRUZ-GIANT-TORTOISE-RESERVE.jpg
Day 9: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Punta Carrion & South Plaza Island
Location: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Punta Carrion & South Plaza Island
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO PUNTA CARRION & SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND • This morning, travel to Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island for some time to snorkel. The shallow reefs and mangroves make this an ideal site to snorkel with plenty of reef fish as well as occasional sea lions and sharks. • Next, sail to South Plaza Island, a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs. Here you will see large, yellow land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, masked and blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and much more during your guided walk. • Return to the hotel this afternoon. (B,L,D)SOUTH-PLAZA-ISLAND-IGUANA.jpg
Day 10: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Divine Bay
Location: Santa Cruz. Excursion To Divine Bay
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SANTA CRUZ. EXCURSION TO DIVINE BAY • Today’s adventure takes you to wildlife-rich Divine Bay on Santa Cruz Island. Marine iguanas, herons, noddy terns, blue-footed boobies, and tropicbirds are commonly seen here. You may explore by boat or, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take to the sea by kayak. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks as you cruise the tranquil waters. • Return to the hotel for lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, established to help conserve the Galápagos’ natural habitats and protect the area’s famous giant tortoises. (B,L,D)SANTA-CRUZ-KAYAKING.jpg
Day 11: Santa Cruz,Baltra,Guayaquil,Lima
Location: Santa Cruz, Baltra, Guayaquil, Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL–LIMA • Depart the hotel this morning for the airport in Baltra. • Then, fly to Lima where you will be met by your Local Guide who will take you to your hotel. (B)SANTA-CRUZ-SEAL.jpg
Day 12: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA • Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias. (B)Today’s I-Time Tips This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images.LIMA-CATHEDRAL.jpg
Day 13: Lima,Cusco
Location: Lima, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA–CUSCO • Fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide. • Your guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. • Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. Followed by the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara. (B)CUSCO-PLAZA-DE-ARMAS-ARCHES.jpg
Day 14: Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Cusco, Sacred Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY • Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, brings you to Awanakancha to learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. • Continue to the market town of Pisac, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices. • At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry. (B,L)SACRED-VALLEY-WEAVING.jpg
Day 15: Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU • Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.• On a guided tour of Machu Picchu, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. (B,L,D)MACHU-PICCHU-LLAMA.jpg
Day 16: Machu Picchu,Sacred Valley,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO • A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. • Return to Cusco by train. (B)MACHU-PICCHU-RUIN-DETAIL.jpg
Day 17: Cusco,Lima
Location: Cusco, Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
CUSCO–LIMA • Fly to Lima today. (B)CUSCO-PEOPLE.jpg
Day 18: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)LIMA-PERUVIAN-TEXTILES.jpg
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 9 lunches; 8 three-course dinners
Notes
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos and Amazon are also provided. Intra-vacation flights to and within Peru are not included but can be added. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Itinerary is subject to change in low or high water situations. On the Galapagos Islands, we use a small vessel (20 guests) that has 3 crew members, emergency washrooms and a snack bar. The excursions are day cruises with landings on the islands, some of which are wet landings. Departure times vary depending on what islands we visit. At times we may visit 1 island but we land on different parts of it. These sailings are subject to change and weather related depending on what island we are visiting. The day sailings are around 5 to 6 hours per day which includes the landings and sightseeing. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos are subject to change.
Accommodation
Quito:Hilton Colon Quito - METCoca:Sacha LodgeSanta Cruz Island:Finch Bay Eco Hotel - Finch Bay RoomLima:Hotel Pullman MirafloresCusco:Casa Andina Premium CuscoSacred Valley:Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and VillasMachu Picchu:Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Check out our Q&As
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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