THE GREAT ESCAPE
Your Great Adventure
- Includes
- Itinerary
- Tour Highlights
What's included
- ~ 4 nights accommodation in Quito
- ~ 4 nights luxurious accommodations in category booked on cruise
- ~ Daily breakfast, 7 lunches, 9 dinners
- ~ Daily sightseeing with expert local guide/naturalist guide
- ~ Port charges
- ~ Gratuities for driver and local guide in Peru and Quito
- ~ International air ticket
- ~ Safety net protection
- ~ Airport transfer
- ~ Gratuities to Tour Director and the shipboard staff and naturalists guide
Happiness flows with Avalon Waterways. Cruise on Suite Ships with the widest stateroom views from your window-facing bed. Relaxed luxury flows throughout the ship in every detail plus personalize with Classic, Active, and Discovery excursions. Cruise Critic named Avalon’s staterooms the best in the business, and yes, we’re blushing a bit. But it’s only because we’ve taken such pride in bringing you river cruising’s only Open-Air BalconySM stateroom design, featuring beds with a view. Rest easy (literally) as you enjoy bigger views, more space and 24/7 access to open-air cruising. With Avalon, the award-winning views are as wide open as the possibilities.
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- Day 3
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- Day 8
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- Day 10
- Day 11
- Day 12
- Day 13
- Day 14
- Day 15
ARRIVE LIMA, PERU
Welcome to Lima. Enjoy free time today before your Peruvian Andes and Galápagos adventure begins.
LIMA
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Walking Tour of Lima-to see the colonial Old Quarter, Plaza de Armas, the presidential Government Palace, and the ornate Cathedral. Visit the San Francisco Monastery and see its famous catacombs. DISCOVERY - This evening, join a Guided Tour of Lima's Larco Herrera Museum. With the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner in the beautiful Peruvian cafe here.
LIMA (LOCAL FLIGHT) – CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY
Fly to the ancient Andean city of Cusco-on your way to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. DISCOVERY - Take a Guided Tour of Awanakancha to encounter llamas, alpacas, vicunas, and guanacos and learn about their vital role in Peruvian culture. Continue to the old mountain village of Pisac to browse the local market and colourful stalls for alpaca sweaters, woven blankets, and handmade jewellery. This evening, enjoy dining on Andean and Western dishes with wine.
SACRED VALLEY – MACHU PICCHU
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Tour of the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo to visit the ruins including the Sun Temple and Princess Baths fountain. DISCOVERY - Join an Escorted Visit to a native Incan home in the village of Ollantaytambo to experience the way of life enduring since the 13th century. All aboard the 360° Train to Machu Picchu ACTIVE - Take a Guided Walk of Machu Picchu to explore the "Lost City of the Incas" high atop the Andes. Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the lives and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures built by the pre-Columbian masters of this sacred land. DISCOVERY - Enjoy your overnight stay at the foot of the mountain with a gourmet dinner including wine.
MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
CLASSIC - Take a second included Guided Excursion to Machu Picchu. Set out early to see the sunrise over the ruins, and wander through perfectly assembled stone walls and terraces amid the natural landscape as a hidden sanctuary. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco.
CUSCO
CLASSIC - A Guided Walking Tour of Cusco. Visit the imposing Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery. Next, see the semi- circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages and the ancient site of Puca Pucara before reaching the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. DISCOVERY - Tonight, enjoy dinner inspired by Peru's eclectic mix of cultures.
CUSCO (LOCAL FLIGHT) – QUITO, ECUADOR
Fly to Quito, capital of Ecuador and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, and begin the Ecuadorian portion of your holiday. DISCOVERY - Tonight, enjoy dinner with delicious regional cuisine.
QUITO. EXCURSION TO OTAVALO
CLASSIC - Join a Guided Excursion to Otavalo's Indian market- brimming with colourful woven textiles, traditional Ecuadorean apparel, produce, and craftwork. DISCOVERY - Visit the town of Peguche-famous for its exquisitely handcrafted weavings. Take an Escorted Tour of local homes to observe the handiwork in creating woven blankets and clothing that are so important to life in the Andes highlands. DISCOVERY - Enjoy an authentic Andean Dining Experience with lunch served in a local hacienda.
QUITO
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Quito that showcases the colonial city's historic sites, including the Legislative Palace, Independence Plaza, San Francisco Monastery, La Compania Church. DISCOVERY - Take a Guided Walk down Calle La Ronda-one of Quito's oldest streets. Later, visit a local chocolate factory to taste for yourself why Ecuador is one of the world's finest chocolate producers. CLASSIC - Join a Guided Excursion to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo-the "middle of the world."
QUITO (LOCAL FLIGHT) – SAN CRISTOBAL – GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (EMBARKATION)
Fly to Galapagos island of San Cristobal where you'll embark on a five-day cruise on the Treasure of Galapagos. CLASSIC - Take a Naturalist-Led Excursion to the highlands of San Cristobal to visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve. Learn about the island's endangered giant tortoise population and the reserve's conservation efforts. DISCOVERY - Your expert Naturalist Guide will point out other wildlife on the island, including songbirds like the yellow warbler, Galapagos large-billed flycatchers, and the Chatham mockingbird (unique to this island). Enjoy a Captain's welcome dinner on board this evening. NOTE: The ship's itinerary may vary according to Galapagos National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, and seasonal changes to create the perfect cross-section of sites visited.
ESPANOLA ISLAND
CLASSIC - Take a Guided Excursion with your expert Naturalist visit the glistening white coral beaches of Gardner Bay to see Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, seabirds, and hawks. DISCOVERY - Enjoy a prime snorkelling spot in Gardner Bay's pristine waters to spot a kaleidoscope of multi-coloured reef fish, reef sharks, and the amazing Pacific green turtles. ACTIVE - This afternoon, your Naturalist Guide takes you to the sheer cliffs of Punta Suarez to witness the spectacular spray from an ocean blowhole. Watch for the blue-footed and Nazca boobies, and other remarkable bird species, including the waved albatross. Be on the lookout for the male Christmas iguana that turns red and green during mating season.
FLOREANA ISLAND
CLASSIC - Join a Naturalist-Led Excursion to Floreana's Post Office Bay. ACTIVE - Explore the island's channels by panga boat, or take a swim with playful sea lions. This afternoon, join your Naturalist Guide for an easy hike at Cormorant Point in search of greater flamingos, blue-footed boobies, and sea turtles, or take another opportunity to snorkel with reef fish, turtles, and rays gliding through the crystal shallows.
SANTA FE ISLAND – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
ACTIVE - Take a Naturalist Guided Hike to explore Barrington Bay. Take time to enjoy the inviting waters off Barrington Bay to snorkel with sea lions and vibrantly coloured fish, before cruising to Santa Cruz Island. DISCOVERY - You'll also visit Tortuga Bay for a Naturalist Guided Excursion to Santa Cruz Island-the nesting place of the Pacific green turtle, marine iguanas, and the giant Galapagos tortoise. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner served especially for your final night on board.
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND (DISEMBARKATION) – QUITO (LOCAL FLIGHT)
After breakfast, disembark Treasure of Galápagos. DISCOVERY - Take a Naturalist Guided Excursion to visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve. Continue to the airport for your return flight to Quito.
DEPART QUITO
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
~ Quito
~ Otavalo
~ Puca Pucara
~ Machu Picchu
~ Galápagos Islands