In August 2016 we are going back to South America and the Galapagos with a new cruise tour called “Incan Intrigue & Darwin’s Discoveries 2016”. For this tour we have privately chartered a brand new super yacht with a capacity of just 20 passengers, it’s actually that new it’s not even built yet. The Super Yacht is called M/V Origin and is scheduled to launch January 2016. It is set to be the most luxurious ship to sail the Galapagos – you can watch the ship video, see details further down. In 2016 we are also doing a new itinerary which takes us to the outer Islands of Genovesa, better known as Tower Island.
We’ve combined Chile and Peru before you spend 7 nights in Galapagos. We’re including transfers, airfares, city tours, wine lands day tour, meet & greet, 5 star hotels, private yacht, breakfasts, most lunches and dinners and not to be forgotten, the Hiram Bingham train journey in Peru!
Departing Australia August 2016, you’ll spend three nights at the Grand Hyatt Santiago. Our first night will be a welcome dinner at one of my favorite restaurants anywhere in the world, Aquí Esta Coco which is an authentic Chilean restaurant with a great atmosphere, food and wine – you’ll love it. The next day we’ll take you to the San Antonio Valley and in particular, Matetic winery for a tasting and luncheon. Matetic winery combines organic production of fine wines with being a really welcoming tourist location. This entertaining full day experience is followed by a half day city tour and the afternoon is at leisure in Santiago giving you plenty of time to see this amazing city.
On the 20th of August we’ll fly to Cusco where we’ll stay 2 nights at the famous Monasterio Hotel. This hotel is a great base to unwind and get accustomed to the high altitude and to explore the surrounding town and countryside. The afternoon we arrive will be at leisure to let you aclimatise to the high altitude or if your up to it, the main square is a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The next day is a full day tour taking in local and surrounding areas of interest.
Leaving Cusco you’ll head to the Sacred Inca Valley where you’ll stay two nights at the 5 star Tambo del Inca Luxury Collection Hotel, you would never expect to find a hotel of this quality in the middle of nowhere. Here you’ll have the option to relax at the hotel or take the included day tours. The day tours give you the chance to meet local people as they go about their work weaving, dyeing fabrics and tending their flocks of alpaca and llamas before moving to the Colonial and Inca mountain town of Pisac, one of the most beautiful architectural sites of the Valley. After lunch there’s a visit to the studios of artist and sculptor Pablo Seminario. The following day the tour includes some of the less explored terraces of the valley and the colossal terraces used for the empire’s formidable agricultural production. The exploration continues to the millenary colonial salt mines at Maras, then on to Ollanlaytambo to see how the Incas worked stone.
One of the many highlights of this tour is riding the Hiram Bingham deluxe train with its superb dining room cuisine along the Urambamba river to Aguas Caliente to catch the bus up the windy road to historic Machu Pichu. The journey continues with a stay at Sanctuary Lodge, an all-inclusive property right at the door step of the entrance to the ruins. Afternoon of arrival we have a tour of the ruins and then most of the next day is free for exploration of of Machu Pichu, an experience you’ll never forget. This intriguing lost city which dates back to the 15th Century will be an unforgettable experience. You can choose to walk to the Sun Gate which I have done, watch the video here online which I recorded up there, or just wander around this amazing setting, whatever you choose to do, you’ll never forget the experience. Late the next afternoon you’ll board the train to begin your return journey to Cusco to spend a final night at the Monasterio.
On the 26th of August, fly to Quito for 2 nights at the J.W. Marriott. Day tours include a city tour and of course a visit to the centre of the Earth or Latitude 0 – 0 – 0! There’s also time to visit the local market or even buy a Panama Hat as Quito is the home to these facinating hats.
On the 28th we’ll fly to San Cristobal where our mega yatch will be waiting, your home for seven nights to cruise around the Galapagos Islands. Wine and beer is included with dinner on board as is snorkel gear, wetsuits, mask and fins. During the seven night cruise you’ll be stepping off daily for trips to places like Punta Pitt, a tuff formation which serves as a nesting site for many sea birds including all three types of boobies, both Frigate species, gulls, petrels, shearwaters, pelicans and a colony of sea lions. We’ll be snorkeling daily with King Nagel and Sturgeon fish and a multitude of other colourful marine life. We’ll come in contact with history as we confront species for which the great Charles Darwin was closely involved – finches named after the great man himself, indigenous hawks and doves, a unique species of iguana, white tipped sharks, spotted eagle rays and sea turtles – an endless array of life not seen elsewhere in the world.
A visit to Galapagos would not be complete without visiting Santa Cruz Island where we’ll visit ‘Las Primicias’ one of the private farms in the highlands where we’ll encounter the giant tortoises, some of them 140 years old! We’ll also visit the Charles Darwin research station which is now used as a breeding centre. Like the ancient civilisations experiences of the mainland, your journey of the Galapagos will be an indelible memory – unmatched anywhere on our wonderful planet.
The entire journey is an unmatchable experience and ecruising is delighted to offer it for you as part of its unique range of cruise and touring operations around the world.
SOURCE ecruising.travel