Overview
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru with Ecuador’s Amazon
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 Globus Independent tour 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. After your Galápagos expedition, discover 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 on this free-spirited sojourn in South America. Treat yourself to a tour that is exclusively yours with free time, me time, and optional adventures that speak to your independent spirit.
Highlights of Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru with Ecuador’s Amazon
Notes
•Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and Ecuadorian Amazon (only) are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos and Amazon is also provided. •Intra-vacation flights to and within Peru are not included but can be added. •For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. The itinerary in the Amazon is subject to favorable weather conditions and water levels. When conditions are unfavorable, alternative accommodations and excursions will be provided. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and be able to get into/out of small watercrafts such as canoes and small fishing boats.•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 watercrafts 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 one 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 is subject to change.•Further, in the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Galápagos itineraries are subject to change.
Travelers Notes
Special features included in this tour:
- 3-night Amazon eco-lodge experience with activities
- Guided sightseeing in Quito, Lima, and Cusco
- Guided Galápagos Island visits including North Seymour and South Plaza Islands, and Divine Bay
- Excursion to the Highlands of Santa Cruz to view giant tortoises in their natural habitat
- Snorkeling opportunity at Punta Carrión
- Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
- Guided visit to Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, and Puca Pucara ruins
- Guided tour of Sacred Valley with stops in Pisaq and Ollantaytambo
- Scenic round trip train ride through the Andes to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu with second-day entrance included
- Roundtrip internal flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands
Product Group
Independent Galapagos at the Finch Bay Resort & Peru
Independent Tour
Venture further to enjoy the world your way without the group. The experts at Globus put Peace of Mind first in travel planning. We take care of the details with included hotel accommodations, daily breakfasts and select meals, guided sightseeing, and transportation between cities. Explore confidently, knowing your Globus Local Hosts and GlobusGO mobile app provide you with tips and recommendations to personalize your tour and see the world your way.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Price Details US
This vacation includes the following Intra-Vacation Air segments in the vacation price: Quito/Coca; Coca/Quito; Quito/Galápagos; Galápagos/Guayaquil . All other flights are not included in the vacation price but can be purchased. Galápagos cruise price includes Galápagos National Park entrance fee and transit card.
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 9 lunches; 8 three-course dinners
Itineraries
Day 1
QUITO, ECUADOR Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2
QUITO–COCA–AMAZON LODGE • Transfer to the airport and 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)Please note: the itinerary in the Amazon is subject to favorable weather conditions and water levels. When conditions are unfavorable, alternative accommodations and excursions will be provided.
Day 3
AMAZON LODGE • After an early breakfast, journey to a parrot clay lick where 11 different species of parrots, parakeets, and macaws may 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)
Day 4
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)
Day 5
AMAZON LODGE–COCA–QUITO • Depart your Amazon lodge and fly from Coca to Quito today. • Transfer to your hotel where the remainder of your day is at leisure. (B)
Day 6
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)
Day 7
QUITO–BALTRA–NORTH SEYMOUR–SANTA CRUZ • Transfer to the airport and fly to Baltra in the Galápagos. • Upon arrival, transfer to the docks to board your 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)
Day 8
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 for leisure time and perhaps relax on the beach. (B,L,D)
Day 9
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 for leisure time. (B,L,D)
Day 10
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 on foot 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)
Day 11
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)
Day 12
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)INSIDER PICKSThis 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.
Day 13
LIMA–CUSCO • Transfer to the lima airport and 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)
Day 14
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY • Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will 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 Pisaq, 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)
Day 15
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)
Day 16
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 for an evening at leisure. (B)
Day 17
CUSCO–LIMA • Transfer to the airport and fly to Lima today. (B)
Day 18
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Hilton Colon Quito - MET | The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop. | Quito | Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 | Superior First-Class |
| 2 | Sacha Lodge | The lodging at Sacha was carefully designed to offer comfort to the traveler yet preserve the environment and rainforest ambience. Amenities include a restaurant, bar, canopy walk, canopy tower, butterfly house, and laundry services. | Coca | Amazon Rainforest | National Park |
| 3 | Finch Bay Eco Hotel - Finch Bay Room | The Finch Bay Hotel offers a seaside location surrounded by mangroves. Amenities include a bar, lounge, restaurant, outdoor pool, and beachfront access. All rooms offer twin beds, private facilities, and air-conditioning. | Galápagos Islands | Barrio Punta Estrada S/N | First-Class |
| 4 | Hotel Pullman Miraflores | The Pullman Miraflores hotel combins lifestyle and design for business and leisure. Located in the exclusive Miraflores district, near the Pacific Ocean, this hotel is not far from Larcomar shopping center. With over 236 rooms, Plural lounge restaurant, gym, pool and a spectacular Rooftop Bar the Pullman Miraflores offers an amazing place to stay and relax. | Lima | C. Juan Fanning 515 - 525 | Superior First-Class |
| 5 | Casa Andina Premium Cusco | A beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house is located 3 blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas. The hotel is distinguished by its 3 interior patios with wooden balconies. The principal patio, featuring a gurgling stone fountain, is one of Cusco's emblematic colonial courtyards. Amenities include a gourmet restaurant, bar, reading room, room service, gift shop, and laundry service. | Cusco | Plazoleta Limacpampa Chico 473 | First-Class |
| 6 | Novotel Cusco | Novotel Cusco, located in the historic city center of Cusco, is in the perfect spot for discovering the Inca civilization. The hotel is in a 16th century building, and is an ideal starting point for visiting the cathedral and other hotspots of Cusco. Guests can enjoy international and local cuisine in La Cave Restaurant, or on the heated patio covered with a spectacular glass ceiling. The bar serves a wide variety of drinks and snacks, and you'll enjoy modern en suite furnishings with simple lines and restful amenities. | Cusco | San Augustin 239 - Esquina | |
| 7 | Sonesta Posadas del Inca - Sacred Valley - Yucay | Bursting with character, the Sonesta Posadas del Inca hotel is the leader in boutique hotels in the Sacred Valley. Featuring a rustic ambiance with modern comforts, dynamite local cuisine, and friendly service, it makes for a memorable stay in one of the most remarkable places in the world. The colonial-style former monastery is surrounded by views of the Andes and beautiful gardens - a leisurely and soothing escape. | Sacred Valley | Plaza Manco 11 De Yucay 123 | First-Class |
| 8 | Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel | The Sumaq Hotel is located at the foot of the Machu Picchu ruins and boasts an Andean health spa, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and business center. | Machu Picchu | Av Hermanos Ayar Mz 1 Lote 3 | Moderate Deluxe |
