Day 1
Friday / 30 September 2011
Adelaide – Sydney
Depart Adelaide with Qantas, arriving into Sydney late afternoon.

Flight:      
QANTAS AIRLINES – QF774
Depart Adelaide Airport at 5.45pm
Arrive Sydney Domestic Airport at 8.05pm
Economy class
Flying time:    1hr 50mins
Non-stop

Overnight at the Mercure Hotel Sydney Airport and have an evening meal together at the hotel and relax.

Day 2
Saturday / 1 October 2011
Sydney – Quito
This morning we check in at Sydney International Airport for our LAN Chile flight to Quito flying via Auckland and Santiago.

Flight:       
LAN CHILE AIRLINES – LA800
Depart Sydney international Airport at 9.55am
Arrive Santiago Airport at 12.10pm
Economy class
Flying time:    14hrs 45mins
Transit stop in Auckland

Flight:       
LAN CHILE AIRLINES – LA1446
Depart Santiago Airport at 2.55pm
Arrive Quito Airport at 8.50pm
Economy class
Flying time:    6hrs 15mins
Transit stop in Guayaquil

On arrival into Quito we will be met and transferred to our hotel. 

Day 3
Sunday / 2 October 2011
Quito - Cotopaxi
After breakfast, our guide will be waiting for us and will take us on our Quito City Tour.  On this tour we will go to the colonial part of Quito, where we can walk through the Main Plaza.  We will see the historical Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Mayor Palace and the Archbishop Palace. We will visit one of the most amazing churches in South America, the La Compañia Church as well as some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries.  After a visit to these monuments of the Colonial History we will drive to Theatrum Restaurant for lunch.

After lunch we will drive through the avenue of volcanoes (Approximately 2 hours drive) to Hacienda El Porvenir the main hacienda of Volcano Land where you can relax or enjoy a walk around the grounds. You will overnight in Hacienda El Porvenir

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4
Monday / 3 October 2011
Cotopaxi - Cotopaxi National Park - Quito
After breakfast we will be taken on a horseback ride visiting the foothills of Rumiñahui Volcano.  Riding side by side with herds of wild horses and bulls we will feel like a traditional cow boy of the Andes.  After lunch in the hacienda, we will drive  to the Cotopaxi National Park to view the amazing glaciers of this volcano.   We return to Quito in the late afternoon.
 
Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 5
Tuesday / 4 October 2011
Quito – Galapagos (Las Bachas - Santa Cruz Island)
This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to the Galapagos Islands. Lunch is normally served on the flight. On arrival at Baltra Airport in the Galapagos you must pay the US$100 arrival tax for entry to Galapagos National Park. This is best done using cash, as using credit cards can be a time consuming process. We are met in the arrival hall of the airport and transferred to the 'San Jose'. Once settled on board, our cruise departs for Las Bachas. The sandy, white beaches on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island are a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle, and marine iguanas are also commonly seen. The rocks provide a great snorkelling experience and are the perfect habitat for the Sally Lightfoot crabs, which are plentiful on the island.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6
Wednesday / 5 October 2011
Galapagos (Rabida Island - Santiago Island)
The volcanic rocks of Rabida are covered with palo santo trees, opuntia cacti and low, scrubby bushes. Sea lions abound on the red sand beach and there is a lagoon inhabited by flamingos. There are also several species of Darwin finches. The shoreline of Puerto Egas on Santiago is an ancient lava flow and the beach is a breeding ground for large numbers of marine iguanas. The beach provides a home to many shore birds including ruddy turnstone and American oystercatcher. Sugarloaf Mountain serves as a magical backdrop to the area and a natural bridge leads to the inlets where endemic fur seals are found on the rough lava shores.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7
Thursday / 6 October 2011
Galapagos (Sullivan Bay - Bartolome Island)
Bartolome is a relatively new island in the chain and traces of its volcanic past can be seen everywhere, as evident by the amazing lunar-like landscape. The Pinnacle Rock is one of the most photographed sites in the Galapagos. Here we can hike to the top of a once-active volcano and enjoy superb views across to Sullivan Bay, on nearby Santiago Island. Later in the day we visit the bay, which will be of great interest to those keen on geology. We see much evidence of a violent volcanic past with pahoehoe lava, ropy lava and gigantic lava tubes seen everywhere.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8
Friday / 7 October 2011
Galapagos (Santa Cruz Island - Puerto Ayora)
Today we visit Santa Cruz, the second largest island in the Galapagos. The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, whilst the island is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. After breakfast we have the opportunity to visit the station, but not before checking out of our cabins as we will be leaving the boat today. Apart from exploring the station and observing the tortoise research and breeding programs, we also head up into the highlands for a total change of scenery. Here it is a lush humid zone containing miconia bushes, scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. We can visit a pair of large pit craters called 'Los Gemelos' (if lucky, we may spot a vermilion flycatcher) and the largest lava tunnels found in the Galapagos. Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any of the other islands and we may even see Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. As you will be leaving the boat this morning, please remember that if you have enjoyed the services provided by your guide and crew, a tip would be very much appreciated by them. As a guideline we recommend each passenger consider US$15 per day for the crew and US$7-10 per day for your guide. You can leave tips in envelopes that are placed in your cabin on this last morning of your cruise. For something a little different, this evening is spent in a comfortable hotel in Puerto Ayora where we can unwind in one of the many small restaurants and bars in this peaceful town.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 9
Saturday / 8 October 2011
Quito
Today we transfer by road and boat back to Baltra Airport for our flight back to Quito. On arrival at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport, we are transferred back to our starting hotel late afternoon for the final night of our Galapagos tour.

Meals: breakfast

Day 10
Sunday / 9 October 2011
Quito
You have a free day to explore Quito.

Meals: breakfast

Day 11
Monday / 10 October 2011
Quito – Amazon (Napo Wildlife Centre)
After breakfast we transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Coca.  This flight takes approximately 35 minutes, flying over the Eastern Andes Mountain Range, crossing the equator and looking into snow capped volcanoes over 5,790 meters above sea level (18,991 feet) to reach the headwaters of the Amazon Basin near the Napo River at only 250 m.a.s.l (820 feet).

At Coca's airport, a representative of Napo Wildlife Centre will meet us and transfer us to the pier where a motorized canoe will be waiting. We will travel on the Napo river for approximately 3 hours to reach a creek where we are then transferred to different dugout canoes. In this small canoe we will travel through the creek and cross the beautiful lagoon of Añangu. We will be supplied a box lunch on route and arrival at the lodge with time to rest before our first activity in this magic jungle.

Meals: breakfast, boxed lunch, dinner

Day 12 - 13
Tuesday - Wednesday/ 11 – 12 October 2011
Amazon (Napo Wildlife Centre)
We will be divided up into two groups, and lead by a local Añangu guide, who is also an official Yasuni Park Ranger & expert on the forest's secrets including medicinal plants and other useful items of the rain forest; and an excellent bilingual naturalist guide with great deal of knowledge in tropical forest biology and birdwatching.

One of the highlights at Napa Wildlife Centre is going out on a very early excursion to reach two of Ecuador's most accessible parrot clay licks. They are located within the lodge territory and can be reached by travelling in a dugout canoe and following the Giant Otter creek downstream. Species include: Mealy, blue headed, yellow crowned parrots, cobalt winged, dusky headed parakeets, orange cheeked parrot, scarlet shoulder parrot let and scarlet macaws. In good weather conditions more than 800 birds can be spotted.

There is a 15 metre tall observation tower on a 13 metre hill. High enough to get great views of possible troops of spider or howler monkeys passing by and immense tropical scenery. From here the avid professional and amateur birdwatcher can spot a great number of species. The area holds over 560 different kinds.

Napo Wildlife Centre has a large lake with two creeks that can be easily explored whilst quietly sitting in a dugout canoe paddled by an expert guide eager to spot and show us the unique wildlife. Thanks to the pristine habitat of the area other large species like woolly monkeys can be found as well as groups of giant otters. Creeks are densely vegetated with large trees overhead and calm flowing waters. No one knows exactly what awaits in a flooded forest with anaconda or a gentle easy moving three toed sloth.

Hikes along a variety of forest types are possible by visiting different trails. One can appreciate the tropical forest richness, discover new plants and colourful or well camouflaged insects. This is the territory where anything is possible – expect the unexpected! The largest mammals such as jaguar, puma, tapir, giant anteater and giant armadillo have been spotted in the area.

We can also be involved in an optional experience where we join the Añangu Kichwa community on their daily activities.  They harvest bananas, coco, manioc, a starchy jungle root, staple food for Amazonian people, maybe helping prepare chicha, a traditional drink based on cooked and fermenting manioc. If you like to fish, try to catch your own in the Amazon river - helped by the locals using their particular techniques.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14
Thursday/ 13 October 2011
Amazon (Napo Wildlife Centre) – Quito - Otavalo
Before our flight back to Quito we will have our last early morning opportunity to enjoy the colourful birds of the rainforest.

When we arrive into Quito our guide will pick us up from the airport and drive us to the north of Quito to a town called Otavalo. On the way we will visit Cuicocha Lake in Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, stopping in a town called Cotacachi which is famous for its leather handicrafts.

Late in the afternoon we will reach Hacienda Pinsaquí where we will be staying the night.

Our accommodation - Hacienda Pinsaquí was constructed as far back as 1790, but has been restored after a disastrous earthquake that shook the region in 1867. The building originally housed a textile workshop, employing nearly one thousand local weavers and spinners. In the late 1800s, the unique creations of these workers became internationally renowned, when the "bayetas", a special fabric typical of Pinsaquí, arrived at the World's Fair in Chicago.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 15
Friday/ 14 October 2011
Otavalo – Fabians Farm – Lima
Early in the morning we will visit an animal market where the native people offer and buy their animals, here it is possible to find small animals like guinea pig or  chicken and larger ones like cows and horses. After this fantastic experience you will arrive at the Otavalo market, also known as the Ponchos market.  This market is considered the most important indigenous market of South America; here we can find different and colourful handicrafts like rugs, tapestries, clothes jewellery and much more. 

After the markets we travel to Fabian’s farm where a delicious typical lunch will be waiting for us.  In the afternoon we will have the opportunity to walk around Fabian’s farm and learn about the dry forest where you can see many flora including medicinal plants, over 42 different species of birds including peregrine falcons, hummingbirds and giant sparrows, and 10 types of amphibians and reptiles. 

In the afternoon we will return to Quito to catch our next flight to Lima.

Flight:       
LAN CHILE AIRLINES – LA2581
Depart Quito Airport at 8.40pm
Arrive Lima Airport at 10.55pm
Economy class
Flying time:    2hrs 15mins
Non-Stop

When we arrive into Lima we will be transferred to our hotel where we will be staying for one night.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 16
Saturday/ 15 October 2011
Lima - Cusco
After breakfast we will be picked up and taken to Lima Airport for our flight to Cusco.

Flight:       
LAN PERU AIRLINES – LP27
Depart Lima Airport at 9.05am
Arrive Cuzco Airport at 10.20am
Economy class
Flying time:    1hr 15mins
Non-Stop

When we arrive into Cusco Airport we are transferred to our hotel. This afternoon we take an afternoon walking tour to explore this fascinating city. Please remember to walk slowly and take it reasonably easy upon arrival, as you will no doubt feel the effects of altitude as we have travelled from sea level up to 3350 metres. Cusco is a favourite destination of many visitors to Peru. Its main sites radiate outwards from the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the 17th century Baroque cathedral. It was in this very plaza that the Spanish conquistadors put to death the last Inca king, Tupac Amaru I. As we wander the streets and side alleys of the city we witness the perfect tapering Inca stonework that provided the foundations for many of Cusco’s colonial and modern buildings. Our comprehensive sightseeing tour of the city’s main sights includes the cathedral and Koricancha Temple. We then take to the surrounding hills and visit the impressive ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman, where massive stone blocks that form the walls of this site give us an awesome picture of how highly developed Inca engineering was. In our free time, it is also possible to visit the Inca Museum, Religious Art Museum, Church of San Blas and Santa Catalina Museum.

Meals: breakfast

Day 17
Sunday / 16 October 2011
Cusco- Sacred Valley
The Sacred Valley, located between the towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, was greatly treasured because of its climate, fertile land and the presence of the Urubamba (Sacred) River. Today we still see evidence of the Inca's engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams on the Urubamba River, imposing sets of terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth). On our full day tour of the Sacred Valley we visit the Awana Kancha tourist centre where we see llama, alpaca, vicuna and guanaco all in the one place, the ruins at Qenko, the colourful market town of Pisac and the towering Inca citadel at Ollantaytambo. Built on a steep mountainside this grand citadel served as both a temple and fortress. A walk up to the top is rewarded by fine views over the village and out further into the valley.

Meals: breakfast

Day 18
Monday / 17 October 2011
Machu Picchu
We board an early morning train to the town of Aguas Calientes and take a bus up the steep, zigzagging road to the impressive Lost City of the Incas - Machu Picchu. Built around 1450 the city was deserted less than a century later following the Spanish invasion and ‘lost’ for hundreds of years before it was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. The architecture of Machu Picchu is quite extraordinary, with the mortar-free design particularly earthquake resistant and the stones so precisely cut that to this day not even a knife fits between them. We tour the site with our guide and then have some free time to explore by ourselves, before taking the bus down to the small town of Aguas Calientes.

Meals: breakfast

Day 19
Tuesday / 18 October 2011
Cusco
There are some small shops and restaurants in the town where we can while the time away. Alternatively you may choose to relax in the hot thermal baths located on the edge of town. In the late afternoon we take the train back to Cusco.

Meals: breakfast

Day 20
Wednesday / 19 October 2011
Cusco to Santiago
This morning we are taken back to Cusco Airport for our flight to Santiago.

Flight:       
LAN PERU AIRLINES – LP115
Depart Cuzco Airport at 9.05am
Arrive Lima Airport at 10.20am
Economy class
Flying time:    1hr 15mins
Non-Stop

Flight:       
LAN PERU AIRLINES – LP5637
Depart Lima Airport at 12.30pm
Arrive Santiago Airport at 4.55pm
Economy class
Flying time:    3hrs 25mins
Non-Stop

Upon arrival in Santiago you will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. We have the rest of the day free.

This evening we will have our final farewell dinner at a local Chilean restaurant.

Meals: breakfast, lunch on flight

Day 21
Thursday / 20 October 2011
Santiago
This morning we drive south from the city to the Concha y Toro winery located in Pirque, in Maipo Canyon. Founded in 1883, this is one of Chile’s most famous vineyards. The cellars, built with materials dating back to the 18th century, are situated six metres underground to maintain the ideal temperature needed for fine wines. We stroll around this beautiful estate before moving to the cellars, where some of the different stages involved in the local winemaking process are explained. And, finally, we have the opportunity to taste some of the wines that have made this place so famous! Returning to the city we start our exploration  of the Chilean capital. This city has experienced a turbulent history that has included native wars, floods and earthquakes. A walking tour takes us to many of the outstanding attractions in the city centre before we drive through the main avenues of the old districts, across the Bohemian neighbourhood of Bellavista and up San Cristobal Hill for a magnificent panoramic view of the city and the Andes Mountain range. Then we visit the modern parts of Santiago to see elegant residential neighbourhoods, as well as shopping and financial districts. The tour ends at the artisan village of Los Graneros del Alba, where the craftsmen can be seen at work. Here, we also have time to walk around or do some shopping.  This Evening you will be transferred to the airport for our flight home.
       
Flight:       
LAN AIRLINES – LA801
Depart Santiago Airport at 11.10pm
Arrive Sydney International Airport at 7.30am (22 Oct)
Economy class
Flying time:    16hrs 50mins
Transit Stop in Auckland

Meals: breakfast

Day 22
Friday / 21 October 2011
Travelling Day
Because of the time difference Friday will be a travelling day.

Day 23
Saturday / 22 October 2011
Sydney –Adelaide
After our long flight we arrive into Sydney at 7.30am.  After going through customs we will board our Qantas flight going to Adelaide.

Flight:       
QANTAS AIRLINES – QF741
Depart Sydney Domestic Airport at 9.45am
Arrive Adelaide Airport at 11.25am
Economy class
Flying time:    2hrs 10mins
Non-stop