Natural Habitat Adventures has introduced a new 15-day expedition that pairs Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands with Peru’s Machu Picchu.
“Galapagos & Machu Picchu: Icons of Nature & Culture” combines two of Natural Habitat Adventure’s most popular trips into a single itinerary, where a week of live-aboard Galapagos exploration by private-chartered yacht is followed by a land-based journey to Machu Picchu and the Inca ruins of the Sacred Valley.
The extensive itinerary adds time for more exploration, and provides guests with a professional naturalist Expedition Leader that will lead them from start to finish on a dive into the natural and cultural history of these diverse locations.
The trip begins in Quito with a transfer to Ecuador’s Andean Highlands. During a two-night stay at Hacienda Zuleta, guests are immersed in 400 years of colonial history, enjoying locally grown cuisine from the estate as they look for rare bears, pumas, condors, and owls in habitat protected as part of the estate’s conservation mission.
After a flight to the Galapagos, guests explore the islands aboard the Ocean Spray, a luxury motor catamaran that accommodates 16 passengers, accompanied by two Expedition Leaders. Travelers split into smaller groups for daily snorkeling, panga excursions and walks among iguanas and boobies.
Then, on the final leg of the trip, travelers fly to Cusco for a five-day discovery of ancient Inca civilization. Accommodations include Palacio del Inka in Cusco, the Relais & Chateaux Hotel Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, set among orchid gardens along the Urubamba River.
Four departures of 16 travelers each are offered in 2018: March 29–April 12, June 7–21, August 2–16 and November 8–22. The per-person double rate is $12,995, and includes activities, accommodations, land transportation, round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, airport transfers, and more.
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