August
Wednesday 22 Auckland – Santiago (Chile) D
Mid afternoon departure from Auckland, arriving in Santiago (Chile) midday (same day) after crossing the dateline. Welcome Dinner tonight.
Thursday 23 Santiago B L
Morning sightseeing then lunch at a local restaurant.
Friday 24 Santiago – Iquique B D
Midday flight into the beach city of Iquique arriving mid afternoon.
Dinner at hotel
Saturday 25 Iquique – Pintados – Iquique B L
Departing by train from Iquique, experience the Atacama Desert , the story of Chilean saltpetre’s prosperous past from the 1920s and learn about the history of life in one of the driest places on earth. Return to Iquique by private bus via the painted Geoglyphs at the World Heritage region of Pozo Almonte.
Sunday 26 Iquique – Arequipa (Peru) B
Depart on a late morning flight to the colonial town of Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city situated 2335m (7600ft) in the Andes mountains. Dinner at hotel.
Monday 27 Arequipa B
Free time to walk around the attractive White City of Arequipa, then enjoy an afternoon city tour of Arequipa including the Santa Catalina convent.
Tuesday 28 Arequipa – Cuzco – Sacred Valley B D
An early flight this morning to Cuzco. On arrival, travel by coach over the mountain road to Pisac, a beautiful town famous for its typical handicraft market. Continue this afternoon to your accommodation in the Sacred Valley for an overnight stay.
Wednesday 29 Sacred Valley – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu B D
A short drive today to Ollantaytambo railway station for our train ride down the spectacular Urubamba River Valley. Detrain at Aguas Calientes and bus up the near vertical hillside for a guided tour of Machu Picchu.
Thursday 30 Machu Picchu - Cusco B
Opportunity for morning ruins visit at sunrise (own expense) before catching the train and bus back to Cusco.
Friday 31 Ollantaytambo – Cusco B D
This afternoon enjoy a walking tour of the cobbled streets of Cusco. Tonight enjoy dinner and a local Folk Show.
SEPTEMBER
Saturday 01 Cuzco – Iquitos B
This morning enjoy a city tour of this amazing colonial city built on the foundations of the Inca palaces.
A mid afternoon flight will take you to Iquitos - different in every way to the rest of our visits in Peru and settle in for our Amazon River experience.
Sunday 02 Iquitos – MV Ayapua B L D
Leave Iquitos by the new road to Nauta – 100km north, where we board the historic former rubber boom vessel ‘MV Ayapua’ – now fully restored. Late afternoon small boat excursion to view wildlife at Nauta Caño Reserve.
Monday 03 MV Ayapua B L D
We arrive mid morning at the mouth of the Samiria River and travel up the river with plenty of time for bird watching and wildlife observations.
Tuesday 04 MV Ayapua B L D
Thursday 06
Activities these days to include: Small boat excursions for river dolphin, macaw, monkey and other wildlife observation, rainforest hikes in search of wildlife, piranha fishing, night time caiman observation and night hikes in the forest. Lots of excellent photo opportunities.
Friday 07 MV Ayapua B L D
This morning visit a local Cocama indigenous village. In the afternoon, return back up river to Nauta.
Saturday 08 Iquitos B D
Disembark MV Ayapua, returning by road to Iquitos for an overnight stay. An afternoon Iquitos city and market tour will include the Artisan Market in San Juan and the Belen Market. Dinner at one of Ed’s favourite restaurants.
Sunday 09 Iquitos – Quito (Ecuador) B D
An early flight this morning via Lima in Peru to Quito, arriving mid afternoon for a three night stay. Dinner at the hotel tonight.
Monday 10 Quito B L
This morning enjoy a city tour of Quito, visiting the old colonial city with many narrow cobbled streets. Overlooking the old city is ‘ El Panecillo’ - the huge statue of the Virgin of Quito at the highest viewing point in the city. This afternoon you will be taken to ‘Mitad del Mundo’ - the Equator monument in north Quito which is exactly on the meridian itself.
Tuesday 11 Quito – Otavalo – Quito B L
Today you will drive approximately two hours to the town of Otavalo, famous for its large handicrafts market, textiles, ponchos, hammocks and Indian jewellery. Return mid afternoon by coach to Quito.
Wednesday 12 Quito – Rio Bamba B D
Travel by coach south from the capital along the avenue of the volcanoes past the towns of Latacunga, Ambato,to arrive at Rio Bamba for an overnight stay. Dinner included.
Thursday 13 Rio Bamba – Quito B L
Leave Rio Bamba travelling south by bus to Alausi and take the famous train, the Devil’s Nose, from Alausi to Bucauy, then return by road (via Rio Bamba to collect bags and lunch) to Quito.
Friday 14 Quito – Lima – Paracas (Peru) B D
Morning flight to Lima. On arrival, travel by road south to Paracas in preparation for a remarkable wildlife bonanza tomorrow. Pisco Sour the Peruvian national drink is good to try here. Dinner included
Saturday 15 Paracas – Ballestas Islands – Paracas B L
After breakfast board local boats for the two hour boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, Peru’s largest coastal wildlife sanctuary. Home to pelicans, boobies, cormorants, and gulls, along with colonies of sea lions. Enjoy lunch in back in Paracas.
Sunday 16 Paracas – Lima B
Return to Lima by road, where we settle into our hotel in the Miraflores area for a two night stay.
Monday 17 Lima B D
Morning half day city sightseeing.
Farewell Dinner tonight at local restaurant.
Tuesday 18 Lima – Santiago – Auckland B
This morning transfer to the airport for your early afternoon flight to Santiago (Chile), then onward to New Zealand.
Cross the International Date-Line
Thursday 20 Auckland
Very early arrival into Auckland