Treasures of South America

On arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel.

Half day tour of Santiago’s cultural historical monuments, artistic districts and panoramic sights.

Transfer to the airport, fly to Guayaquil, the largest and most important port in Ecuador. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Transfer to the airport, fly to Baltra. On arrival board the M/Y Coral I & II for your four-day cruise. With a capacity for 36 and 20 guests respectively, these gorgeous comfortable twin yachts offer a perfect combination of classic beauty and exquisite style. To ensure all passenger have the same experience, the sister yachts sail together.

*Sample itinerary subject to change.

AM – Baltra airport

Departure from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2 ½ hours flight). Passengers are picked up at the airport by our naturalist guides and taken on a ten minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

PM – Highlands – Pit Craters (Santa Cruz)

Dry landing. A 45-minute bus ride will take us to the Santa Cruz highlands, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where we will find a natural reserve with giant tortoises*. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes*; we also visit Pit Craters created from the collapse of surface materials into chamber fissures underground. It’s a great place to spot Vermilion Flycatcher as we walk inside an endemic Scalesia forest.

AM – Egas Port (Santiago)

Wet landing on a beach of black volcanic sand, visited by Darwin in 1835. The first section of the trail is comprised of volcanic ash (eroded tuff) and the other half of partially uneven terrain is comprised of volcanic basaltic rock lounging the shoreline.

The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago’s shores is home to a variety of resident and migrant birds, including the bizarre Yellow-crowned Night Heron and astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside Sally Light-foot Crabs. Colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water pools formed by volcanic rocks are also a highlight.

PM – Bartolome

Dry or wet landing. We discover a fascinating moonscape* formed by different volcanic parasitic cones —lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones —as we hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock*. We also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards and blue-footed boobies*.

Beach time is a great opportunity to snorkel and see (perhaps swim with) Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles and White-tipped Reef Sharks among a great variety of colorful fish. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkelling experiences*; the water here is generally clear, without too much surf and full of marine life.

Due to its geographical location, the lack of vegetation is immediately noticeable. Pioneer plants are observed, so called because they are the first to establish roots on new ground. They include Tiquilia nesiotica (which is endemic to the island) and Chamaesyce (known as sand mat or spurge in English), lava cactus, and Scalesia bushes. Behind the beach we have dunes covered by mangroves.

AM – Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)

Dry landing. We walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingoes can be occasionally found. The trail leads across typical dry zone vegetation* up to Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for endemic land iguanas*, offering lovely views of the anchorage and neighboring islands. The forest is home to mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, Yellow Warblers and Galapagos Doves.

An approximately two hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies*, magnificent and great frigatebirds*, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles and as well as sea lions. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas, and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake.

Rainforest explorations

Morning free to explore the ruins on your own. Afternoon train back to Cuzco.

Half day tour of the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco and its surroundings.

A spectacular Andean Explorer train* journey across the Altiplano to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

*A replacement bus service will run between Cuzco to Puno from May 2017 onward.

Full day tour to the fascinating and unique reed islands of Uros and Taquile Island.

Full day crossing of the magical Lake Titicaca from Puno to La Paz, onboard a catamaran cruise. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Half day city tour of La Paz & the stunning Moon Valley

Transfer to airport for your flight to Buenos Aires via Santa Cruz. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Half day tour of South America’s stylish capital, Buenos Aires, whose architecture and boulevards are influenced by a strong European heritage. Visit the bohemian street market of La Boca, the tango barrio of San Telmo and the famous Recoleta cemetery, home to the resting place of Eva Peron.

Free day to discover this exciting city or go shopping. In the evening, experience the tango in all its glory and sample the succulent local beef with a dinner and show.

Transfer to airport for your flight to Iguazu Falls. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Afternoon tour of the Argentine side of the falls including a small train journey to the impressive Devil’s Throat.

Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic tour of the Brazilian side of the falls, before your flight to Rio. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

Tour and cable car trip to one of the city’s favourite landmarks Sugar Loaf Mountain, the famous granite and quartz peak overlooking the Guanabara bay, for a fantastic view.

Visit to the top of Corcovado Mountain, catching a small train through the Tijuca forest before reaching the top to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Evening samba show and dinner

Morning at leisure. Transfer to the airport, fly to Santiago. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

Flight to Easter Island.  Afternoon tour of Orongo, including the Rano Kao volcano.

Full day tour of the Southern coast of the island including Rano Raraku quarry and Anakena beach.

Day at leisure before flying to Papeete, Tahiti. On arrival transfer to your hotel.

• This route to Tahiti is subject to review as full flight schedules by the airline have not been reintroduced after Covid. In the interim travellers would fly back to Santiago.