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> Ecuador, Galapagos & Peru
15 days, October 6, 2010

Ecuador is the smallest country in the Andes Mountains and one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in South America. Thanks to the diversity of the native cultures, the well-kept colonial architecture, the volcanic scenery and the lush forests, this country has more points of interest within its borders than those of a country twice its size. Ecuador ranks as one of the richest countries in the world when it comes to its variety of animals and flora. Ecuador is considered one of the safest and most comfortable countries for travelers. Ecuador's tropical climate allows for tourism any time of the year, and the fact that it lies on the equator keeps the weather stable all year long. The weather in Ecuador is fickle and has a tendency for extremes. The only sure thing that can be said about the weather in Ecuador is that it is totally unexpected, and it's not rare to experience all 4 seasons in one day. Never the less, and despite all this, the fact that Ecuador is located on the equator, gives one the opportunity to tour Ecuador on most days of the year, and anywhere in the country: the Andes, the rain forests, the beaches and the Galapagos.

Exotic Peru is rich in some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Latin America. The mountains are home to millions of Indians who still speak the ancient Cachua language and maintain their traditional lifestyle. The green Amazon basin which spreads over half the area of Peru is one of the ten most populated wildlife regions in the world the rain forests are so full of different types of animals and birds that trying to count them all will make your head spin. During this tour we'll visit Cusco - capital of the Inca kingdom; Machu Picchu the mysterious city high above the jungle and the most popular tourist site in Peru; and Lima, the Peruvian capital. These all combine to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will excite all your senses.

Full Itinerary

Day 1, Wednesday October 6, 2010 Quito

Arrival to Quito, Ecuador. Meeting, dinner and orientation at the hotel. Quito is without a doubt the prettiest city in South America. It's located at 2850 meters above sea level, 22 Kilometers from the equator, and enjoys a great spring climate and a magnificent view all around. The scenery is ruled by mountains and a number of snowy volcanoes that can be seen from a distance. The city itself lies at the feet of Mt. Roca Pichincha, which rises to a lofty 4,700 meters. Architecturally, Quito holds vast colonial treasures, and construction in the modern city is under strict supervision ever since 1978, when UNESCO placed Quito on the list of World Heritage Sites. After Arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 2, Thursday October 7, 2010 Quito

The cloud forest area that is located just an hour from the center of Quito is a tropical forest with unique vegetation, rivers, and more. The area holds over 600 species of birds and other animals and insects. There're also some trout breeding farms and tilapia, as well as countless kinds of tropical fruits, some specific to the area, some specific to Ecuador, and in general to the climate in South America. We visit the Mindo bird reserve, walk among butterflies and orchids, and the brave among us can zip-slide above the cloud forest.

Day 3, Friday October 8, 2010 Quito

After breakfast we'll stroll through the only capital in the world that is located near an active volcano. There's constant activity going on in Pichincha, which is located about 21 kilometers from the city. The largest eruption occurred in 1660, when about 25 centimeters of dust covered the city. The last eruption took place on November 5th, 1999, when large amounts of ashes were scattered over the city. We'll ascend to the summit of Mount Pichincha for an amazing view of the city below. We'll then continue to tour the old city, including the well-preserved colonial-era La Ronda Boulevard. We'll visit the Middle-of-the-World monument, through which the equator passes. The museum includes Ecuador's Indian traditions, authentic structures, totem poles and sculptures, as well as scientific explanations for the strange sun effects and gravity in this area. After our tour we'll return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat, which we'll enjoy with the local Jewish community.

Day 4 Shabbat October 9, 2010 Quito

We'll spend Shabbat with the Jewish community of Ecuador. After services and Shabbat lunch, we'll take a walking tour of the area near the hotel. In the evening we'll go out for some nighttime activity.

Day 5-9 Sunday – Thursday October 10-14, 2010 Quito – Galapagos Islands – Lima

Today we fly out to the Galapagos Islands for a fascinating cruise around the Islands. This is a volcanic group of Islands that rose from the ocean approx 4-10 million years ago. Man discovered the islands in the year 1535, and just like any other place, started destroying his surroundings. The animals, that weren't yet familiar with humans, didn't run away, and the sailors massacred them mercilessly, both for food and for pleasure. In addition, they also unleashed goats, cats and dogs that destroyed the area. The sailors took the giant tortoises back with them on the ships as a supply of fresh meat. Later they butchered the tortoises too for their fat. For these reasons and others, dozens of unique species became extinct. We'll take a shuttle across Itabaka to Charles Darwin station on Santa Cruz Island, an international research station that also serves as a breeding farm for different animals, especially the giant tortoises. During the cruise we visit Schwartz point on Espinola Island, Florana Island, and Santa Cruz Island. 5 days/4 nights in First Class Galapagos Cruise Boat GALAPAGOS LEGEND (According to ecoregulations in the area, the first night will be in a Hotel)

Cruise Itinerary:
SUNDAY to THURSDAY
Sunday a.m. Baltra Airport / p.m. Santa Cruz Island(Overnight in Hotel)
Monday a.m. Bachas Beach / p.m. North Seymour
Tuesday a.m. Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz) / p.m. Cormorant Point (Floreana)
Wednesday a.m. Suarez Point (Española) / p.m. Interpretation Center (San Cristóbal)
Thursday a.m. Carrion Point / Baltra Airport

At the end of the cruise we'll fly to Lima, capital of Peru. Transfer to our hotel.

Day 10 Friday October 15, 2010 Lima

After breakfast we'll depart for a guided tour of the city. Plaza de Major, Plaza San Martin, The Museum of the inquisition and the Gold Museum, The Armaments Museum and the pedestrian mall of Jiron de la Union. We'll visit Yitzchak Rabin Park, the Indian Market, the Catacombs at the Franciscan Church, and more. In the late afternoon we'll return to the Hotel to prepare for Shabbat, Shabbat services and Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Day 11 Shabbat October 16, 2010 Lima

After Shabbat services and lunch we' ll take a walking tour of the area near the hotel.

Day 12 Sunday October 17, 2010 Lima – Cusco –Urubamba Valley

Today we'll fly to Cusco, oftentimes called the “Katmandu of Peru” due to its attraction of so many backpackers and hikers from all over the world. Cusco, population 350,000 is located at an elevation of 3,326m above sea level and is considered the capital of the Andes Mountains. We'll continue to Urubamba Valley, sacred to the Inca Indians. We'll visit a llama farm at Awana Kancha as well as the Indian market at Pisac. We'll spend the night at a special hotel in nature.

Day 13, Monday October 18, 2010 Urubamba Valley – Machu Picchu - Urubamba Valley

Today is an exciting day and the highlight of the tour. We'll travel by special train as we climb the heights through amazing scenery until we arrive to Machu Picchu – the lost city abandoned by the Inca, and later discovered by Spanish conquerors. This is one of the most mysterious, baffling and exciting sites in the entire world. It's also one of very few Inca cities that has remained almost completely intact and was not destroyed by the Spanish conquerors. According to legend, Machu Picchu (“The Ancient Peak”) was considered a sacred site from time immemorial. The city was only discovered in 1911 by the explorer Hiram Bingham. In the evening, we'll return to our hotel in nature.

Day 14, Tuesday October 19, 2010 Urubamba Valley – Cusco

We'll start the day with a memorable visit to an Indian village called Ollantaytambo. From there we'll continue to El Descanso to see how the Peruvian national drink – Chicha – is brewed, and we'll get to taste some of it too! As much as time permits, we'll head for nearby ruins of Kenko, and from there to Tambomachay, Puca Pucara and Sacsayhuaman. Afterwards we'll head back to Cusco .

Day 15, Wednesday October 20, 2010 Cusco - Lima – Home Gateway

After breakfast and a summation discussion, we'll fly from Cusco to Lima's international Airport, from where we'll depart to our home gateways.

Start date End date Days Price Single supplement Comments
06/10/2010 20/10/2010 15 days $5450 $750  

Important:

  • There may be changes to the schedule and hotel reservations dependent upon internal flights. We will make every effort to visit every location mentioned.

Tour Price Includes:

  • Cruise
  • Domestic Flights
  • First tourist class hotels or the best available locally
  • Domestic Airport and security taxes
  • Comfortable air-conditioned touring coach for travelling
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • and supplies for making sandwiches for lunch
  • Professional experienced Shai Bar Ilan guide
  • Local English-speaking Guide as required
  • Entrance to all sites mentioned in the tour plan

Tour Price does not include:
  • Upgrade to suites on board the ship
  • International Flights
  • Tax at Quito airport (approx $40 per person)
  • Tips for local service providers US$130 per person
  • Travel and baggage Insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Evening entertainment that are not included in the tour plan
  • Changes in air fares due to increases in fuel airport tax and security tax surcharges
  • Tip for our tour guide (Recommended: $3 per person per day)

Deposit, Cancellation Fees & Policy:
A $500 USD Deposit per person must be received at the time of booking in order to confirm your reservation. Payment in full is due 90 days before departure. A minimum number of participants are required to operate tour dates. If a minimum number has not been reached prior to tour departure and the tour is cancelled you will receive a FULL refund.

  • 90 days before departure bookings are refundable less a $100 administration fee
  • 60-90 days prior to departure: $500 + $100 per passenger
  • 30-60 days prior to departure: $1,000 + $100 per passenger
  • Less than 30 working days prior to departure: 100% of total - no refund
  • We strongly recommend purchasing Travel Insurance.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance encompassing both cancellation and medical insurance is very important and we can not stress that enough. We strongly recommend that our clients are adequately insured when travelling. It is crucial to purchase the travel insurance within 14 days from the 1st payment that you make for this trip (flights/cruise/tour etc). Your payment is made directly to the insurance company.

We highly recommend the 'cancel for any reason' upgrade option.

Our preferred policies are Travel Safe (USA & Canadian residents), Travel Select (USA residents) and Global Trip Protection Elite (All other Nationalities).

For an obligation free quote and further details email Yonah insurance@eddiestravel.com