Peru and Chile - Galápagos Islands and Inca Mysteries
About Valparaíso
- Experience the wondrous Galápagos Islands, home to Darwin’s theory of evolution
- Discover fascinating archaeological sites such as Chan-Chan and the Nazca Lines
- Explore natural and cultural wonders
- Enjoy a combination of sea and land adventures
- Hurtigruten Expedition Cruise in cabin grade of your choice
- Two overnights in Quito including breakfast and dinner on day 2 before the cruise
- Three overnights on Santa Cruz Island/Galápagos including full board
- Overnight in Lima, including half board
- Coach-class flights Quito-Baltra, Baltra-Lima (via Guayaquil)
- All transfers, excursions and meals as described, including English-speaking guide
- Galápagos National Park entrance fee
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR AN ADVENTURE
- A rich program of included activities on all voyages designed to immerse you in the destinations you visit, including onshore exploration with the expedition team
- Professional English-speaking expedition team- an international hand-picked team of highly educated experts from various academic fields with profound knowledge of the region we sail in
- Complimentary wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Loan of boots, trekking poles, and equipment needed for optional and included activities
ENGAGING ONBOARD ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION
- In-depth lectures on science, history, biology, geography, geology or culture that provide context to your voyage and help you understand the destinations you will experience
- Explorer Science program, with educational and Citizen Science activities that let you learn about the sights you’ll see while contributing to research
- Introduction photo lecture, camera adjustment and tips & tricks, photo and film footage from the voyage shared in an Expedition Logbook
- Casual opportunities to engage with the expedition team and other guests, including a welcome event, daily gatherings to recap the day and prepare for the day to come
- Opportunities to dine and interact with the expedition team and officers
- Destination-focused onboard library
- Port presentations providing destination insight
- A farewell event
PREMIUM ONBOARD COMFORT
- All meals including beverages (beer and wine, sodas and mineral water in all ship restaurants)
- Coffee and tea included throughout the day
- Early riser and afternoon treat offered in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Fredheim restaurantmeals included
- A la carte restaurant (only for suite guests)
- Gym, hot tubs and panoramic sauna
- Rejuvenating Wellness Center with separate treatment rooms, infinity pool, outdoor gym, running track
- Free Wi-Fi on board for all guests. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
- No gratuities expected
- International flights
- Optional shore excursions with our local partners
- Travel insurance
- Luggage handling
The land-based tour to Galapagos Islands involves long stretches of active travel, walking over uneven terrain, and getting in/out of boats, so the physical condition of participants should be able to manage these activities and a climate that varies from high altitude cool to tropical weather.
Hurtigruten offers unique expedition cruises to some of the most remote and pristine waters of the world. As with all expeditions, nature prevails. Weather, ice and sea conditions set the final framework for all Hurtigruten operations. Safety and unparalleled guest experiences are at all times our top priorities. All our indicative itineraries are continuously evaluated for adaptions, whether this is due to constraints that the elements unexpectedly present – or exciting possibilities nature and wildlife offer. That is why we call it an expedition.Itinerary
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UNESCO Site and Ancient History - Quito, Ecuador - Hotel
Individual arrival at the Ecuadoran capital of Quito.
Thanks to the city’s preservation of its diverse cultural past, UNESCO declared Quito the first of its World Heritage sites in 1978. The city is beautifully situated in an Andean valley at 9,350 ft, making it the second-highest capital city in the world. Take a look around this marvellous city before overnighting at a centrally located hotel.
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Explore Quito and Surroundings - Quito, Ecuador - Hotel
After breakfast, we drive north to the Equator and visit the Inti Ñan Museum. Afterwards, we ascend Teleférico – one of Quito’s most popular attractions, offering spectacular and easily accessible views of the city. The ride lasts only 10 minutes but takes you to an altitude of 13,300 ft. At the top, the lookout offers the visitor incredible views of Quito, the surrounding valleys and snow-covered volcanoes (along with coffee, snacks, and oxygen for the short of breath).
Return to the city to enjoy lunch in Quito´s charming colonial quarter. The afternoon's sightseeing reveals some of the reasons why Ecuador's capital earned its honor as UNESCO´s first World Heritage site. Dinner will be served at the hotel before an overnight stay.
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Glorious Galápagos Islands - Galápagos Islands - Baltra/Santa Cruz
After breakfast, we depart the hotel and drive to Quito Airport for our flight to the Galápagos Islands (via Guayaquil).
Upon arrival at Baltra´s airport, we meet the local representative and board a bus for the short transfer to Itabaca Channel, which separates Baltra Island from Santa Cruz Island. Here, we board a small ferry that crosses the azure waters of the channel to Santa Cruz, a journey that takes about five minutes.
On the other side, we travel through a rural agricultural area surrounded by wild landscapes and many different species of flora and fauna. We may well spot the finches that are famous for being the basis of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
See the famous Galápagos land tortoises in their natural environment and learn how private ranches help protect these special creatures and their habitat. Tortoises of all different ages and sizes gather here: small young ones with shining carapaces, and older ones with weathered and worn shells. Lunch will be served in the highlands.
The well-known Lava Tunnels are another amazing experience. Formed by lava flows from the volcanoes, they range from the highlands down to the sea. Join an amazing half-hour hike through one of the tunnels to where it gets too small to pass.
Afterwards, we continue to our hotel in the town of Puerto Ayora. Once settled, we walk to the nearby Charles Darwin Research Station, which hosts educational museums on both the history and development of the Galápagos Islands, and protection of their natural heritage. Native giant land tortoises can also be observed. Many different tortoise species exist in the Galápagos and the station is the only place where most of the species reside at one site.
The afternoon is at your leisure to explore small yet picturesque Puerto Ayora and its many shops with local arts and crafts. We later enjoy dinner at the hotel´s cozy restaurant.
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Galápagos Island Hopping - Galápagos Islands - Santa Cruz
Enjoy breakfast at hotel. We have two full days to tour one of the nearby, uninhabited islands by boat.
Please note that only one of the four islands listed below will be visited per day:
Bartolomé Island, famous for Pinnacle Rock and Galápagos penguins; South Plaza Island, home to a colony of land iguanas; Santa Fe Island, known for having the islands´ most sea beautiful coves; or North Seymour Island, considered a microcosm of the entire archipelago.
The visits are regulated by the Galápagos National Park and we are notified of permission 30 days prior to the visit. Regardless of the islands we visit, lunch is served on board the vessel during the tour.
Later, we have dinner at the hotel and overnight.
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Galápagos to Colonial Lima - Baltra Island / Lima - Hotel
After breakfast at hotel, we transfer to Baltra airport for the flight to mainland Ecuador. En route to the airport, we stop at 'The Twins' or 'Los Gemelos' - two impressive volcanic depressions in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
A box lunch is served on the flight from Baltra Island to Lima. At the airport in Lima, we meet our local representative who transfers you to your hotel in the city for dinner and overnight stay.
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Lima – UNESCO World Heritage - Callao - Embarkation
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
After checkout, we transfer to the ship taking in a 'Half-day Lima Highlights Tour', including a visit to the city´s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour´s highlights include Casa Aliaga, a nearly 500-year old mansion built for one of Pizarro’s lieutenants, and Santo Domingo Convent, the best-preserved colonial building in all of Lima. The tour finishes at the quayside in Callao, where MS Roald Amundsen stands ready to continue the expedition at sea.
Included activity:
Scenic city tour of Lima (4 hrs)
Discover the fascinating highlights of the Peruvian capital in a specially designed panorama bus that allows you to get a great view of what makes Lima so special. You will be picked up by a bus and taken on a ride to see the landmarks of the city and get numerous chances to take memorable pictures while a knowledgeable guide will tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful place.
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The Nazca Lines - Paracas - Full Day
Paracas is the gateway to the quiet colonial town of Pisco and its fertile coastal valley with the famous and mysterious Nazca lines and geoglyphs. These lines were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and 500 A.D.
Included activity:
Ballestas Islands (3 hrs)
Explore one of this region's most beautiful natural attractions, the Ballestas Islands, often referred to as ‘Peru's Galapagos’, with its volcanic scenery and diverse wildlife. Spot sea birds and mammals on the boat trip and enjoy photogenic landscapes on the islands. Enjoy some free time to explore and perhaps see seals, sea lions, and even penguins!
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At your Leisure - At sea
Days at sea mean you can join the expedition team for interesting lectures, learn the basics of expedition photography, and spend time out on deck enjoying the fresh salt air as you scout for wildlife. Of course, there’s also plenty of time to chat with fellow explorers.
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Adventure and Archaeology - Arica, Chile - Full Day
Arica is blessed with a warm climate all year round, and we will spend a full day here. Explore the city, walk up the `El Morro´ cliff to get a panoramic view, see the beaches or visit the archaeological sites with some of the world's oldest known mummies.
Included activity:
Atacama Coastal Walk (3 hrs 30)
Depart the pier and head towards the beach resorts of El Laucho and La Lisera. At El Morro de Arica vista, we enjoy a panoramic view of the city, port and ocean. We then proceed south along the coastal road to Corazones/Anzata, where we walk up sandy hills that lead us to Puntilla. Here we observe sea lions and many local birds at close range. After relaxing, taking pictures and breathing the ocean air, we walk back to the buses and return to the pier.
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Sailing and Learning - At sea
Enjoy two peaceful days at sea as we make our way south to Valparaíso. The expedition team recaps our voyage and continues their lecture program.
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Seaside Living - La Serena, Chile
La Serena is one of the oldest cities in Chile. The town is overflowing with colorful gardens and beautiful churches. In the Archaeological Museum, you can learn about the ancient Diaguita culture that thrived in this province before the Incan conquest.
Included activity:
Coquimbo and La Serena City Tour (4 hrs 15)
Join us on a city tour of La Serena and the Coquimbo region. Our first stop is La Serena lighthouse for sweeping panoramic views. We then visit La Serena´s main plaza, where the city was founded in 1544. We also drive to La Herradura Bay, where legends say pirates buried a treasure. Before returning to the ship, we visit La Recova Market featuring handicrafts like lapis lazuli (Chile's famous semi-precious blue stone) and alpaca wool.
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The `Jewel of the Pacific´ - Valparaíso, Chile - Disembarkation
La Serena is one of the oldest cities in Chile. The town is overflowing with colorful gardens and beautiful churches. In the Archaeological Museum, you can learn about the ancient Diaguita culture that thrived in this province before the Incan conquest.
