South American Vacation 2012: Boston to Miami (Travel Day)

Friday, August 3, 2012

Boston to Miami (Travel Day)

After months of anticipation and planning we are finally en route to South America for our dream of a lifetime trip! We were fortunate enough to have our good friends Ginny and Wes volunteer to drive us into Logan for our flight. Thank You again Ginny and Wes. And to Kaia (I think I spelled it right ) thanks for the great hugs!

We booked our flights on AA using our air miles and were pleasantly surprised to be able to secure two seats in First Class. What a deal. Warm wash towel, great meal and not only warm nuts but a fresh from the oven chocolate chip cookie!!!! The seats were comfy and if it wasn’t so very expensive to fly first class it would be our choice of travel.

The flight was quite turbulent especially descending into Miami. There was a thunder and lightening storm going on and when I looked out the window a lightening blot exploded right by the plane. A little too close for comfort. Once on the ground we had to sit in the plane holding area for twenty minutes before we could get to our gate. I guess there was a lot of traffic so it was slow moving just like on route 24. LOL. Another benefit to flying first class is that our bags were also marked priority so they were the first on the baggage belt.. Yeah!!!

We booked at the Miami Hilton ( LINK Hilton Hotel) for the night and we were provided with one of their newly renovated rooms – very nice.Kelly and Patrick will be meeting us at the Hilton after 7 PM. Very much looking forward to their arrival.

The grounds of the hotel were very nice.

We walked out to the gazebo on the peninsula and enjoyed the breeze.

It is not as humid here as it was in Massachusetts. Go figure.

Kelly’s plane arrived on time and they were at the hotel by 7:30 pm. It was great to see them both again.

We had dinner in the Café at the hotel and enjoyed the food and company. Kelly and Patrick had a really long travel day and none of us got a good night sleep on Thursday so we headed back to our rooms and were sacked out by 10PM.

Another travel day scheduled for Saturday. Our flight to Ecuador leaves at 4:05 PM. and our journey begins!!!!.

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DETAILED ITINERARY

Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.

Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock.

Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.

DAY 1 (Sat, Aug 04, 2012): Quito.

Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Quito.

DAY 2 (Sun, Aug 05, 2012): City Tour of Quito.

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city. Overnight in Quito. (B)

DAY 3 (Mon, Aug 06, 2012): Quito/Baltra Airport/Highlands of Santa Cruz.

Morning transfer to the airport in Quito for the flight to Galapagos. Passengers are picked up at the airport by our guides and taken to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

Highlands of Santa Cruz (dry landing). Here you will visit a private farm, Primicias (El Chato), where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. Additionally, you can walk inside lava tubes and visit the Pit Craters that were created from the collapse of surface materials into the fissures of chambers below the Earth. It’s an excellent place to find the vermilion flycatcher as well as to walk along the endemic Scalesia forest. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 (Tue, Aug 07, 2012): Egas Port/Salt Mines (Santiago)/Bartolome.

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

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 an astounding array of marine wildlife including lobster, starfish and marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside sally light-foot crabs. You can also see colonies of endemic fur seals swimming in cool water pools formed by volcanic rocks. Snorkeling here offers rarities such as octopus or squid. Optional visit to the Salt Mines where you can observe the two species of sea lions: fur and the Galapagos sea lions.

Bartolome (dry landing). You will discover a fascinating moonscape formed by different volcanic parasitic cones-lava bombs, spatter, cinder cones-as you hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, and a few lava lizards. 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 schools. For many visitors, this may turn out to be the best of snorkeling 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 the dunes covered by mangroves. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 (Wed, Aug 08, 2012): Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)/North Seymour.

Dry landing. You will walk by a brackish lagoon where feeding flamingos can be occasionally found. The trail leads across the typical dry zone vegetation up to Dragon Hill, an important nesting ground for the 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.

North Seymour (dry landing). This is perhaps one of the busiest tourist destinations on the archipelago. Located off of Baltra Island (where the airport is located), and not far from Santa Cruz, North Seymour is the most accessible for day trips out of Santa Cruz’s main port, Puerto Ayora. The visit consists of a two hour walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles, as well as sea lions. You will also encounter land iguanas, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and on a lucky day, you might even come across a Galapagos Snake. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D).

DAY 6 (Thu, Aug 09, 2012): Baltra Airport/Quito/Lima.

After disembarking in the morning, you will go straight to the airport for your return flight to Quito, and then Lima, Peru. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)

DAY 7 (Fri, Aug 10, 2012): Lima/City Tour.

In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Lima. You will visit downtown Lima and see several examples of the Spanish architecture of the colonial period including the Plaza de Armas, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the Church of San Francisco and Catacombs. After that, you will see Huaca Huallamarca, a restored adobe pyramid dating from the pre-Inca period located in San Isidro. You will tour the upscale residential and commercial district of Miraflores and see the Parque del Amor, a seaside park with a huge statue of a kissing couple, before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)

DAY 8 (Sat, Aug 11, 2012): Lima/Cusco/City Tour.

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Because of the high altitude (10,912 feet above sea level), we recommend that you rest for a short period. In the afternoon, you will have a city tour that includes a walk through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha (‘site of gold’), typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

DAY 9 (Sun, Aug 12, 2012): Cusco/Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Full-day excursion to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, including the Indian artisan market in Pisac and the fortress of Ollantaytambo. Overnight in Cusco. (B,L)

Note: The Indian market opens only Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from October to March, and daily from April to September.

DAY 10 (Mon, Aug 13, 2012): Cusco/Machu Picchu.

Morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City of the Incas’ (7,900 ft.). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. Free afternoon. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (B,L)

DAY 11 (Tue, Aug 14, 2012): Machu Picchu/Cusco.

This is a free day to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You may want to hike Huayna Picchu, visit the nearby hot springs of Aguas Calientes, or enjoy another activity. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be transported to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

DAY 12 (Wed, Aug 15, 2012): Cusco/Lima.

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. You will have the afternoon free. Overnight in Lima. (B)

DAY 13 (Thu, Aug 16, 2012): Lima/Santiago.

Early morning transfer for the airport for your flight to Santiago. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

DAY 14 (Fri, Aug 17, 2012): Santiago/City Tour/Folkloric Dinner Show.

In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O’Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city’s historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago’s founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the evening, you will have a folkloric dinner show with typical Chilean dishes, dances, music, and costumes. Overnight in Santiago. (B,D)

DAY 15 (Sat, Aug 18, 2012): Santiago/Easter Island.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

Note: There are no flights from Santiago to Easter Island on Mondays and Thursdays.

DAY 16 (Sun, Aug 19, 2012): Easter Island/Rano Raraku/Anakena Beach.

Full day excursion visiting the archaeological center of Akahanga and the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, where all of the moai on the island were carved. You will see over 300 statues in various stages of completion, and one giant moai, 21 meters (69 ft.) tall. You will also visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (burial site), whose moai were re-erected after a tsunami flattened the statues, Ahu Te Pito Kura, site of the largest moai moved from the quarry, and the ahu Nau Nau at Anakena Beach. Picnic lunch at Anakena Beach. Overnight in Easter Island. (B,L)

DAY 17 (Mon, Aug 20, 2012): Easter Island/Orongo/Ahu Akivi.

Half day tour to the Rano Kau crater, the Orongo ceremonial village, with its birdman petroglyphs, and Vinapu with its two ahu. Half day tour to Ahu Akivi with its seven moai facing the sea, the caves of Ana Te Pahu, and Puna Pau, the volcanic crater where the pukao (reddish stone hats/headdresses) that some moai wear were carved. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)

DAY 18 (Tue, Aug 21, 2012): Easter Island/Santiago.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago and your final destination. (B)

South American Vacation 2012

Adventure LINKS

Friday, August 3, 2012

Boston to Miami (Travel Day)

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