Clients On the Go: South American Adventures
Peru is steeped in ancient history, and the Galapagos Islands are a wildlife lover’s dream. Some of our clients recently explored both destinations on an epic South American journey, and they were kind enough to share their findings with us...
Photo courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt
Last fall, a couple of our clients jetted off to Peru and the Galapagos Islands with our friends at Tauck, and they shared some truly phenomenal photos with us that we knew you’d want to see.
To get the full picture of this incredible trip, we have included their itinerary below. This should give you a little inspiration for your next journey to South America, and we hope it might add a few things to your bucket list. Let us know when you’re ready to Go Away, and we will set you on your way!
Day 1
Arrival
Our guests arrived early for some extra time in Lima, the capital city of Peru. On arrival, they were transferred to Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, and they enjoyed the rest of the day at leisure to become acclimated to their new surroundings.
Hotel Spotlight: Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel
We are big fans of Belmond at Poe Travel, and their South American hotels are unparalleled (as are their trains, the Andean Explorer and the Hiram Bingham, for that matter!). Miraflores Park features modern facilities and breathtaking views. It is perfectly situated for easy access to Lima’s sights. Reservations are a must at the top-floor spa, and the rooftop pool is perfect for a nighttime dip. For dining, international cuisine with Peruvian and Asian touches awaits at Tragaluz. Breakfast is served in The Observatory, which overlooks the ocean, and pisco sours and more are served in Belo Bar.
Photo courtesy of Belmond
Our close relationship with Belmond ensures that you will be given the VIP treatment at any Belmond hotel around the world, including all those featured in this itinerary.
Day 2
Lima at Leisure
Our clients enjoyed today at leisure to explore the city on their own. We can also arrange for a local guide to meet you and show you the sights, based on your interests.
Day 3
Colonial Lima
This day was all about exploring Lima. Beginning their day in the city’s Barranco District, known as the bohemian heart of the city and for its historic houses painted in bright colonial colors, our guests were accompanied by their guide and visited the iconic wooden Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs). They also visited the Pegro de Osma Museum, dedicated to preserving Peru’s cultural heritage through art, before lunch at Casa Garcia Alvarado, a restored art deco mansion in the Miraflores District.
The evening included a welcome cocktail reception with their small group from Tauck along with dinner at the Larco Herrera Museum, which features pre-Columbian treasures and artifacts housed in an 18th-century vice-royal palace.
Photos courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt
Day 4
Off to the Andes
Bidding adieu to Lima, the group jumped on a flight to Cusco, landing high in the Peruvian Andes. They enjoyed a scenic drive through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, a stunning landscape of verdant farmlands, villages, and ancient ruins amid cloud forests, terraced hills, and towering mountain ranges.
The group stopped for lunch at Casa Orihuela in the Sacred Valley, where they were treated to a performance of folk dancing and horsemanship featuring Peruvian Paso horses. Afterwards, they proceeded to their hotel, another jewel in the Belmond crown: Rio Sagrado. Dinner this evening was preceded by a private performance of Andean music and dance.
Hotel Spotlight: Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
Photo courtesy of Belmond
This sanctuary in the Sacred Valley is designed to resemble an authentic Andean village. Rio Sagrado is made up of 21 guest rooms and suites, along with two villas. All accommodations afford views of the Urubamba River. Spa treatments utilize native healing plants and flowers, and you can even have your aura cleansed by an Andean shaman in an ancient, mystical ceremony in the hotel’s gardens, where organic ingredients for your meals are grown.
Day 5
Machu Picchu
Today features a bucket list item for many intrepid travelers: Machu Picchu. Our guests hopped on a train from Ollantaytambo for a scenic journey to Aguas Calientes. From here, they wound their way up a mountain road of hairpin turns to reach the “lost citadel,” which is steeped in legend. Its purpose and original name are unknown, but led by an expert guide, our guests toured this mystical complex of giant walls, stone terraces, steps, ramps, and astronomically aligned structures. Machu Picchu is described by UNESCO as “the most amazing creation of the Inca Empire at its height.”
After their guided tour, our guests were given some time to explore this breathtaking place on their own, drinking in the overwhelming history that is imbued in this site. Afterwards, they were transferred to their home for the night, Belmond’s Sanctuary Lodge.
Hotel Spotlight: Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel
Photo courtesy of Belmond
Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel situated adjacent to the Machu Picchu ruins, and its sublime location makes it the ideal base for exploring this world-class archaeological site. Watch the sun rise over the mountains and enjoy a buffet lunch with spectacular views. For cocktails and dinner, the intimate atmosphere of Tampu offers international and Peruvian fare. The lodge has a relaxation area that is perfect for yoga and meditation, and the spa features relaxing treatments in either the massage rooms or in the garden, which faces Huayna Picchu.
Day 6
En-Route to Cusco
Today afforded guests the chance to either enjoy a second tour of Machu Picchu, an early-guided walk through the citadel, or the luxury of a lie-in to recover after yesterday’s busy day. Later, they returned to Ollytantambo via train and then drove to Sacsayhuaman, a mountaintop Incan fortress overlooking Cusco.
They were also able to visit an alpaca breeding center in Awanacancha to see a demonstration of traditional Peruvian weaving methods before heading onto Cusco and their home for the next two nights, Palacio Nazarenas.
Hotel Spotlight: Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel
Photo courtesy of Belmond
Palacio Nazarenas has been transformed from a 17th-century palace turned convent into a 55-suite urban escape, complete with the city’s first outdoor swimming pool. Located in a peaceful plaza just behind Cusco’s main square, this oasis allows you to escape from the rest of the world amid cloistered terraces embellished with fountains and flowers. The Senzo restaurant also allows you the chance to sample traditional Andean cuisine.
Day 7
Choices in Cusco
The guests were given a choice today as to how to spend their time in Cusco. On the one hand, they could tour southern Cusco and the valley south of the city, visiting a typical mercando and three ancient churches along the Andean Boutique Route. Alternatively, they could choose to visit the Highlands outside of Cusco, including a visit to an authentic Andean village, the salt fields of Maras, and a cooking lesson and textile demonstration in the rural community of Mullak’as Misminay.
The afternoon and evening were at leisure to continue soaking up their time in Cusco.
Day 8
Vamos a Ecuador
Our guests took an early morning flight to Lima followed by a short flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, thus beginning the next stage of their journey. Guayaquil is known as the Gateway to the Galapagos. Our guests spent a night at the luxury boutique Hotel del Parque, where they had the rest of the day at leisure.
Hotel Spotlight: Hotel del Parque
Photo courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt
Hotel del Parque is a painstakingly restored 19th-century building nestled in a topical oasis alive with wildlife. The main patio area is perfect for lounging, while a separate patio offers al fresco dining. The signature restaurant sits within view of the Daule River. Enhance your stay with a chocolate tasting, coffee roasting, or after-hours guided tour of the park’s wildlife sanctuary, which is home to sloths, spider monkeys, toucans, and more. Hotel del Parque is also part of our trusted Virtuoso network of hotels, meaning the red carpet will be rolled out for all Poe Travel clients.
Jamie onboard the Silver Origin (photo courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt)
Day 9
Going to the Galapagos
From Guayaquil, our guests flew to San Cristobal, which was the starting point of their 7-night Galapagos cruise aboard Silversea’s expedition-style yacht, the Silver Origin. After boarding the ship, they attended an orientation briefing before lunch onboard as the ship made a circumnavigation around Kicker Rock. That evening, they attended the captain’s welcome reception followed by dinner onboard.
Day 10
Genovesa Island
Today’s explorations found our guests at Genovesa Island, a horseshoe-shaped volcanic island whose submerged crater is Darwin Bay. This destination is also sometimes called “Bird Island” for its extraordinary avian population; it is home to the world’s largest red-footed booby nesting colonies and many other exotic species.
The afternoon brought opportunities for kayaking Darwin Bay, relaxing on the beach, or snorkeling in the caldera.
Day 11
Santiago Island
Our guests visited North Seymour Island, whose plateaus are home to thousands of iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and more. The afternoon was spent at Santiago Island after a wet landing at Sullivan Bay followed by the choice between a coastal walk over black lava flows or time spent on the sandy beach, where a snorkeling excursion brought the chance to spot eagle rays or nesting sea turtles.
Day 12
Fernandina & Isabela Islands
Our guests boarded a panga this morning for coastline adventures, making their way along Punta Mangle on Fernandina Island. Filled with tiny bays, tall mangroves, and tranquil coves, this is the perfect place to spot Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, or sea turtles and rays.
After lunch back on the ship, another wet landing took the group to Punta Moreno on Isabela Island. Guests were given the choice between exploring on a Zodiac to get a better look at the unique landscapes or going on a hike with the expedition team along the rugged trails of the island, giving them the chance to view the unique lava formations here along with bountiful wildlife.
Jamie & Tim enjoying the impressive wildlife of the Galapagos (photo courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt)
Day 13
Puerto Ayora & Isla Santa Fe
Arriving at Santa Cruz Island, the group visited the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where tortoises are bred and raised as part of a conservation program. Afterwards, they had free time in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos Archipelago, before setting sail for Isla Santa Fe, where they could explore on a Zodiac cruise or active experiences with the expedition team, including hiking, kayaking, or snorkeling.
Day 14
Bahia Gardner & Punta Suarez
Our guests went ashore at Gardner Bay, where there are extensive nesting grounds for albatrosses, sea turtles, and sea lions. At Punta Suarez, sheer cliffs provide thermal points from which seabirds soar, and waves crash along the rocky coast, blowholes sending water spouting 75 feet skyward.
Day 15
San Cristobal
San Cristobal, created by the fusing of multiple volcanoes, is known for its wildlife. Today, our guests had the choice between spending the morning enjoying the pleasures of one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in the Galapagos for swimming and snorkeling or joining the expedition team on a hike along the beach to view the wildlife that call this enchanting place home.
It was back to the ship around midday for the remainder of the day onboard for their final night in the Galapagos.
Day 16
Hasta Luego!
Photo courtesy of Tim Zink & Jamie Calcutt
Today, our guests disembarked their boutique yacht and flew back to Guayaquil for a tranquil final night back at Hotel del Parque before their flight home the following day, providing a relaxing end to over two weeks of adventure and deep exploration.
If you would like to Go Away to Peru and the Galapagos (or anywhere else in the world), simply contact us. We will design a totally customized itinerary to make sure your journey fits your unique vision perfectly.