Cruise West Debuts Quito, Galapagos Itinerary

Cruise West is offering a new “Quito & the Galapagos Islands” cruise on select dates in 2009. The cruise is operated by the 40-guest yacht Isabela II. The cruises will be accompanied by naturalist guides and a Cruise West exploration leader.

The 10-day Galapagos journey starts in UNESCO World Heritage site Quito with two nights at the Hotel Hilton Colon Quito. Guests may choose to explore Quito on their own or take a tour to Antisana, the fourth-tallest volcano in Ecuador. The afternoon is spent on a guided walking tour with a narrative of the area’s history as well as a drive up to the observation point El Ventanal.

Guests fly to Baltra Island to board the Isabela II. The fully guided Peru post-cruise land program includes six days of visits to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. This inclusive program includes guided tours of Cuzco’s historical monuments and markets, a dinner of Novo Andina Cuisine (a fusion of Andean ingredients and European techniques) and a stay at the five-star Hotel Liberador Palacio del Inca.

Guests travel by Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes and transfer to the Spanish colonial Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel for two nights. They will spend a day and a half exploring Machu Picchu, guided or independently. The last night is spent in Cuzco with tours of the Inca Fortress and Citadel of Ollantaytambo as well as the circular terraces of Moray.

Three departures will be offered on Aug. 23, Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, 2009. Fares start at $6,399 per person, double occupancy, including internal flights and the Galapagos National Park Fee. The cruise program plus the Peru extension starts at $10,659 per person including internal airfare in Ecuador and Peru.