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South American Experience - Tailor-Made Itineraries
Lauca National Park, Chile

Treasures of the Pacific and Inca Kingdom







20 day Cruise / Land itinerary - Peru, Bolivia and Chile

This fantastic 20 day cruise tour incorporates a 10 night Hebridean cruise along the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile. Board Hebridean Spirit in Lima and head down to the Paracas National Reserve, home to Humboldt penguins, red footed boobies, sea lions and dolphins. Spectacularly eroded stacks and arches in the Ballestas Islands provide shelter for large colonies of sea birds and wildlife.

The ship contiunes on to Arica in Chile, with a visit to the Lauca National Park. Perched on the Bolivian border the remote Chungara Lake is framed by a chain of snow-capped volcanoes and frequented by abundant wildlife including flamingos, condor, llamas and vicuna. On the way back to Lima, stop at Matarani and the beautiful Mejia Lagoon, before finishing the cruise exploring Lima and nearby archealogical sites.

Continue your journey on land, flying to Cuzco and then by scenic train journey to the spectacular Inca city of Machu Picchu. The stunning vistas of Lake Titicaca are dramatically photogenic, from here cross the border into Bolivia for a chance to experience the colourful Andean city of La Paz.

 

Hebridean cruise only route map

Cruise Tour start date:   Saturday 14th February 2008


  • Included:
  • 10 night cruise aboard Hebridean Spirit with all meals, house wines, spirits and champagne on board.
  • Privately escorted tours from the ship.
  • Guest speakers scheduled to speak on the cruise are Christopher Bradley and Maggie McNie.
  • 2 Gala Dinners on board.
  • Gratuities on board.
  • A total of 7 nights hotel accommodation in Peru.
  • A total of 2 nights hotel accommodation in La Paz, Bolivia.
  • Breakfast is included at all hotels.
  • Round-trip economy-class transatlantic airfare on scheduled flights, outbound: UK to Lima via Miami. / return: La Paz to the UK via Miami.
  • All internal flights included.
  • All transfers and baggage handling
  • Port and passenger taxes

Thurs 14 Feb: Lima, Peru. Fly from the UK to Lima via Miami, stay for two nights at the Miraflores Park Plaza.
Fri 15 Feb: Lima, Peru. Tour to the Gold Musuem.
Sat 16 Feb: Embarkation: Puerto del Callao port, Lima. Board Hebridean Spirit to start your 10 night cruise.
Sun 17 Feb: Paracas Bay, Peru.   A local boat will take guests to the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve, home to Humboldt penguins, pelicans, red footed boobies, terns and cormorants, fur seals, sea lions and dolphins. After lunch on board we visit Tambo Colorado, the well preserved Inca adobe site which from the 15th-century controlled the route to the mountains and whose red painted mud-bricks account for "colorado" in the name.The journey inland takes us through desert and fertile plantations.
Mon 18 Feb: At sea en route to Arica, Chile. An opportunity to relax and to hear a lecture given by one of our guest speakers.
Tues 19 Feb: Arica, Chile. Privately Escorted Tour - please ask for details. Hebridean Spirit arrives just after lunch, and the afternoon visit to the fruitful Azapa valley is made via the El Morro monument. En route we will see many geoglyphs, positioned along the hills of this ancient trading route centuries ago as notes to travellers.
Wed 20 Feb: Arica, Chile. Privately Escorted Tour - please ask for details. We spend the day in the stupendous scenery of the Andes seeing its very special wildlife. Our visit takes us to almost 15,000 feet amidst awe-inspiring mountain landscapes. For guests not wishing to travel into the Andes there is much of interest to see in the local fishing port and town. Hebridean Spirit departs overnight for Iquique.
Thurs 21 Feb: Iquique, Chile. Driving through desert plains in the morning, we reach the splendid Esmeralda Oasis where fruit orchards and crops thrive in the rich soil. Take refreshments, wander at your leisure through the abundant crops, and see the farm's Chilean horses. After lunch taken on board, guests can spend free time in the town of Iquique or explore with local guides. Overnight passage to Matarani, Peru.
Fri 22 Feb: Matarani, Peru. We arrive in Matarani at midday, when guests will be taken after lunch on board to the dune-fringed Mejia Lagoon, where it is reported 157 different species of bird are either resident or regular visitors. The look-out towers and dunes are the perfect vantage points from which to spot them.
Sat 23 Feb: At sea en route to Puerto del Callao, Peru. Time to relax in the Hebridean Spirit Spa, or perhaps enjoy a game of bridge in the Panorama Lounge.
Sun 24 Feb: Puerto del Callao, Lima, Peru. Privately Escorted Tour - please ask for details. Arriving at midday, after taking lunch on board we visit Pachacamac, a partially excavated archaeological site on the central coast of Peru, pre-dating the arrival of the Spaniards.
Mon 25 Feb: Puerto del Callao, Lima, Peru. Privately Escorted Tour - please ask for details. In the morning, we explore Lima, "City of the Kings". The San Francisco monastery is well known for its tunnelled catacombs, and for its striking Moorish design with fine carvings and colourful tiles. Close by, we walk through the Plaza Mayor towards the City Hall and the better-known Lima Cathedral.
Tues 26 Feb: Puerto del Callao, Lima, Peru / Cuzco. Disembark from Hebridean Spirit. Fly from Lima to Cuzco, overnight Hotel Monasterio.
Wed 27 Feb: Machu Picchu. Take the Hiram Bingham deluxe train service to Machu Picchu. Overnight at the Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel on site.
Thurs 28 Feb: Machu Picchu / Cuzco. Tour of the ruined citadel. In the afternoon return to Cuzco by train, overnight at the hotel Monasterio.
Fri 29 Feb: Lake Titicaca. Fly from Cuzco to Puno, overnight at the hotel Casa Andina Private Collection on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Sat 01 Mar: Lake Titicaca. Full day tour to the Uros reed islands and Taquile. Overnight at the hotel Casa Andina Private Collection, Lake Titicaca.
Sun 02 Mar: Lake Titicaca / La Paz. Full day journey to La Paz, Bolivia, by catamaran across Lake Titicaca, via the Island of the Sun. Overnight at the Hotel Radisson Plaza, La Paz.
Mon 03 Mar: La Paz. City tour including the Valley of the Moon. Overnight at the Hotel Radisson Plaza.
Tues 04 Mar: Fly back to the UK from La Paz via Miami.Tour ends.

Cruise Tour Price Guideline:

Price guideline(£s)
From £6595 pp

 

Notes:
The Hebridean cruise part of the itinerary is based on an E type twin cabin. Please contact us for the cost of other cabin types.
Prices are per person based on double occupancy. Breakfast is included at the hotels mentioned.
The price shown is a guideline price. The price may change due to variations in the dollar / pound exchange rate and airline availability.
Any advertised rates mentioned for Hebridean cruises can be withdrawn or changed without notice by the cruise company. No responsibility is assumed until the client is booked and a full deposit paid and accepted by Hebridean International Cruises.

 

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Last Updated: Tuesday May 13 2008

 

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