Drive north from Quito to Calderon (famous for its bread dolls) and to Peguche, where the Otavalo indians do their weaving After lunch at a country inn or local hacienda, continue to Cuiocha Lake and Cotacachi Village, known for their leather goods. Overnight at the La Mirage Country Inn.

Early in the morning visit the famous Otavalo Indian market. The Otavalo Indians are propsperous tradespeople and their outdoor emporium is loaded with baskets, ponchos, hats, tapestries, leatherwork and woodcarvings. While the busiest market occurs on Saturdays, there are mini-markets each day of the week. Stop at the woodcarving center at San Antonio de Ibarra on the afternoon journey back to Quito.

The program includes transportation, accomodations at the La Mirage County Inn, visits to special attractions, guide services and meals.

Fly to Lima and spend one night at the Country Club Hotel before flying to Cuzco, once the capital city and religious center of the Incan Empire, is the the gateway to Machu Picchu. A guided tour of Cuzco will highlight its fascinating Incan and Spanish treasures. Overnight at the Hotel Monasterio or Libertador.

Early in the morning, begin your rail adventure to Peru´s foremost destination - Machu Picchu. Take a guided tour of the ancient citadel, which remained hidden for centuries until accidentally discovered in 1912. Lunch is included at Machu Picchu. Spend an overnight at the Hotel Machu Picchu Sanctuary or Machu Picchu Pueblo. After a morning of further exploration of the ruins, return to Cuzco by afternoon train and overnight again in Cuzco. The next morning, fly to Lima for a continuation of your journey.

The program includes all transfers, accomodations at a deluxe hotel in Lima (1 night), Cuzco (2 nights) and Machu Picchu (1 night), guided sightseeing tours in Cuzco and Machu Picchu, round-trip train tickets, breakfast daily at the hotel´s restaurant and lunch at Machu Picchu. Air transportation is not included.

Quito, the charming capital of Ecuador, is the originating point for the morning flights to the Galapagos Islands. For your convenience we have designed this program, which is available before and/or after your cruise.

The program includes transfers, accomodations at the modern J.W. Marriot Hotel Quito, and a guided sightseeing tour of Quito. For passengers unable to travel to Quito because of high altitude (9,455 ft), a slightly different program is available in Guayaquil (situated at sea level). Inquire for details. We also offer lower prices in the four star hotel, Dann Carlton. All of our guides are hand-picked and speak fluent English.

Your adventure begins with a journey through the Avenue of the Valcanoes, so named because it is flanked by 12 of the highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere. The scenery to Riobamba is spectacular. Overnight at a small country inn in Riobamba. The next morning, your adventure continues with a rail ride down the thrilling "Devil´s Nose", before returning to Quito in the afternoon.

The program includes transfers, accomodations at a country inn in Riobamba, all meals, visits to special attractions and guide services.

Nature lovers, adventure seekers and all ecologically minded travelers will be thrilled with our "Unseen Amazon Safari" program featuring the Kapawi Ecolodge & Reserve. The area around Kapawi is inhabited by the Achuar Indian Tribe, which remained "lost" for centuries and were discovered only recently. The area is home to numerous animal species that have disappeared from other Amazon regions.

Kapawi is a place of diverse activities and choices. There are no fixed "tours". You and your travel companions can decide what activities best suit your personal interests.

The program includes all necessary transfers, both in Quito and in the jungle, accomodations at the ecolodge, choice of guided jungle activities and all meals. Airfare is quoted as a seperate item.

Drive south on the Avenue of the Volcanoes to Ambato. Visit the village-weaving center of the Salasaca Indians. Continue to Banos, high above the Amazon Basin. Accomodations are the lovely Luna Runtun Resort, where available activities include photography, hiking, biking, trekking, river rafting and horseback-riding. Banos is steeped in Incan and pre-Columbian history and legend. The cloud forest offers unusual opportunities for lovers of nature. The towering cliffs, pristine waterfalls, ancient thermal baths, flora and fauna create dramatic scenes for photography.

The program includes transportation, accommodations at the exquisite Luna Runtun Resort, a choice of activities at the resort and all meals.