Natural Habitat Adventures Announces New Galapagos & Machu Picchu Trip Linking Two South American Icons in One Seamless Journey
Natural Habitat Adventures, the world’s leader in nature-based travel, introduces a new 15-day expedition that pairs Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands with Peru’s Machu Picchu.
“These are two of South America’s quintessential destinations,” says Natural Habitat Adventures founder and president Ben Bressler. “This is a rare opportunity to combine two coveted UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one exclusive itinerary, traveling in a small group with top guides and unprecedented access.”
Galapagos & Machu Picchu: Icons of Nature & Culture combines two of Nat Hab’s most popular trips on a single itinerary. A week of live-aboard Galapagos exploration by private chartered yacht is followed by a land-based journey to Machu Picchu and the Inca ruins of the Sacred Valley.
This comprehensive itinerary adds time for more exploration, circumventing logistical hassles of trying to piece together distinctly different destinations. A professional naturalist Expedition Leader leads guests from start to finish on a rich, interpretive dive into the natural and cultural history of these diverse locations. Small groups ensure a personalized experience.
The trip begins in Quito with a transfer to Ecuador’s Andean Highlands. During a 2-night stay at the deluxe Hacienda Zuleta, guests are immersed in 400 years of colonial history, enjoying locally grown food from the 4,000-acre estate as they look for rare spectacled bears, pumas, condors and owls in habitat protected as part of the estate’s conservation mission.
After a flight to the Galapagos, guests explore the islands aboard the Ocean Spray, a 113-foot luxury motor catamaran. With just 16 passengers accompanied by two Expedition Leaders, this is the best guide-to-guest ratio in the islands. Travelers split into smaller groups for daily snorkeling, panga excursions and walks among iguanas and boobies. Guests also have the option to overnight at Nat Hab’s exclusive private Tortoise Camp, sleeping in a raised canvas safari-style tent or treehouse while ancient tortoises roam freely on the grounds.
On the final leg, travelers fly to Cusco for a 5-day discovery of ancient Inca civilization. Luxurious accommodations include Palacio del Inka in Cusco, the award-winning Sol y Luna boutique hotel in the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, set among orchid gardens along the Urubamba River.
Four departures, capped at 16 travelers each, are offered in 2018: March 29-Apr. 12, June 7-21, Aug. 2-16 and Nov. 8-22. The per-person double rate is $12,995 ($2000 single supplement). Included are activities, accommodations, land transportation as detailed in the itinerary, round-trip train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, airport transfers when using Nat Hab’s preferred hotels, snorkeling gear and wetsuit, all but two meals from dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 15, guiding by Natural Habitat Adventures’ professional Expedition Leaders, most gratuities, taxes and service charges. Internal airfare and park fees are not included.
For complete details please see: http://www.nathab.com/galapagos/machu-picchu-galapagos-adventure/
For information about all of Nat Hab’s trips, including descriptive itineraries, availability and reservations, call 800-543-8917 or visit http://www.nathab.com/. Click HERE to order a copy of the new 2018 catalog.
About Natural Habitat Adventures
Natural Habitat Adventures is a world leader in responsible adventure travel and nature-based ecotourism. Since its founding in 1985, the company has offered eco-conscious expeditions and wildlife-focused small-group tours to the planet’s most remarkable nature destinations. Inspired and created from years of scouring the planet for the singular and extraordinary, Nat Hab’s itineraries are artfully crafted experiences that are far from “typical.” Trips are guided by professional naturalist Expedition Leaders, and Nat Hab enjoys a longstanding reputation for hiring some of the world’s best guides. Conservation is at the forefront of everything NHA does, and its philosophy is simple: tourism must work with and benefit local communities, which will in turn find value in protecting natural resources and wildlife. NHA is proud to be the travel partner of World Wildlife Fund, sharing a mutual commitment to travel as a means of helping to protect the world’s wondrous natural places. Nat Hab has donated more than $2 million to WWF and will continue to donate 1 percent of gross sales plus $100,000 annual through 2018 in support of WWF’s mission.
