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Natural Wonders of the Pacific Coast

Natural Wonders of the Pacific Coast

From GBP £9,295

Description

Let us take you to some of the loveliest and least explored places along South and Central America’s Pacific coastline. Beginning in Lima, we will sail north along the coast of Peru visiting Chan Chan, a pre-Columbian site of the Chimu culture and the largest adobe city in the world and land on Lobos de Tierra, a tiny island off the Peruvian coast, famous for its abundant marine and birdlife. After a day at sea we continue our exploration of this wildlife rich region visiting Ecuador’s Machalilla National Park, a protected coastal haven for over 200 species of birds and wildlife and Colombia’s Utria National Park with its dense rainforest, mangroves and home to many bird species, reptiles and monkeys. Finally, we arrive in Costa Rica where we have four days to explore this remarkably diverse region with its teeming rain forest, cool cloud forest and sugar-sand beaches.

Much of the itinerary is far from the ‘big ship’ routes and includes little known but fascinating destinations with magnificently diverse wildlife, beautiful beaches and fascinating indigenous cultures. With an amazingly rich biodiversity of flora and fauna seen against some of the lushest of landscapes to be found anywhere in the world, a voyage such as this would be difficult to comprehend or undertake by any other means than a cruise. The MS Hebridean Sky is the perfect vessel for such a journey and our Zodiacs will be put to good use in the more remote places allowing us to land and explore otherwise unreachable places.

Trip Name
Natural Wonders of the Pacific Coast
Days
20
Overview
Vessel Type: Expedition Length: 90 metres Passenger Capacity: 110 Built: 1992 - newly re-launched 2016 The Hebridean Sky (formerly the Sea Explorer) underwent a 6.5 million dollar refurbishment. Always  known for its effortless elegance, impeccable service and atmosphere of charm and camaraderie, the Hebridean Sky continues that tradition adding a host of new amenities as well as state of the art stabilization, fuel efficiency, and upgraded communications systems. Its all-suite accommodations and increased adventure options make the Hebridean Sky the perfect blend of luxury and adventurous exploration. SPACIOUS SUITES Hebridean Sky is an all-suite yacht accommodating up to 110 guests. Built in 1992, refurbished 2014 and again in 2016, each suite features: • Exterior views • Your choice of queen-sized or two twin-sized beds • Sitting area with sofa and side chair • Flat Screen TV with DVD/CD player • Telephone • Independent temperature controls • Mini-Bar • Marble-appointed bathroom with fine toiletries • Hair dryer • 220 square feet or more • Sofa can be converted to bed for third person In adition Promenade, Deluxe, Veranda & Penthouse Suites include: • En suite Champagne & Chocolates on Arrival • Complimentary mini-bar (beer, wine & soft drinks) • $100 per person Gift Shop credit • En suite Nespresso machine Penthouse Suites (325 sq.ft.) and Veranda Suites (260 sq.ft.) feature private balconies. ONBOARD DINING Great expeditions require great food! Our team of world-class chefs offer breakfast, lunch and dinner menus that change daily. They have boat-loads of creativity, so you are sure to experience a variety of remarkable cuisine throughout your voyage. SERVICES • World-Class Cuisine • Complimentary Wine with Dinner • Live Entertainment • Complimentary Coffee/Tea station • Voyage Photographer • On-board MD and Facilities • Dedicated Passenger Service Manager • Pre-voyage hotel night • Complimentary Expedition Jacket FACILITIES • Elevator serving all passenger decks • Upgraded WIFI Internet • Library with computers • Panoramic Top Deck Observation Platform • Bar/Lounge with Live Entertainment • Boot Room • Lounge with Audiovisual Facilities • DVD Movie Library Deck plans may very depending on the ship operator.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 - London to Lima, Peru.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this evening into Lima and transfer to our hotel for a two night stay.
Day 2 - Day 2 - Lima.
After breakfast in the hotel we will have a free morning to relax or explore independently. In the early afternoon we enjoy a tour of Lima city, which was founded by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, and then named the ‘City of Kings’ by the Spaniards who took the city in name of the Spanish Crown. During the vice royalty the city became the most important capital in the region, and as testament to this, today you can still see the imposing buildings that were constructed principally in the city centre. See the most important buildings in the Plaza Mayor, such as the Government Palace, the beautiful cathedral and the various small palaces and colonial balconies that adorn the capital of the Peruvian Republic, all of which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks to its well-preserved architecture. Return to the hotel and meet for dinner in the hotel this evening.
Day 3 - Day 3 - Lima.
Today we will head out of the city to the famous Pachacamac Temple, a religious compound which dates from the 3rd century and made entirely of clay. Visit the impressive Temples of the Sun and Moon as we learn about the Inca and Pre-Inca people that lived here. After lunch in a local restaurant we transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky, berthed in the port of Callao, where we enjoy a Welcome Dinner and Drinks as we sail tonight.
Day 4 - Day 4 - At Sea.
Spend a relaxing day on board the MS Hebridean Sky. Maybe join a lecture or find a spot on deck.
Day 5 - Day 5 - Salaverry.
Arrive this morning at Salaverry, our base for a full day tour of touring. From the port we will drive to Hauca de la Luna to see the Huaca del Sol pyramids from the Moche culture, a remarkable pre-Inca civilisation. Continue on to the ruins of Chan Chan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the imperial capital of the Chimu, where we explore the ruins of the largest adobe city in the world, marvelling at their skillful irrigation and engineering projects. We also visit the intriguing desert city of Trujillo. This oasis city was founded by Pizarro in 1536 and still exudes much Spanish colonial charm. Visit the Casa Urquiaga, a mansion containing pre-Columbian ceramics and the Plaza de Armas with its imposing 17th century cathedral.
Day 6 - Day 6 - Lobos de Tierra.
Today, weather permitting, will be the first opportunity to use our Zodiacs as we visit the offshore island of Lobos de Tierra. In the 19th century this was the site of a large guano mining centre however today it is an important seabird sanctuary and home to Peruvian pelicans, blue footed boobies and cormorants. We will explore the coastline in the Zodiacs and take walks ashore watching for the birdlife and South American sea lions in the waters.
Day 7 - Day 7 - At Sea.
Maybe join one of the lectures in the lounge, read a book in the library or watch for wildlife from the deck as we have a day at sea sailing to Ecuador.
Day 8 - Day 8 - Puerto Lopez, Ecuador.
Today we start our exploration of coastal Ecuador and anchor at Puerto Lopez for an excursion to the Machalilla National Park, an area of great diversity on the juncture of the cold Humboldt current flowing north and the warm El Nino current flowing south. It contains one of the world’s largest tropical dry forests, at 55,000 hectares, and is an example of the vegetation that once covered 25% of Ecuador’s land mass. We travel inland to a small village with an interesting archaeological site. Here we will split into groups for our walks to see the varied flora and fauna, including several types of cacti, kapok and palo santo trees that have adapted to the arid conditions, and the many varieties of birds including coastal parrots. We will take lunch in the park before returning to the pleasant fishing village of Puerto Lopez.
Day 9 - Day 9 - Isla de la Plata.
Around forty kilometres off the Ecuadorian coast is the small island of Isla de la Plata (Silver Island) where it is claimed Sir Francis Drake buried some of his treasure. The island is part of the Machalilla National Park and a sanctuary for sea birds such as the red footed, blue footed and Nazca boobies who share the steep cliffs with frigate birds, albatrosses and the red-billed tropic birds. Today our naturalists will lead nature walks searching for wildlife before sailing in the late afternoon.
Day 10 - Day 10 - At Sea.
Spend a relaxing day at sea.
Day 11 - Day 11 - Isla Gorgona, Colombia.
Once a high security prison island located 50 miles off the Colombian mainland, Gorgona Island has reinvented itself as a natural paradise with golden sandy beaches, fresh water streams, waterfalls and tropical forests. In the mid-1980s the island became a National Park, the prison converted to a research centre and one of the houses to a museum. We will spend the day on the island and offer a choice of activities including nature walks looking for some of the many species of birds, snakes, sloths and monkeys as well as the blue anole – the world’s only blue lizard. Alternatively enjoy a swim or snorkel from the beaches or learn more about the history of the island from the local guides.
Day 12 - Days 12 & 13 - Utria National Park & Bahia Solano.
Today we land on the Pacific coast of Colombia and have a day and a half to explore this beautiful area which is well off the traditional cruise routes. Here we find the Utria National Park, a tropical forest which reaches down to the sandy beaches. Using our Zodiacs to get ashore we will enjoy hikes and nature trails and observe the flora and fauna with our local guides. In Bahia Solano we will visit the small town whilst the more active amongst us may wish to join a walk to a private rainforest reserve which runs alongside the Rio Mecana and is part of a 170 hectare nature reserve. Made up of mangroves, tropical forest, native plants and trees of the Choco region, our local guides will point out the indigenous plants and birdlife and highlight the ongoing reforestation programmes. We also hope to offer a chance to swim from the beaches.
Day 13 - Day 14 - Isla Coiba, Panama.
Spend the morning at sea arriving at Isla Coiba during lunch. This once infamous prison island, now a National Park, has reverted to an island paradise. We will anchor off the ranger station and use our Zodiacs to land on the island. Here our onboard naturalists will lead some guided walks as we explore the main island, which boasts some 147 species of birds, and walk up to the observation tower. If time and conditions permit we hope to find a suitable spot to swim.
Day 14 - Day 15 - Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica.
After clearing immigration formalities into Costa Rica at Golfito we make our way to Casa Orquideas (Orchid House) a five hectare private botanical garden cut out of the rainforest by Ron and Trudy MacAllister who now cultivate over 100 species of orchids which attract many different bird species. Plants of the tropics burst with colour and the air here is heady with the fragrance of flowers and humid soil. Due to the open space, it is often easy to spot a number of tropical birds here including toucans.
Day 15 - Day 16 - Corcovado National Park.
Resting on the northern side of the Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay (Bahía Drake) is our gateway to the Corcovado National Park. We will use the Zodiacs to land on one of the beaches before enjoying a walk through the primary and secondary forest with our naturalist guides. The rich biological diversity of the biological corridor of Corcovado National Park is astounding and bird lovers will be enchanted by a wide variety of birds, including tanagers, flycatchers, kingfishers, manakins, trogons, crested guans, and spectacular scarlet macaws and toucans. We return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon we will look for another landing site to explore this fascinating area.
Day 16 - Day 17 - Manuel Antonio National Park.
From the port of Quepos we travel to the Manuel Antonio National Park which is one of the most stunning and bio-diverse areas of the world. Spread out over 683 hectares it is filled with diverse wildlife, has both primary and secondary forests, boasts a stunning shoreline ideal for bird watching or swimming and is home to a number of endemic species of plants and animals. We will make an early start this morning allowing for the best viewing of monkeys, vividly coloured birds and the lethargic three-toed sloth. This afternoon we will have time at leisure in Quepos as we sail later tonight.
Day 17 - Day 18 - Curu National Park and Isla Tortuga.
We spend our last morning exploring the Curu National Wildlife Refuge which boasts a rich and diverse wildlife in five different habitats ranging from marine zones, including a wide beach area, mangrove swamps and tropical forests. Here on a range of walks we will find over 200 species of birds, howler and capuchin monkeys, mammals such as otters, ocelots, pumas and turtles. Over lunch we sail the short distance to Tortuga Island where we have the chance to snorkel over the volcanic reef home to angelfish, morays and needlefish. Alternatively spend the afternoon relaxing on the white sand beaches.
Day 18 - Day 19 - Puerto Caldera to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to San Jose for our scheduled flight to London. Alternatively join our extension programme to see more of Costa Rica.
Day 19 - Day 20 - London.
Arrive this morning.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Amundsen Standard Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Byrd Superior Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Shackleton Owner's Balcony Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Byrd Superior Sole
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Shackleton Hebridean Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Mawson Premuim Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Mawson Corner Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Scott Deluxe Balcony Suite
27-03-201915-04-2019GBP £0Amundsen Standard Sole

Inclusions

    • Travel to the famous Pachacamac Temple, a religious compound which dates from the 3rd century and made entirely of clay. Visit the impressive Temples of the Sun and Moon as we learn about the Inca and Pre-Inca people that lived here.
    • Drive to Hauca de la Luna to see the Huaca del Sol pyramids from the Moche culture, a remarkable pre-Inca civilisation.
    • Arrive at Isla Coiba. This once infamous prison island, now a National Park, has reverted to an island paradise.
    • Discover many amazing National Parks
    • Corcovado National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, Curu National Park and more.

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