Note: To minimize your chances of experiencing altitude sickness, try to get plenty of rest before you travel, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and fatty foods, eat high carbohydrate foods, and avoid strenuous exercise at high elevations.

Arrive To: Arrive at the international airport in Quito, Ecuador.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to the hotel and check-in, followed by time at leisure.

Please note that this is an international travel day; no meals or program activities are scheduled on this day. Hotel check-in usually begins at 3PM.

Lodging: Hotel Quito

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Orientation to the program.

Visit El Panecillo for panoramic views of Quito.

Before the Spanish arrived, the hill known as El Panecillo (small bread roll) was used by the Inca for sun worshiping. In the early 1800s, the Spanish military took advantage of El Panecillo's strategic location and elevation (9,843 ft), and built a fortress to protect and monitor the city. In present times, the hill is the site of a city monument and lookout point where visitors can get 360° views of Quito. On clear days, it is even possible to spot Cotopaxi's snowy peak in the distance.

Enjoy a walking exploration of Quito's colonial center. Visit the Independence Square with an informative explanation of the Presidential and Bishop Palace, as well as the Cathedral. Visit La Compañía church, one of the most beautiful churches in Quito, legendary for its gold covered interior. Visit the historic San Francisco church and convent, raised up above a wide stone paved court originally known as "Tiangues," a place used by the indigenous inhabitants of Quito to trade products.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant including an introduction to Ecuadorian food products and typical Ecuadorian cuisine.

Afternoon: After lunch, we will leave Quito and travel in a northerly direction to visit the Museo Intinan located on the Equator line, near the Middle of the World complex.

The Intinan Museum has a permanent exposition that details the Andean cosmovision of Ecuador's ancestral cultures. Learn about the indigenous calendar and its accuracy. Visit an ancient home to find out about the way of life and traditions of indigenous people more than a century ago. Acquaint yourself with the important rituals of Amazonian tribes as you educate yourself about the cultures of Ecuador's Oriente region.

Lecture: Galapagos: A Natural Laboratory of Evolution and its Threats.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Quito

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Flight to San Cristobal Island/Board Yacht/Galapaguera.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for flight to the Galápagos Islands.
Depart for the Galápagos Islands.

NOTE: There is a 44 lb weight limit for checked luggage on the flights to the islands. Please pack accordingly.

Lunch: A light snack is provided on the flight.

Afternoon: Arrive to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island.

Upon arrival you will be met by your naturalist guide and transferred to the yacht.

Enjoy a welcome orientation, safety drill, and a light lunch.

Field trip to La Galapaguera Station.

The Galapaguera station is located near Cerro Colorado, on the southeastern end of San Cristobal Island (approximately 40 minutes from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno by bus). The station was established with the goal of helping to protect the island’s wild tortoise population. The site includes a visitors’ center, a breeding center with pens and a herpetology lab, and interpretive trails showcasing a large variety of native and endemic plants.

Return to the yacht and set sail.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day’s activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Genovesa Island (Darwin's Bay & El Barranco).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing on Genovesa Island at Darwin’s Bay.

Genovesa is a great place for a bird watching walk plus optional swimming or snorkeling. The island's volcanic sea cliffs and salt bush offer a prime habitat for the birds of the Galápagos. Darwin Bay is the caldera of an extinct volcano which has been partially eroded and offers superb swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Dry landing at El Barranco (a.k.a. Prince Phillip’s Steps) on the southern part of Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island.

The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, lies in this area. The cliffs located in the south are composed of very fragile lava. The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting storm petrels. A trail leads up a steep rock staircase through squadrons of Frigatebirds and Red-billed Tropicbirds. Red-footed Boobies perch on the branches of Palo Santo trees and storm petrels (a favorite prey for local Short Eared Owls) are found in the open lava fields at the end of the trail.

Return to the yacht.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santa Cruz Island (Bachas Beach, Caleta Tortuga Negra and Dragon Hill).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Wet landing at Bachas Beach.

Apart from being an important nesting site for sea turtles, Bachas Beach is also a great location to view migratory and aquatic birds. The name of this location dates back to WWII, when the U.S. army abandoned two barges on the beach. Locals found it hard to pronounce the word "barges" in English; over time, the common mispronunciation of the word became the norm, resulting in the name Playa las Bachas.

Swimming and snorkeling opportunities.

Navigate around the craggy shores and mangroves of Black Turtle Cove (Caleta Tortuga Negra) on Santa Cruz Island in search of local wildlife.

Black Turtle Cove is a small inlet located on Santa Cruz’s northern coast. Shallow waters protect myriad life forms including sea turtles, rays, and black-tip and white-tip reef sharks. Also be on the lookout for birds such as pelicans, Yellow Warblers, Lava Herons, and more!

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Cerro Dragon is located on a northwestern corner of Santa Cruz, was named after a colony of land iguanas that inhabited the site in the 1970s. Flamingoes and shorebirds seasonally visit the lagoons in search of shrimp, appearing in larger numbers during the dryer season when the crustaceans are more plentiful. The rocky beach provides good snorkeling opportunities when the tide is high.



Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation of the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Fernandina Island (Punta Espinoza) & Isabela Island (Urbina Bay & Punta Vicente Roca).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Semi-wet landing at Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island.

This young island is the third largest in the Galápagos and is also the westernmost; located next to Isabela Island. Fernandina has some of the most dramatic landscapes found in the archipelago. The aa and pahoehoe lava formations create a unique landscape and provide visitors with a great chance to study lava flows and the forces which gave birth to the Galápagos Islands. Although Punta Espinosa is better known for its large colony of marine iguanas, one can also expect to see sea lions, Flightless Cormorants and Galápagos Penguins.

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Afternoon field trip to Urbina Bay on Isabela Island.

Urbina Bay is situated approximately two fifths of the way along Isabela’s western coast. The flattened area of the bay exhibits signs of a coral reef on land; proof that the flat land we see today in that area was once uplifted from the sea. Cormorants, pelicans, marine iguanas, and Flightless Cormorants frequent this site in addition to marine turtles and rays which are sometimes seen swimming in the bay.

Swimming and snorkeling opportunities.

Navigate around Punta Vicente Roca to view its tuff walls and wall-sculpted cave. Look for sea turtles that sometimes frequent this site.

Return to the yacht.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Small boat excursion to Elizabeth Bay to observe marine life around the rocky islets known as “Las Marielas.”

Elizabeth Bay, located on Isabela's west shore, is an extremely interesting site for observing marine life. It is also one of the best areas to spot and photograph the elusive Galápagos Penguin. A colony of these unique birds inhabits a rocky islet at the entrance to the bay. A small passage lined with mangroves leads into an enclosed cove. The sheltered waters host marine turtles, rays, flightless cormorants, and sea lions. Although the marine life is the star of this visitor's site, don't forget to look up once in a while and scan the skies; Galápagos Hawks are oftentimes seen circling overhead.

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Dry landing at Tagus Cove on Isabela Island.

Tagus Cove offers visitors the opportunity to see writings (carved and painted) left behind by pirates and whalers who frequented the area in years gone by. A short trail leads to the base of the Darwin Volcano where different lava formations can be studied. The island is home to Flightless Cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, Mangrove Finches, pelicans, marine iguanas and a variety of other birds.

Opportunity for swimming and snorkeling.

Return to the yacht.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santiago Island (Puerto Egas) & Rábida Island.

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Wet landing at Puerto Egas, Santiago Island.

Puerto Egas, located on the western side of the island, has black volcanic formations that provide shelter to a number of interesting creatures. Look for starfish, octopus, and small fish that sometimes get trapped in the tide pools. Observe marine iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks or feasting on exposed green algae while sea birds fly overhead in search of food. Brightly colored Sally Lightfoot crabs live in the rock crevices and tide pools; a sharp contrast to the black lava formations they call home. Galápagos fur seals enjoy the inlets along the western shoreline and have been known to swim with visitors from time to time.

Swimming and snorkeling opportunities.

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Wet landing on Rabida Island.

Also known as Jervis, this island has a dark red beach where visitors can view sea lions and nesting pelicans. A salt water lagoon located a small distance from the beach is home to flamingoes and the occasional white-cheeked pintail. Palo santo trees cover the island’s volcanic peak, which can be seen from a short trail (approximately ½ mile).

Return to the yacht.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Galapagos Islands -
Santa Cruz Island (Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station).

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island. Board a bus to the highlands to view giant tortoises at “Las Primicias” reserve. Before returning to the yacht, make a stop to view some of the largest lava tubes found in the islands.

Santa Cruz is the second largest island, the most populated, and it is the administrative center of the national park. This unique island offers visitors the opportunity to experience, in one place, all of the different life zones present in the Galapagos. A short trip to the highlands provides the chance to spot giant tortoises in the wild as they move languidly through the brush. Moving higher on the island, observe the change in vegetation and temperatures. The mist-covered forests in this part of the island are home to Scalesia forest and various bird species including Short-eared Owls, Galapagos Doves, Vermillion Flycatchers, and many types of finches.

Return to the yacht.


Lunch: Lunch onboard.

Afternoon: Dry landing at Puerto Ayora for a field trip to the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) and the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena.

The objective of the CDRS is to conduct scientific research and environmental education for conservation. The Station has a team of over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, research students and support staff from all over the world. At the CDRS you will be able to observe giant tortoises at all stages of growth, from a few days to close to one hundred years old!

Return to the yacht.


Dinner: Dinner onboard.

Evening: Orientation to the next day's activities.

Lodging: M/Y Eric, Flamingo I, Letty

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Guayaquil -
San Cristobal Island (Interpretation Center)/Flight to Guayaquil/Walk along Malecon.

Breakfast: Breakfast onboard.

Morning: Dry landing Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal. Field trip to the Interpretation Center.

The Galapagos National Park Visitor Center on San Cristobal Island was inaugurated in 1998. Displays provide interesting details on the history, ecosystems, and flora and fauna of the islands. The center is open all week and contains meeting rooms, a small auditorium and audiovisual equipment.

Return to the yacht and then transfer to the airport to catch a flight back to the mainland.


Lunch: Light lunch on the flight.

Afternoon: Arrive in Guayaquil and transfer to the hotel.

Late afternoon excursion to the Malecon (river walk).

A revitalization project in the 1990s reshaped Guayaquil, turning it into a beautiful and vibrant city with many tourist attractions. The two mile river walk along the Guayas River, known as the Malecon, has become a favorite spot for locals and tourists to take a stroll and visit restaurants, art galleries, stores, and museums.

Return to the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Oro Verde

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sacred Valley -
Flight to Cusco via Lima and Transfer to the Sacred Valley/Introduction to Machu Picchu & Market Day at Pisac.

Breakfast: Early breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for morning flight to Lima, Peru to connect with your flight to Cusco.

Arrive to Cusco.

Transfer to hotel in the Sacred Valley with en route market visit at Pisac.

Pisac is a small, sleepy town nestled in an Andean valley along the Urubamba River. The traditional produce market is held on Sundays, when people from surrounding communities converge on the tiny central plaza to buy and sell produce and other supplies. During other days of the week, the town hosts a handicrafts market where all nature of locally made crafts can be seen on display.



Lunch: Box lunch en-route.

Afternoon: Arrive at hotel and check-in.

Lecture: Introduction to Inca Culture.



Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada del Inca - Yucay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sacred Valley (Yucay) -
Chincheros Town and Ollantaytambo Ruins.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Excursion to Chincheros town including a visit to a weaving cooperative, where you will meet with locals and learn about traditional weaving styles and techniques.

Weaving is a way of life in Chincheros, as important for preserving ancient traditions as it is for earning a livelihood. Located in the Peruvian Andes on the Inca road between Cusco and Machu Picchu, Chincheros was an early Inca center built by emperor Tupa Inca as his country estate. During Inca reign, textiles were woven and offered to mark special occasions, from peace treaties and sacrifices to marriage ceremonies and puberty rites. In Chincheros, children grow up playing with their mother's spindle and loom. By age six or seven, most children learn to weave by watching their elders. They begin by weaving jakimas, or narrow ribbons, before moving on to more complicated pieces.

Visit to local farms.
Lecture: The Agriculture of the Incas.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the ruins at Ollantaytambo, accompanied by a guide who will highlight the engineering genius of the Inca.

The Ollantaytambo Ruins are not ruins in the traditional sense. Ollantaytambo is a town with original buildings of Inca construction where the Inca retreated to make their last stand in the highlands against the Spanish. Running water still flows through the town in aqueducts and the terraces above the town still are farmed. The pinnacle above the town is a small burial ground.



Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada del Inca - Yucay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Machu Picchu (Aguas Calientes) –
Excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Board a train to Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu. The train ride follows the Urubamba River and offers spectacular views of the Andes.

Upon arrival, continue with a bus transfer to the Machu Picchu ruins.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant near the ruins.

Afternoon: Full afternoon guided field trip in and around Machu Picchu ruins.

This ancient Inca city was rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, a Yale graduate and U.S. senator fascinated with Inca archaeology. Bingham found Machu Picchu, with the help of a local farmer who knew about the ruins, while searching for Vilcabamba and Vitcos. He hypothesized that the site was a "citadel," existing for strategic and defense purposes. He also speculated that the site was a refuge for Cusco's Virgins of the Sun, based upon the finding of skulls there, although not scientifically classified as female. Breakthroughs in archaeology since 1985 have, taken as a whole, supported the emerging view of Machu Picchu as a ceremonial and administrative center for a very populous region. Machu Picchu was built, flourished, and fell into demise within a period of 100 years.

Dinner: Dinner on your own for a chance to explore local fare.

Lodging: El Mapi Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Guided excursion around the town of Aguas Calientes. Visit the local market.

Participants who wish to revisit Machu Picchu are welcome to skip the town excursion and spend the morning at the ruins (at own expense--entrance fee is not included and tickets must be purchased in advance).

Note: Machu Picchu park tickets are not sold on site and must be purchased in advance. Please contact the program coordinator at 1-800-866-7111 or roadscholarprograms@holbrooktravel.com if you are interested in buying Machu Picchu entrance tickets.

Lunch: Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon: Transfer to train station.
Board the early afternoon train to Ollantaytambo Station.

Arrive at the Ollantaytambo Station and board a bus for your transfer to Cusco.

Arrive in Cusco and check-in at hotel.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy Cusco at your own pace.


Dinner: Dinner on your own for a chance to explore local fare

Lodging: Casa Andina Private Collection – Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to the Sacsayhuaman Ruins.

The fortress of Sacsayhuaman forms the head of the Puma design of old Cusco. It is a wonder of technical achievement and a testament to human will. It is a mystery how it was constructed, since the stones are not found in the region, and most of the blocks weigh more than a ton. The largest rock weighs more than 300 tons. Sacsayhuaman is constructed of huge polygonal blocks which interlock with one another. The stones are so precisely placed that a knife blade cannot be inserted between them.

Excursion through the city of Cusco.

The center of Cusco is a history lesson. Modern and colonial buildings are built on top of Inca foundations, and colonial churches dominate the central square.

Lunch: Lunch at a café in the main plaza where you can enjoy the colonial architecture of the city.

Afternoon: Afternoon at leisure.

Pre-dinner presentation by local expert on the history of Inca and Andean musical instruments.

Dinner: Dinner on your own for a chance to explore local fare.

Lodging: Casa Andina Private Collection – Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Morning flight from Cusco to Lima.

Arrive in Lima.

Transfer to local restaurant for a presentation on Peruvian cuisine by a local culinary expert.

Lunch: Farewell lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Transfer to the hotel and check-in.

Free afternoon to explore Lima on your own.



Dinner: Dinner on your own for one final chance to explore Lima's culinary delights.

Evening: Depending on flight schedules, some participants will transfer to the airport this evening for a late night/early morning flight to the U.S.

Lodging: Jose Antonio Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel (dependent on flight time).

Morning: Transfer to the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima for flight to the U.S.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Meals Included: Breakfast