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Machu Picchu, Peru & Ecuador
Thanks for stopping by!
Please note:
This is not a business. Not for profit. It is a hobby tour... For Machu Picchu! for the "Love of Orchids and Travel." I've arranged this trip to break even. So I hope you agree that this is the best value available. Birders & Photographers are welcome. This will be my 4th visit to Ecuador with as many as 24 travelers. This itinerary can be scheduled from March through November 2010. However the month of April and week 2 & 3 of June have been booked. Get some friends together or your orchid society can offer exclusive group travel for upto 16 seats.
ALL INCLUSIVE: Flights, Transportation, Driver and Guide/Translator, Hotels and Meals! Just bring incidental cash for shopping and tips.
An Incredible Two Week Trek through Peru to Ecuador!
Above the clouds. Want to visit Machu Picchu and see it's native orchids in bloom? This is the best time to see them. A trip through lush jungle & simply breathtaking scenery!
Our host company is Ecuagenera. Check their 50 year history, visitor's gallery and catalog at www.ecuagenera.com.
Seats are still available!
We will depart various airports on connecting in Miami on American Airlines to Lima, Peru. Some international participants will meet us in Lima. Others may fly nonstop from i.e. NY at significant savings.
The itinerary from our host:
Day One. Arrive in Lima with transport to the Hotel Ejecutivo in Miraflores Lima.
Day 2. Take flight from Lima to Cusco. Spend the day visiting the different museums and Inca ruins here in the nice city of Cusco. Today we will visit different places and we will see temples that have been transformed into museums, where Inca relics are kept to keep the history and legends alive. This has been preserved and guarded by Spanish priests, who were very interested in keeping these things for prosperity. Stay at Hotel Royal Inti.
Day 3. Take a coach at 6 am, travel by bus for 1.5 hours, then transfer to a train for another 1.5 hours to Aguas Calientes, and then another 15 minute bus trip to reach Machu Picchu. Spend the whole day in Machu Picchu, then go back to Aguas Calientes to rest. Plenty of time to see the ruins and the Orchids. Stay at Hotel Aguas Calientes.
Day 4. Spend another incredible day at Machu Picchu. Stay at Hotel Aguas Calientes.
Day 5. Spend the morning and afternoon in Aguas Calientes and walk around the small town to see some more orchids. Back to Cuzco on the 3:30 train and arrive to Cuzco at 7pm. Hotel Royal Inti.
Day 5. Flight to Lima and transfer to Piura. Piura is a city two hours from the Ecuadorian border. We will drive to the border with Ecuador and stay in Macara, within the Ecuadorian side of the border at Hotel Macara.
Day 6. In Macara we will visit the Cattleya maxima habitat, usually in flower at this time of the year. In the same habitat, we will be able to see Encyclia, Catasetum, Oncidium, Maxillaria and other orchids. Stay at Hotel Macara.
Day 7. Macara to Loja. Loja is in the Andes of Ecuador and on the road we will see some Oncidiums, Telipogons, Fernandezias, Trichoxalpins and other plants. Spend the night at Ramses Hotel.
Day 8. Loja to El Pangui. Visit the National Park Podocarpus. The National Park Podocarpus is one of the biggest of Ecuador, with over 35,000 hectares and very rich in biodiversity, where recently new species of poison arrow frogs have been discovered. www.nature.org/wherewework/southamerica/ecuador/work/art5120.html We will see orchid species like Odontoglossums, Masdevallias Lycomormiun, Lycastes, Oncidiums, Stanhopeas, Gongoras, etc. etc. Stay at Hotel los Hachales.
Day 9. El Pangui Visit the Cordillera del Condor, which is very rich in Orchids. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/ecuador/cordillera/project-findings.shtml Stay at Hotel los Hachales.
Day 10. Drive from El Pangui to Gualaceo. We will go from 835m of altitude at El Pangui to 2,300m (7544 ft) in Gualaceo. On the way we will visit the Phragmipedium besseae habitat, Telipogon, Masdevallias, Prostecheas, Epidendrum, etc etc. Stay in Hosteria Uzhupud.
Hosteria Uzhupud is a beautiful place to unwind after the trip, with green spaces and gardens to walk through, as well as a small fenced garden where orchids provided by Ecuagenera are kept.
Day 11. Visit the Ecuagenera Nursery in Gualaceo, where you will be able to visit the greenhouses accompanied by the expert staff at Ecuagenera. You will be able to see many species and hybrids and choose from more than 1,000,000 plants to buy. We will also visit the artisan and handcrafted goods market in Chordeleg. Stay in Hosteria Uzhupud.
Day 12. Drive to Guayaquil and pass the National Park el Cajas. Many lakes and beautiful views. We will see some Cyrtochillums, Sobrallias, Pleurothalis, Epidendrums, and many other things. Stay at Hotel Alexander in Guayaquil.
Day 13. Transfer to the Airport in Guayaquil. 'Sayonara'
*EXTRA DAY ADDED. Much effort has been invested into shaping the itinerary, searching airlines and negotiating to make this tour the best value for orchid travelers. To that end, I'm pleased to inform that we have added a second full day in Machu Picchu ($200) without an increase in total price.
TOTAL PRICE in November 2009 was $2848. The price should be about the same. This includes almost everything; ground transportation, 2 domestic flights in Peru/Ecuador, translator/guides, hotels, meals with all transfers from the hotel to airport. The tour is based on double occupancy. Add $200 for a single room. This tour does not include alcoholic beverages. Does not include tips and incidental expenses. Orchids will be available for purchase and our host Ecuagenera can handle the required paperwork and ship the orchids to your door.
Want to join us? Have questions? Please send an email to lee@classicorchid.com or call Lee Bredeson at 843-384-0102.
DETAILS:
Please check with me before you purchase airfare.
Airfare. The $2848 price is based on airfare from Miami round trip to Peru/Ecuador. Originating your flight from a large airport near you should add $50 to $150. I will be glad to help you investigate the best value from an airport near you.
The Peru/Ecuador portion of the tour is $2450 and should be paid 45 days before departure.
