Passage of the Condor
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PASSAGE OF THE CONDOR A PACIFIC COASTAL ODYSSEY OF CHILE & PERU ABOARD THE MS HEBRIDEAN SKY 25TH MARCH TO 10TH APRIL 2017 & 19TH MARCH TO 4TH APRIL 2018 Atacama Desert Sea Lion, Isla Ballestas ur coastal cruise along the Pacific shores of South America will be dominated by the ever present Andes as we make our way from central Chile to Peru. This is one of the world’s great expedition cruises. O ECUADOR Few regions in the world offer the diversity and ecosystems of those found in this intriguing part of South Guayaquil America. From the towering snow-capped Andes to barren coastal desert, the landscapes are unparalleled. PERU Our voyage takes us along the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current that is a haven for an amazing concentration Salaverry Lima of seabirds, marine mammals and wildlife. To highlight the wildlife, we will be visiting the Islas Ballestas Callao National Reserve, the Humboldt Penguin Nature Reserve and many other remote coastal sites and islands. Isla Ballestas This trip is as equally rich in geological, archaeological and cultural interest as well with visits included Matarani Arica to the Pintados Geoglphs, the Peruvian capital of Lima and the ruins of Chan Chan. There will also be the Iquique opportunity to join optional excursions to both the Atacama Desert and the Nazca Lines. Antofagasta Isla Pajaros / CHILE Isla Chanaral The Itinerary Coquimbo Valparaiso regional capital of La Serena. One are protected today as a nature Day 1 London to Santiago, Chile. Day 8 Iquique. Santiago Fly by scheduled indirect flight. of Coquimbo’s highlights is the reserve that is home to sea lion Arrive this morning picturesque Barrio Ingles. This colonies, nesting boobies, pelicans, in Iquique which Day 2 Santiago. Arrive this morning historical quarter opposite the port cormorants as well as Marine Otters. grew in the 19th and transfer to your hotel for an stands as a testament to the strong century due to the overnight stay. This afternoon join a British influence in this port city. Day 6 At sea. Enjoy a day at sea as large deposits of sodium city tour including the Presidential British settlers arrived to the area we continue our journey north. nitrate found in the area. Palace, Plaza des Armas and the in the mid-1800s and the legacy On a morning excursion Cathedral before enjoying the view remains in the architecture of this Day 7 Antofagasta. Originally part we will discover the desert from San Cristobal Hill over the barrio. Rising impressively above of Bolivia and captured by Chile and pampa region inland city. The remainder of the day and the city is the 91 metre Cross of the in the war of the Pacific in the from Iquique and see the remains evening are free for independent Third Millennium. After lunch in late 19th century, Antofagasta is of a once flourishing nitrate town in arrangements. a local restaurant we head inland today a hub for the Chilean mining Humberstone. Founded in 1872 at where the landscape transforms industry and handles most of the the junction of the Pan-American Day 3 Valparaiso. After breakfast in itself into a lush array of plantations minerals from the Atacama. There Highway and the road to Iquique, the hotel we will make our way to the and vineyards set amongst rolling will be the opportunity to join an it is today a ghost town after it port of Valparaiso. Our route will take hills. We will stop at the Gabriela optional overnight tour to the stopped operations in 1960. We us through the Casablanca Valley, Mistral Museum in the village of Atacama Desert to enjoy the sites continue to the Pintados Geoglyphs one of the country’s premier wine Montegrande, enjoy a pisco tasting of pre-Colombian, colonial and where over 60,000 square yards areas and we will enjoy a tasting and in the Elqui Valley and have a stroll contemporary culture, the unique of hill slopes are decorated by lunch at one of the vineyards. We through the Main Square. geology, volcanoes and lagoons more than 400 figures depicting continue to Valparaiso, a city built on and stay overnight in one of the humans, animals, birds or abstract 42 hills, where we will enjoy a scenic Day 5 Isla Pajaros & Isla Chanaral. desert hotels. We return to the ship shapes, isolated or arranged into drive to the Alegre Hill to see the Today we enjoy the benefits of small in the evening of day 8 in Iquique. thematic groups. The geoglyphs colourful houses before enjoying the ship cruising as we use our Zodiacs For those remaining on board we are estimated to date from 1,000 to views from the Yugoslavian Terrace to view the islands off the Chilean will take a walking tour around 1,400 A.D. and are thought to be over the bay. We will then take the coast. Spend the morning at Isla Plaza Colon and see the Clock part of a votive centre. funicular to Plaza Sotomayor to re- Pajaros to view the colonies of Tower, the Old Customs House join our coach and transfer to the MS cormorants, boobies and Humboldt and the former Railway Station. Day 9 Arica. Enjoy a choice of Hebridean Sky in the late afternoon. penguins that reside here. Over Continue to the Huanchaca Ruins excursions today from the port lunch we continue our journey north where we see the striking remains of Arica. A morning tour will Day 4 Coquimbo. This morning we to Isla Chanaral, the largest in a of a Bolivian silver refinery built in provide an introduction to Arica’s enjoy a glimpse of the important series of islands once known as an 1868 and closed in 1903 and see La monuments and historic buildings port city of Coquimbo, with its important site for guano, a valuable Portada, a natural erosion-carved including the Customs House and strong British influence, and the agricultural fertilizer. The islands arch-like rock formation. Church of San Marcos, constructed www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Condor Iquique Arica Ancient ruins of Chan Chan by Gustave Eiffel in 1876. Afterwards the city: Misti, Chachani and Pichu in name of the Spanish Crown. capital of the Chimu, where we continue outside of the city to see Pichu. During the vice royalty the city explore the ruins of the largest the geoglyph art on the nearby became the most important capital adobe city in the world, marvelling hillsides. A visit to the San Miguel Day 11 At sea. Relax on board. in the region, and as testament at their skilful irrigation and Archaeological Museum reveals its to this, today you can still see engineering projects. Alternatively fascinating display of Chinchorro Day 12 Isla Ballestas & Tambo the imposing buildings that were choose to drive a few miles inland Mummies, the oldest known Colorado. Influenced by the cold constructed principally in the to the intriguing desert city of mummies in the world dating back Humboldt Current, Isla Ballestas city centre. We will see the most Trujillo. This oasis city was founded 7,000 years. We return to Arica via marine preserve area serves important buildings in the Plaza by Pizarro in 1536 and still exudes the Morro where the history and as a breeding refuge for birds, Mayor, such as the Government much Spanish colonial charm. Visit arms museum offers an insight resting areas for mammals and Palace, the beautiful cathedral; the Casa Urquiaga, a mansion into the battles of the War of the spawning grounds for many marine and the various small palaces and containing pre-Columbian ceramics Pacific and also wonderful views organisms. We take local boats colonial balconies that adorn the and the Plaza de Armas with its over the city. Return to the ship from the port of Pisco to explore capital of the Peruvian Republic, imposing 17th century cathedral. for lunch and a free afternoon. these unparalleled, fascinating all of which was declared a World Alternatively have an early start islands where we should see a Heritage Site by UNESCO thanks Day 15 At sea. Our lecture and choose a full day tour to the variety of seabirds, such as the to its well preserved architecture. programme will continue today Lauca National Park which straddles very localised Peruvian booby, and and you will also view a slideshow the Chilean / Bolivian border and mammals such as the southern Day 14 Salaverry. After a morning of photos from your voyage before offers a wealth of flora and fauna, sea lion. On our way back to at sea we arrive in Salaverry at enjoying a Farewell Dinner this interesting culture and history, the mainland we will pass the lunchtime and enjoy a choice of evening. and outstanding natural beauty. “candelabro” a giant figure etched activities this afternoon. Either visit This journey features the region’s into the coastal cliffs. Return to the Hauca de la Luna to see the Huaca Day 16 Guayaquil, Ecuador to unique Altiplanic scenery, from ship for lunch and this afternoon del Sol pyramids from the Moche London. Disembark this morning green agricultural oasis to desert we travel to the Tambo Colorado, culture, a remarkable pre-Inca and transfer to the airport for our hills, pre-Inca archaeological sites one of the best preserved Inca civilisation. Continue on to the ruins scheduled indirect flight to London. to snow-capped peaks, magnificent archaeological sites in Peru. of Chan Chan, a UNESCO World volcanoes and one of the highest Named after the abundant use Heritage Site and the imperial Day 17 London. Arrive this afternoon. altitude lakes in the world at Lake of colour on the walls it was one Chungara home to pink flamingos.