The Globus Family of Brands recently unveiled more than 20 vacation itineraries to destinations in South and Central America. Available through Globus, two popular itineraries include the Legacy of the Incas package, taking travelers roundtrip from Lima, Peru, to Lake Titicaca; and the South American Escape package, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Clients can choose the 11-day Legacy of the Incas itinerary that includes a walking tour of Lima, a drive to the town of Ica for a flight over the Nazca Lines and a cruise to Ballestas Islands. Clients will then head back to Lima in order to fly to Cuzco, once the capital of the Inca Empire. Clients can spend the day in the Sacred Valley and explore the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, a sizeable fortress of giant stones. Clients can also enjoy a guided tour of the cathedral and the Santo Domingo Monastery. The itinerary includes a stop in Pisac, offering clients a chance to mingle with some of the locals and to experience the old mountain village way of life. There is also the opportunity to visit the Inca fortress, Ollantaytambo, before embarking on a train to Machu Picchu, “The Lost City of the Incas.” There, a local guide will give detailed background information about the people and mysteries surrounding the ruins. After free time exploring the sacred site, guests will continue to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, cruising between Taquile Island and Uros Floating Islands — the islands completely made of reeds. The departure dates begin in February, and the package is priced from $2,979 per person, land only.
Globus’ nine-day South American Escape itinerary from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires begins with a three-night stay in Rio de Janeiro. Clients can enjoy free time to relax, join a guided sightseeing tour of the cathedral or explore the 1,300-foot-high Sugar Loaf Mountain. The itinerary also includes a visit to Iguassu Falls to witness the natural waterfall with its two-mile-wide torrential downpour. Clients will then fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital. A guided walking tour of the city is offered, but clients can tour the city at their own pace during their three-night stay. Departure dates for the South American Escape are available throughout 2010 and into 2011. The package is priced from $2,469 per person.
“Not only are Americans discovering all the beauty, color and vigor Latin America offers, the dollar goes farther in South and Central America than in many other destinations,” said Scott Nisbet, president and chief executive officer for the Globus Family of Brands.
In addition to the new tour schedules, Globus offers many other South America Tour itineraries, Cruise & Tour packages through Avalon Waterways and Independent Travel schedules through Monograms. Travelers can choose to tour Mexico’s colonial cities, discover the Galapagos and Peru or cruise past Patagonian and Chilean fjords, among many other packages.
The eight-day Mexico’s Colonial Cities itinerary is scheduled to begin in March and is priced from $1,349 per person. The colonial destinations include Mexico City; followed by Teotihuacan, the site of the Pyramid of the Sun; the colorful town of San Miguel de Allende; the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Guanajuato; Patzcuaro; and Morelia. Excursions to the Diego Rivera House, Juarez Theater and Union Plaza in Guanajuato as well as sightseeing tours of Mexico City’s cathedral, National Palace, and Frida Kahlo Museum are also included.
Globus’ river cruise brand, Avalon Waterways, offers a 13-day Discover the Galapagos & Peru vacation, which sets sail from Lima, Peru, to Quito, Ecuador. The itinerary includes guided tours of Lima, Peru’s capital, and Cuzco, once the capital of the Inca Empire; excursions to the towns of Otavalo and Quito; followed by explorations of the ancient Puca Pucara, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, and Machu Picchu. A flight to Baltra Island for a four-day Galapagos Islands cruise is also included. The cruise has departure dates throughout 2010 and into 2011 and is priced from $5,169 per person, land, cruise and intra-vacation air only.
Monogram’s 13-day Patagonian & Chilean Fjords itinerary takes independent travelers from Santiago, Chile, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, offering daily breakfast, three lunches, and six three-course dinners during the trip. Starting in Chile’s capital, Santiago, clients will tour the capital city; fly to Punta Arenas and travel to Puerto Natales, the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Torres del Paine National Park; visit the Milodon Cave, Torres and Cuernos del Paine; stop by Laguna Azul and Laguna Amarga; and get a chance to see Cascada Rio Paine. After exploring the natural scenery, clients will then embark on a four-night cruise onboard the expedition ship Via Australis, taking passengers through Ainsworth Bay and Tucker Islet; Pia Bay, Beagle Channel, and past Glacier Alley; through Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay; and arrive at the “End of the World,” Ushuaia, situated on the island of Tierra del Fuego. Clients will then fly to Buenos Aires with included sightseeing and walking tours of the capital city. The itinerary is scheduled to depart in February and is priced from $6,179 per person, land and cruise only.
Globus Family of Brands
www.globusjourneys.com
