Silversea Expeditions Introduces Galapagos Cruise & Land Packages

Machu Picchu

Most travelers wouldn't fly all the way to South America for a three or four night cruise, but when combined with a pre- or post-cruise land package for a total of eight to eleven days, it certainly sounds enticing. Silversea Expeditions is offering travelers just such an opportunity to experience special cruise and land packages for its 2013 Galápagos program. Eight new shorter Silver Galapagos voyages have been combined with South America land adventures to create a collection of vacation packages of 8, 10, or 11 days.

"These new cruise and land packages are convenient options for the luxury traveler who wants to experience a Galápagos cruise adventure and also explore some of the most intriguing regions of South America, but who may not have time for a lengthy vacation," said Ellen Bettridge, Silversea's president of the Americas.

NEW 2013 GALÁPAGOS EXPEDITION CRUISES

The new 4-day, Baltra-to-San Cristóbal expedition voyages, encompassing the islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, and Seymour Norte, are:

8301A: Sept 28-Oct 2
8307A: Nov 9-13
8309A: Nov 23-27
8311A: Dec 7-11

The new 3-day, San Cristóbal-to-Baltra voyages, tracing a route through the islands of Española, Santa Cruz, and Plazas Sur, are:

8303B: Oct 16-19
8307B: Nov 13-16
8309B: Nov 27-30
8311B: Dec 11-14

Silver Galapagos expedition cruises offer adventurous travelers the life-enriching chance to discover a wild, pristine paradise that has long been regarded as a natural laboratory of evolution. On complimentary expeditions ashore guided by an experienced expedition team (certified by the Galápagos National Park Service), Silversea's guests may experience up-close encounters with an abundance of wildlife that includes sun-basking land iguanas, giant tortoises, blue- and red-footed boobies, colorful marine iguanas, sea lions, penguins and Darwin's famous finches.

The cruise and land packages include an expedition voyage aboard the luxurious, all-suite Silver Galapagos, Silversea's Galápagos air package (between Quito or Guayaquil and Galápagos), the Galápagos National Park entrance fee, plus pre- or post-cruise South America land extensions. The land programs include deluxe hotel accommodations, all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals. While air travel between guest's home and Lima, Quito or Guayaquil is not included, optional roundtrip air packages from select U.S. and Canadian gateways to South America are available through Silversea.

GALÁPAGOS CRUISE & LAND PACKAGES

Below is a sampling of the new Galápagos cruise and land package options:

8-Day Machu Picchu & Galápagos Package: Guests will enjoy 2 days surrounded by the history and culture of Ecuador's vibrant capital on the "Quito Discovery" land extension before embarking on their 3-day Galápagos expedition cruise. After witnessing the natural treasures of the Galápagos Islands from their base of luxury aboard Silver Galapagos, guests will then journey to Peru to spend 3 days exploring the glorious Lost City of the Incas on an exciting "Machu Picchu Explorer" land adventure, highlighted by a scenic journey in Peru's Vistadome train.

10-Day Puno, Lake Titicaca & Galápagos Package: The magnificent Andes and Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, are the setting for an exciting 4-day "Puno & Lake Titicaca" pre-cruise adventure. Highlights include a visit to the Sillustani tombs, a cruise to the floating reed islands of the Uros people with their centuries-old way of life, and a visit to Taquile Island to admire ancient weaving traditions. Guests then embark Silver Galapagos for an unforgettable 4-day expedition voyage through the Galápagos Islands, followed by 2 days absorbing the fascinating sights and attractions of Ecuador's capital on the "Quito Discovery" post-cruise land extension.

11-Day Amazon Explorer & Galápagos Package: Guests enjoy 2 days taking in the artistic, cultural and historic attractions of Ecuador's capital on the "Quito Discovery" land extension before embarking on their 3-day expedition voyage aboard the elegant Silver Galapagos. Following the Galápagos program is a unique 6-day journey to Peru's Amazon basin where it's possible to witness pygmy marmosets, howler monkeys, colorful toucans and other exotic wildlife that inhabit the region's lowland forests. Participants will cruise the Amazon in all-suite luxury aboard m/v Aqua, dining on perhaps the finest Amazonian-Peruvian gourmet cuisine on the river. Expert naturalists will be on hand to share insights about this amazing and fragile ecosystem.

For more details on the new Galápagos cruise and land packages, visit Silversea.com/expeditions.

Image Courtesy of Silversea Expeditions