South America: Machu Picchu,
Galapagos and the Amazon River

Travel with Quiltmaker & Musician Ricky Tims and Sew Many Places founder Jim West as they travel to South America on this adventure to experience beauty and wonders of Machu Picchu, Galapagos Islands and the Amazon River. This 15-day quilting adventure takes place from February 4 - 18, 2009.

• Round-trip airfare from Miami
• Deluxe hotel accommodations
• A series of lectures on Creativity and Composition
• 37 meals
• Special Sew Many Places Gifts
• Sightseeing as listed in the itinerary

For those who might be interested, we are arranging a hotel package in Miami the night before our South America Adventure begins. Please contact the Sew Many Places office for more information.

We officially begin our South America Adventure with a flight to QUITO, ECUADOR from Miami. During the flight, lunch will be served onboard the plane. We will arrive at the airport, collect our luggage and transfer to a nearby hotel, where we will check in and relax. Tonight a special ‘welcome dinner’ will be served at our hotel, and we will have an opportunity to meet everyone on our trip and learn more about this extraordinary expedition from Ricky Tims and Sew Many Places founder, Jim West. L, D

This morning, following an early breakfast, we will transfer from our hotel back to the airport and fly to the Baltra Airport, located in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Upon our arrival, we will be transferred to our home for the next four nights, the Galapagos Legend cruise ship.

The M/V Galapagos Legend is a 110 passenger luxury expedition ship, built in Germany and totally converted in 2001 to a luxury ship. It is designed with good taste, and it gives an environment of “elegant adventure” and blends in smoothly with the island landscape. There are social areas that allow us to enjoy nature from its observation decks and it is ecologically sound in this magical realm.

Once we arrive onboard the ship, which will be approximately midmorning, we will be shown to our staterooms where there will be time to settle in and relax. BALTRA ISLAND is the starting point for our exciting Galapagos Island cruise. We will participate on a tour of the island of Baltra. Here we will see hundreds of cacti outcrop in the middle of the tropics. A pelican plunges, a booby flies overhead, and a frigate bird hovers way up in the sky. After our tour, we will return to the ship for a delicious lunch.

After lunch, we will sail to the beautiful BARTOLOME ISLAND, which is an open book of geology. We’ll see unique volcanic features: lava flows, cinder cones and lava tubes. We’ll make our way to the shoreline where we will see an unusual sight-the only tropical penguin on Earth. There will be time for us to “take the plunge” and enjoy the Galapagos Marine Reserve as we swim with the penguins and colorful fish. Later, we will return back to the ship for dinner and have an opportunity to relax and recall the events of the day. B, L, D

We begin today with a very early breakfast and a tour of ISABELLA ISLAND. We’ll visit the northern part of the island, which is remote, wild and even forbidding. The main feature is the line of volcanoes that lie in a northwest direction. It is easy to see how the island is formed from these huge mountains fused together. Volcan Alcedo is the second largest volcano on Isabela Island and was once popular for visitors to climb. However, a recent program to eliminate the tens of thousands of wild goats that plague the area has left huge numbers of carcasses on the slopes, and because of this, visitors are no longer permitted on Alcedo.

Volcan Darwin was named to honor Charles Darwin, the Galapagos’ most famous visitor. The Equator runs through the caldera of Volcan Wolf which is named after the Ecuadorian geologist. Sailing around Volcan Ecuador, we will see that half of the volcano has slipped into the ocean. Scientists have figured out that it caused a huge tidal wave when this occurred.

The Bolivar Channel, between Ferenandina and Isabela Islands, is among the best places for whale watching, here in the islands. The waters are relatively shallow and upwelling brings nutrients from deeper waters, so the channel is rich in plankton. We will enjoy lunch and relax onboard the ship until we reach our next destination - FERNANDINA ISLAND.

We will arrive at Fernandina Island around 3pm. We will again venture off the vessel and our guide will take us on a tour. Here we will see a wide variety of animals, as Fernandina has not suffered as much from the presence of man as the other islands. Among the animals to be seen are marine and land iguanas, tortoises, hawks, sea lions and a great variety of sea birds, such as the flightless cormorants. There will be time to enjoy the beauty of this island before returning to our ship for dinner. B, L, D

This morning, we will begin our day with a very early breakfast and visit to the SANTIAGO ISLAND. We will visit Puerto Egas with a wet landing on the dark sand beaches of James Bay. Our tour will begin with a walk along the rocky coast giving us the opportunity to view some of the Galapagos Island’s best tide pools. Sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish, including the endemic four-eyed blenny can be seen. The walk also gives us a chance to see shore birds, marine iguanas, sally light foot crabs and sea lions.

Because of time constraints, we will only have time to participate in one of the two different excursions the ship’s program will offer. It will either be to view the fur seal grotto or to see the salt crater. We will know the day we arrive which tour is being offered. The tour will keep us busy with sightseeing all morning before returning back to the ship for lunch.

In the afternoon, the ship will sail to RABIDA ISLAND. Here, red is the most prevalent color throughout the island. The male frigate bird carries a red pouch, the oystercatcher holds a red beak, the male vermillion flycatcher stands out from plants with its bright red color, and even the terrain is red, as it stands out against the blue ocean. It’s an artist’s dream pallet and photographer’s greatest discovery, as red hot lava gently flowing on black slopes. There are pelicans nesting here and sea lions peacefully resting on the red sand. There will be an opportunity for you to have a swim and discover which marine creatures will come out to play with you. Every inch of this location is booming with life, so let your senses work overtime!

Later in the day, we will return back to the ship for dinner. Following dinner, it’s up close and personal with Ricky as he shares about his quilting journey. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will explore one of the most popular of all the Galapagos Islands, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. Once upon a time violent eruptions occurred here, and evidence of this lies in the caves where lava oozed in different directions. Now, we can walk through them. This is also the place where highland vegetation has taken over the volcanic boulders. Such plants provide food for the Galapagos’ largest reptile: the giant tortoises. Watching them roving in the wild becomes the voyage’s unforgettable moment.

We will also look for orchids, ferns, mosses, and even mistletoes. The island also hosts Ecuador’s largest conservation effort: The Charles Darwin Research Station. On the northern side of this large island, land iguanas and giant tree-cacti will surprise us again.

There will be time for lunch onboard the ship before we discover the highlands of Santa Cruz, and a visit to the Reserve.

The highlands are located in the northern part of the island and can reach elevations up to 4500 feet. The vegetation here is abundant, lush and weather moist. It is possible we might see red, orange and yellow little birds playing with the blooming flora and if it’s harvest time, we can eat tropical fruits we find along the way.

The Reserve it is made up of tortoises that weigh 200 pounds and are as wild as they get, so use caution. Because the Reserve is not inside a regulated section of the park, we can go there without a guide. Hiking from Puerto Ayora to the Reserve takes about two hours through dense and low growing vegetation. We will return to our cruise ship for dinner and to recap our experience in this remarkable place. B, L, D

Following breakfast this morning, we will pack our things and disembark the ship. We will transfer to the Baltra Airport and fly back to the city of QUITO. Upon our arrival, we will be transferred to our hotel where we can relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening at our leisure. B, D

This morning following breakfast we will transfer to the Quito Airport for our five hour flight to the airport in LIMA, PERU. We will make a connection as we continue on to the town of CUSCO. We will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel. We will all enjoy dinner at the hotel and relax with a good night sleep. B, D

This morning, following an early breakfast, we will take a 4-hour train ride to the small town of AGUAS CALIENTES. This ride will take us through beautiful scenic areas of Peru. Upon our arrival in Aguas Calientes, we will take a 30-minute train ride that goes through the Urubamba Valley or Sacred Valley of the Incas, to the fabulous mountaintop ruins of MACHU PICCHU.

Located 120 km northwest of Cusco, the Inca city of Machu Picchu lay hidden from the world in dense jungle covered mountains until 1911. This 'Lost City' is one of the world's archaeological jewels and is one of South America's major travel destinations. Machu Picchu was never discovered by the Spaniards. For centuries it was buried in the jungle until Hiram Bingham found it in 1911.

The Holy City of Machu Picchu was built in stone among the flanks of two hills belonging to the eastern mountain range of the Andes, descending into the Amazonian upper sylvan. There is no doubt that Machu Picchu represents an extraordinary example of architecture and engineering.

Upon arrival, we will transfer to our hotel and enjoy a nice lunch. In the afternoon, a local guide will provide for us a leisurely walking tour of these magnificent ruins and tell us of what the city must have looked like. Dinner will be served at the hotel. B, L, D

This morning we invite you to join us as we watch the incredible sunrise over the ruins of MACHU PICHHU. It will most definitely be one of those special moments that last a lifetime. Breakfast is served at our hotel, and you will have time for photographs and walking around on your own the entire morning.

In the afternoon, we will check out of our hotel and take the train back to Aguas Calientes, where we will connect to a transfer train back to the city of CUSCO. Upon our arrival we will check into our hotel and relax. Dinner will be served at the hotel. B, D

This morning, following breakfast, we will transfer from our hotel to the Cusco Airport for our flight to LIMA. Upon our arrival, we will be met by a local guide who will provide for us a Panoramic sightseeing tour of the city. We will check into our hotel and relax, with the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. We will enjoy dinner together, which will be followed by a briefing on the final portion of our magnificent adventure - THE AMAZON. B, D

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! This morning, following breakfast, we will transfer to the Lima Airport for our flight to IQUITOS. We will be met and transferred to the Explorama dock where we will begin a twenty-five mile boat journey down the AMAZON RIVER to the Ceiba Tops Lodge, a private hotel in the middle of the rainforest, where charming rooms with air conditioning and hot water provide all of the comforts of home. Once we unpack and settle-in we will enjoy a delicious lunch.

In the afternoon, we can hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve surrounding Ceiba Tops Lodge, which includes many huge trees festooned with epiphytes. Later in the evening, following dinner, there will be time to just sit back and relax to local flute or guitar music at the El Toucan Bar or listen to one of the guides share some of the many legends of the Amazon Jungle. B, L, D

This morning we begin our day with a scrumptious breakfast, followed by a morning boat ride to visit a small village of Yagua Indians. Our guide will explain the Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the arrival of Europeans and the passing of time. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts and for a demonstration of the blowgun which some of the Yagua elders still use for hunting.

In the afternoon, we will walk to the neighboring town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river community with its own market, high school and small hospital. Later in the day we will return to our lodge for dinner and quilting chat time with Ricky. B, L, D

This morning we begin our day very early departure from our lodge by boat to the Explor Napo Lodge for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway, spanning over 500 meters (one-third of a mile), and connected by tree platforms that reach a height of over 115 feet. This is all accessible without any type of climbing skill or equipment. After lunch, we’ll visit the "ReNuPeRu" Ethnobotanical Garden where over 240 medicinal plants are cultivated by a local shaman who will explain the nature of Amazonian natural healing. It will be a fascinating and educational experience for all of us. Later in the afternoon we will return to Ceiba Tops Lodge just in time to enjoy a swim in the pool or a short nap in the hammocks before dinner. B, L, D

This morning, following breakfast, we will have a choice of a either a morning walking tour or boating excursion to enjoy, for the final time, the rainforest and Amazon River. There will be time to relax by the pool until our departure time. After lunch we will transfer to Iquitos and then onto the Lima Airport, where we will fly back to MIAMI on a very late flight. B, L, D

Our flight departs the Lima Airport at 12:35am and we will arrive non-stop at the Miami Airport approximately 6am. A light breakfast snack will be served onboard the plane during the flight. This will bring our South America Quilting Adventure with Ricky Tims to an end. And as we all go in different directions from Miami, there will still be that one common thread that will connect us to one of the most extraordinary experiences we could have ever hoped to participate in. Snack

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