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Saturday, February 14th - Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! Yesterday we spent the day traveling by boat to Iquitos then by plane to Cusco, Peru - but Cusco was not our final destination. This morning we are going to 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 (The 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 "rediscovered" it in 1911. We will check into our hotel for a two night stay and spend the rest of the day exploring these ancient ruins. I'm particularly thrilled that we'll have two opportunities for Machu Picchu sunsets and two opportunities for Machu Picchu sunrises. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to see Machu Picchu in the mist. We've saved the best for last and I expect the next two days to be life changing.

Read more about Machu Picchu.

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Thursday, February 12th - Today are going to travel by boat to the Explor Napo Lodge for a rain forest breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll hike to the spectacular Canopy Walkway, connected by tree platforms that reach a height of over 115 feet above the forest floor - all the while trying to keep a tally of the macaws we see. Later, 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. Later in the afternoon we will return to Ceiba Tops Lodge and perhaps enjoy a short nap in the hammocks. I for one will be ready to catch thirty winks.

Tomorrow is a travel day where we leave Iquitos and the Amazon and we will spend the day making our way to Cusco, Peru.

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Wednesday, February 11th - This morning we begin our day with a morning boat ride to visit a small village of Yagua Indians. Fortunately we have a guide will explain the Yagua Indian culture and how it was affected by the arrival of Europeans. Acutally it was the Yagua Indians that gave the Amazon river their name. When the Spanish explorers came, they met angry Yagua warriors wearing grass skirts - but because of their dress the Spaniards the men were mistaken for women. The Spaniards named the river after the Greek tribe-like women warriors - Amazons. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the local crafts. I hear there is going to be a blowgun demonstration. The Yagua elders still use them for hunting. I'll be sure to stand out of the way. In the afternoon, we will walk to the neighboring town of Indiana. Originally a Franciscan mission, Indiana has grown into a large river community.

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Tuesday, February 10th - This morning we fly from Lima to IQUITOS. From Iquitos we will embark on a twenty-five mile boat journey down the Amazon River to the Ceiba Tops Lodge, a private hotel in the middle of the rainforest. This is the start of the second portion of our three-destination tour. In the afternoon we are free to hike in the beautiful primary rainforest reserve thick with huge trees festooned with epiphytes (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3). In the evening we can relax to local flute or guitar music. I think I'll play my flute too! Wish you were here! Hi mom! Hi Dad! Hi Miss Jeanette!

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Hey eyerybody! We have arrived at our airport in Ecuador and I have an Internet connection on my iTouch. Just reporting in to say that the trip so far has FAR exceeded my expectations. I have taken about 3000 photos. Sorry to be so brief, but I am just thankful to have a way to say hello.

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Sunday, February 8th - Today we get to explore one of the most popular of all the Galapagos Islands, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND. Once upon a time violent eruptions occurred on the island, and evidence of this lies in the caves where lava oozed in different directions. We are scheduled to walk through these lava tubes. This is also the place where highland vegetation has taken over the volcanic boulders. These plants provide food for the Galapagos’ largest reptile: the giant tortoises. Watching these ancient reptiles roving in the wild should be unforgettable. The island also hosts Ecuador’s largest conservation effort: The Charles Darwin Research Station. The reserve it is made up of the famous tortoises that weigh 200 pounds. On the northern side of this large island we hope to see iguanas and giant tree-cacti (scroll mid-way down page).

Tomorrow we fly to Lima, Peru where we will spend the night before heading into the jungle. Join me on Tuesday and we'll tour the Amazon.

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Saturday, February 7th - Today we get to visit SANTIAGO ISLAND. We expect to walk along the rocky coast enjoying some of the Galapagos Island’s best tide pools where sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish (including the endemic four-eyed blenny) can be seen. In the afternoon, we'll sail to RABIDA ISLAND. where red is the most prevalent color. The male frigate bird (above) 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. I expect this island is an artist’s and photographer’s dream.

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Today we are touring the northern part of Isabella Island which we are told will be remote, wild and even forbidding. The main feature is a line of volcanoes. 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. In the afternoon we will arrive at Fernandina Island and venture off the vessel. Here we will see a wide variety of animals such as marine and land iguanas, tortoises, hawks, sea lions and a great variety of sea birds, such as the flightless cormorants.

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Thursday, February 5th - Today we will arrive at the Baltra airport at the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS and board the 100 passenger Galapagos Legend cruise ship. We will sail to the beautiful BARTOLOME ISLAND, and 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.

More about Bartolome Island.

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Today Justin and I will fly to Miami, FL and tomorrow we fly to South America to begin the tour. Remember that starting Thursday you can follow me on The Daily Blog. For those of you who want to enhance the virtual experience, National Graphic TV has an upcoming show called Darwin's Secret Notebooks that will really bring it all home. Set your DVRs or tune in during one of the times listed below. I will actually be at the Darwin Research Station the day before the first of these air. How cool is that!

Darwin's Secret Notebooks also airs on:

Tue Feb 10, 7PM - Fri Feb 13, 8PM - Fri Feb 13, 11PM - Tue Feb 17, 3PM - Fri Feb 20, 4PM

Check your local listings for exact times.