Voyage Number	CG-010510
Voyage price	€600
Voyage Dates	01/05/2010 - 17:00 - 08/05/2010 - 09:00
Depart from	El Callao, Peru
Finishing Port	Guayaquil, Ecuador
Voyage area	Pacific , South America
Voyage type	Adventure Voyage , Ocean Passages , Tall Ships Race
Vessel	Europa
Availability	Fully booked

Voyage Description

Velas Sudamerica 2010 Regata Bicentenario

Leg 3: Peru to Ecuador

All the Nice Girls Love a (Navy) Sailor

 A Tall Ships Fleet never seen in Europe

The countries of Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Uruguay and Brazil have some of the largest tall ships in the world (Cisne Branco, Libitad, Esmeralda, Gloria) and an amazing political sea change has occured for all these navies to come together, plus other tall ships taking part from India, Mexico Malaysia and Poland.

Cuauhtemoc

Leg 3: Tall Ships fleet sail Peru to Ecuador

Although this this ocean tall ships voyage is only 8 action packed days it makes a great adventure experience to combine with another leg (Valpariso-El Callao, or Guyaquil - Panama Canal, Colon) or as an extra to a trekking holiday in Peru or perhaps a wildlife tour of the Galapagos. Easter Island belongs to Ecudaor so if you are on route for this far flung destination why not pack in a tall ships race with a whole party fleet of South American Naval recruits and a cosmopolitain bunch of tall ship sailors on the way.

See ITINERARY (tab at top of the page) for detail on the actual voyage experience on Europa and this unique tall ships race leg on 'The Far Side of the World'

Peru - Land of the Inca & Guayaquil - Gateway to the Galapagos

See 'Start  Port Description'  for travel tips and ideas on combining this voyage with Peruvian adventure highlights ashore. Seven must do destinations and challenges in Peru include The Inca Trail, Machu Piccu, Colcha Canyon and the condors, 'Touching the Void' mountains, Lake Titicaca- before your voyage on Europa.

See 'End Port description' for travel tips and suggestions for combining this voyage with a trip to the Galapagos or Easter Island.

 

Velas Sudamerica 2010 Regata Bicentenario

8 Day Pacific Ocean Passage: Peru to Ecuador

Leg 3 of the South American Tall Ships Race 2010 starts in El Callao, Peru. El Callao is the Pacific port close to the capital Lima and Peru's main international airport, so has easy links with the rest of the world. See tab above for 'Start Port Description' for more ideas on what to see and experience in Peru.

Starting your voyage at 12 degrees south of the equator are on the same latitude as the  Marquesas - thousands of miles to the west. This leg has both the ocean currents and the South East Trades helping our 300 ton sailing ship along. Bark Europa can spread her wings and set her stunsails and skysails. Not all the fleet have these extra sails so hopefully Europa can sail past the bigger tall ships with pride. Stun'sails extend out from the yards with extra wooden spars and skysails are set on an extra skysail mast and yard which have to be hoisted aloft. The ratlines don't quite reach this extra mast so you need to be pretty agile to reach the foot ropes and stow them right at the top of the foremast and mainmast. Bark Europa can set a total of 30 sails and if the wind is fickle there will be plenty to do.

More suggestions on the best adventures in Peru in port description for El Callao

Or stay on for the next leg to Ecuador, and finish off your big tall ships adventure by booking a Galapagos Cruise from Guyquil.

El Callao, Port for the Capital City of Lima

Callao (pronounced Kay ya oh) is the still the most important port in Peru and was founded in 1537. It soon became the main port for Spanish commerce in the Pacific. Virtually all the goods produced in Peru, Bolivia and Argentina were carried over the Andes by mule to Callao, to be shipped to Panama, carried overland (before the canal) and then transported on to Spain via Cuba.

There are several islands off Callao; some are military but on Palominos is a virtually untouched island ecosystem with a large number of sea lions and seabirds.

Callao is built on and around a peninsula. There is a large naval base so the tall ships fleet will be well looked after by the Peruvian Navy.

Peru's International Airport is in El Calleo.

El Callao is the port city for Lima, Peru's capital city.

Jorge Chavez International Airport (Aeropeurto International Jorge Chavez) is Peru's main international and domestic airport and actually located in El Callao and only 7 miles (11km) from the historic centre of Lima. . so it it an important hub for all tourist destinations in Peru and South America.

Domestic flights from the same airport link you to some fantastic world heritage sites and world famous high altitude treks like the Inca Trail; Once in a lifetime tourist destinations like the ancient Inca city of Machu Piccu, so make the most of your trip.

Seven 'Must-do' Adventures in Peru in 2010

This voyage leg on tall ship Bark Europa is great value at 600 euros so it makes a great experience to combine with other Peruvian travel adventures. Do check visa requirements carefully though.

1: Arrive in Peru as a Tall Ship Sailor.

Become tall ship race crew on Barque Europa and arrive in Peru through your own efforts, powered by the wind. Compensate for your international flight to south America by spending two weeks with a minimal carbon footprint on this 1912 sailing ship. As the tall ship fleet are racing you won't be using the engine !

2: Tackle the High Altitude Inca trail

The voyage ends just before peak season for this trail, but you do need a trek permit in advance as numbers are limited. Even if you have been getting fit climbing the rigging on Bark Europa, the Inca Trail will leave you gasping with exhuastion and awe. Inca ruins, mountain beauty trekking along Inca pathways to the citidel in the mountains - Machu Picchu - one of the seven wonders of the world. Find a trekking company that takes you to this mysterious lost city in its spectacular setting high up in the Andes and can explain the Inca culture. 

3: Island Hop on Lake Titicaca

Sail the Pacific on a square rigger, cross a deep ocean trench over 8500 metres deep and the head inland to island hop on ocean at high altitude - Lake Titicaca. Clear azure blue waters, man made floating islands, indigenious communities and centuries old customs are connected with this sacred and revered body of water.

4: See Condors Soar over Colca Canyon

Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colcha Canyon is 100km long and 3000m deep. (The underwater trench you sailed accross on Europa is over twice as deep again). It is surrounded by volcanoes and snow peaked mountains in the distance. Condors soar and the local Peruvian villages are home to the Quencha. The women folk are decoratively adorned as only Peruvians know how.

5: Mountain Trekking in the Cordillera Blanca or Cordillera Huayhuash

Huayhuash is the mountain range that was the famous setting for Joe Simpson's famous book and film "Touching the Void" - A true story of being left for dead in a glacier crevasse. Don't go on your own.

6: Book an Amazonian Rain Forest Trek

7: Over the Peruvian mountains to the East side and you are in the upper catchment of the huge Amazonian Rain forest

Guayaquil - Gateway Port for the Galapagos

Flights - getting to Ecuador

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and main Pacific seaport for the whole country. The Simon Bolivar International Airport in Guayaquil (GYE) is only 10 minutes taxi drive from the city centre.

There are direct flights from all major UK Airports. As you may be flying into one country and out of another on these voyages we recommend you get quotes and advice from a flight broker for best prices.

If you plan to travel before or after your voyage please check length of stay and tourist visa requirements very carefully.

Gateway to the Galapagos

Guayaquil is the base for most Galapagos visitors. The Galapagos Islands are one of the most incredible places on earth. Starkly beautiful they lie on the Equator some 600 miles west of Ecuador. Having only recently risen from the ocean floor, there is evidence of their marine volcanic origin everywhere. If you remember the evocative scenes from the film "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World" with swimming iguanas, flightless cormorants, sea lions and huge turtles, then how can you resist sampling both the adrenalin of chasing other tall ships accross the blue horizon, and a chance to combine it with a visit the Galapagos whilst you are in Ecuador.

Typical Costs of a Galapagos 'Add on Adventure'

If you love being on the ocean and the Galapagos is on your hit list of places to see, then why not combine an 8 day ocean tall ships race as crew on the magnificant three masted sailing ship at a very reasonable 600 euros, combined with a tour of the Galapagos at the end of your sailing voyage. Although the South American Tall Ships Fleet will sail past the Galapagos and you are sure to see some of the unique ocean seabirds en route, you will not be able to explore the islands as the number of licenced boat operators allowed to visit the islands is strictly controlled.

However at the end of your Peru to Ecuador voyage on Bark Europa ( or before you join the ship for the start of the 11 day tall ships race leg from Guayaquil to Panama) you could plan a visit to the birthplace of Darwins Theory of Evolution.

Booking straight through an Ecuadorian travel agent for a  4 day wildlife boat trip to the islands is typically 1000 US dollars, but there are plenty of specialist tours with wildlife guides by UK wildlife and adventure companies.

Other Possible Adventure & Wildlife Excursions

Cerro Blanco Forest Reserve - with its impressive variety of birds.

Manglares Churute Ecological Reserve where you can take a canoe trip into the mangroves and see dolphins, water birds.

 Accommodation in Guayaquil

Try and avoid accommadation 'downtown' as not particularly safe at night. Try hotels in districts "La Garzota", "Sauces" or "Alborada".

A quick browse through an upt lonely planet guide in a bookshop should give you some e mail addresses.

Climate

You will be arriving in May - just into the dry season where the climate is warm and pleasant.

 photo by guest crew Lisa Islg (Alaskan customer who has worked in Antarctica Macmurdo Station)

56m Dutch Barque Europa

Classic Sailing staff have been working crew on Bark Europa so we can tell you what it is really like to sail on our favourite tall ship. Debbie sailed over 5000 miles on her exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, accross the Southern Ocean to the wild anchorages and ex whaling ports of South Georgia, an exciting landing on Tristan Da Cuhna and accross the South Atlantic to Cape Town.

Ocean Wanderer

56m Dutch Barque Europa has sailed the world, doubled the Horn, cruised the Southern Ocean with charter crews, and is well known in ports for sailing in under sail—almost to the dock. She has earned her reputation for piling on the canvas and really sailing. Built in 1911 and completely re rigged as a 3 masted barque in 1986, she follows the trade wind routes to maximise downwind sailing and is equally at home in the
roller-coasters of the ‘roaring forties’ or in lighter tropical conditions where she can set an awesome suite of 30 sails.
The working language on board is English but like the tea clippers of old, the cultural mix of guest and professional crew are truly international, so the conversation can get complicated—but never dull.

"I feel totally changed by the whole experience, and can't wait to get back sailing again!" Sarah S.

Square Rig Advanced Class

If you have already sailed on a tall ship or are an experienced yacht sailor wanting to immerse yourself in square rig seamanship or maybe learn some Astro Navigation, then Europa is a good choice. Approaching equatorial crossings the extra sky-sail masts and yards are sent aloft and the whole crew can easily be kept busy setting the studding sails that few training ships dare rig. The 14 professional crew and guest crew soon become indistinguishable as you learn the ropes, gain a healthy tan and perhaps help out with the ships maintenance. If you are an adventurous spirit sailing for the first time then Europa keeps the romance of sailing alive with a great library, lectures, and enthusiastic crew who can teach a range of topics. 

Europa's Captain

Europa has three regular Captains:- Klaas Gaastra, Robbert Voss and Eric who generally live on the ship for 3 month blocks. All have sailed Europa for many years, are excellent linguists and have a real love and deep knowledge about square riggers, the marine environment  and the ocean wildlife. For non- Antarctic voyages you may find Klaas and Marianne's new ships dog on board. Their last dog was an excellent whale watcher !

Bark Europa Voyages 2010-2011

Great Lakes Tall Ship Challenge - Summer 2010

North to South - Cross the Equator - Ocean Sailing

Antarctica Dates 2010-11 and Cape Horn to Cape of Good Hope via Antarctica 2011

What to Bring

Personal items
• Passport
• Flight tickets
• Voyage Information
• Any Medication
• Sun tan lotion
• Washing kit and toiletries
• Clothing for a warm climate or extra for Antarctica - plenty of layers
• Shoes and sandals that protect your toes - warm water proof boots for Antarctica
• Swimwear - warm wind proof hats for Antarctica
• Beach Towel only
• Light weight wet weather gear - heavy wieght for Antarctica
• You can charge electrical appliances if you have an adapter for European two pin sockets.
• A book for the flight - there is a good library of books ,CD's and videos on board.
• Camera and batteries – film, spare batteries and storage cards
• Sketching materials if you are an artist
• Small musical instrument are always welcome

Already provided
Hand towels
Bed linen
All meals on board
You may purchase alcoholic drinks on board.