Compare Cape Cod & the Islands by Globus vs Hawaii: Ocean and Islands Adventure by Discover Corps
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 8 days | 7 days |
Price From | $ 3,479 | $ 4,595 |
Price Per Day | $ 435 | $ 656 |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Standard |
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Countries Visited | ||
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Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
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Meals Included | N/A |
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 3 Dinners |
Description | Where do the nation’s VIPs go when they need some quiet R&R? Everyone from politicians to performers to pro athletes have long traded their suits and cleats for sandals and clam diggers to enjoy the breezy shores of Cape Cod and its neighboring islands. With the seaside town of Hyannis as home base, you’ll ferry to see the gingerbread cottages of Martha’s Vineyard and the imposing mansions of Nantucket. Plus, an excursion to colorful Provincetown, a favorite summer hub for artists and writers. Boston’s grand history and Newport’s colossal “cottages” – including Cornelius Vanderbilt’s The Breakers – offer giant glimpses into New England’s rich past. This Cape Cod and the islands tour also includes a visit to Plymouth to see where the pilgrims landed, and give thanks for the freshest seafood you’ve ever tasted! |
From towering volcanoes to some of the world’s best beaches, Hawaii is defined by its stunning natural beauty. On these islands, everything is more extreme - the ocean is bluer, the rainforests are greener and the warmth of the locals is exemplified by the Aloha state of mind. But if you dig deeper below the surface, you’ll quickly see that the ancient Hawaiian people have left a legacy of indigenous wisdom and sustainability that can serve as a model for many of today’s pressing issues. From tackling climate change to protecting biodiversity, innovative practices are being pioneered on these remote Pacific Islands. |
Day 1: ARRIVE IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Welcome to Beantown! This evening, mingle with your travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
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Day 2: BOSTON
Boston’s Bold History Your walking tour with a Local Guide focuses on the city’s most prominent landmarks. Balance of the day is at your leisure. You may wish to take a whale watching cruise, stroll the historic waterfront, or dine at one of the many cherished restaurants around town. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT ICONIC FOOTSTEPS “Listen, my children, and you shall hear about the midnight ride of Paul Revere!” Take a guided walking tour of the legendary landmarks of Boston. Here, in the cradle of liberty, you’ll walk in the iconic footsteps of American forefathers. See the Boston Common, the Old State House, Old North Church (where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride), Freedom Trail, and Faneuil Hall - with the opportunity to browse in Quincy Market.
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Day 3: BOSTON–PLYMOUTH–HYANNIS
Pilgrims’ Pride Head south to Plymouth, where the Pilgrims landed over 400 years ago to establish the first permanent settlement in New England. See legendary Plymouth Rock. Next, explore Plimoth Patuxet Museums and learn about the daily life for the Pilgrims and the contributions of the Indigenous Pokanoket people. Visit Mayflower II, built by hand using traditional methods and tools familiar to 17th-century. Then, on to Hyannis for a 4-night stay. Tonight, enjoy a [LF] regional seafood dinner. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITE TASTES AND TRADITIONS No visit to Cape Cod is complete without indulging in its regional bounty of seafood. Your stay in Hyannis includes a regional seafood dinner to celebrate your time in this timeless village on the cape. TOUR HIGHLIGHTNEWCOMERS IN A NATIVE LAND Bring history to life at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums with Plymouth Colony and Indigenous Pokanoket exhibits. Explore intertwined cultures, investigate changing landscapes, and understand 17th-century worldviews through immersive hands-on experiences.
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Day 4: HYANNIS. EXCURSION TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD
On the Vineyard This morning, head to the harbor for your scenic ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard for a tour with a Local Guide. Return to Hyannis where the evening is free. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Explore beautiful Martha’s Vineyard with a Local Guide, featuring Oak Bluffs with its Victorian “gingerbread” architecture. Spend some time in Edgartown, once an important shipping and whaling hub. Check out the enticing village stores, take a walk along the ocean, and admire the elegant homes along the tree-lined streets.
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Day 5: HYANNIS. EXCURSION TO PROVINCETOWN
Chilling on the Cape Enjoy free time this morning and afternoon on the Cape. Relax at the resort or travel to Provincetown. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Dinner)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE in Cape Cod with a day to relax at your resort or join an excursion to drive the length of the peninsula’s arm to Provincetown. Once there, consider an optional ride on the Provincetown Dunes or enjoy your free time to wander through “P-town,” a lively summer resort and artist’s colony.
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Day 6: HYANNIS. EXCURSION TO NANTUCKET
Cape Cod Cruising This morning, head to the harbor for your scenic ferry ride to Nantucket. Time for lunch and a stroll around Straight Wharf with its marinas, shops, and art galleries. Tour with a Local Guide spotlighting the strong Quaker influence during the early days of settlement. Return to Hyannis via a ferry ride. See the John F. Kennedy Memorial and St. Francis Xavier Church before reaching your hotel. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Drive the narrow streets and admire charming Colonial-style houses and imposing mansions that reflect the prosperity of Nantucket’s whaling era. During your free time, visit the Whaling Museum with its engaging exhibitions and rooftop observation deck.
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Day 7: HYANNIS–NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
The Gilded Age This morning, head to Newport, an elegant yachting mecca on Narragansett Bay in the “Ocean State” of Rhode Island. On a sightseeing tour of Newport, see the first state house, the nation’s oldest synagogue, and more. Afterward, explore the extravagant lifestyle of the Gilded Age when visiting the Breakers. Later, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell lunch. This evening is free to explore Newport on your own. (Breakfast,Lunch)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDARY LIVES Explore the extravagant lifestyle of a bygone era with a visit to the Breakers, shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt’s historic mansion. Marvel at the lavish residence and artistic collection in this example of American industry and wealth at the turn of the century.
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Day 8: NEWPORT–BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Safe travels until we meet again! Depart this morning for Boston. After a transfer to the airport for guests who have homebound flights, the motorcoach continues to the downtown Boston tour hotel where the tour ends. Please schedule flights from Boston’s Logan International Airport after 2 pm. Want to explore more in Boston? Extra nights are available for purchase. (Breakfast)
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Day 1: Arrive in Honolulu and Meet the Group
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, you’ll be be met at the airport and taken to your hotel just steps from the world famous Waikiki beaches. After a relaxing welcome dinner together, we’ll get to know one another and discuss the schedule for the week ahead.
Day 2: Journey to Oahu’s North Shore & Experience the Aloha Spirit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll set out for Hawaii’s iconic North Shore, famous for its big waves and stunning landscapes. Spend the morning in the historic Waimea Valley with a local organization helping to preserve the valley’s cultural heritage and rainforests. Assist with a reforestation initiative, swim in waterfalls, and see why the ancient Hawaiians deemed the valley sacred centuries ago. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Na Mea Kupono, an eco-farm that is home to Hawaii’s staple crop, taro. We’ll be hosted by this local family for a Hawaiin-style paina, or gathering, for our dinner as we learn more about their role in farming on the island.
Day 3: Climb Diamond Head & Sail out to Sea on a Catamaran
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hawaii’s South Shore is crowned by the now extinct Diamond Head volcano. We’ll take a hike this morning to the top of the rim to get a panoramic view of Waikiki from above. For those who opt not to hike, we’ll have the option to visit the Bishop Museum, home of the royal Kamehameha family and now housing an array of artifacts covering Hawaii’s vast Polynesian heritage. After lunch in Waikiki, we’ll hit the sea on a catamaran ride over the turquoise Pacific waters.
Day 4: Fly to Maui & Explore the Tropical‘Iao Valley State Park
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Enjoy a free morning to explore Waikiki. Head to the beach for a surf lesson with the Waikiki beach boys, check out the area’s cafes and shops or simply relax on white sand beaches only steps from your hotel. We’ll take a short mid-day flight across the Hawaiian archipelago to the Valley Isle of Maui. After landing, we’ll head over to the towering emerald peaks of the ‘Iao Valley on Central Maui for a guided hike of the state park. A location revered by the ancient Hawaiians, the valley also served as the site of one of Hawaii’s most important battles as King Kamehameha I tried to unite the islands in the 1700’s. Later in the evening, unwind at our Kaanapali beachfront hotel.
Day 5: Snorkel off Lana’i & Lend a Hand Protecting Sea Turtles
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We’ll have an early breakfast before cruising to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Spend the morning with breakfast on the boat (expect large boat with other travelers) and then 1.5 hours of snorkeling. Scout for wild dolphins, including acrobatic spinner dolphins, friendly bottlenose dolphins, and curious spotted dolphins. Conservationists from the Foundation will narrate your journey and take about everything from whale migration to plastics in the ocean to reef health.
We’ll return to Maui and, after lunch, spend our first afternoon volunteering alongside the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. Home to one of Hawaii’s largest sea turtle rescues and land based coral nurseries, we’ll join their staff on beach and marine debris cleanu , specifically collecting coral fragments. Take these pieces of coral back to the research center and aid in cutting them into smaller pieces to be grown at the center for a period of 8 months - something that would take the reef 20 years to regenerate! This coral is eventually placed back into the reef to bring back areas that are dead or dying.
Day 6: Maui Ocean Center Volunteering & Farewell Luau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll spend another morning helping the conservation team at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. On Maui and other Hawaiian islands, sea turtles are being threatened as their habitat is increasingly depleted. Green turtle populations are being impacted by events such as the 2018 hurricane that washed out the most important nesting beach for this species in the entire archipelago. We’ll continue to lend a hand on our projects while learning about some of the initiatives in place to preserve the fragile ecosystem both on land and underwater, including going out with the team to find turtles and tag them for research purposes.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have some free time to enjoy the beach, swim in the ocean or venture into the coastal town of Lahaina. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together along with a traditional island luau.
Day 7: Depart Maui or Continue on for the Post-Trip Extension
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check-out of your rooms. The rest of the day is free to relax at the beach or explore nearby Lahaina until your flight home, or continue on to our optional post-trip extension along the gorgeous road to Hana.