Galapagos and Machu Picchu Tour

Lima, Peru’s capital and largest city, has a rich and interesting history – from pre-Inca civilisations, to the Inca Empire, the Spanish colonial rule and up to the present day where it has expanded to a metropolitan area with over 9 million inhabitants. This rich history includes times of great prosperity, devastating earthquakes, wars, colonisation, decline and mass emigration from the surrounding countryside … clues pointing to these periods of change can be found all over this expansive coastal city, which boasts pre-Inca ruins, picturesque traditional districts, modern skyscrapers and extensive shopping malls, world class restaurants, sprawling ‘barrios’, and one epic coastline – over which the more adventurous among us can go paragliding!

The exact order of your itinerary over these first two days depends on the timing of your flight into Lima. If your flight arrives before midday then there will be time for your tour of Lima in the afternoon of the same day, or, if you prefer, we can keep this day free and then tour Lima the next morning, followed by a transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco (about 1.5 hours, not included) and a transfer to your hotel – either in the Cusco or in the Sacred Valley.

In your half day tour of the city we will show you some of the key historic sites and buildings in the center of Lima, finishing with a visit to the excellent Larco Museum – one of the top attractions in Lima and rated as one of the top museums in the world. Your hotel will be located in the popular and upscale districts of either Miraflores, San Isidro, or Barranco, so you’ll be in walking distance from some of Lima’s most picturesque areas. Why not go for a stroll through the parks along the coastal cliff-top walkway known as El Malecon, pay a visit to the beautiful, quaint, and bohemian district of Barranco; or you might like to stay at the Larco museum for lunch or dinnner at their top rated restaurant – get in touch with one of our travel gurus to discuss your various options.

Your Lima city tour highlights include: Miraflores, San Isidro, Huaca Huallamarca ruins, Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Parque de Amor, Archbishop’s Palace, Municipality & Cathedral, Convent of Santo Domingo, & Larco Museum.

Today, after your stay in Cusco the night before (or in the Sacred Valley, if you opted to travel directly to the valley from the airport), we will descend to the lower altitudes in this famous valley to discover the best and most culturally authentic aspects of the region with this full day tour, which begins at the ‘Inca’s Balcony’: a beautiful terrace which gives you an impressive view of Chinchero – where twelve families still preserve their traditional customs, showing you the ancestral way in which they process & dye the wool to obtain those vivid colors for which they are famous.

Later we will visit Ollantaytambo, one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, and one of the few places where the Spanish conquistadors lost a major battle. Famous for its ‘andenes’ (terraces dug into the slopes of mountains for agriculture), Ollantaytambo was a highly effective fortress that also served as a temple. After exploring the ruins we will continue to the nearby town of Ollantaytambo, the oldest continually inhabited town in the Americas and one of the best surviving examples of Inca city planning, with its narrow cobblestone streets & unique architecture.

Tour includes: Chinchero, ‘Inca Balcony’, traditional weaving families, Ollantaytambo ruins & town.
Lunch is included.

Your half day tour of this world famous UNESCO world heritage city includes several highlights within the historical center plus some surrounding Inca ruins, including the huge fortress of Saqsaywaman – the site of a key battle during the Spanish siege of Cusco in the early 16th century. This tour will give you a great overview of Cusco: with your professional, knowledgeable, and fully fluent English speaking guide, and with all your entrance fees included. At the tour’s end you will be dropped off at your hotel and the guide will let you know about tomorrow’s schedule (and any questions you may have – take full advantage of their local expertise!).

Tour includes: Koricancha ‘Temple of the Sun’, Plaza de Armas (main square) incl. Cathedral, ‘La Compañia de Jesus’ Church, Kenko, Puca Pucara (panoramic view), Sacsayhuaman Fortress.

Today, after breakfast, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight to Quito, via Lima (7 hours travel time, approx). Upon your arrival in Quito, we’ll be waiting to transfer you to your selected hotel in Quito.

The next day, after a relaxed breakfast, it’s time to tour this unique high-altitude capital city of Ecuador. Ecuador itself has a rich historical tapestry, with fascinating indigenous cultures; as well as highly varied geography, with slow winding rivers and lush tropical forests, spectacular snowcapped volcanoes and some of the most exciting wildlife on earth. Your tour of the capital city starts at the ‘Mitad del Mundo’; a site located just 30-45 minutes north of Quito, where a monument marks the equator at its closest point to the city. Archaeological evidence shows that both pre-Inca and Inca civilizations recognized and celebrated the equinox, the day the sun is directly over the equator.

Later we will visit the “Ciudad Mitad del Mundo” a group of buildings designed to explain the significance of the site, as well as the Ethnographic or Intiñan Museum, located right on the Equator. Here you will have the chance to plant your feet in two hemispheres at the same time. Back in Quito, after lunch we will visit the city’s impressive colonial center, the reason Quito was the first city to be named a world heritage site by the United Nations. First on the agenda is a walk through the main plaza, the ‘Plaza de la Independencia’, where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important churches built around the XVI and XVII centuries, including the San Francisco Monastery, a building begun only 5 days after the founding of the city.

Lunch is included.

Today you will board an early plane to the Galapagos for the final part of your incredible trip, where your yacht will be waiting for you to board. The cruise operator’s team will be waiting for you in Galapagos airport to help you with the boarding procedure.

For this part of your trip we can book you onto literally any yacht you like, we have our preferred options based on our collective experience and feedback from our customers, but if you find one that you particularly like then we will gladly help you book it at a discounted rate and take care of all the logistics for you.

For this itinerary, in this price bracket, our yachts of choice are the MV Legend and the MY Coral I & II yachts, which in our experience offer excellent value for money considering the level of service and quality of the fittings, tours and activities that you will enjoy while on their vessels.

What follows below is a 4 day example of one of their popular cruise itineraries on the MV Legend (there are 8 itineraries to choose from for each vessel, with 4, 5, 8, 10 & 14 day options).

The cruises are full board, with all meals, tours and activities included. Throughout the year, this cruise operator even has special offers which include free Galapagos flights & free cabin upgrades. Ask our ‘cruise connoisseurs’ for more info!

After being briefed by the embarkation team and boarding your yacht, you will travel to Bartolome Island – which is considered to have one of the most iconic landscapes of the entire archipelago; overlooking the famous Pinnacle Rock and the austere Santiago Island beyond, the view from the top of is well worth the climb up the wooden boardwalk. This volcanic scene has often been likened to a lunar landscape. After soaking in the view you’ll have the opportunity to come face to face with Galapagos penguins, white-tipped reef sharks and playful sea lions during your first snorkeling session.

• Difficulty level: moderate
• Type of terrain: trail made of 372 steps.
• Duration: 1 ½-hour walk / 1-hour snorkeling
• Dry or wet landing available.

AM – South Plaza Islet

Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas will all be present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulent plants studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, we’ll spend time watching birds fly past at eye level in the updraughts. Frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters and of particular note: red-billed tropicbirds will be on display. Back at sea level, we once again encounter land iguanas, some of which have hybridized with their resident marine cousins.

• Difficulty level: moderate
• Type of terrain: rocky
• Duration: 2 hour walk
• Dry landing.

PM – North Seymour Island

This flat, uplifted, island is an important spot to see frigatebird males courting the females by clicking, bill-clapping, shuddering and flapping their wings, all while showing off their grossly inflated, bright red gular pouch. We will also likely see courting blue-footed boobies displaying their unique feet while ‘dancing’ to a prospective mate. Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, crashing surf and distant views of the Daphne Islands help top off a unforgettable day.

• Difficulty level: intermediate
• Type of terrain: rocky
• Duration: 2 hour walk, 30  minutes snorkelling
• Dry landing.

AM – Pitt Point & Islet

Sea lions will greet us as we land on the beach and prepare for our climb to a high point on the steep eroded tuff cone. This is the only place on the islands where we will enjoy the chance to see all three of the booby species in the same place. The red-foots will be perched on the Cordia lutea and small trees, the Nazca’s on the ground near the cliff edge while the bluefoots will be a little further inland. Frigatebirds will be all around also… and the views are breathtaking.

• Difficulty level: demanding
• Type of terrain: rocky
• Duration: 2.5 hour walk, 40 minutes snorkeling or kayaking
• Wet landing.

PM – Cerro Brujo

From the motor boat, as you head towards the shore, you’ll feel humbled by the immensity of the stunning cliffs of ‘Sorcerer’s Hill’. Once on land you can enjoy sharing the beach with sea lions, or go snorkeling around the shore, or take a walk to a hidden lagoon where you might spot black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels and white-cheeked pintails.

• Difficulty level: easy
• Type of terrain: sandy
• Duration: 1 hour walk, 1 hour snorkeling
• Wet landing.

AM – Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve (San Cristobal Island)

In the moist highlands of San Cristobal we will visit the giant tortoise breeding center ‘La Galapaguera’ to witness the most iconic creature of the archipelago in its various life stages. The tortoises wander in a semi-natural habitat which lends itself for good photographic opportunities. The aim of the reserve is to help restore populations of the threatened San Cristobal tortoise back into the wild. Later, you’ll walk into the town, where there are shops to purchase local handicrafts and souvenirs.

• Difficulty level: moderate
• Type of terrain: sandy
• Duration: 40 minute bus drive to the reserve, 1 hour visit approx.
• Dry landing.

You will then transfer to the airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador – either Guayaquil or Quito, depending on which works best for your international flights. A great extension for this tour would be a trip through the Ecuadorian highlands to the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, and from there you can visit the Amazon rainforest (you could do this while you’re in Peru, also!). There are so many excellent options to chose from in this region of South America … the possibilities are practically limitless!

The Amazon rainforest from 395 per personMexico from XXX

Mexico CXCX

Cancun XXX