13-DAY DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF MACHU PICCHU & GALAPAGOS

When you arrive in Lima, the City of Kings, our team will be on hand to cordially welcome you at the airport. They will drive you in our private van to your hotel in the very exclusive district of Miraflores.

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, be met by your guide and drive onwards to the Sacred Valley, where you can enjoy lunch in a local restaurant (not included).

Afterwards travel to the village of Chincheros, north west of Cusco. This picturesque village was an important Inca centre and is known for the traditional Andean weaving techniques still used by its people. Wearing traditional clothes, the people of Chincheros meet in the Main Square to sell local handicrafts to visitors – a colourful and beautiful spectacle. Here you may enjoy the opportunity to learn a little about the traditional weaving techniques and also do a bit of souvenir shopping.

Afterwards travel onwards to Urubamba and check into the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

This morning, descend 1500 feet to the valley floor and find yourself by the sacred Urubamba River and the village of Pisac. In Pisac, enjoy a quick visit to a traditional market, where you can browse and buy some local souvenirs if desired. Afterwards, drive to the ruins of Pisac where you can explore the extensive ruins whilst enjoying stunning views over the beautiful valley. Enjoy a guided tour of the Citadel of Pisac, in which you will see temples, homes, altars, carvings, tunnels, caves and the famous Intihuatana, ‘the hitching post of the sun’.

Next, continue back towards Urubamba, where there will be a stop for lunch (not included), then a short drive onwards is Ollantaytambo, which is surrounded by the sacred mountains. Here, you will enjoy further exposure to Incan constructions, mainly the amazing temple of the sun, enormous blocks of perfectly carved rock, stone water fountains, stairs and terraces. See the beauty of the local people in their traditional dress.

Afterwards, transfer to Ollantaytambo Train Station (approx. 30 mins) and board a train bound for Aguas Calientes, a beautiful thermal town down the valley from the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the hotel.

After an early breakfast, a local guide will pick you up from the hotel to begin the short bus ride to the gates of Machu Picchu where you may have the opportunity (weather permitting) to enjoy one of the most spectacular sunrises of your life! After entering the Citadel you will begin a guided walking tour (approx. 2 hours), learning about the history of the area and the ruins.

Enjoy some free time afterwards to explore this mysterious ancient city at leisure.

This afternoon, meet your guide back in Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included). Be transferred to the train station for the journey to Ollantaytambo where on arrival you will be met and transferred by road back to Cusco (approx. 3.5-hour total journey).

Today, you will explore Cusco on your own. An optional Folklore Show and Dinner is available in the evening (not included).

Optional Activity: Folklore Show and Dinner – $40 per person.

Tonight head to the Tunupa Restaurant, located just past the central Plaza de Armas of Cusco (a short walk from the hotel), for a fabulous buffet dinner. There is a large selection of typical dishes including meat, fish, vegetables and desserts. The night becomes more enjoyable when the traditional dance show begins and you can get involved with folk, traditional and classical music, and sweeten your ears with the sounds of Andean instruments: Quena, charango, flute, zampoña. If you wish, you can also share the dance floor with the dancers and enjoy a great experience.

Today transfer to the airport for your one-way international flight via Lima to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. On arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel.

Quito is the largest, best-preserved colonial city in America and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the cultural capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha Volcano. Today is your free at leisure to enjoy this amazing city. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to join an optional city tour (not included). This evening, meet your tour leader in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing. At this time, you will discuss the details and any questions you may have regarding the upcoming journey through Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands. Enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.

Optional Tour: Half-day Quito City Tour – $55 per person

Enjoy a truly unique experience in the heart of Quito city and discover its history from a local eye. Walk around its narrow streets visiting the most iconic buildings such as the Golden Church, San Francisco Square, and the Main Square. Visit Luis’ local workshop “Cruz Verde”, a well-known artisan whose family has prepared the local candy “Colaciones” for the last 100 years keeping alive Quito’s tradition. For lunch, you will have the opportunity to sit with locals and enjoy a tasty meal freshly prepared using local products and flavors.

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.

Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought after blue-footed boobies. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. Afterwards, take a walk along the Playa de los Perros, where many sea iguanas are found basking in the sun. The enormous cacti, the deep, red color of the rocks and the turquoise, sparkling ocean make for great photo opportunities.

In the morning we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.

In the afternoon, you will travel by speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.

Today after breakfast you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, observe many marine animals before even setting foot on the island.

Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta rays, sea lions, and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island and its surrounding waters.

The white coral beaches of San Cristóbal are great to walk around, relax, and swim at before you return back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Enjoy some free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristobal. From here, you will take a quick flight back to Ecuador’s mainland.

Upon arrival in Quito, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to the hotel.

Today our trip will end and you will have your international departures.

Take with you your memories and photos, and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!