Explore the beautiful Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands on this unique vacation experience! Cruise the Archipelago of the Galapagos and tour the amazing cities of Peru and Ecuador. Enjoy learning about cultural traditions and sampling delicious regional cuisine as well as viewing a wide variety of marine wildlife! Over the span of 14 days, you'll experience many unique scenic sites and historical areas that will make this trip unforgettable.
Air 1: Overnight Flight
Begin your exciting journey with an overnight flight* to your first destination.
Day 2: Arrive Lima, Peru - Tour Begins
This morning you'll be arriving in Lima, "The City of Kings" in Peru. Rest up from your flight and then embark on a tour of the city this afternoon. Plaza Mayor and the Government Center will be highlights of your tour, as well as the colonial architecture that can be viewed throughout the city. Take a look inside the daily lives of the people of Lima with a visit to the Miraflores and San Isidro suburbs. In the evening, enjoy your first taste of the culture of Peru with a delicious dinner.
Day 3: Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley of the Incas
Take a flight* this morning to Cuzco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley boasts some of the most amazing scenery in Peru. As you drive along the Urubamba River, you'll make a stop at the Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio to learn about the technique artist Pablo Seminario uses to make his designs. Retire in the evening at a hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Day 4: Sacred Valley of the Incas-Ollantaytambo-Sacred Valley of the Incas
Delve into the culture of the Andean people by visiting to a nearby community. You'll get a chance to observe the locals going about daily activities and interact with them. Then you'll be heading to the ruins of Ollantaytambo, still inhabited just as the day it was built. The ruins are a wonderful example of Inca architecture being a terraced complex topped with carved stone panels.
Day 5: Sacred Valley of the Incas - Ollantaytambo - Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Start your day with a train ride through the Andes en route to Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." Considered to be the most spectacular sight in South America, you'll spend the rest of your day exploring the ruins of this once mighty city. Return to Cuzco in the evening.
Day 6: Cuzco
Explore Cuzco today with a tour that will introduce you to the architectural merits of Santo Domingo, the Cathedral, and the Plaza de Armas. You'll tour the ruins of the Qenko Temple and the Sacsayhuaman Fortress and visit a local orphanage. Dinner this evening will be accompanied by a performance of traditional Andean folklore, dance, and music.
Day 7: Cuzco - Lima - Quito, Ecuador
Head back to Lima this morning for a flight* to scenic Ecuador. Your day will come to an end in the capital, Quito.
Day 8: Quito
The morning will be spent touring Quito with sights such as the church of La Compañía and the Presidential Palace being highlights. The Equatorial Line Monument and Museum grants you a chance to step from one hemisphere to the other and back again. The rest of the day can be spent as you please.
Day 9: Quito - Baltra Island, Galapagos - Embark Ship - Bartholome Island
A flight this morning will take you to Baltra Island, the gateway to the Galapagos. Enjoy lunch on the m/v Galapagos Legend where you'll be staying for the next 4 nights. Disembark at Bartholomew Island where lava fields and moon-like craters offer perfect photo opportunities. Arrive at the summit of the island for a panoramic view of the islands that surround it. Hiking up the summit, you can prepare for sights like colonies of marine iguanas and different types of cacti. Snorkel off shore to see the penguins and sea turtles of the Galapagos. This day is sure to be one of the most memorable of your journey.
Day 10: Isabela Island (Urbina Bay) - Fernandina Island (Espinosa Point)
Begin your day by exploring Isabela Island and discover the amazing coral area and fossil beach during a nature walk. Afterwards, you'll have free time to enjoy snorkeling in Urbina Bay. Your next stop will be Fernandina Island where you can see marine iguanas, sea lions, and the Galapagos penguins. You'll also see the brachycereus cacti (pa-hoe-hoe) and the "AA" lava formations.
Day 11: Santiago (Egas Port) - Rábida (Jervis)
Today's island exploration will bring you to Santiago, an island with a landscape characterized by lava flows and tuff-stone layers. This island is also paradise for bird watchers who will enjoy seeing more than 5 different species of heron amongst other avian types. Swimming or snorkeling offers you the chance to see star fish, sea horses, and octopuses. Your next island stop will be on Rábida, who's volcanic beach of dark red sand and sea lions will make you realize why it's considered the geographic center of the Galapagos. Finish out the day by stargazing on the deck of the Galapagos Legend at sea.
Day 12: Santa Cruz (Charles Darwin Research Station)
Your first stop of the day will be to the Charles Darwin Research Station where international scientists conduct biological research and conservation projects. You'll be able to view giant tortoises, a prickly-pear cactus forest, and varied species of land birds. Later on, take a hike through the hills of Santa Cruz for a visit to Cerro Chato for a look at more giant tortoises. A walk inside dormant lava tubes will grant you a glimpse into how these islands were formed.
Day 13: Santa Cruz (Bachas Beach) - Disembark Ship - Baltra Island - Guayaquil
A visit to Bachas Beach will be on the agenda for today. This stunning white sand beach located on the north side of the island of Santa Cruz will grant you more sights of marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea birds, and other wildlife that call this beach home. Enjoy the opportunity to take a dip into the clear aquamarine waters off-shore. Later on, you'll be returning to the Galapagos Legend, checking out, and traveling back to Baltra's airport for a flight* to Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Day 14: Guayaquil
Enjoy the city tour you'll receive of the "Pearl of the Pacific," Guayaquil, today. The scenic waterfront in Malecon 2000 and the Las Peñas neighborhood will be highlights of your excursion. Delight in the view from atop Santa Ana Hill of the city below, as well as a visit to the Botanical Garden full of a variety of birds and butterflies. Afterwards, you'll be heading to the airport for your flight back home. Make sure to take plenty of pictures during your vacation for tangible memories of your journey through the Galapagos and Machu Picchu!
*Airfare not included in total price
