The Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu
The Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu
$10,869
From $10,869* pp | 14 Days • 27 Meals *Rate is per person, land only, double occupancy.
Travel from the Galapagos Islands to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and see how the past comes to life on a tour that is more than just a holiday.
- Embark on a five-day cruise of the Galapagos Islands with a naturalist guide – see blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas and more!
- Admire the giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn about conservation projects.
- Climb from the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu aboard one of the world’s most famed train rides.
- Enjoy dinner at the Larco Museum in Lima, housed in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by lush gardens.
Two Incredible Adventures in One
The past comes alive. Travel from the Galapagos Archipelago to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. More than a holiday, this Explorations tour offers a look into mankind’s collective history. Cruise the Galapagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin. Set foot in two hemispheres at the Equatorial Line Monument. Connect with one of a kind wildlife and delve into ancient cultures. Overnight at the base of Machu Picchu and take advantage of the chance to explore this “Lost City” twice in two days. Visit the UNESCO Spanish colonial cities of Lima, Quito and Cuzco. Throughout Ecuador and Peru, look towards the future and reflect on days gone by.
Itinerary
Day 1. Quito, Ecuador – Tour Begins
Your tour opens in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Ecuador’s stunning capital city.
High 20 Low 9 
Mercure Grand Hotel Alameda Quito
At the start of your city tour, enjoy a special visit to a Children International Community Centre, supported by the Collette Foundation.* Meet some of the children benefiting from the nutritional support and healthy cooking education that is the focus of this group’s mission. Learn about Quito’s colonial centre on a tour featuring the Presidential Palace and 17th-century Church of La Compañía. Get to know your fellow travellers during a welcome lunch overlooking the Pululahua volcanic crater. On a one-of-a-kind experience, cross between hemispheres at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum at the “Middle of the World.” Spend the rest of the day at leisure discovering Quito’s way of life.
Breakfast & Lunch 
High 20 Low 9 
Mercure Grand Hotel Alameda Quito
Day 3. Quito – San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos – Embark Ship
Fly to beautiful San Cristóbal Island, gateway to your Galapagos eco-adventure. After enjoying lunch aboard the m/v Galapagos Legend, arrive at the Port Baquerizo Moreno for an up-close look at the endangered tortoises that call the San Cristóbal Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve home. After exploring the island, stargaze from the deck of your ship and toast the wonders of the Galapagos with tropical cocktails.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner High 20 Low 9 Kleintours
Day 4. Española Island (Gardner Bay and Suarez Point)
Board your panga to visit Gardner Bay. Guarded by a colony of sea lions, the beach is home to Galapagos hawks and endemic finches. Swim and snorkel with the marine life, including manta rays and white-tipped sharks. Continue on and meander through the volcanic terrain of Suarez Point. During your nature walk, watch for hooded mocking birds, lava lizards, Sally Lightfoot crabs and blue-footed boobies. Venture to count Waved Albatross at the world’s largest colony. Finally, visit the spectacular Soplador blowhole where water shoots 75 feet into the air.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner High 20 Low 9 Kleintours
Land at storied Post Office Bay, named for a barrel left in 1793 by Captain James Colnett as a “post office” for passing sailors. Continue the tradition and leave a letter for a loved one. Snorkel, if you choose, with green sea turtles or set out to search for Darwin’s finches and yellow warblers. Sail to Cormorant Point and its olivine green sand beach. Try to spot stingrays and reef sharks in the emerald waters. Learn about the ecosystem’s unusual plants. You may also observe graceful flamingos or spot a small colony of penguins. Seize another chance to snorkel and swim near playful sea lions!
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner High 19 Low 9 Kleintours
Day 6. Santa Cruz Island (Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands)
Eisit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station and see the giant tortoises from the station’s breeding programme. Trek through the Santa Cruz highlands to Cerro Chato and find more giant tortoises. Take a break to savour some organic Galapagos coffee before we embark on a walk inside dormant lava tubes to gain insight on how these pristine islands formed. Enjoy time to explore Port Ayora town.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner High 19 Low 9 Kleintours
Day 7. Daphne Island – Disembark Ship – Baltra Island – Guayaquil
Garner panoramic views as you circumnavigate Daphne Island. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas, fur seals and crabs teetering along the rocky shore. Bid farewell to the Galapagos and fly to the lively city of Guayaquil. Get familiar with this community known as the “Pearl of the Pacific” on a city tour featuring a visit to the Malecón 2000 waterfront area and the 19th-century neighbourhood of Las Peñas with its Spanish-style houses. From Santa Ana Hill, look out over the city and the Guayas River.
Breakfast & Dinner High 29 Low 21 Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil
Day 8. Guayaquil – Lima, Peru
Fly to Lima, Peru’s “City of Kings.” Spend the afternoon as you choose. Perhaps you will do some shopping, visit Lima’s many fine museums or you’ll choose to experience an optional Peruvian Paso horse exhibition, dinner and folklore show.
Breakfast High 21 Low 16 Dazzler Lima Hotel
Day 9. Lima – Cuzco – Sacred Valley of the Incas
Fly to Cuzco. Descend through the Andes to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, once the agricultural centre of a great empire. Visit Awana Kancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes. Explore centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving textiles. Stop in Pisac village to browse the handicraft market. Discover an ancient Peruvian art form at Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio. Marvel at this internationally-renowned artist’s techniques and designs, inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures. Settle into your hotel nestled in the Sacred Valley. Tonight, savour an authentic Pachamanca dinner, a unique process where food is placed on hot stones and buried in the ground to cook.
Breakfast & Dinner High 21 Low 6 Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley
Day 10. Ollantaytambo – Sacred Valley of the Incas
Glimpse daily activities at a nearby village and connect with another culture. Visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, a spectacular example of Inca architecture. Do as the locals do and enjoy a tasting of “chicha,” a regional drink made from maize, at a local pub. Later, it’s off to a local brewery to discover their unique brews and to learn about their support of a local orphanage.
Breakfast High 21 Low 6 Casa Andina Private Collection Sacred Valley
Day 11. Sacred Valley of the Incas – Machu Picchu
Embark on a train ride through the Andes from Ollantaytambo to mysterious Machu Picchu. Hidden for centuries, the “Lost City of the Incas” is the most spectacular sight in South America. Spend the day exploring the fabled ruins before overnighting at the base of Machu Picchu. Soak up the mystical atmosphere and enjoy an exclusive culinary demonstration at dinner.
Breakfast & Dinner High 20 Low 7 Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Day 12. Aguas Calientes – Cuzco
Take advantage of your leisure time this morning and perhaps return to Machu Picchu on your own or explore the local markets. Return by train to the Sacred Valley and continue to Cuzco, a city that blends Inca and Spanish colonial influences. In Cuzco, relax and become acclimated to the altitude.
Breakfast High 20 Low 7 Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco
Day 13. Cuzco
Explore the former capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco, which means “Centre of the World” in the ancient Quechua language. On a city tour, experience the Spanish architectural legacy visible in the Cathedral, Santo Domingo and the Plaza de Armas. Discover the sacred Incan ruin of Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Interact with the locals during a visit to the central market and have a chance to try an authentic tamale. Take some time to explore independently…browse the local markets, see the San Blas artisans quarter or visit one of the impressive museums. Tonight, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant located in the fabulous Plaza de Armas.
Breakfast & Dinner High 20 Low 7 Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco
Day 14. Cuzco – Lima – Tour Ends
Fly to Lima and tour its historical centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the artwork at the San Francisco Monastery and enter the catacombs, view the Government Centre, the Plaza de Armas’ Cathedral and the fashionable suburbs for insight into the life of Limeños. Before transferring to the airport, complete your day with a farewell dinner at the Larco Museum, housed in an 18th-century mansion.
Breakfast & Dinner
INCLUSIONS
Accommodation
Meals as per itinerary
Tour guide
Activities as stated
Please note: Accommodation is subject to change.
EXCLUSIONS
Flights
Meals not indicated on the itinerary
Drinks
Optional activities
Visas
Comprehensive travel insurance
Items of a personal nature – laundry, telephone, room service
Tips and gratuities
- Ecuador is on EST, and Peru and Galapagos are one hour behind.
- The highest elevation included on tour 11,200 feet above sea level, in Cuzco
- The currency in Ecuador is the US Dollar and in Peru is the nuevo sol.
- Ecuador is on 110/120 volts, on-board ship, the cabins feature 110 volt, and Peru is on 220 volt.
- Why not consider a pre and post tour extension. Start and end your holiday rested.
To truly experience the programme and destination, you need to be able to participate in physical activities such as longer walking tours, walking over uneven terrain, climbing stairs and periods of standing. Some of the touring days may be longer, with select included activities occurring later in the evening.
March 2017.
Mar 13 – Mar 24. $3,469
Mar 27 – Apr 7. $3,599
April 2017.
Apr 3 – Apr 14. $3,729
Apr 24 – May 5. $3,729