Wonders of the Galapagos & Peru

Upon arrival to Guayaquil, you will be greeted by an English-speaking representative who will welcome you to Ecuador and guide you to your awaiting transfer, which will then bring you to your hotel. Please note, your first night can alternatively be arranged for arrival and overnight in Quito (at additional cost, please speak to your Destination Specialist).

Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport and board a flight to the Galapagos Islands, landing at Baltra Airport. Baltra Island, the gateway to the Galapagos, was a military base during World War II and hosts the archipelagos principal airport. The airport was built using the most advanced environmental techniques to reduce emissions and energy use, some of which you’ll notice as you transit through the facility. After leaving the airport, you’ll board a ferry and dash over to nearby Santa Cruz Island, then transfer to an exclusive giant tortoise reserve where your tented camp is located.

Perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean, Galapagos Magic Tented Camp will be your home for the evening. Take in the sounds of nature through the night, with the Milky Way serving as both backdrop and backlight after enjoying an afternoon and sunset enjoying views of the picturesque mountains and forests surrounding the lodge. The hillside and camp grounds, home to seasonal giant tortoises, serve as the ideal place to watch the afternoon unfold, and relaxing by the camps western perch is the perfect place to catch a colourful sunset. Dinners are scrumptious three-course affairs, prepared by expert chefs in an open-air kitchen at the main lodge, and a favorite post-dinner activity is a short walk to the natural lava tubes on the reserve for a nightcap in the one-of-a-kind ‘Lava Lounge’ – it’s the perfect spot to relax around the fire and share stories of the day’s adventures.

After enjoying breakfast, get set to join a shared half-day exploration of the bay of Puerto Ayora. Beginning at the main dock, the tour begins with a quick 10-minute navigation to La Loberia Island, which is named after a local colony of sea lions. This small island is a great place to snorkel among sea turtles, an impressive array of colorful fish, and the ever-friendly and naturally inquisitive sea lions. After snorkeling, your next stop comes after a hike that brings you to the Túnel del Amor (Lover’s Tunnel). If lucky, you may spot resting white-tip sharks from the nearby viewpoint. On the way back to the boat, you’ll visit Punta Estrada’s dock with an aim to spot the resident marine iguanas.

Following breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be transferred to the pier to board a yacht and set out on an excursion with like-minded travellers. Following embarkation and a warm welcome from the crew and naturalist guide, kick back and experience a few remote islands in comfort and style. A safe and comfortable ride, the route changes based on local conditions and national park regulations, though you will likely visit one or more of the following islands: North Seymour and Bachas, South Plazas, Santa Fe, or Bartolome and Sullivan Bay. Later, after returning to land, you will be returned to Puerto Ayora to spend the night.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport to begin your onward travels to Peru. You will first fly from the Galapagos to Guayaquil, then connect onto a separate flight with service to Lima. Upon arrival to Lima, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel. Here, an awaiting trip representative will help with your luggage, and assist with hotel registration.

Following breakfast, set out on a half-day exploration of Lima. Through the day you will visit the modern and colonial portions of Lima, which is often referred to as The City of Kings, and your tour begins in the modern districts of Miraflores and San Isidro, then passes along a “huaca” or sacred pre-Inca site, before heading to the Historic Center. Once in the centuries-old center, you will walk along some of the most historic streets of the city, leading to the Plaza de Armas, where you will have some time to take pictures of the amazing colonial architecture that surrounds it. You will also have the chance to peek into an iconic building that has served Lima’s citizens for centuries and continues to be an important landmark. Then you will visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, an astonishing building constructed in an intricate, colonial style. After exploring the Historic Center, you will head to the Larco Museum, which houses the incomparable Treasures of Ancient Peru private collection.

After breakfast and coinciding with your flight to Cusco, you will be transferred to Lima airport. Please note that domestic flights are not included in the program price, however, they can be added; please speak to your Destination Specialist. Once in Cusco, enjoy the charm of this beautiful colonial city that was built upon the remains of amazing Inca buildings. Not to miss: Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), the Cathedral, and the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. This afternoon is left at leisure to help adjust to the elevation, though an optional evening activity to visit the San Pedro Market and ruins can be arranged. Please speak to your Destination Specialist for more details.

Once breakfast is finished, you will set out in the direction of the Maras salt mines, an amazing place where the finest salt in the world is extracted. On the way, you will make a stop at the Raqchi viewpoint, from where you will have an impressive view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Then, you will visit the Misminay community. Upon arrival, the villagers will give you a warm welcome with music and typical dances. There, you will be able to learn about the Andean families' lifestyle by sharing some of their daily activities with them. Then, you will enjoy a delicious and traditional lunch prepared with local products. You will continue with a visit to Moray, a fascinating archeological site with huge concentric terraces, which the Incas used as a botanical laboratory.

Enjoy another hearty breakfast before setting out to visit indomitable Machu Picchu. To begin, you will board the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu (timetables are subject to confirmation). Upon arrival, prepare to visit one of the most striking wonders of the world: Machu Picchu. You will be driven to the archeological site alongside a professional tour guide who will impart to you all the history that surrounds this mysterious and enchanting place. Once the guided tour is over, you will have some free time to explore the site on your own, to relax, or to meditate. At the agreed upon hour, you will descend to nearby Aguas Calientes for lunch, and board the train later that afternoon for the return trip to Ollantaytambo, then transfer back to Cusco.

After breakfast, the day is yours! Enjoy a day at leisure in Cusco. Alternatively, consider joining an optional activity to tour the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain. Please speak to your Destination Specialist for more information. 

Settle in for a final breakfast, then, at the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Kindly note that there are diverse options, in case you need to connect to your international flight home.