Machu Picchu to the Galapagos

Highlights:

• Two guided visits to Machu Picchu, including an overnight stay at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, 20 yards from the ruins.
• A full-day exploration through the Sacred Valley, including a visit to the ruins at Ollantaytambo.
• Guided nature walks and astonishing Galapagos wildlife during a four-night cruise aboard a privately-chartered boat.
• An authentic lunch in the home of a Cuzco family.

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Lima

You’ll depart Miami at midnight on your overnight LAN Peru flight to Lima.

Day 2: Arrive in Lima

After a pre-dawn arrival in Lima, you’ll meet your Odysseys Unlimited Peruvian tour director and transfer to the hotel, where you’ll have breakfast and then are free to rest until noon. This afternoon we head out to discover the treasures of this historic capital city. Our first stop is the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, housing a unique display of pre-Hispanic ceramics. Then a mid-afternoon tour introduces us to the highlights of colonial and modern Lima. This evening we enjoy our first Peruvian dinner together at a local restaurant.

Accommodations: JW Marriott Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3: Lima/Cuzco/Sacred Valley

A morning flight brings us to Cuzco where we enjoy brunch together before continuing north into the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Sagrado de los Incas) and the town of Pisac, the largest fortress-city complex of the Incas. Here we stop at a colorful Quechua market set amid the mountains where you have free time to explore and peruse the diverse wares at your own pace. From here we depart for our hotel, arriving mid-afternoon, with time to rest and relax before we attend an “Offering to the Earth” ceremony, followed by dinner at our hotel.

Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sacred Valley

This morning we embark on a full-day exploration of the Sacred Valley, a beautiful region with agricultural terraces virtually carved from the mountainsides. We begin with a visit to the village of Chinchero and the colonial village of Maras, famous for its saltpans. We also view the circular terraces of Moray; large natural depressions in the landscape that were sculpted into terraces hundreds of years ago and served as an experimental station for the development of different crop strains. After lunch at a local restaurant, this afternoon we visit the ruins at Ollantaytambo, whose steep terraces and walls resemble a fortress. Tonight we dine at our hotel.

Accommodations: Casa Andina Private Collection
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu

Early this morning we take the 1½-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes, then a 20-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, the “lost city” of the Incas. Our guided mid-day tour introduces us to the wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site, which encompasses five square miles of terraced stonework linked by 3,000 steps. After lunch at our hotel, just steps from Machu Picchu’s entrance, we can spend our free afternoon relaxing, exploring, hiking, or photographing this time-encapsulated marvel as we wish. We dine tonight at our small hotel, adjacent to the entrance of the ancient ruins.

Accommodations: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Machu Picchu/Cuzco

The convenient location of our hotel allows us to be amongst the first to enter the ruins. Today, we take a second guided tour of the ruins, with time to admire the play of early-morning shadows on the surrounding peaks. We return to Aguas Calientes for lunch – and perhaps to buy woven blankets or alpaca sweaters – then board our mid-afternoon train for Cuzco, a journey of approximately 3½ hours. Dinner tonight is on your own.

Accommodations: Hotel Monasterio
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Cuzco

The Inca Empire’s former capital and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city, Cuzco bears the marks of its Spanish-Inca heritage. Our morning tour introduces us to grand Plaza de Armas. We also visit the Church of Santo Domingo, built on the foundations of Qoricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun. Then we head to Sacsayhuamán, the most impressive Inca ruins near Cuzco. At noon is a small group highlight: lunch hosted by local Cuzco families in their homes. The balance of the afternoon is at leisure. Tonight is free to dine where you wish and perhaps take in Cuzco’s nightlife.

Accommodations: Hotel Monasterio
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Cuzco/Quito

This morning we depart Cuzco for Lima where you bid farewell to your Peruvian tour director and connect with your flight to Quito, arriving in Ecuador’s capital mid-afternoon. Nestled in a valley surrounded by Andes volcanoes, Quito sits at over 9,000 feet above sea level and is said to be South America’s most beautiful city. After meeting your Ecuadorian tour director at the airport, you’ll transfer to the hotel. There’s time to rest before dinner tonight at the hotel.

Accommodations: JW Marriott Quito
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Days 9-12: Galapagos Cruising

Transfer to the airport for our flight to Baltra Island. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, we take a short bus ride then, with the help of a panga, we’ll board M/Y Coral II. After settling into our cabins, we enjoy our first lunch on board.

While exact cruise itineraries are subject to the dictates of the Galapagos National Park authorities, each cruise features experct Galapagos naturalist guides and the opportunity to see giant Galapagos tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, and abundant bird life. You will learn why Darwin called the Galapagos Islands “a living laboratory of evolution.”

On all cruises we will also enjoy opportunities for swimming, snorkeling, dinghy rides, and nature walks.

Following is a representative sampling of the islands we may have the opportunity to visit while on our cruise:

Santa Cruz Island:
Explore a beach of olivine crystals formed by volcanoes and a hypersalinic lagoon that is occasionally visited by pink flamingos. Hike to the top of Dragon Hill to enjoy beautiful views of the bay.

Fernandina Island:
Explore the youngest of the islands with black lava rocks dotted with hundreds of marine iguanas as well as penguins, flightless cormorants, sally-light foot crabs, hawks, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and startling flora.

Isabela Island:
Explore the largest island in the chain with as many as 20 species of migratory birds as well as excellent deep-water snorkeling in Darwin Lake where you can see penguins and sea turtles.

Accommodations: M/Y Coral II
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Galapagos/Quito

Today we fly from Baltra back to Quito.
Tonight we celebrate our adventure with a Farewell Dinner.

Accommodations: JW Marriott Quito
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 14: Quito

We see the highlights of colonial Quito on this morning’s city tour, including Plaza de la Independencia in the Old City; La Compañía; Carondelet Presidential Palace; San Agustín Church; and the 16th-century Monastery of San Francisco, Ecuador’s oldest church. We also have the opportunity to stand with our feet in two hemispheres when we visit the Middle of the World Monument at latitude 0 00’00”. Following lunch together you are free to explore Quito on your own before an evening flight to Miami.

Accommodations: JW Marriott Quito
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Due to the late arrival in Miami, all travelers not ending their trip in Miami will have an included overnight hotel stay and will return home on Day 15.