Machu Picchu to the Galapagos

Experience South America’s treasures in Machu Picchu’s enigmatic ruins and the fascinating Galapagos Islands.

Highlights

Explore Peru’s rich history with visits to colonial Lima, Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and impressive Inca sites like Sacsayhuamán and Ollantaytambo.
Experience Machu Picchu over two days, taking in the breathtaking UNESCO site with expert-guided tours.
Stay four nights in the Galapagos on Santa Cruz Island, surrounded by lush highlands and unique wildlife.
Cruise on a private yacht to nearby islands, discovering Darwin’s “living laboratory” with a naturalist guide.

This is an exclusive U-M departure operated by Odysseys Unlimited.

Itinerary

Host

David Brawn

Associate Director of Continuing Student Advising (Retired)

U-M Role

For 20 years I was an academic advisor in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. For 12 years, I supervised the advising given to students preparing for careers in health care (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, PA, optometry, etc.) and law, while also advising those students.

What Excites You About the Trip?

As an anthropologist, I was fascinated by the cultural, social, and historical intersections among human populations. Machu Picchu and the Incans who built it represent a particularly vibrant and important instance of that kind of development, and by learning more about them we can learn something important about humans in general. Visiting the Galápagos has been a dream for much of my life, and it’s particularly important to do so now, when climate change represents such a threat to such ecosystems.

Waitlist Only

Sept. 29-Oct. 14, 2026

Starting price

$10,293

Deposit per person

$500

Countries Visited

Ecuador, Peru

Activity Level

High