– Lima touring
– Historic Cuzco and beautiful Sacred Valley
– Overnight stay at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, adjacent to Machu Picchu
– Two guided visits to Machu Picchu
– Four-night Galapagos stay at beautiful hotel in lush Santa Cruz highlands
– Day cruises on privately chartered yacht, plus island-based exploration
– Expert Galapagos naturalist guide
– Unique Galapagos wildlife
– Quito city tour
Day 1: Depart for Lima, Peru
- Depart for Peruvian capital.
- Upon arrival, transfer directly to the hotel.
Day 2: Lima
- Visit a prominent art museum
- Afternoon tour – colonial Lima
- Welcome dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3: Lima / Cuzco / Sacred Valley
- Incan site of Koricancha
- Sacred Valley, a region of Inca sites and indigenous villages.
- Pisac – Indian market
- Arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Sacred Valley
- Explore Ollantaytambo
- Site of Incan ruins
- Visit the Incan farming town of Chinchero
- Traditional weaving demonstration
- Attend a native “Offering to the Earth” ceremony
- Dinner at the hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
- Train ride for 1½-hour journey to Aguas Calientes
- Transfer by shuttle bus to the hotel for lunch
- First guided visit of the ruins at Machu Picchu
- Due to small group size, explore at your leisure
- With an overnight stay here, we have the rare privilege of seeing the ruins after the tourists have departed.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Machu Picchu / Cuzco
- This morning before the day trippers arrive, second guided tour of the site.
- Lunch at our lodge
- Return to Aguas Calientes
- Free time before mid-afternoon train to Cuzco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7: Cuzco
- Tour this site
- Ruins of Sacsayhuaman fortress
- Enjoy lunch today in the home of a gracious Cuzco family
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Lima
- Larco Herrera Museum
- Lunch on your own
- Dinner on your own
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Lima/Quito
- Fly to Quito
- Check into hotel
- Briefing about Galapagos adventure
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Quito / Baltra / Santa Cruz Island
- Fly to the island of Baltra then transfer to Santa Cruz
- Reach our hotel adjacent to Galapagos National Park for lunch
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: North Seymour Island / Bachas Beach
- First excursion aboard the Santa Fe, privately chartered yacht
- North Seymour, a flat, low-lying island
- Naturalist-led walk
- After lunch, head back to Santa Cruz island for a nature walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: South Plaza Island / Punta Carrion
- South Plaza island
- Nature walk, lookout for wildlife
- Cruise to Punta Carrion
- Opportunity to snorkel in the calm waters of a shallow cove
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Santa Cruz Island
- Explore Santa Cruz
- See giant Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat
- Twin craters of Los Gemelos
- Garrapatero – secluded white-sand beach with an abundance of marine and terrestrial wildlife
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Santa Cruz Island / Baltra / Quito
- Transfer to Baltra for the flight to Quito, arriving mid-afternoon
- Tonight – farewell dinner in a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15: Quito / Depart for U.S.
- City tour including Middle of the World Monument
- Return to the hotel, afternoon at leisure
- Tonight – transfer to the airport for our overnight flight to the U.S.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16: Arrive in U.S.
- Arrive in the U.S. this morning and connect with our return flights home
*Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven terrain. Also, there are both wet and dry landings in the Galapagos. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest. In addition, Cuzco’s high altitude (11,150 feet) could pose problems for travelers with certain health conditions. Please consult your physician if you have concerns.
Information on the trip host will be added at a later date.
