Machu Picchu’s enigmatic ruins and the fascinating Galapagos Islands rank among South America’s greatest treasures, and a small group tour is the ideal way to experience both. This singular 16-day adventure begins with Lima’s highlights. After traversing the magnificent Sacred Valley, overnight at astounding Machu Picchu, absorbing its mystery on two tours. Encounter the history and beauty of Cuzco and Quito – both UNESCO sites. Then spend four nights on beautiful Santa Cruz Island, cruising by private yacht with an expert naturalist guide to nearby Galapagos islands to observe their unique wildlife. Discover the Amazon with an exceptional 4-day/4-night pre-tour option.
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 at a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Lima
Fly to Lima
Visit Larco Herrera Museum
Dinner on own in Lima
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Lima / Quito
Fly to the Ecuadorian capital of Quinto
Check-in to hotel
Attend a Galapagos adventure briefing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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
After lunch, head back to Santa Cruz island for a nature walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: South Plaza Island / Punta Carrion
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
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
Arrive mid-afternoon
Tonight – farewell dinner in a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15: Quito / Depart for U.S.
City tour – see the Middle of the World Monument
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.
Morning – arrive in the U.S.
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.
George Siedel is the Williamson Family Professor Emeritus of Business Administration and the Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Business Law at the University of Michigan.He teaches undergraduate and MBA courses on negotiation at the Ross School of Business, where he also served as Associate Dean.
A graduate of the University of Michigan and Cambridge University, George was a visiting professor at Stanford University and Harvard University and a Visiting Scholar at Berkeley. As a Fulbright Scholar he held a Distinguished Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
George has received several national research awards, including the 2018Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.He has also received teaching awards that include the 2018 Executive Program Professor of the Year Award from a consortium of leading universities committed to international education.
A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on negotiation developed by George is offered worldwide by the University of Michigan and Coursera.The course includes cross-cultural negotiation and is popular in Peru.
George has hosted other Alumni Travel trips, and he especially appreciates the friendships with fellow travelers that continue long after the trips end.
Highlights
Machu Picchu’s enigmatic ruins and the fascinating Galapagos Islands rank among South America’s greatest treasures, and a small group tour is the ideal way to experience both. This singular 16-day adventure begins with Lima’s highlights. After traversing the magnificent Sacred Valley, overnight at astounding Machu Picchu, absorbing its mystery on two tours. Encounter the history and beauty of Cuzco and Quito – both UNESCO sites. Then spend four nights on beautiful Santa Cruz Island, cruising by private yacht with an expert naturalist guide to nearby Galapagos islands to observe their unique wildlife. Discover the Amazon with an exceptional 4-day/4-night pre-tour option.
Itinerary
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 at a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8: Lima
Fly to Lima
Visit Larco Herrera Museum
Dinner on own in Lima
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Lima / Quito
Fly to the Ecuadorian capital of Quinto
Check-in to hotel
Attend a Galapagos adventure briefing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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
After lunch, head back to Santa Cruz island for a nature walk.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: South Plaza Island / Punta Carrion
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
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
Arrive mid-afternoon
Tonight – farewell dinner in a local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15: Quito / Depart for U.S.
City tour – see the Middle of the World Monument
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.
Morning – arrive in the U.S.
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.
Journey
Host
George Siedel is the Williamson Family Professor Emeritus of Business Administration and the Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Business Law at the University of Michigan.He teaches undergraduate and MBA courses on negotiation at the Ross School of Business, where he also served as Associate Dean.
A graduate of the University of Michigan and Cambridge University, George was a visiting professor at Stanford University and Harvard University and a Visiting Scholar at Berkeley. As a Fulbright Scholar he held a Distinguished Chair in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
George has received several national research awards, including the 2018Distinguished Career Achievement Award from the Academy of Legal Studies in Business.He has also received teaching awards that include the 2018 Executive Program Professor of the Year Award from a consortium of leading universities committed to international education.
A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on negotiation developed by George is offered worldwide by the University of Michigan and Coursera.The course includes cross-cultural negotiation and is popular in Peru.
George has hosted other Alumni Travel trips, and he especially appreciates the friendships with fellow travelers that continue long after the trips end.
By participating in an Alumni Association of the University of Michigan travel trip, you have stated that the Alumni Association has the exclusive right to use video and other visual/audio portrayals of You or Your likeness taken during Your trip in any medium of any nature whatsoever for any purpose, including advertising or promoting the services of the trip without any compensation being paid to You. Any such portrayal or likeness shall be the exclusive property of the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.
