Please note:
Below is a suggested itinerary, which can be done exactly as you see it here or customized in any way you would like, including doing the trip in reverse order (Galapagos and then Peru). This is one of our most popular trips and we would be happy to answer any questions you have about it.
Day 1 Lima
Arrive to Lima. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel located in the pleasant Miraflores district, Lima's main cultural, commercial and entertainment area and the best area of town for walking around. (If you are interested and time allows, we can arrange a privately guided tour of Lima or visits to any of Lima's museums.)
Casa Andina Private Collection Miraflores
Day 2 Cusco
Fly over the Andes to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel upon arrival. Cusco is a fascinating city, with many colonial buildings constructed on top of the remains of Incan palaces. You can observe massive Incan walls along many streets of the city. In the afternoon you'll have a privately guided tour of the city and the massive fortress of Sacsahuaman on the hills overlooking the city.
Casa Andina Private Collection (B) (upgrade to Monasterio Hotel is available)
Day 3 Sacred Valley of the Incas
Full day private tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas, in the company of a first rate English-speaking guide. The Sacred Valley contains many of the finest Incan ruins outside Machu Picchu, and has a dramatic setting between snow capped mountains. A visit here is a great way to gain insight into how people have lived in the Andes for thousands of years. You will visit Pisac and Ollantaytambo, with a stop for lunch, and you will spend the night at one of the finest small hotels in the region.
Hotel Sol y Luna (B,L)
Day 4 Machu Picchu
Today you start a 2 day/1 night trip to Machu Picchu, giving you plenty of time to see the area. In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel for transfer to the train station, where you catch the train to Machu Picchu. You will visit Machu Picchu, enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge at the entrance to the site, and then spend the night in the town of Aguas Calientes just below the ruins at one of Peru's best small hotels.
Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 5 Machu Picchu/Cusco
Make a return visit to Machu Picchu in the early morning to observe the ruins when there are far fewer people around, an extraordinary experience. You can enjoy the ruins at your leisure, and if you're feeling adventurous you can even climb Wayna Picchu, the mountain overlooking the ruins of Machu Picchu. After visiting the ruins you will make your way down to the train station for your afternoon train back to Cusco.
Casa Andina Private Collection (B)
Day 6 Depart for Ecuador
In the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Lima. Upon arrival to Lima you will have assistance at the airport in making your connecting flight to Quito, Ecuador. In Quito you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for the night.
Patio Andaluz (B)
Day 7 Fly to the Galapagos
Today you fly out of Quito, about 600 miles out over the Pacific Ocean to arrive at the Galapagos Islands. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your vessel. Visiting the Galapagos Islands is a unique experience, a combination of sheer natural beauty, amazing wildlife, beautiful vessels, and fascinating natural history.
On yacht (B,L,D)
Days 8-13 In the Islands
The exact itinerary varies from vessel to vessel, but you will spend these days exploring the islands in depth. Your boat will travel between several different islands, so that you can experience a wide variety of the unique wildlife and environments that the Galapagos offers. Each island presents a unique experience, and often there are species found nowhere else in the world but on that island. The giant Galapagos Tortoise, the marine iguana, the waved albatross, the Galapagos penguin, and flightless cormorants are just a few of the species you can come across. There will also be daily opportunities to snorkel, where you can see what's below the surface: giant sea turtles, rays, and sea lions, to name just a few. Each day you will enjoy excellent cuisine, and the company of an expert bilingual naturalist guide.
On yacht (B,L,D)
Day 14 Fly back to Quito
Today you will enjoy a final morning in the Islands before flying out from the Galapagos back to Quito, arriving in the late afternoon. You have this last afternoon free to eat out at one of Quito's excellent restaurants.
Patio Andaluz (B,L)
Day 15 Depart
Fly home or continue your trip in mainland Ecuador. Possible extensions include visits to the Amazon Jungle, local markets, volcanoes, and stays at historic haciendas.
(B)
Please call or email us with any questions!