Cusco & Galapagos Islands

Lima • Cusco • Machu Picchu • Cusco • Quito or Guayaquil • Galápagos Island

01

… / LIMA

Welcome to Peru!
Arrival to Lima´s international airport, reception and transfer to selected hotel.
Check in at hotel and overnight. (-)
Lima: 154 masl

02

LIMA / CUSCO 

Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer from hotel to Lima´s international airport to board the regular flight to Cusco. Arrival, reception and transfer to selected hotel. Rest of the morning free to acclimatize to the altitude.
In the afternoon, pick up for your City Tour Cusco where you will visit The Cathedral, Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) and the nearby ruins: Qenqo (Ceremonial and Ritual center, place where sacrifices were made), Puca Pucara (this complex was probably used by Emperor Pachacutec as a tambo), Tambomachay (also called “The Bath of the Inca”) and Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight at hotel. (B)
Cusco: 3,395 masl

03

CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY / CUSCO 

Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning departure by bus to Awanacancha a place where you can appreciate the beauty of the Peruvian Andes with its south American camels and derivaties gotten thanks to the majestic, traditional and modern technique (dyeing, spinning, weaving process) including used materials and live weaving by the people of the Peruvian Andes.
Also, visit the famous Indian market of Pisac, a delightful place where you can bargain for the goodies with the local street vendors. Buffet Lunch included at Tunupa Restaurant. After that, continue to the majestic fortress of Ollantaytambo. Return to Cusco and on route you will visit Chincheros Village. Finally arrival to selected hotel.
Overnight. (B, L)
Sacred Valley: 3,395 masl

04

CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO

Breakfast at hotel.
Early morning, transfer to the Ollanta train station to board a touristic train to Machu Picchu by train panoramic ride, which takes 1 hour and half. Arrival and transfer to the citadel by a bus shuttle service and afterwards, guided tour throughout the Sacred Citadel of Machu Picchu. The visit includes the Intihuatana (the Solar Clock) the Watchtower, the Incas Palace, the Three Windows etc. Lunch is not included. Finally return to Ollantaytambo by train. At your arrival, reception and transfer by private car to Cusco.
Overnight. (B, L)
Machu Picchu: 2,400 masl

05

CUSCO / LIMA / QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL 

Breakfast at hotel.
According time transfer to the airport to board your local flight to Lima and then your international flight connection. (B)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

06

QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL / SANTA CRUZ / HIGHLANDS

Breakfast at hotel.
At fixed time transfer to the airport to board your flight to Baltra. Arriving in Baltra we will take a shuttle to Santa Cruz Island, journeying across the island into the highlands, the visitors will be amazed by the island’s variety of wildlife and geology. Beginning at the coast and traveling north along the road to Puerto Ayora, the road climbs through the agricultural zone and into the mist-covered forests of the highlands. Santa Cruz possesses all of the various life zones present on the archipelago, with wonderful birding opportunities.
Whether it’s the bright red feathers of a Vermilion Flycatcher or one of Darwin’s finches almost every land bird present on the islands can be found here. Continuing we will stop at one of the ranches; lunch will be served at this ranch and the best part is that passenger will be able to explore the grounds in search of tortoises. Descending through the agricultural zone into the Transition Zone where the Tortoise Reserve is located, the introduced vegetation of the farmlands is replaced by native vegetation. After lunch, we will continue to Puerto Ayora for the rest of the afternoon for some leisure time.
Accommodation in selected hotel. (B, L)
Santa Cruz: 864 masl

07

FLOREANA ISLAND / SNORKELING AT LA LOBERIA 

This morning after breakfast, we will head to take our speedboat to Floreana Island; this ride will take us 2h 30 minutes approx. This Island has, arguably, the most interesting human history of all of the Galapagos Islands. It is the site of the first “post office”, established in 1793 by whalers. Floreana was the first island to be colonized by Ecuadorians in 1832. Floreana is the most well-known Island, for being the site of several mysterious disappearances in the 1930s.
Arriving to Floreana, our guide will give us some time to spend at the dock where we will be able to admire the native sea lions and the “Red Marine Iguanas”, only found on this particular island. These two species coexist naturally in the dock´s surroundings. At this point, you will have an interpretation by our guide on how these species live, their natural behavior and evolution.
After checking-into our lodge we will enjoy lunch. After this we will begin our excursion to “La Loberia”, a sea Lion breeding area, we will take an short walk along the shore for approximately 30 minutes, after the interpretation and some time to admire the landscape of this visitor’s site, we will start our first marine excursion in the bright turquoise water where you might be able to swim with sea lions, sea turtles, manta rays and a variety of colorful coral fish. We will then walk back to the town enjoying the colors of a typical Galapagos sunset and head back to the hotel to relax.
After dinner, end of the day’s activities and accommodation in the hotel. (B, L, D)
Santa Cruz: 864 masl

08

HIGHLANDS FLOREANA / TORTOISE BREEDING CENTER / ISABELA ISLAND

Today after breakfast, our guide will pick us up and we will head to the highlands of the Island. Our first destination will be the cemetery, where you will have a quick explanation about this site. Our second destination to visit would be “Cerro Alieri”, approximately a 15-minute ride from the port; this site is interesting for those who enjoy the vegetation on the Galapagos islands and some birdwatching. In addition, this is the site of a major conservation program for a critically endangered plant, Linum cratericola. It was believed extinct until it was reencountered by scientists and park wardens in 1997.
The third site to visit, Asilo de la Paz, is a 45-minute ride from town. It is primarily a historical site where visitors can view a pirates’ cave and the fresh water spring, which is the main source of water for the population. Here our guide will interpret how they used to live the people in an island, so you can go back in time and picture the idea of how extreme it was to live on this island back in the day. Nearby, you will find a corral with various giant tortoises that were originally owned by residents of Floreana. Along this path, we will also see Giant tortoise’s species from this island that have been recently re-introduced, since they were considered extinct. Return to the lowlands to have lunch, and then continue to board the speed boat that will transfer us to Isabela Island; this ride will take approx. 2h30 min.
Arriving to Isabela you can relax for the rest of the day on the pristine beaches of the biggest and one of the newest Islands.
Overnight. (B, L)
Isabela: 1,707 masl

09

SIERRA NEGRA AND CHICO VOLCANOES 

Breakfast.
Today, we go by car to the mountainsides of the Sierra Negra Volcano. We will have an approx. 2 hour walk until we reach the crater of the volcano. There we will have a wonderful view of the crater and with a little bit of luck, we will be able to see the Galapagos Sparrow Hawk. We will get to know the geology of the Sierra Negra Volcano, learning that most of this island was formed by AA lava. We will have a box lunch and visit the “El Chico” Volcano. Return to the hotel, the afternoon can be spent leisurely to enjoy marvelous coral sand and turquoise water beaches.
Overnight at your selected hotel. (B, BXL)
Isabela: 1,707 masl

10

TORTOISE BREEDING CENTER / FLAMINGO´S LAGOON / SANTA CRUZ  

After breakfast, our guide will take us to visit the Famingo’s Lagoon. This is an approx. 2km trail where we will have explanation of the vegetation and geology of this young Island, Isabela Island. Arriving to the Flamingo lagoon we might be able to see Flamingos feeding in this lake. This is an artificial lake, which, due to construction related excavations, was filled up by the rain. After this, we will continue to visit the Tortoise breeding center. Here you will learn more about the reproduction and breeding of the Tortoises.
Back to Puerto Villamil to take our boat and transfer to Santa Cruz. Leisure time for the rest of the afternoon in Puerto Ayora and accommodation at your hotel. (B, BXL)
Santa Cruz: 864 masl

11

CHARLES DARWIN STATION / QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL  

After breakfast, we will head to the Charles Darwin Station. The center is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation, as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of different shapes and sizes. Travelers here can freely walk and get their pictures taken with the tortoises. Additionally, in order to fully take advantage of your visit to the Galapagos Islands, you will be able to visit the station where legendary “Lonesome George” is exhibited as the last of his species. In 2012, after his death, he was shipped to New York to the American Museum of Natural History in order to start an embalming process for his conservation. Lonesome George was exhibited in the museum for one year. Now Lonesome George is back in the Charles Darwin research station, as a “symbol” of conservation. After this, our guide will transfer you to the airport so you can take your flight back to mainland Ecuador.
Arrival and transfer to the selected hotel. Overnight. (B)
Quito: 2,850 masl / Guayaquil: 4 masl

12

QUITO OR GUAYAQUIL / … 

Breakfast at hotel.
According time transfer to the airport to board your international flight. (B)

Include


  • Transfer in and out from/to Lima, Cusco and Galapagos Islands.
  • Lodging for 11 nights at selected hotels + breakfast.
  • PM City tour + 04 nearby ruins in regular service.
  • FD Sacred Valley: Awanacancha + Pisac Market + Ollantaytambo Fortress + Chincheros Village (include lunch) in regular service.
  • FD Machu Picchu with Touristic train (include lunch) in regular service.
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide in Galapagos excursions (English/Spanish).
  • Private speedboat for the passengers in Galapagos excursions.
  • Snorkeling equipment.
  • Contribution to the local community.
  • Meals mentioned or according to the itinerary.
  • Personal assistance.

Not Included



  • Domestic and international flights
  • Any meal or beverage not specified.
  • Medical Services.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Tips & personal expenses.
  • Overweight in luggage.
  • Drinks, bottled water and alcoholic beverages.
  • Meals not specified.
  • Consumptions or personal charges.
  • Laundry Service.
  • Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person).
  • Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 20 per person).
  • Others not mentionated.

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(511) 215-6000 - Ext: (2405)
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