Andes & Galapagos Adventure: Explore Peru’s Mystical Sites & Nature

Upon arrival at Lima airport, you will receive assistance from a representative and a transport service will take you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to get to know the city. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis and full of history, with about 10 million inhabitants, currently undergoing an exciting process of cultural and economic changes.

Overnight in Lima.

After breakfast at the hotel. Pick up at the hotel at approximately 9 am and explore Lima’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, packed with fascinating historic buildings. The route begins at the traditional Pueblo Libre district, where you visit the Larco Museum, located in a beautifully restored viceregal mansion built on a pre-Columbian pyramid from the seventh century. The museum boasts a complete pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver objects, as well as pieces of erotic art. Then visit Casa Aliaga, a colonial mansion granted by chief conquistador Francisco Pizarro to one of his captains, Jeronimo de Aliaga. This is the only house from that time, still belonging to the same family. Continue with a scenic tour through the colonial downtown. See the Main Square, where you can appreciate the grandiose architecture of the Spanish Empire. Admire Lima’s Cathedral, built during the 16th century. At the end of the tour return to your hotel at around 1 pm. Rest of day at leisure.

Overnight in Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. A transportation service will take you to the Lima airport to take your flight to Cusco (Lima – Cusco flight not included). Domestic flight from Lima to Cusco must arrive not later than 10:30hrs. Noon arrivals are too late. A representative will welcome you in the Imperial City and accompany you to your selected hotel. After a short break at the hotel, you will be picked up by your local guide to start the tour at 1 pm, enjoy a guided 4-hour tour of this charming city, which was the capital of the Inca Empire. The tour starts with a visit to Santo Domingo Convent, a large Renaissance-baroque complex, built over the Inca Coricancha Temple. It was one of the most important temples dedicated to worshipping of the sun, and its foundations are still prominent at the base of the convent. Ancient chronicles say the temple was covered in gold leaf and filled with representations of nature. Then, visit the Cathedral, the most imposing monument of the Main Square. Head to the hills above Cusco to visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, whose imposing ramparts offer a stunning panoramic view of Cusco, and the ruins of the temple and amphitheatre of Qenqo, where it is believed the Incas practised agricultural rituals. Admire Qenqo and then finally visit Puka Pukara (‘Red fortress’ in Quechua) an Inca military complex located on a prominent hill. Its dwellings squares, bathrooms, aqueducts, walls, and towers can still be appreciated. Afterwards, at approximately 5.30 pm return to your hotel.  

Overnight in Cusco.

Breakfast at the hotel. During the morning , you will depart from the city to visit the town of Chinchero (On Sundays, also visit the local market in Chinchero), a traditional Cusco urban center located at an elevated point with a beautiful view of the valley. The inhabitants of this area preserve the artisan traditions and the inherited knowledge of the Incas and display them in their clothes and customs. Here, there are also archaeological remains and a beautiful seventeenth-century church, one of the first Catholic buildings in Peru. Then, you will be transferred to the Living Museum of Yucay , an Andean interpretation center, where demonstrations of the elaboration of textile work, adobe, pottery and silverware are carried out in the same way in which they used to in the past; an original recreation of Inca traditions. Also, residents of the museum include llamas, sheep and alpacas, and they can be fed! From here, continue to Ollantaytambo and visit its town , inhabited uninterruptedly since Inca times, and enjoy a superior Andean gastronomy experience in a local restaurant. Later, visit the iconic fortress, built next to a mountain. At the end of this activity, you will be transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. 

Overnight in Sacred Valley.

Breakfast at the hotel. Your visit to Machu Picchu begins with an hour and a half train journey through spectacular Andean landscapes to Aguas Calientes, starting from the Ollanta station. Once there, you will be guided to the bus (25 minute bus ride) that takes you to Machu Picchu, the ´lost city of the Incas´. It is believed that the archaeological site was built around 1450 by Inca Pachacútec as his holiday residence. However, a century later, the city was abandoned after the Spanish conquest, saving itself from the destruction that reached other Inca settlements. Instead, the jungle slowly swallowed its stone constructions and hid it, protecting it. During the guided 2 -hours tour, you will learn about the origins of this impressive citadel, presenting its most outstanding monuments. At the end of the tour return to Aguas Calientes to begin your transfer back to Cusco.  

Overnight in Cusco.

Breakfast at hotel. A transport service will take you to the Cusco airport to board your flight to Guayaquil (Cusco – Guayaquil flight not included). Upon arrival at the Ecuadorian airport, a representative and a transport service will take you to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Overnight in Guayaquil.

Transfer from the hotel in Guayaquil to the airport to take the flight to Galapagos (Guayaquil – Baltra Island flight not included). We suggest booking the earliest flight from Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands, as well as the later flight from Galapagos to Guayaquil so you can enjoy the Islands longer. Once at the Galapagos airport, after completing the entry procedures, a representative will wait for you to accompany you on your transfer that will take you to the port. After 15 minutes, arrive at the port to take the ferry that will take you from the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island in a 20-minute journey. Once in the upper part of the island, you will visit a beautiful Ecological Reserve: Cerro Mesa or El Chato. Within these reserves, it is possible to observe the giant turtles in their natural habitat, as well as learn about the local endemic flora. After the experience, head to the town of Puerto Ayora, where you visit the Charles Darwin station, a scientific research centre on the evolution of species and the history of the islands. Finally, you will be transferred to your Puerto Ayora hotel.

Overnight in Puerto Ayora.

Enjoy the day while sailing to one of the impressive islands that make up the Galapagos archipelago. During the morning, you will be transferred to the pier to begin the excursion. The route takes place according to availability to one of the following Islands (a few days before starting your trip we will reconfirm the route): Isabela, San Cristóbal, Bartolomé, Plazas, Seymour Norte or Santa Fe. Get in direct contact with nature and discover the impressive biodiversity that has captivated explorers and visitors for centuries. Enjoy a delight and light lunch. At the end of the excursion, you will return to the hotel in Puerto Ayora .

BARTOLOME ISLAND

Bartolome is famous for its Pinnacle Rock, which is one of the most representative geological and photogenic landmarks of the Galapagos. Clumsily walking around the rocks at the base of Pinnacle Rock is a small colony of the Galápagos Penguins, one of the smallest species of penguin in the world and the only one found north of the Equator. The visit to Bartolome includes a climb to the highest point of the island for spectacular views of the surrounding lava scenery, an area often referred as the Galapagos “moonscape”. The site is an open textbook of geology, featuring small craters and some amazing rock, ash and lava formations of varied types and origins, as well as some “pioneer” plants colonizing the fresh lava and ash-flows.

ISABELA ISLAND

At the Puerto Ayora dock board the boat to navigate to Isabela Island (approximately 2 hours navigation). Upon arrival to Isabela Island start the visit of this fascinating island. The first stop will be at the Flamingos lagoon to closely watch these beautiful birds in the natural habitat. Continue to visit the town´s Breeding Center and learn about the natural history of the Galápagos Islands and finally visit Concha Perla Beach, located a few meters from ¨El Embarcadero pier which can be reached along by a wooden walkway; the path runs through a mangrove forest and a small colony of sea lions up to a calm bay enclosed by natural rocks and fed by the sea with shallow and clear waters. It is the idea place for observing the incredible array of marine life. You will be able to swim and snorkel alongside tropical fish, sea lions, penguins and turtles.

PLAZA SUR ISLAND

One of South Plaza´s main characteristics is its unusual vegetation which includes another species of Opuntia Cacti and the colorful Sesuvium plants. These are a native variety of a succulent plant that stores water on its tubular leafs, forming a reddish carpet that spreads over the gray lava rocks. A colony of Galapagos land iguanas is found over parts of the small island. The sheer cliffs of the southern shore are an unparalleled bird observatory and the perfect habitat for several sea-birds, including blue-footed boobies, pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls and the very colorful red-billed tropic birds.

SANTA FE ISLAND

Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful bays of all the visitor sites in the Galápagos. It boasts a turquoise-color cove protected by a narrow peninsula that extends along the northern shore. The sandy beaches are often covered with colonies of Galapagos sea-lions. A marked rocky trail leads to interior and Cliffside areas where the Santa Fe endemic species of land iguana can be found within a very picturesque forest of Opuntia or prickly-pear Cacti. These endemic cactus trees are the largest of their kind in the islands. After the hike you can swim in the calm waters of the bay or snorkel amongst often playful sea lions.

SEYMOUR NORTE ISLAND

Flatter than other islands, North Seymour is one of the islands uplifted by underground seismic activity. Located north of Baltra, where the Archipelago’s main airport is found; this Island is one of the best places to see blue-footed boobies nesting on the flat rocky areas near the coast of the island. Following the trail that leads to the interior of the island, visitors will find one of the largest colonies of Magnificent Frigate birds. During the mating season, an explosion of bright red pouches inflated by male frigates to attract females provides some of the most spectacular sights in the Galápagos.

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

You will be picked up at hotel and transferred to Puerto Ayora dock to board a small boat to navigate to San Cristobal (Approximately 2 hour’s navigation). Upon arrival to San Cristobal take the navigation excursion to a nearby site: Lobos Island or Ochoa beach or Kicker Rock. This visit will allow you to discover the fascinating flora and fauna of the archipelago.

Overnight in Puerto Ayora.

Recharge your energy with a tasty breakfast at the hotel. Then the meeting point will be at the dock (the time will be coordinated previously with the guide) to begin your tour of the island of Santa Cruz, a unique tour of its rich bay. You will depart to the first destination: the Lobería, a small island where you can swim with curious sea lions. After that, you will continue browsing Love Channel, Sharks Channel, Cracks and Los Perros Beach. Enjoy the sighting of sharks, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, rays and many other species during this impressive tour. When finished, you will return to Puerto Ayora at 12.30 pm approximately and have the afternoon at leisure to rest.

Overnight in Puerto Ayora. 

Breakfast at the hotel and at the agreed time, transfer to the port of Santa Cruz Island, where you will board a ferry that will cross the Itabaca Canal. After a 20-minute tour, arrival at the port and transfer to the Baltra airport to take the flight back to Continental Ecuador for your departure (not included).