Peru & Hotel Based Galapagos Package (12 Days)

Introduction

Black-striped Salema & Creolefish, Galapagos

Galapagos Sea Lion

Saqsayhuman Ruins, Cusco

Inca Ruins of Moray, near Sacred Valley

Maras Salt Pans, Sacred Valley

Korikancha, Inca Temple of the Sun, Cusco

Pisac Ruins, Sacred Valley

Colonial Cusco, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

Penguin, Galapagos Islands

Male Hood Lava Lizard, Galapagos

Kicker Rock, Galapagos Islands

Giant Tortoises, Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Marine Iguanas

Blue-footed Booby, Luxury Galapagos Vacations

Black-striped Salema & Creolefish, Galapagos

Galapagos Sea Lion

Saqsayhuman Ruins, Cusco

Inca Ruins of Moray, near Sacred Valley

Maras Salt Pans, Sacred Valley

Korikancha, Inca Temple of the Sun, Cusco

Pisac Ruins, Sacred Valley

Colonial Cusco, Peru

Machu Picchu, Peru

Penguin, Galapagos Islands

Male Hood Lava Lizard, Galapagos

Kicker Rock, Galapagos Islands

Giant Tortoises, Santa Cruz Island

Galapagos Marine Iguanas

Blue-footed Booby, Luxury Galapagos Vacations

• 1

  Day 1

  Arrive Lima

  Arrival to Lima International Airport. Overnight Lima Airport Hotel.

• 2

  Day 2

  Flight to Cusco, Visit Pisac Market and Ruins

  Mid-morning you will take a flight to Cusco and our representative will escort you to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Today will be a relaxed day, acclimatizing to the altitude, and we begin with a visit to the famous Pisac market where you will find a host of traditional Andean textiles, trinkets and locals selling weird and wonderful regional produce. After lunch you will head upward to the Inca ruins at Pisac. This impressive defensive site built by the Inca civilization at the eastern end of the Sacred Valley contains four sectors of Q’allaqasa, Pisaqa, Intihuatana, and Kinchiracay. Your privately guided tour will unearth the secrets of this magical destination and give insights to the significance of the sectors at this expansive archaeological site.

• 3

  Day 3

  Misminay Andean Community, Maras Salt Pans, Moray Ruins

  Misminay is a small village in the Andean foothills where a genuine eco-tourism project has been undertaken to help the education and development of the local community members. You will learn first hand experiences of the Inca culture and daily lives across farming, weaving and traditional healing methods passed down from ancestors. After lunch you will visit the mysterious Inca crop laboratory of Moray ruins in addition to a visit to the Maras Salt Pans. The setting is scenic and quite surreal clinging to the cliffside of the Andes. You will learn how locals since pre-Inca times have collectively produced a salt now renowned the world over.

• 4

  Day 4

  One Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu

  A walk in the footsteps of the Inca people, this is an exhilarating adventure along the slopes of the Andes mountains. The route offers lesser known impressive Inca sites such as Wiñay Wayna discovered by the Wenner Gren Scientific Expedition as recently as 1940. The trek, with your insightful guide, will offer up a great revelation of the Inca culture and the daily working of their people and magnificent empire. Your day ends with a befitting entrance through the Sun Gate, revealing to your eyes magisterial Machu Picchu in all its finery.Distance: 8 Miles / 13 Kms
  Difficulty: Moderate
  NOTE: Option to take the train to Machu Picchu instead of the Inca Trail.

• 5

  Day 5

  Guided Tour of Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu Hike

  Your privately guided tour of Machu Picchu will ensure you get to visit the most consequential elements of the citadel and furthermore understand how they worked in unison among the Inca community. You the have the freedom to embark on a trek to Huayna Picchu Mountain. This winding ascent brings you to a pinnacle which offers classical panoramas overlooking Machu Picchu. The climb is always worth the efforts to gaze down upon one of the wonders of the world. Pictures or words do not just to living this rapturous experience. In the evening you will board the train to Cusco to reminisce on a perfect day of life’s journey!

• 6

  Day 6

  Free Morning, Afternoon Cusco Tour

  A free morning to relax after your eventful day yesterday. What better place to than colonial Cusco the former capital of the Tawantinsuyu Inca Empire. In the afternoon you can enjoy a tour of the many ruins of Cusco and the surrounding hinterland. These include the fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cusco, Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), Cusco Cathedral and Q’enko, where the sun, moon and stars were worshipped. UNESCO have noted this city as being one of the most important centers of religious art creation and production in the continent. Every cobblestone street and baroque or Incan inspired building is sure to leave you in awe at this amazing highland city.

• 7

  Day 7

  Flight to Quito via Lima

  A morning flight will begin your journey, destination Quito Ecuador. This route involves a connecting flight in Lima en route. At Quito you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in a Quito hotel.

• 8

  Day 8

  Tour of Colonial Quito

  We begin with a visit to the colonial heart of Quito founded in 1534 by Diego de Almagro. The city was made a UNESCO world culture site way back in 1978 denoting its exemplary preservation of some of the finest building in all of the Americas. The finest churches are included on our tour of La Compania, the monastery of San Francisco and we follow with an insight to working life in Quito at La Ronda. We conclude our Quito visit to learn of high-quality chocolate making and the passionate journey taken by Republica del Cacao right here in the heart of Quito.

• 9

  Day 9

  Santa Cruz Island & Charles Darwin Research Station

  On arrival in the Galapagos our guide will greet you and accompany you on your transfer to the ferry from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz Island. Santa Cruz will be your base to explore the archipelago. Your transfer journey offers the opportunity to see giant tortoises in their natural setting, you can enjoy lunch here at a local ranch. After lunch we will arrive at the Charles Darwin Research Station where you will have time to examine the extensive work of this conservation institute in preserving the Galapagos natural habitats.

• 10

  Day 10

  Island Visits Galapagos

  Spanning days ten and eleven of your itinerary you will visit a selection of stunning islands. The particular islands are subject to change due to climatic conditions and availability. What can be assured is that all of the islands are magnificent destinations where you will be in awestruck by the wonders of mother nature. This day too can offer Galapagos diving with the option to do two different dives, for qualified and certified divers. Typical examples of dive options include Mosquera which is an islet situated between Seymour and Baltra island and a second dive at the Seymour Channel. Please talk to your luxury Galapagos travel expert for diving details.

  Bartholomew Island
  A journey of two hours will see you arrive at Bartholomew Island where you ascend the steps to see a glorious view of the almost lunar landscape of Sullivan Bay and the famed Pinnacle Rock. This volcanic island holds a now dormant caldera and a landscape with a host of volcanic colors and minerals. The animal life about Bartholomew abounds with sea turtles, sharks, white-tip reef sharks, tropical fish, and sea lions. On land you can view Sally Light-foot Crabs, marine iguanas, sea lions, Lava Herons and most importantly Galapagos Penguins.

  Santa Fe Island
  A journey of about forty-five minutes by boat will see you arrive at Santa Fe Island. This small island is home to the unique Sante Fe rice rat and the Sante Fe land iguana which can be seen occasionally beneath the giant cacti here; some of which stretch to over 6 meters (20 feet) in height. You will also visit the idyllic sandy beach at Barrington Bay where sea lions come to play and bask in the sun. There are two hiking options from where you can see Galapagos hawks, night herons, mockingbirds, doves and following on enjoy some diving at the picturesque bay to endeavor to find a stingray or sea tortoise.

  North Seymour
  Today we depart from the Itabaca Channel to journey by boat to North Seymour Island. The island offers a wonderful insight to the Galapagos seabird colonies along some magnificent hiking routes. The endemic species here include blue-footed boobies and the bedazzling frigate birds with their bright red chests. The ability to witness the interaction of the birds, nesting, breeding and their fascinating courtship dances are what make this island truly special. Following on from lunch you can try some snorkeling beside the sea lions on the shoreside or enjoy a swim at the beautiful Bachas Beach. A perfect end to a perfect day!

  Plazas Island
  Following a morning journey of two hours by boat you will arrive on the shoreline of South Plazas Island. On landing you will witness the large sea lion population along with land and marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, Nazca boobies and a host of tropical birdlife. This small island is a gem in the Galapagos Islands and hosts a diverse range of flora including Sesuvium (shoreline purslane) which changes from bright green to red, orange, and purple over the course of a season. Its colors make for a fine showcase of an amazing natural carpet.

  Bay Tour and Tortuga Bay Visit
  This tour of the bay combines hiking, snorkeling and some timeout to enjoy the natural treasures such as Loberia and its sea lions; or at Las Grietas for the perfect snorkeling adventure in the underwater crevasses. Next, we take a walk to the white sandy beach of Tortuga Bay, en route passing through an Opuntia and Candelabra cactus forest. The forests abound with birdlife of Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and yellow warblers. The beach too is a haven of live with stingrays, fish, baby reef sharks, sea turtles and pelicans as just a few of the visitors to these waters. Keep a look along the cliffs too for the nesting blue footed boobies. Keep your camera ready as mother nature’s marvels wait for nobody!

• 11

  Day 11

  Island Visits Galapagos

  See the descriptions for Day 10 for details.

• 12

  Day 12

  Flight to Guayaquil/ Quito

  Following on from breakfast you will take the ferry to Baltra and onward to Baltra airport for your departure flight to Quito or Guayaquil. This evolutionary journey will leave you forever changed and enriched by the understanding of life’s ever changing, ever evolving beauty. Such experiences make your soul spiritually richer and impart an eagerness to travel and learn even more about the secrets of our wonderous blue planet.