The Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu from $6,509

Uncategorized > The Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu from $6,509

Day 1: Arrive Quito
Your tour opens in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site and Ecuador’s stunning capital city.
Stay 2 Nights: Hilton Colon Quito International

Day 2: Quito
Learn about Quito’s colonial center on a tour featuring the Presidential Palace and 17th-century church of La Compañía. Get to know your fellow travelers during a welcome lunch overlooking the Pululahua volcanic crater. On a one-of-a-kind experience, cross between hemispheres at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum at the “Middle of the World.” Spend the rest of the day at leisure discovering Quito’s way of life.

Day 3: Quito – San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos – Embark Ship
Fly to beautiful San Cristóbal Island, gateway to your Galapagos eco-adventure. After enjoying lunch aboard the m/v Galapagos Legend we arrive at the Port Baquerizo Moreno for an up-close look at the endangered tortoises that call the San Cristóbal Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve home. After exploring the island, stargaze from the deck of your ship and toast the wonders of the Galapagos with tropical cocktails.
Stay 4 nights: Aboard ship

Day 4:Española Island (Gardner Bay and Suarez Point)
Board your panga to visit Gardner Bay. Guarded by a colony of sea lions, the beach is home to Galapagos hawks and endemic finches. Swim and snorkel with the marine life, including manta rays and white-tipped sharks. Continue on and meander through the volcanic terrain of Suarez Point. During your nature walk, watch for hooded mocking birds, lava lizards, Sally Lightfoot crabs and blue-footed boobies. Venture to count Waved Albatross at the world’s largest colony. Finally, visit the spectacular Soplador blowhole where water shoots 75 feet into the air.

Day 5: Floreana Island (Post Office Bay and Cormorant Point)
Land at storied Post Office Bay, named for a barrel left in 1793 by Captain James Colnett as a “post office” for passing sailors. Continue the tradition and leave a letter for a loved one. Snorkel, if you choose, with green sea turtles or set out to search for Darwin’s finches and yellow warblers. Sail to Cormorant Point and its olivine green sand beach. Try to spot stingrays and reef sharks in the emerald waters. Learn about the ecosystem’s unusual plants. You may also observe graceful flamingos or spot a small colony of penguins. Seize another chance to snorkel and swim near playful sea lions!

Day 6: Santa Cruz Island (Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands)
Visit the famous Charles Darwin Research Station. See the giant tortoises from the station’s breeding program. Trek through the Santa Cruz highlands to Cerro Chato and find more giant tortoises. Take a break to savor some organic Galapagos coffee before we embark on a walk inside dormant lava tubes to gain insight on how these pristine islands formed. Enjoy time to explore Port Ayora town.

Day 7: Daphne Island – Disembark Ship – Baltra Island – Guayaquil
Garner panoramic views as you circumnavigate Daphne Island. Keep an eye out for marine iguanas, fur seals and crabs teetering along the rocky shore. Bid farewell to the Galapagos and fly to the lively city of Guayaquil. Get familiar with this community known as the “Pearl of the Pacific” on a city tour featuring a visit to the Malecón 2000 waterfront area and the 19th-century neighborhood of Las Peñas with its Spanish-style houses. From Santa Ana Hill, look out over the city and the Guayas River.
Stay: Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil

Day 8: Guayaquil – Lima,Peru
Fly to Lima, Peru’s “City of Kings.” Spend the afternoon as you choose. Perhaps you will do some shopping, visit Lima’s many fine museums or you’ll choose to experience an optional Peruvian Paso horse exhibition, dinner and folklore show.
Stay: Sheraton Lima Hotel Convention Center

Day 9: Lima – Cuzco – Sacred Valley of the Incas
Fly to Cuzco. Descend through the Andes to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, once the agricultural center of a great empire. Visit Awana Kancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes. Explore centuries-old methods of spinning, dyeing and weaving textiles. Stop in Pisac village to browse the handicraft market. Discover an ancient Peruvian art form at Pablo Seminario Ceramic Studio. Marvel at this internationally-renowned artist’s techniques and designs, inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures. Settle into your hotel nestled in the Sacred Valley.
Stay: Sonesta Posada Del Inca Yucay

Day 10: Ollantaytambo – Sacred Valley of the Incas
Glimpse daily activities at a nearby village and connect with another culture. Visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, a spectacular example of Inca architecture. Do as the locals do and enjoy a tasting of “chicha,” a regional drink made from maize, at a local pub.
Stay: Sonesta Posadadel Inca Yucay

Day 11: Sacred Valley of the Incas – Machu Picchu
Embark on a train ride through the Andes from Ollantaytambo to mysterious Machu Picchu. Hidden for centuries, the “Lost City of the Incas” is the most spectacular sight in South America. Spend the day exploring the fabled ruins before overnighting at the base of Machu Picchu. Soak up the mystical atmosphere and enjoy an exclusive culinary demonstration at dinner.
Stay: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel

Day 12: Aguas Calientes – Cuzco
Take advantage of your leisure time this morning and perhaps return to Machu Picchu on your own or explore the local markets. Return by train to the Sacred Valley and continue to Cuzco, a city that blends Inca and Spanish colonial influences. En route to Cuzco, meet Peruvian children at an orphanage supported by the Collette Foundation. In Cuzco, relax and become acclimated to the altitude.
Stay 2 nights: HNovotel Cuzco Hotel

Day 13: Cuzco
Explore the former capital of the Inca Empire, Cuzco, which means “Center of the World” in the ancient Quechua language. On a city tour, experience the Spanish architectural legacy visible in the Cathedral, Santo Domingo and the Plaza de Armas. Discover the sacred Incan ruin of Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Have some time on your own to spend browsing the local markets, see the San Blas artisans quarter or visit one of the impressive museums. Tonight, enjoy dinner in a local restaurant located in the fabulous Plaza de Armas.

Day 14: Cuzco – Depart for the USA
Fly to Lima and tour its historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Admire the artwork at San Francisco Monastery and enter the catacombs, view the Government Center, the Plaza de Armas’ Cathedral and the fashionable suburbs for insight into the life of Limeños. Before transferring to the airport, complete your day with a farewell dinner at the Larco Museum, housed in an 18th-century mansion.