A Taste of Ecuador & Peru feat. Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu

Welcome to Quito, the best-preserved colonial city in South America that was the first World Cultural Heritage City to be named by UNESCO in 1978. Transfer in Quito. It is also considered to be the cultural capital of South America because of its many museums and well-preserved colonial buildings. Upon arrival, we will meet our English-speaking guide and check into our hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Galapagos.

Upon our arrival on Baltra Island, the gateway to the Galapagos Islands, we will meet our English-speaking guide who will assist us with all formalities.   Baltra Island was a military base during the Second World War and hosts the Islands’ principal airport. The airport was built using the most advanced environmental techniques to reduce emissions and energy use.  It is the first ecological airport in the world. 

Leaving the airport we will take a ferry to Santa Cruz Island where our Naturalist Guide will be waiting for us. The government of Ecuador has designated 97% of the area of the Galapagos Islands, as a National Park, Ecuador’s first. The remaining 3% includes the inhabited areas of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Baltra, Floreana, and Isabella. The Galapagos National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Our excursion today takes us to a Giant Galapagos Tortoise Reserve, which is one of the few places in the world where you can observe this magnificent animal. As we are guided through the grounds of the preserve we will see giant tortoises, endemic birds, and unusual volcanic formations. After our excursion, we will head to the Magic Galapagos Tented Camp, which will be our home for the night. Nestled in the highlands of Santa Cruz we will be immersed in nature. All tree houses and safari tents have gorgeous views of the forest and mountains - this is a place to enjoy the beauty of nature. Listen to the wildlife, stargaze at the Southern sky, and watch for giant tortoises. Enjoy dinner prepared by professional chefs in an open-air kitchen in the main lodge. A favorite post-dinner activity is a short walk to the natural lava tubes on the reserve for a nightcap in the one-of-a-kind ‘Lava Lounge!’ It’s the perfect spot to relax around the fire and share stories from the day’s adventures.

After breakfast, we will depart on a half-day tour. We leave Puerto Ayora on a ten-minute cruise to La Loberia Island, named after a sea lion colony that lives here. This is your chance to snorkel and swim among sea lions, sea turtles, and a wide variety of colorful fish. After looking at sea lions resting and frolicking on this isolated beach, we will take an easy hike to the Túnel del Amor (lover’s tunnel) that offers a panoramic view where we may spot resting white-tip sharks. Along the way keep your eyes peeled for wild iguanas, lava lizards, yellow warblers, and frigates. On the way back to our boat, we will visit Punta Estrada’s dock, where we’ll go on a walk to watch marine iguanas in their natural environment.

Enjoy a day at Garrapatero Beach where you can venture into its warm crystalline waters. Afterward, take a nature walk through the Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve and take in spectacular island views including a 360-degree view of Santa Cruz. Cerro Mesa is a private restoration project started by a local family.

After breakfast, we will board our motor yacht where we will meet our Naturalist Guide for the day. On this excursion, we will visit some of the remote islands of this archipelago in comfort and style. The islands that we will visit today are dictated by a set weekly itinerary that is subject to change due to weather and other conditions. Islands that may be included are North Seymour and Bachas, South Plazas, Santa Fe Island, or Bartolome and Sullivan Bay. Boat excursions to these islands are dictated by the National Park System of Ecuador. After our cruise, we will head to Puerto Ayora where we will spend the night.

Today we say goodbye to the unspoiled natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands and the amazing wildlife that we have seen here. After breakfast, we will transfer to Baltra Airport to board our flight to Lima, Peru.

Located on the banks of the Rimac River overlooking the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean, Lima is an amazing study in contrasts. Upon arriving in Lima we will meet our guide and transfer to the hotel. The evening is free. Speak to your Tour Director for some great restaurant suggestions.

After breakfast, we will meet our local tour guide at the agreed time and place for a half-day city tour of Lima that includes the Larco Museum. On our tour, we will visit the modern and colonial parts of Lima. The historic center of Lima is called, “The City of Kings,” and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Founded by the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Pizarro in 1535, many of the magnificent colonial buildings located around the Plaza de Armas date to this period. The stunning Baroque Basilica Cathedral of Lima dates to 1535 and was built over the Inca Temple of Puma Inti. The Government Palace is the residence of the President of Peru. The best example of colonial architecture is the Torre Tagle Palace built by the treasurer of the Royal Spanish Fleet. Another gem is the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo founded in 1535 which includes five peaceful cloisters, the Church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, the Chapel of San Martin de Porres, and a library.  After exploring the Historical Center, we will head towards the Larco Museum, which houses the incomparable Treasures of Ancient Peru private collection. The remainder of the day is at leisure to take in the wonders of Lima at your own pace.

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco* - the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, one of the world’s most fascinating ancient civilizations.

Upon arrival in Cusco, the rest of your day is at leisure. Set amid the hills in the altiplano,  Cusco, was once the center of the vast empire of the Incas that stretched from Quito in Ecuador to Santiago in Chile. Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most beautiful cities in South America. After the Spanish conquistadores invaded the city, they started to build on top of Inca structures, the experience today is one of a unique blend of Spanish colonial and Inca architecture that can only be seen here.  You will walk its streets where time seems to have stopped, where every corner tells a story. You might want to plan a visit to Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca palace and center of worship to the Sun God, on which the Dominican order built a church, which remains standing to this day. Another unforgettable stop is a visit to the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an impressive example of Inca military architecture built of carefully fitted hand-cut boulders. This is the spot where the Incas made their last stand against the Conquistadores.

Optional DISTINCT Tour Excursions - San Pedro Market & Ruins

City Tour Including a visit to the San Pedro Market and Ruins (minimum 2 passengers) 

Our tour begins at the iconic San Pedro market, a local market where you can explore the colors, flavors, and traditions of modern-day Cusco. Our tour continues with a visit to Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca Palace and cult center of the Sun God, where we will see a church built by the Dominicans. Our tour continues with a visit to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, an impressive example of Inca military architecture. Afterward, we will explore Q’enqo archeological site, where important Inca ceremonies took place. Our final stop on the tour is the Plaza de Armas (main square), where we will visit the Cusco Cathedral, the most important temple in the city dating to 1668.

After breakfast, we meet our local Peruvian guide that will be our escort to the fabled Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will head in the direction of the Maras salt mines, a dream-like place with thousands of salt pans created by a hot spring at the top of the valley. This area produces Maras salt, one of the finest in the world. Our stop at the Raqchi viewpoint offers an unforgettable panoramic view of the Sacred Valley of the Incas and gives us an understanding of the unspoiled natural beauty that surrounds us. 

The geological features of this valley make it an important center for agriculture, and a strategic place to build temples. Today, indigenous people are proud to share their culture. The next leg of our journey will introduce us to the Misminay, an indigenous community where we will enjoy a glimpse into their way of life. We will enjoy traditional dances, and food, and learn about the Andean families’ lifestyle, by sharing some of their daily activities with them. The culmination of the experience is to enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with local products. 

Afterward, we will continue on to  Moray, a fascinating archeological site characterized by deep amphitheater-style terraces. It was created centuries ago as an Incan agricultural research center, where crop experiments were carried out at different heights. The site is very easy to walk around and as you do, you will soak up the energy of this enigmatic place.

The day we have been waiting for has arrived! This morning, we meet our local guide and head to the Ollantaytambo Station and board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu where we begin our visit to one of the most important UNESCO destinations in the world: Machu Picchu. This is one of the most amazing architectural and engineering marvels in the world - that was built into a mountainside of staggering immensity. Your excursion starts aboard a train towards the town of Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, and follows a beautiful route through the Urubamba River Valley. The natural beauty of the surroundings makes the train ride the best way to start your visit, and one of the most scenic in the world. 

Once you arrive, you will begin the ascent to the ruins. This visit will, without a doubt, be one of your most memorable experiences. After you reach the top, you will take a tour of Machu Picchu and learn the history of this mysterious civilization. And, with amazing scenery all around, you will surely have more than one spectacular photo op. At the agreed-upon hour, you will descend to Aguas Calientes for lunch and board the train later that afternoon for the return trip to Cusco.

After breakfast, you can enjoy a day of leisure on your own in the ancient citadel of Cusco. This is the perfect time to soak up the rich ancient history of this city and your surroundings, explore the markets, and feast on Peruvian delicacies. 

Optional DISTINCT Tour Excursion - Somewhere Over the Rainbow (minimum 2 passengers)

After breakfast, meet your local guide for an adventure that will take you through South Valley, towards Cusipata, the gateway city to one of Peru’s most amazing natural sites, Rainbow Mountain. This instagrammable mountain is where turquoise, scarlet, creme, and mustard-colored sediments cascade down the mountain like an ancient waterfall. 

Today we say goodbye to Peru and our incredible South American adventure. At the scheduled time we will be transferred to the airport to fly back to Lima where we will connect with your flight home.