Galápagos & Machu Picchu
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Aboard the M/Y La Pinta
Two Wonders of South America in Ecuador and Peru
Type of Trip: Nature & Wildlife Length: 14 days Season: April-December Rating: Grade II
A comprehensive 5-day itinerary aboard one of the finest vessels in Galápagos, the M/Y La Pinta, is paired with our classic 7-day Machu Picchu discovery tour. After a visit to Quito, we catch a flight to Baltra Island and start exploring aboard our comfortable 48-passenger, first-class expedition boat. Accompanied by some of the best English-speaking naturalist guides in the Galápagos, we learn about the natural history of these enchanted islands.
Following the Galápagos cruise, we fly to Guayaquil and connect for the flight to Lima and, the next morning, on to Cusco. Here we spend a couple of days exploring impressive ancient sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After a visit to Ollantaytambo we wake up and take the train to Machu, where we have plenty of time for in-depth explorations of the Inca’s Lost City before returning to Cusco. We end our journey with a tour of colonial Lima before returning home.
Trip Highlights:
- Snap photos of brightly colored animals such as Blue-footed and Red-footed boobies
- Snorkel with sea lions, sea turtles, tropical fish and other sea creatures
- Explore Genovesa, aka Tower Island — one of Galápagos’ most pristine areas
- Witness the creative juices of the volcanic forces that shaped the islands
- Join Quechua villagers at the traditional market in Pisac, Peru
- Take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu, crown jewel of Inca architecture
- Discover the cobbled side streets of Cusco and visit the nearby pre-Columbian sites
Brief Itinerary
DAY 1 (SAT) USA / QUITO
Arrive this evening to Ecuador’s Andean capital of Quito (9,350′).DAY 2 (SUN): QUITO
A full-day city tour of Quito includes the colonial center with La Compañía or San Francisco churches, the Panecillo hill, the Inti-ñan solar museum and a delicious traditional lunch.DAY 3 (MON): QUITO / BALTRA ISLAND / SANTA CRUZ (GALAPAGOS)
Flight to Baltra, meet your naturalist guides, visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat, and board the M/V La Pinta.DAY 4 (TUE): SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
Take a zodiac ride to see wildlife by Eden Islet and walk along Sombrero Chino island, with good swimming and snorkeling opportunities.DAY 5 (WED): BARTOLOME AND SANTIAGO ISLANDS
Hike to the summit of the iconic Bartolome Island for panoramic views. Enjoy the nearby beach and snorkeling with sea lions and maybe penguins. Afternoon visit to Santiago Island’s Sullivan Bay.DAY 6 (THU): GENOVESA ISLAND
Highlights on this unspoiled island are Darwin Bay and the Prince Philipe Steps. Find nests of Great Frigatebirds, Nazca and red-footed boobies, and snorkel or paddle sea kayaks.DAY 7 (FRI): BALTRA ISLAND / GUAYAQUIL / LIMA
Disembark on Baltra Island and board a flight to Lima, Peru via Guayaquil.DAY 8 (SAT): LIMA / CUSCO / SACRED VALLEY
Fly to Cusco, and descend into the warmer Sacred Valley to the market town of Pisac. Enjoy a typical lunch and explore Pisac’s Incan ruins above town.DAY 9 (SUN): CHINCHERO / OLLANTAYTAMBO
Deepen exploration of the Sacred Valley in two of its traditional Andean towns. Learn about their textiles, farming, cuisine and crafts heritage.DAY 10 (MON): MACHU PICCHU
Arrive by a scenic train ride to the spectacular ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Tour the main sectors of the ruins and walk to the Inca Drawbridge.DAY 11 (TUE): MACHU PICCHU / CUSCO
Witness the sunrise at the citadel. Afternoon return by Vistadome train and bus from Machu Picchu to the colonial city of Cusco.DAY 12 (WED): CUSCO
Morning private tour of Cusco’s historic center, Main Square and cathedral, and nearby pre-Columbian sites.DAY 13 (THU): CUSCO / LIMA / USA
Flight to Lima and guided sight-seeing in Colonial downtown and the fascinating Larco Herrera Museum before boarding an overnight flight home.DAY 14 (FRI): USA
Arrive in the US this morning and make onward connections home.Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF)
With full trip profile, difficulty rating, weather, and other planning details.Departures
On request any week from April-December, subject to availability.
This trip is customizable according to your travel dates and preferences.
Plan ahead to secure your space!
Read more about booking a cruise with Southwind2024 Land Cost* (5-day cruise)
4-6 participants: from $12,900 p.p.d.
7-12 participants: from $12,400 p.p.d.
Single Supplement: from $1,550 (hotels only)p.p.d. = per person based on double occupancy. Price does not include international or local flights. Southwind ticketing affiliate helps coordinate flights to match your itinerary.
*This trip is a total of 14 days and features a 5-day cruise.
Detailed day-by-day itinerary (PDF)
With full trip profile, inclusions/exclusions, estimated airfare, and other info.Quito: Swissotel
Centrally located in Quito near the colonial center, the Swissotel offers guests not only modern, deluxe accommodations and first-class service, but also an opportunity for a great culinary experience, shopping, nearby unique museums, restaurants and cultural exploration of the city. With 275 room, 4 restaurants, a deli, pool and a spa, this splendid hotel is sure to meet every guest’s needs.
Guayaquil: Oro Verde Hotel
The Oro Verde is a full-service boutique hotel offering the ultimate in sophistication and comfort for business and leisure travelers alike. Its superb location in the downtown Guayaquil commercial and financial district means you are within walking distance of popular tourist attractions, entertainment and shopping, and cultural sites.
Galápagos: M/Y La Pinta
La Pinta is a luxury expedition yacht that sails with 48 passengers, making for a personalized voyage. Elegant public areas feature a stylish and modern atmosphere, with plenty of natural light and a nautical touch. All 24 outside cabins have panoramic windows. La Pinta is a family-friendly vessel offering 6 connecting cabins and 4 triple cabins.
Lima: Costa del Sol
After a long flight to Lima travelers can step out of the International Terminal, walk a short distance, and enter the lobby of Ramada’s newly constructed Costa del Sol Hotel. This stylish four-star, 130 guest room hotel is the perfect place to unwind before exploring the wonders of Peru.
Sacred Valley: Sol Y Luna Lodge
Designed to promote the allure of nature and the magic of the Sacred Valley, the 4-star Sol Y Luna Hotel features 14 bungalows distributed throughout a delightfully landscaped site. Each bungalow is an integration of adobe, wood, stone from the area, resulting in a construction that lives in harmony with nature.
Machu Picchu: Inkaterra Pueblo
The Inkaterra Machu Picchu Hotel is a unique, 4-star ecological hotel situated in a cloud forest above the Urubamba River. Featuring 83 spacious, sunlit rooms, the style is Spanish colonial with stone archways and red tiled roofs. Cottages and gardens are reminiscent of a traditional Andean village.
Cuso: Libertador Palacio Del Inka
The city’s first 5-star hotel, the Hotel Libertador Cusco is ideally located within the historical center of the city, only three blocks from the main square and across from Santo Domingo Church and Coricancha Inca site. It occupies the fabulous Casa de los Cuatro Bustos, where Francisco Pizarro once lived.
Lima Upgrade Option: Miraflores Park Hotel
Located on the Malecon de la Reserva, the 5-star Miraflores Park Hotel has 81 suites offering guests the ideal space for work and rest. Enjoy ample private bathrooms in marble and granite, comfortable king-size beds, and a splendid ocean view.
Lima Upgrade Option: JW Marriott Hotel
Enjoy a view of the Pacific Ocean against the shoreline at one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Top-20 Latin American hotels, the JW Marriott Hotel Lima. This 5-Star facility has prime location near the Larcomar shopping and entertainment center, and luxurious amenities.
Machu Picchu Upgrade Option: Sanctuary Lodge
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, by Belmond, enjoys a unique position at the entrance of the Inca Citadel ruins. The unequaled location of this upscale 4-star hotel allows guests easy access to Machu Picchu, as well as breathtaking scenery and bird watching.
Cusco Upgrade Option: Monasterio Hotel
Built in 1592, the original monastery was given the seal of royal approval in 1692. The San Antonio Abad Seminary and was converted into Cusco’s best and most delightful 5-star hotel in 1995. Only two blocks from Cusco’s main square, the Monasterio Hotel features 109 guest rooms.
Lake District Haciendas
Length: 3 Days/2 Nights from Quito
Season: Year-round
A 2-hour drive north from Quito lie the fertile valleys of the Lake District. Here we find the charming and historic Haciendas Cusin or Pinsaqui. Enjoy hiking, horseback riding, cycling, birding, and meeting local residents.Cloud Forest & Western Rainforest
Length: 3 days/2 nights from Quito
Season: Year-round
Choose one of three unique lodges as a base. Each is located in the lush, pre-montane cloud forest. Enjoy wildlife viewing, birdwatching, nature hikes to secluded waterfalls, biking rolling hills, or the zip-line at Mindo.Arequipa and Colca Canyon
Length: 5 days/4 nights from Lima
Season: Mid-April to mid-November
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca in southern Peru is one of the deepest canyons in the world. Since its walls are not as vertical, the valley is filled with small towns that preserve their traditions.Testimonials