Galapagos & Machu Picchu Tour - Regular

Welcome to Ecuador! Pick up at Quito Airport and transfer to your hotel followed by free time to settle-in and acclimatize to your new surroundings.

An early flight to the Galapagos Islands where your English-speaking guide will be waiting for you at the airport in Baltra. He/she will take you to the port of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island). In the afternoon y our guide will take you the Giant Turtle Reserve – Rancho El Manzanillo located in the upper part of Santa Cruz. Here giant tortoises can be found wandering freely. Lunch at Rancho El Manzanillo. Afterwards we visit the Charles Darwin Station to learn about the ongoing conservation efforts on these Enchanted Islands. The Research Station rears endemic Galapagos plants, land iguanas, and Giant Galapagos Tortoises for educational, scientific and conservation purposes.

By Yacht to one of the following destinations:

*Bartolome Island

*Plazas Islands

*Floreana Island

*Santa Fe Island

After breakfast, you will take a boat ride to one of the islands listed above. All of them offer fascinating insights into the plant and animal life of the Galapagos Islands where your naturalist guide will explain all about the flora and fauna that you encounter. Note: The destinations depends on availability.

After breakfast we will take the Public speedboat to Isabela Island (7:00 aprox), which lasts approximately two and a half hours. On arrival at Isabela we will take a brief rest at the hotel and then head to the Concha de Perla lagoon where you can swim with sea lions, colorful varieties of fish, and with luck sea turtles. After lunch we visit Tintoreras Islet - the name of the islet derives from the sharks that live in the waters surrounding the islet that have whit-tipped fins, which are known as “Tintoreras”. The islet is one of the most fascinating places on Isabela Island and in fact all of the Galapagos. In this one area we can see sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, sea turtles, pelicans, and Galapagos Penguins. As the island is one of the main breeding sites for the marine iguanas it is an excellent place to see a large community of these creatures close-up. After the hike through the islet we will get back on the boat and cool off by snorkeling in the waters nearby where with luck we may see multicolor fish, starfish, sea-urchins, and with luck manta rays, sharks, and sea lions that may swim with us close up. After this fascinating experience we will return to the hotel.

 After breakfast we will prepare ourselves to depart for snorkeling at the Cape Rose Tunnels located 40 minutes by boat southwest of Puerto Villamil. The sighting of birds and marine animals from the lava platform is one of the most important attractions. While snorkeling at this site you may experience up-close encounters with many species of fish, rays, sea turtles, penguins and sea lions. During the rest of this day we suggest visits to the Tortoise Breeding Center and the wetlands on your own.

Early in the morning (7:00 am aprox.), after breakfast, we will prepare ourselves for the Sierra Negra Volcano hike by putting on comfortable walking shoes and possibly a rain jacket, making sure to bring sunscreen, water, and hats, and finally by preparing our box lunch at the hotel to take with us. We will then travel approximately 45 minutes by truck or bus to begin the 12 km hike (appx. hours). The hike is long in terms of distance, but not very difficult as the inclines and declines are quite gradual. Sierra Negra Volcano has the second largest crater in the world, measuring approximately 6 miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. We can then continue to see spectacular moon-like terrain of Volcan Chico before heading back. In the afternoon you have free time to enjoy your last hours on the beautiful Isabela white-sand beach.

Early we head to the dock to take the public speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island (timing subject to change). From Puerto Ayora we will transport you across the highlands and to Baltra Airport. Depending on the timing of your flights we may have time for a quick visit to the twin crater sunken “holes”. These craters were formed by the collapse of the earth beneath which lava had passed and created giant tunnels, which facilitated the collapse and creation of the craters. On arrival to Guayaquil our driver will meet you at the airport for a transfer to your hotel. The rest of your afternoon is free.

After breakfast enjoy a morning tour of the highlights of Guayaquil including the old town area and the impressive malecon waterfront. In the afternoon fly to Lima where you stay at a hotel close to the airport in preparation for an early start tomorrow.

At proper time go by yourself to the airport (walking distance) to take your flight with destination Cusco. An early morning flight brings you to the Inca capital of Cusco. Upon arrival, proceed to the hotel to have a welcome coca tea. This should help you to relieve altitude sickness. The remaining of the morning is free to relax, and slowly acclimatize. In the afternoon, your comprehensive city tour includes the beautiful Koricancha or Sun Temple, the Cathedral as well as the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a most remarkable Inca building, the amphitheater of Kenko. This is followed by a visit to Puca Pucara, a strategically located 'red fortress' that dominates the entire area before visiting Tambomachay, with its two distinctive aqueducts that to this day continue to provide clean water to the area.

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel for your tour to the Sacred Valley. We make a stop in ’Awana Kancha (weaver's palace in Quechua)’, a breeding center of South American camels (guanacos, llamas, alpacas and vicunas). Artisans will demonstrate weaving and dyeing ancient Andean techniques from 12 communities still in use today. Continue with the visit of the Pisaq market. Originally a place where people from remote communities used to barter their products, Pisaq has evolved to one of South America's most famous souvenir markets. Make sure to sample some 'empanadas' baked in traditional clay ovens. On route you will also visit the ruins of Pisaq, a site set high above a valley by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing. The stonework and panoramas at Pisaq's Inca citadel are magnificent. In the main ruins you will find temples of the sun, moon, rain, rainbow, and stars, as well as a few Inca crosses rising from the ground. The cross represents the different levels of existence: The lower level signifies the underworld, and snake god; the higher level, human existence, represented by the jaguar or puma god; and the highest level, the celestial plane, represented by the condor. Lunch is included in a local restaurant. Afternoon visit to the fortress of Ollantaytambo where the Temple of the Sun (formed of six gigantic monoliths, whose total weight exceeds 50 tons) and the Terrace of the Ten Niches stand out.

At proper time, transfer from your hotel in the Sacred Valley to Ollanta train station (only transportation). The train ride takes you through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to Machu Picchu (unescorted) Upon arrival a small coach takes you up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. For centuries Machu Picchu remained undiscovered by the Spaniards and has only been found in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. During a guided tour you will experience the uniqueness of the location and the genius that went into its construction, making this Inca site one of the seven new wonders of the world.

Morning at leisure OR optional second visit to Machu Picchu citadel (at extra cost, must be booked in advance). In the afternoon, return by train from Aguas Calientes to the station of Poroy (or Ollanta) (unescorted). Arrival and transfer to your hotel (only transportation)

In the morning transfer to the airport in Cusco, or you may wish to stay extra time in Cusco to explore the city more.