DAY 1: Arrive in Lima

You will either fly from your home to Lima (flight not included), you can arrive any time this day. You overnight in the Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel. It’s not very exciting, but it’s within walking distance of the airport and you’ll get the most possible sleep this night.

Overnight in Lima: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight in Cusco: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides. Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day.

At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages. The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley.

The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere. We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo.

As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes:

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnigh: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu:

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 5: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

(Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.) We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco.

This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages.

The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Depart Cusco & Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then onto Guayaquil, Ecuador (flights not included). Upon your arrival in Guayaquil, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: Fly to Galapagos – North Seymour Island

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony.

On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead.

The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Chinese Hat – Bartolome

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks.

From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase. The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful.

All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape. After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins.

This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels.

Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded. Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead.

Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand. Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood.

On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls. At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond. After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor.

In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels.

Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards.

We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions. Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays.

Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches. While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies.

You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

• Travelers joining the 4-day cruise arrive in the Galapagos this morning and are transferred from the airport to meet up with the group in the Santa Cruz highlands
• Travelers doing the 5-day cruise are transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, they will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador

Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area).

The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones. You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos.

Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area. Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13: Española Island: Puerta Suarez & Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago.

Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace. Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish.

Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 14: Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 15: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove. Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

If you’re finishing your trip and heading home, you can fly from the Galapagos to either Quito or Guayaquil, which ever city has the best connection for you to fly home. From one of these cities, you’ll catch your international flight home (flights not included in pricing).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will either fly from your home to either Quito or Guayaquil (flight not included), the two largest cities in Ecuador. You can arrive any time this day. You will be met at the airport by a hotel shuttle. You overnight at an airport near either of the hotels.

Overnight in Quito: Rincon de Puembo or similar
Overnight in Guayaquil: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Fly to Galapagos – North Seymour Island

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony. On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds.

You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead. The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Chinese Hat – Bartolome

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks.

From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase. The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful. All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape.

After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins. This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded.

Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead.

Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand. Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood.

On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls. At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond. After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor.

In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young.

On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels. Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards.

We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions. Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays.

Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches.

While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

Travelers joining the 4-day cruise arrive in the Galapagos this morning and are transferred from the airport to meet up with the group in the Santa Cruz highlands. Travelers doing the 5-day cruise are transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, they will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador.

Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area). The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.

You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos.

Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area. Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Española Island: Puerta Suarez & Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago.

Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace. Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish.

Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove. Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

We recommend flying Galapagos – Guayaquil – Lima, as Guayaquil is closest to both the Galapagos and Lima. It’s also possible to have a layover in Quito, but it’s more flying time. (Flights are not included)

When you arrive in Lima, you will walk (a couple of minutes) to the airport hotel. It’s not a very interesting hotel, but it is very convenient.

Overnight in Lima: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 10: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight in Cusco: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 11: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides. Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day.

At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages. The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley.

The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere. We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo.

As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 13: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

(Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.) We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 14: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco.

This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages.

The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 15: Free Morning in Cusco & Depart. Fly Home

You have the morning free to explore Cusco. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then you connect with your international departure (flights not included).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Lima

You will fly from your home to Lima (flight not included), you can arrive any time this day. You overnight in the Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel. It’s not very exciting, but it’s within walking distance of the airport and you’ll get the most possible sleep this night.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides.

Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day. At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages.

The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley. The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere. We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo. As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 5: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.

We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco.

This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages.

The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Depart Cusco & Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then onto Guayaquil, Ecuador (flights not included). Upon your arrival in Guayaquil, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: Fly to Galapagos. Santa Cruz Island: Las Bachas

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your trip with a visit to Las Bachas, which is a white coral beach in the north of the Island Santa Cruz. You have a wet landing and easy walk along the beach to small brackish water lagoons.

On the sandy beaches of Las Bachas you will get a close look at a sea turtle nesting area and further on, you walk to a lake frequented by pink flamingos, black-necked stilts, whimbrels and white cheeked pintail ducks. Afterwards, you’ll cool off with a dip in the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean and you can snorkel here as well.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Mosquera Islet & Santa Cruz: Cerro Dragon

Mosquera is a newly opened, small sandy island located between North Seymour and Baltra. Mosquera has one of the biggest sea lion colonies in Galapagos with different Harems and it is a wonderful visiting point to observe their behavior.

Often you have the possibility to see the endemic lava gulls and other coastal birds. On the lava rocks we find marine iguanas sunning themselves in-between swims in the ocean to hunt for seaweed. Brightly colored Sally Light-foot crabs are also present here.

Later in the day, you visit Cerro Dragón (which means Dragon Hill), a scenic spot where you can find very iconic Galapaganean wildlife.

The short hike passes a flamingo lagoon, located behind the beach vegetation and then leads through an impressive forest of prickly pear cactus forest. A loop trail goes to a small hill where land iguanas live and nest. The view from this small hill over the surrounding landscape is spectacular.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove & Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

Today you visit some of the most far-flung and wildlife-rich sites within the Galapagos archipelago. The western Islands of Isabela and Fernandina are usually the top highlight of any cruise due to the large populations of iconic Galapagos animals and their unusual relationships with their environs.

You make several stops on Isabela because it is such a massive Island with incredible diversity at each stop along the way due to lava flows which isolated many animals.

You begin with a visit to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. This protected cove was a favorite resting site for the early pirates and whalers who also carved and painted their names in the high cliffs of the cove. Here, you embark on a scenic walk uphill to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake, and then a bit further on, we have a wonderful view overlooking the lava fields of Darwin Volcano.

After the hike, you have a zodiac ride along the cliffs to look for Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. If the water is clear, Tagus Cove is a fascinating snorkeling spot with a great amount of marine invertebrates to be found on the vertical walls.

The hike at Fernandina may feel like the most remote and scenic excursion during your entire cruise. Fernandina’s stark black landscape is juxtaposed by neighboring Isabela’s lush volcanoes and the turquoise ocean in between.

But this visit is about much more than scenery since you have the opportunity to see an abundance of marine iguanas, Sally Light-foot crabs, flightless cormorants, sharks, and sea turtles. It’s common here to snorkel in a bevy of sea turtles feasting on sea grass alongside swimming marine iguanas and penguins on the hunt for fish.

Fernandina is probably the most pristine of all the Islands in the Galapagos since there have never been introduced mammals that plagued many other Islands in the archipelago.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Elizabeth Bay

You begin today with an early hike at Urbina Bay where your guide will explain the recent geologic events that created the bay and the surrounding uplift. Wildlife here includes colorful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and flightless cormorants. After your hike, you snorkel in the bay where you may spot Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Later in the day, you will travel to Elizabeth Bay which is ideal for snorkeling and wildlife viewing. While traveling to the Bay, you may be lucky enough to spot migrating whales (between June and September).

More likely, you’ll come across Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, sea lions, and sharks once in the cove. Outside of the mangrove cove we make a dinghy drive around the small islets, the Marielas.

These islets are important nesting places for the Galapagos Penguin and you often see a lot of Blue-footed Boobies resting in the steep cliffs. The flightless cormorants are also easy to spot on these islets as well.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12: Isabela Island: Punta Moreno & Navigation to Puerto Villamil

Early in the morning we head out for a hike on the rough lava field of Punta Moreno. It’s a place where you can see all the three species of cactus: candelabra cactus, prickly pear cactus and lava cactus.

Hopefully, in the middle of the lava field amidst some brackish water pools, you will find flamingoes, common gallinules, white cheeked pintail ducks and paint-billed crakes. On a dinghy drive you can see flightless cormorants, Galapagos Penguins and huge marine iguanas.

Around 11 a.m. we depart for the long (about 6 hours) but beautiful navigation to Puerto Villamil. We follow along the shoreline of the Volcano Cerro Azul, which is very scenic. Your guide and you will be on the look-out for dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, and orca pods; if they are spotted, we stop to observe them. Just before dark we arrive in the small harbor Puerto Villamil.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13: Isabela Island: Sierra Negra, Volcan Chico, & Puerto Villamil

Today you see a vastly different side of the Galapagos as you visit the idyllic beach town of Puerto Villamil and explore the high volcanoes just outside town. By bus you begin the journey to the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera.

You leave the bus behind and walk for about an hour, observing the different vegetation zones as you ascend. Often it is a little bit raining or misty and foggy. You finally arrive at the rim of the huge caldera, measuring 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from north to south and 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) from east to west. This is the second largest caldera in the world and a very impressive site.

After the hike, you make a trip to the lagoons of Villamil. You start in the Tortoise Breeding Center where you can see different subspecies of the Galapagos land tortoises and the work for restoring the population of endangered populations.

There are loads of adorable, tiny tortoises at all stages and you’ll find the research center here is a charming counterpart to the much larger Darwin Station on Santa Cruz. On the walk back to town you take a nice trail from lagoon to lagoon and look for flamingoes, common gallinules, white-cheeked pintail ducks and black-necked stilts.

If there is time, you can kick back on the sprawling white sand beach of Puerto Villamil and enjoy the view out over the turquoise water.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 14: Floreana Island: Punta Cormorant, Devil’s Crown, & Post Office Bay

This morning you have a wet landing on the “Green Beach” of Punta Cormorant. Depending on the light conditions, the sand shines green because of the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand. On an easy walk you come to a big salt-water lagoon with flamingoes, white-cheeked pintail ducks, black-necked stilts and, depending of the season, more migratory shore birds.

After another short walk you come to the “White Flour Sand Beach,” made of white corals. It’s a famous nesting beach for marine turtles. Making sure not to disturb any nesting sites, you may be lucky enough to see the remains of tiny turtle egg shells lying on the beach. Often you can see a lot of stingrays in the shallow water.

After your walk, you travel a short way to Devil’s Crown, the remains of a volcano now sunken into the ocean and whose sharp rocks make the shape of a black crown. This is one of the most famous snorkeling places in Galapagos, but it is only suitable for experienced snorkelers. Here, you are likely to snorkel alongside sharks, eels, turtles, sea lions, and an assortment of dazzling fish.

Before lunch, you make a short visit to the famous barrel in Post Office Bay. This “post office” is simply a barrel and was first used in 1793 by the whalers. They used it to receive and send letters home and to have contact within them; this tradition continues with the visitors who come to the Galapagos today.

A nearby beach is also lovely for wandering, swimming, or snorkeling on your own. After this visit we navigate to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, arriving around 5:00 p.m. You will have a bit of time to explore the town before returning to the Angelito for dinner.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 15: Daphne Island & Depart Galapagos. Fly Home

Early in the morning you’ll arrive to Daphne Island, a conical Island, which is home to thousands of birds such as blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, tropic birds, and many more. We’ll navigate around this volcanic cone and get as close as possible for you to observe the birds without disturbing them (of course, binoculars are recommended to make sure you get a good look at the birds).

Daphne has been a great research site on which many scientists have spent years studying the behavior of Darwin’s finches. After breakfast, around 8:00 a.m, you depart for Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.

If you’re finishing your trip and heading home, you can fly from the Galapagos to either Quito or Guayaquil, which ever city has the best connection for you to fly home. From one of these cities, you’ll catch your international flight home (flights not included in pricing).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will either fly from your home to either Quito or Guayaquil (flight not included), the two largest cities in Ecuador. You can arrive any time this day. You will be met at the airport by a hotel shuttle. You overnight at an airport near either of the hotels.

Overnight in Quito: Rincon de Puembo or similar
Overnight in Guayaquil: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Fly to Galapagos. Santa Cruz Island: Las Bachas

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored. Now the cruise can begin!

You begin your trip with a visit to Las Bachas, which is a white coral beach in the north of the Island Santa Cruz. You have a wet landing and easy walk along the beach to small brackish water lagoons.

On the sandy beaches of Las Bachas you will get a close look at a sea turtle nesting area and further on, you walk to a lake frequented by pink flamingos, black-necked stilts, whimbrels and white cheeked pintail ducks. Afterwards, you’ll cool off with a dip in the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean and you can snorkel here as well.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Mosquera Islet & Santa Cruz: Cerro Dragon

Mosquera is a newly opened, small sandy island located between North Seymour and Baltra. Mosquera has one of the biggest sea lion colonies in Galapagos with different Harems and it is a wonderful visiting point to observe their behavior.

Often you have the possibility to see the endemic lava gulls and other coastal birds. On the lava rocks we find marine iguanas sunning themselves in-between swims in the ocean to hunt for seaweed. Brightly colored Sally Light-foot crabs are also present here.

Later in the day, you visit Cerro Dragón (which means Dragon Hill), a scenic spot where you can find very iconic Galapaganean wildlife. The short hike passes a flamingo lagoon, located behind the beach vegetation and then leads through an impressive forest of prickly pear cactus forest.

A loop trail goes to a small hill where land iguanas live and nest. The view from this small hill over the surrounding landscape is spectacular.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove & Fernandina Island: Punta Espinoza

Today you visit some of the most far-flung and wildlife-rich sites within the Galapagos archipelago. The western Islands of Isabela and Fernandina are usually the top highlight of any cruise due to the large populations of iconic Galapagos animals and their unusual relationships with their environs.

You make several stops on Isabela because it is such a massive Island with incredible diversity at each stop along the way due to lava flows which isolated many animals.

You begin with a visit to Tagus Cove on Isabela Island. This protected cove was a favorite resting site for the early pirates and whalers who also carved and painted their names in the high cliffs of the cove.

Here, you embark on a scenic walk uphill to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake, and then a bit further on, we have a wonderful view overlooking the lava fields of Darwin Volcano. After the hike, you have a zodiac ride along the cliffs to look for Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants.

If the water is clear, Tagus Cove is a fascinating snorkeling spot with a great amount of marine invertebrates to be found on the vertical walls.

The hike at Fernandina may feel like the most remote and scenic excursion during your entire cruise. Fernandina’s stark black landscape is juxtaposed by neighboring Isabela’s lush volcanoes and the turquoise ocean in between.

But this visit is about much more than scenery since you have the opportunity to see an abundance of marine iguanas, Sally Light-foot crabs, flightless cormorants, sharks, and sea turtles. It’s common here to snorkel in a bevy of sea turtles feasting on sea grass alongside swimming marine iguanas and penguins on the hunt for fish.

Fernandina is probably the most pristine of all the Islands in the Galapagos since there have never been introduced mammals that plagued many other Islands in the archipelago.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Elizabeth Bay

You begin today with an early hike at Urbina Bay where your guide will explain the recent geologic events that created the bay and the surrounding uplift. Wildlife here includes colorful land iguanas, giant tortoises, and flightless cormorants. After your hike, you snorkel in the bay where you may spot Galapagos penguins and sea lions.

Later in the day, you will travel to Elizabeth Bay which is ideal for snorkeling and wildlife viewing. While traveling to the Bay, you may be lucky enough to spot migrating whales (between June and September).

More likely, you’ll come across Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, sea lions, and sharks once in the cove. Outside of the mangrove cove we make a dinghy drive around the small islets, the Marielas.

These islets are important nesting places for the Galapagos Penguin and you often see a lot of Blue-footed Boobies resting in the steep cliffs. The flightless cormorants are also easy to spot on these islets as well.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Isabela Island: Punta Moreno & Navigation to Puerto Villamil

Early in the morning we head out for a hike on the rough lava field of Punta Moreno. It’s a place where you can see all the three species of cactus: candelabra cactus, prickly pear cactus and lava cactus.

Hopefully, in the middle of the lava field amidst some brackish water pools, you will find flamingoes, common gallinules, white cheeked pintail ducks and paint-billed crakes. On a dinghy drive you can see flightless cormorants, Galapagos Penguins and huge marine iguanas.

Around 11 a.m. we depart for the long (about 6 hours) but beautiful navigation to Puerto Villamil. We follow along the shoreline of the Volcano Cerro Azul, which is very scenic. Your guide and you will be on the look-out for dolphins, sperm whales, humpback whales, and orca pods; if they are spotted, we stop to observe them. Just before dark we arrive in the small harbor Puerto Villamil.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7: Isabela Island: Sierra Negra, Volcan Chico, & Puerto Villamil

Today you see a vastly different side of the Galapagos as you visit the idyllic beach town of Puerto Villamil and explore the high volcanoes just outside town. By bus you begin the journey to the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera. You leave the bus behind and walk for about an hour, observing the different vegetation zones as you ascend.

Often it is a little bit raining or misty and foggy. You finally arrive at the rim of the huge caldera, measuring 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) from north to south and 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) from east to west. This is the second largest caldera in the world and a very impressive site.

After the hike, you make a trip to the lagoons of Villamil. You start in the Tortoise Breeding Center where you can see different subspecies of the Galapagos land tortoises and the work for restoring the population of endangered populations.

There are loads of adorable, tiny tortoises at all stages and you’ll find the research center here is a charming counterpart to the much larger Darwin Station on Santa Cruz. On the walk back to town you take a nice trail from lagoon to lagoon and look for flamingoes, common gallinules, white-cheeked pintail ducks and black-necked stilts.

If there is time, you can kick back on the sprawling white sand beach of Puerto Villamil and enjoy the view out over the turquoise water.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8: Floreana Island: Punta Cormorant, Devil’s Crown, & Post Office Bay

This morning you have a wet landing on the “Green Beach” of Punta Cormorant. Depending on the light conditions, the sand shines green because of the high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand. On an easy walk you come to a big salt-water lagoon with flamingoes, white-cheeked pintail ducks, black-necked stilts and, depending of the season, more migratory shore birds.

After another short walk you come to the “White Flour Sand Beach,” made of white corals. It’s a famous nesting beach for marine turtles. Making sure not to disturb any nesting sites, you may be lucky enough to see the remains of tiny turtle egg shells lying on the beach. Often you can see a lot of stingrays in the shallow water.

After your walk, you travel a short way to Devil’s Crown, the remains of a volcano now sunken into the ocean and whose sharp rocks make the shape of a black crown. This is one of the most famous snorkeling places in Galapagos, but it is only suitable for experienced snorkelers. Here, you are likely to snorkel alongside sharks, eels, turtles, sea lions, and an assortment of dazzling fish.

Before lunch, you make a short visit to the famous barrel in Post Office Bay. This “post office” is simply a barrel and was first used in 1793 by the whalers. They used it to receive and send letters home and to have contact within them; this tradition continues with the visitors who come to the Galapagos today.

A nearby beach is also lovely for wandering, swimming, or snorkeling on your own. After this visit we navigate to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, arriving around 5:00 p.m. You will have a bit of time to explore the town before returning to the Angelito for dinner.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Daphne Island & Depart Galapagos. Fly to Lima

Early in the morning you’ll arrive to Daphne Island, a conical Island, which is home to thousands of birds such as blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, tropic birds, and many more. We’ll navigate around this volcanic cone and get as close as possible for you to observe the birds without disturbing them (of course, binoculars are recommended to make sure you get a good look at the birds).

Daphne has been a great research site on which many scientists have spent years studying the behavior of Darwin’s finches. After breakfast, around 8:00 a.m, you depart for Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.

We recommend flying Galapagos – Guayaquil – Lima, as Guayaquil is closest to both the Galapagos and Lima. It’s also possible to have a layover in Quito, but it’s more flying time. (Flights are not included)

When you arrive in Lima, you will walk (a couple of minutes) to the airport hotel. It’s not a very interesting hotel, but it is very convenient.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 10: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 11: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides. Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day.

At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages. The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley.

The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market. If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere.

We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo. As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 12: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft). On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls.

After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 13: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

(Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.) We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 14: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco. This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages. The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 15: Free Morning in Cusco & Depart. Fly Home

You have the morning free to explore Cusco. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then you connect with your international departure (flights not included).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Lima

You will either fly from your home to Lima (flight not included), you can arrive any time this day. You overnight in the Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel. It’s not very exciting, but it’s within walking distance of the airport and you’ll get the most possible sleep this night.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides. Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day.

At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages. The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley.

The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere.

We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo. As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate.

From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu. We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 5: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.

We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco.

This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay. This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages.

The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Depart Cusco & Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then onto Guayaquil, Ecuador (flights not included). Upon your arrival in Guayaquil, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: Fly to Galapagos & North Seymour Island

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the cruise can begin! You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony.

On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead.

The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Chinese Hat & Bartolome Island

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks. From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase.

The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful. All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape. After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins.

This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded.

Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead.

Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand. Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood.

On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls. At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond.

After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor. In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels.

Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards. We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions.

Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays. Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island. The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches.

While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Depart Galapagos

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

You will be transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, you will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador.

If you’re finishing your trip and heading home, you can fly from the Galapagos to either Quito or Guayaquil, which ever city has the best connection for you to fly home. From one of these cities, you’ll catch your international flight home (flights not included in pricing).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will either fly from your home to either Quito or Guayaquil (flight not included), the two largest cities in Ecuador. You can arrive any time this day. You will be met at the airport by a hotel shuttle. You overnight at an airport near either of the hotels.

Overnight in Quito: Rincon de Puembo or similar
Overnight in Guayaquil: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Fly to Galapagos & North Seymour Island

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the cruise can begin! You begin your Galapagos adventure with a wildlife-filled visit to North Seymour, an Island very close to Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands. On your walk with the naturalist guide, you will observe abundant and entertaining birdlife as well as a sizeable sea lion colony.

On North Seymour, blue-footed boobies make their nests on the ground right below nesting Magnificent Frigate birds. You will likely see the male frigate birds inflate their incredible neck pouches, hoping to attract some lucky females flying overhead.

The trail ends at a scenic beach where loads of sea lions love to sunbathe. Along this visit, you’re also likely to see Sally Light-foot crabs, marine iguanas, and swallow-tailed gulls.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Chinese Hat & Bartolome Island

Sombrero Chino is a small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops and falls close to where it came from, which forms a cone inclined) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.

On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. With your guide, you will walk along the gorgeous white sand beach and learn about these lava formations.

You will also have the chance to go snorkeling where it’s likely to swim with Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and white-tipped reef sharks. From a dry landing on a jetty, you take the summit trail that first goes over sand and then leads to the top of Bartholomé on a wooden staircase.

The view from the top of Santiago with Sullivan Bay and the surrounding islands is wonderful. All the secondary cones, lava flows and lava tubes mimic a moon landscape. After the hike, you will snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, the famous landmark of Bartolome. With the dinghy you go along the coast of Bartolomé to look for the Galapagos penguins.

This is the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos and you are extremely like to swim with them here and see them nesting. The penguins live and nest in the lava tubes of the rocky coast, along which they also fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay & Prince Phillips Steps

Genovesa Island is known for its outstanding birdlife, even if you’re not a bird enthusiast, you will likely be delighted by the large colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Also, since the Island is only visited by cruises, it’s usually fairly uncrowded.

Darwin Bay was created by the collapse of a huge, underwater crater — this also explains the horseshoe shape of Genovesa Island. You first land on a white coral beach where you will immediately spot several birds on land and soaring overhead.

Great frigate birds display their inflated, bright red neck pouches to attract passing females; Nazca and blue-footed boobies tend to their nests on the ground below; and mockingbirds sprint across the sand. Nearby tidal pools in the volcanic rock are places for wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels and turnstones to hunt for seafood.

On this walk, you’re also likely to see the sharp-beaked finch, large cactus finches, large ground finches, Galapagos doves and swallow-tailed gulls. At the end the trail you reach a cliff’s edge where you can enjoy an amazing view of the Island and ocean beyond.

After this walk, you can enjoy swimming or snorkeling in the natural harbor. In the afternoon, you visit Prince Philip’s Steps, the only other visitor site on Genovesa. The visit begins with a view of the rocky shore where many birds nest and raise their young. On the trail here one may observe red-billed tropicbirds, nesting boobies and a colony of storm petrels.

Genovesa Island offers a chance to also spot the Galapagos short-eared owl and the Galapagos fur seal as well as several species of finches, herons, and petrels.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

Today begins with a hike and snorkeling at Puerto Egas, aka James Bay. This spot is home to the fascinating Galapagos hawk as well as Galapagos oyster catchers and Galapagos lava lizards. We will walk to the coastline where we observe tidal pools and an abundance of Galapagos sea lions.

Here the Galapagos Fur Sea Lions bathe in the sun. While snorkeling, you swim alongside reef sharks, turtles, and rays. Later in the day, you will visit La Rabida, another small but fascinating Island.

The first thing you’ll notice on La Rabida are its unique red cliffs and beaches. While walking on this Island, you’re likely to spot sea lions, pelicans, Galapagos hawks, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, flamingos and blue-footed boobies. You will also have time to go for a snorkel in the waters just off La Rabida, where you will hopefully swim with sea lions and tropical fish.

Overnight: On the boat

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6: Santa Cruz Island: Charles Darwin Research Station & Depart Galapagos

The Charles Darwin research station is located in the town of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and it’s a 10-minute walk from the center of town. At the Charles Darwin Research Station you’ll learn first-hand of the conservation and research efforts in the Galapagos islands.

See the tortoise hatchlings and breeding programs which are saving several races of tortoises from extinction. You’ll also see several species of giant iguanas that are being saved from extinction as well. The Charles Darwin Research Station conducts and facilitates research in the Islands and you’ll learn about their important research here at the station.

You will be transferred to the Baltra airport after this visit. In Baltra, you will board the flight headed back to mainland Ecuador.

We recommend flying Galapagos – Guayaquil – Lima, as Guayaquil is closest to both the Galapagos and Lima. It’s also possible to have a layover in Quito, but it’s more flying time. (Flights are not included)

When you arrive in Lima, you will walk (a couple of minutes) to the airport hotel. It’s not a very interesting hotel, but it is very convenient.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides.

Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day. At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages.

The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley. The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere. We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo.

As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably. In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here.

The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 9: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 10: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.

We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 11: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco. This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages. The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 12: Free Morning in Cusco & Depart. Fly Home

You have the morning free to explore Cusco. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then you connect with your international departure (flights not included).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Lima

You will either fly from your home to Lima (flight not included), you can arrive any time this day. You overnight in the Wyndham Lima Airport Hotel. It’s not very exciting, but it’s within walking distance of the airport and you’ll get the most possible sleep this night.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 3: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides.

Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day. At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages.

The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley. The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market.

If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere. We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo.

As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably. In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here.

The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft).

On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls. After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate.

From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu. We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 5: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike. We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco. This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages. The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Depart Cusco & Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then onto Guayaquil, Ecuador (flights not included). Upon your arrival in Guayaquil, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 8: Fly to Galapagos. Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the trip can begin! Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area). The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.

You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos. Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area.

Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9: Española Island: Puerta Suarez & Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago. Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace.

Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish. Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10: Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove & Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

If you’re finishing your trip and heading home, you can fly from the Galapagos to either Quito or Guayaquil, which ever city has the best connection for you to fly home. From one of these cities, you’ll catch your international flight home (flights not included in pricing).

Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 1: Arrive in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

You will either fly from your home to either Quito or Guayaquil (flight not included), the two largest cities in Ecuador. You can arrive any time this day. You will be met at the airport by a hotel shuttle. You overnight at an airport near either of the hotels.

Overnight in Quito: Rincon de Puembo or similar
Overnight in Guayaquil: Hotel Oro Verde or similar
Meals Included: None

DAY 2: Fly to Galapagos. Santa Cruz Island: Highlands

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos (flight is not included in the trip price, but will be booked by the cruise operator and added to your pricing summary).

Arriving to the airport in the Galapagos, you must first pay the National Park entrance fee of U.S. $100 per person before collecting your luggage. Leaving the arrival hall, the National Park Guide of the “Angelito I” will be waiting for you and accompany the whole group to the Baltra harbor, where the “Angelito I” is anchored.

Now the trip can begin! Highland Santa Cruz: Drive up to the highlands in a bus. In a short time one can see the transition between the different vegetation zones from the Arid zone to the Transition zone up to the Scalesia zone (and agricultural area). The highlands offer the lush humid zone with its vegetation of Miconia bushes, Scalesia and inactive volcanic cones.

You will walk to Los Gemelos (meaning “twins”) which are two big pit craters in the middle of a wonderful Scalesia forest. These endemic trees and the lush vegetation, with a lot of different ferns, mosses and liverworts, show a totally side of the Galapagos. Darwin’s Finches and the vermilion flycatcher inhabit this area.

Afterwards, you visit the Lava Tunnels and Rancho Primicias. This is a private ranch, owned by the Devine family. There are dozens of wild giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3: Española Island: Puerta Suarez & Playa Gardner

Española Island (or Hood Island) is a true highlight in the Galapagos, both above and below the water. Due to its very remote location, there are a large number of endemic species that evolved independently from the rest of the archipelago. Gardner Bay is a spectacular, long, white-sand beach where one can swim with sea lions and wander at your own pace.

Your guide will lead you while snorkeling, pointing out wildlife like green sea turtles, manta rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and tropical fish. Afterwards, you will visit Punta Suarez. This site offers quite a display of wildlife: marine iguanes with copper red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, the endemic long-billed mocking bird, finches, mockingbirds, masked and blue-footed boobies, oystercatchers, sea lions, and lava lizards.

This is the only island where the waved albatross is to be seen during their breeding season. From April through December, the fascinating waved albatrosses are found on the Island performing mating rituals, nesting, and raising their young.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4: Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island

Santa Fe Island has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region, a turquoise lagoon protected by a peninsula of rocks and small islands that extends from the shore. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine.

The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe’s beautiful anchorage. Today you will have a few opportunities to snorkel, hopefully swimming with sea lions and colorful fish.

South Plaza Island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shearwaters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen.

You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found. One of Plazas attractions is also a colony of bachelor sea lions who laze around on the sand. Depending on the season, the sesuvium ground vegetation changes its color from intense green in the rainy season to orange and purple in the dry season.

Overnight: Onboard

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove & Depart Galapagos

With the dinghy we go into Black Turtle Cove, a big protected mangrove cove located in a remote corner of Santa Cruz Island. In the far away small corners the motor of the dinghy is turned off so we can travel noiselessly and observe the marine turtles.

There are a lot of them in the cove during mating and nesting season (December to February), but even out of season there are always some turtles staying back in the mangrove cove to rest. Spotted eagle rays, golden rays, white-tipped reef sharks and young Galapagos sharks can often be spotted.

At the end of the cruise, the passengers leave the Angelito again at the Baltra harbor. Your guide takes care of everything until you’re on your flight back to the continent.

We recommend flying Galapagos – Guayaquil – Lima, as Guayaquil is closest to both the Galapagos and Lima. It’s also possible to have a layover in Quito, but it’s more flying time. (Flights are not included)

When you arrive in Lima, you will walk (a couple of minutes) to the airport hotel. It’s not a very interesting hotel, but it is very convenient.

Overnight: Costa del Sol Wyndham Airport Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 6: Arrive Cusco. Cusco Walking Tour

In the morning, you walk to the departure terminal (a couple of minutes away) and check in for your flight to Cusco (Flight not included in trip pricing).

After your reception in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel where you will have time to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon, you head out for a 3- to 4-hour walking tour on ancient streets, visiting the Main Square and the cathedral, which was built over the Inca palace of Suntur Wasi.

Then, it’s on to the Qoricancha, the Temple of the Sun which was of great significance for the Inca culture. After a visit of the Santo Domingo Church, you will continue to visit the most important museums and the church of San Blas with its fabulously carved pulpit.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 7: Sacred Valley Tour: Pisac & Ollantaytambo

Following breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and head to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This alluvial valley floor follows the winding course of the Urubamba River and is flanked by astonishingly steep hillsides. Here, the Incas grew a diversity of crops and built settlements that remain to this day.

At both major entrances to the valley, the Incas built impressive fortresses from which they defended their agricultural land. You will visit both of these fortresses as well as charming Andean villages. The journey begins at the Pisac citadel, whose winding ruins are perched high above the Sacred Valley.

The stonework here is considered superior to that found at Machu Picchu, though both are quite impressive. Below in the community of Pisac, artisans from all over the Sacred Valley region gather to sell their wares in Peru’s most famous local market. If the market is not held on the day you arrive, there are several small artisan shops where you can browse, shop for handicrafts, and generally take in the small town’s quaint atmosphere.

We stop for lunch en route to Ollantaytambo. As you travel through the Sacred Valley, you will observe the customs held by the countryside’s inhabitants, like practicing ancient farming techniques, wearing traditional cultural clothing, and using their limited resources sustainably.

In Ollantaytambo, you will have a tour of this picturesque village which been continually inhabited since the Incas first settled here. The traditional Incan architecture and city-planning techniques are striking, including ancient aqueducts, stone streets, and imposing fortress overlooking the town.

Overnight: El Albergue Lodge or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 8: Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes -or- Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu 

Free Morning in Ollantaytambo & Train to Aguas Calientes: 

You have the morning free to relax, explore Ollantaytambo village, or visit the Ollantaytambo fortress on your own. In the afternoon, you will board a train at the Ollantaytambo train station and ride up to Machu Picchu Pueblo. This scenic train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will be met by a guide who will walk you to your hotel.

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

-or-

Hike the Royal Inca Trail to Machu Picchu: 

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to Ollantaytambo train station. You will board the train to KM 104. At this point and after we check in at the ranges control, we will start trekking for approximately 3 hours, up to the well-preserved remains of Wiñay Wayna (9512 ft). On the way, we will see beautiful waterfalls.

After a deluxe lunch, we will have the rest of the day free to explore the ruins with its houses, terraces, towers and local museum, as well as visiting the Inti Punku, which is very well known as the sun gate. From the sun gate we get our first sight of Machu Picchu.

We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the full sight of the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is reveled. We catch the bus down to Aguas Calientes to rest and recuperate for tomorrow’s exploration of the site.

You can read more about the hike here: http://detourdestinations.com/blog/hiking-the-royal-inca-trail-to-machu-picchu

Overnight: El Mapi or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

NOTE: Hiking the Royal Inca Trail has an extra cost. Please see the “Dates / Prices” tab (above) for details on the extra cost. 

DAY 9: Machu Picchu Ruins Tour & Return to Cusco

Today, you have a full-day to explore Machu Picchu and, for the intrepid traveler, hike to the summit of Huayna Picchu within the Machu Picchu complex. With an early start (around 4:30 a.m.), you head up the hill by bus to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, which is about a 20-minutes ride from Aguas Calientes.

The early start is recommended to ensure you get to witness Machu Picchu at dawn, before the crowds arrive. You will then have a 2- to 3-hour fully guided tour of the mysterious ruins. After the tour you can hike to the Inca Bridge, Huayna Picchu, Watchman’s hut, Inti Puncu sun gate, or just wander through the ruins soaking up the atmosphere.

Huayna Picchu now requires an extra, limited-availability permit. Please inquire at booking whether you would like to take this 1.5-hour hike.

We then return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch and to catch the train back to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco train station, your driver who will take you to your hotel in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 10: Free Morning in Cusco & Afternoon Cusco Ruins Tour

Your morning is free to relax or explore Cusco on your own. In the afternoon, you will be picked up for a guided exploration of the Inca ruins surrounding Cusco. This tour takes you to the four most important archaeological sites outside of Cusco: Sacsaywaman, Kenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay.

This tour visits these fascinating ruins but also allows you to appreciate the bucolic Andean countryside with its rolling hills and small traditional villages. The historic, religious, and architectural importance of each site will be carefully explained by your guide. After visiting these intricate Inca ruins, you will be dropped off back at your Cusco hotel.

Overnight: Casa San Blas Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast

DAY 12: Free Morning in Cusco & Depart. Fly Home

You have the morning free to explore Cusco. You will be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Lima and then you connect with your international departure (flights not included).

Meals Included: Breakfast