The Experience

Back by popular demand, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos, two of South America’s most popular treasures. Your vacation of a lifetime includes 5 nights in Peru, visiting Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cuzco. With two nights in Quito before your 3 night Galapagos cruise, and one night upon your return, you’ll have the opportunity to truly explore much of the Galapagos and Quito.

Includes:

• All ground transfers with Vistadom train to Machu Picchu
• 1 night Lima
• 1 night Sacred Valley
• Pisac Market & Ollantaytambo Ruins tour with lunch
• 1 night Machu Picchu with dinner
• 2 entrances to Machu Picchu with 1 guided tour and lunch
• 2 nights Cuzco
• City and ruins tour
• 2 nights Quito
• City tour
• Roundtrip flights from Quito OR Guayaquil to Galapagos
• 4 night Galapagos cruise with daily guided tours and all meals
• Daily breakfast

Day 1 – (Friday) – Lima:
Begin your journey in Lima, Peru’s coastal capital city founded by the Spaniard Pizarro in 1535. Lima, with its historic buildings and museums, offers visitors an introduction to the colonial history of Peru. Airport greeting and transfer to Miraflores (suburb of Lima) to your selected hotel. Overnight.

Day 2 – (Saturday) – Lima to Sacred Valley:
Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight (departure from Lima will be between 6:00 ,“ 7:30 am; the flight time is 75 minutes) to the ancient imperial capital of Cuzco. Situated at an altitude of 11,200 ft., Cuzco reflects both the Incan and Spanish cultures. Airport greeting and transfer by minivan (1 ½ hours) to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. Experience an unforgettable view as you cross over the mountain from Cuzco and drop down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The road follows the meandering Urubamba River and passes through rich agricultural lands and picturesque villages. Enroute you will have a private excursion to Pisac Market and the Incan ruins of Ollantaytambo, including lunch. Late afternoon arrival at your selected hotel. Overnight.

Note: It is recommended that you only bring an overnight bag with you to Machu Picchu. Before leaving Cuzco, you will be able to leave your luggage at your Cuzco hotel.

Day 3 – (Sunday) – Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu:
After breakfast, transfer to the Ollantaytambo Train Station to board the train to the village of Aguas Calientes (approximately 90 minutes), in the valley below Machu Picchu. There you will board a bus that will take you up the switchback road (approximately 20 minutes) to the legendary “Lost City of the Incas”. Enjoy a guided tour of the Ruins, followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge (adjacent to the site). Rest of afternoon at leisure to explore the ruins, before returning by bus to Aguas Calientes (unless you are staying at the Sanctuary Lodge). Overnight at your selected hotel.

Day 4 – (Monday) – Machu Picchu to Cuzco:
Morning at leisure to return to Machu Picchu. The bus departs from the Puente Ruinas station every 10 minutes, beginning at 5:30 am. Mid-afternoon (3:30 ,“ 5:00 pm depending upon your train confirmation time) return to Ollantaytambo Train Station. Continue to Cuzco by bus, arriving in the early evening. Transfer to your selected hotel. Overnight.

Day 5 – (Tuesday) – Cuzco:
Morning at leisure. Afternoon city tour of Cuzco includes a visit to the Koricancha Temple and the Cathedral, followed by a visit to the nearby fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and the Tambomachay ruins. After the tour, explore the city on your own. Cuzco is a city of plazas and colonial buildings with red tile roofs. Walk the City’s ancient cobblestone streets, lined with the massive stone walls that are an Incan legacy. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 6 – (Wednesday) – Cuzco to Quito:
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Lima where you will connect to your flight to Quito (not included in rate). Airport greeting and your selected hotel in Quito. Overnight.

Day 7 – (Thursday) – Quito:
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon (2:30 pm, shared tour) you will have a 3 hour city tour .which will begin with a visit to the historic Colonial Centre, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and considered to be the largest and best preserved in South America. This area is said to have 40 churches and chapels, 16 convents and monasteries with their cloisters, 17 plazas and courtyards, and 12 museums. Begin your walk at Independence Square, flanked by the neoclassical Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace dating back to the middle 1500,™s. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco, Quito’s oldest church and monastery, and one of the great religious buildings of the New World. It’s impressive facade and atrium lead to its gilt interior, a Baroque influenced by Moorish style, with the winged Virgin of Quito at its main altar. The scenic tour ends at a lookout point with a great view of Quito. Overnight at your selected Quito hotel.

Day 8-10 – (Friday-Sunday) – Galapagos Cruise:
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos (via Guayaquil).

Note: A descriptive day by day itinerary for the cruises can be found under the individual vessels.

Possible Itinerary for Galapagos:
Friday Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal [Chatham] Island)
Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island)
Saturday Punta Suarez (Española (Hood) Island)
Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island)
Sunday Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)

Punta Vicente Roca (Isla Isabela)
Monday Santa Cruz Island and Baltra Island

Day 11 – (Monday) – Galapagos to Quito:
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. Arrival into Quito airport and transfer to your selected hotel to overnight.

Day 12 – (Tuesday) – Depart Quito:
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend to enjoy more of Ecuador.