Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival, your English-speaking guide greets you outside of baggage claim and takes you to your hotel via private transfer. Most direct flights to Lima from the United States arrive late at night and do a red-eye return, therefore, if you happen to arrive earlier in the day we will help you arrange tours and meals for that day, or you can simply relax at the hotel of your choice.

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet you in the lobby to begin a walking tour of the Barranco District featuring stops at the Mario Testino Photography Exhibit, seaside parks, street art, ceviche lunch at a local-favorite spot and more. If you’d like, we can arrange a biking tour instead. In the evening, choose from one of the top restaurants in the world to dine at in Lima, we recommend Central, Maido, AMaz, or Astrid & Gaston (transfer included, but not the cost of the meal).

Private transfer this morning from your hotel to the Lima airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, your English-speaking guide will greet you outside of baggage claim and take you to your hotel in the Sacred Valley via private transfer. A short drive away and tucked under the tawny skirts of formidable foothills, lies the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado (The Sacred Valley), home of attractive colonial towns and isolated weaving villages. Along the way, visit the local market and Pisac Archaeological Site, a place of sprawling views, temples, terraces and a collection of Inca tombs. A memorable lunch at the exclusive Hacienda Huayoccari, full of homemade Peruvian specialties crafted from ingredients grown on the property’s farm, will satisfy and tantalize the taste buds for all the culinary delights still to come. Following lunch, enjoy horseback riding through the countryside. After lunch, settle into your hotel for the evening and soak in the spirit of the Andes.

Spend a full day discovering the Sacred Valley of the Incas with your private guide: Start with a Stand Up Paddle excursion at the Piuray Lagoon, followed by a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Maras Salt Flats, which rest on the precipices of the Andes and have been excavated for many centuries. Then enjoy a privately guided hike (approx. 2 hours) from Maras into the Sacred Valley, followed by short (15-min) drive back to your hotel.

This morning, meet your guide at the lobby of your hotel for a private transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. From here, you will continue via train to Machu Picchu with your private guide (~ 1 hr. 20 mins. one-way). The new First Class Train by Peru Rail will carry you through magnificent landscapes, ample with photographic opportunities, to the base of Machu Picchu. After lunch in Aguas Calientes at a local-favorite restaurant, enjoy a bus ride up the winding mountain for a privately guided tour of the Machu Picchu citadel. One of the seven wonders of the world, the “Lost City of the Incas” is true a marvel, magnificently perched at 2,430 meters / 7,972 feet above sea level. After your tour of Machu Picchu, return via train to Ollantaytambo where your private transfer will be awaiting your arrival to take you to your hotel in Cusco, or ask us about upgrading to the Hiram Bingham Train by Belmond.

This morning, your guide will greet you in your hotel lobby for a tour of downtown Cusco’s neighborhoods, colonial sites, and more. This afternoon your will have time at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore Cusco on your own.

Today your journey in Peru comes to an end while your experience in Galapagos Islands awaits. Your guide will greet you at your hotel lobby for a private transfer to Cusco airport where you will catch your domestic flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, continue to board your flight from Lima to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Once you land in Guayaquil, get through customs and collect your baggage before being greeted by our team for a private transfer to your Hotel Olo Verde or El Parque for the evening.

This morning, return to the Guayaquil airport via private transfer for your flight to Baltra Airport in Galapagos Islands. Depending on the time of year you anticipate visiting Galapagos Islands, your destination upon arrival in Baltra will be determined. From December to June we recommend going to Isla Isabela, and Santa Cruz is preferred year-round. Both islands have plenty of adventure activities and natural wonders to discover, please ask your trip designer what option fits you best when planning your dream journey to Galapagos. Depending on the destination you choose (Isla Isabela or Santa Cruz) choose from an array of experiences and land accommodations that we offer in this custom-tailored journey to Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands. Adventure activities can include volcano hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, wildlife viewing with an expert naturalist, explore lava tunnels and craters, etc.

Depending on where you choose the land portion of your journey (Isabela or Santa Cruz Island) your trip designer will help you choose the perfect boat for your Galapagos experience. We recommend the Coral, Golden Galapagos, Petrel, or Ocean Spray.

This morning, enjoy the last Galapagos sunset as you will depart your ship and make your way to the Baltra airport for a return flight to Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador and a connecting flight to return home.