Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Note: The route and program may vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and wildlife encounters.
Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock.
Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee-deep water and wade ashore.

Day 1 (Sat): Quito.

Depart to Quito. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Quito.

Day 2 (Sun): City Tour of Quito-Middle of the World.

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Quito. You will explore the bustling streets and squares of the largest historical centre in the Americas, and visit some of its most important churches such as the majestic La Compania and iconic San Francisco, guardians of a stunning multi-ethnic artistic and cultural heritage. You will drive through the traditional neighborhood of San Juan and finish the morning at the Panecillo hillside, with its breathtaking views of the old and modern parts of the city.

Following the city tour, you will be driven to the “Middle of the World City” complex, which is located 11 miles north of Quito. Here, you will see the monument of the equatorial line, a 98 ft high stone trapezoidal monument with a brass globe on top. The monument forms the focal point of a park and leisure area with gift shops and restaurants. Overnight in Quito. (B)

Day 3 (Mon): Quito-Baltra Airport-Highlands Tortoise Reserve (Santa Cruz Island).

Transfer to the airport in Quito for the flight to Baltra Island (2.50-hour flight). Upon arrival in the Galapagos, you will be picked up by our Naturalist Guides and taken on a 10-minute bus ride to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

Highlands Tortoise Reserve. In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, you will have your best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 4 (Tue): El Barranco-Prince Philip’s Steps-Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island).

Riding the dinghy to the far side of the caldera, red-billed tropicbirds display vociferously overhead while Galapagos fur seals can be seen on the shoreline. Once at the top of the rocky stairway you are immediately met by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches that line the way through a palo santo forest until you arrive at an expansive open lava field. Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm above the lava where you keep your eyes peeled for short-eared owls.

Darwin Bay. From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island you set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. The short, flat, trail leads you past stands of mangroves and saltbush on which you have your best possible looks at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. At the tidal lagoon you may also see the rarest gull in the world, the endemic lava gull. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 5 (Wed): South Plaza Island-Santa Fe Island.

Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas are all present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulent studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, you spend time watching birds fly past at eye level in the up draught. These include, frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds. Back at sea level, you once again encounter land iguanas, some of which have hybridized with their resident marine cousins.

Santa Fe Island. After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay you may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing onto a sandy beach you are immediately distracted by the abundant sea lions there. You begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here, you search for another island-endemic the Santa Fe land iguana, paler than its cousins on other islands. Galapagos hawks and even endemic rice rats are also things to look out for. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)

Day 6 (Thu): Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz Island)-Baltra Airport-Guayaquil-Lima.

Bachas Beach. Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers a lovely walk along the shore and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes. The two beaches are also favorite nesting sites for green turtles which often leave tractor-like tracks in the sand.

Baltra Airport. After the visit, you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Guayaquil and then Lima, Peru. After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)

Day 7 (Fri): Lima-City Tour.

In the afternoon, you will have a city tour of Lima. The tour begins in Miraflores with a stop at the Parque del Amor, a seaside park with a huge statue of a kissing couple and continues with a drive by of the Huaca Huallamarca, a restored adobe pyramid dating from the pre-Inca period located in San Isidro. The next stop is the Plaza de Armas in downtown Lima, where you will visit City Hall (Palacio Municipal), the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), and the Cathedral of Lima. The last stop is the Convent of Santo Domingo. Following the tour, you will be returned to your hotel. Overnight in Lima. (B)

Day 8 (Sat): Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Awanakancha-Pisac Market.

Early morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be taken by private transportation to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You will visit Awanakancha, a living museum of the Peruvian Andes, where you can observe traditional textile dyeing and weaving techniques and the four types of camelids that are native to the region. You will also visit the Indian artisan market in Pisac, and then be taken to your hotel. Overnight in Sacred Valley. (B)

Note: The Indian market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from October to March, and daily from April to September. On the days of the week that the market is not open, you will be taken to the Inca ruins above the village.

Day 9 (Sun): Sacred Valley-Chinchero-Moray-Maras-Ollantaytambo.

Today you will have a private excursion that includes a visit to the town of Chinchero and its archaeological complex, Moray, with its circular agricultural terraces, the Maras salt mines, and the impressive Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo. Lunch included. Overnight in Sacred Valley. (B,L)

Day 10 (Mon): Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu.

Morning transfer to the train station for the ride to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City of the Incas’ (7,900 ft.). This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework that the Incas are known for. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. Guided tour followed by lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. (B,L)

Day 11 (Tue): Machu Picchu-Cusco.

This is a free day to explore Machu Picchu on your own. You may want to hike Huayna Picchu or enjoy another activity. Mid-afternoon, you will depart from Machu Picchu by train to Poroy Station in the Sacred Valley, and then be taken to your hotel in Cusco. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

Day 12 (Wed): Cusco-City Tour.

In the morning, you will have a city tour of Cusco that includes a walk-through of the Cathedral, the Koricancha (‘site of gold’), typical streets, and the four ruins that surround the city: the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. Afternoon free. Overnight in Cusco. (B)

Day 13 (Thu): Cusco-Puerto Maldonado-Reserva Amazonica-Trail System-Twilight River.

(Early) Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, you will be taken to the Butterfly House welcome/information center to register for your Amazon adventure. You will then be taken to the boarding wharf for a 45 minute boat ride to Reserva Amazonica. On this day, you will enjoy the Trail System adventure and the Twilight River excursion.

Trail System. Walk on one of the trails that extend 7.3 kilometers (4.5 miles) in Reserva Amazonica Natural Reserve and you will discover the incredible realm of the Amazon rainforest. The trails offer an excellent introduction to the environment of the jungle, as you walk past exotic rainforest trees, such as the lupuna tree and the beautiful ficus. Look down and spot the tiny lizards that rustle the leaves as they dart about on the forest floor. Gaze at the treetops and be amazed with the arena for bird watching. Observe the insect life – iridescent beetles and interpret the primary and secondary rain forest components, as well as human impact, and the relevance of the rainforests of the world.

Twilight River. On this guided afternoon boat ride, you will witness the enchanting transformation from a diurnal to a nocturnal environment, as animals and birds of the daytime are replaced by species specially adapted to the night. As you enjoy their paradise, you will learn about their habits while searching for nightjars, owls, capybaras and caimans. In addition, on a clear night the southern hemisphere stars can be appreciated. Dinner at the main dining room. Overnight at Reserva Amazonica. (B,L,D)

Day 14 (Fri): Reserva Amazonica-Lake Sandoval-Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk.

Today you will enjoy an excursion to Lake Sandoval and the Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk.

Lake Sandoval. A 30-minute boat ride takes you to the Tambopata National Reserve, where wildlife surrounds you as you enjoy the one and a half hour walk along three kilometers of trails to reach Lake Sandoval. Glide in a wooden canoe, across a beautiful, mirror-like oxbow lake that is home to the endangered giant river otter, as well as red howler monkeys, macaws, prehistoric hoatzins, also called “shanshos”, anacondas, point-tailed palm creepers, and side-neck turtles. You will spend two hours on the lake, looking at all it has to offer. (This excursion is only available from April to November. During the rest of the year, you can choose another alternative.)

Canopy Walkway and Anaconda Walk. A five-minute boat ride takes you to the Canopy Interpretation Center. After ascending the first tower, at 29 meters above the forest floor, you will literally walk through the treetops for one-and-a-half hours along suspension bridges that link eight observation platforms. Enjoy landscapes and vistas that would be unimaginable from below, while on the look-out for giant strangler fig trees, orchids, toucans, woodpeckers, trogons and – with luck – monkeys or sloths. After your descent from the Canopy, experience the Anaconda Walk for about 30 minutes along the 200-meter wooden bridge over the Aguajales swamps. In this lush eco system, you may observe the various species of amphibians, serpents, birds, mammals and abundant flora and trees of this flooded marshland. The walk finishes by returning to the lodge. Dinner at the main dining room. Overnight at Reserva Amazonica. (B,L,D)

Day 15 (Sat): Reserva Amazonica-Gamitana Creek.

In the morning, you will have a morning excursion to Gamitana Creek. In the afternoon, you can enjoy an optional treatment at the lodge’s ENA Spa.

Gamitana Creek. You will have a long walk to the magic world of Gamitana Creek. The sights, scents and sounds of the jungle will surround you as you walk for two and a half hours, rambling through the rain forest along the banks of this winding, dark-water creek that is home to piranha, caimans, turtles and an abundance of brightly colored birds. When you reach the embarkation point, you will board a canoe and navigate a two hour ride downstream to the Gamitana Model Farm, appreciating the rich plant and animal life along the way. You will have a short guided tour to learn about an Amazon farm. Dinner at the main dining room. Overnight at Reserva Amazonica. (B,L,D)

Day 16 (Sun): Puerto Maldonado-Butterfly House-Lima.

After breakfast, you will return to Puerto Maldonado by boat for your return flight to Lima and your final destination. On the way to the airport, you will visit the Butterfly House.

Butterfly House. This one-hour-long excursion provides you with an introduction to the amazing world of butterflies at the Butterfly House in Puerto Maldonado, near the airport. The Tambopata National Reserve and Peru hold various records in butterfly species numbers. Enjoy a personalized excursion accompanied by an interpreter who will explain the diverse characteristics of this wonderful species. There are 3,800 species in Peru, and many of these can be found at the Butterfly House, which showcases the varied beauty and adaptability of these colorful insects. (B)

**Depending upon the time of your departure flight from Lima, you can stay at the airport until your flight departs or pay for a day use hotel and transfers to and from the airport to rest before your flight and enjoy your last day in Lima.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

A Note About Your Free Day in Machu Picchu

On your free day, you will be on your own. If you choose to revisit Machu Picchu, you will need to purchase a second entrance ticket, which currently costs $74 per person. If you are staying in Aguas Calientes, you will also need to purchase a round-trip bus ticket ($28 per person) for transportation to the site. The first bus departs at 5:30 AM. As an alternative to visiting Machu Picchu again, you can hike Huayna Picchu (a +/- 60 minute hike), or partake in another activity. The cost for hiking Huayna Picchu is $13 (in addition to the second entrance ticket). At the end of the day (mid-late afternoon), you will walk to the train station for the return ride to Poroy train station, where our local representative will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel in Cusco.