Luxury Galapagos and Machu Picchu
13 Days/12 Nights
From $10,379 per person
(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Overview
Treat yourself to the finest accommodations in Ecuador and Peru on this fabulous journey. In Quito, you will stay at Casa Gangotena, a boutique luxury hotel in the old town center, and in the Galapagos, the luxurious La Pinta will be your base to discover the fascinating wildlife and landscapes of the Islands. In Peru, we include all Orient Express hotels, and transport you via the Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu, for a private guided tour and an overnight stay at the Sanctuary Lodge.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 12 nights (2 nights in Quito, 4 nights on the La Pinta, 2 nights in Lima, 3 nights in Cusco, and 1 night in Machu Picchu), and 24 meals (12 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 6 dinners).
Best Time to Go: April-October.
Destinations: South America, Ecuador, Galapagos, and Peru.
Interests: Adventure, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Luxury, Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling, and Wildlife Viewing.
Places Visited: Quito, the Galapagos Islands, Baltra Island, Bartolomé Island, Chinese Hat Islet, Eden Islet, Genovesa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santiago Island, Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
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.
Day 2 (Sun): City Tour of Quito-Equatorial Monument.
Then continue to the Equatorial Monument, 16 miles north of Quito, which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0º, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere. Visit the Ethnographic Museum inside the monument, which shows the different Native American groups living in Ecuador. Beside the monument there is a colonial-style town, complete with main square, church, post office, bullring, cafeterias, restaurants and many gift shops with postcards and souvenirs. You will get a certificate for having crossed the Equator. Overnight in Quito. (B)
Day 3 (Mon): Quito-Baltra Airport-Highlands of Santa Cruz.
Highlands of Santa Cruz. After lunch, you continue by bus to reach a reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools. There are several lava tunnels in the reserve, too. A short bus ride takes you down to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht La Pinta. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4 (Tue): Eden Islet (Santa Cruz)-Sombrero China Islet.
Sombrero Chino Islet. The tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, reminiscent of a Chinese hat. This islet, formed only fairly recently, makes a beautiful visit as one explores the wildlife along its 400-metre long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 5 (Wed): Bartolome-Sullivan Bay (Santiago).
Sullivan Bay. After lunch, you board the pangas to land at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, a white coral sand beach great for swimming and snorkeling, and with a trail over a lava field that flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos while observing its wildlife. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 6 (Thu): Darwin Bay-Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa).
Prince Philip’s Steps. The afternoon starts with a very interesting panga ride along the cliffs before you disembark for a short but steep climb up a wooden staircase. Once at the top, the land is flat, allowing for a captivating walk of about a mile to the other side of this small island, observing large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels and the elusive short eared owl. Farewell Cocktail, departure briefing and dinner. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 7 (Fri): Baltra Airport-Quito-Lima.
Day 8 (Sat): Lima-City Tour.
Day 9 (Sun): Lima-Cusco-City Tour.
Day 10 (Mon): Cusco-Sacred Valley-Awanakancha-Pisac Market-Ollantaytambo.
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 11 (Tue): Cusco-Machu Picchu.
Day 12 (Wed): Machu Picchu-Cusco.
Day 13 (Thu): Cusco-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.
Itinerary Map
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Airport/hotel transfers including baggage handling.
- Hotel accommodations including service fees and taxes.
- Accommodations on board the Yacht La Pinta.
- All meals scheduled on board and others as indicated on the itinerary.
- Daily excursions to the islands conducted by English-speaking naturalist guides.
- Excursion to Machu Picchu via Hiram Bingham train and others as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
- Evening briefings and lectures.
- Use of kayaks and snorkeling equipment.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Domestic airfare.
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100).
- Transit control card ($20).
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
- Gratuities to ship crew and guides.
- Bar, gifts, and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.
Accommodations
Quito & Galapagos
Deluxe – Casa Gangotena
Luxury – La Pinta
Lima, Cusco, & Machu Picchu
Additional Details
Group Private: The airport transfer in Quito on the first day of the tour, and the city tour of Quito/Middle of the World excursion are private. All services in the Galapagos are operated on a group basis. In Peru all services are private.
Elevations: Quito is 9,350 feet above sea level, Cusco is 10,912 feet, the Sacred Valley of the Incas is 8,944 feet, and Machu Picchu is 7,900 feet.
IGTOA’S Galapagos Traveler Conservation Fund: South American Vacations is an active member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association). In support of IGTOA’s Galapagos Traveler Conservation Fund, we contribute $20 for each passenger that we send to the Galapagos Islands. You’ll travel knowing that you support the lasting protection of Galapagos Islands.
Sixty percent of the funding of this program goes directly to the Charles Darwin Foundation for science, conservation, and education. Their work, carried out through the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, is vital to the preservation of the islands. You can visit their web site to learn more www.darwinfoundation.org. The remainder goes toward IGTOA’s mission of creating a model of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Passport/Visa: For Ecuador, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Ecuadorian embassy in their country before traveling. For Peru, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Peruvian embassy in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.
To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of a cabin on this ship for your desired dates of travel. The non-refundable deposits for single, double, and triple passengers are $1,600, $1,200, and $1,150 per person, plus the cost of the airfare (if we arrange it for you).
