From the wonderful Galapagos to the magical Machu Picchu

An international trip of so many hours can tire even the strongest, that's why we will take care of everything upon your arrival to the Ecuadorian capital. At Quito Airport, your local host will be looking for you at the arrival gate of international flights to accompany you to the hotel of your preference in Quito.

Once you have settled in your room, you can take a comforting shower, leaving behind the fatigue of such a long flight, and rest or you can take advantage of the time to enjoy a tasty lunch (on your own) in your hotel or surrounding restaurants, previously recommendation of our host.

Tonight we recommend you rest and gather your energy for the next day!

Today, the mountain range of Ecuador and its jewel, Quito, will welcome you as you take a fantastic City Tour! But first, you will enjoy a fantastic breakfast in your hotel. After our local tour guide will pick us up from the hotel to begin a fantastic city tour of Quito's colonial and modern zones.

The second-highest South American capital is over 9351 feet altitude. As we enter the historic area of the city we will be able to appreciate its modern side on its north face. Ornate churches, beautifully sculpted stone domes, traditional stucco houses with arched doors and iron bars on their balconies and windows that face the street remind us of the importance and beauty that Quito had during the Spanish colonial period.

During this tour, we’ll be able to appreciate the iconic Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square), where the Ecuadorian colonists shouted for the first time a cry for independence throughout South America. Following on, we will go to the San Francisco Church to enjoy its beautiful facade and terrazzo. Then, our tour guide will take us to the monument to the Middle of the World, where the Equator divides the world into Northern and Southern hemispheres. Of course, our guide will teach us about the science and history behind the determination or equator line in the famous solar museum of Intiñan.

In the evening, finalizing this magic tour, our local tour guide will return you to your Quito hotel and recharge your batteries for our adventure tomorrow!

The awesome Galapagos islands will be waiting for you today! But first, you will enjoy a delicious breakfast in your Quito hotel. At a certain hour, our local host will pick you up from the hotel and take you to Quito airport to be sent on a comfortable commercial flight heading to Baltra Airport, in Santa Cruz island (One of the Galapagos islands)

Once you’ve arrived in Baltra, after clearing immigration and receiving your suitcase; An agent will transfer you to the cruise ship where your cabin will be assigned; here you will have time to rest before lunch and a  safety briefing.

At a determinate time, our local guide will introduce himself and transfer you to an autobus to go directly to high lands of lush greenery. In the middle of the route, we will make a stop to visit a natural reserve that hosts the famous Galapagos Gian Turtle weighing more than 600 pounds! They will be grazing and resting over calm freshwater ponds. Following this, we will be able to appreciate endemic and fantastic birds of the Galapagos like finches, woodpeckers, flycatchers, and numerous waterbirds.

Depending on your itinerary, you also will visit an awesome lava tunnel. There, the local tour guide will explain the volcanic origins of the Galapagos and the fantastic flora and fauna that it conserves.

After a long day, you will return to the yacht to have a well-deserved dinner and rest.

We will start our first official day in Galapagos with a comforting breakfast onboard. Afterward, we will disembark in a beautiful part of Isabela island with uniform and repetitive lava stripes called Moreno Point. This desert of solidified lava reminds us of the volcanic origin of the Galapagos Islands. As we head inland, together with our expert guide we will discover brackish lagoons that are home to a variety of unique fauna like herons, ducks, flamingos, and gallinules among others.

Moreover, along the coastlines, pay attention to chorus, oystercatchers, sea lions, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and playful penguins.

Even, you can have a snorkel experience, diving in front of Isabela’s coast to contact with beautiful sea turtles, an array of fish species, cormorants, and even the sea horse.

Once we return to our yacht to have a delicious lunch and a nap, we’ll disembark at Elizabeth Bay on the eponymous Island to explore this magical point of towering mangroves and desolate lava fields. For this, we will boar a Little boat to navigate through an intricate network of canals, pools, and coves teeming with marine life and discover rare Galapagos penguins. These endemic animals have a population of around 3,000 individuals in total in all Galapagos islands.

Also, the Elizabeth (Isabel in Spanish) island is a nesting place for flightless cormorants, while blue-footed boobies and pelicans often fish in these shallow, nutrient-rich waters. As if this were not enough, the elegant rays and the fantastic sea turtles will be watching you from the coast, you just have to be attentive!

At the end of the day, we will return to the yacht to have a delicious dinner and a well-deserved rest.

This day, our adventure through the Galapagos Islands will only be beginning! After a nutritive breakfast onboard, we will make landfall in Urbina Bay, where in 1950 a large-scale geological accident occurred. A mass uplift raised a large coastal area, revealing previously submerged hectares of land. We and our experts will hike in the middle of this Paradise by discovering shells and corals, vestiges of an underwater past. Also, we will be able to see Gian turtles only during some seasons and the fantastic land iguanas. The icing on the cake will be the endemic falcons called Galapagos falcons that look imposingly at any prey from the highest branches of the trees.

Following, we'll return to our yacht to enjoy a delicious lunch, rest, and take a little nap, before continuing our adventure.

In the afternoon, we will disembark on the famous Tagus Cove, a special zone where the famous English naturalist Charles Darwin lived, and also conduct a complete research of the Galapagos native flora and fauna. In addition, this zone offers unforgettable views of Darwin Lake and the imposing volcanoes of northern Isabela island. Of course, before reaching this natural view, we will have to cross the arid forests of Palo Santo, where Darwin finches and mockingbirds make their home.

The possibility of a practice snorkel in front of the Tagus Cove is unique! The nutrient-rich waters attract Sea turtles, the rich diversity of fish and penguins who feed on large schools of anchovies, and you will be able to dive with them! Also, watching cormorants dart underwater while chasing fish across the reef is a common sight.

A boat tour along the coast offers the opportunity to spot penguins, cormorants, marine iguanas, and the rare Galapagos martin, a small, endemic bird considered one of the island's most endangered species.

Finally, we will return to our cozy yacht to dinner and rest, and spend the rest of the night with friends.

This day, we'll discover a new Galapagos island; the Fernandina. But first, we will taste a delicious breakfast prepared with fresh ingredients.

At a certain hour, we'll disembark with our expert guide in Punta Espinoza. This point is located at the base of the most active volcano in the entire Galapagos area and represents a true natural paradise in all of Galapagos National Park. As soon as we set foot in the place, we will be welcomed by thousands of Galapagos iguanas (the largest community among all the islands). Also, you will be able to see magnificent sea lions resting on the beach while their pups play around exploring the tide pools. Also, we can say that Punta Espinoza was blessed by its cold waters rich in plankton because in them live various species of shorebirds, sea turtles, oystercatchers, herons, pelicans, and more. In addition, you will see flightless cormorants and endemics in the western areas of the archipelago. In addition, you will see flightless cormorants, endemic to the western areas of the archipelago.

The snorkel practice on the coast is available! The nutrient-rich waters of Punta Espinosa attract a diverse range of fish and sea turtles. Because of the abundance of seaweed, this place is great for seeing marine iguanas feed underwater. Following a cormorant through the reef as it chases fish will surely be one of your vacation's most fantastic snorkeling experiences!

At noon, we’ll return to our yacht to taste an exquisite lunch.

Visit Albemarle Point in the afternoon, where wildlife and history collide! During World War II, the Americans built a radar station here to detect the presence of Japanese battleships approaching the Galapagos Islands. The radar's ruins can still be seen today. Although the shoreline is bleak and bordered by endless lava fields, it is home to some of the largest marine iguanas on the islands, as well as Galapagos penguins, shorebirds, and flightless cormorants. And you will be able to enjoy the view of all these marvels.

Finally, we will return to our yacht for a delicious dinner and take a deserved rest.

If you are a fan of seals and sea lions, this is your day! Of course, we’ll begin the day in the best form enjoying of fresh breakfast onboard. Next, at a certain time, we with our expert guide will make landfall in Egas Port.

Despite the deceptive name, there is no traditional "port" at Puerto Egas, but remnants of previous attempts to settle the island during the 1960s can still be seen. The walk here parallels the shoreline, which is teeming with wildlife. Marine iguanas are lazing in the sun everywhere you look, as well as Galapagos sea lions, herons, oystercatchers, and numerous shorebirds. Near the conclusion of the trek, you'll come across "the grottos," which are home to a small colony of the elusive endemic Galapagos fur seal, which is far more difficult to identify than its cousin. Land iguanas were restored to the area as recently as 2019, so keep a watch out for these amazing reptiles, which had been extinct in Santiago for over a century.

After this magical experience, we’ll return to the yacht for our traditional lunch.

Espumilla Beach is a gorgeous 0.6-mile (one-kilometer) stretch of rusty-brown sand that can be seen on Santiago's northern coast. Huge mangrove trees and an intriguing native dry forest, home to a diverse range of finches, mockingbirds, doves, and Galapagos hawks, envelop the beach. Remember to inspect the salt pan; during the rainy season, ducks and flamingos may call it home.

Known for its usage as a hiding place, freshwater supply, and home to tortoises by pirates and buccaneers in the 17th and 18th centuries, Buccaneer Cove is an exceptionally picturesque location featuring striking cliffs and unique rock formations. You will take a dinghy ride to view the animals from the small boats, despite the lack of a trail here.

Practique snorkel entre animales submarinos en una bahía protegida, como tiburones de arrecife, leones marinos, tortugas marinas y enormes bancos de peces (peces loro, pargos, roncadores, peces ángel, etc.).

An exquisite dinner onboard will be the perfect final of this day.

Our last day in the Galapagos will end in the best form, witnessing the rebirth of a unique species that was believed to be extinct. But first, we will have our delicious breakfast aboard the yacht.

Properly called after the land iguanas that inhabit this region, Dragon Hill is situated on Santa Cruz's northern shore. This is the only place to see these massive reptiles on the entire island of Santa Cruz. This land iguana population, which was in danger of going extinct in the 1970s and 1980s, has recovered dramatically because of an extremely effective breeding program. A tiny saltwater lagoon is often visited by ducks, stilts, sandpipers, and other shorebirds, in addition to iguanas.

After the trek, you may go snorkeling in shallow, protected water, where you can see rays, reef sharks, a variety of tropical species, and huge schools of surgeonfish and parrotfish.

You will be taken to the airport to catch your flight back to Ecuador's mainland (Guayaquil) as your trip through the Galapagos comes to an end. Enjoy these special moments and recollections as you bid farewell to this breathtaking natural wonder. Travel safely!

Your flight to Guayaquil will last around 02:30 hrs. Once arrive there, our local host will welcome you at the airport and he’ll transfer you to your Guayaquil hotel, to rest and enjoy a fantastic dinner on your own.

Peru will be waiting to be discovered by us this day. After a delicious breakfast in our Guayaquil hotel, a local host will pick you up to go to the International Airport and send you on a comfortable flight to Lima, the capital of Peru.

After around 3 hours of flight, you will arrive in the Peruvian capital. At Lima Airport, our Machu Travel Peru host will be looking for you at the arrival gate to accompany you to the hotel of your preference.

Once you have settled in your room, you can take a comforting shower, leaving behind the fatigue of such a long flight, and rest or you can take advantage of the time to enjoy the best Peruvian gastronomy with a tasty lunch (on your own) in your hotel or surrounding areas.

Later, we will begin a fantastic city tour of Lima's colonial and modern zones.

You can lose yourself among French-style, republican squares like the Plaza San Martin or the City's main square (Plaza de Armas) while wandering by a charming colonial alley called Jirón de la Unión. Following this, our guide will lead you to the colonial Monastery of San Francisco, where you can appreciate its beautiful Spanish baroque architecture and some religious sculptures from colonial times. But, the best of all will be exploring the hidden underneath its enigmatic catacombs! Here, you’ll know why this monastery was considered the first cemetery for the first Lima inhabitants.

After you return to your hotel, why not enjoy a beautiful afternoon at your own pace by exploring the zones of Miraflores, a Lima tourist district, walking in the beautiful Kennedy Park, or going shopping in the famous Larcomar Mall center.

In the evening, for dining, we recommend you consider the restaurants Central or Maido, which are considered the best in the country and currently holding 1st and 6th, respectively, in the world’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2023. Please remember that, due to their popularity, it is necessary to secure reservations in advance!

Our adventure in Andean lands is about to begin! After a satisfying breakfast provided by your hotel, our host will take you to Lima airport and send you on a comfortable, 75-minute flight to Cusco, the ancient Imperial Inca City.

You can watch the Pacific Ocean merge with blue skies through your plane window which gives way to gigantic dunes. These, in turn, collapse on the slopes of gigantic Andean mountains. Which were conquered many centuries ago by the impressive Inca civilization.

On your arrival to Cusco, our local host will be waiting for you at the zone of arrival national flights at Cusco airport with a sign with your name. “It is not altitude sickness… it is the feeling of being close to heaven” is a phrase he’ll often say about the altitude. Thus, to avoid altitude sickness, we’ll move directly from Cusco airport to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located 600 meters below Cusco. But please don't worry, you will get to enjoy all the wonderful sights of Cusco at the end of our journey once your body is perfectly acclimatized to the altitude.

Upon entering the Sacred Valley of the Incas, we will visit an exceptional project called Awanacancha, where you’ll be able to appreciate the 4 types of South American camelids bred in captivity: the llama, the alpaca, the guanaco, and the vicuña. Also, you can feed them and learn to distinguish them. As if this were not enough, the Sacred Valley locals who work there will show you how they use their Inca ancestors’ techniques to transform the delicate fur of these animals, especially the alpaca and vicuña, into beautiful and colored clothes through traditional weaving, like multi-colored belts and exquisitely embroidered blankets, among others.

Then, we’ll continue descending through the valley slope until we reach a spectacular Inca archaeological site over a hill called Pisac, with magnificent terraced fields on its hill slopes, among Inca enclosures, squares, temples, and even an Inca cemetery! Our first contact with a rich Andean past! Descending into the modern town, we will lose ourselves among the colored stands of the famous Pisac traditional market, where we will be fascinated by its beautiful handicrafts made by local people, like fabric crafts, sculptures, jewelry, and paintings with Andean thematic.

Next, we will go to a charming restaurant in the middle of the beautiful landscapes of the Sacred Valley to enjoy a delicious lunch made from local ingredients, fully included in our program. You can choose the restaurant, in advance, with the advice of our travel consultants.

Finally, we’ll go to our hotel in the middle of the spectacular scenery of the Sacred Valley and you can enjoy a delicious dinner here, on your own. A well-deserved sleep is guaranteed tonight!

The Sacred Valley still has treasures to discover, and you will not miss a thing! This day assures an unforgettable trip in a perfect climate. The Sacred Valley is known for its charming climate 365 days a year. First, you'll enjoy a delicious breakfast at your luxury hotel. Then, with our guide, we will begin our adventure through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Discover Ollantaytambo, a fortress that was the last Inca refuge in Andean lands during the Spanish invasion. Wander among its narrow alleys, temples, enclosures, and squares of well-carved, perfectly fitted, stone architecture. This incredible experience will be accompanied by stories and myths that your guide will tell you about the place. One notable mention is the fantastic ancient love story legend about an Inca military General and a beautiful Princess, the daughter of the Inca emperor Pachacutec.

Next, you will go to enjoy a delicious and exclusive lunch made from local ingredients in a charming restaurant surrounded by beautiful Andean landscapes and mountains. Moreover, you can enjoy another great variety of drinks and dishes offered by the place, on your own.

Then, our next stop will be the white slopes of Maras. There, you will enjoy the brightness of 2,000 small Inca salt wells that are still used by local people today to provide themselves with salt. By the way, the Maras salt is recognized worldwide as being perfect for grills and barbecues.

Moving on, our guide will transfer up to Moray, where you'll be fascinated by a series of circular terraces, in the form of rings, that go into the earth's deeps. These circle terraces were used as an Incan laboratory to acclimatize crops. They sowed a specific type of seed in each circular terrace, from the smallest and deepest ring to the largest, to see the quality of the harvest they obtained.

Finally, we’ll return to the hotel for a deserved rest, you can take a relaxing shower or, maybe, enjoy a fantastic dinner on our own.

The day to conquer Machu Picchu has arrived! After a delicious breakfast in your hotel, our host will take you to Ollantaytambo train station to dispatch you on a charming and comfortable train heading to Aguas Calientes, the modern town of Machu Picchu. The magical train trip will last one and a half hours, crossing the spectacular Peruvian jungle, always accompanied by the singing of exotic birds, leafy undergrowth, and the Vilcanota river that will follow the train's movement, like a snake on the lookout for its prey!

Once you arrive at Aguas Calientes train station, our local guide will await you at the arrivals gate. With your guide, you’ll go to the bus station to take a “CONSETTUR” bus heading to the top of a mountain where Machu Picchu citadel is located. After 35 minutes of the bus trip, the bus will drop you at the same entrance gate to Machu Picchu.

Then, you will enter the famous Inca citadel to start living the magic there! You can get lost between enclosures, squares, temples, and stone alleys perfectly carved and fitted. Exploring for two hours the mysteries and magic of an Inca citadel that continues to amaze the world with its beauty. Of course, as a soundtrack, you will listen to the stories of its construction, inhabitants, and function from your private guide.

Once the tour is over, but not before taking your dream photo of Machu Picchu, our tour guide will dispatch you in a CONSETTUR bus returning to Aguas Calientes town. There you’ll enjoy a fantastic lunch included in our program in one of the best restaurants in the zone.

Next, you’ll have to go to the Aguas Calientes train station to take your train to return to Cusco. There, you will take a comfortable train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy train stations. Whatever station you arrive at, another member of our staff will wait for you to transfer to the Cusco Hotel, where you can enjoy a delicious dinner on your own, before taking a relaxing shower and enjoying a well-deserved rest.

Don't worry; as you can see, you will always be assisted at any departure or arrival point!

OPTIONAL: If you want to continue enjoying Machu Picchu, this package, like all the others, can be fully customized by adding a night in Aguas Calientes. So, on the following day, you'll be able to enjoy a second visit to the enigmatic Inca citadel or hike to nearby mountains like Huayna Picchu and get fabulous photos of Huayna Picchu. Just tell us your requirements, it’s as easy as that!

Are you ready to visit the beautiful, old, Capital of the Inca empire, the “Rome of America”. Of course, we refer to Cusco!  After your hotel provides a comforting and delicious breakfast, your guide will be ready to transport you into the past.

First, you’ll explore the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with its giant rocks perfectly fitted into its structure. The tour will continue by visiting the Qenqo Inca ceremonial center with its ancient sacrifice vestiges. Then, the Inca, military barrack, Puca Pucara will fascinate you with its beautiful views of Cusco. Following, our guide will show you the retreat place of the Inca sovereign called Tambomachay, with its beautiful water fonts, where the sovereign spent long periods resting and hunting.

Then, we will return to Cusco Center to lose ourselves in its charming stone alleys by appreciating the renaissance architecture of the Cathedral of Cusco and its famous painting collection of unique art style called "Escuela Cusqueña".

Later, your guide will lead you to Qoricancha temple, located a short distance from the Cathedral, where you will be fascinated with the mix of Inca and Spanish architectural styles, besides some original remains of the Inca temples inside it.

Finally, our tour will end in the main square. You might enjoy a nice lunch or dinner on your own in one of the nearby restaurants, or we can arrange transport to drop you off at your hotel. Whatever your decision, tell your guide what you would like to do!

The worst part of a trip is when those good adventures you will remember forever, end. That is why Machu Travel Peru wants to save you the penalty. You will only have to enjoy a comforting breakfast fully included in your hotel reservation and let yourself go.

At a predetermined hour, MACHU TRAVEL PERU staff will transfer you to the Cusco airport and dispatch you on a flight to Lima.

Do you like the sound of our "From The Wondrous Galapagos To the Magical Machu Picchu" tour? Do you have extra requests or questions? Please don’t hesitate to write to us. We will always be attentive to personalize your dreams in Peru at your desire!

NOTE: This program will allow you to visit Quito and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Also, Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Moray, Salineras, and Machu Picchu in Peru. Additionally, you can add more exciting day tours in Ecuador or Peru or another destination in any of both countries. Please make contact with our travel agents!