Highlights of Ecuador and Peru - 11 Days (2025)

Transfer in Quito. Transportation from Airport to the hotel.

Overnight: at Wyndham Airport Quito (Standard Room) or similar Included: Transportation Meals: None

After breakfast, shuttle service by the hotel to the airport to take flight to Galapagos. Suggested flight from Quito (subject to change) LA1413 UIO/GPS 0820-1059 – not included Suggested flight from Quito (subject to change) AV1688 UIO/GPS 0911-1029 – not included

Arrival in the Galapagos. English speaking assistance.

Today we arrive on Baltra Island, the gateway to the Galapagos. This tiny island was a military base during the Second World War and hosts the Islands’ principal airport. The airport was built using the most advanced environmental techniques to reduce emissions and energy use, some of which you will notice as you transit through the facility. It was the first ecological airport in the world. Ferry to Santa Cruz Island.

Highland Santa Cruz

The guide will pick you at the airport in order to start the visit to the highlands. You will visit shelters for the giant tortoises, lava tunnels and the twins that are geological formations formed by collapse over time.

One of our visit is a private farm that provides the opportunity to marvel at the celebrated Giant Galapagos Tortoise roaming in its natural habitat. You will have the option to visit geological formations like a natural lava tunnel or twin pit craters "The Gemelos" or both, depending on your energy level! The "Gemelos" or Twin Pit Craters, located in the Scalezia zone of the island, are a great place for bird watching. Look out for Darwin Finches, Galapagos Doves and Cattle egret.

Drive to Puerto Ayora for overnight.

***Not Included: Galapagos National Park entrance fee and tourist transit card

Overnight at Deja Vu hotel (Standard room) or similar OPTIONAL UPGRADE: Night at Hotel Ikala Galapagos (Standard Room) or similar

Included: transportation, Bilingual (Spanish/English) local speaking guide, excursion and lodging Meals: Breakfast – Lunch

Half-day excursion to Bay Exploration (SIB – shared service) This morning we will join a Puerto Ayora’s bay exploration, at the main dock we will have a quick 10-minute navigation to la Loberia Island named after a sea lion colony that inhabits there. This small island is a great place to snorkel in amongst sea turtles and a great variety of colorful fish, and for playing with the ever-friendly and inquisitive sea lions.

Our next stop will be a hike to the Túnel del Amor (lover’s tunnel) with a great viewpoint from where if lucky you can watch resting white-tip sharks. On the way back we will visit Punta Estrada’s dock, where we’ll go on a walk to watch marine iguanas..

OPTIONAL Full Day Experience with extra cost:

**Visit to Cerro Meza & Kayak at Garrapatero **(This tour replaces the Bay Exploration. Minimum 2 passengers.)

Overnight at Deja Vu hotel (Standard room) or similar Optional Upgrade: Night at Hotel Ikala Galapagos (Standard Room) or similar

Included: transportation, Bilingual (Spanish/English) local speaking guide, excursion and lodging Meals: Breakfast

Full day Motor Yacht Tour with a Local Galapagueño

Set out to sea with an ex-fisherman, his welcoming crew and a knowledgeable naturalist guide for a full day excursion to experience the waters near one of the Galapagos' more remote islands. Recent history has transformed the Galapagos Islands, reshaping the local economy from one of subsistence fishing and small-scale agriculture to one where tourism employs some 40% of locals. We have worked with local fishermen to transform their careers from harvesting sea life to introducing the Galapagos' rich marine ecosystem to visitors while also helping to preserve them. Their livings are now made from sustainable tourism rather than fishing.

This full day excursion includes snorkeling and swimming opportunities.

** These excursions are subject to change without prior notification.

Overnight at Deja Vu hotel (Standard room) or similar Optional Upgrade: Night at Hotel Ikala Galapagos (Standard Room) or similar

Included: transportation, Bilingual (Spanish/English) local speaking guide, excursion and lodging Meals: Breakfast – Lunch on board

After breakfast, transfer to Baltra´s airport to board connection flight to Lima-Peru.

Suggested flights (subject to change) for example via Guayaquil XL1414 GPS/GYE 1211-1502 + LA1437 GYE/LIMA 2040-2235 – not included

Upon arriving in Lima, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel. Our representative will give you a documentation kit with detailed program explanation. Luggage and hotel registration assistance will be offered.

Overnight at Centro by Casa Andina or Similar (Tourist category) or Iberostar Miraflores or Similar (Superior category) Meals included: Breakfast

Breakfast.

Half day city tour colonial and modern Lima with visit to Larco Museum Today we will learn about the two characters of Lima: the modern one, reflected in the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro; and the historic one, encapsulated in its historic center declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Along the tour through different districts of the city, we will see how the old and the modern coexist in buildings such as the Museum of Italian Art, Palace of Justice, Museum of Lima, Plaza San Martín, among others. We will discover the center of Lima on foot, having the Main Square as the focal point: a beautiful colonial square worthy of photography, surrounded by emblematic buildings such as the Government Palace, the Cathedral and the Archbishop|s Palace. We will have the opportunity to enter one of the most iconic ecclesiastical spaces in Lima, the Convent of Santo Domingo, also declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity and where the relics of three Peruvian saints are found: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martín de Porres and San Juan Macías. The tour would not be complete without a visit to the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum, one of the most important in the country, exhibiting a valuable collection of almost 45,000 pieces of pre-Hispanic cultures, especially the Mochicas. This museum stands out for being one of the first in the world to have visitable storerooms and to provide virtual access to its entire collection. We will marvel at the quality of its pieces of jewelry, textiles and its enigmatic "erotic room", dedicated to ceramics alluding to fertility.

Overnight at Centro by Casa Andina or Similar (Tourist category) or Iberostar Miraflores or Similar (Superior category) Meals included: Breakfast

Breakfast. At schedule time transfer to the airport to board the flight to Cusco city. Suggested flight time: 9/10am (for example: LA2322 LIM/CUZ Departure 0935 – Arrival 1055) – not included

Day at leisure in Cusco Enjoy the charm of this beautiful colonial city that was built upon the remains of amazing Inca buildings. Not to miss: Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), San Pedro Market, the Cathedral, and the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuaman.

OPTIONAL with extra cost:

PM HALF DAY city tour visit to San Pedro Market and Ruins – (Minimum 2 passengers) This charming half-day tour of Cusco offers us history, living culture and art. We will be able to appreciate how the Andean and Spanish cultures, as well as the past and the present, coexist in harmony in the Imperial City. We will arrive at the center to walk the halls of the San Pedro market, the oldest in the city. Designed in 1925 by Gustave Eiffel, today it brings together hundreds of merchants selling local products. We will also visit the Koricancha temple, which during the Inca empire was a center of worship of the Sun and on which the Santo Domingo convent was later built as part of the evangelization process. Its baroque style façade built on solid Inca walls perfectly summarizes the syncretism of cultures in the city of Cusco. To appreciate the greatness of the Incas, we will ascend to the monumental fortress of Sacsayhuaman, which with its enormous carved stone walls constitutes one of the best examples of Inca military architecture. We will tour the archaeological center of Kenko, a ceremonial place where the sun, the moon and the stars were worshiped. We couldn|t take a tour of the city without visiting the Cathedral, the most important temple in the city. It was built by the Spanish on top of the palace of the Inca Huiracoha. Its interior houses a wonderful collection of colonial art composed of goldsmith pieces and representative canvases of the Cusco School of Art.

Overnight at Hacienda Cusco or similar (Tourist category) or Casa Andina Premium Cusco or Similar (Superior category)

Meals included: breakfast

Breakfast.

Full Day History and culture in Maras, Moray & Misminay Today is dedicated to exploring three jewels of the Sacred Valley of the Incas: Maras, Moray and Misminay. From the top, we will have a majestic view of the ancient Maras salt mines, where the coveted Maras salt - one of the finest in the world - is collected. We will see almost 3,000 pools that in Inca times were an important center for the imperial economy. Today, it continues to be a valuable source of income for hundreds of families. With stunning panoramic views of the mosaic of terraces and ponds, Maras offers the perfect setting for photography enthusiasts. We will also arrive at the Moray archaeological site, which resembles a natural amphitheater. During the Tahuantinsuyo, it functioned as a laboratory and agricultural research center, according to some studies. Its enormous concentric terraces and the variety of microclimates they created allowed the growth of a variety of crops. Then, we will visit the traditional community of Misminay, where we will enjoy a valuable cultural exchange and get to know the traditional Andean lifestyle up close. Its inhabitants will welcome us with their characteristic warmth between music and typical dances, and then invite us to take part in their different daily activities related with planting, harvesting, and textile work.

Overnight at Andean Wings Valley or Similar (Tourist category) or Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley or Similar (Superior category) Meals included: breakfast & Lunch

At proper time you will board the train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu.
(*) Timetables are subject to confirm

Full Day Machu Picchu One of the most important tourist landmarks in the world awaits us: Machu Picchu! Our adventure will begin aboard the train to Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu Pueblo, a picturesque town at the foot of the emblematic Inca citadel. During the train ride we can enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings, with impressive views of majestic mountains, the Vilcanota river and small towns of the Peruvian Andes; a visual feast that fills us with anticipation for the visit to the wonder that is Machu Picchu. After a short bus ride from Aguas Calientes we will find ourselves in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World – an unforgettable sight! From there, we will explore the ancient ruins, learning all about the history and mysteries that this mystical and impressive place holds. Surrounded by incomparable landscapes, there will be no shortage of spectacular photo opportunities! Once we have recharged ourselves with the magical energy of Machu Picchu, we will return to Aguas Calientes where we will have free time to have lunch and explore the streets a bit before boarding our return train.

Board train in Aguas Calientes, to Ollantantaytambo, and transfer back to Cusco. (*) Timetables are subject to confirm

Overnight at Hacienda Cusco or similar (Tourist category) or Casa Andina Premium Cusco or Similar (Superior category) Meals included: breakfast and lunch

Breakfast.

Day at leisure in Cusco Enjoy a unique experience filled with beautiful scenery, spectacular views, small communities, and opportunities to observe local wildlife. The Adventure awaits you! Don’t miss Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.

Optional with extra cost:

Full Day Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain – (Minimum 2 passengers) Vinicunca or the Rainbow Mountain is one of the most popular destinations in Cusco. We will leave the hotel early to head to Cusipata and from there we will travel to Phulawasipata, starting point of the uphill trail. The path will be the perfect excuse to enjoy the nature of the place: herds of llamas and alpacas, as well as the majestic Apu Ausangate, the highest snow-capped mountain in Cusco. We will also be able to talk with the community members of the area and see the potato fields that they work every day. After approximately an hour and a half of walking, we will arrive at Vinicunca, at 5,020 m a.s.l. Arriving at the lookout, our reward is a stunning view of the colorful hillside. The minerals that make up the mountain|s soil give its slopes and summit curious shades of red, purple, green, yellow, and pink, among other colors. Make sure to have your camera ready! From there we will head back to Phulawasipata. After traveling a total of 8 km on foot, we head towards Cusipata, where we will enjoy a refreshing traditional lunch.

Overnight at Hacienda Cusco or similar (Tourist category) or Casa Andina Premium Cusco or Similar (Superior category) Meals included: breakfast

Breakfast.

At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight. Suggested flight time: 12am to 4pm. Kindly note that there are diverse options, in case you need to connect to your international flight home.

Meals included: breakfast