This 13-day South American vacation takes you to Peru to explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas before connecting to Ecuador to explore Quito and the Galapagos Islands. It features mostly first-class accommodations, private tours in Peru, small group tours in Ecuador, and is a great first trip to South America.
Your journey begins in Lima, where you’ll stay overnight before flying to Cusco early the next morning. Cusco is the former capital of the Inca Empire and the gateway to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. You’ll spend the day at leisure in Cusco in order to adjust to the high altitude. Take the day easy and see some of the colonial churches and Inca ruins around the Plaza de Armas. After getting your bearing in Cusco, head into the Sacred Valley and explore the remnants of the Inca Empire and the modern-day Quechua villages that keep alive a millennia-long tradition. You’ll visit the textile centre of Chinchero, explore the mountainside fortress of Ollantaytambo, and see the ruins of Pisac that overlook the Vilcanota River. Another day, explore the whitewashed salt mines of Maras before getting in touch with the rural Andean lifestyle in the village of Misminay. End the day at the agricultural terraces of Moray, which are Incan experimental centres carved into the hillside.
After exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes and ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu, the Lost Citadel of the Incas and one of the world’s greatest historical wonders. You’ll explore Machu Picchu over the course of two days, heading along the circuit to learn about the mysterious history of this mountaintop city. You may also have a chance to head to the Sun Gate to enjoy the views from the end of the Inca Trail and climb Huayna Picchu for an unforgettable vantage point of the citadel. After exploring Machu Picchu, ride the train back to Ollantaytambo and connect back to Cusco. The next day, fly back to Lima and connect onward to Quito in Ecuador.
Quito is the Ecuadorian capital and one of South America’s great historical centres. You’ll spend a day exploring the history of colonial Quito on a city tour. Start at the Main Plaza where you’ll see the Government Palace and San Francisco Monastery, which started construction five days after the founding of the city in 1534. Continue along La Ronda Street before reaching Panecillo, a hill on the south side of the city, where you’ll see the statue of Our Lady of the Panecillo and enjoy great views over the hilly city.
From Quito, fly to the Galapagos Islands and spend a few days exploring this natural playground, renowned around the world for its biodiversity. You’ll stay two nights at the Galapagos Magic Tented Camp in the highlands of Santa Cruz, in the midst of a national park known for its Giant Tortoises wandering the hillside. On Santa Cruz, you’ll explore the turquoise waters of the Itabaca Channel, go kayaking or snorkelling alongside blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and herons. You’ll also board a yacht for a journey to South Plaza where you’ll see a sea lion colony, swim alongside white-tipped reef sharks in the tropical waters, and stroll alongside the prickly-pear cactus groves and yellow-gray land iguanas on the shore.
Continue to Isabela, where you’ll spend another two days exploring the Galapagos. This island is known for its rugged volcanic landscape. You’ll tour the small island village of Tintoreras, snorkel through the island’s bays, and bike along the Wetlands Trail to the Wall of Tears, built by American soldiers in WWII. The next day, hike up to the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano, which is the second largest volcanic caldera in the world, before hiking through the drizzle in the shadow of Volcan Chico and spotting Galapagos hawks and flycatchers.
At the end of your adventure, you’ll connect back to Santa Cruz and Baltra to fly back to Quito and return home.