Lima – Cusco – Quito – Galápagos Islands 14D/13N

Trip highlights:

• The perfect combination: Peru – Machu Picchu and Ecuador – Galapagos on a unique luxury trip.
• Experience the differences and similarities in lifestyle and customs of Peru and Ecuador.
• Explore the enchanting Sacred Valley and experience the ancient culture of the Andes.
• Tour the salt mines of Maras and enjoy a gourmet picnic lunch looking over the terraces of Moray
• Immerse yourself in the magic and mystery of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, accompanied by first-rate guides.
• Enjoy your free day in Machu Picchu, where you can to climb to Huayna Picchu peak to get majestic views of Machu Picchu.
• Visit Cusco and its off-the-beaten-path hidden treasures.
• Dive in to the history of Quito and explore The Equator Line
• Marvel at the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
• Leave your trip planning in the hands of the luxury travel experts of South America.

Trip Description

A trip designed to fulfill your dreams in two of the world’s most magical countries: Peru and Ecuador. First, enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Peruvian Andes, discovering ancient Incan ruins of Cusco and the Sacred Valley, and wonder of the world Machu Picchu. Then head to Ecuador where you will explore Quito and then be amazed by the unique and varied wildlife while you tour the Galapagos Islands aboard a luxury yacht. Be among the lucky few travelers to visit two of the worlds most enticing travel destinations while enjoying exclusive accommodations and top-notch guide service.

Upon your arrival, our representative will be waiting to welcome you and take you to your hotel, where we will provide all the information about your trip.

In the afternoon you will have free time to rest and relax.

After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Cusco. When you arrive in Cusco, we will be waiting for you at the airport to bring you to the Sacred Valley, which is located at a lower altitude than Cusco, so you will have an easier time acclimating to the altitude. On route to your hotel in the Sacred Valley, we will stop at the Inkarri Museum, to immerse you in the history of the many pre-Incan cultures that influenced the Inca civilization as it expanded to become a great empire. You will then arrive at your hotel to rest in luxury for the night.

Breakfast/Lunch

In the early morning we will pick you up from your hotel to start the tour of the magical Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting first the archaeological site of Pisac—a place where the history and knowledge of the Incas is in full display, and where you can appreciate the beautiful terraces and the impressive construction of the urban center. We will then visit the local handicraft market town of Pisac, where you will find extraordinary handmade textiles, silverware, pottery, and more. Later we will head to Urubamba, where we will have a delicious lunch right in the heart of the Sacred Valley.

We will continue the tour by visiting the town and archaeological site of Ollantaytambo, where you can appreciate the beautiful and complex architectural design of the place, built as a military and administrative base, while also serving as a final resting place. After visiting these stunning and beautiful sites, we return you to your hotel.

Breakfast/Lunch

After breakfast we head towards the impressive archeological site of Moray, which was built in a concentric circular design for the purpose of agricultural experimentation. Then we will have a scrumptious picnic lunch around Moray, looking out across the beautiful landscape.

Later we will move on to the picturesque town of Maras, followed by the salt mines, Las Salineras, comprised of some 2,000 pools where salt is collected. We will return to the hotel afterwards.

Breakfast/Picnic Lunch

Our transport will take us to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where we board the train to Machu Picchu village. Upon arrival we will take the bus up to the lost city of Machu Picchu, where we will have a guided 2-hour tour of the enigmatic site, visiting the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Royal Quarters, and the famous Inti Huatana or Solar Clock and the Tower Circle. After exploring Peru´s wonder of the world, you will enjoy a delicious, gourmet buffet lunch at Sanctuary Lodge. Later, you can explore the citadel before returning to Aguas Calientes to enjoy a good night’s rest.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Today you can choose between spending your day relaxing and enjoying the citadel of Machu Picchu, or you could visit and hike up Huayna Picchu Mountain, a very popular spot from where you can appreciate the best views of Machu Picchu and its surroundings.

Later we will take the train back to Poroy, which is located 30 minutes from the city of Cusco. From there our transportation will take us to the hotel in Cusco.

Breakfast

After a good breakfast, we will begin the tour of Cusco with its temples and monuments such as the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral, and the convent of Santo Domingo, which was built on top of the Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, where you can see the impressive Inca constructions. There is also the archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman, a masterpiece of Inca architecture, and where each year, on June 24, the famous Festival of the Sun or Inti Raymi is celebrated. Continuing the tour, we will visit Quenqo, with its monolithic altar, representing a puma, and then arrive at Puca Pucara, a beautiful spring-fed mountain that forms a series of pools. All of these sites are famous Inca monuments of great religious importance.

After enjoying a great lunch, one of our directors will share with you a unique experience created exclusively for Royal Luxury clients as a way to thank you for traveling with us. It will be a gift coming from our hearts.

Breakfast/Lunch

In the early morning we will take you to the airport in Cusco to take an international flight, with a stopover in Lima then straight to Quito – Ecuador, where there awaits much to learn and explore.

Breakfast

Today you will discover the beautiful city of Quito and its attractions, beginning with a tour of the city to reach the Church of the Basilica of the National Vow. We will continue on to the Plaza de la Independencia in the colonial section of the city. Then we will walk to the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and the Church of the Company where you can appreciate the adornments and gold altars, and the tabernacle and the church of San Francisco built in the seventeenth century. We continue our visit to the Mirador del Panecillo, renowned for its beauty, where we can admire a beautiful landscape of colonial and modern Quito.

The Equator Line or Mitad del Mundo is located just 30 minutes north of Quito, an a monument marks the closest point the equator passes to Quito. Archaeological evidence indicates both pre-Incan and Inca civilizations recognized and worshiped the path of the equator as the marker of the equinox. Late in the afternoon you will return to Quito.

Breakfast/Lunch

Baltra Island – Airport / Island Santa Cruz – El Chato

In the morning we will fly to Baltra Island. A member of our team will welcome you and accompany you to the ship before taking you to visit the tortoise reserve El Chato founded in 1964. We will have the opportunity to see the huge Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat as well as a chance to see the white herons. We will walk through underground lava tunnels, which were formed by volcanic eruptions.

*** Cruises have specific schedules and dates, so please check with us to make sure the dates match your tour itinerary.
***Please note that each cruise has a particular itinerary and activities according to the length of the cruise.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Santa Cruz Island – Whale Bay / Sombrero Chino Island / Santiago Island

In the morning we will visit the small Ballena Bay on the west coast of Isla Santa Cruz. The beach has a greenish color due to the presence of olivine crystals found there due to volcanic activity. Often you can find the remains of clay pots or other goods, confirming that settlements of people have existed these territories since about 1846. According to the stories of old sailors, there was a path to the highlands of the island that these people used to collect water. Here there is a small population of tortoises from Pinzón Island that could have been brought by whalers or the ancient inhabitants of the bay. Next we will arrive at Sombrero Chino (wet landing), located southwest of Santiago Island. Before reaching the island you can recognize its shape and understand the reason for its name. The landscape of the island is dominated by volcanic formations and lava tubes, so it is important to stay on the trails. You can find a small colony of sea lions and walk the dark paths that crosses the solid lava rock. The afternoon will be spent on Santiago Island, also known as James Island or Isla San Salvador, the fourth largest island of the archipelago. The influence of the former workers of the salt mines and imported animals are still evident on the island. The last attempts to populate Santiago Island were given up forty years ago.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Bartolome Island / Santiago Island – Sullivan Bay

Today we will arrive at Bartolome Island, where we will go to a viewpoint and enjoy a spectacular view of Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches around the island offer a good opportunity to go diving and discover the wonderful underwater world. You have the chance to see sea turtles glide gently into the water. You might see penguins fishing and spot the second smallest penguin in the world, only 25 centimeters tall. Reef sharks can also be spotted by their conspicuous white-tipped fins. We then move on to Sullivan Bay, located on the east coast of Santiago Island. The lava field there has formed a variety of interesting shapes, and we can also see lava cactus. In this scenario we can see the contrast in landscapes formed by ancient lava eruptions and those formed by more recent eruptions. After exploring the lava flow, you can swim or snorkel with playful sea lions.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Genovesa Island – Darwin Bay & El Barranco

Today we will visit Genovesa Island, considered to be the island with the least human influence within the Galapagos National Park. It is also known as the Bird Island and is the only place where you can see red-footed boobies. After a wet landing on Darwin Bay, we will walk along a short trail leading to an area inhabited by colonies of boobies and frigate birds. On the beach we can see an interesting spectacle as the frigates prey on other species of birds in the area to steal their food. We will walk through the gorge as this place is located on the southern edge of Darwin Harbour. Walking along the 1.5 km path on volcanic rock takes about two hours and as the second part of the trail is very delicate, you should always stick to the route. Due to natural erosion, storm petrels, Galapagos petrels and wood petrels usually nest here. You can also find red-footed boobies and Nazca boobies, as well as other species of sea birds and sea lions. The weather is usually very hot, so you need to consume plenty of water.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Airport – Baltra Island

After breakfast we will travel along the Itabaca Canal to get back to the airport in Baltra Island to take your flight to Quito/Guayaquil, where we will make sure you get checked in to take your flight back home.

Breakfast