Compare Machu Picchu & Galapagos Cruise by SmarTours

Day 1: Depart USA.

Your exciting expedition to Peru & Ecuador begins this evening as you depart on your overnight flight.

Day 2: Arrive Peru.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay Hotel

Morning arrival in Peru’s capital, Lima. Here, connect for a short flight to Cuzco, the fabled capital of the Inca Empire, perched at about 11,000 feet above sea level. On arrival, journey to the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas. The valley has amazing landscapes of fertile land, mystical ruins and indigenous villages. Arrive at your hotel located in the quaint village of Yucay and surrounded by lush gardens. This evening your tour director hosts a welcome dinner and orientation.

Day 3: Pisac Market & Sacred Valley Excursion.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

On today’s included excursion journey to the town of Pisac located on the bank of the Urubamba River. Here, visit the bustling and colorful Indian market where many beautiful crafts are traded. After lunch at a charming country estate continue to Ollantaytambo and visit the splendid ruins of this massive ancient fortress. The village below is a fine example of the Incas incredible urban planning skills. Return to Yucay later this afternoon.

Day 4: Machu Picchu.

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: El Mapi Hotel

Embark on a two-day expedition to Machu Picchu. Ride aboard the deluxe VistaDome train through the lush Urubamba Valley passing through stunning scenery. Arrive at “The Lost City of the Incas”, rediscovered by accident in 1911 by Hiram Bingham in the foggy mountain jungle. The beauty of its location and the genius construction make Machu Picchu the jewel of all Inca settlements. With a local expert explore the mystery and beauty of this amazing site and learn about the fascinating story of Machu Picchu. While most visitors leave Machu Picchu in the afternoon you’ll stay in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes and enjoy some free time to further discover the mystical ruins and absorb the beauty of this enchanting site. Enjoy an included dinner tonight at the hotel.

Day 5: Machu Picchu/Cuzco.

Accommodation: Novotel Hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Today you may return to Machu Picchu to explore and photograph at your own pace. To this day nobody can explain how the Incas managed to transport the huge blocks of limestone for the city’s construction onto the mountain top. You’ll also visit quaint Aguas Calientes before your afternoon train ride back to Ollantaytambo Station. Arrive in Cuzco this evening and transfer to your hotel, superbly located in the heart of the old town.

Day 6: Cuzco

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Cuzco is a vibrant town, dotted with archaeological sites. On a guided morning tour visit the main Inca and Colonial monuments. See the Plaza de Armas, center of the Inca Empire and the impressive 16th century cathedral, built on the ruins of the Inca Palace. You’ll also see the exceptionally crafted and most sumptuous temple in the Inca Empire, the Temple of the Sun in Koricancha. In the old town view magnificently restored colonial buildings. The afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. Tonight savor dinner complete with a colorful folklore show.

Day 7: Cuzco/Lima.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Casa Andina Select Miraflores Hotel or similar

Today board a short morning flight to Lima, known as the City of Kings and the center of the Spanish Empire in the New World for three centuries after Pizarro’s conquest. Today, Lima is Peru’s capital. After checking into your upscale hotel enjoy a guided afternoon tour of both colonial and modern Lima, founded in 1535 and later dominated by the Inca nation. See the historical center and the San Francisco Church as well as Plaza de Armas and the Government Palace. Later, see the fashionable districts of San Isidro and Miraflores with their beautiful parks and elegant residences facing the ocean.

Day 8: Lima/Quito (Ecuador).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hilton Colon Hotel

This morning, transfer to the airport and fly to Quito, the colonial capital of Ecuador, located just 15 miles from the equator and surrounded by ice-capped volcanoes. Enjoy a brief orientation tour en route to your deluxe, conveniently located hotel.

Day 9: Quito.

Meals: Breakfast

On a guided morning tour of Quito learn about its colonial past, history and culture. Visit the old town and see the Church of San Francisco, the first religious building constructed in South America by the Spanish. See the facade of La Compania, the city’s most ornate church. Admire the spectacular views of the Valley of Tumbaco. On a clear day, you’ll see the impressive volcanoes surrounding the city. Afterwards, drive north to the Equatorial Line Monument where you’ll have fun straddling the hemispheres in the middle of the world. The balance of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 10: Quito/ Galapagos Cruise: Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After an early breakfast, fly to the island of Baltra, one of the gateways to the islands. Over the next five days cruise along and visit the enchanted Galapagos Islands, where you’ll see a variety of exotic wildlife. Board your upscale cruise boat, your base while exploring the islands and enjoy a welcome lunch onboard. This afternoon, enjoy a guided shore excursion of Las Bachas, a wet landing on a white-sanded beach backed by a saltwater lagoon, located at the northern coastline of Santa Cruz Island. Here, you will encounter an amazing variety of sea birds, marine iguanas, and turtles. Later, you’ll have a chance to swim and snorkel at the nearby white-sand beach. Reboard the ship and enjoy dinner onboard. MV Santa Cruz II (Cruise)

Day 11: Galapagos Cruise: Santiago Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, disembark your ship near Santiago Island, a spectacular island consisting of two overlapping volcanoes. Begin by exploring Buccaneer Cove, a popular site for pirates, sailors, and whalers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Buccaneer Cove is known for its impressive 50 meter tuff cliffs, a dramatic landscape made even more impressive by hundreds of seabirds perched on top of the cliffs. Two of the more recognizable rock formations are known as “The Bishop” and “Elephant Rock.”  You’ll have the opportunity to snorkel or take a boat ride, but don’t forget to keep an eye out for the many sea lions relaxing by the beach.

 Later in the day, you’ll visit Puerto Egas, a black sand beach with spectacular rock formations in the background. Walk along a trail that crosses the dry interior where marine iguanas are scattered around and the remains of a salt-mining enterprise can still be seen. Continuing down the trail will lead you to the Fur Seal Grotto, one of the few places in the Galapagos where fur seals can be seen. Later, you can swim and snorkel in search of octopuses, sea horses, starfish and other magnificent sea life.

Day 12: Galapagos Cruise: Rabida Island/Bartholomew Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning, explore the spectacular Rabida Island, home to the largest variety of lava types in the Galapagos and known for its high cliff along the north coast and its long sandy beaches. Follow a trail into the interior of the island that provides the occasional flamingo and leads you to a saltwater lagoon in the dry zone of the island. Along the beaches and lagoons, savor the views of the volcanic peaks and the clear waters or observe the sea lions and pelicans in their natural habitats. You’ll have the opportunity to snorkel, or if you’d like, enjoy a ride on a glass bottom boat.

 In the afternoon, make your way to the breathtaking Bartholomew Island, a volcanic island where black lava fields contrast with lush green vegetation and spectacular white sand beaches. Enjoy the beautiful beach or hike to the summit of the island where you’ll enjoy an impressive view of the surrounding islands. During the hike, you will pass by marine iguanas, lava lizards, and more. At the summit, marvel at Pinnacle Rock, the remains of an eroded tuff cone, leans into Bartholomew’s northern bay and provides one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Galapagos Islands. You will also encounter small, friendly companions: the Galapagos penguin, the only existing species of penguin in the equator area.

Day 13: Galapagos Cruise: Genovesa Island

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today you will visit Genovesa Island, a horse-shoe shaped island located in the northeastern region of the archipelago. It is the only island north of the equator open to tourists, and it is the best place to see red-footed boobies and the great frigate birds.  In the morning, you can hike on “Prince Philip’s Steps”, an extraordinary path that leads through a seabird colony full of Nazca and red-footed boobies. After reaching the plateau, the trail continues inland and passes more nesting booby colonies in the thin Palo Santo forest. Towards the end of the trail, you’ll look over a rocky lava plain where wedge-rumped storm petrels fly in all directions.

Later, visit Darwin Bay, a spectacular byproduct of a submerged crater surrounded by steep cliffs. Here you will observe hundreds of birds, mainly great frigate birds, red-footed and masked boobies, lava gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds. Hike along a magnificent trail, enjoy the beach, or snorkel along the cliffs while looking for colorful tropical fish, golden rays, and perhaps even hammerhead or Galapagos sharks.

Day 14: Galapagos Cruise: San Cristobal Island/Guayaquil

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Wyndham Guayaquil

This morning, bid farewell to your ship and explore San Cristobal Island, the easternmost island in the Galapagos archipelago. As soon as you dock, you’ll be greeted by sea lions, and then you will make your way to the “Galapaguera,” where giant tortoises are brought from their natural habitats in order to breed and raise their young in a controlled environment. Here you will enjoy beautiful vegetation, and of course, both giant and baby tortoises. Afterwards, transfer to the airport of San Cristobal for a domestic flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and main seaport, renowned for its “Caribbean soul”. En route to your centrally located hotel, you’ll tour the most interesting parts of this tropical metropolis, highlighted by Parque Bolivar (also known as Parque Seminario), Palacio Municipal and La Rotonda dedicated to Simon Bolivar and San Martin. This evening, you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner with your group.

Day 15: Depart Guayaquil/Arrive USA.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, say “adios” to Ecuador and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Miami.