15 Days
Welcome to Ecuador. Enjoy a luxurious and fascinating array of excursions and activities that show off the exceptional beauty and uniqueness of the islands.
A Galapagos Islands visit is an extraordinary personal experience with the natural world. These enchanted isles promise to awe, entertain, and inspire.
Day 1
Arrival Lima, Peru
Day 2
Explore Colonial Lima and a Peruvian Cooking Class
Day 3
Flight Lima to Cusco
Tour of Pisac Ruins and Market en-route
Day 4
Full day Chincheros with weaving workshop, Moray and Maras, and lunch at Mil Centro
Day 5
Travel by train from Train Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes
Day 6
Explore Machu Picchu and hike Huayna Picchu, then travel by train to Ollantaytambo then onto Cusco
Day 7
Tour of Cusco Historical and Sacsayhuaman ruins with Private Art Trail
Day 8
Fly from Cusco to Quito, Ecuador
Day 9
Full day Colonial Quito tour with Toack Chocolate tasting at the Casa de Guayasamín with Private lunch.
Day 10 - 13
Flight Quito to Galapagos Islands
Embark on your 4 day Galapagos expedition
Day 14
End your Galapagos expedition.
Flight Galapagos to Guayaquil
Day 15
Half Day Historical Walking Tour of Guayaquil
Flight out of Ecuador
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
CONTACT US ABOUT THIS TRIP!Upon arriving, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel.
Depart on a full day tour of Colonial Lima and Larco Herrera hosted by a museum curator and a Peruvian Cooking Class, featuring Seaside Cebiche & Pisco.
You will visit the historical San Martín Square followed by a visit to the Aliaga House, an ancient viceregal construction designed by Francisco Pizarro. Next, you will visit the Santo Domingo Church, which took close to 40 years to build and was completed at the end of the 16th century
Today, you get to immerse yourself in Lima’s culinary and art culture. Touring the halls of the Larco Herrera museum, hosted by its curator, you will learn about pre-Inca Peru. Next head to a local seaside restaurant for a cebiche and pisco experience.
In the evening, dine in one of Lima’s top 10 restaurants, where you can immerse yourself in the city’s food culture.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel in the Sacred Valley. En-route visit Pisac ruins and local markets.
The Pisac ruins is one of the most important and well-preserved ruins in the Sacred Valley. Climb to the top of the ruins to take in the spectacular views of the terraced countryside.
After your visit to the ruins, head back down the trail to Pisac village where authentic shopping and photographic opportunities abound. Pisac’s market will allow you to see merchants offering all sorts of handicrafts, the most important of which are the textiles and ceramic goods, including ceremonial goblets called “Q’eros,” plates, ashtrays, necklaces and replicas of pre-Hispanic pottery. There are also ponchos, sweaters and bags for sale.
Enjoy a full day tour of Chincheros with weaving workshop, Moray & Maras. Enjoy a gourmet lunch at renowned chef Virgilio Martinez’s Mil Centro.
First we will visit Chinchero, a traditional Andean Indian village located high up on the windswept plains of Anta at about 12,500 feet above sea level.
Followed by a venture to Moray, a series of circular terraces worked into the ground. Finally, arriving at Maras, where you can visit local houses and see the preparation of a traditional fermented drink called “Chicha,” as well as the famous old church of San Francisco de Maras.
Enjoy a view to the ancient salt mines of Maras, which are the most astounding sight (during the dry season which runs from April to October). Nestled in amongst the green fields of the Sacred Valley of the Incas is a huge white area of twinkling terraces where salt has been collected for centuries.You may be fortunate to see the locals at work, in the same way as they did many hundreds of years ago.
You will then be transferred to the Ollantaytambo train station for your train journey to Aguas Calientes aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham Luxury train. Upon arrival, you will be met and escorted to your hotel.
Today, enjoy a full day exploring at Machu Picchu including the Huayna Picchu hike. In between, you will enjoy lunch.
Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” is the holy grail for lovers of Incan monuments, and the most famous archaeological site in all of South America. On this visit, you will fully embrace this magnificent wonder of the world, letting this once-in-a-lifetime experience set in.
For many trekkers, climbing Huayna Picchu is one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort. The climb itself takes about an hour to an hour and a half to ascend and approximately 45 minutes to one hour descend.
As Huayna Picchu is so close to the city complex it provides a fantastic birds-eye view, and the climb itself provides brilliant vistas of the city from various angles. From the summit, the scale and ingenuity of Machu Picchu and its various structures and terraces is fully revealed.
Late this afternoon, you will be travel to Cusco aboard the luxurious Belmond Hiram Bingham train. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Enjoy a full day day exploring Cusco from both a historical and art perspective.
Inside Cusco’s historical center, visit Coricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun” which was used as the base for the construction of the Santo Sunday Convent.
Continue to the Cusco Cathedral, the most important building on the Main Square and one of the most splendid Spanish colonial churches in America, which is shaped as a Latin Cross and houses about 400 colonial paintings from the Cusco art school, along with impressive goldsmith, silversmith and precious stones works.
Next we will visit the Sacsayhuamán fortress, en emblematic work of the Incas, which protected the Holy City. If time permits and based on your interests, you can also visit the vestiges of Puka Pukara (The Red Fortress)
After lunch, get to know the local craftsmen and artists. Participate in the creation of a unique piece and learn several traditional techniques of Cusqueño Art. Begin with the participatory Cusco Glazed Colonial Ceramic workshop, and then move to the painting and glass area. After a snack break with the artists, head to the Dorado Colonial Cusqueño workshop. End this experience in the gallery where participants can learn about the work of the artist Julio Gutiérrez and the Totemiq collective.
Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Quito, Ecuador via Lima.
On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Depart on a guided tour of Quito including the Colonial district, Toack Chocolate tasting at the Casa de Guayasamín, and a private lunch at the home of a muralist artist.
The full day tour starts in old colonial Quito in the main square where the Presidential Palace, the main Cathedral, and other important buildings can be seen. Continue to Plaza Santo Domingo and walk through “La Ronda”, one of the oldest streets in town, with colonial homes and shops of the early 1600s.
Your walk continues to the City Museum and San Francisco Plaza, with a quick stop to try typical sweets of Quito. Next, head to the home of a local painter, where you will get to see his art collection, and join him for lunch. You will have the chance to learn from him about his art and relax. You will feel like you are returning to the old days of Quito.
After lunch, continue your art immersion during your visit to the home of artist Oswaldo Guayasamin. A two-hour experience that you will never forget with the best combination: art and chocolate. The tour is broken in two parts. First, you will discover Guayasamin’s house, including his secret and intimate chambers guided by an expert guide of art and followed by a tasting and pairing of To’ak guided by a chocolate expert.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your vessel for embarkation or transferred to your hotel for your land-based program. Commence your Galapagos expedition.
Enjoy a fascinating array of activities and excursions, allowing guests to explore the archipelago from multiple perspectives.
PANGA RIDES
Pangas (inflatable dinghies) are the main forms of accessing the different islands from vessels. Excursions by panga can provide a front row seat for exploring mangrove estuaries, hidden bays cliff faces and rocky islets.
KAYAK
Paddling at your own speed is another popular and fun way to experience the islands. With a low vantage point and the absence of motor noise, kayaking gives you the freedom to explore at your own leisure as well as up-close wildlife encounters.
HIKES
Daily hikes are led by the Galapagos National Park naturalist guides and provide a unique and rare insight into the wildlife, geological history and human endeavors of the islands.
Most hikes can go from one to three hours and are suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
Options for extended times for those who like to hike longer are available too.
SNORKEL
Snorkeling excursions allow visitors to go beneath the surface and discover the amazing and unique marine life, some of which is solely known only in the Galapagos. Little to no experience is required, with instruction and all gear provided.
Disembark your vessel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Depart for your half day Historical Park walking tour.
The Guayaquil Historical Park is one of Guayaquil’s most popular attractions, but a guided tour offers a greater insight into the city’s fascinating history. On this three-hour walking tour, journey back to 20th-century Guayaquil; learn more about Ecuador’s culture and traditions; and spot wildlife such as monkeys, sloths, and macaws.
A late check-out is included at your hotel. In the evening, you are transferred to the airport for your flight out of Ecuador.
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
CONTACT US ABOUT THIS TRIP
