12 Day Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu Experience

12 Day Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu Experience

History & Culture – Galapagos Islands – Inca´s Ruins

This 12  day adventure package allows you to explore a great variety of landscapes in Ecuador and Perú as well as nature and cultural highlights, which you will be able to observe on this fully guided tour. From the capital Quito, which was one of the first cities declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, you will go to Lima, the City of the Kings, Cuzco, Machu Pichu and its Sacred Valley to admire the inca´s ruins and history. This is a great chance to see the main of Ecuador and Perú Highlights.

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to your hotel in Quito

Stop At: Quito Airport Shuttle, Suiza 227 y Eloy Alfaro, Quito 170150 Ecuador
Private transportation from the airport to your hotel in Quito
Duration: 3 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in Quito

Day 2: Quito City Tour + Teleférico + Mitad del Mundo

Stop At: Mitad Del Mundo, Avenida Manuel Cordova Galarza KM. 13/5, San Antonio de Pichincha, Quito 170180 Ecuador
Visit to Mitad del Mundo
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Teleferico Quito, Off Avenue Occidental Taxi is 3 Easiest, Quito 170150 Ecuador
Visit to Teleferico in Quito
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Intinan Museum, Autopista Manuel Cordova Galarza, a 200 metros del redondel de la Mitad del Mundo, San Antonio de Pichincha, Quito 170180 Ecuador
Visit to Intinan Museum in Mitad del Mundo
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Quito Old Town, Quito Ecuador
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and stands at an altitude of 2,850 m. Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved, least altered historic centre in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Fundacion Iglesia de la Compania, Garcia Moreno N 10-43, Quito 170150 Ecuador
Known colloquially as la Compañía, is a Jesuit church in Quito, Ecuador. It is among the best-known churches in Quito because of its large central nave, which is profusely decorated with gold leaf, gilded plaster, and wood carvings. Inspired by two Roman Jesuit churches
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in Quito

Day 3: Arrival to San Cristobal / Galápagos/ Tijeretas Hill and Carola Beach

Stop At: Cerro Tijeretas, Port Baquerizo Moreno, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
Tijeretas Hill, also known as Frigatebird Hill, is a lookout point located on San Cristobal Island, with views of Kicker Rock to the west and Shipwreck Bay to the south. From the center of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, it takes about 45 minutes to reach the top of the hill, which serves as a nesting spot for two species of Frigatebirds. At the base of Tijeretas Hill, there is a small cove perfect for swimming and snorkeling and where is usual to see sea lions and tropical fish.
Duration: 4 hours

Stop At: Playa Punta Carola, Path to Playa Carola, s/n Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, 120506 Ecuador
Located on the trails behind the visitor's center, Punta Carola is only a few minutes' walk from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It's a small, sandy beach, home to sea lions and shore birds. In Punta Carola you can see exotic flora and fauna. There is ideal for surf. Even, so if you're looking for a place to put down a towel and relax for a while, this is a better bet.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected Hotel in San Cristobal

Day 4: Lobos Island or Kicker rock

Stop At: Kicker Rock, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Ecuador
About an hour’s boat ride northeast of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is León Dormido (Kicker Rock), so named because of its resemblance to a sleeping lion. León Dormido is an imposing, vertical, sheer-walled tuff cone that has been eroded in half; smaller boats can sail between the two rocks.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch: Box Lunch
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in San Cristobal

Day 5: El Chato Reserve + Garrapatero beach

Stop At: Reserva El Chato, Isla Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
If you came to the Galápagos to stand face-to-face with a giant tortoise, then you can't pass up a trip to El Chato Tortoise Reserve. But tortoises aren't the only animals to look out for here: As you get acquainted with these immense, dome-shaped creatures, you may even hear the chirp of a Darwin finch or the hoot of a short-ear owl overhead.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: El Garrapatero, NE of Puerto Ayora 19 km, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
Located approximately 30 minutes drive from Puerto Ayora, Playa El Garrapatero is a hidden gem of a beach on the eastern side of the island of Santa Cruz.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected Hotel in Santa Cruz

Day 6: Uninhabited Island

Stop At: South Plaza Island, Ecuador
One of the smallest and, depending on the season, most colorful islands. Find sea lion colonies, land, and hybrid iguanas and countless birds soaring by the cliffs.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Box Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected hotel

Day 7: Baltra - Guayaquil / Flight to Lima

Stop At: Lima Airport Shuttle, Lima LIMA 27 Peru
Transfer from the islands to /Guayaquil, flight connection to Lima
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in Lima

Day 8: City Tour in Lima

Stop At: CITY TOUR LIMA, PUEBLO LIBRE - LIMA LIMA, Pueblo Libre LIMA 21, Peru
Breakfast at the hotel.

In afternoon visit of the city of Colonial and Modern Lima, we will visit Lima in its 3 historical periods, Pre Hispanic, Colonial, and Modern. We will have a panoramic view of "La Huaca Pucllana", we will visit the impressive Historical Center of Lima, its palaces, mansions, churches, and plazas ending with a visit to the residential and financial area of San Isidro. Finally, we will have an unforgettable view of the Pacific Ocean in the district of Miraflores. Return to the hotel.

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Selected hotel

Day 9: Flight to Cusco / City Tour

Stop At: City Tour Cusco, Portal de Panes 123, Cusco 08002, Peru
Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport to board the regular flight to Cusco. Arrival, reception, and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the morning free to acclimatize to the altitude.

In the afternoon pick up for your City Tour Cusco where you will visit The Cathedral, Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) and the nearby ruins: Qenqo (Ceremonial and Ritual center, place where sacrifices were made), Puca Pucara (this complex was probably used by Emperor Pachacutec as a Tambo), Tambomachay (also called “The Bath of the Inca”) and Sacsayhuaman Fortress (place where the main Inca Festivals, Inti Raymi and Warachicuy take place). Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight. (B, D)

Cusco: 3,395 msnm

Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in Cusco

Day 10: Cusco – Sacred Valley – Aguas Calientes

Stop At: Sacred Valley of the Incas, 0051 Peru
Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning departure for our visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will visit the textile center Awanacancha, then we will go to the town of Pisac, here we will visit a picturesque craft market where we can see how until today the locals maintain the tradition of exchanging their things or food, just like it was done in the past. Buffet lunch at local restaurant.

Later we will go to the town of Ollantaytambo where we will visit the fortress that bears the same name. Here we will visit the most important attractions of the place, and our guide will give us an explanation about its history. Transfer to your hotel in Valley. Finally, we will depart from Ollanta train station towards the majestic city of Aguas Calientes, the travel time is approximately 01 hour 30 minutes. Arrival to Aguas Calientes town and transfer to your hotel

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected hotel in Aguas Calientes

Day 11: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Cusco

Stop At: Santuario Historico de Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Peru
Breakfast at hotel.

This day will be the highlight of our trip, the visit to the citadel of Machu Picchu. Very early we will board the buses to ascend to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, one of the 7 wonders of the world. The tour will be 02 hours and 30 minutes and the visit includes the Intihuatana (the Solar Clock), the Palace of the Incas, the Three Windows, etc. At the end of it we will descend to the town of Aguas Calientes to go shopping and lunch at local restaurant.

At a scheduled time, transfer to the station to board the train back to Ollantaytambo. Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Cusco (only driver).

Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Selected Hotel

Day 12: Cusco - Lima

Stop At: Cusco Cathedral, Portal Belen Plaza de Armas, Cusco 08002 Peru
Breakfast at the hotel.

At the scheduled hour, transfer to the Airport to board your international flight
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.