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Home > Peru & Galapagos Adventures >
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
16-day adventure
Detailed, day-by-day itinerary for this adventure!
Accommodations are noted, and meals are coded as B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
Top: Detail of Machu Picchu ruins (Wes Walker)
Below: Sea lion lounging in the surf of Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island, with Integrity in the distance. Only small yachts are allowed into this unique bay. (Daniel Fitter)
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Day 1 |
Arrive in Lima, Peru |
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Fly from your home city to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in and overnight.
Ramada Costa del Sol Lima |
Day 2 |
Lima to Cuzco to Urubamba Valley |
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A quick flight over the snow-covered Andes brings us to the legendary city of gold—Cuzco (alt. 11,200 feet)—the Center of the Inca Universe. Inca means "ruler," or "king" - an equivalent to the Roman Caesars.
Our guide will meet us at the airport and take us for lunch and a walking tour of Cuzco. We set out along streets where the Incas and later the Spaniards walked. We will stop at Coricancha, the partially restored Temple of the Sun at the center of the Inca Universe, and try to envision its walls sheathed in gold foil. On the Plaza de Armas we visit the Cathedral, one of the city's greatest repositories of colonial art.
In the late afternoon, on a plateau high above Cuzco, we will visit the immense Inca ceremonial and "parade" grounds of Sacsayhuaman. These grounds were used by the Incas for major celebrations, pageants, and sporting events, including sacrifices. We will then enjoy a scenic ride through rich fields of quinoa and amaranth, before descending into the breathtaking Urubamba Valley. The balance of the afternoon will be spent exploring the agriculturally rich Urubamba Valley en route to our one-night stay at Sol y Luna, a lovely country inn, in the center of the valley. Dinner will be a cooking demonstration at Sol y Luna.
Sol y Luna, BL D is cooking demonstration |
Day 3 |
Train to Machu Picchu, hike to Machu Picchu Mountain |
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We catch the early train in Ollantaytambo for one of the most breathtaking rail journeys in the world. The rail line follows the river down the impressive Canyon of the Vilcanota to the foot of Machu Picchu.
If our accommodations are at Hotel Pueblo de Machu Picchu, we leave the train at Aguas Calientes to check in to this lovely riverside inn before heading up the mountain to Machu Picchu by bus.
If our accommodations are at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge next to the ruins, we transfer immediately to a bus for an exhilarating 20-minute dash up the mountainside to Machu Picchu, where we check into the hotel upon arrival.
We start our exploration of Machu Picchu with an orientation stroll around the site. This helps us get a sense of the layout of the ruins.
Machu Picchu is a wonderful place to explore on your own. The elevation is about 7,500-ft., much lower than Cuzco's 11,500-ft., so the elevation is not likely to be a factor. After lunch we will all have an extended guided walking tour.
Machu Picchu Sanctuary or Hotel Pueblo de Machu Picchu, BLD |
Day 4 |
Machu Picchu |
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The park opens at sunrise, a magical time of the day as mist often shrouds the major peaks and floats onto the valley. The rising sun casts a golden glow into this fantasy land; it is not to be missed at this hour. Enjoy, and then return to the hotel for a breakfast.
We have an optional (weather-dependent) hike to the peak of Machu Picchu Mountain-a 5-6 hour round trip scenic workout! We'll bring our picnic lunch and feast on it as well as the sights.
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Depending on the weather, we have another optional hike climbing the steep, challenging trail, hidden in crevasses and bushes, that leads to the top of Huayna Picchu. This is the slender, granite peak that appears in almost every photo of Machu Picchu. On top we will take in an overwhelming view of the ruins and the surrounding valleys and snow-capped peaks. The climb is impressive and requires no more than 1.5 - 2 hours, even if you are a very slow hiker. It is a challenging hike, but the reward of reaching the summit is one of the greatest views in the world! The descent is relatively quick and easy, but steep, and leads straight to lunch.
After lunch you will have the afternoon to yourself to explore the ruins, snooze in the sun, read and take photos. This is a special time that is all yours to savor Machu Picchu as you see fit.
Machu Picchu Sanctuary or Hotel Pueblo de Machu Picchu, BLD |
Day 5 |
Machu Picchu, train to Cuzco |
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This morning is all yours to enjoy Machu Picchu. You may hike up to the Sun Gate overlooking the ruins, or explore the Inca Bridge, take photos or muse about the wonders of this place until you meet the rest of the group for lunch.
After lunch we bus down to the train for Cuzco. Once there we tumble into the Monasterio del Cuzco for the night.
El Monasterio del Cuzco, BL |
Day 6 |
Cuzco to Quito |
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Fly from Cuzco to Lima and then on to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in and overnight.
Hilton Colón Quito, B |
Day 7 |
To the Galapagos—Santa Cruz Island |
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Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Baltra, Galapagos. While our luggage is being collected, we enjoy refreshments in the air conditioned VIP airport lounge. We transfer to the Island of Santa Cruz where we travel with our naturalist in a spacious air conditioned vehicle up into the highland rainforest.
We'll have lunch then explore the Santa Cruz highlands to view endemic Galapagos plant species and visit lava tubes and sinkholes. We'll hike through tall grasses among the grazing tortoises.
Integrity groups will overnight at the Royal Palm Resort; Reina Silvia groups will overnight in Puerto Ayora.
Royal Palm Resort or Puerto Ayora hotel, BLD |
Day 8 |
Puerto Ayora, Darwin Station, board our yacht |
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We stroll through the town of Puerto Ayora to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we learn about conservation issues and the tortoise and iguana hatching and rearing programs. We'll even get to view some of the tiny hatchlings. We may catch a glimpse of Lonesome George—the sole survivor of the Pinta tortoise subspecies. Afterwards we lunch at a waterside restaurant overlooking Academy Bay. We board Integrity or Reina Silvia mid to late afternoon in Academy Bay.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Days 9-14
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On the Boat—Snoozin', Cruisin' and Snorkelin' |
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We live aboard the spacious Integrity for a week, spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit. With our licensed, INCA selected Class III naturalist, we learn about the birds and animals, geology, marine life and oceanic systems of the Galapagos Islands. We swim and snorkel with tropical fish, sea lions and sometimes with penguins!
The yachts' current itineraries (set by the Galapagos Park) include visits to one or more sites on the islands of Española (Hood), Floreana, Fernandina, Isabela, Santiago, Bartolomé, Tower, North Seymour and South Plazas.
Integrity or Reina Silvia, BLD |
Day 15 |
Galapagos, Quito |
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From our anchorage in the Baltra harbor, we say "adios" to the yacht and its dedicated crew, and adjourn to the Baltra airport to await our mid-morning flight to the Ecuador mainland and Quito. On arrival, we transfer to the Hilton Colón Quito hotel for an overnight. You will have time to shop before dinner.
Hilton Colón Quito, BD |
Day 16 |
Quito to home or other adventures |
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Transfer to the airport with check-in to your homeward bound flight unless you are remaining for more adventures. |
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