Our 5 days in Peru itinerary packs in adventure to all the classic sites such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and the Rainbow Mountain. After experiencing what we consider the highlights of Peru, we fly to Mainland Ecuador to experienc Quito, the capital city of of this incredible country. After 2 nights and 3 days in Quito exploring the highlights, we board our flight approximately 620 miles across the Pacific Ocean to the Galapagos Islands, for a 6 day land based tour of the iconic archipelago!
Peru & Galapagos Package Trip-12 Day
Experience the highlights of Peru and the Galapagos Islands on this 12 Day Adventure
Trip Itinerary
You will be greeted outside of the Cusco airport by a FlashpackerConnect representative who will transfer you to your hotel
Cusco City Tour: Time TBD (4-5 hours)
We begin with the guide meeting you at your hotel for pick up and then heading to Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, where you will visit the famous cathedral (entry of 25 soles). Following, you will continue on foot through an ancient Inca-built street from the Plaza de Armas to the Q’oricancha (entry of 15 soles), the Temple of the Sun. At the Q’oricancha you will be able to compare and contrast the building methods of the Incan culture and Catholicism. This was the key spiritual center of the Incas, which leads to all four quarters of the Inca Empire. There is also a bronze, high altar to be seen.
From Q’oricancha, your group will walk down Avenida El Sol, where you will take your bus 25 minutes outside of the city. You will be taken to the majestic Inca site, Sacsayhuaman, with its enigmatic, 200 ton monoliths, you will be able to hear from your guide and then, explore on your own.
From Sacsayhuaman, you will take a five minute bus ride to the Q’enqo Inca site to see its fascinating Incan altars. Following, you will take another five minute drive to Puca Pucara, a small, circular Inca site. The final stop on our tour is Tambomachay, a water temple with impressive water fountains, thought to be used by the Inca for bathing. We’ll then drive back down to Cusco where the tour ends in the main square.
Overnight in Cusco
You will be picked up from your hotel in Cusco between 7am-7:30am for the start of your tour. Our first stop will be Awanacancha Alpaca farm where you will get a glimpse of local Peruvian animals such as Alpacas, llamas and viñuna. Here your guide will explain the history of the animals and why they are important to the economy. In addition to that you will visit the textiles center displaying local crafts and trade item and be able to appreciate the best works of craftsmanship that the Incas produced.
From here we will take the road that leads to Pisac stopping for a moment at El Mirador del Valle Sagrado- the Sacred Valley lookout point to soak in the incredible views of the Andes Mountains. We will then make our way to the Pisac archeological site where your guide will give you an overview of the area and allow you to explore. Continuing on to Urubamba we will stop for lunch at a local Peruvian buffet where you can enjoy a plethora of fresh Peruvian style dishes to feast on.
After lunch we will have time for one last stop- Ollantaytambo, the second most important ruins behind Machu Picchu. Here we will walk the ruins and enjoy a guided tour as we soak in the spectacular craftsmanship surrounding us. We will then board the train from Ollantaytambo and make our way to Aguas Calientes.
The train journey itself is filled with stunning views and will take just under 2 hours. Once you arrive to Aguas Calientes you will check you into your hotel and have free time to enjoy the village. If you would like to take advantage of the time you have this evening, you can visit the Machu Picchu museum, the orchid exhibition, or the butterfly garden, located 40 minutes outside the village (walking), or simply relax in the hot springs near town. (B)
Overnight in Aguas Calientes
Today is the most magical day of your journey. Depending on your entrance time to Machu Picchu your guide will help you determine the best time to wake up for your tour. If you have the early entrance you will wake up around 4am to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu and see the sun rise over the ruins. If you have a later entrance you will be able to enjoy a bit more sleep before taking the bus up to the ruins (entrance times will be assigned to you depending on how far in advance you book). Your guide will take about 2 hours explaining the highlights of Machu Picchu and the beautiful sites. Afterwards, if you have booked the option to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountain you will have time for your hike and have free time to walk the ruins on your own. In the afternoon, you will get back on the bus and head to Aguas Calientes town. You will then board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private van will be waiting for your ride back to Cusco arriving between 6-8pm.
Overnight in Cusco
Duration: Full Day- 2:15am- 3:00 or 4:00pm
Distance: 8 km (5 mi) (round trip)
Elevation: 4460m (14,632ft) - 5035m (16,520ft)
Difficulty: Moderate
Your day starts in Cusco where you are picked up from your hotel at 2:15am for a 3.5 hour trip via private van to the start of the trail. You will be given a local Peruvian style breakfast prepared by our chef and fuel up for the hike ahead of you.
The hike to the rainbow mountain will take around 2 hours and is a distance of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Throughout your journey you will pass through a vibrant green valley with the snow capped peak of Ausangate towering in the distance. You will see hundreds of roaming alpaca, and have the chance to truly see how Quechua people live. As you get closer to the Rainbow Mountain you will begin to see the first signs of the colored minerals that formed the painted hills. Your guide will explain what makes up the existence of the Rainbow Mountain and how it was formed, and finally with one last push you will hike up to a vantage point that gives you a 360 degree view of the beautiful landscape that makes up the sacred land.
We will have snacks on top and take a relaxing break to soak up the vistas, where you can enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. At this time you can also enjoy some coca tea that the locals prepare for visitors. After about an hour we will continue on to the red valley, another awe inspiring area not to be missed by trekkers but seldom visited. From here, we continue our hike back to the trailhead (1 hour), where you will have a gourmet lunch prepared by our chef in a traditional mud-house and depart back to Cusco. Arriving in Cusco around 4:00pm. (B,L)
Today you will be transferred to the Cusco Airport, for your flight to Lima, and onto Quito, Ecuador
Upon arrival in Quito, your bilingual guide will pick you up from the airport and will transfer you to the hotel. Your guide will be able to assist you in anything you may need.
Accommodation in Quito.
The tour begins visiting Quito`s downtown, one of the biggest in South America. Our first stop is the oldest street of the city, La Ronda, that used to be the home of musicians, poets and politicians. Here we will experience the traditions of the city, first by stopping in the gastronomic district to enjoy a demonstration of the different local spices that are used in traditional Ecuadorian food. Next, the group will visit the house of handicrafts made of metal and wood, most of them designed for the traditional churches and made by hand for furniture decoration. Leaving La Ronda, we l head to the Independence Square, surrounded by important historical buildings. Visit the Cathedral (XVI Century), the Presidential Palace, El Sagrario Church (XVII Century), and La Compañia de Jesus (XVII Century), one of the most beautiful baroque churches in South America. Not to be missed are the Church of San Francisco and Monastery, built a few months after the arrival of the Spaniards (XVI Century). Finally we will drive to the viewpoint at the Panecillo hill, where we find the virgin of Quito, the unique winged virgin of the world. You will have a wonderful view over the city and the surrounding mountains and volcanos.
After the city tour, we will drive 30 km. north of Quito, towards the Middle of the World where the equatorial line divides the northern and southern hemispheres. We will visit the main monument built in honor of the French scientific expedition that arrived in Ecuador in the XVIII century to determine the correct location of the equator line. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the Inti Ñan Museum, a scientific and cultural museum, located in the exact crossing of the Equator Line. Later, we return to Quito.
Overnight Quito
Upon arrival in Baltra, we will board a shuttle that will take us throughout Santa Cruz Island, eventually reaching the highlands of the Islands. With its green vegetation and wide open spaces, we will stop to visit a ranch, and it's here that we will have our first sightings of the Galapagos Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat. We will be treated to lunch at the ranch.
After this visit we will head to Puerto Ayora to check-in in a selected hotel.
Today you will have the opportunity to do a navigable excursion to another Island, to discover the diversity of the Galapagos Islands. The tour consists of a hike around the island and afterwards you can snorkel, swim or just relax. Based on availability we can confirm one of the following tours:
Bartolome Island: Discover amazing landscapes, and fascinating geological formations, here you will have great opportunity for snorkeling.
North Seymour Island: The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves.
South Plazas: Small island but outstanding concentration of wildlife, dramatic cliffs, spectacular natural red carpet of algae and great contrasts to be seen.
Santa Fe: This Island has a lot of diversity. The lagoons of the Santa Fe Island provide an excellent place for snorkeling alongside colorful fishes, sea lions, giant tuna and even small sharks that are often sited in these environments.
Today is yet another opportunity to choose your adventure! Each island in this incredible archipelago is unique in its wildlife, history and geology and geography, so today will be a great opportunity to explore an island that differs from the previous day! TheAgain, the tour in consists an interpretive hike around the island, followed by a snorkel, swim or time on your own to relax. Based on availability we can confirm one of the following tours:
Bartolome Island: Discover amazing landscapes, and fascinating geological formations, here you will have great opportunity for snorkeling.
North Seymour Island: The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves.
South Plazas: Small island but outstanding concentration of wildlife, dramatic cliffs, spectacular natural red carpet of algae and great contrasts to be seen.
Santa Fe: This Island has a lot of diversity. The lagoons of the Santa Fe Island provide an excellent place for snorkeling alongside colorful fishes, sea lions, giant tuna and even small sharks that are often sited in these environments.
After breakfast, we will head to the Charles Darwin Station. The center is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation, as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of varied sizes and shapes. Travelers here can freely walk and get their photos clicked with the tortoises. Among other inhabitants at the center, you can see the land and marine iguanas and different species of birds. In the afternoon, we will take a speedboat and transfer to Isabela Island where we check into our accommodation.
After breakfast, we will visit a unique place in the islands, “Los Tuneles”. Our trip begins with an exhilarating speedboat ride that will last about 45 minutes. Our experienced captain will securely lead us across the waves that normally hide this treasure. The Tunnels were formed millions of years ago, when rivers of liquid lava ran across the island reaching the coast. The cold water froze their superficial layer, isolating the interior while liquid lava kept flowing into the sea. When the eruption was completed, a hollow structure was formed and its wall later fractured, allowing water to flow inside creating the tunnels. Our guide will join us along hundreds of tunnels while we snorkel and discover the marine life such as sharks, lobsters, penguins, sea lions, boobies, marine turtles among other endemic species from the Galapagos Islands. A snack will be served on board. If we are lucky enough, we will have the chance to witness giant manta rays feeding in open waters. In the afternoon, we will also visit the Tortoise Breeding Center to learn a bit more about the breeding and reproduction of the Tortoises.
Transfer to the port to take an approximate two and a half hour boat trip early in the morning. Once arrived at Santa Cruz, a tour guide will be waiting for you to take you to the airport. Arrival to the airport, check-in assistance and flight back.
Additional Trip Info
Peru:
- Airport transfers in Cusco
- All accommodation - (3* hotel, upgrades available on request)
- Entrance fees
- Transfers to/ from your hotel to the tours
- Fluent English / Spanish speaking local guides
- Some meals
- First aid / oxygen
Quito:
- Private transfers
- Accommodation in selected hotel
- Meals mentioned in the program (B: Breakfast, BL: Box lunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Excursions mentioned in the program
- Private guidance during the mentioned excursions (English/ Spanish)
- Contribution to the local community
Galapagos:
- Transfer Airport – Hotel – Airport
- Accommodation in Santa Cruz & Isabela in the selected hotel with breakfast.
- Meals noted (B: Brekfast, L: Lunch, BL: Boxed Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Excursions mentioned in the itinerary + snorkeling Equipment
- Bilingual Naturalist Guide in all Excursions
- Contribution to the local community
Peru:
- Insurance
- Gratuity
- Extras
- Services not indicated
- Flights
Quito:
- Drinks and not mentioned meals
- Tips (is not mandatory)
- Extra expenses & optional excursions
- Travel Insurance
Galapagos:
- Airfare to/from Galapagos( please ask for assistance for flights if needed!)
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person )
- Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 20 per person)
- Isabela dock fee entrance (US$ 10 per person)
- Highlands optional activity (US$ 6 per person)
- Not mentioned meals and drinks
- Gratuity
- Travel Insurance
- Extra expenses
Note: Christmas and New Year supplement 50%, Children discount (under 12 years old): 10% from the rate, Single Supplement +50% from the rate
