Tour
Peru & Ecuador: Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley & the Galapagos
Tour Peru & Ecuador with Globus and experience Lima's treasures, Cusco's sacred ceremonies, Machu Picchu's sunrise, and the stunning wildlife of the Galapagos.
Tour Peru & Ecuador: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley & Galapagos
(from USD 8,939)
Inquire about this trip
Day 1: ARRIVE IN LIMA, PERU
Welcome to Lima! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers today.
Day 2: LIMA
Living Large in Lima Begin your journey with a guided exploration of Lima’s vibrant capital. Join your Local Guide on the city’s colonial heritage during a walking tour. Start at a local market to experience the local’s life, then continue to the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. The day concludes in the bohemian district of Barranco, where you’ll enjoy a guided walk across the iconic Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) and admire the historic Barranco mansions. This evening, enjoy a [LF] welcome dinner with your fellow traveling companions at one of Lima’s finest historic homes. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a memorable welcome dinner at Casa García Alvarado, one of Lima’s most distinguished historic homes. Nestled in the upscale Miraflores district, this beautifully preserved mansion offers an intimate introduction to Peru’s refined hospitality. As you step inside, you’ll be welcomed into gracious salons and elegant gardens that reflect Lima’s aristocratic past. Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared dinner showcasing Peruvian flavors, served in a setting that blends history, sophistication, and warmth. This special evening provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your traveling companions and celebrate the beginning of your journey through Peru and beyond.
Day 3: LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Empire of the Andes Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas where you will visit Manos de la Comunidad to learn about the cultural importance of Llamas and Alpacas followed by a special lunch prepared exclusively for Globus guests at a private location. Here, experience an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. Continue to the Casa Eva, your boutique hotel in Sacred Valley for a 2-night stay. (B,L,D)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION Feel the earth and smell the coca leaves, as you make payment to Mother Earth. Participate in an El Pago a la Tierra, an ancient ceremony led by a shaman thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health, wealth, and safe travels. These mystical ceremonies have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas.TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Casa Eva is an intimate retreat of just 21 rooms, where contemporary design meets Andean tradition. Thoughtfully curated with natural materials, handcrafted textiles, and modern art, each room offers 400-thread-count linens, Italian bath amenities, central heating, and sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Guests enjoy inspired Peruvian cuisine at Eva Restaurant, featuring local ingredients such as native corn, colorful potatoes, and Andean herbs, alongside signature cocktails at Eva Bar. Rooted in sustainability and community, Casa Eva invites travelers to connect deeply with the culture, flavors, and spirit of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Day 4: SACRED VALLEY
Living Cultures of the Andes Visit a local community for an immersive cultural experience on a Small Group Exclusive. Community members welcome you and share their agricultural practices and textile traditions, including demonstrations such as creating [LF] quipus—an ancient Inca recording device made of knotted, colored strings, often using llama or alpaca hair. Then enjoy a traditional Pachamanca feast—a rustic yet exclusive experience centered on genuine human connection. Later, visit the remarkable Moray agricultural terraces and the Maras Salt Mines. (B,L)LOCAL FAVORITE SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Step into the daily rhythms of Andean life during an intimate visit to a local community. You’ll be warmly welcomed by community members who open their homes and traditions, offering rare insight into time‑honored agricultural practices and textile artistry. Watch as ancient knowledge comes to life through hands‑on demonstrations, including the creation of quipus—the intricate knotted string system once used by the Incas to record history, numbers, and stories. The experience culminates in a memorable Pachamanca feast, prepared underground using ancestral techniques passed down through generations. As ingredients slowly cook beneath heated stones, you’ll share moments of conversation, connection, and authenticity. Rustic yet refined, private yet deeply human, this is an immersive encounter that celebrates culture, heritage, and the power of genuine connection.
Day 5: SACRED VALLEY–OLLANTAYTAMBO–MACHU PICCHU
Mysteries in the Mountains This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by a visit to a [LF] local home to meet a local and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Dinner tonight at the hotel. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE TIMELESS TRADITIONS Today, you are invited into a local family’s home in the Sacred Valley. Learn about their traditions like weaving that has been passed down for centuries from ancestors. See how they cook, live, sleep, work, and maybe ask about the cuy (guinea pigs), they keep in their house.TOUR HIGHLIGHT ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, named one of South America’s best hotels, is located at the foot of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu near the beautiful Vilcanota River, and offers impressive views of the mountains and landscapes. A hotel with a contemporary Andean style inspired by the ancient Peruvian cultures, offering personalized luxury service and innovative Peruvian cuisine. Offering regional gastronomy experiences, the Sumaq uses local ingredients in partnership with communities located high in the Andes, such as Quishuarcancha, Parcaraqui, and Huatata in Chinchero, as well as the small community of Ccorca that is home to fewer than 200 people.
Day 6: MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
Here Comes the Sun This morning, return to Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. (B,L)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORY & MYSTERY Staying overnight in Machu Picchu allows you to get up early and experience the ruins at their most pristine before the crowds arrive. Watch as the mist slowly burns off and the sun rays illuminate the ruins.
Day 7: CUSCO
Sun Worship & Spanish Conquests Explore Cusco’s highlights, including the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress, the artistic streets of San Blas, and the vibrant San Pedro Market. Then on a Small Group Discovery exclusive, enjoy a guided city walk featuring a Chilcano cocktail demonstration and tasting before a memorable farewell dinner. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDARY LIVES Built in the 15th century by the Incas, the Temple of Sacsayhuamán complex is considered to be one of the Inca’s greatest architectural creations. It is believed the site was originally constructed as a ceremonial site and later a fortress when the Spanish invaded. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. During your guided tour, learn some of the theories on how the massive stones used were carved, carried, and placed.TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Enjoy a guided city walk that brings Cusco’s flavors and traditions to life, highlighted by a lively Chilcano cocktail demonstration and tasting. Learn the story behind this classic Peruvian cocktail—crafted with pisco, citrus, and local flair—as an expert mixologist walks you through the process and invites you to sample the finished creation. Afterward, gather for a memorable farewell dinner, a relaxed and celebratory evening to reflect on your journey, share stories with fellow travelers, and toast the unforgettable experiences shared throughout Peru. It’s the perfect finale to your remarkable adventure.
Day 8: CUSCO–LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR
Welcome to Ecuador! Fly to Quito, via Lima, where you will be met by a Globus representative and transferred to your hotel. Free time this evening. (B)Please note: The Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Guided service is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary.
Day 9: QUITO
Quintessential Quito On an included city tour with a Local Guide, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica. (B)
Day 10: QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING
Adventure on the Horizon Take a morning flight to San Cristobal, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the Galápagos Legend for your 4-night cruise. On San Cristobal, visit the Interpretation Center with your Naturalist and learn about ongoing conservation of the archipelago, its history, ecosystems, flora, and more. Next, a walk to Tijeretas Hill brings you to a frigatebird nesting colony and beautiful views of the bay below. (B,L,D)NOTE:Itinerary in the Galápagos is subject to change. TOUR HIGHLIGHTSHIP SPOTLIGHT The M/V Galapagos Legend, with a capacity for 100 guests, has the charm of The Enchanted Islands. With her three different decks, the Galapagos Legend offers a great variety of comfortable and spacious social areas without losing a sense of intimacy. The ship features a restaurant serving fresh international and local cuisine, outdoor BBQ area, a lounge with full bar, 24-hour snack and coffee station, a pool bar, Jacuzzi, pool, boutique, science corner, fitness facility, auditorium, library, glass bottom boat, kayaks, and doctor’s office. On top of the numerous amenities, the Galapagos Legend has the top Naturalists in the archipelago who will lead you on every excursion and bring the islands to life!
Day 11: CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Survival of the Fittest Join your Naturalist guide for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. At Gardner Bay, see one of the most stunning beaches in all of the Galápagos that is home to a colony of Galapagos sea lions and offers a great place to snorkel. You will also see the Hood mockingbirds, endemic to this island, along with Darwin Finches. Next, on Punta Suárez, you will find a slew of marine iguanas and sea lions that greet you upon landing. From there, come into close encounters of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, endemic lizards, gulls and even a dramatic blowhole. On this island, it is your only opportunity to see the endemic waved albatross during their breeding season between April and December. With luck, we can watch their complex courtship display. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTWONDERS OF NATURE Española Island is an ecological laboratory all its own as one of the oldest of the Galápagos islands – some 400 million years old. Española is home to a variety of Darwin’s finches here – an inspiration for the scientist’s research into evolution. Nearly identical to mainland finches in every way but their beaks, these tiny birds played an enormous role in Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, concluding their unique assortments of beaks had adapted over time for the species to survive in this strange landscape.
Day 12: CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND
Kaleidoscope of Life This morning, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another chance to snorkel. This afternoon, visit Cormorant Point to see a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific sea turtles. Enjoy a chance to snorkel at Devil’s Crown, an eroded volcanic cone, home to sea turtles, reef fish, spotted eagle rays, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks. You may also see boobies, noddies, tropicbirds and frigates roosting nearby. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL ATTRACTION Pink flamingos, blue-footed boobies, red-breasted frigate birds, great blue herons, and green sea turtles are just a few of the creatures that make up a kaleidoscope of life along the white and green sands of Floreana’s Cormorant Point. Hike, snorkel, or simply gaze upon this extraordinary island sanctuary.
Day 13: CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
A View from the Top This morning, visit Dragon Hill, where you will find a brackish lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks, and flamingos. Further inland, the trail heads up the hill and offers a beautiful view of the archipelago, as well as the chance to see land iguanas. A special treat is in store for you this afternoon at Punta Bowditch. Be one of the first people to visit this new site on Santa Cruz Island! Relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise-water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. This area is also a common nesting site for marine turtles. (B,L,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHTWHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE Recently added as a visitor site in the Galápagos archipelago, Punta Bowditch is an undiscovered treasure on Santa Cruz. The white-sand beach is the perfect place to snorkel in search of colorful reef fish, turtles, and much more!
Day 14: CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA (DISEMBARKATION)–GUAYAQUIL
Gentle Giants Drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and visit the Tortoise Reserve where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. See and learn about the conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species found here. Continue to the airport and fly to Guayaquil. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCONSERVATION HEROES Visit the Tortoise Reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to many wild Galápagos giant tortoises. Here, these magnificent creatures wander the pastures in their native habitat. The population is booming mainly because they are completely protected here.
Day 15: GUAYAQUIL
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
- Tour
- Argentina
- Baltra
- Brazil
- Peru
- Ecuador
- First-Class
- Floreana Island
- Galapagos Islands
- Gl_Sa
- Guayaquil
- Quito
- San Cristobal Island
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Island
- Small Group Discovery
- South America
- Globus
- 15 days from Lima to Guayaquil
Details
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Start City
- LIM
- End City
- GYE
- Duration (Days)
- 15
Pricing & departures
| Option | From | Departs | Returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | February 8, 2028 | February 22, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | February 8, 2028 | February 22, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | February 22, 2028 | March 7, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | February 22, 2028 | March 7, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | April 18, 2028 | May 2, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | April 18, 2028 | May 2, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 8,939 | May 30, 2028 | June 13, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 11,999 | May 30, 2028 | June 13, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 8,939 | July 11, 2028 | July 25, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 11,999 | July 11, 2028 | July 25, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | September 19, 2028 | October 3, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | September 19, 2028 | October 3, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | October 3, 2028 | October 17, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | October 3, 2028 | October 17, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | October 17, 2028 | October 31, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | October 17, 2028 | October 31, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | October 31, 2028 | November 14, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | October 31, 2028 | November 14, 2028 |
| Land Only (Double) | USD 9,039 | November 14, 2028 | November 28, 2028 |
| Single Supplement | USD 12,149 | November 14, 2028 | November 28, 2028 |
Day by day
-
Day 1
ARRIVE IN LIMA, PERU
Welcome to Lima! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers today.
-
Day 2
LIMA
Living Large in Lima Begin your journey with a guided exploration of Lima’s vibrant capital. Join your Local Guide on the city’s colonial heritage during a walking tour. Start at a local market to experience the local’s life, then continue to the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. The day concludes in the bohemian district of Barranco, where you’ll enjoy a guided walk across the iconic Bridge of Sighs (Puente de los Suspiros) and admire the historic Barranco mansions. This evening, enjoy a [LF] welcome dinner with your fellow traveling companions at one of Lima’s finest historic homes. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITESMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a memorable welcome dinner at Casa García Alvarado, one of Lima’s most distinguished historic homes. Nestled in the upscale Miraflores district, this beautifully preserved mansion offers an intimate introduction to Peru’s refined hospitality. As you step inside, you’ll be welcomed into gracious salons and elegant gardens that reflect Lima’s aristocratic past. Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared dinner showcasing Peruvian flavors, served in a setting that blends history, sophistication, and warmth. This special evening provides the perfect opportunity to connect with your traveling companions and celebrate the beginning of your journey through Peru and beyond.
-
Day 3
LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Empire of the Andes Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas where you will visit Manos de la Comunidad to learn about the cultural importance of Llamas and Alpacas followed by a special lunch prepared exclusively for Globus guests at a private location. Here, experience an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. Continue to the Casa Eva, your boutique hotel in Sacred Valley for a 2-night stay. (B,L,D)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION Feel the earth and smell the coca leaves, as you make payment to Mother Earth. Participate in an El Pago a la Tierra, an ancient ceremony led by a shaman thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health, wealth, and safe travels. These mystical ceremonies have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas.TOUR HIGHLIGHTSMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE ACCOMMODATION Casa Eva is an intimate retreat of just 21 rooms, where contemporary design meets Andean tradition. Thoughtfully curated with natural materials, handcrafted textiles, and modern art, each room offers 400-thread-count linens, Italian bath amenities, central heating, and sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Guests enjoy inspired Peruvian cuisine at Eva Restaurant, featuring local ingredients such as native corn, colorful potatoes, and Andean herbs, alongside signature cocktails at Eva Bar. Rooted in sustainability and community, Casa Eva invites travelers to connect deeply with the culture, flavors, and spirit of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
-
Day 4
SACRED VALLEY
Living Cultures of the Andes Visit a local community for an immersive cultural experience on a Small Group Exclusive. Community members welcome you and share their agricultural practices and textile traditions, including demonstrations such as creating [LF] quipus—an ancient Inca recording device made of knotted, colored strings, often using llama or alpaca hair. Then enjoy a traditional Pachamanca feast—a rustic yet exclusive experience centered on genuine human connection. Later, visit the remarkable Moray agricultural terraces and the Maras Salt Mines. (B,L)LOCAL FAVORITE SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Step into the daily rhythms of Andean life during an intimate visit to a local community. You’ll be warmly welcomed by community members who open their homes and traditions, offering rare insight into time‑honored agricultural practices and textile artistry. Watch as ancient knowledge comes to life through hands‑on demonstrations, including the creation of quipus—the intricate knotted string system once used by the Incas to record history, numbers, and stories. The experience culminates in a memorable Pachamanca feast, prepared underground using ancestral techniques passed down through generations. As ingredients slowly cook beneath heated stones, you’ll share moments of conversation, connection, and authenticity. Rustic yet refined, private yet deeply human, this is an immersive encounter that celebrates culture, heritage, and the power of genuine connection.
-
Day 5
SACRED VALLEY–OLLANTAYTAMBO–MACHU PICCHU
Mysteries in the Mountains This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by a visit to a [LF] local home to meet a local and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Dinner tonight at the hotel. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITE TIMELESS TRADITIONS Today, you are invited into a local family’s home in the Sacred Valley. Learn about their traditions like weaving that has been passed down for centuries from ancestors. See how they cook, live, sleep, work, and maybe ask about the cuy (guinea pigs), they keep in their house.TOUR HIGHLIGHT ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT The Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, named one of South America’s best hotels, is located at the foot of the historic sanctuary of Machu Picchu near the beautiful Vilcanota River, and offers impressive views of the mountains and landscapes. A hotel with a contemporary Andean style inspired by the ancient Peruvian cultures, offering personalized luxury service and innovative Peruvian cuisine. Offering regional gastronomy experiences, the Sumaq uses local ingredients in partnership with communities located high in the Andes, such as Quishuarcancha, Parcaraqui, and Huatata in Chinchero, as well as the small community of Ccorca that is home to fewer than 200 people.
-
Day 6
MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
Here Comes the Sun This morning, return to Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. (B,L)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORY & MYSTERY Staying overnight in Machu Picchu allows you to get up early and experience the ruins at their most pristine before the crowds arrive. Watch as the mist slowly burns off and the sun rays illuminate the ruins.
-
Day 7
CUSCO
Sun Worship & Spanish Conquests Explore Cusco’s highlights, including the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress, the artistic streets of San Blas, and the vibrant San Pedro Market. Then on a Small Group Discovery exclusive, enjoy a guided city walk featuring a Chilcano cocktail demonstration and tasting before a memorable farewell dinner. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDARY LIVES Built in the 15th century by the Incas, the Temple of Sacsayhuamán complex is considered to be one of the Inca’s greatest architectural creations. It is believed the site was originally constructed as a ceremonial site and later a fortress when the Spanish invaded. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. During your guided tour, learn some of the theories on how the massive stones used were carved, carried, and placed.TOUR HIGHLIGHT SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Enjoy a guided city walk that brings Cusco’s flavors and traditions to life, highlighted by a lively Chilcano cocktail demonstration and tasting. Learn the story behind this classic Peruvian cocktail—crafted with pisco, citrus, and local flair—as an expert mixologist walks you through the process and invites you to sample the finished creation. Afterward, gather for a memorable farewell dinner, a relaxed and celebratory evening to reflect on your journey, share stories with fellow travelers, and toast the unforgettable experiences shared throughout Peru. It’s the perfect finale to your remarkable adventure.
-
Day 8
CUSCO–LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR
Welcome to Ecuador! Fly to Quito, via Lima, where you will be met by a Globus representative and transferred to your hotel. Free time this evening. (B)Please note: The Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Guided service is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary.
-
Day 9
QUITO
Quintessential Quito On an included city tour with a Local Guide, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica. (B)
-
Day 10
QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING
Adventure on the Horizon Take a morning flight to San Cristobal, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the Galápagos Legend for your 4-night cruise. On San Cristobal, visit the Interpretation Center with your Naturalist and learn about ongoing conservation of the archipelago, its history, ecosystems, flora, and more. Next, a walk to Tijeretas Hill brings you to a frigatebird nesting colony and beautiful views of the bay below. (B,L,D)NOTE:Itinerary in the Galápagos is subject to change. TOUR HIGHLIGHTSHIP SPOTLIGHT The M/V Galapagos Legend, with a capacity for 100 guests, has the charm of The Enchanted Islands. With her three different decks, the Galapagos Legend offers a great variety of comfortable and spacious social areas without losing a sense of intimacy. The ship features a restaurant serving fresh international and local cuisine, outdoor BBQ area, a lounge with full bar, 24-hour snack and coffee station, a pool bar, Jacuzzi, pool, boutique, science corner, fitness facility, auditorium, library, glass bottom boat, kayaks, and doctor’s office. On top of the numerous amenities, the Galapagos Legend has the top Naturalists in the archipelago who will lead you on every excursion and bring the islands to life!
-
Day 11
CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Survival of the Fittest Join your Naturalist guide for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. At Gardner Bay, see one of the most stunning beaches in all of the Galápagos that is home to a colony of Galapagos sea lions and offers a great place to snorkel. You will also see the Hood mockingbirds, endemic to this island, along with Darwin Finches. Next, on Punta Suárez, you will find a slew of marine iguanas and sea lions that greet you upon landing. From there, come into close encounters of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, endemic lizards, gulls and even a dramatic blowhole. On this island, it is your only opportunity to see the endemic waved albatross during their breeding season between April and December. With luck, we can watch their complex courtship display. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTWONDERS OF NATURE Española Island is an ecological laboratory all its own as one of the oldest of the Galápagos islands – some 400 million years old. Española is home to a variety of Darwin’s finches here – an inspiration for the scientist’s research into evolution. Nearly identical to mainland finches in every way but their beaks, these tiny birds played an enormous role in Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, concluding their unique assortments of beaks had adapted over time for the species to survive in this strange landscape.
-
Day 12
CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND
Kaleidoscope of Life This morning, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another chance to snorkel. This afternoon, visit Cormorant Point to see a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific sea turtles. Enjoy a chance to snorkel at Devil’s Crown, an eroded volcanic cone, home to sea turtles, reef fish, spotted eagle rays, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks. You may also see boobies, noddies, tropicbirds and frigates roosting nearby. (B,L,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL ATTRACTION Pink flamingos, blue-footed boobies, red-breasted frigate birds, great blue herons, and green sea turtles are just a few of the creatures that make up a kaleidoscope of life along the white and green sands of Floreana’s Cormorant Point. Hike, snorkel, or simply gaze upon this extraordinary island sanctuary.
-
Day 13
CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
A View from the Top This morning, visit Dragon Hill, where you will find a brackish lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks, and flamingos. Further inland, the trail heads up the hill and offers a beautiful view of the archipelago, as well as the chance to see land iguanas. A special treat is in store for you this afternoon at Punta Bowditch. Be one of the first people to visit this new site on Santa Cruz Island! Relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise-water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. This area is also a common nesting site for marine turtles. (B,L,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHTWHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE Recently added as a visitor site in the Galápagos archipelago, Punta Bowditch is an undiscovered treasure on Santa Cruz. The white-sand beach is the perfect place to snorkel in search of colorful reef fish, turtles, and much more!
-
Day 14
CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA (DISEMBARKATION)–GUAYAQUIL
Gentle Giants Drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and visit the Tortoise Reserve where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. See and learn about the conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species found here. Continue to the airport and fly to Guayaquil. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCONSERVATION HEROES Visit the Tortoise Reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to many wild Galápagos giant tortoises. Here, these magnificent creatures wander the pastures in their native habitat. The population is booming mainly because they are completely protected here.
-
Day 15
GUAYAQUIL
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)