Titikaca lake | Peru

Peru Sacred Valley and Galapagos Journey - Tour

A once in a lifetime opportunity to explore two of the most iconic tourism destinations in South America: the Sacred Valley and Inca vestiges of the Inca Empire in multi-cultural Peru and the natural endemic beauty of the Galapagos Archipelago, both combined in one exhilarating adventure carefully crafted to be enjoyed by travelers seeking for a mixture of adventure, history, culture, geology and wildlife.

Our tour will allow you to discover the bio-diversity and endemic life of the Galapagos by taking a wonderful first class sailing cruise along the central, northern and southern Islands, exploring the very best sites of Genovesa, Española, Floreana, Plaza, North Seymour and San Cristobal. But first, a wonderful encounter with history and Indigenous traditions and millenary culture in Peru when taking a journey back in time in the sacred Valley and Machu Picchu plus a couple of days exploring the “City of Kings” and Capital of Peru, Lima.

So if you are looking for a complete journey in our Countries, trust Voyagers Travel to help you arrange this incredible journey with a tour that will take you to a world full of nature and cultural diversity in South America.

Day by day

Day 1: Arrival Lima
Lima | Peru

Arrival to the City of Kings in Peru; depending on your flight time, our transfer services will be expecting you at the Airport Terminal to take you to your hotel to relax after a long flight or enjoy the city at your pace for the rest of the day.

 

Meals: None

Day 2: Lima city tour
Lima | City tour
You will enjoy breakfast at your hotel, followed by a free morning in the city; you can enjoy a great typical Lunch in one of Lima’s Restaurants to get a taste of the Peruvian’s World-famous cuisine. At 14h00, we will begin your city tour in Lima, known as “The City of Kings”. This excursion offers a great combination of the attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until it was founded by the Spaniard, Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along Lima’s millinery history. Return to your hotel for overnight. Meals: B.
Day 3: Lima - Cusco
Cusco | Plaza de armas

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed airport by our friendly representative and transferred to your hotel. Remember, landing at 3,300 meters can be hard on the body. Do not feel concerned if you have shortness of breath or a small headache as this is common and should go away during the day; You can reduce the symptoms by staying hydrated with water and tea. Enjoy the rest of the day to acclimatize while strolling the impressive main square of Cusco and other nearby Architectural treasures. Overnight.

Meals: B.

Day 4: Sacred Valley - Aguas Calientes
Sacred Valley | Peru

Today, we will pick you up from your hotel around 08h00 for a marvelous day-tour in the Sacred Valley! During your drive, you will visit Awanacancha (an alpaca farm and weaving center), the Pisaq Ruins & Indigenous Market and the Ruins Ollantaytambo. After an exhilarating and cultural day, you will catch the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (aprox. At 19h00); arrive to this picturesque small town located right at the foot of Machu Picchu Citadel and stroll its narrow street surrounded by excellent restaurants and bars, make sure to enjoy a pisco sour and a nice dinner. Overnight.

Meals: B.

Day 5: Machu Picchu - Ollantayntambo
Machu Picchu

Early wake-up call to head towards Machu Picchu and catch the sunrise (weather permitting). You will have a two hour guided tour of the archaeological site and Sacred City of the Incas, the “crystal city” of the their civilization. Most people prefer to rise at 04h00 walk to the bus station to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. It can be enjoyable to arrive at the ruins as soon as they open, at 06h00, to catch the magical mists on the ruins as the sun rises. After a 25 minute bus ride to Machu Picchu, your tour guide will take you to the best views. You will start your two hour guided walking tour exploring all of the famous places of this impressive citadel. The Temple of the Sun, The Royal Tomb, The Intiwatana (sun dial rock), Main Plaza, Temple of the 3 Windows, The Artisan Sector, the Condor Temple, and many others. After your tour, you will return to the town of Aguas Calientes, where you will be able to grab lunch prior to your departure train. Your return train ride will be around mid-afternoon back to Ollantaytambo and transfer to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Meals: B.

Day 6: Maras - Moray - Cusco
Maras  | Peru
We will pick you up around 08h00 from your hotel and take you to visit the Salineras of Maras, a huge salt mine which was used in the pre-colonial times. You will be able to see more than 3,000 evaporation chambers and salt pools, which they still use to process salt. Once you are done with Maras, you will visit Moray Inca ruins and the Inca Laboratory. This is where the different micro-climates of the region were researched. They also developed many strains of produce there. Later on, you will visit Chincheros and see a textile center. You will be shown alpaca and llama wool, handmade textiles and a demonstration on how they weave them. This town also offers some Inca ruins that were used to farm potatoes. You will end the tour with a visit to a Catholic church, which was built on top of the Palace of the Incas. Following, you will be driven back to Cusco and transferred to your hotel for overnight.
Day 7: Cusco-Lima- Quito-Guayaquil
Cusco | Peru

The first part of this unforgettable journey to some of the most iconic Peruvian gems has come to an end. Today, we will part ways with nothing but life-time memories. Our representatives will come to your hotel in Cusco to pick you up and take you to the airport for your departure flight to Lima to take your flight to Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

 

Meals: B

Day 8: North Seymour Island
North Seymour Island | Galapagos islands

This day you will fly from Quito, Ecuador to the Galapagos. Due to the Galapagos Government, a fee of 20 USD must be paid for the migration control card. Afterwards, you will enjoy a quick 4 hour flight, with a quick stop at Guayaquil.

Once in Santa Cruz, passengers must go through an inspection point at the airport to make sure that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the archipelago. Also, this inspection point is where passengers have to pay for the entrance to the Galapagos National Park under the following parameters: Adult Passengers $100 and Children $50 (under 12 years old).

Later on, our guide will pick you up and will carry the luggage to the bus from the port, that transports the passengers, to the Catamaran Seaman Journey on a motorized boat called panga.

PM: North Seymour

North Seymour is an uplifted (as opposed to volcanic) island. Therefore, it is generally flat and strewn with boulders. There are good nesting sites here for a large population of magnificent frigate birds. Blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance in the more open areas and swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges.

Despite the tremendous surf that can pound the outer shore, sea lions haul out onto the beach and can be found bodysurfing.

Day 9: Genovesa Island: El Barranco - Darwin Bay
Genovesa island | Galapagos islands
AM: El Barranco

The visitor site of El Barranco is located in the southern part of Darwin Bay from Genovesa Island. The trail is on volcanic rock, consists of 1.5 km and can be done in about 2 hours. The youngest area of the island, from a geological point of view, lies on this area. The cliff is located in the south, are composed of very fragile lava. The natural erosion in these lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting Storm Petrels. You can see two species of petrels that nest in cavities and holes in the lava.

One of its main predators is the short-eared owl. The red-footed booby nests only in the outer islands of the archipelago, Punta Pitt, Gardner Bay (Floreana), Wolf, Darwin and Genovesa. Also present on this island is the masked booby. During the “panga rides” along the cliffs, fur sea lions and several species of seabirds can be seen.

PM: Darwin Bay

This bay has its origin when the crater of this island collapsed below sea level. The wet landing is on a beautiful white coral sandy beach. This is a favorite island for birdwatchers that allow the following species to be seen: red footed-booby, masked boobies, wandering tattlers, lava gulls, whimbrels, yellow-crowned, and black-crowned lava herons, and yellow warblers.

Continuing on the trail, visitors climb gradually to the edge of the cliff seeing Red-Foots nesting in the Mangrove trees below. Bird watching includes sightings of sharp-beaked finches, large cactus and ground finches, Galapagos doves, and swallow-tailed gulls. Reaching the end of the trail, at the cliff’s edge an incredible view of the island and the many birds living there can be observed.

B/L/D

Day 10: Plazas island & Santa Fe Island
Plazas islands | Galapagos islands

AM: Plazas

Plazas is located at the east of Santa Cruz Island, and forms part of two islands known as Islas Plazas. Despite its small size, some of the most interesting and outstanding species of the Galapagos are found here. The Plazas land iguanas are smaller than its relatives found at other islands.

Throughout the island are several hybrid iguanas, a result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, they are unique, recognizable at first glance by their black/gray color, with a land iguana’s crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana. The big population of iguanas is due to the presence of tunas, their favorite food. Swallow tailed gulls nesting in the rugged cliffs are seen along with other seabirds as: Audubon shearwaters, red-billed tropicbirds, frigate birds, and brown pelicans.

PM: Santa Fe

Located in the southeastern part of the Galapagos, this island was formed from an uplift instead than a volcanic origin, this is why it is mostly flat. There are some theories which assure this could be the oldest island in the Archipelago. Santa Fe is the home of a number of endemic species like the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snake, Galapagos mockingbird, rice rats, and one of the two species of land Iguanas of the islands.

After disembarking in the beautiful and clear waters you will be in contact with one of the many sea lion colonies. Along the trail many salt bushes can be seen as well giant Pickly pear cactus: gigantism is a characteristic of oceanic islands. There are great possibilities of snorkeling with playful sea lions and tropical fish.
B/L/D

Day 11: San Cristobal Island: Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center & Interpretation Center
Giant tortoise | Galapagos islands
AM: Jacinto Gordillo Breeding Center

In 2004 the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises Jacinto Gordillo, named after a famous settler, was located in Cerro Colorado, San Cristobal Island, in order to take care of young tortoises. In 2008 an assisted reproduction program started on the island with due to the birth of a little turtle in captivity. All of this will be learnt at the Jacinto Breeding Center. One can not only learn about breeding processes but as well get engaged and experience why they this breeding center does what it does.

PM: Interpretation Center

This is an interpretation center with exuberant gardens and stunning ocean views in contrast with the 1960´s buildings in Charles Darwin Center. Visitors at the interpretation center can learn a lot about the geological and human history of the islands, conservation facts and natural history. This is the oldest museum of Natural History in Galapagos Islands that is trying to preserve the nature of the islands.

B/L/D

Day 12: San Cristobal Island: La Galapaguera & Cerro Brujo
Cerro Brujo | Galapagos islands

AM: Galapaguera

A short visit to the Galapaguera that is a good place to observe Galapagos tortoises in its natural habitat. San Cristobal island has endemic species such as: the Mockingbird Nesomimus melanotis, lava lizard (Microlophus bivittatus), Chatham Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus leei) and the tortoises. All of these species can be observed in this place, the beach is really big and it works as a nesting zone for marine tortoises.

Between January and May, it is common to find the footprints of the female tortoises that have climbed to the sand dunes to deposit their eggs.

PM: Cerro Brujo

Cerro Brujo is a beautiful white coral beach where you can swim and watch birds and sea lions, plus you can snorkel. This is the first coast where Charles Darwin ever walked on in 1835. In this marvelous lava landscape, you can see seabirds like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, herons, frigate birds and shore birds. The protected bay is very popular to observe young tortoises and for swimming.

The pools with salty water behind the sand dunes were used by the fishermen as a salt mine in order to preserve food for the local population.

Among the fauna, you can observe the Chatham Mockingbird and the San Cristobal Lava Lizard, both species being endemic to the island and unique to the area as they cannot be observed nowhere else.

Furthermore you can find the island canary, the Galapagos turtles and with luck the little bird known as the Pajaro Brujo in Spanish, an endemic specie from San Cristobal Island. The vegetation covers all the route where you can find species like the candelabrum cactus and carob trees.

Located on the north coast of Isla San Cristobal, here Cerro Brujo, is the place where we can find a relaxing and beautiful place to be at.

B/L/D

Day 13: Española Island: Gardner Bay & Suarez Point
Suarez point | Galapagos islands

AM: Gardner Bay

Located on the north-eastern coast of Hood, we find Gardner Bay. It provides an excellent beach for relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and the opportunity to observe sea lions. Here we can also ►observe sharks in the crystal clear ocean waters.

PM: Suarez Point

This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the oceanfront, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air at least from 50 to 75 meters high. This site presents wonderful photograph opportunities.

B/L/D

Day 14: Floreana Island: Cormorant Point, Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout
Cormorant Point | Galapagos islands
AM: Cormorant Point

This site offers probably the best flamingo lagoon in the Galapagos; it is also one of the largest in the islands. It’s situated between two tuff lava cones that give the area a special atmosphere. There are various species of shorebirds to observe besides flamingos; the most frequent are common stilts, white-checked pintail ducks, and other migratory birds.

It is very interesting to see the two distinct beaches: “The Green Beach” (due to its high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand) and the “Flour Sand Beach” which is made up of coral.

PM: Post Office Bay & Baroness Lookout

Historically, this site is the location of a wooden barrel that was placed in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship. It has been used since this time by mariners and tourists as a post office. The idea is to carry letters or postcards to their destination by hand. Apart from being the Post Office Barrel, this site was the landing area for some of the first colonists.

We will continue to the north of the island and will ascent to an elevated slope to enjoy a beautiful vista at the Baroness lookout. It is said that Baroness Eloisa Von Wagner loved this place and spent several hours watching the horizon. Within walking distance (30 m) are the ruins of what is known as her house. From this lookout, the landscape covers the coastline from the Enderby islet to Post Office Bay, as well as Cerro Pajas, the pool of flamingos and wide forest of Palo Santo.

B/L/D

Day 15: Santa Cruz – Baltra – Quito or Guayaquil
Santa Cruz | Galapagos Islands

Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands is carried out. One of the main attractions is the National Park information center, the Van Straelen Exhibition Hall, the Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, Lonesome George (turtle from Pinta Island), and adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

After the morning excursion you will be taken to the airport for your flight to the mainland. Upon arrival to Quito or Guayaquil, transfer to your hotel so you can enjoy the last afternoon/evening after a memorable trip.

Day 16: Quito - Guayaquil | Departure
Baltra island
After Breakfast, a final farewell to our beautiful Country before your transfer for your flight back home.

Meals Included

  • Breakfast Served Daily
  • 15 Dinners
  • 16 Lunches
Titikaca lake | Peru
Puno | Peru
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Aguas Calientes | Peru
Peru Sacred Valley and Galapagos Journey
16 Days


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