Explore the incredible species and sites of Northern Galapagos aboard Yacht Isabela II! Then, travel to Peru and take in the mystical wonders of Machu Picchu!
As part of this tour package, you’ll experience two of the most amazing places on the planet: the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu! Plus, you’ll get to visit Ecuador’s capital city of Quito and stay in the most well-preserved historic quarter in all of South America!
If you wish to book this package for 2024 and 2025, ask our Destination Experts about our available itineraries!
Among the most awe-inspiring places to visit in South America are Ecuador and Peru. Ecuador, being one of the most biologically diverse nations on the planet, boasts beautiful snow-capped mountains, fascinating rainforest ecosystems, and the world-renowned Galapagos Islands. Neighboring Peru is equally impressive with its rich cultural diversity and popular gastronomic tradition. It is also host to one of the most mystical sites on the planet: Machu Picchu.
Aboard Yacht Isabela II:
Plus, site visits to:
Along this tour, you’ll spend a day exploring beautiful Quito, Ecuador before flying out to the archipelago. There, you’ll hop aboard Yacht La Pinta and enjoy a 5-day/4-night tour of the Northern Galapagos Islands in true style and comfort. Upon completion of the cruise, you’ll fly to Lima, Peru and spend a day sightseeing in this unique spot before heading to Sacred Valley. Here you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of the mountains as you explore other Inca ruins before heading to Aguas Calientes and of course, Machu Picchu! The last stop along this journey is Cuzco, from where you’ll catch your flight home or to your next destination.
Day 1: Arrive in Quito
Welcome to Quito, Ecuador! You will be greeted at the airport by a member of our staff who will assist you with your luggage and escort you to your hotel in Quito – Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel.
Day 2: Old Town Quito + Middle of the World
Quito’s incredible Historic Quarter awaits! This is the most well-preserved old town in all of Latin America. It has even been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site! After exploring this exciting spot, you’ll head to the Middle of the World and learn all about the significance of the equator!
Day 3: Arrive in Galapagos / Santa Cruz Island / Transfer to Boat
On this morning, you’ll be transferred to Quito’s airport to board your flight to the Galapagos Islands!
Baltra Island
Upon arriving at the airport on Baltra Island, you’ll be shuttled across the Itabaca Channel in order to spend a little time on Santa Cruz Island.
Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Following lunch, you’ll visit a giant tortoise sanctuary, where you can observe these gentle giants in their element. You can also explore some fascinating lava tunnels at this site.
Transfer to Yacht Isabela II
Following this activity, you’ll be shuttled over to Puerto Ayora, where members of the crew will greet you and take you over to Yacht Isabela II via panga (dinghy). The Captain will welcome you aboard and you can get settled in before dinner.
Day 4: Santiago Island / Chinese Hat Islet
Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Get ready for your first wet landing of the journey! You’ll arrive by panga to the black, sandy beach in Puerto Egas. A hike along the trail is an opportunity to enjoy some neat close-up encounters with recently-reintroduced land iguanas, plus, land and sea birds, fur seals, and craggy landscapes created by lava flows.
Chinese Hat Islet
In the afternoon, you’ll arrive at Chinese Hat Islet, where a crescent-shaped, white sand beach welcomes you to take part in some excellent swimming and snorkeling with white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. Jutting off from the beach is a ¼ mi (400 m) trail that offers more exciting encounters with the local wildlife.
Day 5: Genovesa Island
Prince Philip’s Steps (Genovesa Island)
The day begins with a panga ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island” (as Genovesa is sometimes referred to). Afterward, we take a walk up a steep staircase, which takes us to a plateau where we find large colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels. You may even see a short-eared owl. Weather permitting, snorkeling and kayaking activities are available at this spot.
Darwin Bay (Genovesa Island)
After lunch, the next stop is Darwin Bay. This is an afternoon with lots of birds! We’ll view a great many frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, gulls, herons, finches, and mockingbirds.
Day 6: Santa Fe & Santa Cruz Islands
Santa Fe Island
The Santa Fe land iguana is one of the most curious and iconic species in the Galapagos. A stop at this island offers explorers a chance to observe this golden-colored favorite. Following the morning walk, guests have a chance to take part in a number of aquatic activities along a natural wave barrier. Alternatively, they can ride along in the glass-bottom boat.
Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz Island)
The afternoon offers explorers a chance to visit Punta Carrion on Santa Cruz Island. Here, the rocky coastline gives way to exciting formations, plant life, and wildlife, including playful sea lions, dozens of reef fish, different types of puffers, surgeonfish, angelfish, groupers, hogfish, hawkfish, parrotfish, and more, which can be viewed from the water or aboard the glass-bottom boat!
Day 7: Airport on Baltra Island / Lima
Baltra Island
Upon reaching Baltra Island, you’ll transfer to airport and head back to the mainland.
Guayaquil
Following a short layover in Guayaquil’s José Joaquin de Olmedo Airport, you’ll catch your next flight to Lima, Peru.
Lima
Welcoming you at Lima International Airport, will be one of our representatives. They’ll take you over to the Double Tree El Pardo Hotel and help you with check-in. They will also hand you all the information and vouchers you will need while in Peru.
Day 8: Lima City Tour
Get ready for a half-day tour of Lima’s beautiful historic center. You’ll see a number of sites including Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, Museum of the Central Bank Reserve, Plaza San Martin, and Santo Domingo Convent.
A real treasure of pre-Colombian art is on display at the Larco Herrera Museum and Hacienda, the next stop on the tour. The hacienda was built on the sacred site, pre-Inca, situated in the Pueblo Libre District. Lunch will be enjoyed at the museum’s café.
When the tour wraps up, you’ll be driven back to your hotel. Overnight in Lima.
Day 9: Sacred Valley Tour
On this day, you’ll make your way from Lima to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley. One of our team members will meet you in the hotel lobby and bring you over to the airport. Following a short flight to Cuzco, you’ll arrive at the airport and be greeted by another team member. Then, it’s off to Sacred Valley!
Here, you’ll visit a textile center called Awanachanca (“the palace of weaving”), where you can learn about different dyeing techniques that have been used for centuries. Next stop is the Sacred Valley’s Pisac Market, filled with artisans and tons of handicrafts from the area.
Pablo Seminario’s Ceramic Workshop is our next stop. This is where Pablo Seminario, a renowned local artist, has his studio, which operates all year round.
Box lunch is included on this day.
When the tour wraps up, you’ll be brought over to Tambo del Inka Hotel. Overnight in the Sacred Valley.
Day 10: Sacred Valley Tour
The Andes Mountains are basically all around you. There is much life in these mountains. There is also much art! In Chinchero Town, our first stop on this day, there is a plaza, which serves as a hub for local artisans who gather to sell their work to visitors and residents alike.
The next stop on this day is the Maras Salt Pans. Comprised of countless terraces where salt is produced and collected, this amazing site also boasts terrific views of the surrounding mountains.
Tunupa Restaurant is where we enjoy a delicious buffet-style lunch before pressing on to Ollantaytambo Fortress, which was constructed as a location from which to guard the valley and thwart invasions from neighboring tribes. This is a neat spot where you’ll be invited to learn about the Inca Empire, its culture, and its history.
After this visit to the fortress, you’ll head down to the train station and travel onward to the majestic Machu Picchu. Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, the official name of Machu Picchu Town, you’ll head over to Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel and prepare for the following day, which promises to be a good one!
Overnight in Aguas Calientes.
Day 11: Machu Picchu
After an early breakfast, you’ll take a short 20-minute bus ride to Machu Picchu.
Upon arriving at the site, you’ll embark on a guided tour of the Citadel’s Main Plaza, Sacred Sun Dial, Temple of the Three Windows, Circular Tower, and Royal Quarters.
Included in this package is a buffet-style lunch, served at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge’s Tinkuy Restaurant.
An afternoon shuttle will bring you back to Aguas Calientes, from where you’ll catch your next train, returning to Cuzco. Our team members welcome you at the train station and bring you over to Cuzco Palacio del Inka hotel.
Overnight in Cuzco.
Day 12: Cuzco City Tour / Transfer to Airport / Farewell!
Before leaving Peru, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Cuzco, the Imperial City. Some of the best examples of Inca culture, history, and architecture can be experienced in this city. After all, this place is known as the archaeological capital of South America.
A team member will meet you at the hotel lobby in the afternoon and help you with check out before escorting you over to Cuzco Airport, where you’ll catch your flight home or to your next destination.
Safe travels!
Please note: ETICA Empresa Turistica Internacional C.A. reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement without prior notice should the closing price of West Texas Intermediate Fuel increase above $70 per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, ETICA Empresa Turistica Internacional C.A. will have sole discretion to apply the supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Such supplementary charges are not included in the cruise fare. The fuel supplement charge will not exceed $25.00 per passenger per day.