Machu Picchu & Galapagos Wonders featuring a 4-Night Cruise to the South Islands - Alternative

Touch down in Lima, the “City of Kings.” Across ancient lands and earthly legends, experience the mysticism of the Peruvian Andes. Due to late flight schedules, there are no scheduled activities today, and dinner is on your own.

Become fascinated by Lima’s history on a tour through the historic center, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, where the elegant Cathedral at Plaza de Armas stands out among the colonial architecture. Visit the former home of a conquistador and feel the surge of colonial and republican life. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to discover Lima on your own. Get to know new friends over a menu of artful Peruvian dishes at a welcome dinner.

Fly over the Andes on your way to Cuzco, the heart of the Inca civilization. Follow the trails of this Andean paradise with a local guide to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop in Pisac village and browse a handicraft market full of vibrant colors. Discover why Peru has consistently been named the world’s top food travel destination during a fun-filled interactive cooking class where you will learn how to master ceviche and pisco sours. Settle into your hotel nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley and relax in the calm surroundings of the Andes.

Visit the terraced ruins of Ollantaytambo, the only Incan settlement that has remained continually inhabited since its inception. At the ceramic studio of artist Pablo Seminario, see how he utilizes the intricate techniques inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures. Deep dive into the cultures of modern Andean people and experience an Impact Moment as you mingle with a nearby community. Thanks to their effort and teamwork, tourism has become an additional source of income for agriculture, which has positively impacted their quality of life. Learn traditional methods of growing, harvesting, and weaving, listen to their music, and learn their dances before enjoying a farm-to-table meal of local specialties prepared just for your group. Arrive back at your hotel in the early evening for a relaxed night on your own.

Get ready for an unforgettable day as you hop aboard your train to Machu Picchu, where views of the Andes astound through panoramic windows as you climb toward the “Lost City of the Incas.” Uncover the mysteries of this “Lost City” at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. Wrapped inside a semi-tropical jungle and hidden by mountains, Machu Picchu, or La Ciudadela (the Citadel), is one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological sites.

This morning, take advantage of free time and explore the local markets in Aguas Calientes on your own, or opt for a second visit to Machu Picchu. This is an incredible opportunity to experience the ancient citadel in the softer morning light, when the site is often more peaceful and serene. This afternoon, return to the Sacred Valley by train. Upon arriving in Cuzco this evening, feel the local culture at a special community dining experience.

This morning, it’s your choice! Travel above the city to discover the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuamán Fortress -OR- embark on a walking tour through the enchanting streets of Cuzco, going off the beaten path and uncovering the city’s best-kept secrets. After, come together for a tour of Cuzco, visiting the San Pedro Market, the Koricancha Temple, the central Plaza de Armas, and the Cuzco Cathedral. This evening, enjoy flexible dining at a popular local restaurant featuring the local flavors of Cuzco.

This morning, fly to Quito, Ecuador’s stunning capital city, and your home for the next two nights. An intersection of mountains and colonial architecture, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of lively culture and vibrant history.

Today, tour the Presidential Palace in Quito’s colonial center. After lunch, stand at the “Middle of the World,” situated between two hemispheres, at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Fly to a hub of the spectacular Galápagos Archipelago, San Cristóbal! Launch your eco-adventure aboard the M/Y Coral II,* an exclusive yacht that serves as your home for the next four nights. Visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history, volcanic origins, ocean currents, and diverse species unique to this remote island chain. Later, a hike up Tijeretas Hill offers beautiful landscapes and a magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.

After a wet landing this morning, witness Cerro Brujo’s tuff cone created from volcanic eruptions and lava formations, as well as its beautiful, white sandy beach that is perfect for snorkeling and sunbathing. At the picturesque lagoon, migratory bird species such as Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, and White-cheeked Pintails can be spotted. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristóbal and the adjacent coast. Later, a second wet landing leads you to a trail for an intense hike over rocky terrain to the top of a volcanic tuff with several magnificent viewpoints. This spot is particularly special as it is the only site where the three booby species of the Galápagos can be seen together, as well as two species of frigatebirds and a sea lion colony. The long, olivine beach allows for excellent snorkeling and dinghy rides in search of sea birds.

A dry landing on Española Island, one of the oldest and most isolated in the Galápagos, offers an unparalleled variety of wildlife. Explore volcanic formations and see large colonies of sea lions and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca boobies, and the spectacular, Red-billed Tropicbirds. On Española, turquoise-colored marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs abound. A hike brings you to nesting grounds where you may spot favorites such as the Galápagos dove, the Galápagos hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls, and the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross - a true highlight! Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop and famous soplador, a blowhole that shoots water 75 feet into the air. This afternoon, a wet landing on a beautiful, white coral sandy beach guarded by a colony of sea lions offers the opportunity to spot Galápagos hawks, American Oystercatchers, Galápagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, yellow warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin’s finches. Swim and snorkel among the Galápagos’ marine wildlife such as king angelfish, creole fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

Make a morning wet landing on an olivine green, sandy beach of Floreana Island and hike through mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon in search of one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. Continue along the trail to a beautiful, white sandy beach that is an important nesting site for Green Pacific Sea Turtles. From the beach, one can spot sea turtles and blue-footed boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in the search for food. Swim or snorkel among sea turtles, reef fish, and sea lions while keeping an eye out for the small colony of resident penguins. An afternoon wet landing in a bay on the north side of Floreana brings you to “Post Office,” so named when Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors in 1793. Today, visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel, hoping that some other traveler, going to that destination, will take it back for free. You may encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards here and snorkel among playful sea lions or Green Pacific Sea Turtles.

After a dry landing on Santa Cruz Island, head from the coast to the dense humid forests and the Highlands Tortoise Reserve. In addition to the famed Galápagos giant tortoises, you may also spot many kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets, which are usually found standing on the tortoises’ shells! Bid the Galápagos goodbye and return to Quito, where a day room will be available close to the airport before your flight home.