Amazon, Andes & Galápagos — 15 Days Across South America
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Amazon & Andes Adventure is the 15-day South America trip for nature lovers: three of the planet’s great ecosystems — the Amazon rainforest, the high Andes and the Galápagos Islands — in a single itinerary through Peru and Ecuador. After a tour of Lima, fly to Puerto Maldonado for three days at a jungle lodge in the Tambopata National Reserve, with Lake Sandoval, Monkey Island and macaws. Fly on to Cusco for the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, then cross to Ecuador for five days in the Galápagos: giant tortoises on Santa Cruz, the beaches of Isabela and snorkeling with sharks and turtles at Los Túneles.
Your 15-day Amazon, Andes and Galápagos adventure at a glance: Lima, Tambopata, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Guayaquil, Santa Cruz and Isabela. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
Arrive in Lima, the gateway to South America’s wildest landscapes. Your driver takes you to your hotel to rest before the adventure begins.
Day 2
A guided tour of colonial and modern Lima: the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and the San Francisco Monastery in the UNESCO-listed center, followed by the seaside parks of Miraflores and the colorful streets of Barranco.
Day 3
Fly to Puerto Maldonado and travel by boat along the Madre de Dios River to your lodge in the rainforest. In the afternoon, visit Monkey Island, and after dark set out by boat to look for caimans.
Day 4
Hike through the forest to Lake Sandoval and explore it by canoe, looking for giant river otters, hoatzins, caimans and monkeys among the aguaje palms. In the evening, an optional night walk reveals frogs, insects and spiders.
Day 5
Watch parrots and macaws at dawn, then return by boat to Puerto Maldonado and fly to Cusco (approx. 3,400 m). Rest for the remainder of the day to adapt to the altitude.
Day 6
Explore the Sacred Valley: the handicraft market and terraces of Pisac in the morning and the Ollantaytambo fortress after lunch. Then board the scenic train along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Day 7
An early bus takes you up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the Inca citadel. In the afternoon, return to Cusco by train and road.
Day 8
Fly back to Lima and enjoy a free afternoon by the ocean in Miraflores before your flight to Ecuador tomorrow.
Day 9
Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador, the main gateway to the Galápagos. In the afternoon, stroll along the Malecón 2000 on the Guayas River and up the colorful steps of Las Peñas to Santa Ana Hill.
Day 10
Fly from Guayaquil to Baltra Island, cross the Itabaca Channel and drive through the misty Santa Cruz highlands, where you can stop to see giant tortoises in the wild, to Puerto Ayora.
Day 11
A morning speedboat (approx. 2–2.5 hours) carries you to Isabela Island. Check in at Puerto Villamil and enjoy the afternoon at leisure: the flamingo lagoon, the tortoise breeding center or a swim off the long sandy beach.
Day 12
Today’s highlight: a boat trip to Los Túneles at Cabo Rosa, a maze of lava arches and channels. Snorkel with white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and sea horses, and watch blue-footed boobies on the rocks.
Day 13
Take the speedboat back to Santa Cruz in the morning and spend a free afternoon at Tortuga Bay or the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Day 14
Transfer to Baltra airport and fly back to Guayaquil, where you spend the night.
Day 15
Enjoy breakfast and some free time in Guayaquil, depending on your flight schedule, before your transfer to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport for your flight home. End of services.
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Yes. This itinerary flies between them: Lima to the Tambopata rainforest, Puerto Maldonado to Cusco for Machu Picchu, then Lima to Guayaquil and the Galápagos. You get three days in the Amazon, three in Cusco and Machu Picchu, and five days in the Galápagos.
Tambopata is just a short flight from Cusco and Lima, so you can visit the Peruvian Amazon without losing a day in transit. The Tambopata National Reserve is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, with giant otters, macaws, monkeys and caimans.
Fly from Lima to Guayaquil (approx. 2 hours) and then from Guayaquil to Baltra Island (approx. 2 hours). There are no direct flights from Peru to the Galápagos.
This is a land-based, island-hopping Galápagos program: you stay in hotels on Santa Cruz and Isabela and explore by day with speedboat transfers and guided excursions. It is more flexible and usually more affordable than a cruise, and ideal if you are prone to seasickness. If you prefer to sleep on board and visit more remote islands, we can replace the land program with a Galápagos cruise on request.
Every visitor to the Galápagos pays two fees on top of the tour price: the Transit Control Card (TCT), bought at the Quito or Guayaquil airport before your flight, and the Galápagos National Park entrance fee, paid in cash on arrival. At the time of writing the park fee is US$200 per foreign adult and the TCT US$20, but both are set by the Ecuadorian authorities and can change, so please confirm before you travel.
The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for the Peruvian Amazon, and some travelers are asked for proof of vaccination when traveling between countries. Please check current health requirements with a travel clinic. Bring insect repellent for Tambopata and reef-safe sunscreen for the Galápagos.
The Galápagos can be visited all year. From December to May the warm season brings calmer seas, warmer water for snorkeling and green landscapes; from June to November the cooler garúa season brings richer marine life, more active sea lions and seabirds, and choppier boat crossings. In Peru, April to November is the dry season for Cusco and Machu Picchu. In the Amazon, April to October is the drier season, with easier trails and more wildlife around the lakes.
The price depends on the hotel category you choose (Essential 2★, Comfort 3★, Superior 4★ or Deluxe 5★) and on the number of travelers. Open the Rates tab for the current price per person, based on double or twin accommodation. Domestic and international flights, the Galápagos National Park fee and the Transit Control Card are not included.