Machu Picchu & Galápagos — 17-Day South America Expedition
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The Incas & Galápagos Expedition brings together South America’s greatest cultural wonder and its most extraordinary natural one. In Peru you spend nine days between Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley — Pisac, Ollantaytambo, the terraces of Moray and the salt mines of Maras — before the scenic train to Machu Picchu. Then you fly to Guayaquil in Ecuador and on to the Galápagos for six days of island hopping: giant tortoises and the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, the beaches and flamingo lagoons of Isabela, and snorkeling with sharks, sea turtles and penguins at Los Túneles.
Your 17-day Incas & Galápagos expedition at a glance: Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in Peru, then Guayaquil and the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
Welcome to Peru! A representative meets you at Jorge Chávez International Airport and takes you to your hotel. Rest after your international flight and, if you have energy, take an evening walk along the clifftop parks of Miraflores.
Day 2
Discover the many faces of Lima with your guide: the colonial Plaza Mayor with its Cathedral and Government Palace, the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs, the parks and ocean views of Miraflores and the murals and bohemian streets of Barranco.
Day 3
Fly to Cusco (approx. 3,400 m), the ancient capital of the Incas. After the airport reception and transfer, the afternoon is free to rest and acclimatize with coca tea.
Day 4
A guided tour through Cusco’s Inca heritage: the Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, and the four sites in the hills above the city — the giant stone walls of Sacsayhuamán, the carved shrine of Qenqo, the checkpoint of Puca Pucara and the sacred fountains of Tambomachay.
Day 5
Descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Browse the traditional handicraft market and terraces of Pisac, have lunch by the Urubamba River and climb the stone terraces of the Ollantaytambo fortress. Overnight in the valley.
Day 6
Visit Moray, a set of circular Inca terraces believed to have been an agricultural laboratory, and the salt mines of Maras, thousands of white salt pans on the mountainside worked by local families since pre-Inca times. Return to the valley for a relaxed evening.
Day 7
Board the scenic train at Ollantaytambo station and travel along the Urubamba River through a deep canyon into the cloud forest. Arrive in Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Day 8
Ride the bus up to Machu Picchu early in the morning and explore the citadel with your guide, from the terraces to the Temple of the Sun and the Intihuatana stone. Return by train and road to Cusco in the afternoon.
Day 9
Fly back to Lima and spend a free afternoon in Miraflores: walk the malecón, visit the Larco Museum or enjoy a farewell dinner of Peruvian cuisine before tomorrow’s flight to Ecuador.
Day 10
Fly from Lima to Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city and the main gateway to the Galápagos. After the transfer to your hotel, walk along the Malecón 2000, the riverside promenade on the Guayas River, and climb the 444 steps of the colorful Las Peñas neighborhood to the lighthouse on Santa Ana Hill for views over the city.
Day 11
Fly to Baltra Island in the Galápagos. After paying the park entrance fee, cross the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz and drive through the green highlands, where giant tortoises roam freely, to Puerto Ayora, the main town of the archipelago.
Day 12
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and its breeding program for giant tortoises and land iguanas, then head to a highland reserve to see giant tortoises in the wild, walking through lava tunnels formed by ancient eruptions. Spend the late afternoon at Tortuga Bay or the fish market of Puerto Ayora, where sea lions and pelicans wait for scraps.
Day 13
Take the morning speedboat (approx. 2–2.5 hours) to Isabela, the largest island of the Galápagos. Settle into Puerto Villamil, a quiet village with a long white-sand beach, and spend the rest of the day at leisure — visit the flamingo lagoon, swim at Concha de Perla or watch marine iguanas on the shore.
Day 14
A boat takes you along Isabela’s coast to Los Túneles at Cabo Rosa, where collapsed lava arches form natural bridges over turquoise water. Snorkel among white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, rays and sea horses, and look for blue-footed boobies nesting on the lava. Return to Puerto Villamil in the afternoon.
Day 15
Return to Santa Cruz by speedboat in the morning. The afternoon is free to walk to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galápagos, where marine iguanas sunbathe on the lava rocks, or to shop in Puerto Ayora.
Day 16
Transfer across the Itabaca Channel to Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland. Arrive in Guayaquil and transfer to your hotel for the night.
Day 17
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. Machu Picchu (Peru) and the Galápagos (Ecuador) are connected by a flight from Lima to Guayaquil and another to the islands. This 17-day itinerary gives you nine days in Peru and eight in Ecuador, including six days in the Galápagos.
There are no direct flights from Peru to the islands. You fly from Lima to Guayaquil or Quito in Ecuador (approx. 2 hours) and then from the mainland to Baltra or San Cristóbal in the Galápagos (approx. 2 hours from Guayaquil). This itinerary spends a night in Guayaquil on each side of the islands.
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.
Giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands, marine and land iguanas, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos penguins and flamingos on Isabela, and, while snorkeling at Los Túneles, white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles, rays and colorful fish. The animals are famously unafraid of people.
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 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.
Most nationalities, including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, do not need a tourist visa for Peru or Ecuador, but rules can change, so please check the requirements for your passport. It must be valid for at least six months. Peru uses the Peruvian sol (PEN), while Ecuador — including the Galápagos — uses the US dollar. Cards are accepted in cities and most hotels, but bring cash in small bills for the Galápagos park fee, markets and tips.
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.