Machu Picchu & Galapagos

Our adventure begins in Cuzco. Set high amid the Andes, the imperial city of the Incas was the centre of a vast empire, which stretched from Colombia to Chile at its peak. After Spanish conquistadors invaded the city, they built on top of the Inca structures, resulting in unique architecture: a fusion of Spanish colonial and Inca styles. Say hola to your leader and fellow travellers around 6pm, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventure ahead. There are no activities planned today, so take it easy and drink plenty of water to help adjust to the altitude (11,155ft/3,400m). Your tour leader will ensure a big Latin welcome by arranging a group dinner at a local restaurant for your first taste of Peruvian hospitality. Want to explore Cuzco further? Additional pre-tour hotel nights are bookable through your sales representative. Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Transfer into the hills above Cuzco to visit Sacsayhuaman, the vast Inca fortress whose precisely cut stonework still raises questions about how it was constructed. From here, we continue to the nearby sites of Qenqo, with its carved rock shrines, PucaPucara, a former military and administrative outpost, and Tambomachay, known for its finely engineered water channels that still flow today. Throughout, our tour leader explains how these sites worked together to defend and supply the Inca capital. Returning to Cuzco, we take a guided walk through the historic centre on foot. We view the Qoricancha Temple from outside, once the most important temple in the Inca Empire, before visiting the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, where colonial art and architecture reveal another layer of the city’s history. Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After breakfast, we travel (1hr 15min) through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the outskirts of Cuzco, as we head up to the traditional weaving community of Chinchero. Along with amazing views of the valley and Vilcabamba mountains, Chinchero offers the unique cultural opportunity to enjoy a traditional Andean pachamanca lunch, which is hosted by and supports the local community. This is a real culinary treat, in which the food is wrapped, then buried underground with hot stones to cook it slowly. After lunch, explore the ancient salt ponds near the village of Maras, where salty springs emerge from the hillside and the Incas built terraces to capture the flows and harvest salt. Also visit Moray, where the Incas built huge circular agricultural terraces on limestone sinks. We arrive in Ollantaytambo around 6pm, with time to wander around the town.

Take the train (1hr 30min) to Aguas Calientes this morning, a lively town in the valley below Machu Picchu. The rest of the day is free to visit hot springs or shop in the large craft market. Our Machu Picchu entrance ticket is valid for tomorrow; however, should you wish to visit the ruins today as well, you need to purchase an extra ticket in advance – please inform your sales representative at the time of booking the trip. For those who wish to hike to Machu Picchu, there is an optional full-day trek that meets with the final section of the Inca Trail. Our route starts at Km104 and climbs 1.25mi (2km) to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, where we continue to the Sun Gate for the iconic view of Machu Picchu with its mountain backdrop. Although this optional hike is available at no extra cost, it must be pre-booked since numbers are strictly limited (and a permit is required). You should request this at the time of booking and note the first part of the hike is a steep climb. Travellers not joining the hike board the train at around 11am, with free time beforehand to visit the Ollantaytambo archaeological site independently (entrance ticket included). They’ll travel independently to Aguas Calientes, where a local guide meets them on arrival, escorts them to the hotel for check-in, and then to a restaurant for lunch. Travellers taking the optional hike board an earlier train with the main tour leader, who also leads the hike.

To beat the day-trippers from Cuzco, we get an early start for our 30-minute bus drive up the winding road to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is an architectural and engineering marvel with a mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. Please note, exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. After our tour, we return to Aguas Calientes and the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min). From Ollantaytambo, we continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min). Travellers who completed the optional one-day Inca Trail visit Machu Picchu today via Circuit 3, which covers the lower part of the site. Those who did not trek explore Machu Picchu on Circuit 2, the full circuit, in line with current regulations. An additional guide is provided for the second group. Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Say goodbye to our Peruvian tour leader today, as we leave Cuzco on a flight to Quito, Ecuador, via Lima (sometimes with an additional stop in Guayaquil). In the western cordillera of the Andes, Quito is the second highest capital in the world and, as always at altitude, it is a good idea not to do anything too strenuous at first! Our Quito tour leader picks us up from the airport and transfers us to the hotel – holding a welcome briefing in the afternoon/evening. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

We have a half-day tour of Quito today, one of the smaller and more attractive capitals in South America. Our adventure takes us to the Plaza Grande, the main square, which is flanked by some of the most important landmarks in the city. We also visit the impressive Quito cathedral and La Compañia church, plus the small volcanic hill known as El Panecillo. We then have the rest of the day to relax and continuing adjusting to the altitude. After, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the equator, which is just 40 minutes’ drive north of Quito. Here, you visit the fun – and interactive – Intiñan Equator Museum, which explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to continue your adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Quito.