Ecuador, Galapagos & Peru Explorer

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital of Quito, high in the Andes. You’ll notice a mix of modern and traditional houses dotted halfway up the surrounding mountain peaks that frame the city and an Old Town with a mix of architectural styles. Your trip officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe wander through the cobblestoned streets, checking out the market stalls or joining an Urban Adventure tour through the city’s historic centre – check out the Quito Legends and Culture Tour at urbanadventures.com.

After breakfast this morning, wave goodbye to the country’s capital and switch up the pace as you make your way to the Amazon on a local bus bound for Tena. Your lodge-style accommodation in Tena, on the banks of the Arajuno River, is only accessible by motorised canoe so you can expect a little bit of adventure for the last leg of today’s trip! You'll have a free afternoon to explore the eco-lodge – built with all-natural materials, this lodge belongs to the Selvaviva Foundation that works with the Indigenous community in the area. Tonight, have dinner at the eco-lodge, listening to the singing sounds of jungle insects and the flicker of the fireplace. Then, wander the area under the twinkling night sky on a night walk with your leader guiding the way.

Fuel up on breakfast this morning as you have a big day of adventures ahead. First, you’ll hike into the rainforest with a local Indigenous guide leading the way. Listen carefully as they point out local bird species and teach you about the incredible plant life that thrives here. You’ll be surrounded by one of the most magnificent landscapes on Earth, teeming with wildlife, so make sure you take a moment to breathe it all in. After lunch, visit an animal rescue centre to learn more about the local wildlife (and how we can help to protect them).

Take the opportunity to mingle with the locals and maybe brush up on your Spanish on a public bus headed for Banos. Surrounded by mountains, hot springs and waterways that lead to waterfalls, this is a perfect next step after the rainforest! When you arrive, stretch your legs on a leader-led walking tour of the city and get the inside scoop on the best places to grab a bite to eat. This afternoon, visit Pailon del Diablo – one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the area. The 80-m-high falls have a mighty strength that showers anyone in its path (so make sure you bring a waterproof jacket). There are a lot of stairs, but they will be worth it when you reach the view of Pailon del Diablo.

Today, you have a free day to explore Banos and take on all the optional activities you like! Your leader will always be on hand to help arrange anything you’d like to do – maybe head for the ‘Swing at the End of the World’ and get your heart racing or hike to the Bellavista Viewpoint. You could also opt to soak away your worries in the hot springs or visit the local waterfalls.

Rise bright and early this morning and drive along the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ to the Cotopaxi National Park, which sits at 3800 m above sea level. When you arrive, head out on a hike to Limpiopungo Lagoon for a gorgeous view of the Cotopaxi volcano – Ecuador’s second-highest peak and the highest active volcano in the world! Keep an eye out for the park’s wildlife, including condors, deer and spectacled bears. Have lunch at La Cienega – sitting at the bottom of the volcano, this is one of the oldest haciendas in Ecuador and famously housed Charles-Marie de la Condamine, a French scientist who led the Geodesic Mission. After lunch, explore the on-site architecture, gardens and chapel. On the way back to Quito, you’ll also visit a flower farm for a guided tour where you’ll learn about all stages of production here. Connect with the plants by cutting and touching the flowers around you, becoming a part of the final phase of production, and learn about their green initiatives and environment mission.

Make your way north to Cotacachi to visit the La Calera Community today, where Indigenous families will be waiting for you for tonight’s homestay. When you arrive, you’ll participate in the ‘Pachamanca’ food ceremony, where the pot is heated with volcanic stones to cook the local, Andean vegetables. Pachamanca has been a part of South American culture for centuries, dating back to pre-historic times. The name comes from the Quechua language ‘Pacha’ (meaning earth) and ‘Manca’ (meaning cooking pot or earth oven). Widely used in times of the Incas, this ritual is a celebration of fertility and life. While lunch is cooking, visit some of the women's entrepreneurship programs and learn more about the community here. After, spend some more time getting to know the local families and depending on the season, maybe feed the animals, take milk from the cows or harvest some vegetables.

Say hasta luego to Quito and board a flight to Lima, the capital of Peru. Peru is a fascinating country of Amazonian rainforests, Indigenous cultures dating back millennia, diverse wildlife and lofty mountains. You’ll be picked up from the airport and transferred straight to your hotel. In the evening, meet your new leader and group members and perhaps get acquainted over some Pisco sour cocktails (Peru's national drink).

Today you'll board a flight to Cusco – the gateway city to the Peruvian Andes. The next stage of your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm to meet any new travellers joining you. After, get acquainted with Cusco’s intriguing blend of cultures on a leader-led walking tour – stopping at popular and lesser-known sights, such as the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, the main square, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. In the evening, visit Casa Intrepid for your trek briefing, followed by free to explore at your own pace. For dinner, why not find a spot with your group and try some Andean favourites?

This morning, drive through the Sacred Valley. Known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, the valley has been a source of livelihood for the locals for hundreds of years. You’ll see maize crops covering the terraced walls and the sacred river beneath. Stop for lunch in a local community, where you'll also get the chance to learn about their traditional lifestyle and maybe wrap your tongue around a few words of the Quechua language. If it’s market day, you'll have time to browse the local handicrafts on offer, such as beads and ponchos. Visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – this cafe provides employment opportunities and job training for single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley. Enjoy a snack and learn how this inclusive enterprise focuses on economic growth, gender equality and the support of vulnerable communities. Continue your journey to Ollantaytambo, opt to check out the town’s fascinating archaeological site – ancient remnants of an Inca city with soaring views over the present-day settlement.

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be either hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu. While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. You won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco and travel with only a small bag for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. Route 1 Inca Trail Today, travel by minivan to the 82 km marker and meet your crew of local porters, your cook and your guide. Your first day will include uphill trekking to the campsite, which sits at 3100 m above sea level. On the way, you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. In the evening, unwind at the campsite with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook. Route 2 Quarry Trail Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. From here, you’ll head to the small community near Qory Song’o (Golden Heart) hill, where you’ll climb to the top for the incredible views of the Soqma Perolniyoc, Pachar and Huarocondo valleys. There are also several sacred tombs in the area, protected by the locals, which you can explore with your leader and even see some of the original structures crafted from wood and leather. These remains have never been seen by travellers before, so you can be a part of this exclusive experience. Carry on to the Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, where you can stop for some snacks and photos. Arrive at the campsite, 3700 m above sea level, around lunchtime. After, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas. Route 3 Cusco After spending the night in Ollantaytambo, take a short drive to the town of Pisac. Pisac is well known for its market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and perhaps try some local empanadas. Arrive back at Cusco in the afternoon, where your leader can take you to San Pedro Market, where you have the option to buy some local favourites for a picnic tomorrow or enjoy having some free time. Perhaps head out for dinner– your leader will have plenty of local recommendations.

Route 1 Inca Trail This is the most challenging day of the trek, as you ascend a 5-hour long steep path to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4200 m above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 m. Route 2 Quarry Trail This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa, about 4370 m high. After enjoying the picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. After, make the 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4450 m. From here, descend to the sacred site that the Incas called Intipunku. This is a sun gate, where the sun will stream through at particular times of the year and there are views of the Nevado Veronica mountain year-round. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 3600 m. Route 3 Cusco Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a 3 to 4 hours walk back to Cusco. On the way, stop to admire some of the archaeological sites, including Puka Pukara, Quenqo and Saksaywaman. Arrive back in Cusco in the early afternoon and enjoy some free time. Maybe visit the Merida, Mendivil and Olave art galleries and workshops before finding a great spot to sit down and enjoy some dinner.

Route 1 Inca Trail Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass at 3980 m. Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 3850 m, also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the 2-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Route 2 Quarry Trail Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo when you finish your trek. This is where you’ll meet with the travellers in your group who didn't hike, before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes After a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. You’ll catch a 1.5-hour train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Route 1 Inca Trail This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu – one of the famed Wonders of the World. The day starts before dawn, with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, you’ll begin the final 2.5 hour trek to Intipunku (the Sun Gate). Weather permitting, you’ll enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ as you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Route 2 and 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 6.00 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for the Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters. This is a day to remember! For all travellers, after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to catch the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll stop for lunch together. From here, take a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.