Bucket List Peru & Galapagos
Itinerary
Fancy spending a little longer in the Galapagos, or perhaps skipping the trek and taking the train to Machu Picchu? Just chat to your Travel Specialist, and we’ll tweak things until it’s just perfect.
Days 1-3 – Markets & plazas of Lima
A proud Latino city, often cloaked in mist from the Pacific Ocean and with a famed food scene, Lima fizzes with energy and is more than just a handy starting point for your holiday. You’ll spend 2 nights in a cosy hotel in a pleasant part of town, and you’ll be shown around the lively Miraflores food market and the charming colonial centre by your local Limeño guide, before setting off to explore the city independently.
Days 3-6 – Into the Amazon – Jungle lodge
You’ll be transferred back to the airport in time for your short flight to Puerto Maldonado. Spend a few nights sleeping in a comfortable lodge in the heart of the mighty Amazon rainforest, feeling a million miles away from civilisation. Travelling to your riverside base by boat, you’ll head out with expert local guides, on foot and by boat, to explore the jungle and the incredible Amazonian wildlife. Your lodge is owned by the Native Community of Infierno, so you’ll also meet the people who call this amazing place home. All meals and activities are included during your stay.
The wildlife is a major reason to visit the Amazon of course, and around Tambopata you’ll see monkeys, macaws, parrots, toucans, capybaras, caimans and various spiders and insects. There’s also a chance that you might spot a jaguar by the river, meet the group of giant otters who live nearby, or even fish for piranhas!
Days 6-8 – Explore the cobbled streets of Cusco
You’ll be taken back to the town in time for your short flight to Cusco. Explore Cusco, the Inca heartland and a city of colourful contrasts. During this trip, you’ll spend two nights in Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Travellers from all over the world meet here before heading into the mountains, making it a lively hub of restaurants, bars and museums. Scattered with Inca ruins and colonial churches, it’s a brilliant place for an atmospheric wander.
Days 8-12 – Inca Trail – following ancient footsteps
Over the next few days, you’ll complete the iconic Inca Trail, twisting into the mountains for 44km along an ancient Inca trade route. After a first night in Cusco, you’ll set off early, joining a small group with your local guide and porters. You’ll cross mountain passes measuring a heady 4,200m, walk through cloud forests, and past ancient Inca checkpoints, before camping each night under the stars.
The trail isn’t easy, with some long uphill sections, but when you see Machu Picchu emerge between the clouds on your final morning, your efforts will be rewarded a thousand times over. After exploring the incredible ruins of the Lost City, you’ll take a scenic train ride back to Cusco where you can rest and enjoy the perks of civilisation once more. We’ll book you into the same hotel as before, where your luggage and a comfortable bed will be waiting.
Want to see the full day-by-day? It’s all on our Inca Trail trip page!
After a final night resting your weary legs in Cusco, you’ll be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Quito. It’s usually around 5.5hrs, including a transit in Lima.
Days 12-14 – Galapagos Island Hopping: A taste of Santa Cruz
After a night in Quito, you’ll fly to the Galapagos Islands. These islands are a paradise for wildlife spotting but also surprisingly more inhabited than you might expect. Each island has its own charm, and three of them are inhabited: Isla Isabela, Isla Santa Cruz, and Isla San Cristobal. You could easily spend a week on each of the islands, but for a teasing taster, this trip visits two of them.
Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by your driver. First, you will take the bus together to the Itabaca Channel and cross to the nearby island of Santa Cruz, which is home to around 24,000 people. Here, you’ll get in your driver’s car and he’ll take you through the highlands to the centre of Puerto Ayora. Along the way, you’ll visit a local farm where you’ll meet giant tortoises that live here in the wild. These mighty creatures walk around freely but come to the farm to eat. After lunch, continue to your hotel in Puerto Ayora. Here, you will meet a local guide who will explain your program for the next few days. Then, you’ll head into Puerto Ayaroa with your guide on a food tour to sample the local delicacies.
The following day, you are free to explore independently. Enjoy a short morning walk to Tortuga Bay, an idyllic beach where you’ll find loads of iguanas bathing in the sun.
Days 14-16 – Galapagos Island Hopping: A taste of San Cristobal
After a leisurely morning, make your way to the pier for the 1.30 pm ferry to San Cristobal. The journey can be choppy, so you may want to take precautions against seasickness. In the port of San Cristobal, our local contact will be waiting to take you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon, you have time to walk along the boulevard, where you can watch the sea lions that sleep there. If you prefer to relax, go to one of the nearby beaches. Later today, you’ll also learn how to make ceviche at Playa Mann. Your teacher used to sell this local delicacy at the harbour, but now she’s opened her own restaurant. Her fish dish is famous across the region.
We haven’t planned any activities for your second day in San Cristobal. But there are plenty of things to do. You can snorkel with sea lions at Playa Lobita, or we can arrange a snorkelling tour for you to an uninhabited island. Hike to the Cerro Tijeretas to spot the famous frigate birds, or take a half-day tour to the highlands of San Cristobal. We recommend ending the day with a cold beer at the local brewery.
Days 16-17 – Overnight in Quito and Departure from Ecuador
This afternoon, after a leisurely morning soaking up the last moments of your Galapagos adventure, you’ll head to the airport for your flight back to Quito, where you will spend your final night. The next day, you’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your international flight home.
Accommodation
