3-week trip of Peru, Ecuador and the Galápagos

21 days – from €12,146 per person

culture – nature – history

Day 4 | Cuzco

You’ll visit the Sacsayhuamán archaeological park, just outside Cuzco, where you can admire the fortress of the same name. It is impressive to see how the Incas built this; some of the stones are as much as four metres high. Afterwards, you’ll visit the underground cave of Q’enqo and the Temple of the Puma, where you’ll see an altar for sacrifices. You will then visit Ambomachay, the sacred springs that symbolise life and health. This site is situated on a hill just outside Cuzco. On the way to the centre of Cuzco, you will enjoy a panoramic view at Puca Pucara. You will then visit the Temple of the Sun, Koricancha, on top of which the Santo Domingo monastery was built. Finally, you will visit the city’s main square.
Overnight stay: Palacio del Inka | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Cusco – Sacred Valley

You will be collected from your hotel in Cusco and taken to your hotel in the Sacred Valley. On the way, you will visit the charming village of Chinchero, where you can explore the colourful market and the Inca ruins. You will then explore the impressive Moray terraces and the salt mines of Maras. After lunch (included), you will travel on to the Sacred Valley for your overnight stay.
Overnight stay: Sol y Luna | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Sacred Valley – Cuzco – Lima

You will be collected from your hotel in the Sacred Valley and taken to Cuzco airport. You will then fly from Cuzco to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima, a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city, where you can relax at your leisure for the rest of the day.
Overnight stay: Villa Barranco | bed and breakfast

Day 9 | Lima – Quito

You will be collected from your hotel in Lima and taken to the airport to depart Peru. You will fly from Lima to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, our local representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you can relax and acclimatise for the rest of the day. You’ll be staying in a charming hotel in the historic city centre.
Accommodation: La Casona de la Ronda | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Quito

Today you have the day free to spend in Quito and/or the surrounding area. You can visit the famous historic city centre, enjoy the panoramic views from the Teleférico, or visit the equator at Mitad del Mundo. Optionally, a city trip with an English-speaking guide can be arranged for you, so you can learn more about the city’s rich culture and history.
Accommodation: La Casona de la Ronda | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Quito – Cotopaxi

In the morning, you’ll set off from the hacienda and head towards Cotopaxi National Park. Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes. Travelling along the Pan-American Highway, you’ll reach the park entrance, where you’ll follow a dirt track through a pine forest. You’ll eventually arrive at Limpiopungo, a glacial lake at an altitude of 3,800 metres. Here you’ll enjoy impressive views of Cotopaxi and the vast páramo landscape. In the afternoon, you’ll travel to the small village of San Felipe, where you’ll learn more about máchica, a traditional product from this region. This roasted barley is ground into flour and used to give drinks more flavour and body. The local community will show you how the centuries-old milling process works using a mill that has been in use for over a hundred years. A unique introduction to an important part of Ecuadorian cuisine.
Overnight stay: Hacienda el Porvenir | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Cotopaxi

This morning you will visit the Quilotoa crater lake, situated in the province of Cotopaxi and part of the Ilinizas Ecological Reserve. On the way, you will enjoy the scenery and pass through small indigenous communities, where tradition and nature come together. Quilotoa is steeped in local legends. According to an ancient tale, the king of the volcanoes fought countless battles with his enemy Toachi, who lived beneath the water, and Quilotoa was the final battleground. On arrival, you’ll be treated to a magnificent view from the rim of the crater. It’s a short but steep walk of about 30 minutes down into the crater, as the temperature rises. The return journey, along the 280-metre-high cliff face, takes 1 to 2 hours and is a strenuous but unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Tigua, where the indigenous community creates famous paintings depicting rural life, local legends and nature, including the Cotopaxi volcano and the Quilotoa crater lake. After the visit, you’ll be taken back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: Hacienda el Porvenir | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Cotopaxi – Quito

You can start the morning at a leisurely pace. You will then visit a rose plantation, where you’ll learn more about the cultivation of the famous Ecuadorian roses, renowned for their size and quality. You will then be taken to Hacienda La Jimenita, just outside Quito. This charming hacienda is closer to the airport than hotels in the city and offers an authentic experience, surrounded by nature.
Overnight stay: Hacienda La Jimenita | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Quito – Galápagos Islands

In the morning, you will be taken back to the airport and fly to Baltra in the Galapagos Archipelago. On arrival, you will be taken straight to the Galapagos Angel, the cruise ship on which you will be staying for the next few days. The Galapagos Angel is an ideal yacht for exploring the Galapagos at a leisurely pace. On board, you will enjoy excellent service, plenty of comfort and delicious food. The Galápagos Archipelago is situated approximately 1,000 kilometres west of mainland Ecuador. This group of islands has never been connected to the mainland. As a result, the flora and fauna have developed in a unique way. The wildlife has no natural predators and is therefore unafraid of people! In the afternoon, you’ll sail to Bartolomé Island. On this island, famous for Pinnacle Rock, you can spot Galápagos penguins and sea lions. You’ll hike to the top of the island, where you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view of Pinnacle Rock and the beach with its azure-blue sea. You’ll return to the boat later in the afternoon, where you’ll be served a delicious dinner.
Overnight: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Good to know: The itinerary for the Galápagos cruise, as described below, is entirely subject to local conditions. The itinerary may be altered to maximise the chances of spotting wildlife elsewhere, or if the Galápagos authorities advise it. Flexibility is the most important principle on an expedition cruise such as this.

Day 15 | Galápagos Islands

In the morning, you’ll visit Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. The nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current make for excellent snorkelling here, whilst you swim off the western side of the archipelago. You’ll have the chance to spot various sea lions, penguins, colourful fish and sea turtles in the water. After lunch, you’ll visit Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island. This is a narrow strip of land where you can see a number of unique species up close, such as iguanas, sea lions, flightless cormorants, egrets and Galápagos hawks.
Overnight: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Day 16 | Galápagos Islands

In the morning, you’ll visit Tagus Cove, a place where pirates and whalers used to stop off. On the rock faces, you’ll see hundreds of names of ships that dropped anchor here centuries ago. Naturally, painting on these rock faces is now prohibited. At Tagus Cove, you’ll take a walk through the volcanic landscape of the Darwin Volcano. At the end of the walk, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view over the bay and Lake Darwin. Here you’ll have the chance to see many blue-footed boobies, as well as plenty of marine iguanas, penguins and brown pelicans. In the afternoon, you’ll be taken by panga to Elizabeth Bay. This bay lies on the west coast of Isabela Island and is an excellent spot for observing the unique marine life. Galapagos penguins are often spotted here. You can also look out for sea turtles, sea lions, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants and Galápagos hawks circling overhead. This area is the perfect spot for taking stunning photographs!
Accommodation: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Day 17 | Galápagos Islands

After breakfast, you will visit Urbina Bay, situated on the island of Isabela. At Urbina Bay, at the foot of the Alcedo volcano, there are still many traces of the 1954 volcanic eruption to be seen. You’ll also find plenty of coral, rounded rocks and giant land iguanas here. The beach serves as a nesting site for the giant sea turtles, and it’s a fantastic spot for snorkelling to admire these marine creatures underwater. After lunch, you’ll visit Punta Moreno. From here, you’ll have spectacular views of the Alcedo, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. This area is home to several lagoons inhabited by various bird species, such as flamingos and pelicans. Punta Moreno consists of a desolate and unspoilt landscape with impressive black lava fields. This recently opened area is ideal for wildlife spotting and offers visitors the chance to see Galápagos doves, penguins and flightless cormorants, amongst others. It is also an excellent spot for snorkelling.
Accommodation: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Day 18 | Galápagos Islands

Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes in the Galápagos and has the second-largest caldera in the world. During the hike to the top of the caldera, you’ll pass through forests of guava trees, and on a clear day you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the island’s other five volcanoes. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre, where two species of giant tortoises are bred to increase the population of these incredible animals. The breeding centre plays a vital role in safeguarding the future of the Galápagos. During a walk through the centre, you can enjoy the beautiful gardens featuring a wide variety of native plants.
Overnight: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Day 19 | Galápagos Islands

You’ll visit Cormorant Point, where you’ll find two strikingly contrasting beaches: a green olivine beach and an iron-red beach. Between these two beaches lies a salt lagoon, which is a popular haunt for flamingos, black-tailed godwits, eels and other wading birds. Next, you’ll visit Devil’s Crown. This area looks rocky and arid and features a shallow, sunken crater. This almost entirely submerged volcano offers snorkellers a wide variety of colourful fish in the clear blue water. Enjoy the underwater world here. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Post Office Bay. Here, the legend of pirates and whalers lives on. The first whalers installed a postbox here to leave messages for other ships and to send letters home. The original postbox has long since disappeared, but letters can still be posted.
Overnight stay: M/Y Galapagos Angel | full board

Day 20 | Galápagos – Guayaquil – Amsterdam

In the morning, you’ll sail to Mosquera Island, situated between North Seymour and Baltra Islands. Here you’ll find a coral reef formed by a volcanic eruption. As a result, the island is only 160 metres wide at its widest point. You’ll find a large population of sea lions and coastal birds here. Orcas are sometimes spotted here too. You will then be taken to Baltra Airport, where you will board your flight to the mainland. You will fly to Guayaquil, from where you can transfer directly onto your flight to Amsterdam, arriving the following day.

Day 21 | Amsterdam

You arrive in Amsterdam today.