Affordable Peru & Galapagos
10 Days - Departs - Daily
This great value adventure is perfect for those who want to combine the incredible wildlife and scenery of the Galapagos Islands with the highlights of Peru. We start in Cusco and experience all that this amazing city has to offer before moving onto the Sacred Valley of the Incas and to incredible Machu Picchu where you will enjoy a trek up Huayna Picchu mountain. We continue onto Quito where we take it its many cultural sights and complete the trip with a 4 day 'island hopping' tour of the Galapagos Islands filled with a range of exciting activities and amazing wildlife encounters.
from NZD $6406pp
Home » Affordable Peru & the Galapagos Islands
Itinerary Highlights
- With its ancient archaeological sites, fascinating museums and unique Andean atmosphere, Cusco’s sights and sounds never fail to inspire all those who travel there
- Take a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World
- Quito is UNESCO heritage listed because of its many fine examples of Spanish colonial architecture
- Get up close and personal with the abundant wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
- This small group tour can be offered with daily departures for a small supplement
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Arrive in Cusco
- Day 2: City & Ruins Tour
- Day 3: Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
- Day 4: Machu Picchu Tour
- Day 5: Fly Cusco to Quito
- Day 6: Quito City and Equator Tour
- Day 7: Fly Quito to Santa Cruz Island (Galapagos)
- Day 8: North Seymour Island
- Day 9: South Plazas Island
- Day 10: Depart Galapagos
Tailor-made Suggestions
- Add in a 3 or 4-day side trip to the Amazon.
- Upgrade your Galapagos trip to a small ship cruise and spend a few more days exploring the Islands.
- Further explore underrated Ecuador with a trip through the Avenue of the Volcanoes.
- Extend your stay in Peru and explore some of its other highlights including Arequipa, the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca.
- Incorporate a trek on the Inca Trail into this package.
Arrive in Cusco
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
We suggest that you take it easy today to give yourself the best opportunity to acclimatise to Cusco's altitude. This city is bursting with Andean culture and is one of the great culinary destinations of South America. It also just happens to be the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the best-known archaeological site on this vast continent.
City & Ruins Tour
Your first morning in Cusco can be spent at your leisure, enjoying breakfast before exploring Cusco or relaxing at your hotel.
In the afternoon you will be met for your guided tour of Cusco and its archaeological sites. Your Cusco tour will include highlights such as Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Koricancha Temple. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco which were once the former capital of the Incan Empire.
Breakfast included.
Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel to discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this full day excursion. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. Your first stop will be the lookout Mirador de Taray, a scenic lookout point offering impressive panoramic views of the Sacred Valley.
Continue on to Pisaq where you will first visit the archaeological complex, the ruins of the fortress of Pisaq which are set high above a valley by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing. The stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. You will visit the lower part of the complex where the agricultural area and the pre-Hispanic cemetery are located. Afterwards, visit the colourful local market and have free time to search for a souvenir or two before enjoying a typical Andean lunch at a local restaurant.
We then continue our journey along the River Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, where you will visit Ollantaytambo Ruins and one of its best preserved areas, Hanan Hucaypata.
You will be transferred to the local train station where you will catch the scenic afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival you will be escorted to your hotel by the hotel's staff. Enjoy a free evening and prepare for your early morning visit to Machu Picchu the next day.
*Option to add a night in the Sacred Valley and continue to Machu Picchu early tomorrow, giving you the opportunity to enjoy 2 visits to Machu Picchu.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Machu Picchu Tour
Today you will visit Wayna Picchu mountain. Upon entering the citadel, you will follow a short, predetermined route through a section of Machu Picchu until you reach the entrance of Wayna Picchu’s trail. Enjoy the exhilarating climb of Wayna Picchu, situated at approximately 3,000 meters above sea level. Make sure to take some impressive panoramic photos of Machu Picchu from above. Upon descending the mountain, you follow the short, predetermined route to the exit of the citadel.
Later, you will meet your guide in Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival a small coach takes you up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. For centuries Machu Picchu remained undiscovered by the Spaniards and has only been found in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. During a guided tour you will experience the uniqueness of the location and the genius that went into its construction, making this Inca site one of the seven new wonders of the world.
At the proper time, walk on your own to the local train station (close to artisanal market) and take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our local representative is waiting to transfer you to Cusco. In case you have left any luggage in the hotel in the Sacred Valley, it will be picked up on route.
Breakfast included.
Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
Arrive in Quito
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Ecuador's capital city, located high in the Andes Mountains, offers a warm, relaxed and traditional Ecuadorian culture with overflowing markets, a vibrant nightlife and sophisticated culinary options on offer. It's an interesting city to visit and the perfect place to stay before you explore some of Ecuador's many amazing destinations.
Breakfast included.
Quito City and Equator Tour
Your guide and transportation will pick you up and take you to the Colonial district of Quito.
While walking, your guide will tell you about the pre-Inca civilizations, the Spanish occupation, the independence phase and finally, all about Ecuador and Quito's ancient history. Places to be visited include: The overlook of El Panecillo (Panecillo Hill) The Independence square La Compañía church San Francisco square and church The Basilic (Basílica del Voto Nacional) Alameda square After this you will be driven towards the Middle of the World (Mitad Del Mundo) for approximately 45 minutes. Mitad del Mundo is one of Quito's most famous attractions, situated about 10km to the north of Ecuador's capital. In 1736 a French scientific expedition came to Ecuador to determine the position of the equator. On the site there is a monument, which houses an Ethnographic Museum. Here you will learn about lifestyles, clothing and utensils of different ethnic groups of Ecuador. Just outside Mitad del Mundo there is an interesting open-air museum called “Inti-Ñan”, which explains our solar system, the position of the equator and its effect on gravity. There are also interesting displays of Ecuadorian ancient cultures and their ways of life.
Return to the city and drop off at your hotel.
Breakfast included.
Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.
Baltra - Highlands & Charles Darwin Station
Arriving to Baltra we will take a shuttle thought out Santa Cruz Island where we will reach the highlands of the Islands with its green vegetation where we will stop to visit a Ranch, here we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat, lunch at the ranch. After, we will head to the Charles Darwin Station. The center is a reservoir of information on habitats and local conservation, as well as other fascinating relevant statistics. The most striking attraction of this station is certainly the Tortoise Breeding Center, where it is possible to view tortoises of varied sizes and shapes. Travelers here can freely walk and get their photos clicked with the tortoises. Among other inhabitants at the center, you can see the land and marine iguanas and different species of birds.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
North Seymour Tour
Today you will enjoy a navigable tour to North Seymour, a 1.9km2 island located north from Baltra. The main animal species found on this island are land iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird, blue-footed boobies and sea lions surfing across the waces. Enjoy lunch back on board your boat then head to Bachas where you will do some snorkelling, discovering different fish species and swimming with sea lions. Return to your hotel.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
South Plazas Island Tour
At around 8am you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Itabaca Channel where you will board your boat. After 1.5 hours of sailing you will arrive at South Plazas Island. This island is located to the east of Santa Cruz and is the partner of North Plaza. These are two islets separate by a small channel of turquoise water that contrast with the a red natural carpet (sesuvium) and cactus. When you arrive at the island, you will be greeted by Galapagos sea lionst. During the visit you´ll probably see a variety of sea birds fishing and flying really close to the cliff. You will also find two different kinds of iguanas, the land iguana with their yellow-brown colour eating cactus and the marine iguana having a sunbath. The second part of the tour will be spent at Carrión Point, where you can enjoy a unique experience snorkelling. You might see a white tip reef shark, different kinds of reef fishes and if you are lucky some marine turtles and sea lions.
Head back to the boat for lunch and sailing back to Santa Cruz.
Breakfast and Lunch included.
Depart Galapagos
After breakfast you are transferred back to Baltra airport for your flight black to mainland.
Breakfast included.
Departs - Daily
Season | Type | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
01 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024 | NZD $6406pp | ||
Comfort | NZD $6406pp | Contact us | |
Superior | NZD $7216pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe | NZD $8658pp | Contact us | |
01 Jan 2025 - 31 Dec 2025 | NZD $7271pp | ||
Comfort | NZD $7271pp | Contact us | |
Superior | NZD $8155pp | Contact us | |
Deluxe | NZD $9003pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Comfort
Cusco, Peru - Hotel Hacienda Cusco Plaza Regocijo
Machu Picchu, Peru - El Mapi Hotel
Quito, Ecuador - Casa Alquimia
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - Hotel Fiesta
Superior
Cusco, Peru - Antigua Casona San Blas
Machu Picchu, Peru - El Mapi Hotel
Quito, Ecuador - Hotel Casona de la Ronda
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - Hotel Galapagos Suites
Deluxe
Cusco, Peru - Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel
Machu Picchu, Peru - Sumaq Hotel
Quito, Ecuador - Hotel Mama Cuchara
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - Ikala Galapagos Hotel
Whats included?
- Internal airfares
- Accommodation
- Transfers
- Entrance fees
- English-speaking guided tours
- Meals as specified
- Hotel taxes
What’s not included?
- International airfares
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Galapagos national park fee - US$200 per person
- Transit control card - US$20 per person
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
Hotel rates are based on double/twin share lead-in rooms. Other room types and hotels are available. Rates are subject to change and different rates may apply during holiday seasons and special events.