See Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands on one amazing bucket list tour!
Journey from the Land of the Incas to the Galápagos archipelago, enjoying a 4-night cruise aboard a personal yacht. Delve deep into ancient cultures at Machu Picchu – the fabled lost city. Explore UNESCO-designated Spanish colonial cities and stand between two hemispheres at the Equatorial Line. Experience the best of the Galápagos archipelago, where an abundance of natural wildlife recalls Darwin’s theories in a pristine world that’s virtually unspoiled. You’ll encounter hidden wonders in Peru, the “Middle of the World” in Ecuador, and see ethereal wildlife on a cruise along Eden-like islands.
Highlights
- On a private yacht, embark on a 4-night cruise of the Galápagos Islands with a naturalist guide
- Explore the fabled ruins of Machu Picchu
- Meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat
- Discover centuries-old Andean textile methods in the Peruvian Andes
- Wind through the Andes in a train to Machu Picchu
- Stand tall in the "Middle of the World" at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum
- Master two of South America's classics, ceviche and pisco sours, at an interactive cooking class
- Indulge in a farm to table meal in a local community
- Be awestruck by giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station
Your tour includes:
- 13 nights accommodation
- 27 meals (13 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners)
- An expert Tour Manager
- Inclusions/Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Optional Experiences and free time
Day 1 - Arrive Lima (Peru) - tour begins
Touch down in Lima, the “City of Kings.” Across ancient lands and earthly legends, experience the mysticism of the Peruvian Andes.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Day 2 - Lima
Become fascinated by Lima’s history on a tour through the historic center, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, where the elegant Cathedral at Plaza de Armas stands out among the colonial architecture. Visit the former home of a conquistador and feel the surge of colonial and republican life. Get to know new friends over a menu of artful Peruvian dishes at a welcome dinner.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 3 - Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley of the Incas
Fly over the Andes on your way to Cuzco – the heart of the Inca civilization. Follow the trails of this Andean paradise with a local guide to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Learn about centuries-old methods of traditional textiles at Awana Kancha – known as the "palace of weaving." Stop in Pisac village and browse a handicraft market full of vibrant colors. Discover why Peru has consistently been named the world’s top food travel destination during a fun-filled interactive cooking class where you will learn how to master ceviche and pisco sours. Settle in to your hotel nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley and relax in the calming surround of the Andes.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4 - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Ollantaytambo and return
Visit the terraced ruins of Ollantaytambo, the only Incan settlement that has remained continually inhabited since its inception. At the ceramic studio of artist Pablo Seminario, see how he utilizes the intricate techniques inspired by ancient Peruvian cultures. Mix with a nearby community and delve deep into the cultures of modern Andean people. Learn traditional methods of growing, harvesting and weaving, listen to their music and learn their dances before enjoying a farm-to-table meal of local specialties.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5 - Sacred Valley of the Incas - Machu Picchu
Hop aboard your train to Machu Picchu, where views of the Andes astound through panoramic windows as you climb toward the “Lost City of the Incas.” Uncover the mysteries of this “Lost City” at the meeting point between the Peruvian Andes and the Amazon Basin. Wrapped inside a semi-tropical jungle and hidden by mountains, Machu Picchu or La Ciudadela, (the Citadel), is one of the world’s most spectacular archaeological sites.
- Stay: Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu
- Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Machu Picchu - Cuzco
Enjoy some leisure time this morning. You may choose an optional excursion to Machu Picchu at sunrise, or maybe you’ll explore the local markets before boarding your train back to the Sacred Valley. Continue to Cuzco and feel the local culture at a special community dining experience.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 7 - Cuzco
Start your morning with a local guide on your tour of Cuzco, visiting the San Pedro Market, the Koricancha Temple, the central Plaza de Armas, and the Cuzco Cathedral. Later, it’s your choice! Travel above the city to discover the Incan ruins of Sacsayhuaman Fortress -OR- embark on a walking tour of San Blas, the traditional old quarter of Cuzco, lined with restaurants and artisan shops. The rest of the afternoon is yours. This evening, enjoy flexible dining at a popular local restaurant featuring the local flavours of Cuzco.
- Stay: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 8 - Cuzco - Quito (Ecuador)
This morning, fly to Ecuador’s stunning capital city – Quito, your home for the next two nights.* An intersection of mountains and colonial architecture, this city is a UNESCO World Heritage site full of lively culture and vibrant history.
- Stay: Mercure Hotel Alameda Quito
- Included Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Quito
Today, tour the Presidential Palace in Quito’s colonial center. After lunch, stand at the “Middle of the World,” situated between two hemispheres, at the Equatorial Line Monument and Museum. Spend the rest of the day at leisure.
- Stay: Mercure Hotel Alameda Quito
- Included Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10 - Quito - Embark ship - Santa Cruz Highlands, Galápagos
Fly to the gateway of the Galápagos, Baltra to launch your eco-adventure aboard the M/Y Coral II,** an exclusive yacht that serves as your home for the next four nights. After dry landing on Santa Cruz Island head from the coast to the dense humid forests and the Highlands Tortoise Reserve. In addition to famed Galápagos Giant Tortoises you may also spot many different kinds of birds, such as tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets - usually found standing on the tortoises’ shells.
- Stay: Klein Tours Coral II
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 11 - Isabela Island - Fernandina Island
On Isabela Island soak in the wonders of one of the richest marine havens on earth during deep-water snorkeling at the Bolivar Channel. Then, take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds; Nazca and blue-footed boobies, noddies, brown pelicans, penguins, and flightless cormorants. Continue on to make a dry landing on Fernandina Island, where the largest, most primitive-looking marine iguanas are found mingling with sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs. You may even encounter flightless cormorants at their nesting sites, Galápagos penguins and the “King” of predators on the islands, the Galápagos hawk!
- Stay: Klein Tours Coral II
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 12 - Isabela Island
Make a wet landing today on the volcanic black beaches of Urbina Bay - home to giant tortoises, land iguanas, and the unusual flightless cormorant. Here, colorful varieties of plants and flowers attract unusual insects, birds, and reptiles. Enjoy time to snorkel, possibly swimming alongside with sea turtles, sea lions, and countless tropical fish. Don’t miss the remarkable views of the Alcedo Volcano from the island’s uplifted coral reef. Travel from Urbina to Tagus Cove for a dry landing. Take the trail that leads to Darwin’s salt-water crater lake, offering excellent views of lava fields and volcanic formations. A dinghy ride along the shoreline full of marine wildlife highlights a variety of seabirds, such as Bluefooted Booby, Brown Noddy, terns, and - depending on the season - a large number of Galápagos Penguins which are only 35 cm tall and the only penguin species to live in the tropics. Keep an eye out for graffiti believed to have been left by 19th-century pirates.
- Stay: Klein Tours Coral II
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 13 - Santiago Island
Walk in Darwin’s footsteps today on Santiago Island. Begin with a wet landing at Egas Port’s black volcanic sand beach, visited by Darwin in 1835. Take a unique trail formed of volcanic ash that transitions halfway to uneven terrain of volcanic basaltic rock. The unique, truly striking layered terrain of Santiago is home to the bizarre yellow-crowned night heron and marine wildlife such as lobster, starfish and marine iguanas that graze on algae alongside Sally light-foot crabs. Colonies of fur seals swim in volcanic rock pools. After landing in Sullivan’s Bay on southeastern Santiago Island, walk through the otherworldly landscape of solidified pa-hoe-hoe lava flows, formed during the last quarter of the 19th century.
- Stay: Klein Tours Coral II
- Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 14 - Santa Cruz - Disembark Ship - Quito - Tour Ends
Your last landing in the Galápagos is on the north side of Santa Cruz at Bachas Beach where ponds entice Galápagos Flamingo’s to visit, iguanas to sunbathe, and coastal birds such as Darwin finches, mockingbirds, and gulls flit among the red and black mangroves. This beach is also one of the main sea turtle nesting sites in the Galápagos and home to the remains of barges that sank during World War II. Bid the Galápagos goodbye and return to Quito, where a day room will be available close to the airport before your flight home.
- Included Meals: Breakfast
Please note the following itinerary is subject to change without notice.
Please note that prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.
2 Departures only
- 9 - 22 Jan 2023
- 13 - 26 Feb 2023
Book by 31 August 2022 to enjoy savings
- Twin share from WAS $11,139 NOW $10,839 pp twin share - land only
- Solo Traveller from WAS $17,439 NOW $17,139 pp - land only
Call our friendly team on 1300 414 198 to book your tour and don't forget to ask about airfares and travel insurance too! Why not extend your stay - we can also assist with any additional travel requirements.
- Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Lima
- Casa Andina Premium Sacred Valley
- Casa Andina Standard Machu Picchu
- Casa Andina Premium Cusco
- Mercure Hotel Alameda Quito
- Klein Tours Coral II (Exclusive Yacht)
Ask about the tour operators cancel for any reason waiver. Go ahead and book that dream trip, because when you purchase a Collette Tour, our cancellation waiver is included which means you can cancel for any reason and get a full cash refund, minus deposit – all the way up to 24 hours before your trip departs. We’ve offered this waiver for decades to give our travellers assurance every step of the way – with no blackout windows or hidden restrictions.
Tour Activity Level - The activity level for this tour is 4. To truly experience the program and destination, you need to be able to participate in physical activities such as longer walking tours, walking over uneven terrain, climbing stairs and periods of standing. Some of the touring days may be longer, with select included activities occurring later in the evening.
Masks - Guests are required to bring their own personal protective equipment they are comfortable with using, as wearing a mask may be required during some parts of your tour experience.
Motor Coach - All surfaces will be sanitised often, including regular cleaning of high-touch areas with disinfecting wipes. Hand sanitiser will be available at all times and drivers will wear protective gear.
Will I need a passport? Passports are needed when travelling outside of your home country. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of your trip.
Will I need a visa? You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas prior to the departure of your guided holiday. Depending on your nationality, you may need visas to enter certain countries included on your trip. Please note that obtaining visas can take up to six weeks prior to your departure. It is strongly advised that you consult your Travel Agent and the local Consulate or Embassy of the country you are visiting well in advance to determine which visas they require and how to obtain them.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply
As of April 2021 all guests Travelling with Collette, regardless of destination or point of origin, must provide proof of one of the following to verify information you will be providing to Collette when filling out our Wellness Declaration upon arrival on tour:
- Proof of Negative Covid-19 Test would include a verifiable negative FDA- approved diagnostic COVID test (electronic or paper) showing date and time of test, taken within 72 hours of the start date of your tour.
- Proof of recovery from COVID-19 would include both a copy of a positive test result dated within 3 months prior to the end of your tour and also written documentation from your health care provider that you have been cleared to end quarantine. This written documentation must include your name and the date your positive test was performed.
- Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is your official vaccination certificate (electronic or paper) and must identify your name and date of vaccination with final dose given at least 14-days before the start date of your tour.
You can rest assured that Collette has been operating tours in select regions where local government regulations permit travel and where proper health measures are in place to mitigate risk, protect our guests’ well-being, and ensure an enjoyable experience. We will notify you of necessary requirements for your destination prior to departure.
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