Tauck Tours-Peru & The Galapagos Islands

This active, adventurous Galápagos and Peru tour combines the ancient empire of the Incas, with the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands. Listen for mysterious spirits echoing at Machu Picchu, the spectacular Lost City of the Incas. Embark on a memorable cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos for amazing wildlife viewing, A highlight of any Galápagos cruise is the opportunity to get up close to giant Galápagos tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas, and penguins. Enjoy lunch on a Peruvian farm, dinner at a Colonial home, an overnight in a converted monastery, and tours of Lima, Cusco, and Guayaquil.

2007 Itinerary

• Indicates day of cruising

Day 1: Welcome to Peru's capital city, Lima
Your Peru tour begins at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport one hour after arrival of Tauck-selected flights. Transfer to your hotel located in an oceanfront section of Lima.
Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru

Day 2: Discover colonial Lima
In Lima, sightseeing highlights include a visit to a ranch for an impressive performance by Peruvian prancing horses, followed by a lunch featuring regional cuisine. Enjoy welcome cocktails and dinner at Casa Aliaga, a 66-room home built in 1535 that has remained in the same family for generations.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru

Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Fly to Cusco, and enjoy lunch at a traditional farm on your way to El Valle Sagrado, the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the great fortress of Ollantaytambo, a well-preserved Inca settlement and a National Archaeological Park. Dating to the 15th century, it features an intricate walled complex.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Sol y Luna, Yucay Valley, Peru

Day 4: Machu Picchu Inspiration
Journey by rail to the spectacular, mystical ruins of Machu Picchu, the "Lost City of the Incas." Join a local guide for in-depth exploration, climbing up to the well-preserved remains. Explore the extensive terracing and intricate stonework found on nearly vertical terrain, surrounded by soaring jungle peaks and the Andes Mountains. Your hotel enjoys stunning views of the Andes Mountains and is located at the entrance to the ruins – which means you can visit the Inca citadel at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Aguas Calientes, Peru

Day 5: Sunrise over Machu Picchu
Take the opportunity to experience the spiritual complex of Machu Picchu at sunrise – a highlight of any Peru tour – before the day-trippers arrive. The morning mist adds to the mystery of the site's origins and why it was abandoned. Depart for Aguas Calientes, and then journey by train to Cusco, where your lodgings are in a lavishly restored monastery.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru

Day 6: Curious Cusco
Continuing to explore Peru tour Cusco, once the powerful capital of the ancient, sophisticated Inca empire. See Plaza de Armas, a large square that was the center of the ancient city; the Cathedral; and colonial buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. A guided walking tour of Sacsayhuaman scales steep steps to explore the ruins of this Inca military fortress, providing great views of the city below.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru

Day 7: Journey to Ecuador
Fly to Lima and take a connecting flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city. It's renowned as a major port and enjoys a pleasant tropical climate.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador

• Day 8: Greetings Galápagos
Fly to the Galápagos Islands, 600 miles off the coast and home to wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Enjoy a four-night cruise aboard Tauck's exclusive expeditionary-style yacht, topped by an observation deck. The cruise itinerary is flexible, allowing the ship to access many remote islands, choosing beaches that are full of wildlife. Landings are made in a panga , a Zodiac-style raft, and may require wading ashore in shallow water.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands

• Day 9 through 11: Galápagos Islands Cruise
Join your expert naturalist on active daily nature hikes on various islands, getting an insider's look at history, geology, biology, and ornithology. Spot giant Galápagos tortoises, penguins, blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas, sea lions, flamingos, and waved albatross. Best of all, the birds and animals are unafraid of humans, so you can get right up close to them. Hop into the water to see the diverse underwater world with snorkel and mask, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station for a historical perspective.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands

Day 12: Explore Guayaquil
Disembark Isabela II , and fly to Guayaquil. Take a guided sightseeing tour of the city. During your free afternoon, perhaps stroll the waterfront promenade, El Malecon. Share favorite experiences from your Galápagos and Peru tour at the farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hilton Colon Guayaquil, Ecuador

Day 13: Goodbye Galápagos
Tour ends at Guayaquil International Airport 2 1/2 hours before the departure of Tauck-selected flights. If you are departing at other times, you can take the hotel shuttle to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

Book this Galápagos and Peru tour to see Machu Picchu and some of the world's most unique wildlife!

Departure Dates

Sep 18, 22, 26, 30
Oct 4, 8, 12

Prices

13 Days from $5,490 plus airfare

29 meals included.

Air Price Per Person

On-Tour Airfare Per Person (5 flights) from $940 and must be purchased through Tauck as a part of your tour package.

International Airfare is additional. Call us for special rates on international air for travel originating in the U.S. (subject to availability). Departure tax is additional.

Land / Cruise Price includes: Galápagos National Park entrance fee ($100); private shore excursions with naturalists, wine with dinner on Isabela II; and gratuities to ship staff.

Galápagos Cruise Only – Join in Guayaquil on Day 7 for 7 days / 6 nights, priced from $3,890 plus airfare. On-Tour Airfare Per Person (2 flights) is from $295 and must be purchased through Tauck as a part of your tour package.

Please ask when booking about additional hotel nights before your tour begins and about our Cruise Protection Plan.

All prices are per person in U.S. dollars.