Loved working with Jackie and the outstanding crew at SA plus all the great guided on the ground in India. Yes, we saw Riddhi the tigress also!
Galapagos Cruise & Machu Picchu Tour
South America's two gems in one seamless trip
We have carefully devised this 11-day itinerary to the Galapagos and Machu Picchu to combine two of South America's most iconic destinations in one smooth and seamless journey.
Your trip begins with the remarkable wildlife haven of the Galapagos Islands, spending five days aboard one of our hand-selected small cruise ships. Then you'll dive into the heart of the ancient Incan world in Peru, where you'll enjoy guided tours of Cusco, the Sacred Valley and, finally, the legendary ruins of Machu Picchu.
Customise this trip
The following itinerary is provided for inspiration only: we can adjust the days, activities and hotels to suit your budget and preferences. This trip can easily be extended with an overnight train journey to Lake Titicaca, visit the Peruvian Amazon, or spend longer exploring mainland Ecuador. Get in touch now for expert, no obligation itinerary advice!
Good to know
- 100% tailor-made itineraries
- Best guides & hotels
- Top rated reviews
What's included
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Accommodation
-
Guided excursions
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Ground transfers
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Some meals
Days
11
Starting from
$7,190 pp
Detailed itinerary
What you'll see and do
This is a customisable trip
Use the following itinerary for inspiration. Remember: all days, hotels and activities can be altered to suit your requirements. A SA Expeditions travel specialist will be happy to advise.
Day 1
Arrival to Ecuador
Guayaquil

Welcome to Ecuador. You will be greeted at the airport by our representatives and taken to your Guayaquil hotel to settle in and prepare for your flight to the Galapagos the following morning.
Featured Accommodation
Day 2
Arrival in Santa Cruz, Galapagos
Isla Santa Cruz

Your exploration of the Galapagos Islands begins! Upon arrival in Baltra, 600 miles off the coast, you will be met by your guide and taken on a short bus ride to the harbor to board your vessel. After lunch, you will embark on an excursion to Dragon Hill, famed for its numerous land iguanas.
Day 3
Galapagos Cruise: Rabida Island
Isla Rabida

Land on the red sands of Rábida Island, which is small but brimming with wildlife. Along the shore you will encounter playful sea lions and nesting pelicans. A short inland trail takes you to a salt water lagoon where you're likely to see flamingos and the famous Galapagos finches. Then, in the afternoon, you'll learn about the archipelago’s geology on the tiny island of Sombrero Chino.
Day 4
Galapagos Cruise: Genovesa Island
Isla Genovesa

Discover Genovesa Island, often called Bird Island for its abundance of avian species. In the morning you'll ascend Prince Philip's Steps, a rocky inclined path surrounded by boobie colonies. Spend the afternoon at Darwin Bay among Galapagos sea lions, red-footed and masked boobies, and impressive great frigates.
Day 5
Galapagos Cruise: Bartolome Island
Isla Bartolomé

Enjoy a morning at Bartolome Island. From here, at an elevation of almost 400 feet, take in breath-taking views of the lunar craters, volcanic cones, lava fields, and beaches of the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, explore the still-active volcanic island of Santiago, one of the best places for observing fur seals in the Galapagos.
Day 6
Galapagos to Lima, Peru
Lima

During your last day in the Galapagos, explore the highlands of Santa Cruz where the scenery changes dramatically to lush forest. You'll have the opportunity to explore a lava tunnel and see enormous crater-like sink holes. Your cruise ends with a transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima, Peru. Upon your arrival at the Lima airport you will be greeted and driven to your hotel.
Featured Accommodation
Day 7
Lima to Cusco
Cusco

Travelling from Lima to Cusco, you will have ascended from sea level to 11,500 feet. On your first day, you will be free to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. If you're feeling up to it, the city center is pedestrian-friendly and makes for a great stroll. We’re happy to recommend the city's best options for dining and shopping, depending on your interests and preferences.
Featured Accommodation
Day 8
Private Half Day Cusco City Tour
Cusco

Discover the city of Cusco, the capital of the Incan Empire, on a private guided tour. You'll visit Sacsayhuaman, an immense Incan complex with impressive stonework, Koricancha, one of the most important Incan temples (the walls were once actually coated in gold!), and Cusco's Cathedral where you'll learn about the Cusco school of art.
Day 9
Private Sacred Valley Tour
Sacred Valley

Journey through the breath-taking scenery of the Sacred Valley. Your tour through this Incan agricultural heartland will include visits to the ancient circular agricultural terraces of Moray, the salt mines at Maras, and the ruins and village of Ollantaytambo. Departing from Ollantaytambo, enjoy a scenic train ride through the Sacred Valley to the town of Machu Picchu where you will stay in your hotel at Aguas Calientes.
Featured Accommodation
Day 10
Private Machu Picchu Tour
Machu Picchu

Uncover the secrets of Machu Picchu during a guided tour of this Incan citadel. You'll visit the most important parts of the ruins to learn how and why they were constructed. After the tour, you'll have time to further explore the ruins or sit back and soak up the magic of Machu Picchu. You can also hike to the top of Huayna Picchu for a mesmerising view of the ruins. The steep path takes about an hour and a half to ascend. Journey by train from Machu Picchu town, through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival at the train station you will be met and transferred to your Cusco hotel.
Day 11
International Departure
Lima

You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Cusco airport for your flight to Lima. Depending on the time of your international flight out a private tour of Lima's key sites can be arranged. You will visit the Larco Archaeological Museum, the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs, Lima's historic colonial squares, and the picturesque waterfront district Miraflores.
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Guayaquil
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Isla Santa Cruz
Almost all visitors to the Galapagos Islands will touch down in Isla Santa Cruz at some point... -
Isla Rabida
Famous for the unique red colour of its beach and cliffs, Isla Rabida is known for the sizeable number of flamingos that feed on shrimp in its lagoon, snorkelling with sea lions and the large number of bird species that live here... -
Isla Genovesa
Stay with us – Isla Genovesa is also known as Booby Island due to the sheer number of goofy-looking Nazca and red-footed boobies that live here... -
Isla Bartolomé
Tiny Bartolomé is most famous for its landscapes and scenery... -
Lima
Peru's unfairly overlooked capital
Many tourists arrive in Lima only to fly straight out to Cusco, Arequipa or other popular tourist destinations in Peru... -
Cusco
Capital of the Inca
Once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire, Cusco is today the beating heart of Peru's tourism industry... -
Cusco
Capital of the Inca
Once the capital of the mighty Inca Empire, Cusco is today the beating heart of Peru's tourism industry... -
Sacred Valley
Peru's spiritual heartland
The Urubamba River descends from Cusco, eventually connecting with tributaries of the mighty Amazon... -
Machu Picchu
Peru's archaeological rock star
Machu Picchu is the top attraction in Peru and, in 2007, was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World... -
Lima
Peru's unfairly overlooked capital
Many tourists arrive in Lima only to fly straight out to Cusco, Arequipa or other popular tourist destinations in Peru...
Speak to a South America specialist about this trip





Where to stay
Some of our sample accommodation.
What's included
|
Accommodation |
Carefully-selected, quality assured hotels including unique, independently-owned boutiques. All hotels can be upgraded or changed on request. |
|
Guided excursions |
All trips and excursions accompanied by expert, bi-lingual guides to help you get an inside view. |
|
Ground transfers |
All airport collections and hotel transfers in private cars and comfortable minivans. |
|
Some meals |
All breakfasts and some lunches included. Your guides will happily advise on local restaurants for evening meals. |
How to book
All days, excursions and hotels can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Contact one of our South America travel experts now to discuss changes to this itinerary.
Reviews
What people are saying about SA Expeditions
Randy L
23/10/2024
Charles P
09/10/2024
A fantastic adventure from beginning to end! The beauty and spectacle of the trail and ruins was only matched by the coordination and execution of the trip. Hats off to our guide Evert Quispe who was as accommodating as he was knowledgeable. Our team of porters: Ronal, Nemesio, Cayetano, Isidro, Celso, Noe, Mario, and the ever present and always excellent Claudio made our trip an unforgettable...
Sara H
08/10/2024
Words cannot express the deep gratitude we have towards SA Expeditions. From the moment we started working with Chelsey—adjusting and rearranging our plans—they made sure everything was tailored to give us the perfect trip. Thank you for always answering our questions and responding in a timely manner.
Donald S
06/10/2024
Our Peruvian adventure far exceeded our expectations in every dimension. The trip was planned by Adam Laughter of SA Expeditions. Every detail of the trip was coordinated flawlessly.
Melinda
09/09/2021
I went to Ecuador on the Galapagos trip. It was my first trip with SA Expeditions so I had no idea why to expect. They definitely impressed. Every detail was organized and planned for me. The hotels exceeded my expectations. The tours were exactly what they described. My guides were fun, knowledgeable and flexible to adjust to what I felt like doing. I travelled alone as a single woman and felt completely safe the entire time. I knew they were just a phone call away. I'll be booking the trip to the salt flats for December!
Mendiola
28/08/2021
We had a great trip to Peru booked through SA Expeditions! Everything ran smoothly from start to finish. We had great accommodations and we especially liked our guide Silver! I was nervous at first about booking with a company I found on the web and had no experience with but Dan, who made all arrangements, was very patient with me and but me at ease. I would highly recommend SA Expeditions!
Kevin
25/08/2021
My daughter and I went with SA Expeditions to coordinate our trip to Peru to Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca. The accommodations that SA scheduled were fantastic. Beautiful settings, delicious food and friendly staff.
Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. We had to make some last minute changes to our hike. Our guide Marco rolled with the changes and made it a memorable experience.
We enjoyed the knowledge that the guides had regarding Incan and pre-Incan societies. We left the vacation more knowledgeable that when we started.
Can't recommend enough.
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