Amazon, Incas & Galapagos

Day 1 — Guayaquil

You will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 — Guayaquil › Galapagos Islands

Morning flight to the Galapagos Islands, situated 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador. On arrival board your comfortable cabin to cruise either the Western Islands (Thursdays) or Northern Islands (Mondays). This afternoon enjoy your first excursion ashore in a small group and begin your wonderful Galapagos adventure.

Days 3-5 — Galapagos Cruise

All the iconic species such as the blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, marine iguana, giant tortoises and Darwin’s finches will be seen along with many other birds and reptiles as you go ashore twice a day in different islands. The vegetation of the Galapagos is unique and for those keen on snorkeling, life beneath the waves is extremely prolific with glass bottom boat options for non-snorkelers. Your expert naturalist guides will bring the geology, wildlife and history of this amazing archipelago alive.

Day 6 — Galapagos › Quito

Your final morning in the islands then fly to Quito.

Day 7 — Quito › Coca › Sacha Lodge, Amazon

A short 35 minute scenic flight over the Andes lands you in Amazonia then a two hour river journey arrives you at the award winning and very comfortable Sacha Lodge, set on the shores of a beautiful lake.

Days 8 & 9 — Sacha Lodge

Days filled with jungle activities, bird watching, canopy walks, canoe trips and night excursions in pristine jungle. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of eight guests, and each group will be accompanied by a specialist English speaking naturalist guide who will help reveal to you all the wonders of the Amazon jungle.

Day 10 — Sacha Lodge › Coca › Quito

Fly back to Quito and transfer to your charming hotel, situated in Quito’s historic centre which features over a hundred Spanish colonial and neoclassical buildings.

Day 11 — Quito

Tour colonial Quito, a UNESCO Heritage listed gem with the finest old town centre of any Latin American capital. Highlights will include Independence Square, La Compañía Church, San Francisco Church and Monastery, and the Panecillo – a hill topped by a statue of the Virgin of Quito – offering sweeping views of the city and its surroundings.

Day 12 — Quito › Lima

Time for further exploration before you fly to Lima.

Day 13 — Lima

Enjoy a sightseeing tour of historical Lima, which in the days of Spanish colonial rule, was the most important city in South America.

Day 14 — Lima › Cuzco

Fly to Cuzco and in the afternoon tour the highlights of the city, visiting the San Pedro Market and the artisan district of San Blas. Then see Koricancha, the Temple of the Sun, and admire the finest examples of exquisite Inca stonework found anywhere in their empire. The tour ends with a visit to the impressive Cathedral – considered one of the most beautiful in Latin America.

Day 15 — Cuzco › Sacred Valley

Visit the weavers at Chincheros then the amazing Inca ruins of Moray and Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Incas where you will stay overnight.

Day 16 — Sacred Valley › Machu Picchu

Scenic train to Machu Picchu. Enjoy a tour of this awe-inspiring ancient city. Nothing will prepare you for your visit to Machu Picchu! Spend the night in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes.

Day 17 — Machu Picchu › Sacred Valley › Cuzco

Time for a second visit to Machu Picchu (at additional cost) or to shop in the local markets before returning to Cuzco.

Day 18 — Cuzco

Day at leisure to wander, explore or shop this lovely town.

Day 19 — Cuzco › Puno

Scenic full day coach trip through the Andes to Lake Titicaca, with some very interesting stops in small towns and at impressive Inca ruins along the way.

Day 20 — Puno › La Paz

Depart early from Puno to Copacabana Sanctuary. After exploring the sanctuary, embark on a catamaran cruise to Isla del Sol (Sun Island), the Inca Empire’s birthplace. Also, visit the Inti Wata Cultural Complex. Enjoy a buffet lunch onboard before returning to Copacabana. Finally, transfer to La Paz.

Day 21 — La Paz

Enjoy a half day city tour through La Paz. The journey unfolds through vibrant street markets teeming with exquisite handicrafts, intricate weavings, and intriguing items associated with witchcraft. Delve into the city’s colonial legacy with visits to historical landmarks including the San Francisco Church, the Gold Museum, and the iconic Murillo Square. Ascend to the “Mirador de Killi Killi” viewpoint, offering breathtaking panoramas. Encounter an outdoor replica of the Tiwanaku temple, delving into ancient history.

Head to the modern southern region of La Paz and venture to the awe-inspiring Valley of the Moon, where the intricate erosion has sculpted a clay mountain. Glide across the cityscape aboard the “Teleferico” cable car, treating yourself to an unparalleled vista of La Paz’s beauty. This comprehensive journey offers an unmissable opportunity to witness the city’s cultural richness, historical heritage, and natural marvels, providing an experience that is a must for everyone.

Day 22 — La Paz

Transfer to the airport for departure.

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What’s included

• 17 nights’ accommodation
• 4 nights’ onboard M/Y Isabela II in the Galapagos Islands
• 21 breakfasts, 11 lunches, and 8 dinners
• Meet & Greet at airports
• Private transfers as per the itinerary
• Shared transfers in Galapagos, Quito on Days 6 & 7, and Coca
• Economy class flights Guayaquil › Galapagos › Quito › Coca › Quito › Lima › Cuzco
• PeruRail’s Vistadome train Ollantaytambo › Aguas Calientes › Ollantaytambo
• Shared shuttle Aguas Calientes › Machu Picchu › Aguas Calientes
• Private sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Shared sightseeing from Cuzco › Puno and Puno › La Paz
• English-speaking local guides
• Entrance fees as per the itinerary
• INGALA Transit Control Card for the Galapagos Islands
• Carbon offset fee in Ecuador

Not included

• Galapagos National Park Fee currently US$200 per person is payable in cash on arrival in the Galapagos
• A fuel surcharge may be applicable on your cruise at time of booking
• Wetsuits onboard (available for rental)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities

The whole trip, one booking

We arrange your international and regional flights alongside your journey — in whichever cabin suits — with stopovers, travel insurance and the rest of your time in South America, so it’s all priced, ticketed and looked after together.

Talk to us about your trip →

Why book through us

A South American itinerary takes real co-ordination: flights across the Pacific, internal flights between countries, trains, lodges, guides and the occasional boat. Booking through Fine Travel, you benefit from partners on the ground who have been chosen and tested over many years by our specialist partners — and you deal with one TAANZ-accredited agency in New Zealand.

One consultant, first call to home again

Your Fine Travel consultant looks after your enquiry and your booking from the first conversation to your return, with the operator’s on-the-ground partners behind the journey itself.

Complimentary documentation

If you prefer printed copies of your travel documentation, we’ll courier a full hard-copy set to you at no cost — a service few agencies still offer, and one our clients tell us they value.