Journeys: Peru & the Galápagos Islands

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Private transfer to the Lima airport to catch a flight to Cusco.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Times includes all stops and visits enroute through the Sacred Valley.

Including stops and visits.

Explore the ancient site of Moray, which archeologists believe was used to conduct agricultural experiments. Walk down through the great circular terraces and notice how the temperature shifts with the depth – sometimes as much as 15°C (27°F)!

Visit the pre-Incan salt pans of Las Salineras – still in use today. Marvel at the terraced pools set amongst the beauty of the Sacred Valley.

The thousand-year-old tradition of pachamanca is typically prepared in an underground oven using hot stones, earth, and aromatic herbs. For this experience, you will enjoy pachamanca a la olla, a variation prepared in a pot. Using the same local ingredients and seasonings, meats such as lamb, pork, chicken, or guinea pig are slow-cooked with vegetables to recreate the rich, earthy flavors of the original method. Savour this traditional meal, prepared by an experienced chef.

Times includes all stops and visits enroute through the Sacred Valley.

Including stops and visits.

In Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Inca, six communities of approximately 6000 indigenous people are working together to preserve over 700 species of potato – a cornerstone of life here. As part of an experience exclusive to National Geographic Journeys travellers – and part of our G Adventures for Good program – visit this area, named “Parque de la Papa” (“Potato Park”), to learn about life in an Andean agricultural community. Walk through the park here with a local guide, dropping by the seed bank (which has direct ties to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway) and then head out to the fields to watch the planting or harvesting process, depending on the season. After, enjoy some of the delicious varieties of potato and visit the small stone hut where traditional weaving takes place. Learn about the natural dyeing process and witness alpaca wool strands being transformed into beautiful textiles through a centuries-old backstrap weaving style. Your visit to this special community means this local enterprise can continue earning an income that supports their development and conservation goals.

Parque de la Papa (meaning "Potato Park") serves two important purposes for the community of Pampallacta: the preservation of agricultural biodiversity and economic opportunity. National Geographic Journeys travellers visit the park to learn about life in a rural agricultural Andean community and take a tour of the seed conservation program, which is preserving heritage potato species. They also learn about traditional planting, harvesting and indigenous weaving practices. With G Adventures' support, the community is able to create jobs in the area and invest in local businesses, which helps the community preserve their culture.

Tour the fascinating hilltop citadel of Pisac, an Incan ruin with plunging gorges, a ceremonial centre, and winding agriculture terracing that's still in use today. Be captivated by this truly amazing site sitting amid sweeping green valleys and mountain peaks. Explore the back of the site to see a pocketed cliff across Kitamayo Gorge, which once contained hundreds of Inca tombs.

Contribute to sustainable tourism in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families in the Sacred Valley, by eating at the Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn how the resident-run restaurant was kickstarted by G Adventures and the Multilateral Investment Fund, to become a successful farm-to-table program that boosts the local economy and several spin-off microenterprises.

Tour the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo with a local guide. Take a step back in time at this Inca archaeological site; it still shows signs of its former glory, including agricultural terraces, a Temple Hill, and storehouses. Learn how the area, overlooking the Urubamba River Valley, was an important stronghold during warfare between the Spanish and Incas.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Enjoy a scenic train ride through the Sacred Vally and along the Urubamba river to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Set off with the local guide to explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Learn about the history and gain insights into this massive mountaintop citadel while wandering through ancient dwellings, stone temples and along sculpted terraces. Feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide internet poll.

Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Take in the sights on horseback or rent a motorbike for a more thrilling ride. Looking to learn more about Cusco? Head to one of the many museums in the city.

Look to the night sky for a different view of the city. Explore the Cusco Planetarium surrounded by the serene nature of the Llaullipata Ecological Reserve. Enjoy a presentation on the southern sky, contemporary astronomy, and the ancient Incas’ relationship with the cosmos. Check out the on-site museum and use the telescopes to admire the stars (weather-permitting).

Private transfer to the Cusco airport to catch a flight to Lima. Private transfer to the Lima hotel.

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Board a plan and fly north along the spine of the Andes from Lima to Quito, Ecuador.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

You may be a seasoned pro at group travel by now, but there will likely be some new travellers joining the group. Sit in on the welcome meeting to meet the newest members of your group and learn about the next leg of your tour.

Step into the dense heritage of Ecuador's capital with a morning walk through Quito's historic heart, marveling at the intricate details of La Compañía de Jesús and the colonial architecture of San Francisco Plaza. Savor the complex flavors of pure Andean cacao during a curated chocolate tasting, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit the Intiñan Museum (Intiñan Site meaning 'Pathway of the Sun') with interactive exhibits displaying the science and myths behind the equatorial line. You will have the opportunity to interact with phenomena that occur in nature which can be tested on the magnetic equatorial line. The centre also has displays highlighting the local indigenous cultures. There is also a chance to set foot on both sides of the Equator, for which the country of Ecuador is named.

Stop at the 'middle of the Earth' to set foot on both sides of the equator and see the Quitsato sundial.

Depart your hotel for the scenic drive to Mariscal Sucre International Airport, leaving the high Andean capital behind as you prepare to board your flight west to the legendary Galápagos Islands.

Fly from Ecuador's capital to Baltra Island as the Pacific Ocean unfolds beneath you.

Following a short transfer and a scenic ferry ride across the Itabaca Channel, board a private vehicle on the northern shores of Santa Cruz. Enjoy a relaxing journey across the island' taking in the striking volcanic scenery before stopping for lunch.

Delight in a locally sourced lunch at a highland organic farm, followed by an insightful walk among the native Scalesia and pineapple crops to learn about the region's unique botany and historic coffee cultivation. Contribute to the preservation of this delicate ecosystem by joining your fellow travelers to plant a native tree, then celebrate the afternoon by savoring a freshly brewed cup of the estate's exquisite coffee.

After lunch, continue driving to the southern edge of Santa Cruz Island, to the town of Puerto Ayora.

Drive north from your hotel to the Itabaca Channel where the boat awaits for today's adventure.

Cast off from the Itabaca Channel and navigate to one of the archipelago’s pristine uninhabited islands like Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plaza, or Santa Fe. Disembark with your naturalist guide and explore on foot to observe the unique endemic wildlife and dramatic geology up close before lunch back on board the boat. Next, slip into the water for a spectacular snorkeling session among gliding rays, sea turtles, and vibrant tropical fish before cruising back to Santa Cruz. *Please note that the exact sites visited are determined by the Galapagos National Park's allotments for each day and are subject to change at their discretion.

Drive back to Puerto Ayora following a full day of exploration and adventure.

As dusk approaches, the evening is yours to enjoy. Stroll the lively waterfront of Puerto Ayora, seek out a charming local restaurant for dinner, or simply relax at your hotel after a day of discovery.

Accompanied by the songs of Darwin's finches and towering cacti, walk the forested pathway to Tortuga Bay, where plunging seabirds and sunbathing marine iguanas share an expansive stretch of magnificent white sand. Just beyond lies Playa Mansa, a serene, mangrove-fringed cove that invites you to swim through calm waters inhabited by gliding rays and passing sea turtles.

Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.

Navigate the open waters to the easternmost island of the archipelago, San Cristóbal.

Trace the fascinating evolution of the islands at the Interpretation Center before following a scenic uphill path to the sweeping coastal overlooks of Tijeretas. Marvel at the frigatebirds flying above while observing marine iguanas and sea lions resting along the rugged shoreline.

Take advantage of a free afternoon to explore the town, walk along the seaside malecón, relax in a cafe or laze by the pool at the hotel.

The day is yours to explore, offering the perfect opportunity to relax in town, unwind on the beach, or arrange an optional excursion to Kicker Rock or La Lobería.

Board your return flight from San Cristóbal to mainland Ecuador, where your extraordinary Galápagos expedition comes to a close as you touch down in Quito.