Machu Picchu and Galapagos honeymoon

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Lima     
• 3 nights Cusco   
• 1 night Sacred Valley
• 2 nights Quito
• 4 nights Galapagos cruise
• 1 night Guayaquil  
             

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flight

Day 2: Arrive Lima

Upon your arrival in Lima, you will be met by your guide and driven to your hotel in the Miraflores district. The Peruvian capital is a modern metropolis full of history, colour and delicious cuisine. Enjoy the rest of the day exploring the city at your own leisure.

Included:  Arrival transfer, hotel

Day 3: Cycling gastro-tour of Lima

This cycling trip is a brilliant way to discover Lima. Along the way, you’ll stop to delight your taste buds with sampling menus in three different restaurants. You’ll start in Miraflores, riding along the seafront with spectacular views of the Bay of Lima. You will first taste a delicious marine menu and then continue to your second restaurant, where you’ll taste one of Peru’s main dishes, the Causa Peruana. In the third restaurant, you will try lomo saltado, another traditional Peruvian meal. At the end of the tour, you can either choose from an artisanal ice cream or picarones (Peruvian doughnuts) made of sweet potato, pumpkin, cloves and cinnamon - all accompanied by craft Peruvian beers.

Included:  Breakfast, tour with tasting menu, hotel          

Day 4: Fly to Cusco and city tour

Today, you’ll be driven to the airport for your flight to Cusco, where you’ll be collected and taken to your hotel in the city. In the afternoon, you’ll set off on a guided tour of the city’s main sights, including the Santo Domingo convent and the majestic cathedral dominating Plaza de Armas square. You’ll also visit a couple of archaeological sites just outside Cusco: Qenqo and the Sacsayhuaman complex, where the famous Inti Raymi Festival takes place every year in June.

Included:  Breakfast, transfers, domestic flight, tour, hotel            

Day 5: Coffee, chocolate and pisco tour

Besides Machu Picchu, Peru is famous for three things: coffee, chocolate and pisco! Today, you’ll visit the Coffee Museum where you will prepare and taste coffee using the local Peruvian different methods. Next, in the ChocoMuseo, you’ll learn about the cultivation and harvesting of the renowned cacao found in the Peruvian jungle. You’ll also help to roast, peel and grind the beans, create a cacao drink and a bar of chocolate in a mould of your choice. Finally, you’ll head to the Republica del Pisco for an introduction to some potent Peruvian brandy. The tour would not be complete without a tasting of pisco so, accompanied by a specialist, you will try and enjoy piscos with different aromas, accompanied by local dishes packed with Peruvian flavour!

Included:  Breakfast, tour, hotel

Day 6: Tour to the Sacred Valley

Today, you’ll take a scenic journey through the mountains to the archaeological sites of Moray and Maras. The former consists of mysterious concentric circular platforms of different levels thought to have been an agricultural research centre during the Incan Empire. The latter is an impressive salt mine complex composed of large salt deposits that were used for trade with products from other regions of the empire. After the tour, you’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant and visit a local market before being taken to your hotel in the stunning Sacred Valley.

Included:  Breakfast, tour, hotel

Day 7: Machu Picchu

An early morning transfer will take you to Ollantaytambo train station where you’ll board the train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. When you arrive, you’ll be met by a local guide and take a 20- minute bus ride to the site. Your guide will take you on a tour of these incredible ruins, and you’ll also have plenty of time to explore on your own. At the end of the visit, you’ll return to Aguas Calientes where a delicious meal (and warming pisco) awaits you at luxury hotel Sumaq. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy some free time in the village before catching the train back to Cusco in the late afternoon. When you arrive, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the hotel.

Included:  Breakfast, transfers, train, entrance fees, lunch, hotel

Day 8: Fly to Quito

This morning, you’ll be taken to the airport to catch a flight to Quito. When you arrive in the Ecuadorian capital, you will be greeted and driven to your hotel.

Included:  Breakfast, transfers, international flight, hotel

Day 9: Day tour of Quito   

Quito is one of the most beautifully preserved colonial cities in South America and, to make the most of your stay, we have included a full-day private tour of its historical centre and to the Equator Monument. The tour will finish in the early afternoon, giving you plenty of free time to explore the city at your own pace.

Included: Breakfast, tour, hotel

Day 10: Fly to Baltra, Galapagos Islands

Today, you’ll be transferred to Quito airport for your flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. You will arrive around 10:00 am and be met by your guide. Next, you’ll be transferred to the yacht and embark on your very first Galapagos wildlife encounter!

Included: Breakfast, transfers, domestic flight, lunch, dinner, accommodation on yacht   

Days 11 to 13: Galapagos Islands

Your Galapagos cruise will include two daily land excursions and a snorkelling trip. You’ll rise early in the morning and the days will be filled with extraordinary animal encounters! Depending on your departure date, you will visit either the Western or Eastern islands. It doesn’t matter which itinerary you follow, as you all of the islands in the archipelago are rich in amazing landscapes and creatures. If you are keen to visit a particular island, speak to one of our consultants and we’ll be sure to suggest the right itinerary for you. The crew will look after you every step of the way, while the onboard chef will treat you to three delicious meals per day. A highly knowledgeable naturalist guide will accompany throughout the trip, unveiling the secrets of these islands.

Included: Full board, excursions, accommodation on yacht          

Day 14: Fly to Guayaquil   

This morning, you’ll say goodbye to the crew and the islands. You’ll be driven to Baltra airport and board your flight back to Ecuador’s mainland. Once you’ve landed in Guayaquil, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel in the city. The rest of the day is at leisure. We suggest taking a stroll along the scenic malecón and riding La Perla (the city’s panoramic wheel).

Included: Breakfast, transfers, domestic flight, hotel        

Day 15: Departure 

Today, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight back home.

Included: Breakfast, Transfer, international flight           

Day 16: Arrive UK