Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise

Meet your Tour Director.

Today, your Local Guide focuses on the city’s colonial heritage during a walking tour. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. For a special treat, [LF] stop at a local food market to get a real taste of life for the local people. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow traveling companions at one of Lima’s finest historic homes, Casa Garcia Alvarado.

Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas where you will enjoy a special lunch prepared exclusively for Globus guests at a private location. Here, experience an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. Continue to Pisac, an old mountain village, where you will have free time to shop for local wares, such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or Hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases at its famous market. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel.

This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by [LF] a visit to a local home, meet some of the area’s families, and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Tonight, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian cooking demonstration before your included dinner.

A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco.

On your guided sightseeing tour of Cusco today, learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. Begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in 1550 and was finally completed 100 years later. During your city tour, you will be greeted by an Inca king, so have your cameras ready! Continue to Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Monastery, and see how the two sites have become one. The Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was once the most important Inca site, dedicated to the worship of the Sun. The walls, altars, and decorations were all said to be covered in gold—until the Spaniards looted the temple and then built the contrasting Baroque Santo Domingo Monastery on top of the temple’s foundations. Also visit the semi-circular Kenko Temple with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and see the ancient site of Puca Pucara before the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. The remainder of your day is free to explore at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Board a flight to Juliaca, where you will continue to the ruins of Sillustani en route. At this pre-Incan burial ground, see where the ancient Aymaras buried their high priests in chullpas—above-ground, cylinder-shaped tombs dating back to the 1400s. While here, [LF] spend some time with the Locals at home and gain a better understanding of their lives. Continue to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,500 feet and is located in both Peru and Bolivia.

Today, take a motorboat trip to some of the more unique islands of Lake Titicaca. Start with Taquile Island, which was once part of the Inca Empire and was one of the last areas of Peru to be conquered by Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish banned traditional dress on the island, which is why the Spanish peasant dress can still be found today. Next, travel to the fascinating Uros Islands, home to the Uros Indians, who were forced to live on the lake as the Inca Indians pushed farther into their territory.

Depart for Juliaca this morning for a return flight to Lima.

Enjoy a scenic drive south along the Pan-American Highway to the Bay of Paracas. Embark on a cruise out to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. The huge Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Continue to the town of Pisco, the wine capital of Peru. Have your camera handy today as you board your aircraft for flightseeing over the Nazca plains, which can only be appreciated by air. Dating back to 500 BC, these geoglyphs etched into the ground consist of over 10,000 lines depicting plants and animals Enjoy dinner this evening at your hotel.

After some free time in Paracas, return to Lima today. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a memorable farewell dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant.

Fly to Quito, capital of Ecuador, and have some free time this evening.

On an included city tour, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica.

Fly to San Cristobal and embark the Seaman Journey for a 4-night cruise. This afternoon, visit the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center with your expert Naturalist and learn about ongoing conservation of the archipelago, its history, ecosystems, flora, and fauna.

Visit Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve and learn about the island’s giant tortoise population and the measures taken to help preserve and breed these endangered species. The reserve includes a large corral, breeding facility, and interpretative trail, where it is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well as birds, such as the San Cristobal mockingbird, yellow warblers, many species of finch, and the Galápagos flycatcher. This afternoon, explore Cerro Brujo, offering beautiful views of Kicker Rock and famous for being the first place Charles Darwin visited in the archipelago.

Join your Naturalist guide for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. At Gardner Bay, this is the one place you can see three species of Darwin finches. It’s also a great spot to snorkel or kayak. At Punta Suárez, you will see the famous blowhole, as well as unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches.

Visit Cormorant Point to see a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific sea turtles. Enjoy a chance to snorkel among sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks. This afternoon, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another great place to snorkel.

After breakfast, disembark and transfer to visit the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding facility at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Fly to Guayaquil.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.