Peru & Galápagos Odyssey

Fly from London (regional connections available) to Lima via Amsterdam with KLM. Transfer to the Iberostar Selection Miraflores for 2 nights. (N)

Discover colonial and contemporary Lima, including the authentic Surquillo market, on a half-day tour and enjoy a pisco sour cocktail demonstration on the panoramic rooftop terrace of your hotel. (B)

Fly to Cuzco, set in the Andes mountains, and transfer to the Sacred Valley via Chinchero to learn about traditional weaving. Stay for 2 nights at the Casona Yucay (or similar). (B)

This morning visit the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo, and the lesser-visited village of Pachar with its award-winning artisanal brewery. Afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Transfer to Ollanta station and board the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu. Take a guided tour of the striking ruins and a late afternoon train journey to Cuzco. Stay at the Casa Andina Premium Cuzco for 2 nights. (B, L)

Half-day tour of the ancient capital of the Inca empire including the cathedral, San Blas district and the Koricancha Temple of the Sun. Afternoon at leisure or optional visit to Sacsayhuaman. (B)

Fly to Lima and onto Quito, Ecuador’s capital city. Transfer to the Hilton Colon for 2 nights. (B)

Morning tour of the historic centre including the impressive San Francisco church, the Middle of the World equatorial line monument, and Chez Tiff Chocolatier – where you can learn about Ecuadorian chocolate making. (B)

Fly to the Galápagos islands and board The Tribute for a 4-night cruise. This stylish small boat offers an immersive and luxurious way to explore the fascinating islands. Take shared shore excursions with a naturalist guide to see the variety of landscapes and wildlife, and enjoy close encounters with some of the rarest animals and birds, including land iguanas, giant tortoises, frigatebirds, Darwin’s finches, boobies and Galápagos penguins. The itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions, readjustment of national park policies, or the captain's discretion. (B, L, D)

In the morning, visit Santa Fé Island. Take a walk to spot curious sea lions and Galápagos hawks, perched at their outlooks, ready to swoop down and catch a lava lizard or baby marine iguana. There will be an opportunity to snorkel in the calm, turquoise waters of Barrington Bay. In the afternoon, explore Black Turtle Cove by dinghy. Three species of mangrove, stretching from the shore far out into the lagoon, form a rich, unique habitat for life. As you cruise along the calm waters, keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks, Pacific green turtles, and spotted eagle rays.(B, L, D)

This morning, visit Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. This remote outer island sits in the heart of a flooded crater and showcases a varied coastal ecosystem. In the lush mangroves, look for the frigatebirds and red-footed boobies that nest here, and listen for the distinctive calls of yellow warblers, Galápagos mockingbirds and Darwin’s finches. In the afternoon, visit Prince Philip’s Steps, named after the late Duke of Edinburgh, and home to the largest breeding colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies, as well as the short-eared owl. (B, L, D)

Morning visit to Chinese Hat, just off the coast of Santiago Island, to see pioneering plant species, Galápagos sea lions, numerous marine iguanas, mockingbirds and eagles. This is an excellent spot for snorkelling, as it affords a chance to swim close to the critically endangered Galápagos penguin, in addition to sea lions and Pacific green turtles. Afternoon visit to the rust-red beach of Rabida Island, whose colour is the result of oxidising iron. The shallow green lagoon that borders the beach is an oasis, attracting various aquatic birds including pintails and – more rarely – American flamingos. Rabida is also home to a major breeding colony of brown pelicans (B, L, D)

Morning visit to the Charlies Darwin Research Station, with its interpretation centre and giant tortoise breeding centre, before your flight to Guayaquil and onto the UK, via Amsterdam (B)

Arrive UK.