Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise
Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise
Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise
19 Days Starting in Lima, Peru and ending in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Visiting: Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Paracas, Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos Islands, San Cristóbal Island, Española Island, Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz, Guayaquil, South America
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SPE-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the "Legacy of the Incas with Galápagos Cruise" tour, exploring the rich cultural heritage and natural wonders of Peru, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands. Begin in Lima, delving into its colonial past, then venture to the Sacred Valley and the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu. Discover Cusco's blend of Inca and Spanish influences before heading to the serene Lake Titicaca. Continue to Paracas for a cruise to the Ballestas Islands and a flight over the Nazca Lines. Fly to Quito, Ecuador, and embark on a 4-night Galápagos cruise, visiting iconic sites like the Darwin Interpretation Center, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, and the Charles Darwin Research Station. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, adventure, and breathtaking landscapes.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Lima,Peru
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meet your Tour Director.
Day 2: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 3: Lima,Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 4: Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 5: Machu Picchu,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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.
Day 6: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 7: Cusco,Sillustani,Juliaca,Puno (Lake Titicaca)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: GHL Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 8: Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 9: Puno,Juliaca,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart for Juliaca this morning for a return flight to Lima.
Day 10: Lima,Paracas. Ballestas Islands Cruise & Nazca Lines
Location: Paracas
Accommodation Name: Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paracas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 11: Paracas,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
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.
Day 12: Lima,Quito,Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Quito, capital of Ecuador, and have some free time this evening.
Day 13: Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
On an included city tour, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica.
Day 14: Quito,San Cristobal Island (Embarkation),Galápagos Cruising
Location: San Cristóbal Island, Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 15: Cruising: San Cristobal Island
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 16: Cruising: Española Island
Location: Española Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 17: Cruising: Floreana Island
Location: Floreana Island, Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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.
Day 18: Cruising: Santa Cruz (Disembarkation),Baltra,Guayaquil
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, disembark and transfer to visit the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding facility at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Fly to Guayaquil.
Day 19: Guayaquil
Location: Guayaquil
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at premium hotels including Casa Andina Premium Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in Sacred Valley, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel in Machu Picchu, Casa Andina Premium Cusco in Cusco, GHL Lago Titicaca in Puno, Casa Andina Select Miraflores in Lima, Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paracas in Paracas, Hilton Colon Quito in Quito, and Hilton Colon Guayaquil in Guayaquil.
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Meals
Enjoy breakfast daily, 8 lunches, and 12 dinners.
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Guided Tours
Guided sightseeing tours in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, and Quito.
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Special Experiences
Experience unique activities such as a Mother Earth Ceremony by a local shaman, a visit to a local home in the Sacred Valley, and a Peruvian cooking demonstration.
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Cruises
Cruise to the Ballestas Islands and a 4-night Galápagos cruise on the Seaman Journey.
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Flights
Internal flights from Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Juliaca, Juliaca to Lima, Lima to Quito, Quito to San Cristobal, and Baltra to Guayaquil.
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Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to all included sites such as Machu Picchu, the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center, and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
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Small Group Discoveries
Travel in a small group with an average of just 20 guests per departure.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional Excursions
Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
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International Flights
International flights to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and any other travel documentation costs are not included.
Meals
Breakfast daily, 7 Lunches, 12 Dinners
Notes
Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is approx. 12,200 ft. In the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos are subject to change.
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on all South America tour dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu|Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca and Pampas de Jumana
Accommodation
Stay in luxurious accommodations including Casa Andina Premium Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in Sacred Valley, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel in Machu Picchu, Casa Andina Premium Cusco in Cusco, GHL Lago Titicaca in Puno, Casa Andina Select Miraflores in Lima, Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paracas in Paracas, Hilton Colon Quito in Quito, and Hilton Colon Guayaquil in Guayaquil.
Mode of Transport
Travel by flights between major destinations, scenic train journeys through the Sacred Valley, and a 4-night cruise on the Seaman Journey in the Galápagos Islands. Local transportation includes motorboats, zodiacs for wet landings, and comfortable coaches for overland travel.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of activities are included in the tour of Lima?
In Lima, you will have a walking tour focusing on the city's colonial heritage, including visits to the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace, the cathedral, and the San Francisco Monastery. You will also stop at a local food market and enjoy a welcome dinner at Casa Garcia Alvarado.
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What unique experiences are offered in the Sacred Valley?
In the Sacred Valley, you will enjoy a special lunch prepared exclusively for Globus guests, experience an El Pago a la Tierra (Mother Earth Ceremony) performed by a local shaman, and visit a local home to meet area families and experience their way of life.
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What can I expect during the visit to Machu Picchu?
At Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the intact fortress, including its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. You will also have a second entrance to the ruins to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
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What will we see during the motorboat trip on Lake Titicaca?
During the motorboat trip on Lake Titicaca, you will visit Taquile Island, known for its Spanish peasant dress, and the Uros Islands, home to the Uros Indians who live on the lake.
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What is included in the visit to the Ballestas Islands?
The visit to the Ballestas Islands includes a cruise to see a variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, such as blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. You will also see the Candelabro etching on the Paracas cliffside.
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What will we do in the Galápagos Islands?
In the Galápagos Islands, you will visit the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, Cerro Brujo, Gardner Bay, Punta Suárez, Cormorant Point, and Post Office Bay. Activities include learning about conservation, seeing giant tortoises, snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring unique wildlife and landscapes.
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What are the special considerations for the Machu Picchu visit?
For the overnight stay in Machu Picchu, you are only allowed to bring an overnight bag weighing no more than 11 pounds due to luggage restrictions on the train. Your main luggage will be stored at the Cusco hotel.
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What should I know about the 'wet landings' in the Galápagos?
In the Galápagos, there will be 'wet landings,' meaning guests will need to jump in the water out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. The terrain is rocky and uneven.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
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Low Deposit
Globus requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of globus charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.