- 4.9/5 345 Latest reviews
- Destination: Peru, Ecuador
- Duration: 12 Days
- Tour Type: Private & Bespoke
- Tour Style: Classic
About This Trip
Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour — this 12-day private journey combines two of the world's greatest bucket-list destinations into one seamless South American adventure.Explore ancient Inca ruins in Peru, then island-hop through Ecuador's wildlife-filled Galapagos archipelago. No group buses. No rushed schedules. Just an extraordinary Peru and Ecuador vacation crafted entirely around you.
Why This Machu Picchu and Galapagos Tour Belongs on Your Bucket List ?
Few combinations in travel rival Peru and Ecuador for sheer variety. In Peru, you walk stone citadels built 600 years ago, browse colorful Andean markets, and ride a train through cloud-draped mountains to the Lost City of the Incas. In Ecuador, you cruise between volcanic islands where giant tortoises roam freely, sea lions sleep on park benches, and blue-footed boobies perform their famous courtship dance — all within a that covers 97% of the archipelago's land.
Summary
DAY
PLACE
HIGHLIGHTS
1 - 6
Peru
Lima: Main Plazas, Huaca Huallamarca
Cusco: Coricancha, Cusco Cathedral
Sacred Valley: Pisac Market, Ollantaytambo
Machu Picchu
7 - 12
Ecuador
Quito: Middle of the World
Galapagos Islands: Cruising
Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Lima, Peru
Welcome to Lima, Peru’s vibrant Pacific capital and the gateway to your Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour.
A private representative meets you at the airport with a name sign and transfers you to your hotel in the upscale Miraflores district.
The evening is free — and Lima’s legendary food scene is right on your doorstep. Optionally join a Lima culinary group tour (approx. 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm) for a first taste of Peru’s world-famous cuisine.
- Lima
- Day 2: Lima City Tour — Plazas, Pyramids & Pacific Views
Your private guide leads a morning tour through Lima’s UNESCO-listed historic center.
Start at Plaza Mayor — the colonial heart of the city — then explore the San Francisco Monastery and its eerie underground catacombs. Continue to the San Isidro district to visit Huaca Huallamarca, a pre-Columbian pyramid rising unexpectedly from the city’s financial district.
On the return to Miraflores, enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean from the Park of Love.
Note: Huaca Huallamarca is closed on Mondays.
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- Lima
- Day 3: Fly to Cusco | Inca Empire City Tour
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco — the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, sitting at 3,400 m (11,150 ft) in the Peruvian Andes.
Rest at your hotel after arrival to acclimatize to the altitude.
In the afternoon, a guided city tour takes you to Coricancha — once the most sacred Inca temple — and the golden-hued Cusco Cathedral, before concluding at the mighty fortress of Sacsayhuamán.
According to UNESCO, Cusco’s historic center is one of the finest expressions of Inca and colonial heritage in the Americas.
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- Cusco
- Day 4: Sacred Valley — Pisac Market & Ollantaytambo
Today is one of the highlights of any Peru and Ecuador vacation — a private full-day excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Begin at the Pisac Archaeological Park, where Inca terraces cascade down the mountainside. Browse the vibrant Pisac Market, packed with hand-woven textiles and artisan crafts.
Continue to Ollantaytambo, an impressive Inca fortress and living town still inhabited by descendants of the original Inca population.
Board a scenic train to Aguas Calientes, where a local representative meets you at the station.
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- Aguas Calientes
- Day 5: Machu Picchu — The Lost City of the Incas
The centerpiece of this Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour — and one of the most extraordinary moments in travel.
Board an early shuttle bus (30 minutes, ticket included) to the citadel. Your expert guide reveals the mysteries of the mortar-free limestone constructions, ceremonial plazas, and agricultural terraces built in the mid-15th century.
Machu Picchu was declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 — and standing here, it is easy to understand why.
In the afternoon, return to Aguas Calientes, board the train to Cusco, and transfer to your hotel.
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- Cusco
- Day 6: Cusco — Free Day to Explore
Today is entirely yours in one of South America’s most beautiful cities.
Wander cobblestone streets lined with Inca stonework, visit local markets, or simply sit in a café on the Plaza de Armas and watch the world go by.
Cusco is at its best when you have the freedom to explore at your own pace — this day gives you exactly that.
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- Cusco
- Day 7: Cusco to Quito, Ecuador
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito, Ecuador’s Andean capital, with a connection through Lima.
A private representative welcomes you on arrival and transfers you to your hotel.
This is where the second act of your Peru and Ecuador tour begins — from ancient Inca civilization to colonial Spanish grandeur, and soon, the timeless wildlife of the Galapagos.
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- Quito
- Day 8: Quito — UNESCO Colonial Old Town & Middle of the World
After breakfast, stroll through Quito’s historic Old Town — the largest and best-preserved colonial center in Latin America, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978.
Admire Baroque churches, visit colonial plazas, and explore traditional markets bursting with Andean produce.
In the afternoon, head to the Middle of the World Monument, where Ecuador straddles the equator and two hemispheres meet beneath your feet.
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- Quito
- Day 9: Fly to the Galapagos Islands | Cruise Begins
The most wildlife-rich chapter of your Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour begins today.
Transfer to Quito Airport for your morning flight to Baltra Island in the Galapagos. On arrival, your naturalist guide greets you and escorts you to your cruise vessel.
As your ship leaves port, the extraordinary Galapagos Islands begin to reveal themselves — volcanic peaks, turquoise coves, and animals that have never learned to fear humans.
Note: Daily activities vary depending on your travel dates, weather conditions, and Galapagos National Park regulations.
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- Galapagos Islands
- Day 10: Galapagos Islands — Wildlife & Ocean Activities
A full day of Galapagos exploration at sea and on shore.
Snorkel with sea turtles and white-tip reef sharks. Watch giant tortoises graze in highland ranches. Spot blue-footed boobies diving into the Pacific at speed.
Optional activities include kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, and guided nature walks depending on your vessel’s itinerary.
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- Galapagos Islands
- Day 11: Galapagos Islands — Rare Wildlife Encounters
Another extraordinary day in the Galapagos — often described as the most wildlife-dense place on Earth.
Depending on your cruise itinerary, visit marine iguana colonies, frigatebird nesting grounds, sea lion beaches, or the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island.
Every island in the Galapagos is different. Every landing reveals something new.
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- Galapagos Islands
- Day 12: Galapagos to Quito | Departure
After a final Galapagos breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito.
Connect with your onward flight home — or extend your Peru and Ecuador vacation with extra nights in Quito, Guayaquil, or the Ecuadorian cloud forest.
Your 12-day Machu Picchu and Galapagos tour ends here, but the memories will last a lifetime.
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