Family Galapagos & Peru Summer Adventure

Arrive in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. The next day, ride the Teleferico, one of the world’s highest aerial lifts, up the slopes of the Pichincha Volcano for spectacular views of Quito, other snow-covered volcanoes and surrounding valleys. Then, drive to the northern outskirts of the city to arrive at the equator, where you visit the family-friendly Intiñan Solar Museum. View its displays of pre-Columbian life in Ecuador and learn about science experiments based on its equatorial location. Savor lunch at a restaurant in Quito’s colonial area before setting out for afternoon sightseeing that reveals why the city was honored as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Marvel at San Francisco Church and its museum of religious art; La Compañía and the seven tons of glittering gold on its gilded walls; and the bustling Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential Palace and Quito Cathedral. Rich in art treasures, fine woodcarvings and flowering balconies, this charming historical center is the lifeblood of Quito. Enjoy a special choir performance by local students at La Compañia church, one of the most significant baroque structures of South America. Tonight, join your fellow guests for a welcome dinner.

Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos Islands, where you board your stylish island cruiser, ‘La Pinta.’ After a welcome briefing, enjoy lunch on board. This afternoon, begin exploring the Galápagos, starting at South Plaza Island. Observe the native flora, such as the prickly pear cactus, a favorite snack of the land iguanas that roam the island like real-life dragons. Scan the coastline for playful sea lions and colorful wild birds. Tonight, and each evening, back aboard ‘La Pinta,’ enjoy a variety of all-ages activities designed to capture the imaginations of young explorers, including fun pirate-themed educational games, handicraft-making and the opportunity to learn some Spanish words.

Today, discover Santa Fe Island, boarding a panga (small boat) for a brief ride to its idyllic sandy-white beaches. Walk the onshore terrain, keeping a lookout for wild residents: a curious sea lion coming to greet you, a Galápagos hawk perched atop salt bushes or a Santa Fe land iguana sunning itself on a rock. Then, snorkel and swim along a natural wave barrier or ride in a glass-bottomed boat for a revealing glimpse into life beneath the waves. Break for lunch back on board, as you set a course toward San Cristobal Island. Disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and drive to the breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises at Cerro Colorado, set in a fantastic deciduous forest.

Land on San Cristobal Island and set out on a trail that ascends from the beach to a lookout offering you spectacular shoreline views. Observe frigate birds and a colony of sea lions, and, if conditions are favorable, swim from the beach. After lunch on board, take a panga to Cerro Brujo and walk the same sandy shore once trod by Charles Darwin, whose theory of evolution began with the firsthand observations he made of life in the Galápagos.

Begin at Punta Suarez, walking on lava terrain to visit the island’s seabird colonies. Depending on the time of year, you may spy soaring waved albatrosses, boobies or swallow-tail gulls; watch for marine iguanas, too. After lunch aboard, cruise Gardner Bay and go ashore to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches. The bay has a magnificent beach; this is a great place to snorkel, kayak or ride the glass-bottomed boat.

Disembark on Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn about its captive rearing program for giant tortoises. Afterward, ferry to Baltra and fly to Quito, and then take a connecting flight to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Enjoy your evening at leisure.

Fly to Cusco, located more than 11,000 feet above sea level in Peru, where you are met and transferred to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. En route, visit Manos de la Comunidad, a rescue center for endangered animals as well as animals that have been affected by natural disasters. Interact with South American camelids and learn about the valuable fibers created from their coats. Then, visit the beautiful Hacienda Sarapampa and enjoy lunch with the owner, who cordially shares his family’s history in farming and shows you around the farm.

Today, visit Moray, a fascinating archaeological site comprising a series of concentric agricultural terraces, some almost 500 feet deep. Then, journey to a remote mountain village on an A&K-exclusive experience, where you observe ancient agricultural methods still practiced today. Continue to the Children of the Rainbow school, a project supported by A&K Philanthropy, where you enjoy lunch and take in an equestrian performance featuring Paso Fino horses. Return to your hotel to indulge beside a relaxing bonfire with drinks (and marshmallows) before dinner.

This morning, travel to the Ollantaytambo train station and Ride Like a Local by train, journeying deep into the Andes toward Machu Picchu and gazing out at the spectacular Peruvian countryside. If you prefer a more active experience, enjoy the option to disembark the train before arrival and trek the Inca Trail from KM 104 to Machu Picchu. Once on site, explore the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu, guided by local experts. Overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca Empire. Although this “Lost City” was revealed to the rest of the world by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911, its location was long known to locals. Its original purpose, however, remains a matter of some conjecture, as the Incas left no written records. As you wander amid the age-old stone walls, picture life as it might have been in this mystical citadel, set some 8,000 feet above sea level. Back at the hotel, young guests will have time to engage in a mini-chef activity.

Rise with the sun and join your expert guides to walk through Machu Picchu in the early morning mist. After your explorations, bid adieu to this “Lost City of the Incas” and enjoy lunch at your hotel before returning to Ollantaytambo by train, savoring incomparable views of the mountain scenery that surrounds you. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Cusco, a 400-year-old architectural treasure that was once a monastery. Tonight, relax or stroll this ancient Incan capital on your own.

This morning, discover Cusco on a city excursion. Visit the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church built on the foundations of the Koricancha, the Incas’ principal religious building. Later, behold the well-preserved ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a testament to Incan architectural skill. Compiled from colossal stones, its walls were cut and placed together with incredible precision and without a single drop of mortar to hold them in place. Return to Cusco to enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. This evening, gather with your fellow guests for a farewell dinner at the MAP Café.

Relax on a morning at leisure in Cusco. Later today, fly to Lima and connect with your homebound flight.