Signature Peru & the Galapagos

Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel, set in a garden with views of the Pacific Ocean.

Fly to Cusco, the former ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Transfer to your hotel and take time to acclimatize. Then, embark on a city tour, visiting the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple, a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha (Place of Gold). See the fascinating ruins at Sacsayhuaman. The ruins are compiled of massive stones — one of which weighs 125 tons — fitted with incredible precision, using no mortar.

Travel to the Urubamba Valley, and visit the local market of an Andean community. Learn about the Andean community’s gastronomy, medicinal plants, farming techniques and weaving. Have lunch at folk art-filled Huayoccari Hacienda, continuing to the Inkariy Museum, where exhibits reveal history of the eight major civilizations of ancient Peru.

Board the Vistadome train bound for Machu Picchu, the crowning achievement of the Incan civilization. Explore the city's ruins, and feel its pulse as you visualize the lives of the priests, craftsmen and servants who inhabited this remote citadel. Overlooking the raging Urubamba River and discovered in a hidden tangle of vines and trees, the city of Machu Picchu will forever hold the secret of its purpose — the Incas left no written records.

Rise early and return to Machu Picchu, with an optional hike to Inti Punku (Sun Gate), where the Inca Trail ends after its final descent from the notch in the horizon, or up to Huayna Picchu, which offers commanding views of the area. Later, you may also visit Ollantaytambo fortress.

Fly to Guayaquil via Lima. Spend the evening at leisure in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s principal port and largest city.

Fly to the Galápagos and board ‘Xperience.’ Enjoy twice-daily, naturalist guided excursions; explorations of the wildlife-rich main islands and Galápagos waters; and evenings at leisure. Today, tourism to the Galápagos is closely managed, protecting the wildlife while allowing you to experience the environment much as Darwin did. Because weather, water and wildlife conditions are subject to constant change, your cruise itinerary is not fixed, but two daily excursions are planned to the main sites and islands. Explore landmarks such as Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, El Barranco on Genovesa Island, Pinnacle Rock on Bartolome Island and the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. Each cruise day begins with an early breakfast, perhaps taken al fresco on deck. You then board a sturdy rubber raft called a panga for the morning shore excursion. As soon as your feet touch terra firma, expect to spot flora and fauna (differing species, depending on the island), take photographs and confer with your naturalist guide.

Disembark and fly to colonial Quito, and transfer to your hotel.

Transfer to the airport and board your homebound flight.