Calendar? Astronomy? Alien artwork? None of the above. But the discovery of Peru’s Nazca Lines gave a whole new meaning to drawing a line in the sand. Flightseeing is the best way to see these massive geoglyphs etched into the desert— where the ancient Nazca people likely performed spiritual ceremonies. From the Lost City of the Incas surrounded by the peaks of the Andes to the floating Uros Islands on the highest lake in the world, this vacation to Peru leads you to great heights while also going to greater depths to illuminate its archaeological, historical, and cultural wonders. In addition to two days of exploration at the mysterious and magical ruins of Machu Picchu, you’ll also visit the Sillustani pre-Incan burial ground, cruise to the wildlife paradise of the Ballestas Islands, and frolic through the wonders of colonial and culinary Lima as well as the Inca capital, Cusco.When satisfying your inner historian, don’t forget your inner naturalist. Cruise around the famed Galápagos archipelago, where you’ll share the shores with every native species from the blue-footed boobies to the pint-size penguin. A meet-and-greet with a colony of sea lions seals the deal on this wondrous extension to your Peru vacation.
Day 1
Welcome to Lima! Meet your Tour Director upon arrival
Day 2
LIMA Guided sightseeing includes the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace, Cathedral, and San Francisco Monastery. Visit and tastings at a [LF] Peruvian food market. Welcome dinner at Casa Garcia Alvarado (one of Lima’s finest historic homes)
Breakfast
DinnerDay 3
LIMA Fly to Cusco.
SACRED VALLEY Lakeside lunch followed by an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra (Mother Earth Ceremony) with local shaman. Visit Pisac village and its famous market
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 4
SACRED VALLEY Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Visit a [LF] local Peruvian home. Scenic ride on the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley.
MACHU PICCHU Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide. Pisco Sour demonstration and dinner at your nearby hotel
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 5
MACHU PICCHU Second included entrance to Machu Picchu. Afternoon train to the Sacred Valley. Transfer to Cusco.
CUSCO Free time this evening
BreakfastLunchDay 6
CUSCO Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide includes visits to the Cathedral and Santo Domingo Monastery. Inka King greeting and visits to Kenko Amphitheater and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Free time this afternoon before dinner
Breakfast
DinnerDay 7
CUSCO Fly to Juliaca. Scenic drive to the shores of Lake Titicaca
Breakfast
DinnerDay 8
PUNO Scenic boat ride to Taquile and Uros Floating Islands. Guided sightseeing of Lake Titicaca includes a local home visit and lunch
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 9
SILLUSTANI Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide to Sillustani Pre-Incan Burial Ground and a [LF] local home.
JULIACA Fly to Lima.
LIMA Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 10
LIMA Scenic drive along the Pan-American Highway to the Bay of Paracas.
PARACAS Scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands in search of sea mammals, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. See the huge Candelabro etching on the Paracas Cliffside.
PISCO Flightseeing over the 500-BC Nazca Lines (mysterious drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the desert)
Breakfast
DinnerDay 11
PARACAS Scenic drive to Lima.
LIMA Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Breakfast
DinnerDay 12
CUSCO Fly to Quito.
QUITO Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 13
QUITO Guided sightseeing includes Independence Square, the Cathedral, and San Francisco Plaza Church
BreakfastDay 14
QUITO Fly to San Cristobal.
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND 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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 15
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND Visit Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve and learn about the island’s giant tortoise population and measures taken to help preserve and breed these endangered species. The center includes a large corral, breeding center, 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. Visit a lagoon, home to many migratory bird species, such as black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, and whitecheeked pintails. Also, enjoy snorkeling with the sea lions and other marine life
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 16
ESPAÑOLA ISLAND Join your Naturalist for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Here, 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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 17
FLOREANA ISLAND 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 chance for great snorkeling
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 18
SANTA CRUZ Visit Charles Darwin Research Station, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program helps preserve the fragile Galápagos environment. Learn how eggs are brought from the nearby Galápagos Islands, incubated artificially until the galápaguitos (little turtles) are born and then at the age of five are returned to their native areas.
BALTRA Fly to Guayaquil.
GUAYAQUIL Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 19
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning
BreakfastDay 20
ARRIVE IN LIMA, PERU
Day 21
LIMA
Day 22
LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Day 23
SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU
Day 24
MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
Day 25
CUSCO
Day 26
CUSCO–JULIACA–PUNO (LAKE TITICACA)
Day 27
PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA
Day 28
PUNO–SILLUSTANI–JULIACA–LIMA
Day 29
LIMA–PARACAS. BALLESTAS ISLANDS CRUISE & NAZCA LINES
Day 30
PARACAS–LIMA
Day 31
LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR
Day 32
QUITO
Day 33
QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–CRUISING
Day 34
CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
Day 35
CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND
Day 36
CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND
Day 37
CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL
Day 38
GUAYAQUIL
Day 39
BreakfastDinner
Day 40
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 41
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 42
BreakfastLunch
Day 43
BreakfastDinner
Day 44
BreakfastDinner
Day 45
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 46
Breakfast
Day 47
BreakfastDinner
Day 48
BreakfastDinner
Day 49
Breakfast
Day 50
Breakfast
Day 51
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 52
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 53
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 54
BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 55
Breakfast
Day 56
Breakfast
Day 57 ARRIVE IN LIMA, PERU.
Welcome to Lima! Meet your Tour Director upon arrival
Day 58 LIMA.
LIMA Guided sightseeing includes the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace, Cathedral, and San Francisco Monastery. Visit and tastings at a [LF] Peruvian food market. Welcome dinner at Casa Garcia Alvarado (one of Lima’s finest historic homes)
Breakfast
DinnerDay 59 LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY.
LIMA Fly to Cusco.
SACRED VALLEY Lakeside lunch followed by an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra (Mother Earth Ceremony) with local shaman. Visit Pisac village and its famous market
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 60 SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU.
SACRED VALLEY Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide to the Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo. Visit a [LF] local Peruvian home. Scenic ride on the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley.
MACHU PICCHU Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide. Pisco Sour demonstration and dinner at your nearby hotel
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 61 MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO.
MACHU PICCHU Second included entrance to Machu Picchu. Afternoon train to the Sacred Valley. Transfer to Cusco.
CUSCO Free time this evening
BreakfastLunchDay 62 CUSCO.
CUSCO Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide includes visits to the Cathedral and Santo Domingo Monastery. Inka King greeting and visits to Kenko Amphitheater and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Free time this afternoon before dinner
Breakfast
DinnerDay 63 CUSCO–JULIACA–PUNO (LAKE TITICACA).
CUSCO Fly to Juliaca. Scenic drive to the shores of Lake Titicaca
Breakfast
DinnerDay 64 PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA.
PUNO Scenic boat ride to Taquile and Uros Floating Islands. Guided sightseeing of Lake Titicaca includes a local home visit and lunch
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 65 PUNO–SILLUSTANI–JULIACA–LIMA.
SILLUSTANI Guided sightseeing with a Local Guide to Sillustani Pre-Incan Burial Ground and a [LF] local home.
JULIACA Fly to Lima.
LIMA Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 66 LIMA–PARACAS. BALLESTAS ISLANDS CRUISE & NAZCA LINES.
LIMA Scenic drive along the Pan-American Highway to the Bay of Paracas.
PARACAS Scenic cruise to the Ballestas Islands in search of sea mammals, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. See the huge Candelabro etching on the Paracas Cliffside.
PISCO Flightseeing over the 500-BC Nazca Lines (mysterious drawings of animals and geometric figures etched into the desert)
Breakfast
DinnerDay 67 PARACAS–LIMA.
PARACAS Scenic drive to Lima.
LIMA Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
Breakfast
DinnerDay 68 LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR.
CUSCO Fly to Quito.
QUITO Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 69 QUITO.
QUITO Guided sightseeing includes Independence Square, the Cathedral, and San Francisco Plaza Church
BreakfastDay 70 QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–CRUISING.
QUITO Fly to San Cristobal.
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND 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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 71 CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND.
SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND Visit Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve and learn about the island’s giant tortoise population and measures taken to help preserve and breed these endangered species. The center includes a large corral, breeding center, 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. Visit a lagoon, home to many migratory bird species, such as black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, and whitecheeked pintails. Also, enjoy snorkeling with the sea lions and other marine life
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 72 CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND.
ESPAÑOLA ISLAND Join your Naturalist for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Here, 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
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 73 CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND.
FLOREANA ISLAND 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 chance for great snorkeling
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 74 CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ (DISEMBARKATION)–BALTRA–GUAYAQUIL.
SANTA CRUZ Visit Charles Darwin Research Station, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program helps preserve the fragile Galápagos environment. Learn how eggs are brought from the nearby Galápagos Islands, incubated artificially until the galápaguitos (little turtles) are born and then at the age of five are returned to their native areas.
BALTRA Fly to Guayaquil.
GUAYAQUIL Free time this evening
BreakfastDay 75 GUAYAQUIL.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.