Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
Combine Galapagos and Peru - The Perfect Pair
Explore the mountains and islands of South America with a Peru and Galapagos Tour.
“Our trip was truly wonderful. It exceeded expectations in every way. Our guides were outstanding and greatly enhanced the enjoyment of our trip.”
Welcome to Peru!
Your Machu Picchu adventure begins with a brief overnight stop in Lima before continuing to Cusco early the next morning. You’ll cross the Urubamba Valley on a privately guided tour to learn the history, legends and lore of the Incan civilization. Along the way to Machu Picchu, you’ll visit both ancient ruins and contemporary villages where daily life has changed little in the nearly 500 years since the fall of the Incan empire. Your guided visit to the iconic Inca citadel will be combined with a variety of hikes that can be customized to suit the interests and abilities of you and your companions. You’ll cap your visit with a stay in Cusco, the ancient Incan capital before continuing on to Ecuador and your Galapagos adventure.
Welcome to Darwin’s Enchanted Isles
You’re now at sea-level where you’ll encounter Galapagos wildlife almost immediately upon exiting the aircraft.
Each day your naturalist guide will lead shore excursions to observe the unique flora and fauna that make Galapagos so unique. You’ll also have an opportunity to snorkel each day to observe marine life and perhaps catch a glimpse of marine iguanas feeding underwater. Our naturalist guides »
Your Peru Accommodations
Hotels for this adventure are among the finest in Peru. These too may be customized to suit your needs.
Your luxury accommodations have been selected for their authenticity, comfort and unparalleled standards of hospitality. You will enjoy private vehicles and dedicated guides throughout your journey with experiences that can be tailored to your interests.
More about your accommodation options: Sacred Valley | Machu Picchu | Cusco
The Galapagos Luxury Yacht INTEGRITY
An elegant base for 16 discerning guests to discover the islands. Stabilized. Comfortable. Spacious.
There is no better way to visit the Galapagos than by yacht. And the best, most luxurious yacht in the islands is Integrity. INCA is the exclusive worldwide representative of Integrity. Nine spacious staterooms accommodate 16 guests in comfort, style and safety aboard a yacht that has never missed a day of service. Stabilized and secure with redundant safety, communications, and engineering systems ensures a smooth, uninterrupted journey. An abundance of public spaces allow guests to spread out and enjoy quiet time or socialize with companions. More about INTEGRITY »
Your Itinerary
Click to Enlarge
Day 1 (Sunday) | Arrive in Lima, Peru
Fly from your home city to Lima, Peru. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in and a brief overnight.
Hotel: Wyndham Costa del Sol, Lima Airport
Day 2 (Monday) | Sacred Valley of the Incas
A quick flight over the snow-covered Andes brings you to Cusco, your gateway to the Sacred Valley. After a scenic ride through pastoral farmlands, you’ll reach the town of Chinchero, known for its weaving tradition, unchanged since the time of the Incas. Planned visits include a weaving demonstration, the ancient Incan agricultural laboratory of Moray, and the salt terraces of Maras.
Hotel: Hacienda Urubamba or similar, BLD
Day 3 (Tuesday) | Ollantaytambo - Train to Machu Picchu
You begin the day with a visit to the spectacular temple-fortress and village of Ollantaytambo, a site that is little changed from the days of the Incas. You’ll catch a morning train in Ollantaytambo for one of the most breathtaking rail journeys in the world. The rail line follows the river down the impressive Canyon of the Vilcanota to the foot of Machu Picchu.
Your accommodations are at the lovely riverside Machu Picchu Pueblo, a short stroll from the Aguas Calientes train station. Following check-in, you will board a bus and head up to the archeaological site of Machu Picchu. It is an amazing ride including 22 switch backs.
You start your exploration of Machu Picchu with an orientation stroll around the site. This will give a rough sense of the layout of the ruins. After lunch you will enjoy an extended guided walking tour.
Hotel: Machu Picchu Pueblo; Sanctuary Lodge by request, BLD
Day 4 (Wednesday) | Machu Picchu, optional mountain hikes, Return to Cusco
After breakfast, you will explore Machu Picchu once more.
You have the option for a morning hike up Machu Picchu or Huayna Picchu Mountains for spectacular views of the ruins and river below.
After lunch, you will transfer to the train station to catch the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo and connect to Cusco.
Hotel: La Casona or similar, BL
Day 5 (Thursday) | Cusco, Sacsayhuaman
You visit the bustling Cusco "Mercado Central", a traditional market were you will get a sense of the daily rhythm of Cuzqueño life. From open air stalls, everything from coca leaves, carrots, rubber boots, jeans, padlocks, beef, live chickens and ducks, to cuys, Band-Aids, and a range of familiar and unfamiliar fruits and vegetables are sold -sometimes for cash, sometimes in the traditional manner-barter.
Later you view an archbishop's private collection of colonial and Indian art. After lunch you will visit the Inca Historical Museum for a fine overview of the history of the Inca Empire from its beginning to its demise.
In the late afternoon you will venture up to Sacsayhuaman to explore the spectacular ceremonial and "parade" grounds used by the Incas for major celebrations, pageants and sporting events. Inti Raymi, the Incan "Festival of the Sun," is still celebrated here on June 24. Cusco fills with colorfully dressed, chicha-drinking Indians from villages all over the Andes, who come for this week-long festival of folk-dance competitions, pageantry and renowned debauchery.
Hotel: La Casona or similar, BLD
Day 6 (Friday) | Cusco - Lima - Guayaquil
It’s time to depart Peru and move on to the second part of your adventure. You’ll fly from Cusco via Lima to Guayaquil. This evening, you have free time to relax or explore a bit of Guayaquil on your own.
Overnight: Wyndham Guayaquil (option to upgrade to Hotel del Parque), B
Day 7 (Saturday) | To Baltra, Santa Cruz, and embarkation
You’ll be transferred back to Guayaquil Airport for your 2 hour flight to Baltra, Galápagos. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to the VIP arrivales lounge where staff will collect your passport and facilitate your entrance formalities with the Galápagos National Park. ONce you’ve collected your luggage, you will transfer from the airport across the Itabaca channel to the Island of Santa Cruz for lunch in the highlands and the opportunity to search among the lush grasses for grazing giant tortoises. Time permitting, explore a lava tunnel. Continuing to the town of Puerto Ayora, you’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, stop to check the fit of your wetsuit, before boarding INTEGRITY to begin your cruise.
Days 8 - 13 (Sunday to Friday) | Aboard the yacht
Using INTEGRITY as your home, you'll cruise the islands spending as much time ashore as the Park rules permit. With our licensed, INCA-selected naturalist guides, you'll learn about the birds and animals, geology, marine life and oceanic systems of the Galapagos Islands.
Eastern itinerary »
Western itinerary »
One of the highlights and an integral part of any visit to the Galápagos is the opportunity to swim and snorkel with the marine life—tropical fish, sea lions, turtles and sometimes with penguins! On most days, you'll snorkel at least once, some days twice. While back on board, you’ll enjoy delicious meals, complimentary WiFi, and weekly laundry service.
Day 14 (Saturday) | Disembark, return to Guayaquil or Quito
From your anchorage in the Baltra harbor, Say "adios" to INTEGRITY and its dedicated crew, and adjourn to the Baltra airport to await your morning flight to the Ecuador mainland. On arrival, you'll transfer to the Hotel Oro Verde (Guayaquil) or Wyndham Airport hotel (Quito) and enjoy a dayroom with extended late check-out for a chance to freshen up and relax before returning to the airport terminal for your late departing flight.
Note: This program has been intentionally designed to start in Peru and end in Galapagos. If desired however, you may customize this program to visit Peru after Galapagos, in which case your program would commence with arrival in Quito, Ecuador on a Thursday, and finish in Cusco, Peru on a Thursday.
Dates & Prices
Machu Picchu and the Galapagos adventure operates every Sunday, mid-March through December.
Contact us for specific dates, yacht routes, and availability.
2026 rate: $14,995 per person, double occupancy
Supplements, inclusions and exclusions
INTEGRITY Owner’s Suite upgrade
Stateroom upgrade to the Owner’s Suite is $1600 ($800 per person)
INTEGRITY Single Guests
A dedicated single stateroom is available at no additional supplement (limit 2 per voyage, subject to availability)
Single use of a double occupancy stateroom or Owner’s Suite: please call for details
Single land supplement is $2325
Contact us for Solo Traveler rate
Children
Please call for applicable child discounts
Included
Round-trip airport transfers as specified in itinerary
All hotel/lodge accommodations (double occupancy, unless Single purchased) as specified in itinerary
All meals as specified in itinerary
All non-alcoholic beverages
All guides, activities, tours, entry fees and sightseeing arrangements as specified in itinerary
Additional costs (subject to change without notice)
International airfare to Peru & Ecuador
Galapagos airfare (currently $555 per person)
Domestic airfare within Peru and between Peru & Ecuador (quoted subject to availability)
Galapagos National Park entrance fee (currently $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12)
Galapagos Transit Control Tax (currently $20)
Additional wine and other spirits are available for purchase aboard ($10-$15 per glass)
Gratuities for Galapagos naturalist guides and yacht crew (detailed tipping guidelines will be provided)
Gratuities for guides in Peru (detailed tipping guidelines will be provided)
Deposit, Payment & Cancellation Schedule*
*Cancellation due to force majeure (circumstances outside your control, including medical illness) must be covered by travel insurance. INCA/Inca Floats, Inc. will not be responsible.
INDIVIDUAL BOOKINGS OF ONE TO FOUR TRAVELERS
Deposit
A deposit of $1500 per person is due at time of booking
Any additional arrangements may incur further deposits, due at time of booking those services
Payment
The balance is due 90 days before departure
Domestic or regional airfares are due at time of ticketing
Cancellation
Up to 151 days before departure – deposit may be refunded, or transferred to a new departure within one year of original trip date
150-91 days before departure – deposit is non-refundable, but may be transferred to a new departure within one year of original trip date.
90-61 days before departure – all monies received are non-refundable, but may be transferred to a new departure within one year of original trip date.
60-0 days before departure – 100% of full trip price is forfeited
SMALL GROUPS OF FIVE OR MORE TRAVELERS
Deposit
An initial deposit of $1500 per person is due at time of booking
A second deposit of $1500 per person is due 150 days before departure
Any additional arrangements may incur further deposits, due at time of booking those services
Payment
The balance is due 90 days before departure
Domestic or regional airfares are due at time of ticketing
Cancellation
Up to 151 days before departure – the initial deposit may be refunded or transferred to a new departure within one year of original trip date
150-91 days before departure – initial deposit and second deposit are non-refundable, but may be transferred to a new departure within one year of original trip date
90-61 days before departure – 50% of full trip price is forfeited. The remaining balance is non-refundable, but may be transferred towards a new departure within one year of original trip date
60-0 days before departure – 100% of full trip price is forfeited
See additional Terms & Conditions »
Video
A taste of what to expect
Discover Peru with INCA
Discover Galapagos with INCA
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to go?
Perú's winter season (May to October) brings mild temperatures to the coast, and clear skies to the highlands, although it gets a quite chilly in the evenings in June and July. More on Perú
March through August is referred to as the “wealthy season” in the Galapagos due to increased mating and nesting activity. More on Galápagos
What will I will see?
This shortened version of Perú and the Galápagos accommodates those who wish to see both countries, but are on a tight schedule.
This itinerary provides a magnificent introduction to the wonders of Cusco, the Urubamba Valley and Machu Picchu. More on Perú.
As far as the Galápagos, what you see will depend on the route. More on Galápagos
How can I be sure this is the right trip for me?
Our Galápagos and Perú combination trip offers a perfect balance of activity, education and pure luxury. It is recommended that you have a higher level of fitness for Peru as walks and hikes are at elevation and can have uphill elements. More on Perú
Good balance, health and proper footwear are essential for both portions to be the most enjoyable. More on Galápagos