Classic & Galapagos

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Lima (Overnight in Lima)

Upon you arrival to Lima, you will be met and transported to your hotel in Lima, where you will spend a well-deserved overnight stay. * An extra day in Lima can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 2: Fly to Cusco & Afternoon City Tour (B)

You will have a very short flight to the City of Cusco, where you will be met upon arrival to the City of Cusco and transferred to your hotel of choice. You will have the remainder of the morning to rest and freshen up. It’s best to take it easy this morning to let your body adjust to the altitude. Some find enjoying a cup of hot coca tea a real help in adjusting to the high elevation and that’s what the locals traditionally use coca for. Both lunch and dinner are on your own today, as there are so many choices available at reasonable prices, either in or near your hotel. * Depending on which domestic flight you choose you will have more or less time to rest.

After lunch you will set out on grand tour of Cusco, the former capital of the once vast Incan Empire. The city’s Spanish Colonial architecture both overlays and is interlaced with the earlier Incan architecture. We walk Cusco’s impressive Plaza de Armas and visit both the Spanish cathedral and Incan temple of the sun, Qoricancha. The Spanish conquistadores destroyed significant portions of the Inca civilization while leaving their mark on Cusco. Ornate cathedrals, adobe walls, carved balconies, hidden courtyards and cobblestone streets add to the historic richness of the ancient Incan capital.

Next we set out to visit the ruins above the city that were considered an essential part of the ancient capital. We start with one of the most impressive of them all, Sacsayhuaman. This is where Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, is held during the Summer Solstice. Some of the stones used to build the site weigh up to 70 tons yet are fitted so precisely–without the use of mortar–that one cannot slide even the thinnest object between them. Some believe that the site forms the head of puma or jaguar and that the huge triangulated walls form its teeth, or symbolize lightening. Tambomachay, the Temple of the Sacred Waters, is another site we will visit and is a marvel of hydraulic engineering. Its waters still flow today. At Q´enqo we’ll see the remains of a ceremonial site used for fertility rites and for celebrations of the solstice and equinox. * An extra day in Cusco can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas (B, L)

After breakfast, we set out into the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop will be a visit to the Pisac market. The Pisac market has a wide variety of artisan arts & crafts and you will have the chance to see the many different products that the sacred valley produces. This is a great opportunity for you to do some unique shopping, and to purchase souvenirs for your family and friends. After the market, we head deeper into the Sacred Valley and visit the Inca town of Ollantaytambo, still inhabited by the locals in much the same way as it was during the time of the Incas. The lodging area is formed by complex structures known as “canchas” or apartments. The Inca built a temple on a terraced site above the town. The impressive, standing stones they erected, conjure up images of Atlantis. This is the site where Manco Inca and his warriors staged a temporary victory over the Spanish Conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro. During this victory, the Inca warriors flooded the fields, while raining down spears and arrows from above, making it difficult for the Spanish horses to maneuver, ultimately forcing a rare retreat on the part of the Conquistadors. We then return to Urubamba, where you will have a chance to break for lunch and recover energies to continue with our tour.

After lunch, we head out to the bustling market-town of Chinchero, our final visit today. The town of Chinchero is the the Birthplace of the Rainbow, situated at over 11,500 feet. Its extensive agricultural terraces made it, in Incan times, the bread-basket of Cusco city. The main sight to see at this location is a catholic church, with fine paintings from the Cusquenian School. Modern Chinchero has a very active community of women weavers who create textiles on backstrap looms using only natural dyes. The weavers make fine, high quality mantas, table runners, pillows, bags, belts, and scarves in soft natural colors. At the end of the day you will go back to Cusco. All of our suggested hotels are well situated, so that you can relax and enjoy more of both ancient and contemporary life this evening. * An overnight at the sacred valley can be added upon request. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities and meals.

Day 4: Machu Picchu (B, S)

The day you have been waiting for! After breakfast, we catch the train to the town Aquas Calientes at the base of Machu Picchu. Continue by bus for the short ride up switch backs, to the Machu Picchu citadel overhead. We enter the ruins for a breathtaking view of the city in the sky. You will enjoy a full tour of the lost city and have lunch on your own after the tour. In the afternoon, we say farewell to Machu Picchu as we set out by train heading to the station at Poroy and then on to Cusco Hotel by car arriving at night. * An overnight in MachuPicchu can be added upon request. Also, we can add bus and entrance tickets for a second day at the citadel. Please let us know if you like us to add additional activities.

Day 5: Return Flight back to Lima and connecting flight to Ecuador (B)

After breakfast at your hotel in Cusco, you will begin your trip back to the capital, in order to continue on the second portion of your excursion: Galapagos. You will be met by one of our representatives, who will escort you to the airport in Cusco to take your short, one-hour flight back to the capital. Once you arrive in Lima, you will connect with your flight to Quito, Ecuador. Upon arriving in Quito, you will be met at the airport and taken to your hotel by one of our representatives. *There are programs with more days. Please contact our agents to help you customize your trip.

Day 6: Flight to Galapagos and MV Santa Cruz Program: San Cristobal Island (B, L, D)

After breakfast at your hotel in Quito, you will be picked up and taken back to the airport, in order to catch your short flight to the Galapagos. Once you arrive at the Galapagos, you will be in charge of paying for two, separate fees that are not included in your quote ($100 access fee for entry into the Galapagos reserve & $10 fee for your immigration card within the Galapagos reserve). Once on the San Cristobal Island, you will be met by one of our representative and taken on your MV Santa Cruz program. Once on Santa Cruz, you will be anchored at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the provincial capital of Galapagos Islands. At this point, you will break for a delicious lunch at Cerro Brujo, which will be a great break from the day’s heavy travel schedule. After lunch, you will depart on a dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers, which will take you to the beautiful, Cerro Brujo´s white coralline beach. You will then experience a wet landing, by jumping off the boat, in shallow waters, and walking to shore. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835, as San Cristobal was the first island where he set foot in the Galapagos. Once back on the boat, the captain of the ship will host a special cocktail, which you will attend, which will provide for a great experience. Both lunch and dinner will be served on board. *There are programs with more days. Please contact our agents to help you customize your trip.

Day 7: MV Santa Cruz Program: Española Island & Floreana Island (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will prepare for your morning outing at Punta Suarez (dry landing), for an exciting walk on lava/boulder terrain to visit its unique bird colonies. You will have the chance to view the sheer majesty of the bio-diversity of the island. Afterwards, you will continue on your island tour, by embarking on a look-out for the elusive, red-green-black marine iguanas. The animals are fairly accustomed to human interaction, but some can be very hard to spot (because of their evolutionary nature). Continuing on, you will have a chance to see and a rookery of sea lions right at the landing site. At this point, you will return on board, to enjoy a deliciously prepared lunch. In the afternoon, you will embark to Punta Cormorant (Floreana Island), to enjoy a nice tour. You will disembark at Punta Cormorant (via wet landing), at an olivine-crystal beach, for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon, where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common storks, herons, and others may be observed. This portion of the tour will take you right into the evening, where you will once again board the ship and enjoy some dinner. *There are programs with more days. Please contact our agents to help you customize your trip.

Day 8: MV Santa Cruz Program: Fernandina Island & Isabela Island (B, L, D)

After breakfast on board, you will begin your day by disembarking (via dry landing), for a one-mile walk to Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island), the youngest island. Punta Espinoza has an amazing combination of barrenness and isolation, coupled with plenty of wildlife. This is one of the most beautiful portions of your tour, and one that you will never forget. For lunch, you will once again board the ship, where a delicious lunch will be sure to replenish your energy, and satisfy your appetite. In the afternoon, you will sail along the Bolivar Channel, where you will have the opportunity to view some astonishing landscapes of the Galapagos youngest volcanoes. The nutrient-rich waters of the west can also bring some unexpected surprises, like encountering sea birds feeding, dolphins swimming, and, if you are really lucky, possibly whales. Depending on the conditions of the ocean, we will schedule a snorkeling outing along the cliffs of the partly-sunken Ecuador Volcano, which is located in the northern tips of Isabela Island. This is the place where the flightless cormorants inhabit, the only existing marine birds in the world other than penguins that have evolved from birds that can fly, to birds that can dive. At the conclusion of your day, you will once again board the ship to enjoy some dinner. *There are programs with more days. Please contact our agents to help you customize your trip.

Day 9: MV Santa Cruz Program: Santa Cruz Island & Baltran Island (B)

After breakfast on board, you will conclude your Galagapos tour by visiting the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, which will sureby be rewarding, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. This outing is an optional program and an early one at that. You will arrive at the Itabaca Channel, between the islands of Bartra and Santa Cruz, and disembark at the public dock (dry landing) for a 30-minute bus ride along the highlands, en route to Puerto Ayora, where changes in vegetation can be witnessed. It is at this location that you will be able to physically witness the process of evolution. You will then proceed to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you will take part in seeing the rearing in captivity program for the famous giant tortoises. After an hour visit, you will return via the same route to cross the Itabaca Channel by ferry and take the bus to Baltra Island airport in time for your flight back to the Quito, and ultimately back home. *There are programs with more days. Please contact our agents to help you customize your trip. *A day hotel can be added in Quito or Guayaquile is your flight is the next morning.

NOTE: Some people prefer to go directly to the sacred valley upon arrival to the Cusco Airport. Please let us know if you prefer that to send you an updated itinerary

Not exactly what you want?

Remember that Magical focuses on providing the best available options and can work with you on customizing your tour to better fit your interests and budget, without compromising the quality of your tour. Just contact us with your questions and preferences and we can modify this tour based on your expectations and requests.

Important Notes:

About MachuPicchu Entrance Tickets

As the popularity of MachuPicchu has increased in the last few years, and in order to preserve the ancient paths of MachuPicchu, the Peruvian Cultural Institute (INC) has restricted the number of people that could enter MachuPicchu to 2,500 people per day. This means that, once the 2,500 tickets are sold out, no further entrance tickets will available. Also, please note that to avoid a secondary market for these tickets, all tickets are issued with the name of the passenger, his/her passport number, nationality and date of birth. Therefore, tickets are non refundable and non transferable.

About Huaynapichu Tickets

Entrance tickets to Huaynapichu are not longer free, entrance tickets are now US$12.00 per person. There are two scheduled visits per day, with a limit of 200 people per visit (Total of 400 per day). If you are interested in hiking the Huaynapichu, we will need you to let us know at the same time you book your trip since the Huaynapichu tickets need to be purchased in conjunction to the MachuPicchu tickets.

Price

This tour (*) is available from:

USD$2124.90 per person – Group with Private Transfers

For single supplement and prices in a private service, please contact us!

* Based on double occupancy, 4 people, Budget Accommodations

IMPORTANT: As price depends on each passenger choices, please contact us to send you an updated price based on your specific request. Please send us the following information and we will respond within 24 hours with your updated price.

• Number of people in your party
• Level of accommodation (3, 4, 5*). Please see options
• Choosing a Private or Group Tour?
• Train choice. Please see options
• Adding options: if you like to add day tours, extra days, meals, etc
• Need domestic or international flights?
• Have a special request (e.g.: special diet, wheelchair, children, senior, etc)

What’s Included?

• Expedition train Roundtrip. Upgrade to other trains: Vistadome train, Hiram Bingham Train upon request.
• Bus to Machu Picchu roundtrip.
• Expert leadership, guides, crew & support personnel for all listed tours
• Accommodations: 1 night in Lima, 3 nights in Cuzco, 3 nights in Quasar Evolution Cruise, 1 night in Quito
• Meals as noted (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, S = Snack). We can add any meals upon request
• All non-alcoholic beverages consumed onboard
• Land excursions as noted including entrance fees (BTG, Cathedral, Qoricancha, MachuPicchu)
• All activities onboard (excursions, snorkeling, kayaks)
• Snorkeling gear, kayaks and wetsuits for the entire cruise
• Fuel Surcharge
• Private Transportation: Lima Airport/Lima Hotel, Lima Hotel/Lima Airport, Cusco Airport/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Train Station, Train Station/Cusco Hotel, Cusco Hotel/Cusco Airport, Quito Airport/Quito Hotel, Quito Hotel/Quito Airport, Galapagos Airport (San Cristobal Island)/Port, Port/Galapagos Airport (San Cristobal Island).

What’s Not Included?

• Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee ($100 adults, U$50 children)
• Galapagos Immigration Card Fee (US$10 per person)
• Tipping & Gratuities for Peru (Guides $4 per person per day / Drivers $1 per person per day)
• Tipping & Gratuities for guides and crew for Galapagos (Guides $8-10 per person per day / Crew $11-15 per person per day / Barman $3-5 per person per day)
• Diving is an optional activity on the cruises and has an additional charge.
• Airport taxes: Local ($5-6) and International ($31) departure tax of payable in local currency by each passenger at Lima International Airport upon departure (if applicable)
• International and domestic airfares, usually quoted separately
• Excess baggage charges
• Medical immunizations
• Insurance of any kind: mandatory evacuation insurance; suggested cancellation insurance, interruption, baggage loss, damage and delay
• Items of a personal nature (clothing, sodas, liquor, snacks, laundry, etc.)
• Visas. Please be advised that some citizens other than Canadians and US may need visa to travel to Peru. Please advise us of your nationality to help you or check with the Peruvian Consulate.

Domestic Tickets

• Lima/Cusco/Lima: From US $190 per person. This is an example price. Prices depend on the airline, date and time of booking.
• Quito/Galapagos/Quito: From US $421 per person. This is an example price. Prices depend on the airline, date and time of booking.