Day 1: Arrive Lima
A transfer is included from Lima’s Jorge Chavez Int’l Airport to the Miraflores Park Hotel. Lima chronicles its rich history in Renaissance churches, palaces, mansions and exclusive neighborhoods like Miraflores where your five-star hotel enjoys a premier oceanfront location.
Overnight: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru
Meals Included:
Day 2: Discover Life in Lima
View the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art at the Museo Larco, housed in an 18th-century colonial mansion, and meet smooth-gaited Peruvian pasos during a visit to a horse ranch. Sightseeing continues back in Lima when we take you inside San Pedro Church, built in 1638, to see its gold-leafed Baroque altars and “La Abuelita,” the oldest bell in Peru. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Rise early for a flight to Cusco, the place to begin your in-depth exploration of Incan culture. A weaving demonstration at a local farm showcases colorful traditions that have been handed down through the centuries, followed by a close-up look at another enduring vestige of ancient Peru, the mighty fortress of Ollantaytambo. Your accommodations are eco-friendly, featuring spectacular views in an enchanted Sacred Valley setting.
Overnight: Sol & Luna Lodge & Spa, Yucay Valley, Peru
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Explore Machu Picchu
A walking tour leads to a visit to a private home before boarding a rail journey back in time to Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu. A local expert enriches your visit with insights and stories that make the spiritual history of this sacred Inca citadel come alive. Spend the night at the sought-after Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located close to the entrance of this mystical site.
Overnight: Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Aguas Calientes, Peru
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Mystical Machu Picchu and Cusco
If you wish, explore Machu Picchu’s ruins again on your own before returning to Cusco to visit Korikancha. Stay for the next two nights at the lavishly restored Hotel Monasterio.
Overnight: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Discover Colonial Cusco
Sightseeing of ancient stone ruins and city landmarks is balanced with time at leisure today for you to enjoy the remainder of your Cusco stay, your way.
Overnight: Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 7: Fly to the port city of Guayaquil
Fly to Guayaquil via Lima. The largest city in Ecuador, tropical Guayaquil serves as the perfect gateway for your upcoming 6-night cruise through the Galápagos Islands. Enjoy city sightseeing upon arrival.
Overnight: Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8: Cruising Begins in the Galápagos
Your morning flight takes you to San Cristobal, starting point for your cruise aboard your expedition ship, Isabela II. Shore excursions with our expert naturalists aboard Zodiac-style pangas introduce you to wildlife not found anywhere else in the world. Enjoy the Captain’s welcome reception tonight!
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9: Wet & Dry Landings at Genovesa
Cruise along the cliffs of Genovesa (Tower) Island to Prince Philip’s Steps. Climb up to flat land for a walk across the island to see large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels. A wet landing on lava terrain lets you view the birds of beautiful Darwin Bay. Swim or snorkel before returning to the ship.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10: Explore "Buccaneers" Bay
British buccaneers frequented James Bay at Isla San Salvador in the 1600s, bringing with them treasures of pirated gold and taking tortoises and firewood when they returned to the sea. Today the island is home to feral goats, Galápagos fur seals, marine iguanas, hawks and herons.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Fernandina & Isabela Islands
Explore the youngest of all the islands when you join us for a walk on Fernandina Island. There are no mammals here but marine iguanas, sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs and birds are in abundance here. It’s off to secluded Tagus Cove on Isabela this afternoon, a favorite anchorage for pirates, whalers and tortoises over the centuries. An uphill hike takes you to the back of Darwin Crater for views of the island’s six volcanoes.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12: A close look at Volcanic Urbana Bay
Walk on what was once the ocean floor at Urbana Bay, treading carefully on coral and shells amid large, sun-bathing land iguanas, an occasional tortoise and flocks of Darwin’s finches. A panga ride with our naturalist reveals life along the partly sunken cliffs of Ecuador Volcano on the northern tip of Isabela Island.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 13: Rabida & Santa Cruz Islands
Go ashore on a red sand beach at Rabida Island for a chance to see sea lions, pelicans, red- and blue-footed boobies and greater flamingos. Walk to a brackish lagoon on Santa Cruz to see stilts, pintail ducks and sandpipers and savor great views of the islands and resident iguanas and flycatchers during an inland hike with a naturalist.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14: Fly to Guayaquil
Fly back to Guayaquil today from Baltra. Enjoy free time at the hotel before joining us for our farewell party and dinner.
Overnight: Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 15: Journey Home
Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from the Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Overnight: Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner
Day 16: Journey Home
Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from the Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.
Note: Triples are not available aboard ship. This is an active journey requiring a fair amount of walking, often on uneven terrain and climbing in and out of Zodiac-style panga boats; several days touring at elevations up to 11,200 ft. in hot and humid weather can be strenuous and challenging.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast
• All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides, naturalists and ship staff
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