Arrival to Quito and transfer to the hotel.

The sightseeing tour takes you to visit the historic old town, declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, because of its wealth of Spanish, Flemish, Moorish and Pre-Columbian architecture. Visit the Congress building with its intricate stonework façade, the monastery of San Agustin, the church of San Francisco as well as the Independence Square, which is surrounded by the Government Palace and Cathedral. Continue on to Panecillo Hill topped with a statue of Quito’s ‘Winged Virgin’ visible from almost anywhere in the city. You are welcomed by spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the city below before culminating your tour with a visit to the Equatorial monument – (La Mitad del Mundo) an irresistible opportunity to straddle both hemispheres.

Depart for a 2-hour drive north to the verdant slopes and lakes of the volcanic highlands, to the famous Otavalo. This is one of the most famous Indian Markets in the Americas. The market is held everyday but acquires special relevance on Saturdays when hundreds of artisans from the surrounding communities congregate in the Plaza de los Ponchos to display their textile works, produced using techniques that date back to colonial times. Here you will have the chance to purchase all sorts of beautifully hand made items fashioned and sold by the local inhabitants. After lunch in a typical hacienda we return to Quito where you will overnight in preparation for tomorrow’s adventure: The Galapagos Islands.

Flight to Galapagos. Arrival to Galapagos, itinerary according the selected cruise

Itinerary according the selected cruise (see details in the attached document)

Itinerary according the selected cruise (see details in the attached document)

Flight to Guayaquil. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Flight to Lima. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Flight to Cusco. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Our comprehensive afternoon tour includes the beautiful Temple of the Sun or ‘Koricancha’, the Cathedral as well as the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a most remarkable Inca building, the amphitheater of Kenko. This is followed by a visit to Puca Pucara, a strategically located red fortress’ that dominates the entire area before visiting Tambomachay, with its two distinctive aqueducts that to this day continue to provide clean water to the area.

This morning we drive to the valley of the Urubamba River the so called Sacred Valley of the Inca. We proceed then to Pisaq where hundreds of visitors and people from remote communities dressed in their traditional and colourful attires meet to market and barter their products. Today, the market also has a tourist element, so there is an opportunity to buy souvenirs. Afterwards, we drive along the valley to Ollantaytambo, where the Temple of the Sun (formed of six gigantic monoliths, whose total weight exceeds 50 tons) and the Terrace of the Ten Niches stand out. Ollantaytambo was the site of the only successful Inca battle against the Spanish conquerors and the only town in the area to still retain its original Inca layout. Transfer to the hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Morning transfer to Ollanta Station. Our 1 ½ hour train journey takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the legendary ancient citadel in Machu Picchu. On arrival a small coach take us up the steep roads to the entrance of the citadel. Machu Picchu remained for centuries undiscovered by the Spaniards, only to be found in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. The uniqueness of its location and the genius that went into its construction make this Inca archaeological site truly one of the great wonders of the world. Afternoon return to Aguas Calientes.

Morning free. In the afternoon you will head back by train to Ollanta station to be transferred by coach to Cusco.

Day at leisure.

Flight to Lima. Arrival and pick up from the airport. Afternoon colonial tour of Lima. The city has always been one of the most important cities in South America since it was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Our sightseeing tour exclusively explores Lima's historic quarter and unlike the conventional tours it includes the visit to the ‘Casona San Marcos’. You will be able to retrace Lima’s colonial past as you explore the different rooms and courtyards of this house founded in 1605 by Jesuit missionaries. After the suppression of the Jesuits the house became the Royal School of San Carlos. The first generation of intellectuals, playing a key role in Peru’s independence process, was educated here. Years later in 1867 the Casona was given to the University of San Marcos - America’s oldest and Peru’s most renowned university. Today, the restored ‘casona’ houses San Marcos University’s cultural center and is used as venue for graduation ceremonies and cultural conferences. At proper time transfer to the airport to board your flight.