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Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru 2027
13-Day Package from Quito to Lima
Tour Description:
How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover your own love affair with the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? And delve further south to soar higher in the Andes and the heart of Peru? If so, this Globus Independent tour in South America is pointing you in the right direction. Begin by exploring the historic heart of Quito and depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. Cruise in luxury on the Galápagos Legend and explore the archipelago in the company of a Naturalist guide. Sail upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the sanctuaries of spectacular species on Bartolomé, Santiago, North Seymour, and San Cristobal Islands. Visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve where conservationists work to protect the gentle giants for which the islands are named. Then, set your compass to the heart of Peru to ignite your independent spirit in Lima, Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu to find the “Lost City of the Incas.” Explore ancient ruins that defy explanation and encounter the captivating cultures that live on in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Timeless temples, textiles, and tantalizing dishes are all on the menu on this free-spirited sojourn in South America. Treat yourself to a tour that is exclusively yours with free time, me time, and optional adventures that speak to your independent spirit!
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Dates & Pricing
Start Dates Listed Below are US departure dates, please verify specific dates with your Pavlus Travel Planner
| Friday 15 Jan 27 — Thursday 28 Jan 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 29 Jan 27 — Thursday 11 Feb 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 12 Feb 27 — Thursday 25 Feb 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 26 Feb 27 — Thursday 11 Mar 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 12 Mar 27 — Thursday 25 Mar 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote | |
| Friday 26 Mar 27 — Thursday 08 Apr 27 | Starting at $7,359 | Get a Quote |
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingSpecial features included in this tour:
- Private guided sightseeing of Quito’s colonial center, including Independence Square and the Basilica
- 3-night Galápagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Naturalist-led excursions
- Landing at North Seymour Island to view blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and sea lions
- Hike to the summit of Bartolomé Island with panoramic views of Pinnacle Rock
- Landing at Santiago Island’s Sullivan Bay for a guided hike and snorkeling
- Visit to San Cristobal’s Pitt Islet and Cerro Brujo lagoon for seabird viewing and snorkeling
- Guided visit to the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal Island
- Roundtrip internal flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands
- Guided visit to Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, and Puca Pucara ruins
- Guided tour of Sacred Valley with stops in Pisaq and Ollantaytambo
- Scenic round trip train ride through the Andes to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu with second-day entrance included
Notes:
•Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon (only) are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos is also provided. •Intra-vacation flights to and within Peru are not included but can be added.•In the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos is subject to change. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. •Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft.
•Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon (only) are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos is also provided. •Intra-vacation flights to and within Peru are not included but can be added.•In the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos is subject to change. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. •Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft.
ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 ARRIVE IN QUITO, ECUADOR
Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in
Day 2 QUITO
• Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows.
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 3 QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
• Transfer to the airport and fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to board the Galápagos Legend for your 3-night cruise.
• Sail to North Seymour, a landmass formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. Take a walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas and, on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galápagos snake.
(B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch
DinnerDay 4 CRUISING: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND & SANTIAGO ISLAND
• Wake up at Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies. Bartolomé offers some of the best spots to snorkel, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and maybe even Galápagos penguins.
• This afternoon, sail to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island and take a walk on young Pahoehoe lava flows formed during the last quarter of the 19th Century. See the reddish-yellow tuff-cones with various flora growing from the fissures. Walking on solidified lava gives the impression of walking on another planet. After your guided walk, spend time snorkeling from the white sand beach where you may see penguins, sea lions, sharks, and rays.
(B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 5 CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND
• Arrive at Pitt Islet on San Cristobal and walk to the top of a volcanic tuff to be rewarded with several magnificent viewpoints. This is one of the few sites where the Galápagos’ three booby species (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca) can be seen together. You will also find two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. The island waters are excellent for dinghy rides to see a range of seabirds—and a great spot to snorkel!
• At Cerro Brujo, visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen, including black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and white-cheeked pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal, and the adjacent coast. Your visit includes time to swim with the sea lions and other marine life.
(B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 6 CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL (DISEMBARKATION)–QUITO–LIMA, PERU
• After breakfast, disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal. Learn about the national park’s conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species.
• Also, visit the port village for a last chance at souvenirs before bidding farewell to the enchanted Galápagos Islands.
• Transfer to San Cristobal Airport and fly to Quito. Later, fly to Lima, Peru. Transfer to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 7 LIMA
• Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias.
(B)
INSIDER PICKS
This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 8 LIMA–CUSCO
• Transfer to the airport and fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide.
• Your guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature.
• Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. Followed by the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara.
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 9 CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
• Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today.
• Continue to the market town of Pisaq, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices.
• At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry.
(B,L)
BreakfastLunch
BreakfastLunchDay 10 SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU
• Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
• On a guided tour of Machu Picchu, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas.
(B,L,D)
BreakfastLunch Dinner
BreakfastLunch DinnerDay 11 MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO
• A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins.
• Return to Cusco by train where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 12 CUSCO–LIMA
• After a transfer to the airport, fly to Lima today. Transfer to your hotel for a free evening.
(B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 13 LIMA
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.
(B)
Accommodations
Accommodations| Quito | Lima | Cusco | Cusco | Sacred Valley | Machu Picchu |
Hilton Colon Quito (SAT)
Superior First-Class
Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 Quito Ecuador
The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.
Superior First-Class
Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 Quito Ecuador
The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.
