Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru
Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru
Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru
13 Days Starting in Quito, Ecuador and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Quito, North Seymour Island, Galapagos Islands, San Cristobal Island, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ISK3-2025
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend, combined with an exploration of Peru's rich cultural heritage. Begin in Quito, Ecuador, with a private city tour showcasing its colonial legacy. Sail through the Galápagos Islands, encountering unique wildlife such as blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas, and snorkel in the pristine waters of Bartolomé Island. Visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal Island before flying to Peru. Discover Lima's colonial history, explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and take a scenic train ride to the iconic Machu Picchu. Enjoy guided tours, luxurious accommodations, and a blend of natural wonders and historical marvels on this extraordinary adventure through South America.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Quito,Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2: Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
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)
Day 3: Quito,Baltra (Embarkation),Galápagos Cruising: North Seymour Island
Location: North Seymour Island
Accommodation Name: Galápagos Legend
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND • Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to 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)
Day 4: Cruising: Bartolomé Island & Santiago Island
Location: Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Galápagos Legend
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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 the 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)
Day 5: Cruising: San Cristobal Island
Location: San Cristobal Island
Accommodation Name: Galápagos Legend
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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 the 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: 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)
Day 6: Cruising: San Cristobal (Disembarkation),Quito,Lima,Peru
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. (B)
Day 7: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
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) Today’s I-Time Tips 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.
Day 8: Lima,Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA–CUSCO • 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)
Day 9: Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
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)
Day 10: Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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)
Day 11: Machu Picchu,Sacred Valley,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
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. (B)
Day 12: Cusco,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
CUSCO–LIMA • Fly to Lima today. (B)
Day 13: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at Hilton Colon Quito, Hotel Pullman Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in Sacred Valley, and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel.
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Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners.
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Private City Tour in Quito
Included private city tour showcasing the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards.
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Galápagos Legend Cruise
3-night cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with expert Naturalist guide.
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Guided Tours
Guided tours in Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu.
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Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to various sites including Machu Picchu and the Giant Tortoise Reserve.
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Internal Flights
Internal flights from Quito to Baltra, San Cristobal to Quito, Quito to Lima, Lima to Cusco, and Cusco to Lima.
What's Not Included
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Main Luggage Storage
Main luggage will be stored at the Cusco hotel during overnight stays in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu due to luggage restrictions on the train.
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Physical Requirements
Walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, climbing stairs, and wet landings in the Galápagos Islands.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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International Flights
International flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Notes
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos is also provided. 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 are 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.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Accommodation
Stay at the Hilton Colon Quito, Hotel Pullman Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in Sacred Valley, and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel for a comfortable and luxurious experience throughout your journey.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes internal flights from Quito to Baltra, San Cristobal to Quito, Quito to Lima, Lima to Cusco, and Cusco to Lima. Private airport transfers are provided, and a 3-night cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend is included.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see on the Galápagos Islands during the cruise?
During the Galápagos cruise, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, sea lions, land iguanas, marine iguanas, lava lizards, Galápagos penguins, and possibly the endemic Galápagos snake. The waters are home to sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and a range of seabirds.
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What activities are included during the visit to Machu Picchu?
At Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the site, exploring its temple remains, holy houses, and aqueducts. There is also an option for a brisk one-hour hike to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas.
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Are there any physical requirements or challenges on this tour?
Yes, the tour involves walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, climbing stairs, and wet landings in the Galápagos Islands. The terrain can be rocky and uneven, and elevations can exceed 10,000 feet, which may make exertion challenging.
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What is the accommodation like during the tour?
Accommodation includes stays at Hilton Colon Quito, Hotel Pullman Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in the Sacred Valley, and Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel.
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What meals are provided during the tour?
The tour includes a buffet breakfast daily, 5 lunches, and 4 three-course dinners.
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What is the maximum elevation reached during the tour?
The maximum elevation reached during the tour is 12,200 feet.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
Reviews of this operator
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Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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