Explore two of South America’s ultimate adventure travel destinations all in one amazing trip. Combining two of our amazing small group tours, this exciting adventure begins with a tour of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City of Quito, Ecuador. Next, fly to the legendary Galapagos for a 4 day, 3 night ship based expedition of the fantastically diverse islands that were made famous by Charles Darwin.

After returning to Quito, you’ll fly to the colonial city of Lima, Peru. Following a tour of the capital city, you’ll fly to Cusco, a high altitude mountain town located in the heart of the Peruvian Andes. After a drive through the picturesque Scared Valley of the Incas, you’ll board an early morning train and climb through the beautiful Urubamba valley to enjoy a full day of exploration among the breathtaking ruins of the fabled city of Machu Picchu. Following a visit to Lake Titicaca, you’ll return to Lima for your flight home OR, even better, you can add on one of our extension tour to the Amazon or the Nazca Lines.

For the explorer at heart, this incredible trip is a can’t miss adventure.

Ship choices and departure dates can be found at the bottom of the page.

Please note that we also offer a shore-based program with overnights in a hotel and daily yacht excursions throughout the islands (please contact us for details). In addition, we offer a number of longer cruises in the Galapagos (4 & 7 days), and have access to a large inventory of other cruise ships with a variety of departure dates. Please contact us at customerservice@headoutadventure.com or (888) Trip Find/(888) 874-7346 for details and pricing.

Brief Itinerary:

Day 1: Quito
Day 2: Tour of Quito (B)
Day 3: Quito to Galapagos. Start voyage (B, L, D)
Day 4/5: Full Day Galapagos voyage. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Morning voyage. Afternoon return to Quito. (B)
Day 7: Fly Quito to Lima. City Tour (B)
Day 8: Fly Lima to Cusco. City Tour (B)
Day 9: Sacred Valley of the Incas (B, L)
Day 10: Machu Picchu (B, L)
Day 11: Puno (B, L)
Day 12: Lake Titicaca (B, L)
Day 13: Sillustani and Umayo Lake. Fly to Lima. (B)
Day 14: Lima. Trip Ends. (B)


Detailed Itinerary:

B: Breakfast | L: Lunch | D: Dinner

Day 1:
QUITO, ECUADOR

Arriving in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy the city. Overnight in Quito.


Day 2:
QUITO (B)

In the morning you will be met by your guide and we’ll head out on a three hour tour of the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito. Declared a World Heritage City by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Quito is undoubtedly among the most attractive Latin American cities. Although it lays on the equator, the city is located high in the Andes, resulting in weather that is warm and comfortable during the day and cool at night. The morning tour will focus on the best of Quito and its rich cultural legacy, ornate facades, and dazzling gilded altars. We will visit Independence Square, the Archbishop’s palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and Panecillo Hill for a panoramic view of the city.

After lunch we will visit the famous Equatorial Monument where we’ll have the chance to see a quintessential colonial model village located at the Equatorial Line, marked by geographers as latitude 000’00”. Here you can stand in two hemispheres at the same time. Following a visit to the equator, we’ll go to a delightful local museum which focuses on Ecuador’s varied ethnic groups from the Galapagos to the Amazon. Overnight in Quito.


Day 3:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (B, L, D)

Getting an early start, we’ll be transferred to the Quito airport for your flight to the Galapagos. Arriving in the Galapagos, we will be met at the airport and transferred to the ship. In the evening, as the ship leaves the docks, we will be given an introduction to the Galapagos and the wonderful itinerary that awaits us over the several days.


Days 4-5:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (B, L, D)

For the next few days we will explore, with expert on-board naturalists, the unique and diverse archipelago of the Galapagos, an ecosystem beyond comparison. Between three and five million years ago, underwater volcanoes surfaced from the bottom of the ocean forming thirteen major islands, six lesser islands, and about forty two islets; all six hundred miles west of Ecuador and the South American continent. Wind and water currents from both Northern and Southern hemispheres carried foreign fauna to this young archipelago and over time it became a unique sanctuary of life. These befitting conditions, as observed and made famous by Charles Darwin, allowed animals to develop characteristics uniquely adapted to this new environment.

NOTE:

• Trips that start in Quito on Fridays ($3,699 Cost) include a small group tour of Quito, 4d/3n in the Galapagos on Yacht Coral and a guided small group tour to Machu Picchu.
• Trips that start in Quito on Saturday ($3,999 Cost) include a small group tour of Quito, 4d/3n in the Galapagos on MN Galapagos Legend and a guided small group tour to Machu Picchu.
• Trips that start in Quito on Mondays ($3,999 Cost) include Quito and 4 days & 3 nights in the Galapagos on MN Galapagos Explorer.

See the ‘Important Information’ section below and the ‘Pricing’ section to the right for full details and prices.


Day 6:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS – QUITO (B)

In the morning, after breakfast and an early cruise, you will be transferred to the airport for your unescorted flight back to Quito. Arriving in Quito, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The evening is yours to relax and enjoy the city. Overnight in Quito. (Includes breakfast).


Day 7:
LIMA, PERU (B)

In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your unescorted flight to Lima, Peru. Arriving in Lima, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After you settle in, you will get together with our local guide to discuss the itinerary and to have any last minute questions answered. Should arrive in the morning or early afternoon, you can enjoy a guided tour of Lima, including the most important architectural icons of the city, such as the Main Square, Government Palace, City Hall, Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace. Additionally we will visit the San Francisco Convent, an architectonic jewel dating back to the 16th century. On our way to the modern area of the city, we will cross the exclusive district of San Isidro, the new financial heart of the city, to take a look at pre-Inca Huaca Huallamarca. Finally, we conclude our circuit in Miraflores, where we will visit the “Parque del Amor” (Love Park) an excellent spot to enjoy a great view of the Pacific Ocean. Overnight in Lima.


Day 8:
CUSCO (B)

In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your unescorted flight to Cusco. The rest of the morning is free to rest and get acclimatized to the altitude. In the afternoon we will take a tour of Cusco, visiting the Imperial City, the Santo Domingo Convent, the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Sacsayhuaman Fortress, an imposing example of Inca military architecture which dominates the city. Overnight in Cusco.


Day 9:
SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS (B, L)

After breakfast, we will drive towards the Sacred Valley of the Incas, stopping along the way for fantastic views of the Urubamba valley, where the crops lay across the mountains like a colorful carpet. We will also visit the vibrant market of Pisac (open Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday only), where you will have free time to interact with the local craftsmen and, if you wish, purchase their hand-made souvenirs. Finally, we will visit Ollantaytambo, an attractive town of Inca origin with remarkable channels and stone streets. We will overnight in the Sacred Valley.


Day 10:
MACHU PICCHU: THE LOST CITY OF THE INCAS (B, L)

Today you will visit one of the most impressive and awe-inspiring archeological finds in the world: Machu Picchu. In the morning we will board a train for an exciting trip up through the beautiful Sacred Valley of Urubamba. From Aguas Calientes, we will board a bus which will take us on a short drive up to Machu Picchu. Arriving at Machu Picchu will be an unforgettable experience. To get started, we will take a guided tour led by a professional tour guide who will explain the history of this mysterious and charming place. After the guided tour, you will have plenty of free time to explore the grounds on your own. A buffet lunch will be served at the nearby Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon, we will board the train that will take us back to Cusco. In the evening you can relax and/or enjoy Cusco’s nightlife. Overnight in Cusco.


Day 11:
PUNO (B, L)

Leaving Cusco, we will take a wonderfully scenic bus ride to Puno. Along the way we will visit Andahuaylillas and the Racchi ruins, also known as “The Temple of God Wiracocha.” After lunch, we will make stops at Pucara and then at La Raya, the highest point on the road between Cusco and Puno where there are excellent photo opportunities. The afternoon in Puno is free to spend as you wish. Overnight in Puno.


Day 12:
LAKE TITICACA (B, L)

Following a delicious breakfast, we will head out to the picturesque Lake Titicaca. Here we will visit the floating islands of the Uros, also called Lake Town. These islands are built using totora reed which are used as homes and trade centers for the natives. The reed is also used by the natives to make hand-made boats, their main means of transportation. Next, we will go to Taquile Island, where the local traditions are kept alive with ornate costumes and colorful typical dresses. Here the local people are very skilled artisans and it shows in every piece of work. Overnight in Puno.


Day 13:
SILLUSTANI AND UMAYO LAKE (B)

In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for your unescorted flight back to Lima. On the way we will visit Sillustani, an archaeological site that is famous for Chullpas – famous stone funerary towers with large circular bases that reach nearly 40 feet high and were used by the Collas and Incas. The ruins are located above Lake Umayo, providing spectacular views. Overnight in Lima.


Day 14:
LIMA - TRIP ENDS (B)

Your adventure ends after breakfast. Transfer to the airport or, even better, continue with another one of our great adventures such as a trip to the Amazon Rainforest or Nazca Lines.