Legacy of the Incas with Peru's Amazon & Galápagos Cruise
Legacy of the Incas with Peru's Amazon & Galápagos Cruise
Legacy of the Incas with Peru's Amazon & Galápagos Cruise
23 Days Starting in Lima, Peru and ending in Guayaquil, Ecuador
Visiting: Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata National Reserve, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Paracas, Quito, San Cristóbal Island, Española Island, Floreana Island, Santa Cruz, Guayaquil
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SPY-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the "Legacy of the Incas with Peru's Amazon & Galápagos Cruise" tour, exploring the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural wonders of Peru and Ecuador. Begin your adventure with a motorboat ride up the Madre de Dios River to view exotic wildlife in Peru's Amazon Jungle, followed by a canopy walkway exploration in Tambopata National Reserve. Discover the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, ascend to the legendary Machu Picchu, and visit the unique islands of Lake Titicaca. Experience a scenic train journey, a cruise to the Ballestas Islands, and a flight over the Nazca plains. Conclude your trip with a 4-night Galápagos cruise, visiting the Darwin Interpretation Center and witnessing the incredible biodiversity of the archipelago. This tour includes guided sightseeing, unique cultural experiences, and comfortable accommodations, ensuring a memorable and enriching travel experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive In Lima,Peru
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport
Upon arrival, you will meet your Globus representative.
Day 2: Lima,Puerto Maldonado,Hacienda Concepción
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios and the entry to Peru’s Amazon Jungle. Embark on a motorboat ride up the Madre de Dios River to view the exotic wildlife. Arrive at your Amazon Jungle lodge and meet your Naturalist. After settling in, head out with your Naturalist for a walk along nature trails to learn about primary and secondary rainforest. At dusk, take a canoe ride to learn about the Amazonia River ecosystems, nocturnal animals’ activity, and the southern constellations.
Day 3: Hacienda Concepción
Location: Tambopata National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, take a nature walk with your Naturalist through Tambopata National Reserve and a dugout canoe ride around Lake Sandoval in search of native flora and fauna. Learn about the reserve’s conservation efforts and the animals that inhabit this lake, such as the endangered giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, and black caimans. This afternoon, explore the rainforest on a canopy walkway consisting of seven suspension bridges hanging more than 100 feet from the ground. From the treetops, keep an eye out for white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys and the three-toed sloth. After night falls, your Naturalist introduces you to the nocturnal animals of the Amazon.
Day 4: Hacienda Concepción
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short boat ride brings you to a native farm where farmers use ancient methods to grow crops. Learn about local cultivation techniques, intriguing medicinal uses by local communities, and taste some of the produce. This afternoon, you can fish for piranha like the local indigenous communities do and visit a clay lick to observe wildlife from a blind to observe the normal routine of the fauna without disrupting the environment.
Day 5: Hacienda Concepción,Puerto Maldonado,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Return to Puerto Maldonado and fly to Lima where you will be met by your Globus representative.
Day 6: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, your Local Guide focuses on the city’s colonial heritage during a walking tour. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and the cathedral. From here, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery with its splendid 17th-century cloister murals. For a special treat, [LF] stop at a local food market to get a real taste of life for the local people. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow traveling companions at one of Lima’s finest historic homes, Casa Garcia Alvarado.
Day 7: Lima,Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas where you will enjoy a special lunch prepared exclusively for Globus guests at a private location. Here, experience an [LF] El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. Continue to Pisac, an old mountain village, where you will have free time to shop for local wares, such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or Hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases at its famous market. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by [LF] a visit to a local home, meet some of the area’s families, and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Tonight, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian cooking demonstration before your included dinner.
Day 9: Machu Picchu,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco.
Day 10: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
On your guided sightseeing tour of Cusco today, learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. Begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in 1550 and was finally completed 100 years later. During your city tour, you will be greeted by an Inca king, so have your cameras ready! Continue to Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Monastery, and see how the two sites have become one. The Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was once the most important Inca site, dedicated to the worship of the Sun. The walls, altars, and decorations were all said to be covered in gold—until the Spaniards looted the temple and then built the contrasting Baroque Santo Domingo Monastery on top of the temple’s foundations. Also visit the semi-circular Kenko Temple with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and see the ancient site of Puca Pucara before the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. The remainder of your day is free to explore at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11: Cusco,Sillustani,Juliaca,Puno (Lake Titicaca)
Location: Puno
Accommodation Name: GHL Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca
Accommodation Name: GHL Lago Titicaca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, take a motorboat trip to some of the more unique islands of Lake Titicaca. Start with Taquile Island, which was once part of the Inca Empire and was one of the last areas of Peru to be conquered by Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish banned traditional dress on the island, which is why the Spanish peasant dress can still be found today. Next, travel to the fascinating Uros Islands, home to the Uros Indians, who were forced to live on the lake as the Inca Indians pushed farther into their territory.
Day 13: Puno,Juliaca,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
Depart for Juliaca this morning for a return flight to Lima.
Day 14: Lima,Paracas. Ballestas Islands Cruise & Nazca Lines
Location: Paracas
Accommodation Name: Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paracas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy a scenic drive south along the Pan-American Highway to the Bay of Paracas. Embark on a cruise out to the Ballestas Islands, which are inhabited by a wide variety of sea mammals and exotic birds, including blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and Humboldt penguins. The huge Candelabro, a candelabra-shaped etching on the Paracas cliffside, can also be seen as you cruise back to shore. Continue to the town of Pisco, the wine capital of Peru. Have your camera handy today as you board your aircraft for flightseeing over the Nazca plains, which can only be appreciated by air. Dating back to 500 BC, these geoglyphs etched into the ground consist of over 10,000 lines depicting plants and animals Enjoy dinner this evening at your hotel.
Day 15: Paracas,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After some free time in Paracas, return to Lima today. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a memorable farewell dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant.
Day 16: Lima,Quito,Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Quito, capital of Ecuador, and have some free time this evening.
Day 17: Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
On an included city tour, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica.
Day 18: Quito,San Cristobal Island (Embarkation),Galápagos Cruising
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to San Cristobal and embark the Seaman Journey for a 4-night cruise. This afternoon, visit the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center with your expert Naturalist and learn about ongoing conservation of the archipelago, its history, ecosystems, flora, and fauna.
Day 19: Cruising: San Cristobal Island
Location: San Cristóbal Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve and learn about the island’s giant tortoise population and the measures taken to help preserve and breed these endangered species. The reserve includes a large corral, breeding facility, and interpretative trail, where it is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants as well as birds, such as the San Cristobal mockingbird, yellow warblers, many species of finch, and the Galápagos flycatcher. This afternoon, explore Cerro Brujo, offering beautiful views of Kicker Rock and famous for being the first place Charles Darwin visited in the archipelago.
Day 20: Cruising: Española Island
Location: Española Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join your Naturalist guide for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. At Gardner Bay, this is the one place you can see three species of Darwin finches. It’s also a great spot to snorkel or kayak. At Punta Suárez, you will see the famous blowhole, as well as unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches.
Day 21: Cruising: Floreana Island
Location: Floreana Island
Accommodation Name: Seaman Journey
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Cormorant Point to see a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific sea turtles. Enjoy a chance to snorkel among sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks. This afternoon, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another great place to snorkel.
Day 22: Cruising: Santa Cruz (Disembarkation),Baltra,Guayaquil
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
Hatching a PlanAfter breakfast, disembark and transfer to visit the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding facility at the Charles Darwin Research Station. Fly to Guayaquil.
Day 23: Guayaquil
Location: Guayaquil
Accommodation Name: Hilton Colon Guayaquil
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at various hotels including Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport, Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion, Casa Andina Premium Miraflores, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Casa Andina Premium Cusco, GHL Lago Titicaca, Casa Andina Select Miraflores, Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paracas, Hilton Colon Quito, and Hilton Colon Guayaquil.
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Meals
Breakfast daily, 11 lunches, and 15 dinners are included.
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Guided Tours
Guided sightseeing tours in Lima, Cusco, Quito, and various locations in the Galápagos Islands.
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Transportation
Flights between Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Juliaca, Quito, and the Galápagos Islands. Vistadome train to Machu Picchu and motorboat rides in the Amazon and Lake Titicaca.
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Special Experiences
Includes unique experiences such as a visit to a local home in the Sacred Valley, a Pisco Sour demonstration, and a Mother Earth Ceremony performed by a local shaman.
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Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to various attractions including Machu Picchu, the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center, and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, laundry, and phone calls are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
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Visa Fees
Visa fees and other travel documentation costs are not included.
Meals
Breakfast daily, 10 Lunches, 15 Dinners
Notes
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 approx. 12,200 ft. For Nazca Lines flights, any guest who weighs more than 220 pounds will need to buy an additional ticket (est. $260 USD) at the time of the flight. 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. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats. Itinerary is subject to change in low or high water situations.
Small Group
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select South America dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 20 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu|Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca and Pampas de Jumana
Mode of Transport
Travel includes flights to various destinations within Peru and Ecuador, motorboat rides in the Amazon, a scenic train journey to Machu Picchu, and a 4-night cruise in the Galápagos Islands.
Accommodation
Lima:Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima AirportPuerto Maldonado:Inkaterra Hacienda ConcepcionLima:Casa Andina Premium MirafloresSacred Valley:Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and VillasMachu Picchu:Sumaq Machu Picchu HotelCusco:Casa Andina Premium CuscoPuno:GHL Lago TiticacaParacas:The Legend Paracas ResortQuito:Hilton Colon Quito (SAT)Guayaquil:Hilton Colon Guayaquil - SAT
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see in the Amazon Jungle?
In the Amazon Jungle, you can expect to see a variety of exotic wildlife including giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, black caimans, white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys, and three-toed sloths.
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What unique experiences are included in the Sacred Valley?
In the Sacred Valley, you will have unique experiences such as visiting a local home to meet families and experience their way of life, participating in a Mother Earth Ceremony performed by a local shaman, and learning how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian cooking demonstration.
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What activities are planned for Machu Picchu?
At Machu Picchu, you will have a guided tour of the intact fortress, including its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. You will also have the opportunity to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with a second included entrance to the ruins.
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What can I expect during the Galápagos cruise?
During the Galápagos cruise, you will visit the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, Cerro Brujo, Gardner Bay, Punta Suárez, Cormorant Point, and Post Office Bay. Activities include learning about conservation efforts, observing giant tortoises, snorkeling, kayaking, and seeing unique sea bird colonies and marine life.
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What is the accommodation like in the Amazon Jungle?
In the Amazon Jungle, you will stay at the Hacienda Concepcion, a rustic lodge in the middle of the rainforest. The rooms have ceiling fans but no air conditioning, and are screened in to allow you to hear the surrounding rainforest. Electricity is shut off between 11 pm and 4 am, and each room is provided with kerosene lanterns and flashlights at night.
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What are the physical requirements for this tour?
This tour requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. In the Galápagos, there will be 'wet landings' requiring guests to jump in the water and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. The terrain is rocky and uneven.
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What meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes breakfast daily, 11 lunches, and 15 dinners.
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Are there any special considerations for luggage during the tour?
For your overnight stay in Machu Picchu, you will only be allowed to bring an overnight bag weighing no more than 11 pounds due to luggage restrictions on the train. Your main luggage will be stored at the Cusco hotel where you will return for an overnight the following night.
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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.
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Low Deposit
Globus requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of globus charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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