Day 3
Continue your discovery of the Sacred Valley, today, as you explore the Inca ruins and market of ancient Pisac, as well as the great terraced fortress at Ollantaytambo. You'll also visit a potato park where you’ll learn about the importance of that vegetable to the valley’s indigenous community.
Day 4
Today you'll travel by narrow-gauge railway and bus to breath-taking Machu Picchu, the iconic Lost City of the Incas. On arrival, your guide will introduce the layout of the original citadel, after which you are free to wander around the site. Magnificently set in the heart of the Andes, Machu Picchu seems to have been a military outpost, a secret retreat of Inca rulers and a sanctuary built in honour of Inca chief Pachacutec. With its Royal Tomb, Temple of the Sun, Priest’s House, Temple of the Three Windows and Sunken Plaza, it is undeniably one of the true wonders of the world.
At the end of the day, you’ll head back down to nearby Aguas Calientes for an overnight stay in this lively Andean jungle spa town.
Day 5
A second day’s optional visit to Machu Picchu begins with the unforgettable sight of sunrise over the citadel, as well as the opportunity to explore the site before the bulk of visitors arrive. At the end of a truly unforgettable couple of days you’ll return to Cuzco by train and bus, to spend two nights in the majestic city.
Day 6
Join your guide for an introduction to one of The Americas’ most enthralling cities, with its ancient palaces and temples, and its roll call of colonial buildings. Highlights will include the Santo Domingo monastery, built over the Inca Temple of the Sun, the monumental cathedral and the Spanish glories of the main square, the Plaza de Armas. You will also visit San Pedro market's colourful stalls, and journey out into the surrounding hills to take in the ruins at the Inca sites at Sacsayhuaman, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, before spending a second night in the city.
Day 7
Today you’ll fly west and back down to sea level to spend two nights in Lima. After your arrival in the Peruvian capital, you'll be transferred to your hotel so you can rest and relax. Why not dine out this evening in this city that is well known as one of South America’s culinary hotspots?
Day 8
Today’s tour will introduce this thriving city, founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro, where Spanish colonial influences abound, especially around its central Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de Armas. See the Presidential Palace and the city's Baroque cathedral, explore the ultra-modern San Isidro and Miraflores districts, which overlook the Pacific Ocean, and enjoy a second evening in the city.
Day 9
Bidding farewell to Lima, today you'll head to the airport to board the two-hour flight back into the high Andes and to the extraordinary Ecuadorian city of Quito.
Stunningly set just 22 kilometres south of the equator, over 9,300 feet above sea level and beneath the volcanic slopes of towering Pinchincha, Quito is a Spanish colonial treasure-chest arrayed around its UNESCO-listed Historic Centre. Since the city can be literally breath-taking due to the altitude, you'll have the rest of the day free to spend acclimatising.
Day 10
Join your tour manager for a guided introduction to the Ecuadorian capital, including a tour of the colourful, edgy La Mariscal district and the historic centre. Among the city's fascinating sights are restored Independence Plaza in the heart of the city's Historic Centre, Plaza San Francesco with its monumental church, and the towering Gothic wonder that is the Basilica del Voto National. The cries of the bowler-hatted street-vendors peddling woollen shawls and panama hats, and the aromas of traditional street food, add to the wonderful atmosphere. Head to Itchimba Park for spectacular views of the city and its mountain backdrop, and this afternoon pay a visit to Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World) where the equator is marked with a monument and visitor centre.
Spend a second evening in the fascinating city, perhaps heading to La Mariscal, the hub of Quito’s nightlife.
Day 11
Today’s included excursion takes you to the sprawling, kaleidoscopic fair held in the squares and streets of the highland town of Otavalo, probably the most famous of all South America’s colourful, indigenous markets. See vendors in traditional dress selling a vast array of traditional goods at remarkable prices on a fascinating day that will also include visits to indigenous villages Cotacachi and Peguche before you return to Quito for a last evening in the city.
Day 12
The first of four very special days begins as you bid farewell to Quito and fly to the remote, volcanic Pacific archipelago. Charles Darwin first set foot in this "paradise" in 1835, and it remains a unique ecosystem of flora and fauna unaffected by the outside world.
After your arrival on Baltra you’ll transferred by boat to the neighbouring island Santa Cruz. This afternoon, after an included lunch, head into the island’s highlands for a gentle hike in the El Chato Reserve, where extraordinary giant tortoises still wander freely, and where you'll also be able to watch the skies and surrounding vegetation for signs of bird life, including the island's Darwin finches.
Later, spend the first of two nights in delightful Puerto Ayora.
Day 13
On the first full day of your Galápagos tour, you’ll take an unforgettable cruise across the pristine waters of Academy Bay. Make the most of opportunities for snorkelling or swimming in waters filled with a colourful array of marine life, including turtles and sea lions. Ashore, there are marine iguanas to encounter, and an astonishing collection of cacti and red volcanic rocks to marvel at.
Lunch is included again, today.
Day 14
This morning enjoy a fascinating visit to the famous Charles Darwin Research Station, learning about the vital conservation work that takes place across the Galápagos, and meeting several sub-species of giant tortoise, many of which are at ease with human contact.
In the afternoon you will take the boat to San Cristobal Island. On arrival you’ll head to the nearby beach at La Lobería, a crescent of sand that is home to families of sea lions, and where other indigenous species such as turtles, marine iguanas and several unique bird species (including the remarkable blue-footed booby) are also sometimes seen. There'll be time for swimming or snorkelling (opportunities for yet more marine encounters) before you head to your hotel.
Day 15
After breakfast, head to the dock to board a boat for a short trip accompanied by your certified Galápagos National Park guide, to tiny Isla Lobos to see its resident sea lions, and colonies of frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. A swim in the calm, clear waters, or a stroll along the white-sand beach, should bring yet more sightings and close-up views of marine life before you return to Puerto Moreno to enjoy an included lunch followed by an afternoon free for relaxation.
This evening you'll sit down with your new-found friends to reminisce about the extraordinary sights of the last two weeks over a Farewell Dinner.
Day 16
Say goodbye to the Galápagos Islands, today, transferring to San Cristobal’s island airport to board the flight to Guayaquil. Here, you'll catch a connecting flight to Bogotá and your overnight flight home across the Atlantic.
Day 17
You'll land back in the UK, today, at the end of a wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime, South American adventure.