Machu Picchu & the Galápagos: A Luxury Journey

Days 1-2: Lima

Your journey begins in Lima, where you stay in Miraflores, the clifftop coastal district above the Pacific with easy access to the neighboring district of Barranco.

Lima is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in South America, with a well-established scene centered on both districts and a food culture that has produced some of the best restaurants in the world.

A private guide covers the historic center on your first day, taking in the Plaza Mayor, the Monastery of San Francisco and its catacombs, and the Larco Museum.

Days 3-5: Cusco and the Sacred Valley

A short flight of just over an hour takes you to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, at 3,400 meters above sea level. One night in the city allows time to acclimatize.

The Plaza de Armas is one of the finest colonial squares in South America, and the San Blas neighborhood, with its artisan workshops and views over the city.

A private guide takes you into the Sacred Valley the following day, covering the fortress and market town of Pisac, the circular agricultural terraces of Moray, engineered by the Inca to create microclimates for crop development, and the salt pans of Maras, worked continuously since pre-Inca times.

The ruins of Ollantaytambo, the best-preserved Inca town in Peru, are worth a morning before boarding the train.

Days 6-7: Machu Picchu

Built by the Inca in the fifteenth century at 2,430 meters above sea level and unknown to the outside world until 1911, Machu Picchu is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The scale, the stonework and the mountain setting make it one of those rare destinations that rewards the journey.

The Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo follows the Urubamba River through the cloud forest to Aguas Calientes, from where a bus takes you up to the citadel for a late afternoon visit.

Two nights allows for an early morning return before the crowds arrive, with a private guided tour covering the Temple of the Sun, the Royal Tomb, the Intihuatana stone and the agricultural terraces at your own pace.

On the second day the site is yours independently. The Sun Gate hike, a two-hour round trip along the original Inca Trail, gives an elevated view of the citadel from above.

Days 8-9: Lima

A short flight from Cusco returns you to Lima for two nights before the connection to Ecuador. This second stay is less about sightseeing and more about eating well and recovering from the pace of the Andean section.

Lima’s restaurant scene is consistently ranked among the best in the world, Central, Maido and Kjolle have each held the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in recent years, and securing a table at any of them requires planning well ahead.

Our team books as far in advance as possible to give you the best chance of a reservation. An afternoon in Barranco or a walk along the Miraflores clifftops rounds out the time well.

Days 10-15: The Galápagos Islands

A flight from Lima via Guayaquil brings you to Baltra or San Cristóbal Island, where you board your expedition vessel for six nights.

The Galápagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the destination that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Without sustained human contact, the wildlife evolved on its own terms and shows no fear of people.

Daily zodiac landings take you across the western and central archipelago, bringing you into direct contact with giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Galápagos penguins, hammerhead sharks, sea turtles and sea lion colonies.

Every landing is led by a licensed naturalist guide covering the ecology, geology and evolutionary history of each island. A typical route takes in Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Española and North Seymour.