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- Day 1 Arrive Lima The Capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner. Locations Visited: Lima PE.
- Day 2 Lima Sightseeing Start your city tour taking in of the highlights of Lima. Visit Casona San Marcos, where you’ll enjoy a snack from a local vendor and learn more about the fascinating history of this ancient building from Local Specialists. During a short workshop, learn to play the “cajón” percussion instrument and get an introduction to the basic steps of “musica negra”, a dance that originated in Chincha (near Paracas). Continue to the Main Square of Lima for more views and history. Choose to join a walking tour of Miraflores with a local expert highlighting the popular Larcomar shopping center and on towards the Kennedy Parkor for dinner at one of the restaurants in “Pasaje de Ramón.” Locations Visited: Lima PE.
- Day 3 Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley We'll fly to Cusco this morning, the gateway to Peru's treasured Sacred Valley, where you will enjoy a local Peruvian lunch with sweeping views of the Sacred Valley. Then we'll Dive Into Culture, meeting a Shaman who will perform a special ceremony to welcome us to Peru. Locations Visited: Lima PE, Cusco PE, Sacred Valley PE.
- Day 4 Sacred Valley Enjoy a Be My Guest experience as you meet farmers who grow Peru’s iconic Giant White Corn. You’ll learn how their cultivation methods blend ancestral knowledge with modern innovation. Then watch a performance of the Marinera, a graceful couple’s dance that celebrates Peru’s Spanish, Indigenous and African heritage. With swirling handkerchiefs and elegant footwork, this is coastal culture in motion. Round out the day by rolling up your sleeves in a hands-on cooking class. You’ll prepare classic ceviche, then shake up the perfect Pisco sour to sip and savor. Locations Visited: Sacred Valley PE.
- Day 5 Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo, en route to Machu Picchu, a village in the Sacred Valley, set on the Urubamba River amid majestic mountains. It's known for the Ollantaytambo ruins, a massive Inca fortress with large stone terraces on a hillside. Then, ascend to the Lost City in the Clouds aboard the Vistadome train (light snack included) traveling along the Inca Trail, where you can view hikers and porters along the way. Here you will delve into the mysteries of this once-great civilization, joining your Local Specialist for an exploration of the temples, palaces and terraces whose construction defy imagination. Visit the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the intricately carved Intihuatana, most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. Locations Visited: Sacred Valley PE, Ollantaytambo PE, Machu Picchu PE.
- Day 6 Machu Picchu – Cusco The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story, spending some time on our own to explore the hill-top fortress. Next, we’ll journey back to the Sacred Valley by train, stopping en route to Cusco to learn about the natural dyeing techniques used by native weavers. Visit the Pisac handicraft market followed by sampling the sweet flavors of chicha, savoring the favorite drink of the Andes. Locations Visited: Machu Picchu PE, Ollantaytambo PE, Cusco PE.
- Day 7 Cusco Sightseeing Begin your day in Cusco with your Local Specialist at the remarkable UNESCO-listed Incan fortress of Sacsayhuamán, then continue on a guided city tour. Visit Korikancha, once the most important temple in the Incan Empire, and stop at Mantay, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supporting young mothers through housing and craft training. The afternoon is free to explore as you wish or to join one of several Optional Experiences — visit the Choco Museum, explore the Maras Salt Mines and Moray terraces, take a walking tour of Cusco after dark or enjoy a Peruvian cooking class to master classic local recipes. Locations Visited: Cusco PE.
- Day 8 Cusco - Puno Leave Cusco behind as you journey towards Puno, crossing the La Raya Pass where the Andes divide the Cusco and Puno regions. Along the way, explore the archaeological site of Raqchi, once a key settlement along the Inca road network. Enjoy a warm welcome into a local family home, where you’ll share lunch and stories. Then Dive into Culture with a traditional art form as you paint your own torito de Pucará: a colorful ceramic bull said to bring good fortune and protection. These iconic bulls are a symbol of strength in this part of Peru, often seen perched on rooftops in pairs, watching over homes and families. Locations Visited: Cusco PE, Puno PE.
- Day 9 Lake Titicaca Excursion Take to the water for a scenic cruise across Lake Titicaca to the Uros Floating Islands, where you’ll meet a local family and hear how their extraordinary homes are carefully crafted from totora reeds. Cruise to Taquile Island where you’ll enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet the island’s Indigenous community and learn about their UNESCO-listed knitting and weaving traditions, kept alive by generations of local artisans over a home-cooked lunch. Locations Visited: Puno PE, Lake Titicaca PE, Taquile Island PE, Puno PE.
- Day 10 Lake Titicaca – Juliaca – Lima – Paracas Return to Lima this morning, then continue your journey to the coastal playground of Paracas. Discover what life is like in Peru’s rural countryside before arriving to Paracas for an evening at leisure. Perhaps there’s even time for a stroll along the Malecon. Locations Visited: Lake Titicaca PE, Juliaca PE, Lima PE, Paracas PE.
- Day 11 Paracas – Nazca Lines Flight Fly high above the desert to view the Nazca Lines, a network of ancient geoglyphs best seen from the air. Spot the hummingbird, spider, monkey and condor, and marvel at the precision of these vast, centuries-old designs. Back on the ground, explore the Regional Museum of Ica, home to a collection of artifacts from the Paracas, Nazca and Inca cultures. At a nearby winery, learn how Peru’s iconic Pisco is made during a tour of the production site. Sample a variety of styles, then settle in for a relaxed lunch of regional dishes. Later, take some time for yourself to explore or unwind at your own pace. Locations Visited: Paracas PE, Nazca PE, Paracas PE.
- Day 12 Paracas – Ballestas Islands – Lima This morning, connect with nature with a Local Specialist, cruising around the uninhabited Ballestas Islands, a 'mini-Galapagos' teeming with wildlife. See the mysterious Candelabro in Pisco Bay, then return to Lima where this evening, we’ll visit the Larco Museum with a Local Specialist. Our journey almost at its end, we’ll indulge in a festive farewell dinner in the museum’s garden restaurant. Locations Visited: Paracas PE, Ballestas Islands PE, Lima PE.
- Day 13 Voyage to Quito Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Ecuador (flight not included in holiday price). Enjoy a warm welcome in Quito where you will be greeted at the airport and taken to your hotel. Locations Visited: Lima PE, Quito EC.
- Day 14 Uncover Historical Quito Visit the historical center of Quito, which was the first place in the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and travel to the 'Middle of the World' to stand on the Equator. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Locations Visited: Quito EC.
- Day 15 Embark on your Northern Galápagos Cruise Land on Baltra Island and meet your Local Specialist who’ll take you to the Galápagos Legend. After settling in, cruise towards the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island to explore Black Turtle Cove — a quiet inlet surrounded by mangroves and only accessible by water. Keep watch for green sea turtles gliding near the surface, white-tipped reef sharks just below and rays moving through the shallows. Overhead, you might spot pelicans, herons and egrets nesting in the branches. This area is a protected turtle sanctuary, offering your first chance to see the unique wildlife that makes these islands so special. Return to the ship this evening for dinner and your first night onboard. Locations Visited: Quito EC, Baltra Island EC, Black Turtle Cove EC.
- Day 16 Hike Lava Trails on Genovesa Island Ride by boat across the caldera at El Barranco, keeping watch for red-billed tropicbirds and Galápagos fur seals along the rugged shoreline. Step ashore with a Local Specialist and follow the trail up Prince Philip’s Steps, climbing into a landscape of a palo santo tree forest and ancient lava fields. This is prime nesting ground for Nazca boobies, storm petrels and finches, with short-eared owls sometimes seen gliding low over the volcanic rock. Later, explore the mangroves and saltbush of Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island. Cross a tidal lagoon and you may be lucky enough to spot one of the world’s rarest birds—the elusive lava gull—hidden among the shorebirds that make this island their home. Locations Visited: Genovesa Island EC.
- Day 17 Snorkel off Sante Fe Island Visit South Plaza Island with a Local Specialist, home to a large sea lion colony and land iguanas that feed on the island’s distinctive Opuntia cacti. You’ll take a walk across the rocky terrain and along the cliff where swallow-tailed gulls and other seabirds nest. Return to your cruise before traveling to Santa Fe Island. Go snorkeling in the bay, where you might spot turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Then walk along the beach and through a cactus forest, keeping an eye out for Santa Fe land iguanas. The island is also a good place to look for Galápagos hawks and the rarely seen Santa Fe rice rat. Locations Visited: South Plaza Island EC, Santa Fé Island EC.
- Day 18 Farewell Galápagos Travel into the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island for the best opportunity to walk among wild Galápagos giant tortoises. These iconic reptiles can weigh over 270kg and move slowly through the grassy landscape as you follow their path. Along the way, spot other native wildlife, including several species of the finches that helped shape Darwin’s theory of evolution. Continue to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. Arrival into Quito is scheduled for 5pm, so please keep this in mind when booking onward travel. Locations Visited: Santa Cruz Island EC, Highlands Tortoise Reserve EC, Baltra Island EC, Quito EC.
Name: Land of the Incas with Galápagos Legend North and Central Cruise
Brand: Trafalgar
Quality: First Class
Tour Type: Escorted
Start City: Lima
End City: Quito
Location Summary: Lima, PE
Cusco, PE
Sacred Valley, PE
Ollantaytambo, PE
Machu Picchu, PE
Puno, PE
Lake Titicaca, PE
Taquile Island, PE
Juliaca, PE
Paracas, PE
Nazca, PE
Ballestas Islands, PE
Quito, EC
Baltra Island, EC
Black Turtle Cove, EC
Genovesa Island, EC
South Plaza Island, EC
Santa Fé Island, EC
Santa Cruz Island, EC
Highlands Tortoise Reserve, EC
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Highlights
- Dining Summary - 6 Dinner (D). 17 Breakfast (B). 9 Lunch (L).
- Iconic Experience - Nazca: Take to the skies on your Peru tour to see the iconic Nazca Lines, archaeological enigmas scratched in the ground 500 B.C. and A.D. 500. Gaze down in awe of these massive designs and patterns you can only view from above. Your private flight will show you many of the lines, complete with their names and a bit of history. From above, you’ll observe the different types: straight, geometric (such as triangles, rectangles, trapezoids, spirals, arrows, zigzags, and wavy lines), and pictorial (including a spider, hummingbird, cactus plant, monkey, whale, llama, duck, flower, tree, lizard, dog, and even a mysterious humanoid figure). Some of the animal geoglyphs are up to 1,200 feet long! You’ll also learn why the Nazca culture created these lines in the desert plains of the Rio Grande de Nazca River basin and how the Nazca people were able to carve out such massive designs.. Lima: Take in the highlights of Lima, the 'City of the Kings,' including a panoramic view of the ancient districts. Join a local specialist for a visit to the UNESCO-listed Historic Center. Learn how before it was destroyed by earthquakes in the mid-18th century, observing how the historic buildings display a collaboration between local craftspeople and others from the Old World. Then drive along the coastline as you learn more about the fascinating history of Peru's capital city. . Lima: Dive into the rich history of Casona San Marcos, an ancient building in Lima now part of the property of a university. Learn to play the “cajón” (meaning “box” or drawer”) box-shaped percussion instrument played by slapping the faces with the hands, fingers, or sometimes implements. Continue your musical discovery trying the basic steps of “musica negra”, a dance that originated in Chincha (near Paracas) that is popular during over the Christmas season. Over your lesson, try a snack from a “pregonero”, a vendor who specializes in selling a typical snack through boisterous advertising in the city streets.. Sacred Valley: We'll Dive into Culture and meet a Quechua Shaman who will perform a ceremony welcoming you to Peru.. Machu Picchu: Learn how to prepare an authentic Ceviche and pour the perfect Pisco sour.. Cusco: Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo. These famous ruins are a massive Inca fortress made of large stone terraces stretching out across a hillside. Walk among the stone platforms, the sun temple of six monoliths and the Princess Baths fountain ― the Baño de la Nusta at the base of the ruins flowing from carved stone into a pool. Over your exploration, learn how the old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.. Machu Picchu: Soak in every moment of your Machu Picchu tour in style as you descend to the Lost City in the clouds aboard the Vistadome train. Traveling the Inca Trail, you’ll traverse dramatic landscapes with a panoramic view of the soaring peaks, river, and ruins. Sit back and relax as you enjoy this multi-sensory journey complete with background music, an informative audio commentary highlighting interesting sites, and an included light snack.. Machu Picchu: Take a shuttle to the top of the mountain where you’ll meet your local specialist for a guided hike of Machu Picchu. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu.. Cusco: Enjoy the flavors of chicha, a Peruvian corn beer. Hear about how chicha is brewed by the local indigenous women and its history dating back to the time of the Incas as a favorite drink of the Andes. Learn about the two types of chicha, alcoholic sour chicha de jora made from fermented jora corn and the non-alcoholic, sweet chicha morada.. Machu Picchu: The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story. Journey to take in the ruins at sunrise spending some time on your own to explore the hill-top fortress. Soak in every moment at this iconic site, making stops at points of interest while your guide shares their insights on the archaeological sites.. Cusco: Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking Cusco. With zig zagging walls and ruins of giant stones, see how the shape and harmony of the landscape is similar to Machu Picchu. Stroll through this Incan architecture of sacred buildings such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, warehouses, roads and aqueducts. And while you may not be able to take in the grand scale, the complex design is based on the shape of the head of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca spirituality.. Cusco: Join your Local Specialist for a guided walk through Cusco's colonial center, including the nearby 13th-century Incan settlement of Koricancha. Here in Cusco’s Golden Temple of the Sun dedicated to the Sun God Inti, view the trapezoidal and irregular shapes and rounded edges. Note how the stones fit together and were built simply by placing them on top of each other without using any mortar. This staggered placement also enables them to withstand earthquakes.. Puno: Bring Peru’s culture to life as you decorate your own torito de Pucará – a colorful ceramic bull steeped in Andean tradition. Found on rooftops across the region, these painted icons symbolize protection and prosperity, offering a hands-on way to connect with local heritage through creativity.. Lake Titicaca: Cruise the deep blue waters of Lake Titicaca with a Local Specialist, discovering its floating islands constructed from reeds by the Uros Indians. . Paracas: Explore Paracas, a town on Peru’s west coast known for its beautiful beaches. Named after the Paracas people who were fishermen and farmers of beans, maize and red peppers, Paracas is now the gateway to the Paracas National Reserve. In this pristine desert you’ll find colonies of sea lions and sea birds. With an afternoon at leisure, explore Paracas Bay where restaurants and shops line the boardwalk and fishermen’s boats gather at the docks.. Paracas: The Museum of Ica traces the stories of Peru’s earliest civilisations. Through ancient pottery, textiles, skulls and mummies, you’ll discover how the Paracas, Nazca, Wari and Inca peoples lived, created and connected with the land. Exhibits highlight the cultural identity and traditions that defined these Indigenous communities long before Spanish colonisation. . Paracas: Visit Cultur Pisco, a winery dedicated to preserving Peru’s national spirit. Tour the property with a Local Specialist to learn how Pisco has been produced through generations, exploring the history, grape varieties and distillation process. Then sample a curated selection of Pisco styles that showcase the care, tradition and expertise behind this celebrated drink, deeply rooted in local culture. . Ballestas Islands: Connect with nature, cruising around the uninhabited Ballestas Islands, a "mini-Galapagos" teeming with wildlife. See the mysterious Candelabro in Pisco Bay. Gaze up where birds including the guanay cormorant, Peruvian booby and Peruvian pelican cruise above. Colonies of sea lions gather on rocky isles, barking as they welcome you to their home. Smaller gray or tan South American fur seals lounge on rocky shores shaded by the cliffs. Even Humboldt penguins - who only populate the coast of Peru and northern Chile – waddle along the shore..
- Must-see Highlights - Explore Cusco, receive a special welcome from a Shaman in the Sacred Valley, learn to play the "cajón" in Lima. Visit Ollantaytambo, two visits to Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, the Uros Islands and Lake Titicaca, Cusco Cathedral, Qorikancha. See the other-wordly Nazca Lines from the air. Scenic Cruise on Lake Titicaca, Drive through the Sacred Valley, Scenic Train Ride to Machu Picchu. Scenic Drive through the Sacred Valley. Scenic Train Ride to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome train.
- Trafalgar Difference - Sacred Valley: Admire your idyllic setting within the Sacred Valley and take in the 18th-century colonial-style features of Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former monastery complete with plazas and cobbled streets..
- Be My Guest - Sacred Valley: Connect with Locals over a Be My Guest experience lunch, learn about the culture surrounding the production of Giant White Corn. Our hosts will demonstrate the differences between traditional farming techniques and the newer technologies used today..
- MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® - Cusco: Visit Mantay, a social project supporting young mothers in Cusco through housing, education and craft training. Learn how their handmade creations provide a sustainable livelihood while their children are cared for on-site, and take home a hand-crafted gift that directly supports their work. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education.. Lake Titicaca: Cruise across Lake Titicaca to Taquile Island, where you’ll meet Indigenous locals and explore their UNESCO-listed textile traditions. You’ll share a home-cooked lunch and see how the community’s weaving and knitting reflect cultural identity and status. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities..
