Upon arrival in Quito, be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel.

This tour begins with a visit to Independence Square where the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and El Sagrario Church are located. Visit the Church of La Compania (1605), and enjoy a brief visit to the church and monastery of San Francisco (1535), the oldest Ecuadorian church. The collection of artwork here includes paintings, sculpture and furniture dating back to the 16th century. Leaving the churches, visit the recently restored 24 De Mayo Boulevard, named after the battle which sealed Ecuador´s independence. Also visit La Ronda Street in Old Quito. Lined with colonial houses and inspired by painters, poets, musicians and historians, this visit will give a taste of traditional Quito. The tour will then continue 30-minutes outside of Quito, towards the Middle of the World. Travelers will visit the main Monument honoring the correct location of the equator and visit the Ethnographic Museum, located inside the Equator Monument. One can instead visit the Inti Nan Museum, a scientific and cultural Museum located in the exact place where the Equator Line crosses. ...read less

Transfer to the airport for the morning flight from Quito to Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival, be greeted at the airport and transferred to the Galapagos cruise.


This afternoon, visit Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island.
Play de las Bachas is located on the northern coastline of Santa Cruz. Here, see the brightly colored flamingo lagoon, encounter marine iguanas, various sea birds, and sea turtles. This is a good location to swim and snorkel.

This morning, visit Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island
Genovesa is a collapsed volcano that ships are able to sail into through its large breached caldera and anchor at the foot of the steep crater walls. Genovesa is commonly referred to as ‘bird island’ because it is home to thousands of great frigate birds, red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches.


This afternoon, visit Prince Philip’s Steps on Genovesa Island.
El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, has a trail through a Palo Santo forest to an open area full of nesting birds that include masked boobies, frigates, and red-footed boobies. At the end of this trail are thousands of band-rumbed storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. One may also see the short-eared owls as they hunt the storm petrels during the daylight hours.
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This morning, visit Plazas Island.
Plaza Sur was originally formed by uplifted lava and the terrain includes an impressive cactus forest. On land, see land iguanas, sea lions and several species of tropical birds.
This afternoon, visit Santa Fe Island.


Santa Fe is home to a cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas that are native to the island. Here. one can also see the Galapagos mockingbird, magnificent frigate, brown pelican, and several species of Darwin’s finches.

This morning, visit Punta Pitt on San Cristobal Island
This unusual volcanic formation is located in the northeast of San Cristobal Island. Here, see tiny lava lizards scurrying around the rocks as well as all three species of the Galapagos booby; Nazca, masked, and blue or red-footed boobies.


This afternoon, visit Kicker Rock and Isla Lobos.
Isla Lobos is a tiny rock island to see a colony of sea lions and a colony of blue-footed boobies.
Kicker Rock is a magnificent rock that jets out 500 feet high from the middle of the ocean and is shaped similar to a sleeping lion. The rock is split with towering vertical walls on either side that forms a narrow channel through which small vessels can investigate. There is no landing site here but the view from the boat will make a lasting impression.
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This morning, visit El Junco Lagoon, San Cristobal.
This site is reached by road and is about a half hour drive from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The road goes through the small farming settlement of El Progreso. The lake itself is the caldera (collapsed cone) of an extinct volcano and is about 300 meters wide. The name El Junco is Spanish for sedge, which is present along the banks of the lake.
This afternoon, be transferred to the San Cristobal airport for your flight back to Quito. Upon arrival, be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel.
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This morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Lima, connecting with a flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco, be greeted and transferred to the hotel. This afternoon is at leisure to acclimate. Cusco’s elevation is approximately 3,400 meters (11,200 feet), so Yampu highly recommends resting upon arrival for a few hours and taking in some coca tea.


Note: Check-in is normally after 2 pm. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed). Also, if one is to take a day flight to Lima, Yampu can accommodate a night at the airport hotel (at extra cost). Please ask a Yampu Travel Consultant.
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This morning, enjoy a private walking tour of Cusco and visit the Korikancha Temple, or Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. During this private tour, there is the option to visit the Casa Concha museum or the San Pedro Market.


The Casa Concha museum was recently renovated and houses over 360 archaeological pieces from Machu Picchu, recently returned by Yale University. San Pedro Market is a lively, local market where one will receive a briefing about the local Andean ingredients and have an opportunity to purchase them. This market visit is a great opportunity to interact with the locals either selling or purchasing items from the market.


This afternoon there will be time for lunch before continuing to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. This afternoon, return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.


Note: For more adventurous travelers, Yampu suggests an optional sunset horseback riding tour through the Sacsahuaman Ruins. Please ask a Yampu Travel Consultant for more information.
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Early morning transfer to the train station. The train will head through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, board a bus to Machu Picchu and then have a guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marshes of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stone works of the Cusco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. It was associated with the earth cult revolving around the coca leaf, which was a privilege of the Inca royal family and priests. Enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, at the entrance of the ruins, before returning to the hotel at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in the town of Aguas Calientes.


Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so Yampu may confirm entrance to the ruins. Machu Picchu entrance tickets are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
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Today is at leisure. One may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. In the afternoon, board the train to return to Cusco. Upon arrival, train station reception and transfer to the hotel.


Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Please contact a Yampu travel consultant to go back to the ruins or hike the Huayna Picchu at time of booking (subject to availability).

This morning, be met at the hotel in Cusco and transferred to the airport for the flight to Lima. Upon arrival in Lima be greeted and transferred to the “Cruz del Sur” bus station to take the bus to Nazca. Upon arrival in Nazca, be greeted for assistance and transferred to the hotel.

This morning, be met at the hotel and transferred to the airport for a morning flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. From here, enjoy a tour to the Chauchilla Cemetery, an ancient graveyard located out in the desert.
This afternoon, transfer to Paracas, visiting Ica en route. Once in Ica, the tour will include a visit to the old and the new districts, the Regional Museum of Ica, the Lagoon of Huacachina and a local winery where one will be able to observe the process of Pisco-making, the traditional Peruvian cordial. After the tour, continue to the hotel in Paracas for an evening at leisure.


Note: The tour of Ica can be replaced with a desert tour including sand-boarding.
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Today, transfer to Paracas for a cruise to the Ballesta Isles. On the Isles, observe the local fauna including sea lions, penguins and more than 60 species of sea birds. See the “Candelabra,” another ancient sand design.
This afternoon, enjoy lunch at the hotel in Paracas before returning to Lima by bus. Upon arrival in Lima, be greeted for assistance and transferred to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

This morning is at leisure.
In the afternoon, enjoy a private city tour of Lima, one of the most important cities in South America since its founding in 1535. Journey through the historic center of the city and admire the beauty of San Martin, Major squares, Cathedrals, the Government Palace, and the San Francisco Convent. This religious building is from the late 16th century, along with its catacombs which are worth a visit! This tour also includes a drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores. Please note the Cathedral is open daily except on Sundays. During this tour, visit the Museo Larco. Founded in 1926 the Museo Larco chronologically showcases the past 3,000 years of Peruvian history and culture including its pre-Colombian history. The museum is located in a beautiful 18th century vice-royal mansion built atop a 7th century pre-Colombian tomb. After exploring the Museo Larco enjoy a complimentary cocktail and appetizer at the onsite Larco Cafe overlooking the beautiful, surrounding gardens.
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Late this afternoon, transfer to the airport to take the overnight flight to Cancun.

Upon arrival in the Cancun airport transfer to the hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Enjoy a day at leisure.

In the morning head to the ancient archeological site of Chichen-Itza. The famous Mayan pyramids of Chichen-Itza are more than 1,500 years old. The site is divided into three sections. The north grouping of structures is distinctly Toltec in style. The central group appears to be from the early period. The southern group is known as “The Old Chichen.” Find a large ball court where Mayan men played a game called pok ta pok, full of symbolism and drama. Breakfast and lunch included.

Today, take a boat tour of Isla Mujeres, a small island, a short distance off the coast of the northeast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea. While on the boat enjoy an included lunch and an open bar.

In the morning, head to the archaeological site of Tulum. Mounted on the edge of a cliff, this abandoned city towers above the deep turquoise of the Caribbean and a beautiful white sandy beach. Although the site dates back to earlier times, Tulum reached its peak in the Post-classic period between 1,000 and 1,600 AD. Originally called Zama or City of the Dawn, the sun rises from the sea above the city walls and for the ancient Maya, begins her dance across the sky. The city within the walls was only inhabited by the nobles, high priests and esteemed citizens such as astronomers whereas the lower classes lived in simple wood and thatch huts beyond. The buildings in the city were originally covered with brilliant paintings and carvings – stark white, deep red or vibrant blue, but only faint remnants of these now remain. ...read less

Enjoy a day of leisure to explore independently or add additional optional activities.

Transfer to the airport for the flight home or overlap with another Yampu program.