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

The tour begins today 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. Travelers will 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. Visit the main Monument honoring the correct location of the equator and visit the Ethnographic Museum, located inside the Equator Monument. Or, one can 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, one will be able to 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-rumped storm petrels nesting in the crevices at the cliff’s edge. One will also be able to 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 visitors will see land iguanas, sea lions and several species of tropical birds.
This afternoon visit Santa Fe Island, 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, one is likely to 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 where one will see a colony of sea lions and 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 a flight back to Quito and connect with another flight to Lima. Upon arrival, be greeted at the airport and transferred to the hotel.
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Enjoy the morning 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, admire the beauty of San Martín and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and visit San Francisco Convent, a religious building from the late 16th century, and its catacombs. 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 the tour, travelers will also 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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Early this morning transfer to the airport for a flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, be greeted for airport assistance.
This morning, enjoy a private walking tour of Cusco where one will visit the Korikancha Temple, or Temple of the Sun, and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. During this private tour today, 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 and transferred to the airport for a flight to Lima, connecting with the flight to San Pedro Sula in Honduras. Upon arrival, be greeted for airport reception and transferred to the hotel.

Transfer to the artistic city of Copan. Visit the Copan Ruins Archaeological Park, with its monumental Hieroglyphic Stairway; the Ball Court (the social center of the Mayan city); the Great Plaza, famous for its estelae and altars; and the tunnels. After the visit to the Museum of Mayan Sculpture, lunch will be served at Nia Lola’s Restaurant (included). Overnight in Copan.

Guided by an authentic native cowboy, starting at the hotel you will ride heading south, by crossing the Copan River one will continue to a small but interesting archaeological site called Los Sapos (the toads). It is a common belief that the Mayan women used this place to come to give birth to their children. The ride continues to the Hacienda San Lucas, from this restored 100 year old farmhouse the traveler will relax enjoying some breathtaking lovely views of town and the valley while enjoying a refreshing cold beverage or a savory cup of Honduran coffee. Later on be taken back to the hotel in Copan. ...read less

Transfer to Antigua Guatemala, known commonly as La Antigua or just Antigua. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon, private tour of the old city. Antigua was the capital city of the Spanish Kingdom in the New World. Be met at the hotel by a private guide to begin the half-day walking tour of Antigua. This tour will cover the architectural and historical highlights of this colonial city with a behind-the-scenes look at some of its ruined churches, convents and cathedrals. Entrance fees are included to the Iglesia San Francisco, the Cathedral, Central Park, and La Merced Church. This tour is flexible, and if one has specific sites that they wish to see, please let Yampu know so it can be added to the itinerary. ...read less

Be picked up from the hotel for a scenic boat ride across the lake, passing by the three impressive volcanoes of Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Upon arrival in Santiago, walk with a guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximon is living. Each year a different “brotherhood” has the privilege of taking care of their God, so his location changes. Once with Maximon, one may see local shamans performing rituals for local people. If one so wishes, they can ask the guide to help hire the services of a shaman to perform a personal ceremony. After visiting Maximon, visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town, and also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art for which the area is famous. Take a ride in a local “flete” (a pickup truck in which the passengers stand in the bed) to get to Hotel Posada Santiago for lunch. After lunch, private transfer to Antigua for overnight. ...read less

Transfer to Guatemala City airport to take the flight to Flores. Full-day visit to the impressive and mystical Maya city of Tikal. One of its largest buildings is the Temple of the Two-headed Serpent, which measures up to 70 meters high. From its peak, one can perceive the sounds of the rain forest: more than 300 species of birds, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and toucans. Due to its immense value, Tikal was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Overnight in Peten. Lunch included.

Morning of leisure. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Guatemala City. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home or choose from optional extensions in Guatemala or other Central American countries.