Overview
Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru
How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover your own love affair with the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? And, delve further south to soar higher in the Andes and the heart of Peru? If so, this Globus Independent tour in South America is pointing you in the right direction. Begin by exploring the historic heart of Quito and depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. Cruise in luxury on the Galápagos Legend and explore the archipelago in the company of a Naturalist guide. Sail upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the sanctuaries of spectacular species on Bartolomé, Santiago, North Seymour, and San Cristobal Islands. Visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve where conservationists work to protect the gentle giants for which the islands are named. Then, set your compass to the heart of Peru to ignite your independent spirit in Lima, Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu to find the “Lost City of the Incas.” Explore ancient ruins that defy explanation and encounter the captivating cultures that live on in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Timeless temples, textiles, and tantalizing dishes are all on the menu on this free-spirited sojourn in South America. You’ll also find the I-time you deserve to fall in love with adventure again!
Highlights of Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru
Price Details US
This vacation includes the following Intra-Vacation Air segments in the vacation price: Quito/Galápagos; Galápagos/Quito. All other flights are not included in the vacation price and can be purchased. Galápagos package includes Galápagos National Park entrance fee and transit card ($220 value) but will show separately on your invoice. These fees will be added to your Vacation Estimate.
Notes
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local guide service is provied in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos is also provided. In the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos are subject to change. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft.
Travelers Notes
Your Globus Independent tour gives you the freedom to explore with the I-time you crave–with all the perks you'd expect from Globus. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation and transfers between each city on your tour, and a Local Host in each city to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish.
Product Group
Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend
Independent Tour
Venture further to enjoy the world your way without the group. The experts at Globus put Peace of Mind first in travel planning. We take care of the details with included hotel accommodations, daily breakfasts and select meals, guided sightseeing, and transportation between cities. Explore confidently, knowing your Globus Local Hosts and GlobusGO mobile app provide you with tips and recommendations to personalize your tour and see the world your way.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|City of Quito|Galapagos Islands|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE IN QUITO, ECUADOR Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.QUITO-COLONIAL-CITY-VIEW.jpg
Day 2
QUITO • Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows. (B)QUITO-SAN-FRANCISCO-PLAZA.jpg
Day 3
QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND • Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the Galápagos Legend for your 3-night cruise. • Sail to North Seymour, a landmass formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. Take a walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas and, on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galápagos snake.(B,L,D)NORTH-SEYMOUR-FRIGATE.jpg
Day 4
CRUISING: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND & SANTIAGO ISLAND• Wake up at Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies. Bartolomé offers some of the best spots to snorkel, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and maybe even Galápagos penguins. • This afternoon, sail to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island and take a walk on young Pahoehoe lava flows formed during the last quarter of the 19th Century. See the reddish-yellow tuff-cones with various flora growing from the fissures. Walking on the solidified lava gives the impression of walking on another planet. After your guided walk, spend time snorkeling from the white sand beach where you may see penguins, sea lions, sharks and rays. (B,L,D)BARTOLOME-ISLAND.jpg
Day 5
CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND • Arrive at Pitt Islet on San Cristobal and walk to the top of a volcanic tuff to be rewarded with several magnificent viewpoints. This is one of the few sites where the Galápagos’ three booby species (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca) can be seen together. You will also find the two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. The island waters are excellent for dinghy rides to see a range of seabirds—and a great spot to snorkel! • At Cerro Brujo, visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and white-cheeked pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal, and the adjacent coast. Your visit includes time to swim with the sea lions and other marine life. (B,L,D)SAN-CRISTOBAL-ISLAND-SEA-LIONS-ON-THE-BEACH.jpg
Day 6
CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL (DISEMBARKATION)–QUITO–LIMA, PERU • After breakfast, disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal. Learn about the national park’s conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species. • Also, visit the port village for a last chance at souvenirs before bidding farewell to the enchanted Galápagos Islands. • Transfer to San Cristobal Airport and fly to Quito. Later, fly to Lima, Peru. (B)SAN-CRISTOBAL-GIANT-TORTOISE.jpg
Day 7
LIMA • Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias. (B) Today’s I-Time Tips This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images.LIMA-CATHEDRAL.jpg
Day 8
LIMA–CUSCO • Fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide. • Your guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. • Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. Followed by the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara. (B)CUSCO-PLAZA-DE-ARMAS-ARCHES.jpg
Day 9
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY • Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, brings you to Awanakancha to learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. • Continue to the market town of Pisac, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices. • At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry. (B,L)SACRED-VALLEY-WEAVING.jpg
Day 10
SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU • Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.• On a guided tour of Machu Picchu, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. (B,L,D)MACHU-PICCHU-LLAMA.jpg
Day 11
MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO • A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. • Return to Cusco by train. (B)MACHU-PICCHU-RUIN-DETAIL.jpg
Day 12
CUSCO–LIMA • Fly to Lima today. (B)CUSCO-PEOPLE.jpg
Day 13
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)LIMA-PERUVIAN-TEXTILES.jpg
Departures
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Hilton Colon Quito (SAT) | The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop. | Quito | Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1 | Superior First-Class |
| 2 | Hotel Pullman Miraflores | The Pullman Miraflores hotel combins lifestyle and design for business and leisure. Located in the exclusive Miraflores district, near the Pacific Ocean, this hotel is not far from Larcomar shopping center. With over 236 rooms, Plural lounge restaurant, gym, pool and a spectacular Rooftop Bar the Pullman Miraflores offers an amazing place to stay and relax. | Lima | C. Juan Fanning 515 - 525 | Superior First-Class |
| 3 | Casa Andina Premium Cusco | A beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house is located 3 blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas. The hotel is distinguished by its 3 interior patios with wooden balconies. The principal patio, featuring a gurgling stone fountain, is one of Cusco's emblematic colonial courtyards. Amenities include a gourmet restaurant, bar, reading room, room service, gift shop, and laundry service. | Cusco | Plazoleta Limacpampa Chico 473 | First-Class |
| 4 | Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas | The Casa Andina Premium Collection hotel in the Sacred Valley is a luxurious and satisfying retreat. Combining fine food, comfortable rooms, and personalized attention, it is the Valley's most complete hotel. In addition to a spa, a fitness center, and romantic dining, this hotel is best known for providing panoramic views of the Andes in every room. This charming mountain chalet-style hotel adds style and comfort to the already stunning atmosphere of Peru's Sacred Valley. | Urubamba Valley | 5to Paradero Yanahuara | Superior First-Class |
| 5 | Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel | The Sumaq Hotel is located at the foot of the Machu Picchu ruins and boasts an Andean health spa, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and business center. | Machu Picchu | Av Hermanos Ayar Mz 1 Lote 3 | Moderate Deluxe |
