Overview of Your Machu Picchu & Galápagos Islands Custom Combo Tour

This trip combines two of our most popular tours, exploring the mysterious lost city of Machu Picchu and cruising the famed Galápagos Islands. Your thrilling adventure takes you first to the bustling colonial town of Cusco, Peru to begin your Machu Picchu tour through the legendary Sacred Valley, stopping at villages and ancient Inca ruins along the way. A scenic train ride takes you to the magnificent ruins of Machu Picchu where you’ll spend two days exploring the captivating ruins and the majestic mountains that surround them. Then you’ll fly to the magical country of Ecuador to embark on a Galápagos adventure through the “Enchanted Isles” that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution. The islands’ unique ecosystem sustains extraordinary plant and animal diversity, where visitors on Galápagos tours may observe wildlife close up and take amazing photos. The combination of these two world-renowned destinations makes for the South America adventure of a lifetime.

Trip Features
  • 13+ Days
  • Starting at $6,900 per person
  • PHYSICAL RATING
    Moderate
  • ACTIVITIES
    Sightseeing, Wildlife
  • HIGHLIGHTS
    Cusco, Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu, Galápagos Islands

Sample Itinerary

Machu Picchu & Galápagos Islands Custom Combo Tour

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Upon arrival to the capital city of Lima, you are transferred to your hotel. For those who arrive early, optional tours of the city sights, including museums, churches and other attractions may be arranged.

In the morning, transfer back to the airport for a short flight to Cusco, center of the Inca Empire. Meet your guide at the airport and begin a day-long excursion through snowcapped mountains to the Incas’ legendary Sacred Valley. The first stop is Pisac’s hilltop citadel, featuring the civilization’s agricultural terracing along the steep valley walls, panoramic views of jagged granite peaks and the temple ruins. Descend down to the town of Pisac, known for one of the best Andean textile markets in Peru. After taking in some of the local culture and enjoying a traditional lunch, depart for Ollantaytambo (9,185 feet), a small town with an impressive Inca fortress. Stay overnight at a hotel in Ollantaytambo. (B,L)

Spend another day exploring the well preserved archaeological sites and dramatic landscapes of the Sacred Valley. This morning, pass small farms situated in the fertile Urubamba Valley surrounded by snowcapped mountains to reach Moray. This mysterious site includes three circular terraces, thought to have been used by the Incas as an open-air crop experimentation station. Continue past the small village and pre-Inca settlement of Maras. At this photogenic spot, a geo-thermally heated stream feeds hundreds of small salt terraces which create a striking white-on-brown landscape that has been used for salt mining since well before the Incas. Return to your Ollantaytambo hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)

OPTIONAL ADD-ON: PACHAMANCA LUNCH

In the afternoon, gather for a special Pachamanca lunch where meat, several varieties of potatoes, corn, beans and other produce are cooked in the ground under hot stones. This traditional cooking practice has existed since the time of the Inca Empire. Enjoy your meal al fresco, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the Sacred Valley. Return to your Sacred Valley hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)

Start the day off with a refreshing walking tour of the Ollantayambo ruins. Next, head to the train station, where you’ll board the Vistadome train for the first leg of today’s unforgettable journey to Machu Picchu! Enjoy the panoramic views as the train follows the Urubamba River into the lush cloud forest, before arriving at the Aguas Caliente train station. Stop for lunch in town and then  board a bus that will take you to the gates of Machu Picchu (7,875 feet). Spend the afternoon exploring the famous ruins with your guide. Return to Aguas Calientes, where you will have time to relax and enjoy dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Today, you’ll have the opportunity to experience Machu Picchu during the early morning hours. Explore the numerous ruins including an optional climb to the sacred peak of Huayna Picchu. By midday, you return to Aguas Calientes for lunch and an early afternoon train ride back to Ollantaytambo. Your private vehicle will be waiting at the station to deliver you to the Chinchero textile market, where members of the local weavers’ collective will explain the traditional weaving methods of the Sacred Valley. Continue on to your Cusco hotel for the evening. (10,856 feet) (B)

Huayna Picchu Hiking Details: 1.25 miles; approximately 2-3 hours hiking, the trail is narrow and very steep

Altitude min/max: from 7,875 ft to 8,835 ft.

Today begins with a guided walking tour through Cusco to see the colorful markets, the colonial cathedral and Koricancha, the impressive Temple of the Sun. After a lunch of regional cuisine, you tour the remaining prominent Inca sights in and around Cusco. These include the fortress of Sacsayhuamán, with its megalithic stone terraces; Kenko, with carved stone surfaces and subterranean altars; Puka Pukara the small fortress that once protected the royal capital; and the water temple, Tambo Machay. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to the comfort of your hotel to relax or continue to explore Cusco on your own. (B)

In the morning, transfer to the Cusco airport for the flight back to Lima and your connecting international flight to Quito, Ecuador. Upon your arrival, a Southern Explorations’ representative meets you at the airport and transfers you to your hotel.

Morning transfer to the Quito Airport. Upon arriving in the Islands, you’ll be transferred to your vessel to begin your Galápagos wildlife adventure. Depending on the Galápagos cruise you’ve selected, you’ll be spending five to eight glorious days in this magical archipelago. Not into cruising? We also offer land based tours! (B,L,D)

The next few days are spent exploring the fascinating Galápagos Islands. Each of the Galápagos Islands has its own particular topography, ecology and wildlife. For those on cruises, you’ll visit two landing sites each day, led by your naturalist guide, and have hiking and snorkeling opportunities, an evening briefing, and time to relax onboard. For those opting for land based tours, you’ll enjoy an array of daily excursions with options for more active adventures and opportunities to interact with local communities. No matter what itinerary you choose, cruise or land-based,  you’ll be blown away by the wildlife you’ll encounter. For general information, please check out our cruise and land tour itineraries on this website. Contact us to determine what the right kind of Galápagos tour is for you! (B,L,D)

Alas, Galápagos tours don’t last forever. Some tours squeeze in one last short excursion before heading to the airport for your return flight to Quito. Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy your final night in Quito, Ecuador. (B)

Today you depart Quito, marking the end of your trip to Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands. (B)

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Accommodations for Peru & Machu Picchu

Here is a sample of possible hotels on this trip. To see more, or discuss available hotel upgrades, please contact us.

Trip FAQs

We have so much to share with you! How does this all work? Start with the frequently asked questions below, and if you want to talk to us directly, simply reach out by phone or form.

Talk to a Travel Expert
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You have the flexibility to choose your own travel dates on most of our trips. Certain trips, such as cruises, have fixed schedules. Availability on these trips is always changing so please contact us with your preferred travel time and we can find the perfect itinerary for you

We provide full service tours so in general our trips include all guided activities with professional English-speaking guides, accommodations, transportation, airport transfers, entrance fees and permits, select meals, and pre-departure services. You will be responsible for international airfare while we will book all in-country airfare. Contact one of our expert travel planners for even more details on this specific tour.

The first step is to get in touch with a Southern Explorations travel planner for date availability and information on activities, accommodations and other travel aspirations you may have. Give us a call at 1.877.784.5400, fill out this form or email info@southernexplorations.com.

Yes! All of our posted itineraries can be considered a starting point and we’re happy to tailor a trip to your exact desires. There may be some elements of a trip, such as a cruise or all-inclusive lodge stay, that cannot be modified but we can always adjust the tours around those components.

We have more detailed information about each destination in the Plan Your Trip section of this website. Our team of friendly travel planners is also available to walk you through various options and to work with you on the perfect trip!

Plan Your Trip to Peru & Machu Picchu

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Testimonials

I cannot begin to tell you what a wonderful experience we had with Marisa and Southern Explorations on our trip to the Galápagos and Peru. Every reservation and transfer and hotel was perfect. It was truly a trip of a lifetime and cannot recommend them highly enough. You are truly in for a perfect trip if you let Southern Explorations help you!

– Shirley and family

Trip Extensions

Make this the best trip to Peru & Machu Picchu!

Want to add something special or connect this trip to a larger itinerary? Browse these most-added trip extensions, or contact our travel experts for even more tours and activities to fulfill your dream getaway!

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