| After a Quito guided city sightseeing, fly to the Galápagos Islands for the next five days. Visit the CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION and each day take a naturalist-guided cruise to explore various outlying islands. Island visits include Santa Fé, South Plazas, Punta Carrion, and North Seymour Island. Keep an eye out for endemic land and marine iguanas, sea lions, giant tortoises, and a variety of birds. Continue to Lima for guided city sightseeing before flying to Cuzco to visit the MONASTERY, CATHEDRAL, and SACSAYHUAMAN. Enjoy time in PISAC to visit with locals and buy local wares before visiting the Incan fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO. Next, a train ride through the Sacred Valley takes you to MACHU PICCHU. You may even want to walk up to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. After a morning in Machu Picchu, return to Cuzco followed by a free day in Lima to discover Peru in your own way. |