Transfer into the hills above Cuzco to visit Sacsayhuaman, the vast Inca fortress whose precisely cut stonework still raises questions about how it was constructed. From here, we continue to the nearby sites of Qenqo, with its carved rock shrines, PucaPucara, a former military and administrative outpost, and Tambomachay, known for its finely engineered water channels that still flow today. Throughout, our tour leader explains how these sites worked together to defend and supply the Inca capital. Returning to Cuzco, we take a guided walk through the historic centre on foot. We view the Qoricancha Temple from outside, once the most important temple in the Inca Empire, before visiting the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas, where colonial art and architecture reveal another layer of the city’s history. Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

After breakfast, we travel (1hr 15min) through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, on the outskirts of Cuzco, as we head up to the traditional weaving community of Chinchero. Along with amazing views of the valley and Vilcabamba mountains, Chinchero offers the unique cultural opportunity to enjoy a traditional Andean pachamanca lunch, which is hosted by and supports the local community. This is a real culinary treat, in which the food is wrapped, then buried underground with hot stones to cook it slowly. After lunch, explore the ancient salt ponds near the village of Maras, where salty springs emerge from the hillside and the Incas built terraces to capture the flows and harvest salt. Also visit Moray, where the Incas built huge circular agricultural terraces on limestone sinks. We arrive in Ollantaytambo around 6pm, with time to wander around the town.

Take the train (1hr 30min) to Aguas Calientes this morning, a lively town in the valley below Machu Picchu. The rest of the day is free to visit hot springs or shop in the large craft market. Our Machu Picchu entrance ticket is valid for tomorrow; however, should you wish to visit the ruins today as well, you need to purchase an extra ticket in advance – please inform your sales representative at the time of booking the trip. For those who wish to hike to Machu Picchu, there is an optional full-day trek that meets with the final section of the Inca Trail. Our route starts at Km104 and climbs 1.25mi (2km) to the ruins of Wiñay Wayna, where we continue to the Sun Gate for the iconic view of Machu Picchu with its mountain backdrop. Although this optional hike is available at no extra cost, it must be pre-booked since numbers are strictly limited (and a permit is required). You should request this at the time of booking and note the first part of the hike is a steep climb. Travellers not joining the hike board the train at around 11am, with free time beforehand to visit the Ollantaytambo archaeological site independently (entrance ticket included). They’ll travel independently to Aguas Calientes, where a local guide meets them on arrival, escorts them to the hotel for check-in, and then to a restaurant for lunch. Travellers taking the optional hike board an earlier train with the main tour leader, who also leads the hike.

To beat the day-trippers from Cuzco, we get an early start for our 30-minute bus drive up the winding road to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is an architectural and engineering marvel with a mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. Please note, exploring the ruins involves a reasonable amount of walking, including up and down steep and uneven stone steps. After our tour, we return to Aguas Calientes and the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30min). From Ollantaytambo, we continue by private bus to Cuzco (1hr 30min). Travellers who completed the optional one-day Inca Trail visit Machu Picchu today via Circuit 3, which covers the lower part of the site. Those who did not trek explore Machu Picchu on Circuit 2, the full circuit, in line with current regulations. An additional guide is provided for the second group. Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Say goodbye to our Peruvian tour leader today, as we leave Cuzco on a flight to Quito, Ecuador, via Lima (sometimes with an additional stop in Guayaquil). In the western cordillera of the Andes, Quito is the second highest capital in the world and, as always at altitude, it is a good idea not to do anything too strenuous at first! Our Quito tour leader picks us up from the airport and transfers us to the hotel – holding a welcome briefing in the afternoon/evening. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

We have a half-day tour of Quito today, one of the smaller and more attractive capitals in South America. Our adventure takes us to the Plaza Grande, the main square, which is flanked by some of the most important landmarks in the city. We also visit the impressive Quito cathedral and La Compañia church, plus the small volcanic hill known as El Panecillo. We then have the rest of the day to relax and continuing adjusting to the altitude. After, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the equator, which is just 40 minutes’ drive north of Quito. Here, you visit the fun – and interactive – Intiñan Equator Museum, which explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Leave the hotel around 6.30am and transfer (five minutes) to Quito Airport, where we catch our flight to San Cristóbal in the Galápagos via Guayaquil. Bid farewell to our mainland tour leader at the airport; our Galápagos tour leader (an official Galápagos National Park Naturalist Guide) then meets us at San Cristóbal Airport and takes us to the hotel for check-in and our first briefing about our time in the archipelago. Once checked in, we have time to explore the town and enjoy a restaurant lunch before the afternoon activity with two options available, depending on your preference. Option one: Snorkel from La Lobería beach, a wonderful stretch surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. You’ll start by visiting a local store for an equipment fitting – this equipment is yours until the final day in the Galápagos, when our local team returns it for you. Then, guided by our Galápagos tour leader and assistant, we head into the water from the beach, ensuring everyone is paired up for safety. Please inform your tour leader if you are not a confident swimmer, so they can provide you with additional swim aids. Sea conditions can change. At times, the waves can be strong, plus the shore is rocky.  Option two: Enjoy one of the coastal walks on San Cristóbal. A favourite is the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno walk, which takes you to Charles Darwin’s first landing spot.

Start with an exciting tour to Isla Lobos, a small, uninhabited island near San Cristóbal. This excursion takes us by boat to one of the best spots in the Galápagos for birdwatching, with a chance to see frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. It is also a great place to see sea lions in their natural habitat. This island is made of volcanic rock, so the terrain is uneven. Our team can provide you with wooden walking poles if needed. After our slow walk around the small island, we have a second opportunity to snorkel. From the boat, we enter the clear waters around the island, guided by our tour leader and an assistant. We swim along the coastline hoping to see marine life such as turtles, rays and, occasionally, whitetip reef sharks. Please let your tour leader know if you would like additional swim aids. You are also welcome to stay on the boat to enjoy the beautiful scenery. After lunch on board, we head to Playa Ochoa, a white-sand beach with turquoise waters. It’s ideal for relaxing, while also offering excellent birdwatching and further snorkelling opportunities. Once back in town, the rest of the afternoon is free.

Bid farewell to San Cristóbal and take a three-hour navigation by motorboat to Floreana, one of the first Galápagos Islands to be inhabited. En route, we may see whales, dolphins and seabirds. After lunch at a local restaurant, we take a short drive up to the highlands, where we spend an hour visiting lava caves once used by pirates and a large enclosure of Galápagos giant tortoises. In the afternoon, we travel (2hr 30min to three hours) by speedboat to Isabela Island.

Spend 15 minutes sailing to the islets and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the Galápagos to see whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions. We take a slow 40-minute walk over the uninhabited island, marvelling at the iguana nests and trying to spot endemic creatures, such as lava lizards. After, we have another fantastic opportunity to snorkel. We enter the water from the boat, led by our tour leader and an assistant. This afternoon, we have an optional walk (7.5mi/12km round-trip) to the Wall of Tears, a sad reminder of Isabela’s very different past when it was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge blocks of lava as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths.

Navigate by motorboat (two hours to 2hr 30min) to Santa Cruz early this morning. Upon arrival, we leave our luggage at our hotel and head out to visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre’s breeding facility – the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center. Here, we are introduced to some of the important work that takes place on the island, such as rearing giant tortoises until they reach an age where they can be introduced to the wild. After, we visit the exhibition hall and gift shop, where we can get our passports stamped in commemoration. In the afternoon, we walk to Tortuga Bay, a long stretch of white sand that’s regarded as one of the best beaches in the Galápagos. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes 45 minutes to one hour each way (5.5mi/9km total). There are possibilities to observe Galápagos finches and lizards en route. The beach is scattered with marine iguanas, which lie among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. Turtles can sometimes be seen in the water, though swimming is not recommended due to the strong currents. Santa Cruz is the most inhabited of the Galápagos islands, meaning you can enjoy perusing the souvenir shops and restaurants.

Visit either Bartolomé, South Plaza, Santa Fe or North Seymour. The island we visit depends on the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) regulations, who monitor tourism closely. South Plaza has a remarkable vegetation of succulents and cacti, which provide a unique habitat for land iguanas. The iguanas form small colonies at the base of the tall opuntia cacti, waiting for their flowers and dead pads to fall to the ground so they can feed on them. The island rocks are home to swallowtail gulls, shearwaters and sea lions. North Seymour is a flat, boulder-strewn island and a major nesting site for frigatebirds. It’s also a good place to see blue-footed boobies performing courtship rituals and sea lions playing in the powerful surf. Bartolomé is a spectacular scene of dramatic lava cones, clear seas and affords perhaps the most famous view of the Galápagos Islands, looking across the red cinder cones to the recent black lava fields on James Island. If weather permits, we snorkel today where the water is calm. Please ensure you inform your trip leader if you require a swim aid. Lunch is on board the boat.

After a few days following the footsteps of Darwin, Cousteau and world-renowned scientists, it is time to say goodbye to the Enchanted Islands. After breakfast, we journey to Baltra Island Airport via minibus, boat, and airport shuttle bus – bidding a fond farewell to our Galápagos tour leader – and fly to Quito via Guayaquil. Our mainland tour leader meets us upon arrival and our groups normally gather for a final dinner this evening, a chance to celebrate the adventures we’ve had together. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to continue your adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay in Quito.