Meals

16 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners

Transport

Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring; included intra-vacation air and taxes

Accommodation

LIMA : Jose Antonio Lima (F) SACRED VALLEY : La Casona Yucay (MF) MACHU PICCHU : El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu (F) CUSCO : Jose Antonio Cusco (F) PUNO : Eco Inn Puno (F) QUITO : Grand Mercure Alameda (SF) GALÁPAGOS CRUISE : Galápagos Legend (F)

Guide

Local Guides for sightseeing in Lima, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca; services of a professional Tour Director.

Hygieneprotocol

The health and safety of our guests remains our top priority and while we highly recommend that travellers are vaccinated against COVID-19, after 1 March, 2023 , we will no longer require it. Destinations and other transportation operators – like airlines – have their own rules and regulations. It will be up to the responsibility of our guests to understand and comply with those policies to move freely across the globe. The Globus family of brands previous policy – requiring all guests be vaccinated against COVID-19 – remains in effect until 1 March , 2023. Anyone travelling before that date on a Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Waterways holiday must be fully vaccinated. ---------------------------------------------------- The following requirements are in place traveling Internationally throughout 2021 and domestically beginning Sept. 1, 2021: - Full vaccination against COVID-19 in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Vaccination documentation must include information that identifies the person and vaccination date(s). Proof of full vaccination must show that official vaccination dose(s) were administered at least 14-days prior to the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. Globus accepts vaccines authorized or recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travelers may encounter additional requirements if their vaccine is not recognized by the travel destination. - For children who do not qualify for vaccination, one of the two forms of documentation are required to travel: 1) Verifiable negative COVID-19 test result in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English. Testing must be performed by an entity recognized by your government of residence, using a viral test (NAAT/PCR or antigen). The test result documentation must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A negative test result must show the test was done within 72 hours before the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. 2) If you recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months, and have met the criteria to end isolation, you may travel instead with documentation of recovery, which includes a positive test result and a letter from your health care provider that states you have been cleared to end isolation (return to work, travel, etc.) The test result documentation and letter must include information that identifies the person, a specimen collection date and the type of test. A positive test result must show test was done within 3 months of the start of your first service purchased from the Globus family of brands. A SAFE & WARM WELCOME: We will enact new tour check-in procedures and pre-trip health screenings to offer guests a safe start to their journey, including adherence to social distancing requirements. BLENDING CULTURAL PROXIMITY WITH SOCIAL DISTANCE: We will ensure safe distances for our guests throughout the journey, on coach and during excursions. This includes providing masks for our guests use at any time where social proximity could be an issue as well as the possibility of reducing group sizes, if required. And wireless listening technology—including our Go Beyond Devices in Europe—enables safe distances between our guests and other travelers on excursions. FOCUS ON GUEST AND TEAM MEMBER HEALTH: To ensure a healthy environment for our team and our guests, we will conduct regular temperature checks for both guests and our team, and when necessary, masks will be worn by our team when with guests. TOUCHING HEARTS, NOT HANDS: Traveling with Cosmos removes many of the “touch points” of travel, including luggage handling, check in/out, expedited entry into attractions and more. We are further reducing risk with hands-free services, including all self-services replaced by staff, including buffet meals replaced with table service. We will also ensure hand sanitizing is available throughout each trip, on coach and in hotels. COMMITMENT TO CLEAN: As a part of our commitment to clean, we are requiring enhanced cleaning procedures with our hotel partners, on our motorcoaches, vehicles and throughout every trip, including additional daily disinfecting procedures that go above-and-beyond our already strict health and safety procedures. PARTNERS IN DISCOVERY AND IN HEALTH: Cosmos has strict health and safety protocols, which have been in place for years, focused on ensuring all aspects of our operation—from vehicles and equipment used on trip to excursions and hotel procedures. This process will continue with new, elevated health and safety checks, to maintain our promise that each touch-point of our tours and cruises are considered in our commitment to guest and team member well-being.

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Day 1 Day 1: Lima, Peru
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Lima, Peru

Welcome to Lima, Peru. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima retains vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums.
Day 2 Day 2: Lima
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Lima

Sightseeing today focuses on Lima’s colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once capital of Spain’s South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro’s remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)
Day 3 Day 3: Lima–Cusco–Sacred Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Lima–Cusco–Sacred Valley

Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Awanakancha and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into precious fibers for ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisac, a charming village with a famous Indian market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel in the peaceful Sacred Valley. (B,D)
Day 4 Day 4: Sacred Valley
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Sacred Valley

Start the day with a visit to the village of Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest—the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. See how the temple area at the top of the terraces was the perfect defensive stronghold, then visit a local home in this Incan town to experience life in a traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Next, visit the Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chicheria for a taste of a chicha, a typical Inca drink in Peru. (B)
Day 5 Day 5: Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu

Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Listen as your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandoned when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. Many mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day. (B,D)
Day 6 Day 6: Machu Picchu–Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Machu Picchu–Cusco

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, return to Cusco, former capital of the Inca Empire. (B)
Day 7 Day 7: Cusco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Cusco

Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas until the Spanish toppled it. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, housing a magnificent collection of artwork, including a depiction of The Last Supper that portrays the apostles dining on cuy (guinea pig). Continue to the hillside overlooking Cusco for a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here, then see the ruins of Kenko and Puca Pucara before returning to Cusco. (B,D)
Day 8 Day 8: Cusco–Juliaca–Puno
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Cusco–Juliaca–Puno

Fly to Juliaca, visit the pre-Incan burial grounds of Sillustani en route to Puno. See the above-ground tombs, chullpas, in which the Aymara Indians buried their high priests. Continue to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to found the Inca Empire. (B)
Day 9 Day 9: Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca

Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its man-made islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. This is evident by the Spanish peasant dresses made of Andean textiles—the islanders make some of the finest in all of Peru. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros Indians construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Day 10: Puno–Juliaca–Lima
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Puno–Juliaca–Lima

Return to Juliaca, where you will be welcomed into a local home for an inside look at life here. Later, a short flight returns you to Lima, where you will transfer to your hotel. (B)
Day 11 Day 11: Lima–Quito, Ecuador
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Lima–Quito, Ecuador

Board a flight for Quito. (B)
Day 12 Day 12: Quito–Baltra (Embarkation)–Galápagos Cruising
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Quito–Baltra (Embarkation)–Galápagos Cruising

Fly to Baltra and visit the highlands of Santa Cruz, marked by extinct volcanoes, lava tubes, and astonishing plant life. Here, witness giant tortoises in a natural reserve and learn about efforts to conserve these ancient creatures. Continue to the port where you will board the Galápagos Legend. (B,L,D)
Day 13 Day 13: Galápagos Cruising: Genovesa Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Galápagos Cruising: Genovesa Island

Wake up at Genovesa Island and encounter a small fur seal grotto before taking a walk up Prince Philip’s Steps to see large nesting colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies. Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels can be observed flying in all directions and, if you are lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a short-eared Owl. After lunch on board, visit Darwin Bay to observe frigate birds, red-footed boobies, herons, lava gulls, and many other bird species. (B,L,D)
Day 14 Day 14: Galápagos Cruising: South Plaza & Santa Fé Islands
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Galápagos Cruising: South Plaza & Santa Fé Islands

This morning, sail to South Plaza Island and take a walk through an impressive cactus forest populated with land and marine iguanas. Due to the proximity of land iguanas and marine iguanas here, this is the only place on Earth where you will find the Galápagos hybrid iguana. From the summit, watch for tropicbirds, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. On Santa Fé, a large sea lion colony greets you on its white-sand beach. Walk through a cactus forest in search of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, the largest in the islands and distinctively paler than its counterparts. This island is home to a number of endemic species, including the Galápagos hawk, Galápagos snake, a variety of finches, and one of the four species of Galápagos mockingbirds. (B,L,D)
Day 15 Day 15: Galápagos Cruising: Bachas Beach–Baltra (Disembarkation)–Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Galápagos Cruising: Bachas Beach–Baltra (Disembarkation)–Quito

Your final visit takes you to Bachas Beach. This site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore and a visit to a lagoon with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingos. The area is also a favorite nesting sites for green turtles. Later, disembark and fly to Quito. (B)
Day 16 Day 16: Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Quito

Included sightseeing showcases Quito’s treasures: Independence Plaza, the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery, and the Jesuit’s La Compania Church with its stunning golden altars. (B)
Day 17 Day 17: Quito
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Quito

Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)

+14

17 days tour

Mysteries Of The Inca Empire With Galapagos Cruise

This tour includes:

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Itinerary of your trip Mysteries Of The Inca Empire With Galapagos Cruise

Day 1: Lima, Peru

Day 2: Lima

Day 3: Lima–Cusco–Sacred Valley

Day 4: Sacred Valley

Day 5: Sacred Valley–Machu Picchu

Day 6: Machu Picchu–Cusco

Day 7: Cusco

Day 8: Cusco–Juliaca–Puno

Day 9: Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca

Day 10: Puno–Juliaca–Lima

Day 11: Lima–Quito, Ecuador

Day 12: Quito–Baltra (Embarkation)–Galápagos Cruising

Day 13: Galápagos Cruising: Genovesa Island

Day 14: Galápagos Cruising: South Plaza & Santa Fé Islands

Day 15: Galápagos Cruising: Bachas Beach–Baltra (Disembarkation)–Quito

Day 16: Quito

Day 17: Quito

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