Have It All On A Galapagos And Machu Picchu Tour

By Karina Frost


Visiting two of the world's most famous attractions is now possible in one tour. A Galapagos and Machu Picchu tour will take you to Ecuador and Peru for an unforgettable trip. Both these Andean nations have an incredible variety of activities and experiences to offer.

To reach the Galapagos islands you have to fly from the Ecuadorean city of Guayaquil. It takes about 4 hours to reach the archipelago which lies out in the Pacific Ocean. You will arrive on Santa Cruz island and then board a cruise to visit other smaller islands and their incredible wildlife. Boats vary in sizes from one hundred passengers down to just a small group of six or eight. The size of the boat determines the facilities it will have but in general they go to the same places.

To access the Galapagos visitors must take a flight from Ecuador. This means a visit to the capital city of Quito which lies in a high Andean valley surrounded by volcanoes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site itself thanks to a beautiful colonial city center. There are plenty of things to keep anyone happy with museums, unique churches, restaurants and monuments to visit.

Each day normally consists of a couple of walking tours and snorkelling. In between tours the boats move to different islands. This means you will get to see everything including the famous marine iguanas, giant tortoises and flightless cormorants. Snorkelling trips also provide opportunities to get close to penguins, sea lions and even hammerhead sharks while swimming over sunken volcanoes.

From Ecuador the tour moves on to Peru another Andean nation with a massive array of micro-climates and archaeological mysteries. To get to Machu Pichu the tour will go to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. It is worth a visit just to see the beguiling mixture of the old and new which exist side by side in Cusco. Many of the local indigenous people, the Quechua still farm the land and sell their products in the market. They also make incredible textiles.

Machu Picchu is a truly stunning destination. It is just over 120 kilometers from the city of Cusco in the high Andes mountains. All visitors must take a train or walk the Inca Trail from Cusco. Tickets for either of these options and entrance to the archaeological site must be purchased in advance to avoid disappointment. The trip winds its way down through the high valleys into the cloud forest on the ridges overlooking the Amazon forest. It is a spectacular journey.

From Cusco there is a train to the high jungle to see the citadel. It takes a few hours but you wont be bored. It is a truly spectacular journey as you descend the high valleys into the cloud forest. The tour will include a guided tour of the site which is essential to understand what happened there and the ingenious talents of the Inca builders.

The Inca Empire was one of the most fabulous things experienced by the conquistadors when they reached South America, they could not believe its riches. Combining a visit to Peru with the stunning Galapagos islands is the trip of a lifetime. When booking your trip make sure to check the weather with your agent. Also if there is a specific animal you want to see on the islands make sure it will be there at that time. Many of the seabirds, for example are only there when nesting.




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