2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru (ISK3)

13-Day Package from Quito to Lima

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

How deep is your love of adventure? Is it deep enough to follow the course of Charles Darwin to discover your own love affair with the wildlife paradise of the Galápagos Islands? And delve further south to soar higher in the Andes and the heart of Peru? If so, this Globus Independent tour in South America is pointing you in the right direction. Begin by exploring the historic heart of Quito and depart for parts unknown where blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and diving iguanas of the Galápagos give new meaning to mind-blowing discoveries. Cruise in luxury on the Galápagos Legend and explore the archipelago in the company of a Naturalist guide. Sail upon pristine waters to discover the perfectly evolved creatures who thrive on this volcanic archipelago. Stroll the sand where sea lions bask and albatross brace against the updrafts above the cliffs. Sail, snorkel, and simply stay in a state of astonishment through the sanctuaries of spectacular species on Bartolomé, Santiago, North Seymour, and San Cristobal Islands. Visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve where conservationists work to protect the gentle giants for which the islands are named. Then, set your compass to the heart of Peru to ignite your independent spirit in Lima, Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu to find the “Lost City of the Incas.” Explore ancient ruins that defy explanation and encounter the captivating cultures that live on in the Sacred Valley and Cusco. Timeless temples, textiles, and tantalizing dishes are all on the menu on this free-spirited sojourn in South America. You’ll also find the I-time you deserve to fall in love with adventure again!

Your Globus Independent tour gives you the freedom to explore with the I-time you crave–with all the perks you'd expect from Globus. We take care of the details with included accommodations, daily breakfasts, select guided sightseeing, transportation and transfers between each city on your tour, and a Local Host in each city to assist you when needed. We’ll also handle flight arrangements and airport transfers at the beginning and end of your tour, if you wish.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Independent Galapagos cruise aboard the Galápagos Legend with Peru map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners


Notes:

Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and includes private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Internal flights to/from the Galápagos and the Ecuadorian Amazon are included. Local Guide service is provided in Quito, Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist in the Galápagos is also provided.

In the Galápagos, there will be “wet landings” meaning guests will need to be able to jump in the water, out of the boats/zodiacs and walk a couple of meters to the beaches. Terrain is rocky and uneven. Itinerary in the Galápagos is subject to change. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN QUITO, ECUADOR

Welcome to Quito, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

QUITO-COLONIAL-CITY-VIEW.jpg

Day 2 QUITO


• Your included private city tour showcases the rich legacy left by the Incas and the Spaniards. See Independence Square, dominated by its formidable cathedral, San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica with its marvelous stained-glass windows.



QUITO-SAN-FRANCISCO-PLAZA.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 QUITO–BALTRA (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND


• Fly to Baltra and transfer with your expert Naturalist to the Galápagos Legend for your 3-night cruise.
• Sail to North Seymour, a landmass formed by a series of underwater volcanic eruptions, which deposited layers of lava on the ocean floor. Take a walk amidst large nesting colonies of blue-footed boobies, magnificent and great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls for an in-depth encounter with sea bird breeding cycles. You will also encounter sea lions, land iguanas and, on a lucky day, you might even come across the endemic Galápagos snake.



NORTH-SEYMOUR-FRIGATE.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 4 CRUISING: BARTOLOMÉ ISLAND & SANTIAGO ISLAND

• Wake up at Bartolomé Island to discover a fascinating moonscape formed by volcanic parasitic cones. Hike to the summit for impressive views of the surrounding islands and Pinnacle Rock. You will also encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and blue-footed boobies. Bartolomé offers some of the best spots to snorkel, thanks to clear waters and abundant sea life, including sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and maybe even Galápagos penguins.
• This afternoon, sail to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island and take a walk on young Pahoehoe lava flows formed during the last quarter of the 19th Century. See the reddish-yellow tuff-cones with various flora growing from the fissures. Walking on the solidified lava gives the impression of walking on another planet. After your guided walk, spend time snorkeling from the white sand beach where you may see penguins, sea lions, sharks, and rays.



BARTOLOME-ISLAND.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 5 CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND


• Arrive at Pitt Islet on San Cristobal and walk to the top of a volcanic tuff to be rewarded with several magnificent viewpoints. This is one of the few sites where the Galápagos’ three booby species (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca) can be seen together. You will also find the two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony. The island waters are excellent for dinghy rides to see a range of seabirds—and a great spot to snorkel!
• At Cerro Brujo, visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: black-necked stilts, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels, other sandpiper species, and white-cheeked pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal, and the adjacent coast. Your visit includes time to swim with the sea lions and other marine life.



SAN-CRISTOBAL-ISLAND-SEA-LIONS-ON-THE-BEACH.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 6 CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL (DISEMBARKATION)–QUITO–LIMA, PERU


• After breakfast, disembark in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve on San Cristobal. Learn about the national park’s conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species.
• Also, visit the port village for a last chance at souvenirs before bidding farewell to the enchanted Galápagos Islands.
• Transfer to San Cristobal Airport and fly to Quito. Later, fly to Lima, Peru.



SAN-CRISTOBAL-GIANT-TORTOISE.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 LIMA


• Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias.



Today’s I-Time Tips
This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images.

LIMA-CATHEDRAL.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 LIMA–CUSCO


• Fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide.
• Your guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature.
• Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. Followed by the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara.



CUSCO-PLAZA-DE-ARMAS-ARCHES.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY


• Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today.
• Continue to the market town of Pisaq, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices.
• At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry.



SACRED-VALLEY-WEAVING.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 10 SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU


• Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.
• On a guided tour of Machu Picchu, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas.



MACHU-PICCHU-LLAMA.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 11 MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO


• A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins.
• Return to Cusco by train.



MACHU-PICCHU-RUIN-DETAIL.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 CUSCO–LIMA


• Fly to Lima today.



CUSCO-PEOPLE.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 13 LIMA


Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.



LIMA-PERUVIAN-TEXTILES.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

ANA CECILIA CARDENAS

Escorting tours for more than 10 years

“I always liked to travel and that is why after finishing high school, I decided to study tourism administration. While I was studying at the University, I started to work as a tour guide and found it very interesting. Being a tour guide allows me to meet people from many different places and it took me to incredible places. For a period of time I moved to Argentina where I taught Spanish and English but I missed my family and country, so I decided to come back to Ecuador. When I came back to Quito, I worked as a Key Account Executive for a tour operator, which was a great experience for my career, but after a time, I decided to be a tour guide again. I realized I enjoy being with people outside in the nature more than working in an office, and I am able to have more time for other activities I like, such as painting and working with the children of my church.”

Tour Director - ANA CECILIA CARDENAS

 Accommodations

Quito
Lima
Cusco
Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu

Quito

Hilton Colon Quito
Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito Hilton Colon Quito
Hilton Colon Quito

Hilton Colon Quito

Superior First-Class

Hilton Colon Quito Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1, Quito, Ecuador

Ave Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1
Quito, Ecuador

The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.

Hotel Amenities

  • Business Center
  • Elevator
  • Luggage Storage
  • Parking/Valet
  • Fitness Room
  • Beauty Salon
  • Laundry Available
  • ATM
  • Currency Exchange
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Pool
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Gift Shop
  • Concierge desk
  • Spa Services

Room Amenities

  • Wake-Up Calls
  • Desk
  • Television
  • In-Room Safe
  • Climate Control
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Cable/Satellite
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Voicemail
  • Pay Movies
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Alarm Clock
  • Phone
  • Mini-bar
  • Coffee Maker
  • Smoking Rooms
  • Hair Dryer
  • Room Service
  • Air Conditioning
  • Internet Access

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Quito
Cusco
Lima

Quito

Teleferico

Teleferico

Take a ride in the highest cable way in South America and get to know this amazing city, Quito, in a totally different way.

Price Range: $$

Middle of the World

Middle of the World

Travel to the Equatorial Monument which marks the exact Middle of the World, latitude 0, where you can stand with a foot on each hemisphere.

Price Range: $$

Panoramic Quito by Night with Dinner

Panoramic Quito by Night with Dinner

Drive into the old Colonial city during the evening for views of the romantic plazas and the impressive public and religious buildings followed by dinner.

Price Range: $$$$

Cusco

Dinner at Pachapapa Restaurant

Dinner at Pachapapa Restaurant

Head to San Blas for dinner at the highly recommended Pachapapa, serving Peruvian food and mroe.

Price Range: $$$

An evening in San Blas with Dinner at Pachapapa

An evening in San Blas with Dinner at Pachapapa

Visit the bohemian district of San Blas with a Local Guide and enjoy dinner at Pachapapa.

Price Range: $$$$

Lima

Pachacamac Pilgrimage Ruins

Pachacamac Pilgrimage Ruins

Visit the Pachacamac Ruins, built around 700 A.D. as a temple for the worship of the sun god, Pachacamac. It once housed an oracle that is believed to be one of the main pilgrimage centers in pre-Columbian Peru.

Price Range: $$

Larco Herrera Museum

Larco Herrera Museum

Visit the Larco Museum that showcases remarkable chronological galleries providing an excellent overview on 3000 years of development of Peruvian pre-Columbian history.

Price Range: $$$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.