From Machu Picchu to the Galápagos Islands—The Ultimate Travel Itinerary for Adventurers

It’s now time to leave the mountains behind. You’ll fly from Cusco to the bustling port city of Guayaquil (via Lima) and check into the tropical Hotel del Parque, a quiet oasis away from the lively downtown scene. Dine on the property before getting a good night’s sleep ahead of your small-ship adventure—which begins the next morning when you fly to San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos Islands, about 600 miles west of the Ecuadorian coast.

Board the elegant Silver Origin, your all-suite home base for the rest of your trip, with a team of local expert guides. Day one allows time for orientation (your ship has butler service, a stylish interior, eco-friendly design, and stellar dining) and lunch. Relax and unpack while the ship sails the storied oceanic path toward your first nature-packed stop. Your captain will officially welcome you over sunset cocktails before a delicious dinner aboard the Silver Origin.

The next few days exploring the glorious archipelago will be a blur of pristine natural beauty, diverse flora and fauna, and guided tours of all kinds that share the history of this untouched slice of paradise. A stop at Darwin Bay on the volcanic island of Genovesa offers magnificent birdwatching. Also known as “Bird Island,” it’s home to red-footed booby nesting colonies, short-eared owls, and swallow-tailed gulls—the only nocturnal gull species in the world. North Seymour Island, formed by the uplifts of undersea lava, also has an extraordinary avian population, plus thousands of majestic iguanas.

Throughout your cruise, opportunities abound for weather-permitting hikes to dramatic vistas and kayaking in the sapphire water. Feeling less sporty? Zodiac boats often offer a more relaxed way to cruise around. Going ashore on the islands will yield close-up views of an array of animals, from sea lions to Galápagos penguins. Grab a snorkel to see eagle rays and sea turtles.

And check out the sights! Think sparkling waves crashing along rocky coasts, sheer cliffs that form rugged backdrops to the bluest of waters, a 75-foot blowhole, and the black-lava flows of Sullivan Bay. Fernandina Island alone, the archipelago’s youngest ecosystem, is a tropical maze of sea lion colonies, moody mangroves, and picturesque coves and bays to explore. Nearby Isabella Island gives you the chance for a fascinating tour by Zodiac boat of the harsh conditions that steered the creation of a unique ecological niche.

A stop at the Fausto Llerena breeding center to see the highly endangered tortoises illustrates the need for continued wildlife preservation. Guests interested in the unusual vegetation of the islands can explore via Zodiac at Isla Santa Fe—also home to the Santa Fe Land iguana, found nowhere else in the world.

After a full day of sightseeing, swimming, sea lion-spotting, and birdwatching on one last island, Española, you’ll toast your extraordinary trip with a farewell cocktail that evening. This means it’s time to start your journey home, but the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime.