Machu Pichu and the Inca heartland  

Your journey begins in Lima, where a guided tour takes in the UNESCO-listed historic centre and the Larco Museum's pre-Columbian collection. From there, you fly to Cusco and continue into the Sacred Valley.

The train to Machu Picchu is a slow pleasure. You'll travel a narrow-gauge line through Andean highlands before reaching the citadel itself, where a guided tour reveals its terraces and stonework carved into the mountainside. Back in Cusco, a walking tour shows how Inca and Spanish colonial layers sit side by side, from the vast blocks of Sacsayhuamán to the streets around Plaza de Armas. A visit to the Misminay Andean community offers a quieter, more personal look at highland traditions that have survived for generations.

Quito and the Middle of the World

Ecuador's capital sits around 9,350 feet above sea level, making it the world's second highest. Its Old Town is one of South America's largest and best-preserved colonial quarters, and a guided walk through the cobbled streets is the ideal way to take it in.

Along the way, you'll sample chocolate made from fine Ecuadorian cacao. Later, you'll travel roughly 16 miles north to the Middle of the World City, where the monument marks the Equator itself and you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. It's a small, memorable moment before the expedition portion of your trip begins.

Life aboard MS Santa Cruz II

Refurbished in 2021 and carrying just 90 guests, MS Santa Cruz II feels intimate rather than crowded. That scale matters here. It means quieter landings, closer wildlife encounters, and a naturalist Expedition Team who can give you their full attention.

The Expedition Suites are the ones to request when you book with a Travel Counsellor. You'll find private balconies, an upper-deck location ideal for spotting wildlife, and private hot tubs to soak in after a day ashore. A champagne welcome and daily laundry service come as standard, along with fine dining and all meals included. There's also a sauna, gym, library, and a glass-bottom boat for exploring beneath the surface.

Wildlife and wild landscapes

The Galápagos asks very little of you beyond showing up and paying attention. Animals here have no instinctive fear of people, which means encounters feel genuinely unhurried. Sea lions sprawl across landing platforms. Marine iguanas bask within arm's reach. Galápagos penguins stand at the water's edge on Isabela and Fernandina, sharing shoreline with flightless cormorants found nowhere else on Earth.

The landscapes shift between islands in ways that are hard to anticipate. Rábida's beach is a deep, distinctive red, shaped by its volcanic iron-rich rock. Bartolomé rises to a summit that looks out across Pinnacle Rock and a sweep of golden sand. On Genovesa, a short climb up Prince Philip's Steps opens onto a plateau crowded with Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and great frigatebirds. A glass-bottom boat and snorkelling gear extend the experience underwater, where you’ll likely spot green sea turtles and oceanic sunfish gliding by.

The Galapagos Islands, island by island

Nine islands feature on this itinerary, and each has its own distinct character. Santa Cruz is perhaps the most varied, combining the Charles Darwin Research Station and its giant-tortoise breeding programme with lush, cooler highlands where tortoises roam freely. Floreana is another unusual yet unmissable stop: Post Office Bay holds a barrel that has functioned as an informal postal system for over two centuries, and Champion Islet is regarded as one of the archipelago's finest snorkelling locations.

In Santiago, those who venture into the water do so alongside marine turtles, while the dramatic cliffs at Buccaneer Cove host dense colonies of seabirds and sea lions. Las Bachas, on the northern shore of Santa Cruz, is a good place to spot flamingos and sea turtles before returning to the ship. There's enough variety across this itinerary to keep every day feeling distinct, without any sense of rushing.

Suggested itinerary

This suggested itinerary covers a 16-day journey through Peru, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands, though every element can be tailored to your preferences, whether you'd like to extend your time in Cusco, upgrade your cabin category aboard MS Santa Cruz II, or add bespoke experiences along the way.

Days 1–2: Lima, Peru - A guided tour of the UNESCO-listed historic centre and the Larco Museum, with time to explore the city independently.

Days 3–5: Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu - Fly to Cusco, visit Sacsayhuamán, and board the narrow-gauge train to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the citadel.

Day 6: Quito, Ecuador - Fly via Lima to Ecuador's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage city set high in the Andes.

Day 7: Quito and the Equator - A guided walk through the Old Town and a visit to the Middle of the World City.

Days 8–16: Galápagos Islands aboard MS Santa Cruz II - Nine islands, including Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, Santiago, Rábida, Bartolomé, and Genovesa, with daily guided landings, snorkelling, kayaking, and glass-bottom boat excursions throughout.