Activity Level 2
Hikes on our Level 2 adventures are considered easy to moderate in difficulty.
Read more about the Active Range
Price (Includes taxes and fees)
from NZD 16199/per adult
Activity Level 1
Suitable for most fitness levels, our Level 1 adventures are the perfect introduction to adventure travel.
You'll typically experience two half day activities per day, done at an easygoing pace.
Activity Level 2
Hikes on our Level 2 adventures are considered easy to moderate in difficulty.
Those who enjoy half-day hikes with enough elevation gain to elevate their heart rate will enjoy these adventures.
Activity Level 3
Those who take on our Level 3 tours are looking for more challenging hikes that will raise their heart rate.
While not our most strenuous trips, you'll definitely feel accomplished after a day on the trails. A solid base of fitness is advised.
Activity Level 4
Be prepared for some serious physical activity on our Level 4 trips. The fitter you are, the more you'll enjoy it, as most hikes will be challenging.
Hikes may include rock scrambling, river crossings, and off trail adventures.
Activity Level 5
On our Level 5 trips get ready to conquer back-to-back days of long hikes or summitting peaks at altitude.
We require a high level of fitness as adventurers will be met with plenty of challenges and sometimes extreme conditions.
There's no doubt you'll be mind blown by the contrasting landscapes, from the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to the crystal clear water of Isabela Island, on our 13-day Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure. Starting in Cusco, you'll cycle into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, hike the Huchuy Qosqo Trail, experience Machu Picchu and explore Pisac market. And that's just Peru! Afterward, take a short flight to Lima and then on to Quito, where you'll wander the colonial city unchanged from the colonial days. From here, it's just a hop over to the Galapagos Islands. The next 6-days will be yours to snorkel next to Kicker Rock, cycle the San Cristobal highlands, hike Sierra Negra Volcano, sea kayak near Isabela Island and get up close to all manner of wild creatures and relax on isolated beaches. If you're only likely to visit this part of South America once in your life, we'll make sure our Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure is an adventure you'll never forget.
Our Trip Itinerary contains all the exciting details you can expect to do on our trips. Get a clear picture of the adventures on this trip.
DOWNLOAD ITINERARY PDFDay 1
Our trip starts in Cusco, the heart of the Inca empire. After lunch, we’ll set off for a walk around this amazing ancient city and up to Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking the main Plaza and Cusco Valley. The fortress is a magnificent archaeological site representing a set of jaguar’s teeth with massive, perfectly fitted stones weighing up to 130 tonnes each and was the place where the Incas made their final stand against the Spanish conquistadores. No one really knows what the Incas used Sacsayhuamán for – some say it was a sanctuary and temple of the sun, others say it was a granary, and yet another theory is that it was the place where the old Inca king would play football using the heads of his enemies! No matter who is right, you’ll have a lot of fun hearing all the stories this amazing area inspires.
Later, we’ll take a walk through the colorful Cusco street markets. If you prefer, you can take some time to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Cusco’s lively town square and meet up again later for an evening meal.
Accommodation: Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 1.2 miles (2 kilometers), 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
Day 2
We’ll head into the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas this morning, stopping just above Cusco, where we’ll jump on our bikes and ride down through breathtaking scenery, dotted with local villages and surrounded by the massive green slopes of the Andes. We’ll finish our ride in the small town of Pisac, where we’ll have a chance to check out the colorful mercado artesanal.
From here, we’ll begin a spectacular hike up to the Pisac ruins. It’s a heart-pumping walk up through ancient agricultural terraces – you’ll never forget the views of Pisac and the Urubamba Valley! After exploring the ancient complex, we’ll descend the original Inca stairways and head further into the Sacred Valley.
Our home for the night is the small village of Yucay, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
Accommodation: Sonesta Posada del Inka, Yucay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Biking: 12 miles (20 kilometers), 2-4 hours (flexible)
Hiking: 4.3 miles (7 kilometers), 2-4 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,476 feet (450 meters) ascent, 1,476 feet (450 meters) descent
Day 3
We’ll set off early this morning and head to the remote market village of Chinchero. Said to be the birthplace of the rainbow, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time 500 years while we explore the cobbled alleyways and beautiful town square – still the main trading center of the Incas from over half a century ago. From Chinchero, we’ll drive past the Piuray Lagoon and on to the Andean village of Tauca, where we’ll begin our hike to Huchuy Qosqo. The dramatic mountain views of the Urubamba range and deep valleys below are off the charts! As we make our way over the Pucajasa Mountain Pass, we’ll pass through high mountain meadows, lagoons and indigenous communities that have little contact with the outside world.
Shortly before lunch, we’ll arrive at the spectacular ruins of Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco), thought to be the remnants of an Inca hideaway village.
After lunch, we’ll hike down to Lamay village and drive a short distance to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll take an unforgettable train ride down to the sub-tropical village of Aguas Calientes.
You’ll have a chance to wander around this colorful little town before dinner and relax after a full day of hiking!
Accommodation: Hatun Inti Boutique, Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers), 5-7 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,900 feet (579 meters) ascent, 5,000 feet (1,524 meters)descent
Day 4
After an early breakfast, we’ll head up to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, where we’ll meet our local guide who will show us around this fascinating ancient city. Afterwards, you’ll have all morning to explore the many passageways and stone structures of this mysterious place on your own. We’ll also have the chance to hike to the Sun Gate for a unique perspective on these remote Inca ruins, set high on top of a mountain surrounded by lush peaks.
After plenty of time to explore Machu Picchu, we’ll take a scenic train ride back to Ollantaytambo, known to the locals simply as ‘Ollanta’.
Accommodation: El Arbergue Hotel, Ollantaytambo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 1-3 hours,
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
Day 5
Ollanta is dominated by two large ruins and is the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been inhabited since the 13th Century! The Ollantaytambo ruins offer a fascinating insight into Inca archaeology, so we’ll spend the morning with a local guide discovering the site, placing our travels into context. Later, we’ll take an incredible hike into the majestic Valle Sagrado de Los Incas.
After a visit to the town of Maras, we’ll hike down to the salt pans of Las Salineras with the Rio Urubamba and the Sacred Valley below us. These unique salt terraces have been used since Inca times and provide a great opportunity to hone your camera skills.
A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt-laden water that the Incas diverted into shallow pools to produce salt, and this is still done today.
Accommodation: Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), 1-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
Day 6
Cusco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and it’s a fabulous place to wander around and get a taste of an ancient city arriving in the 21st century! Walk along Cusco’s central streets, lined with massive Inca-built stone walls that form the foundation of the city and blend into the colonial and modern architecture that has been added over the years. You can take some time this morning to explore Cusco’s most popular temples, museums, churches, and fortresses. There’s no shortage of great food and entertainment in Cusco, with restaurants to suit any taste, cafés for coffee in the Plaza de Armas and great bars with local music.
Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada Hotel, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The 6-day Classic Machu Picchu Adventure trip ends today in Cusco.
Day 7
This morning you’ll part ways with your Peruvian guide, take a flight from Cusco up to Ecuador’s capital, via Lima, where you’ll meet our local representative. After transferring to Hacienda Jimenita you will have time to relax and enjoy the many amenities the hotel has to offer including a spa, gardens, and more. Then in the evening, we’ll chat with our local representative about the Galapagos journey that lies ahead.
Accommodation: Hacienda Jimenita, Quito
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The 7-day Classic Galapagos Islands Adventure trip starts today in Quito
Day 8
We’ll hop back on the plane for a short flight to Santa Cruz Island, in the heart of the Galapagos Archipelago. Once there we’ll take a short stroll to the highlands where we’ll have a chance to see giant tortoises in their natural environment, along with intriguing birdlife like the vermillion flycatcher.
Later, we’ll take a look inside the lava tunnels scattered throughout the highlands. These tunnels were formed by molten lava flowing beneath the surface, which left behind large tube-like caves, some almost a mile long!
Accommodation: Hotel Solymar or similar, Santa Cruz Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9
This morning we’ll hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the most stunning beaches in the Galapagos. Tortuga Bay is accessible only by foot and is home to hundreds of prehistoric-looking marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Later, we’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the breeding programs that are saving vulnerable species of tortoises and land iguanas. Also, there will be a chance to see different types of carapaces that help differentiate the tortoise species.
This afternoon, we’ll head to Isabela Island - the largest Island in the Galapagos.
Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle or similar, Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 4 miles (6.5 kilometers), 1-2 hours
Day 10
Our hike today will take us toward the summit of Sierra Negra volcano, rising nearly a mile above the ocean. See the lowland vegetation change before your eyes as we ascend through a lunar-like landscape on our way to the top. This is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, and one of the most active. As we hike, we might be lucky enough to see Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches and flycatchers that inhabit this region.
We'll head back down to sea level in time for lunch and then for a kayaking trip in the calm waters of Isabela Bay. Here we’ll have the chance to see some of the island’s most amazing wildlife up close. Marine iguanas bask in the sun, bluefooted boobies sit in pairs on the rock tops and Sally Lightfoot crabs scurry out of our way along the water’s edge. In the clear waters below us, rays gracefully swim by and turtles pop up for a breath of air.
Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle, Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers), 2-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 213 feet (65 meters) ascent, 213 feet (65 meters) descent
Kayaking: 1-2 hours
Day 11
This morning, we’ll hop out for a short walk at Tintoreras or Shark Alley, an isolated islet and popular iguana-nesting site that’s home to hundreds of marine iguanas. Afterward, you can test the waters for a snorkel in a calm inlet that’s home to a variety of colorful fish and green sea turtles who like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom.
Later, we’ll take a short flight to San Cristobal Island, the oldest and easternmost island of the Galapagos archipelago. On arrival in San Cristobal, we’ll head up into the highlands for a scenic downhill bike ride. Starting at a panoramic viewpoint called La Soledad, we’ll bike through the tiny town of El Progreso and five different vegetation zones until we reach a beach called La Loberia - a beach that is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. You’re not likely to see this many sea lions in one place anywhere else in the world! They play, they nap and sometimes, they pose for pictures! If you’re keen on a swim, hop on in.
Accommodation: Casa Blanca or Blue Marlin Hotel, San Cristobal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Biking: 9 miles (14.5 kilometers), flat, 2-3 hours
Day 12
Today we’ll cruise to Kicker Rock off the coast of San Cristobal, where we’ll either snorkel or don wet suits, snorkels and masks (and tanks for the divers – diving option extra fees apply) and explore around the remains of an underwater volcano with a rock face rising 500 feet (150 meters) above the surface of the water.
Afterward, we can visit one of three beaches - Manglecito, Puerto Grande and Cerro Brujo and enjoy lunch here. This evening, we’ll dine on local produce and fresh fish.
Accommodation: Casa Blanca or Blue Marlin Hotel, San Cristobal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Snorkel Kicker Rock: 2 snorkels, 30-45 mins each
Optional Kicker Rock diving experience (additional cost applies): You can opt to swap the snorkel for a dive if you wish. This option must be selected at the time of booking. 2 dives, 30-45 minutes each
Day 13
This morning, you're free to visit San Cristobal Interpretation Centre to learn about the history and mystery of the archipelago, from its discovery and what makes it so special, to Charles Darwin’s visit and the present-day efforts to protect this amazing World Heritage Site.
Afterward, we’ll take a short flight back to Quito on the mainland, and depart for home. We’ll make sure you return home relaxed and refreshed from all the great activities, fine food and friendly people you’ll have met while traveling with us in Peru and the Galapagos Islands.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This trip is operated by our sister brand Active Adventures
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