From Peru to Ecuador: The Andes, the Amazon & the Galapagos

In the early afternoon, fly to Puerto Maldonado and then sail by boat (20 minutes) on the Madre de Dios River, to reach your eco-lodge in the middle of the Amazon forest. The property houses seven bungalows and eight wooden rooms in a style reminiscent of an Amazonian hacienda, all with spectacular views of the jungle and river.

Included in the itinerary - Guided day and night walking tours of the Amazon; canopy walks, canoeing on Sandoval Lake, fishing, visiting a 'chacra' (farm) and a botanical garden. Plus a night visit to Collpa Tierra Adentro.

Flight to Cusco, then drive to Yucay (one hour) through the sumptuous scenery of the Sacred Valley. Three-night stay in an 18th-century Franciscan monastery.
Included in the itinerary: Tour of the Pisac craft market and the Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo, with a private guide.

Visit the archaeological site of Moray (11,730ft), before hiking towards Maras. Don't panic, it's mostly downhill. You'll walk through a luscious green valley and fields of crops, observing farmers as they work the land. The view over the Vilcabamba mountain range with the snow-covered Veronica Peak is breathtaking. Arrive at Maras and visit the salt mines. Continue the walk to the Pichingoto community (9,450ft), where your driver is waiting.

You'll be privately transferred to Ollantaytambo train station, from where you'll take a train to the small station of Aguas Calientes (approx. one hour 40 minutes), the stepping stone to Machu Picchu.
Included in the itinerary - Machu Picchu with a private guide. The citadel created by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec is a mesmerising feat; the beauty of the location, the scale of the design and the logistics and engineering it took to build it are nothing short of immense. The tour of the Inca site can be combined with climbing Machu Picchu Mountain, which offers splendid panoramic views over the citadel and the surrounding mountains, but also over the top of Huayna Picchu and the Urubamba River. This climb is not dangerous, but does require a basic level of fitness.

The capital of the Incas is still, literally, the base of the city of Cusco: most walls and foundations date back to the pre-Hispanic period and can be seen in many places (especially in the old colonial area of San Blas). The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin and the Church of the Society of Jesus, with gold and paintings from the Cusco School of Art (16th-17th centuries), both stand proudly on Plaza de Armas. Expand your knowledge of Andean religious art by visiting the Hilario Mendivil Museum, an exceptional craftsman-sculptor of the 20th century from the Cusco School of Art. Just over one mile north of Cusco, visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, one of the most impressive Inca ruins. Admire the three levels of walls laid out in a zig-zag formation to represent the shape of a puma's head. During the winter solstice, the Inti Raymi (sun festival) celebrates Inti, the most venerated deity in the Incan religion. Outside of these important celebrations, people use the ruins for jogging and tai chi on a daily basis.
Included in the itinerary - Tour of the city with a private guide.
Optional: Cooking class with chef Erick Paz and riding around the surrounding archaeological sites.

Private transfer to the airport and international flight to Quito. Second private transfer and three-night stay in accommodation in the historic centre. Behind an azure blue facade the hotel is a colonial home, built in 1925 and completely restored by renowned artists from the Quito School of Art. The house has three simple and elegant rooms, organised around a lovely inner courtyard, the perfect place for a good book or a refreshing drink. The rooftop terrace has wonderful views of the city.

Not much has changed in Quito Old Town, to the point where it can feel as if you've stepped back to colonial times. The chequerboard layout of the buildings hasn't changed and the brightly coloured one-storey houses with Spanish balconies provide a quaint foreground to the imposing civil and religious building which loom in the background; the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito (1562-1806); Carondelet Palace (1801); and the Church and Monastery of St. Francis (1534-1604) which houses the Virgin of Quito. Between discoveries, enjoy a 'canelazo' (alcohol, sugar, water and cinnamon).
Optional: Tour of the city with a private guide.

Included in the itinerary - Cotopaxi National Park Discovery Day with private guide. The Cotopaxi National Park, about 60 miles south of Quito, is home to the highest active volcano in the world at nearly 19,350ft. The perfectly symmetrical snow-capped caldera, set against the beautiful blue sky, is an iconic sight. The 85,000-acre nature reserve is home to a rich diversity of Andean wildlife; llamas, wild horses, Andean wolves, and sometimes even majestic condors all roam freely here. The road ends at an altitude of 14,765ft. Here, continue the adventure with a walk to the reserve at 15,750ft and a trip to the Limpiopungo Lagoon (just under two miles).

Private transfer to the airport and flight to the Galapagos Islands. Second transfer and three-night stay on Santa Cruz Island. Your hotel offers spectacular views of the bay and the island. Crystal clear waters and a beautiful sandy beach are just a five-minute walk away.
During these two days, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, explore the surrounding islands and go snorkelling, hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. You'll spot an array of wildlife at every turn. Here's where we would recommend visiting while in the Galapagos: the lava tunnels, forests and giant turtles in the highlands of Santa Cruz; the small island of Seymour with its colonies of blue-footed booby birds and magnificent frigatebirds; the island of Bartolome with its volcanic landscape (black sand and igneous rock); the island of Santa Fe with the oldest basalt rocks in the archipelago and spectacular views and amazing wildlife (sea lions, sea turtles, small white-tip reef sharks, sea rays and much more). The list of activities offered may vary depending on when you visit.
Included in the itinerary: Discover the islands of Seymour and Bartolome. Wildlife watching and snorkelling.