Itinerary Expand all Cuzco to Guayaquil Airport Depart London. We fly overnight to Cuzco, with stops in Madrid and Lima. Day 1 Start Cuzco (3400m); afternoon walking tour. The tour starts at our hotel in Cuzco this morning. Hotel check-in often isn't until 3 pm. The Inca capital of Cuzco is among the most attractive cities in South America, with much of the centre comprising colonial-era buildings with Inca foundations, as well as museums, churches and pre-Columbian sites. To help acclimatise, we have a relaxed walking tour this afternoon to discover its historic buildings and winding streets. It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar) Arrive Cuzco (3400m); afternoon walking tour. The group flights arrive into Cuzco today. The Inca capital of Cuzco is among the most attractive cities in South America, with much of the centre comprising colonial-era buildings with Inca foundations, and it is full of interesting museums, churches and pre-Columbian sites. To help acclimatise, we have a relaxed walking tour this afternoon to discover its historic buildings and winding streets. It is recommended to take it easy upon arrival into Cuzco and to drink plenty of water to allow your body time to acclimatise to the altitude. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar) Day 2 Free day in Cuzco; optional Sacred Valley tour. Today has been left free to explore the city in more detail. The Plaza de Armas is a fantastic spot for people watching, and the Koricancha Sun Temple, located in the Santo Domingo Church and monastery is worth a visit. The Mercado San Pedro is the place to try some local produce and there are many handicraft markets to shop for souvenirs such as alpaca jumpers and scarves. Outside the town are more Inca ruins, notably the fortress of Sacsayhuaman where the Inca armies made their last stand against the Conquistadores. Alternatively, you may wish to take an optional visit to the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the incredible ruins at Pisac. Various other optional activities can be arranged from Cuzco - your leader will have the details. Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Train to Aguas Calientes; optional day walk along Inca Trail via Winay Wayna ruins. This morning we take the train to Aguas Calientes, a lively town in the valley below Machu Picchu. This afternoon and the rest of the day is free for visits to the hot springs or shopping in the large craft market. Our Machu Picchu entrance ticket is valid for tomorrow, however should you wish to visit the ruins today as well, you will need to purchase an extra ticket. Please inform your leader at the start of the holiday if you would like to purchase an extra entrance ticket to Machu Picchu. For those who wish to walk to Machu Picchu, there is an optional day walk along a section of the Inca Trail. The trail passes the ruins of Wiñay Wayna and ascends a stone staircase to the Sun Gate for the iconic view of Machu Picchu and its magnificent backdrop. Although this optional walk is available at no extra cost, it must be pre-booked since numbers are strictly limited (and a permit required). You should request this at the time of booking. A packed lunch is included today. Accommodation: Hotel Hatun Inti Classic (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Day 4 Early morning tour of Machu Picchu; afternoon return to Cuzco. In order to beat the day-trippers arriving from Cuzco and reach the ruins as early as possible, a very early start is required to queue for Machu Picchu; only government-registered buses can make the 30-minute drive up the winding road to the site entrance and during high season (May-October) queues can be hours long. Machu Picchu is one of the architectural and engineering marvels of the ancient world and what makes it all the more dramatic is its mountain backdrop of staggering immensity. The Spaniards never found it; the Incas left no records of it, and so Machu Picchu remained a great enigma, a city lost for centuries in the jungle until it was rediscovered in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. New regulations for visiting Machu Picchu are now fully enforced; of the three possible visiting slots, Exodus will purchase the morning slot from 06:00 until 12:00 (unless unavailable), you will be limited to a maximum of four hours within the site and must be accompanied by a guide. There will also be three set routes to follow around Machu Picchu; Exodus selects the most comprehensive route. We catch an afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo (1hr 30 mins) and continue by private bus to Cuzco (2hrs 30 mins). Accommodation: Hotel Casa Andina Koricancha (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Fly to Quito (2850m). Today we depart Cuzco on a flight to Quito via Lima. Quito has one of the best-preserved colonial centres in South America and plenty of vibrant markets to explore. Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Quito city tour. We have a half-day city tour of Quito, one of the smaller and more attractive of the capitals of South America - 2,850m high in the western cordillera of the Andes. Quito is the second highest capital in the world, and as always at altitude, it is a good idea not to do anything too strenuous at first! We explore the colonial centre with its narrow streets and hanging balconies. The tour usually includes the Independence Plaza, flanked by the Presidential and the Archbishop palaces as well as La Compañia Church with its impressive gold leaf decorations. A short drive brings us to El Panecillo Hill for a panoramic view of the city and to admire the 45m high statue of the ‘Virgen de Quito’, the only original Madonna with wings. Please note that entrance fees are not included. Accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar) Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Fly to Galapagos; visit the Charles Darwin Centre; board boat. We return to Quito airport for the flight to Galapagos and the island of Baltra via Guayaquil. We will take a short ferry crossing to Santa Cruz Island, where we drive to the highlands to look for wild tortoises. We follow this with a visit to the Charles Darwin Centre, where we learn about the ecology of the islands and visit the centre's turtle hatchery. After this visit, we board the boat at Puerto Ayora, the island's main town. Please make sure that you bring your camera, sun cream and appropriate clothing: comfortable footwear for some short walks (possibly amongst grass), light clothes, a hat/cap and a light waterproof in case of a shower or mist. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 8 Galapagos cruise following itinerary A (Tower) or B (Fernandina) to discover the unique wildlife of these volcanic islands. Our Galapagos Cruise alternates between two itineraries. For the next seven days, your specific itinerary in the Galapagos depends on the departure date of the trip (please ask your Sales Consultant if unsure). Itinerary A (Tower): Walk on the tiny Plazas Islands to see a cactus forest, land iguanas and seabirds, then cruise to the white sand beaches of Santa Fe. Itinerary B (Fernandina): A short walk on the tiny island of Chinese Hat before snorkelling with Sea lions (and penguins if lucky!); on to the dark red beach of Isla Rabida to walk amongst spatter cones, pelicans, Blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 9 Galapagos Cruise Itinerary A (Tower): A day at San Cristobal Island: the white sand beach, Blue-footed boobys and old cone of Cerro Brujo, giant tortoise at Galapaguera and crystal clear waters around the striking spear of Kicker Rock. Itinerary B (Fernandina): We start three days exploring the largest island of Isabela with the chance for early morning exploration of the mangroves at Los Tintoreras and then walk to the huge 5-mile wide caldera on Sierra Negra volcano. Our scheduled visit to Las Tintoreras alloted by the Galapagos National Park is from 0600 to 0800 hrs, therefore should you wish to stay onboard and have a lie in instead that's not a problem. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 10 Galapagos Cruise Itinerary A (Tower): Swim with Sea lions and Marine iguanas at the paradisiacal beach at Gardener Bay on Espanola (Hood) Island. In the afternoon, walk amongst Nazca and Blue-footed booby birds and nesting Waved Albatross (in season) next to pounding surf at Punta Suarez. Itinerary B (Fernandina): Cruising round Isabela's west side, we're likely to see whales and dolphins. We land at Punta Moreno's swirling fresh lava flows and also explore the islets of Elizabeth Bay with the largest colony of penguins in the Galapagos. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 11 Galapagos Cruise Itinerary A (Tower): At Floreana Island snorkel in the spectacular sunken crater of Devil's Crown amongst thousands of fish. We will then visit the lagoon at Punta Cormorant (often with flamingos) and Post Office Bay, the mailbox used by 18th Century whalers. Itinerary B (Fernandina): In 1954 Urbina Bay was uplifted 4 metres and we walk here amongst exposed coral heads, wandering giant tortoises and huge land iguanas. We'll then make an afternoon visit to Tagus Cove and Darwin Lake, directly opposite recently active Fernandina Volcano. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 12 Galapagos Cruise Itinerary A (Tower): To Dragon Hill, a nesting site for land iguanas with a large lagoon; dramatic Sullivan Bay with a walk on a huge lava flow only 100 years old before swimming from the white-sand beach in crystal clear waters. Itinerary B (Fernandina): Land at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina in the midst of a huge colony of Marine iguanas; the sea life is very rich here and supports a large Sea lion and Fur seal colony. We then cross the straights and explore the cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 13 Galapagos Cruise Itinerary A (Tower): Less-visited Genovesa (also called Tower) Island is home to an abundance of Red-footed boobies, Fur seals, Storm petrels and Short-eared Owls. Here, we look for tropicbirds at Prince William Steps before snorkelling, whilst at Darwin Bay, Galapagos mockingbirds also await. Itinerary B (Fernandina): Excellent birding on Santiago (James) Island at Puerto Egas followed by an afternoon snorkel and a walk amongst incredible volcanic scenery up little Bartolome Island - cones, lava tubes and Pinnacle Rock. Accommodation: Cachalote Explorer Meals included: Breakfast Lunch Dinner Day 14 Galapagos cruise ends; fly to Guayaquil; end Guayaquil. Itinerary A (Tower): We explore the mangroves of Turtle Cove at dawn watching marine turtles rising for air; rays and herons fishing from the trees. Itinerary B (Fernandina): An early morning walk on North Seymour amidst Palo Santo trees and Blue-footed booby colonies.Both itineraries: After a late breakfast we disembark for the journey back to Baltra to transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Guayaquil. For land only clients, the tour ends at Guayaquil airport. If booking an onwards flight from Guayaquil today please ensure that it does not depart before 6pm. Meals included: Breakfast Galapagos cruise ends; disembark the Cachalote and fly to Guayaquil; depart Guayaquil. Itinerary A (Tower): We explore the mangroves of Turtle Cove at dawn watching marine turtles rising for air; rays and herons fishing from the trees.Itinerary B (Fernandina): An early morning walk on North Seymour amidst Palo Santo trees and Blue-footed booby colonies.Both itineraries: After a late breakfast we disembark for the journey back to Baltra to transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Guayaquil. In Guayaquil you will need to collect your luggage and check it back in for your international flight to London. The group flights depart Guayaquil in the afternoon/evening. Meals included: Breakfast Arrive London. The group flights arrive into London this evening.
Napo Wildlife Centre Extension (XAG) Code: XAG Spend three nights in a luxurious eco-lodge overlooking Anangucocha Lake, and experience one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet - the Amazon Rainforest. The Napo Wildlife Centre is one of the best eco-lodges in the Ecuadorian Amazon basin. Located deep within Yasuni National Park, Napo Wildlife Centre is perched on a hillside in the heart of the forest. Its small number of rooms and large private reserve means that visitors have excellent chances of spotting some of the many mammals living in the forest. In this region over 500 species of bird have been recorded, as well as numerous monkey species, tamarins, tapirs, sloths, jaguars (rarely seen), caimans and lizards. View the detailed itinerary Please ask your sales consultant for more details. Price from: £1699 (compulsory supplement of £700 for single travellers)
Peru Visas are not required by UK citizens, Western European nationals, Americans, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and most other nationalities. If you are in any doubt please contact the nearest Peruvian Embassy.
Ecuador British passport holders do not need a visa for Ecuador. Very few other nationalities need a visa for Ecuador, but if you are in any doubt you should contact the nearest Ecuadorian Embassy.
Peru There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. If you are travelling to the Tambopata reserve in the Amazon rainforest, the risk of malaria is slight, but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. We also strongly recommend that you obtain a Yellow Fever vaccination. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in the Amazon region. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: always apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers while in the rainforest to avoid being bitten.
Ecuador There are no mandatory vaccination requirements, however, if you have travelled to a country at risk of Yellow Fever prior to arriving in Ecuador you will be required to have a valid Yellow Fever Certificate with you. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid and Hepatitis A. If you will spend any time in the Amazon Rainforest we recommend a Yellow Fever vaccination. Please note that your certificate of vaccination may be inspected on arrival to this region. Malaria is also a risk in some areas of the country (including the Amazon Rainforest) so we suggest you consult a doctor for more advice. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. PLEASE NOTE: All visitors to Ecuador will be required to show valid medical insurance on arrival and cannot enter the country without it.
Hotels & Motor Yacht 6 nights comfortable hotels, all en suite, 7 nights on board a motor yacht, the Cachalote Explorer, in en suite, air-conditioned cabins. Cachalote Explorer: A 16-passenger Motor-Yacht with 8 comfortable double/twin cabins, each with en suite facilities. All cabins are air-conditioned and have the following: shower with hot water, toilet, amenities and towels, porthole windows. Max speed 8 knots, size 88ft. Renovated in 2018. The hotels normally used are indicated within the itinerary, however, accommodation may differ from those stated depending on your departure date. In Cuzco, Aguas Calientes and Quito, we generally stay in small, locally-owned hotels in central locations close to restaurants and shops. Please note that central heating is very rare in Peru, even in good standard hotels. Most hotels provide plug-in heaters and spare blankets. A railway line runs straight through the centre of Aguas Calientes and whilst we try to allocate rooms away from it whenever possible, the trains might be heard from some rooms. Single rooms can be arranged for a supplement for the six hotel nights in Peru, subject to availability – please enquire at the time of booking. Unfortunately, we cannot offer single cabins on board the boat in the Galapagos, and you will be paired up with another traveller of the same sex for the 7 nights on board.
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Reviewed September 2019 Gillian Z Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Truly amazing holiday! Wow - what an amazing holiday. Truly a holiday of a lifetime! Incredible to see the scale and beauty of Machu Picchu. We walked to the Sun Gate and hiked down instead of taking the bus which was not quite the 1 day trek but was a great way down. It only took 45 minutes or so too. Our group in Peru & Ecuador was small with only 5 of us plus one guide. Age range was between 49 and 78. You do need to be reasonably fit for this as there is some walking and climbing involved. We were then joined with some others in the Galapagos. We all gelled really well and we had a great time. The Cachalote was brilliant. It was a 16 berths boat. The cabins had a double bed and a toilet and shower room. Not huge but sufficient for our needs. There is a large dining/sitting area where we were served amazing food. Breakfast was good - both warm and cold things including yoghurt, fruit, cereals, eggs etc. Lunchtime and dinner was 2 or 3 course meal - again good variety and very tasty. Lovely crew too who will go out of their way to please. The Galapagos Islands were truly amazing. What a honour to see animals in abundance! Snorkelling with the different types of fish, sea turtles, seals, penguins and marine iguanas. Saw a white tipped shark too! On land was also very interesting. Vast amounts of Galapagos birds including pelicans, cormorants and blue-footed boobies. Overall, a superb holiday. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Can't say there is just one - both Machu Picchu and the Galapagos wildlife are awesome. What did you think of your group leader? Smithy in Peru and Juan in the Galapagos were brilliant. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? We went in September when the water was a bit cold - we wore wetsuits but If you suffer from cold fingers/toes, take some wetsuit-type gloves or socks (if there are such things). Is there anything else you would like to add? Hotel in Cuzco could have been slightly more luxurious.
Reviewed May 2019 Gabi S Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Lifelong ambition realised The whole holiday exceeded our expectations. Our guides were exceptional and our group gelled immediately. The number of flights and time spent in airports was tiring but didn't detract from the overall wonderful experience. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Really can't decide. It was all amazing! That iconic view of Machu Picchu; the scenery; the wildlife in the Galapagos. What did you think of your group leader? Adolfo Salazar in Peru and Berny Jacome on the Cachalote Explorer were THE BEST! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Read all the trip notes; they are excellent. Take good waterproof jacket for Peru/Machu Picchu and a pac-a-mac type for Galapagos. You may well not need it in Galapagos and you won't want to carry anything bulky. The ATMs in Galapagos were few and far between and only gave out relatively small amounts. Try to make sure you have enough currency to cover everything before you get to Galapagos as the credit card machine on the ship may not work! Is there anything else you would like to add? We would go back in a heartbeat. If time and money had been no object, we would have done the two itineraries in the Galapagos, back to back.
Reviewed May 2019 Sophia Spurgin Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Fabulous Holiday I had a fabulous holiday to two inspiring places - Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Although the journeys were long and tiring everything worked like Clockwork. We were lucky to have like-minded fellow travellers who we got to know really well by the end of the holiday. The Galapagos was particularly good and the boat ad it's crew were excellent. We were well looked after with hikes, snorkelling and excellent food. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I particularly enjoyed our trip through the Mangrove with turtles and penguins and taking photos at every opportunity. What did you think of your group leader? We had two group leaders who were exellent : Adolfo Salazaq who looked after us in Peru. He was always cheerful and through his contacts, always got us where we needed to be. He joined us to meals and answered our questions well. We liked him very much. Berny Jacome in Galapagos was superb. He was extremely knowledgeable and very pleasant and confident in his job. His skills as a guide were impressive in someone so young. I would highly recommend you use him wherever possible. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Go!
Reviewed June 2016 Michael Streatfeild Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands This truly was a holiday of a lifetime and we would have no hesitation in recommending anybody from 20's to resonably fit 70's to go on this holiday with Exodus. The age range of our group was 30 to 71 and we gelled together very well, p[robably partly because of the quality and variation of the tour, with many group activities but time for space if you needed it. Machu Picchu is amazing but then gets trumped by the Galapagos and being on the Cachalote, a schooner with only 16 births, was a huge bonus. Lovely crew, great boat and we went places that others sometimes didn't so had bays, snorkelling and some walks all to ourselves. The organisation was excellent, hotels comfortable with a good breakfast and the experience unforgetable. It was our first time with Exodus but hopefully not the last. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Impossible to say, there are too many, but our first glimpse of Machu Picchu, indescribable in its beauty, size and location surrounded by stunning mountains and deep valleys would be one. Isla Genovesa, with its frigate birds, boobies, short-eared owls and huge density of birds and other wildlife would be another, together with. swimming in various locations with turtles, sea lions and stunning fish. including three hammerhead sharks (optional!). Mention must also be made of the waved albatross on Espanola courting, sitting on nests or flying along the cliffs, amazing.. What did you think of your group leader? We had three, in Peru, Quito and the Galapagos. All did an excellent job. Wilmer was warm, welcoming, enthusiatic and helpful as well as patient. Gloria in Quito again welcomed us warmly, was very knowledgable on the excellent tour and terrific in helping when one of our party injured themselves. Similarly David in the Galapagos gave us a terrific tour. He is both very knowledgable and passionate about the islands and their unique wildlife. He ran efficiently to time without ever rushing us and worked well with the captain and crew of the Cahalote. When snorkelling, with the help of the Panga drivers, he guided us well and ensured our safety. Because we were with David for a week on the boat he wins the prize but we cannot find fault in any of our guides. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don't be surpised by the altitude in Cusco. Just take things slowly. If you don't do the one day Inca trail walk and the weather is O.K., go up to Macchu Picchu that afternoon. Expensive but well worth it. It is quieter in the afternoon and it then gives you two sessions to enjoy this astonishing place at your own pace. The morning tour is excellent but only covers a small area. If you snorkel in a swimming costume (i.e. not wet suit) be sure to wear a tee shirt - I didn't the first day, big mistake! Mastercard works at ATM's almost always, debit and visa cards often don't, especially in the Galapagos. Preferably make sure you have plenty of dlooars for tips, drinks and small souvenirs, cards etc. before you leave Quito or even better, Peru. Is there anything else you would like to add? If you can, go. This tour is all you could hope for and more and the advantage of being a small group, even on the boat, massive.
Reviewed June 2016 Julie Jackson Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Peru & Galapagos, with Amazon extension A fantastic trip and one I would seriously recommend to anyone wishing to combine Inca sites with wildlife and a completely different culture to the UK What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Viewing Machu Pichu from the Sun Gate. Swimming with turtles off Floriana. Getting so close to the wildlife on Genovesa. The peace and serenity of a canoe ride at Napo, with only the tropical noises to listen to. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Pack light! Reasonable toiletries provided in all hotels. There is very limited space in the Cachalote cabins (even less so for two single people sharing) so a small squashy bag is much better than a suitcase, Eco-friendly soap and shampoo are provided on board as are towels for use on the beach as well as on board. Take two items of footwear only for Galapagos - a pair of hiking boots for walks on the islands and a pair of sandals for beach or wet landings as we went either barefoot or wore socks on board. Take strong insect repellant for Napo if you are prone to bites (not really needed in the Galapagos though Espanola Island has a lot of very annoying flies which take no notice of any repellants!). Take Magicool and a loose hat if you are going to Napo - we had no rain during the day but it was very humid and hot. Wellingtons are provided by the lodge and they like you to wear these on all land trips, not your own hiking boots (which we took but didn't use so wasted space in the bag!). A pair of light sandals or trainers are ideal for wearing around the lodge or any of the trips where you stay in the canoe. Is there anything else you would like to add? All in all a superb experience and I would thoroughly recommend.
Reviewed June 2016 Michael Streatfeild Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Machu Picchu & Galapagos It is hard to believe that we could have found a better way of visiting Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands than with Exodus. Our group of 15 ranged in age from 30 to 71 and would highly recommend this holday to anyone in that age range or a bit beyond. This truly is a holiday of a lifetime with everyday providing some new experience and excitement whilst still having time to relax in different situations. The organisation was good, the hotels comfortable and friendly with good breakfasts and the boat, the Cachalote, with only 16 berths plus a great 6 man crew and our guide, the perfect way in which to visit the Galapagos Islands. I cannot recommend this holiday highly enough. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? So many, almost impossible to say. One would have to be the very fist site of Machu Picchu, quite extraordinary, awe inspiring and no photo can do it justice. Despite this Galapagos was the highlight and the most inspirational moments probably the number and proximity of the birds on Genevosa, the Waved Albatrosses on Espanola and snorkelling with giant turtles, sea lions and the stunning fish.
Reviewed June 2016 Kay Kelly Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos A big tick off the bucket list! We researched options for visiting Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands on the same trip and found that the Exodus trip offered a great combination, allowing plenty of time in both locations and with good itineries. We appreciated the small size of the party (15) and the knowledgable and helpful local guides. The Vieja Cuba Hotel in Quito was quirky and lovely, with friendly staff, but I wouldn't have chosen the hotels in Cusco or Agua Calientes - they were a little too 'budget'. The crew of the Cachalote were fantastic, anticipating every need and providing a faultless service. The tiny cabin space was something of a challenge, with only a couple of small shelves for storage and the bunks are definitely not for the claustrophobic, but that's the price you pay for the privilege of sailing in a small boat. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The day trek along the Inca Trail from Km 104 to Machu Picchu was challenging but absolutely wonderful. Arriving at the Sun Gate and looking down on Machu Picchu as the crowds were leaving at the end of the day was one of the highlights in an altogether fantastic holiday. What did you think of your group leader? Wilmer in Peru, Gloria in Ecuador and David in the Galapagos Islands were all knowledgable, professional and helpful. Both Gloria and David went out of their way to look after an injured member of our party, and David in particular went to a lot of trouble to ensure she was able to enjoy as many of the excursions as possible. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This is a purely personal observation, but not being able to flush toilet paper on the boat, and having to put it into a bin with no lid was enough to stop up my metabolism for the week! The bin was only emptied once a day as well! The provision of bio-degradable nappy sacks for used toilet paper would have been more hygenic. Is there anything else you would like to add? One of our party really struggled with the ascent on our Inca trail trek, slowing down the group to the extent that we only just made the time at Winay Wayna. Highlighting the difficulty of the walk when people book would give people chance to prepare or opt out.
Reviewed May 2016 Linda Stead Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Machu Picchu/Galapagos trip 20th APR 2016 We would rate this holiday with Exodus at or close to the top of all the holidays we have ever had. It ticks all of the right boxes for quality, knowledgeable guides, smooth transfers throughout, scenery, wildlife, culinary delights throughout the day (Galapagos Yacht), and with a small sociable peer group. All in all, I would recommend this particular holiday to anyone with a sense of adventure and a keen eye for the good things in life. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There were two inspirational moments. The first was the moment on the Inca Trail when we walked through the Sun Gate and a truly splendid, totally unexpected, panoramic view of Machu Picchu came into sight for the first time. The second was watching a newly hatched turtle make its precarious way towards the sea in daylight with a Magnificent Frigate bird only a hundred metres away. Our group broke into spontaneous applause as it entered the sea while the bird missed out on an easy meal. What did you think of your group leader? The Peruvian group leader was friendly, always available to impart his extensive knowledge of Inca culture and architecture, and was keen and unhurried in accompanying just three of us on the day walk up to the inca trail and the Sun Gate. The Galapagos group leader/naturalist was extremely enthusiastic and his knowledge of the wildlife and the geology of the islands was highly impressive. All day and every day he filled our time with walks and snorkeling to see every aspect of life on the islands and surrounding coastlines and at the end of the holiday copied all of his own videos and photos to each of the Group's memory sticks. This Group Leader was superb. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? 1. Take a spare memory stick for the Galapagos if there is any chance that your group leader is as good as the one we had. 2. Only pack essential things into one bag for the yacht around the Galapagos. Leave the rest on mainland Ecuador. 3. If you are reasonably fit then you must do the optional day walk up to the Inca trail and the Sun Gate for maximum impact on seeing Machu Picchu for the first time. Is there anything else you would like to add? The only nit pick we had was to do with the flight itineraries from the Galapagos back to the UK. Exodus needs to come up with a better flight plan of Galapagos-Guayaquil-night in Quito-Guayaquil-Madrid-UK. That mid section adds more than a day to the time taken to get back to the UK and for no extra gain to the value of the holiday.
Reviewed December 2015 Sally Godsell Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Machu Picchu and Galapagos This was undoubtedly a trip of a lifetime. Every day was action packed and what we saw and experienced exceeded our expectations. We were fortunate to have a small group so our tours felt very personal and unique. Our guides were very gracious, well educated and enthusiastic . We came away from each tour feeling inspired and well informed. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Galapogos trip was outstanding. I was impressed with how well coordinated the visitor tours were. We rarely saw other groups and the impact upon the wildlife seemed minimal. What did you think of your group leader? We had two group leaders. Cesar in Peru and William Lucinu in Galapogos. They were both outstanding . Their knowledge was amazing and they were very enthusiastic. Gloria in Quito was also terrific. I would highly recommend all of them. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I would encourage the use of hiking poles with covered tips. We hiked over challenging terrain at times. On the trip to Sierra Negra volcano in Galapogos the path was very muddy , steep and slippery. It was raining. One of the women in our group slipped and fell and broke her arm. She had to be evacuated to Santa Cruz and could not continue on our trip. It was devastating for her and was a very preventable injury. Is there anything else you would like to add? This is a trip worth saving up for. Exodus provided excellent service choosing charming hotels, seamless transfers to and from airports, outstanding guides and the best boat for seeing the Galapogos Islands. I am looking forward to the next trip with Exodus. We are Canadians. I found out about this company through my sister who lives in the UK. She went to Sri Lanka and Thiland with Exodus and really enjoyed both these trips.
Reviewed December 2015 Paul Latimer Trip: Machu Picchu & Galapagos Galapagos and Machu Picchu Our trip was fantastic. It exceeded our expectations. All connections and reservations went flawlessly. All guides were punctual, well informed and very helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It is really difficult to pick one moment. We enjoyed our group and our activities. What did you think of your group leader? We had two group leaders, one for Machu Picchu (Cesar) and one for Galapagos (William Lucin). Both were excellent. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? We had one unfortunate incident on Galapagos in which one of our group fell on a muddy trail and broke her arm. She had to be evacuated and missed most of the Galapagos trip. This might have been prevented if she had had hiking poles with her. In retrospect it might have been better to have cancelled that hike since the conditions were very poor. Is there anything else you would like to add? We will use Exodus again.
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