Galápagos & Machu Picchu: Andes Twin-Centre Holiday

Fly from London Gatwick to Quito with Air Europa via Madrid. On arrival at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, your private driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Settle in and rest, surrounded by the dramatic Andean landscape that defines Ecuador's capital. Quito's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Latin America's best-preserved colonial quarters, ready to explore the next morning if you arrive with time to spare.

After breakfast, fly from Quito to Baltra in the Galápagos. Your naturalist guide meets you on arrival and you transfer across to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, stopping in the highlands to observe giant land tortoises in their natural habitat. After lunch and hotel check-in, walk the cactus-lined trail to Tortuga Bay, Playa Brava and Playa Mansa, where marine iguanas, pelicans and seabirds are regular companions, with time to swim and relax.

Meet at the dock for a full-day yacht excursion to one of the archipelago's uninhabited islands (subject to availability, typically North Seymour, Bartolomé, Plazas or Santa Fe). Hike, snorkel among sea lions and reef fish, and spot frigate birds, boobies and the Galápagos' unique marine life. Lunch is served on board. Transfer back to your hotel in Puerto Ayora in the late afternoon.

A flexible day in Santa Cruz. Explore Puerto Ayora's waterfront and local cafés, or return to Tortuga Bay for another peaceful beach walk. We recommend a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the long-running conservation programmes protecting the islands' endemic species. In the evening, gather for a farewell dinner with your guide, a warm moment to close out the Galápagos chapter.

Transfer to Baltra Airport for your flight to Guayaquil, connecting onward to Lima. On arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport, your private driver will transfer you to your hotel in Miraflores or San Isidro, Lima's coastal neighbourhoods. Settle in and, if time allows, take a gentle walk along the Malecón for Pacific views, or enjoy your first Peruvian dinner at a local cevichería.

Breakfast at the hotel, then join your guide for a cultural tour of Lima's UNESCO-listed historic centre. Visit the Cathedral of Lima and the San Francisco Convent with its famous catacombs, and take in the grandeur of the Plaza Mayor. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. On arrival, your driver will transfer you to your hotel. Rest and hydrate as you adjust to Cusco's 3,400m altitude.

Explore Cusco's remarkable blend of Inca and colonial heritage. Visit the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas and Koricancha, the revered Temple of the Sun whose stonework still anchors the city. Continue to the surrounding archaeological sites: Kenko, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay and the spectacular fortress of Sacsayhuamán, whose megalithic walls remain an engineering marvel.

Descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Begin at Pisac, a charming Andean town known for its vibrant indigenous market, alpaca textiles, silverwork and handcrafted goods offered by artisans from surrounding communities. Continue to Ollantaytambo, a living Inca town whose terraces, temples and original urban plan remain intact. Lunch is included. Overnight in Cusco or the Sacred Valley depending on your Machu Picchu schedule the following day.

Board the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, enjoying panoramic views as the landscape shifts into cloud forest. From the town, a short bus ride winds up to the citadel itself. Guided tour of Machu Picchu's temples, terraces and plazas, understanding its significance to Inca Pachacútec and the mountain landscape that surrounds it. Return by train and road to Cusco for the night.

After breakfast, transfer to Cusco airport for your domestic flight to Lima, then connect to your Air Europa flight back to London Gatwick via Madrid. Arrive home the following day, carrying unforgettable impressions of two of South America's greatest landscapes.