15 Night Cruise and Land Tour of the Galapagos Islands & Peru onboard National Geographic Endeavour II.

Embark on a sweeping adventure that encapsulates all the wildness of Galápagos balanced with cultural and historic experiences of Machu Picchu & the Land of the Inca. You’ll explore Galápagos in depth aboard the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II, our newest, fully equipped expedition ship with tools for exploration. And you’ll journey to contemporary Lima, and historic Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Plus, overnight at Machu Picchu and watch the sunrise over this fabled city.

DAY 1: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Upon arrival in Guayaquil, make your way to the Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil (or the Hotel Hilton Colón until July 2020). Ask your Expedition Specialist about extra nights.

DAY 2: Guayaquil / Galápagos / Embark Ship
After the 1 1⁄2-hour flight to the Galápagos, we’ll immediately board the ship. Over the course of the week, our exact routing depends on the National Park Service. (B, L, D)

DAY 3-8: Exploring the Galápagos Islands
While our exact routing depends on the National Park Service, we may visit the following islands: - Bartolomé - Santiago - Santa Cruz - Isabela - Fernandina - Floreana - Española (B, L, D)

DAY 9: Galápagos/Guayaquil/Lima, Peru
Depart Galápagos this morning and fly to Lima, Peru. Overnight at the conveniently located Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 10: Lima/Cusco/Sacred Valley of the Inca
This morning, fly to Cusco then drive to Moray, a visually stunning Inca site believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where Incan priests would test soils and crops. Dine on Peruvian cuisine for lunch at Parador Moray, overlooking the ruins. En route to the hotel, walk through a colorful, typical local market before an optional visit to the pottery studio Pablo Seminario, featuring ceramics made with ancient Peruvian techniques and designs. Check into Sol y Luna Hotel, a Relaix & Chateau property. (B,L,D)

DAY 11: Sacred Valley of the Inca
After breakfast, learn about Peru’s history from National Geographic expert Peter Frost. Visit the massive Inca stone fortress of Ollantaytambo. Visit Casa Orihuela for lunch—a working, family-owned hacienda, then see the family’s private museum filled with colonial artwork and enjoy a demonstration of Peruvian Paso horses accompanied by Marinera dancers and live music. Watch a traditional weaving demonstration by National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa. After dinner at the hotel, watch a folkloric dance performance. (B,L,D)

DAY 12: Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu
Enjoy the views from the valley to Machu Picchu via train with large picture windows. Spend the day exploring Machu Picchu’s different structures with your guide—ceremonial religious, astronomical, and agricultural. Overnight at the historic 31-room Belmond Sanctuary Lodge (formerly the Orient-Express Sanctuary Lodge) with views of the Andes. (B,L,D)

DAY 13: Machu Picchu/Cusco
Hike to the Sun Gate this morning, the ancient final checkpoint to Machu Picchu, and watch daybreak over the sacred ruins. The morning is free to explore Machu Picchu on your own or with your guide. After a train and bus ride, visit Awanacancha, where llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas are bred. En route to Cusco, we’ll stop at Plaza San Cristobal for photos, offering sweeping views of the colonial part of Cusco. Check into the Belmond Monasterio Hotel for two nights (formerly the Orient-Express Monasterio Hotel). (B,L,D)

DAY 14: Cusco
Explore the Inca Empire’s capital city of Cusco and visit the magnificent 17th-century cathedral and convent of Koricancha, and the vast Sacsayhuaman fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore Cusco at your leisure this afternoon. Relax, shop, or visit one of the many churches and museums. Dinner is on your own tonight. (B,L)

DAY 15: Cusco/Lima
Return to Lima and visit the Larco Herrera Museum and stroll the Plaza Mayor. Lunch is in traditional Latin American style. Experience the music of the Andes at a presentation of indigenous instruments. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at the Belmond (formerly Orient-Express) Miraflores Park Hotel. (B,L)

DAY 16: Lima
This morning fly home – or anywhere else you might have decided to go. (B)

Purpose built in 2005 for expedition cruising in the waters of Tierra del Fuego, the National Geographic Endeavour II underwent a major refit for Galápagos service in 2016 with an all new forward lounge, library, gym & spa along with new fixtures and furniture in cabins, new suites and other amenities throughout. Sophisticated and energy efficient lighting, air-conditioning, water-making and other technical features were also installed or replaced for year-round operation in equatorial waters. The ship, which previously carried 136 passengers, accommodates 96 guests in 52 thoughtfully appointed cabins. She is exceptionally nimble and maneuverable, with a shallow draft to get up close, great viewing from all public spaces, an expansive open-air observation deck, large windows in cabins and suites, and state-of-the-art tools for exploration.

Galápagos with the luxury of choice
Accommodating 96 guests in 52 cabins and suites, National Geographic Endeavour II caters to a sociable mix of families, friends, couples and solo travelers. The Galápagos cruise ship offers the choice of suites on two decks, double cabins with beds that can be configured as two twins or a queen, seven sets of connecting cabins for families and friends, triple cabins, and dedicated solo cabins, which are equal in size and amenities to the doubles. All have a large window or windows.

Her dining room easily accommodates our entire expedition community for a single seating, and unassigned table settings make for a gregarious experience for solo travelers and groups. The brand new forward lounge features a redesigned presentation space that offers all aboard chance to participate in evening Recaps or special guest events. Life aboard is casual in every respect. There is no need for formal clothing, although you are welcome to bring casually festive attire for the fun of it. And you’ll find shipboard services like laundry make packing and traveling more convenient.

Equipped for active exploration
Endeavour II is equipped with cool tools for exploration (snorkelling gear, wetsuits, zodiacs, kayaks, glass-bottomed zodiac, under-water camera & video microscope) that help you experience the full range of wildness on a Galápagos island trip.

For over 50 years, Lindblad Expeditions has been turning vacationers into informed and engaged explorers. Together with National Geographic we offer intimate small-ship expedition cruises that, unlike traditional cruises, are your opportunity to encounter the world’s most pristine and inspiring places up close with the seasoned experts who know them best.

Our expedition cruises provide the safest and most innovative ways to explore places already “discovered” and those that are still very, very wild. Whether you choose to go on a Galapagos cruise, an Alaska cruise, a cruise to Egypt, or any of our other cruise destinations, each expedition cruise features an unmatched combination of adventure travel technology as well as well-appointed cabins, regional and sustainable cuisine and friendly, personal service.

We believe the more closely our guests are able to connect with a destination, the more valuable an affect it will have on their lives and on the more they will come to care about and protect it for future exploration.