From the Inca Empire to the Peruvian Amazon with the Nazca Lines & Galápagos Cruise

Conquistadors, Churches, and the Colorful Culture of Peru

CLASSIC Take a Guided Walking Tour of Cusco and learn about the Inca culture and the Spanish invasion that threatened their way of life and very existence. Visit Santo Domingo Monastery, originally called Koricancha and built by the Incas as a Temple of the Sun with extraordinary engineering and masonry design. Continue to the Plaza de Armas to visit the Cusco Cathedral.

Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore Cusco’s colorful culture.

DISCOVERY Tonight, an elegant dinner includes wine and a menu inspired by Peru’s eclectic mix of cultures.

Your Amazon Adventure Begins

CLASSIC Today, you’ll travel by air to Lima and then on to Iquitos to begin your Amazon journey.

Travel to Nauta and embark the luxurious vessel, the Delfin III, to cruise the Peruvian Amazon in comfort and convenience. Settle into your spacious suite before meeting your onboard Naturalist and Cruise Director.

DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Welcome Reception to gain an overview of your upcoming Amazon experience. Your Naturalist Guide will offer information about the animal species of the Amazon ecosystem, the native villagers you’ll meet, and the spectacular plant life that thrives in this astonishing environment. See the two powerful Amazon tributaries—the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers—which converge to create the mighty Peruvian Amazon.

Later, on board, enjoy an unforgettable dinner featuring Peruvian cuisine with the freshest local ingredients.

Spider Monkeys, Pink Dolphins, and Peru’s Favorite Cocktail

CLASSIC Rise early this morning for your first glimpse of the majestic Amazon at sunrise to experience the sights and sounds. After breakfast, take a Guided Panga Ride down one of the Amazon’s tributaries in search of the incredible wildlife. Your Naturalist Guide helps to spot capuchin, howler, tamarin, and spider monkeys, as well as iguanas, sloths, freshwater pink dolphins, and a stunning array of birdlife. Watch for the extraordinary giant Amazonian water lily.

CLASSIC This afternoon, a Guided Excursion to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve allows you to witness the activity of exotic birds, including trogons, macaws, parrots, falcons, and jacamars.

ACTIVE Take a refreshing Swim in this unique area of the Amazon—with the chance to encounter the Amazon’s amazing pink dolphins.

DISCOVERY Join in an onboard Cooking Class to learn about native fruits, vegetables, and fish. You’ll learn about local ingredients for delicious recipes. In the evening, enjoy a Mixology Lesson to create Peru’s famous cocktail, the Pisco Sour.

Exotic Birds, Night Creatures, and Natural Remedies

ACTIVE Join a morning Naturalist Guided Walk to explore tropical flora, including epiphytes, orchids, and indigenous jungle vegetation below the rainforest’s canopy.

DISCOVERY Attend an onboard Nature Presentation about indigenous and medicinal plants, fruits, and vegetation used in the Amazonian culture for centuries.

CLASSIC This afternoon, a Guided Excursion to the Amazon community of San Francisco introduces you to local villagers who have called Amazonia their home for generations.

ACTIVE Join a Night Safari Excursion to spot nocturnal creatures, including caiman, frogs, bats, and boa constrictors.

DISCOVERY Later tonight, enjoy Live Entertainment by the Delfin III crew of local performers to celebrate your Amazon adventure with music and dance.

Iquitos, Peru, the largest city in the Amazon rainforest, is a vibrant gateway to lush jungles and winding rivers. Accessible only by boat or air, it offers unique Amazonian experiences, from wildlife tours to river cruises. The city’s bustling markets, such as Belén Market, showcase exotic produce and local crafts. Iquitos blends colonial architecture with colorful street life, reflecting its rich history and culture. Surrounded by dense rainforest, it is a hub for eco-tourism and adventure, making Iquitos a captivating destination for explorers.

Adios, Lima!Fly from Lima to Quito. Take free time today to relax and prepare for your upcoming Galápagos adventure, or walk through the historic city to sample ceviche or helado (Latin-American ice cream). Dine out tonight or ask about the best clubs for music and dancing.

A Gold Altar, Artistic Avenues, and Two Hemispheres in One Day

DISCOVERY Travel through the Tandayapa Valley to the Andean Chocó cloud forest and nature reserve. The Alambi Reserve, renowned for bird watching, is home to more than 250 species of birds, including 30 different hummingbirds. While here, visit the hummingbird garden to observe these characteristic birds in their natural habitat.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Quito that showcases the colonial city’s historic sites, including the impressive Legislative Palace with its enormous, sculpted mural of Ecuadorean history. You’ll also see Independence Plaza and visit the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery, and La Compañía Church—the exquisite Jesuit cathedral with its spectacular Spanish baroque architecture—more than 160 years in the making.

DISCOVERY Take a Guided Walk down Calle La Ronda—one of Quito’s oldest streets—with a wealth of artist’s workshops and galleries where you’ll meet local artists and learn about their original works. Later, visit a local chocolate factory for a tour and a tasting to discover why Ecuador is one of the world’s finest chocolate producers.

CLASSIC Your day in Quito ends with a Guided Excursion to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo—a monument to the Equator—the “middle of the world.” Stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at the same time at the exact location of the Earth’s Equator. Observe the equatorial effects of the dual-spiraling directions of water and balancing eggs on end.

This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a famed local restaurant with delicious regional cuisine.

The Theory of Evolution—and Giant BabiesThis morning, take a flight to the Galápagos Island of Baltra where you’ll embark on your five-day cruise aboard the luxurious MS Infinity yacht.

DISCOVERY Join your naturalist on a Guided Excursion on Santa Cruz Island to visit the El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve, a unique natural reserve where you can observe the giant turtles and dozens of bird species.

Later, join an onboard briefing of the next day’s adventures followed by dinner.NOTE: The ship is expedition-style designed for open water cruising, however, the itinerary is subject to changes based on open-water conditions, weather, seasonal currents and Galápagos National Park policies and regulations.

Marine Life, and Lunar Landscapes

ACTIVE This morning, visit one of the newest visitor sites accessible to tourists in the Galápagos Islands, Dragon Hill. Walk along the beach and trails to a lagoon where bright flamingos, pintail ducks, and land iguanas can be spotted. This afternoon, travel to the north shore of Santa Cruz for Bachas Beach.

DISCOVERY Explore Bachas Beach, named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand. This site offers great swimming, a lovely walk along the shore, and a visit to a lagoon with wading birds, marine iguanas, and sometimes flamingos. The area is also a frequent nesting site for sea turtles.

Pink Flamingos, Gliding Rays, and a Message in a Barrel

CLASSIC Visit Floreana Island, home to the first “post office” in the islands. Visit the spot where 18th century whalers placed a wooden barrel used as an unofficial mailbox. The custom continues to this day with Galápagos visitors, so, don’t forget your postcards, and don’t be surprised if the post card arrives to its destination before you even get home!

ACTIVE Enjoy free time at the sandy beach of Post Office Bay for swimming and snorkeling. See Green Sea Turtles, reef fish, and rays gliding in the shallow shoreline waters.

DISCOVERY Take a Guided Walk on Green Beach, so called due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Flour Sand Beach is composed of white coral. See flamingos, flycatchers, finches, and more!

Diverse Life In and Out of the Water

ACTIVE This morning, your Naturalist Guide takes you to the sheer cliffs of Punta Suárez to witness the spectacular spray from an ocean blowhole. Watch for the blue-footed and Nazca boobies, and other remarkable bird species, including the waved albatross. The island is the breeding site of nearly all of the world’s waved albatrosses! Be on the lookout for the male Christmas iguana that turns red and green during mating season.

CLASSIC Take a Guided Excursion with your expert Naturalist to explore the southeastern part of the archipelago. Visit the glistening white coral beaches of Gardner Bay to see Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, seabirds, and hawks. Watch for three species of Darwin finches—a hallmark of his research.

DISCOVERY Enjoy a prime snorkeling and swimming spot in Gardner Bay’s pristine waters. Spot a kaleidoscope of multi-colored reef fish, reef sharks, playful sea lions, and the amazing Green Sea Turtles.

The Geological Genesis of a Magical Archipelago

DISCOVERY This morning, cruise to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for a Naturalist Guided Tour of the San Cristobal Interpretation Center. You’ll learn about the Galápagos’ fascinating volcanic origins, remote location, climate, and the arrival of diverse species that inspire both imagination and science.

This afternoon, you’ll say farewell to the magical islands of Galápagos and fly to Quito. This evening, spend free time relaxing or enjoy one of Quito’s many fine restaurants.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.