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Through the Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu
In 1911 American explorer Hiram Bingham discovered the stone terraces of Machu Picchu on an expedition sponsored by Yale University and the National Geographic Society. Follow in his footsteps. Explore this archaeological wonder for yourself. See daybreak from the Sun Gate. Descend into the city to walk through the ruins. And discover so much more in the land of the Inca: Ollantaytambo, the vast Sacsayhuamán Fortress, and Cusco, the oldest inhabited city in the Americas, with a rich heritage of Pre-Inca, Inca, colonial, and Republican cultures.
Soak in the scenery and culture of the Sacred Valley of the Inca
Journey between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu by Inca Rail
Remain into the late afternoon at fabled Machu Picchu, introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine
Spend a full day exploring the fabled Machu Picchu archaeological site with hand-picked guides
Discover the cobbled lanes and monuments of Cusco, imperial capital of the Inca
Journey to Iquitos and the Amazon for a five-day voyage aboard the 28-guest Delfin II riverboat, venturing out daily in nimble skiffs and kayaks to explore tributaries brimming with wildlife
Embark on a sweeping adventure that encapsulates all the wildness of Galápagos balanced with the cultural and historic experiences of Machu Picchu & Peru's Land of the Inca. Explore Galápagos in depth aboard the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II, then discover the culture and history of Peru and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu.
Cusco: Ancient City, Living Culture
Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire, thrives today, firmly rooted in the architectural and cultural vestiges of it proud and storied past.
Yale professor Hiram Bingham set the world on fire with his report of Machu Picchu’s discovery in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic, which was completely dedicated to this stunning find.
Venture to the Sun Gate, the final checkpoint on the way to the archeological wonder, and watch daybreak before descending into the mountaintop city—a peak travel experience. It is the culmination of a perfectly paced week. You’ll explore an extraordinary melting pot of Peruvian history and culture, firmly rooted in Amerindian and Spanish traditions, with influences from Africa, Asia, and Europe as well. See the architectural achievements of the Incan empire. And the decorative arts: pottery, textiles, jewelry, and sculpture that reveal the sophistication of their artisans. Discover firsthand how the past echoes through contemporary life. Expert guides are personable, engaging travel companions. They introduce you to the art, music, and cuisine of this remarkable country. And each night your active days end at a succession of gracious and elegant hotels.
See, do, and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Your expedition leader is the orchestrator of your experience. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Our local guides have deep knowledge of the places we explore. They’ll share the stories and theories and put the lives of the people and places we explore into context. Their colorful personalities and passion for history, from the minutiae to the big picture, make them engaging travel tour guides and companions.
Today our guests explored the westernmost realm of the Galapagos. During the morning everyone went ashore and snorkeled at Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island. The highlights of the morning outing were the countless Galapagos marine iguanas that were basking at the shoreline. Also spotted while snorkeling were Pacific green sea turtles and different species of fish along the rocky reefs. In the afternoon our guests experienced Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island. This site offers an impressive view of a collapsed volcano. The rocky cliffs provide shelter for Galapagos fur seals and are a good perch for seabirds, like Nazca boobies, brown noddy terns, flightless cormorants, and Galapagos penguins.
Today we woke up early in the morning at Chinese Hat, a little satellite island outside of the island of James. It’s a very colorful location with little islets around and a big lava field. We started with kayaking and paddleboarding excursions along this young eruption, with its black wall where many birds like to rest. It’s a very popular location for blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and the elusive Galapagos penguins. We followed this up with a wonderful outing to snorkel. We found sharks, sea lions, penguins, and multiple species of tropical fish. After another opportunity to snorkel and swim, we took a walk in this amazing young lava field, which for me is one of the best and unique volcanic eruptions. It’s such a fantastic place where, 126 years later, there are just two species of plants left. We sailed at night to Fernandina Island, hopefully to see the volcanic eruptions.
We started our shore excursion 15 minutes after sunrise to be back on board before the day becomes hot. The landing spot at South Plaza Island was beautiful. On the left-hand side, a perfect little pool for young Galapagos sea lions and on the right side, an enormous beach master told us to stay away from his territory. Just a few yards inland, the yellow land iguanas were getting active after their night slumber. The island looked emerald green after 4 years of relentless drought. The swallow-tailed gulls screeched with fear when a magnificent frigate bird attacked one of them, trying to make it spit out its last meal. A quick visit to the bachelor´s colony of male sea lions and we marched back to the boat. We were ready for a delicious breakfast. Right after the meal, it was time to go for a quick dip from the back of the boat. After motoring for a couple of hours, it was snorkeling time at Santa Fe Bay. The tropical fish were abundant. Zebra moray eels, cornet fish, yellow-tailed razor fish, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, and a long etcetera were there to our delight. The main attractions were the ever-friendly sea lions and a small group of green sea turtles at the end of the swim. Finally, we had the opportunity to go for a walk on Santa Fe Island where we found the elusive endemic land iguana and, because we can never get enough, more sea lions.
Today our guests explored the westernmost realm of the Galapagos. During the morning all of the guest disembarked and snorkeled at Punta Espinosa, Fernandina Island. The highlights of the morning were the countless Galapagos marine iguanas that were basking at the shoreline as our guests explored the island. We also went snorkeling this morning and observed Galapagos marine iguanas and Pacific green sea turtles feeding on seaweed along the rocks. In the afternoon guests explored Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island. This site offered an impressive view of a collapsed volcano. The rocky cliffs provide shelter for Galapagos fur seals and are a good perch for seabirds like Nazca boobies, brown noddy terns, flightless cormorants, and Galapagos penguins.
Aboard National Geographic Islander II , anchored near the distinct Sombrero Chino Island in the Galapagos, the day began with an exhilarating pre-breakfast kayaking. Guests glided over the glistening waters, captivated by the island’s unique outline against the dawn sky. Following breakfast, they delved into a snorkeling excursion, encountering an underwater world bustling with colorful fish and playful sea lions. The afternoon saw National Geographic Islander II navigate to Sullivan Bay, where a strikingly different scene unfolded. The group embarked on a hike across the recent jagged lava flow, showcasing the Galapagos' dynamic volcanic activity. This surreal, otherworldly terrain of blackened rock and complex volcanic structures contrasted sharply with the morning's vibrant marine encounters, illustrating the remarkable diversity of nature.
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Multi
Peru
Explorations 2024-2026
Explore with the most experienced team in expedition travel.