Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll arrive in Lima and connect with your Cosmos representative at the airport. Your Tour Director will catch up with the group on Day 5, so this first day is about getting settled into the city and recovering from your flight.
- Day 2
Amazon Jungle
After flying to Puerto Maldonado, you'll board a motorboat heading up the Tambopata River to reach your Amazon lodge. The afternoon brings your first real exploration with a Naturalist guide who'll help you spot tamarins, capuchins, butterflies and toucans. Later in the evening, you'll head out again on a night walk to search for nocturnal creatures that only come out after dark. During the boat rides, keep your eyes open for turtles, caimans, monkeys and birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorboat journey on Tambopata River
- Afternoon guided wildlife viewing with Naturalist
- Night wildlife search on foot
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve Tambopata River - Day 3
Amazon Jungle
Start your morning with a canoe ride and a walk through the jungle with your Naturalist, who'll point out the Amazon's plants and animals along the way. After lunch back at the lodge, you'll learn about plants that only grow in this region and continue spotting wildlife. As evening arrives, you'll take another canoe trip to experience the jungle's nighttime sounds and activity.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Naturalist-guided canoe ride
- Guided walk through Amazon flora and fauna
- Afternoon guided wildlife viewing
- Evening canoe trip for nocturnal jungle sounds
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve - Day 4
Amazon Jungle
This day gives you options. Tell your Naturalist which included activity interests you most, whether that's exploring a specific part of the rainforest, learning about a particular aspect of the ecosystem, or searching for certain animals. You'll customize your Amazon experience based on what you want to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Choice of included Naturalist-guided adventure activities
Landmarks/POIs Tambopata National Reserve - Day 5
Puerto Maldonado to Lima
You'll leave the Amazon behind as you return to Puerto Maldonado and fly back to Lima, known as the 'City of Kings'. This historic city was founded in 1535 and once served as the capital of Spain's South American Empire. The colonial architecture and museums here reflect that rich history of power and influence.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Lima - Day 6
Lima
Your exploration of Lima's colonial heritage starts with the San Francisco Monastery, where you can see baroque design mixed with Spanish and Moorish influences. Next, you'll head to Plaza Mayor to view the Government Palace (built on the former home of Francisco Pizarro, who founded the city) and the cathedral where Pizarro's remains are buried. The afternoon is yours to wander around the city however you'd like, and later you'll have dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Visit San Francisco Monastery
- Visit Plaza Mayor
- Visit Government Palace
- Visit cathedral
Landmarks/POIs San Francisco Monastery Plaza Mayor Government Palace Lima Cathedral - Day 7
Sacred Valley
You'll fly to Cusco high in the Andes, then descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along the way, you'll get up close with llamas, vicuñas, alpacas and guanacos at a camelid center, learning how their coats become precious fibers through ancient weaving techniques. From there, you'll go to Pisaq village to browse its colorful market stalls packed with alpaca sweaters, blankets, painted vases and sterling silver handicrafts. By evening, you'll arrive at your hotel in the peaceful Sacred Valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Learn about camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, guanaco)
- Visit Pisaq village market
- Browse handicraft stalls
Landmarks/POIs Sacred Valley Pisaq - Day 8
Sacred Valley
The morning takes you to Ollantaytambo village where you'll explore Inca ruins that actually resisted Spanish conquest. You'll see the temple area at the top of the terraces and visit a local home to experience how people live in the village. Later, you'll tour the Seminario ceramics workshop to learn about both ancient Peruvian art and modern pieces. Before heading back, you'll stop at a local chicheria to taste chicha, a traditional drink from Inca times.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ollantaytambo Inca ruins
- Explore archaeological site
- Visit local home in Incan town
- Tour Seminario ceramics workshop
- Visit local chicheria for chicha tasting
Landmarks/POIs Ollantaytambo Seminario Ceramics Workshop - Day 9
Machu Picchu
You'll board the Vistadome train, which travels through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes with big windows so you can watch the scenery the whole way. From there, you'll ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to reach Machu Picchu, the 'Lost City of the Incas'. Your guide will walk you through the terraced 15th-century ruins and explain the accomplishments of the Incas. These ruins were abandoned during Spanish conquest and stayed hidden for nearly 400 years, and many mysteries about them remain unsolved today.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Vistadome train ride through Urubamba Valley
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Urubamba Valley - Day 10
Aguas Calientes to Cusco
This morning you have free time to explore Aguas Calientes on your own. Check out the local market, browse small boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. In the afternoon, you'll board the Vistadome train back to Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, with more time to enjoy the valley views during your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit local market in Aguas Calientes
- Browse boutiques in Aguas Calientes
- Walk along nearby trails
Landmarks/POIs Aguas Calientes - Day 11
Cusco
A guided tour takes you through Cusco, the city that was once the political, military and cultural center of the Inca Empire before the Spanish took over. You'll visit Santo Domingo Monastery where Inca and Spanish baroque structures blend together. At the Cathedral in Plaza de Armas, you'll see impressive artwork including 'The Last Supper' with apostles dining on guinea pig. Then you'll head up to the hillside Temple of Sacsayhuaman to view remarkable Inca stonework and massive stones that weigh up to 350 tons. Later, you'll participate in planting trees for the local community before returning to Cusco for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner at a local restaurant)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Cusco
- Visit Santo Domingo Monastery
- Visit Cathedral in Plaza de Armas
- Visit Temple of Sacsayhuaman
- Participate in tree-planting project
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo Monastery Cathedral Plaza de Armas Temple of Sacsayhuaman - Day 12
Cusco to Puno
You'll drive south toward Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. According to Inca legend, Manco Capac, the first Inca, rose from the lake's waters when called by the sun god to found the Inca Empire.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive to Puno
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca - Day 13
Lake Titicaca
You'll experience Lake Titicaca, which is the highest navigable lake in the world. A motorboat tour takes you to Taquile Island, where local people wear Spanish peasant dresses made from Andean textiles as part of how they blend their Inca and Spanish heritage. Next, you'll visit the Uros floating islands, about 40 artificially made islands built entirely from tortora reed using methods the Uros people have practiced for centuries. Your Tour Director will host dinner this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner hosted by Tour Director)
Included Activities
- Motorboat tour of Lake Titicaca
- Visit Taquile Island
- Visit Uros floating islands
- Learn about island construction and tortora reed practices
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Taquile Island Uros Floating Islands - Day 14
Puno to Lima
You'll return to Juliaca where you'll visit a local home and get a real sense of how people live their daily lives there. After that, a short flight brings you back to Lima, and you'll transfer to your hotel to settle in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit local home in Juliaca
Landmarks/POIs Juliaca - Day 15
Lima to Quito
You'll fly to Quito where a Cosmos representative will meet you upon arrival to help you get oriented and settled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Quito to Galápagos
After flying to Baltra, you'll visit the highlands of Santa Cruz with its extinct volcanoes, lava tubes and unusual plant life that's adapted to the volcanic landscape. You'll see giant tortoises in a natural reserve and learn about conservation work protecting these ancient creatures. Then you'll head to the port and board the Galápagos Legend cruise ship for your island exploration.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Santa Cruz highlands
- See giant tortoises in natural reserve
- Learn about tortoise conservation efforts
Landmarks/POIs Santa Cruz Island Baltra Island - Day 17
Genovesa Island
You'll start your day at Genovesa Island by exploring a small fur seal grotto. After that, you'll climb Prince Philip's Steps to reach large nesting colonies of Nazca and red-footed boobies, and you may see Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels or even a short-eared Owl. Following lunch onboard, you'll visit Darwin Bay to watch frigate birds, red-footed boobies, herons, lava gulls and many other bird species in their natural habitat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore fur seal grotto
- Climb Prince Philip's Steps
- View nesting colonies of boobies
- Visit Darwin Bay
Landmarks/POIs Genovesa Island Prince Philip's Steps Darwin Bay - Day 18
South Plaza Island and Santa Fé
You'll sail to South Plaza Island and walk through an impressive cactus forest filled with land and marine iguanas. This is actually the only place on Earth where you'll find the Galápagos hybrid iguana. From the island's summit, you can watch for tropicbirds, Nazca and blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. Next, you'll move to Santa Fé Island where a large sea lion colony welcomes you on the white-sand beach. A walk through the cactus forest here lets you spot the endemic Santa Fé land iguana, which is the largest and palest variety in the islands. You'll also have chances to see the Galápagos hawk, Galápagos snake, finches and one of four Galápagos mockingbird species.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk through cactus forest at South Plaza Island
- View land and marine iguanas
- Visit Santa Fé Island
- Observe sea lion colony
- Search for endemic Santa Fé land iguana
Landmarks/POIs South Plaza Island Santa Fé Island - Day 19
Bachas Beach to Quito
You'll visit Bachas Beach where you can swim, take a nice walk along the shore and see a lagoon with wading birds, marine iguanas and possibly flamingos. The beach is also a favorite nesting spot for green turtles. After your time there, you'll fly back to Quito to end this portion of your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Swimming at Bachas Beach
- Walk along shore
- Visit lagoon with wading birds and marine iguanas
Landmarks/POIs Bachas Beach - Day 20
Quito
A local guide will take you on a sightseeing tour of Quito to see the city's main attractions. You'll explore Independence Plaza, the 16th-century San Francisco Monastery and the Jesuit La Compania Church, which features golden altars that are quite striking inside.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Quito
- Visit Independence Plaza
- Visit San Francisco Monastery
- Visit La Compania Church
Landmarks/POIs Independence Plaza San Francisco Monastery La Compania Church - Day 21
Quito
Your vacation ends this morning after breakfast. You'll head to the airport and depart with memories of the Amazon, ancient Inca sites, Lake Titicaca and the Galápagos Islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
