Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Islands: Secrets of South America: Combo Trips

Map 1: South America

Introduction

What Makes This Guidebook Series Unique

This book is dedicated to discussing the ins and outs – as well as sharing secrets and lessons learned – of how to best visit both Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, in one short trip. And it’s dedicated to those of you who already have these amazing destinations on your radar, but aren’t sure if, how, and when to explore them. Good news: even if you only have the time and money to visit for less than two weeks, with the proper guidance, it’s a breeze!

The guidebooks in this series are less geared to those who prefer more open-ended trips, with few days or tours planned ahead of time. That being said, I’m sure even budget backpackers with more time than money will find some useful tidbits here. But if you prefer to maximize your touring time by having at least most of the plan set before departure or just feel more comfortable knowing you’ll have local, professional guidance while traveling in Peru and Ecuador, you’ve certainly come to the right place.

This series is not meant to replicate or improve upon the many already out there. Most guidebooks tend to have a broader focus (on an entire country) or narrower (within a city) and include lists of hotels, ships, tours, top attractions, and prices for each service. I feel that's already been well covered. While many of those books will continue being re-printed each year as the lists and prices change, I hope this tome will serve a longer term on your bookshelf or travel folder, and continue to inform and inspire.

This book will focus on the core destinations – Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands – but as you can imagine, Peru and Ecuador have many more special places to see – along the way or close by. If you have three weeks or even longer, I’ll give you some fabulous options for what to do with that additional time. And on the other hand, if for budgetary reasons, time-constraints or even just interest’s sake, you decide to focus the trip on one country only – either Peru-Machu Picchu OR Ecuador-Galapagos – there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. Some travelers could spend weeks in each country and still be eager for more.

For most travel options, there might not be clear-cut right or wrong answers. Some things, of course, come down to personal preferences, like: Should we visit Machu Picchu for one long day or spread it out over two? (I’ll give you all the pros and cons!) For other options, it’s easier to make strong recommendations. Are four days in the Galapagos sufficient, or should we extend it to five if we have the time and money? (Extend, absolutely!) For better or worse, when planning trips, we often make decisions based on bits we’ve come across on the internet or heard from friends and family. Unfortunately, these people are not typically destination experts, and there is so much information in books and online, it can difficult sort through and verify. Therefore, many travelers base their decisions on false assumptions.

For example: Isn’t it better to explore the Galapagos on a small ship because the large ships don’t get close enough to the islands to explore them? And don’t we need to stay overnight at Machu Picchu so we can be up there early the next morning for the sunrise? Trick questions! (I’ll show you why in the pages ahead.) Planning along with an expert, who truly knows the ins and outs of the destinations you want to visit, can make all the difference. Hopefully, this book can cut through most of these false assumptions and provide you a sound basis from which to plan your perfect combo trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos.

In addition to providing some basic combo trip information for your planning toolbox, I’ll be lifting the veil and sharing some special Travel Secrets known, for the most part, only by travel agents and others in the tourism industry. Every time you see the icon, keep an eye out for some key info nearby. These are tips of the trade that most South American tourism professionals keep to themselves.

Another feature of this guidebook is Passenger Corner. Hear from your fellow travelers who have actually visited Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, or both. Some comments are useful and practical, while others are exciting, inspiring, or just plain fun! Their wise advice and insights will help make your trip plans even that much better.

As I am from the United States, and the majority of passengers with whom I have worked are from the USA and Canada, it’s inevitable that I will use language that is clearest to that audience. I don’t mean to exclude anyone, and I’m confident that most of what I’ve written is useful and applicable to everyone. Of course, depending on your country of origin, there might be differences in visas, language, cultural norms, travel times, etc. It’s always best to check these details with your local or national travel authorities or your travel agent. In the end, I expect everyone will bring home some handy tidbits from this book.

Finally, keep in mind the rules, regulations, requirements, and possibilities for activities and tours on this trip – the situation on the ground in the respective countries – are always subject to change. For example, until recently (through 2016), foreign travelers entering Peru had to complete an immigration form and retain their copy of it throughout their journey in the country – presenting it to hotels and an immigration official upon departure from the country. As of the time of writing, this is no longer necessary. More significantly, Peruvian tourist authorities recently made changes to Machu Picchu tickets, requiring separate entrance tickets for the morning and afternoon. And Ecuador has announced they will be requiring proof of travel insurance for all foreign visitors. More on all this later. Be sure to double-check with local travel authorities and your travel agent or tour operator to make sure you are kept up-to-speed.

Two Places Everyone Wants to Visit

Of the many fabulous places to visit in South America, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands are two of the most iconic. People don't question whether to go or not but rather ask: Can we? When should we? How should we?

Once, a potential traveler asked me to name the strangest tour in South America. My answer? The Galapagos Islands! Where else can you see so much flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world? Where do most wild, exotic animals not fear the presence of humans? Where else can groups of people walk next to and easily photograph incredible species of animals that are not in cages and don’t have handlers? Even though you will be on a guided tour, there’s still nothing like it. You will also be traveling through and around the islands on a boat – most likely living on it for a few days with other travelers. This is a very special experience in and of itself.

And it’s full of surprises. The geography and climate of the Galapagos Islands are not what you might think. Perhaps you have in mind a classic, tropical paradise – hot, lush, and green? Although these Pacific Ocean islands are indeed in the tropics, and it can get quite hot, they are mostly dry, volcanic, and rough. Vegetation is sparse and thirsty, with lots of cacti! Think desert, not jungle. Furthermore, they’re over 600 miles (1,000+ kilometers) from the mainland coast of Ecuador in relatively cool and often choppy waters. It’s inhospitable land for most creatures, and it’s a wonder how many of them arrived in the first place.

The British scientist and naturalist Charles Darwin discovered this when he visited in the 19th century and recorded experiences that contributed to On the Origin of Species, his seminal work on evolution and natural selection. The many unique characteristics of the Galapagos – including its relative isolation from the mainland and dearth of natural predators – make it one of the best places on the planet to witness evidence of evolution in action. Here, you can find another, related species of the same animal not far away on a neighboring Island. The peculiar island landscapes with their mix of colors, rough volcanic cliffs, views across the ocean, and relatively untouched, clean beaches are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s truly another, strange world!

Unique, sometimes transcendent, travel experiences are not strange to Galapagos visitors. On one of my recent trips there, we were out on our final excursion of a long, active day – kayaking not far from the ship. While casually paddling across the sea, we witnessed a daring bird battle as they chased each other and darted back and forth all across the setting sun. It was magical. No photo would do it justice! While walking slowly along one of the island trails, we saw a male land iguana perched in a small open bush. Another male slowly made his way up a neighboring branch, and before we