Galapagos & Peru Adventure — Self-Launched

Land at Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO) and take the airport bus or a shared taxi into the city (~£5-8). Base yourself in a hostel in the Centro Histórico or La Mariscal. Spend the afternoon doing a free walking tour of the colonial core (tip ~£4-8): Plaza San Francisco, La Compañía de Jesús (entry ~£2), the Basilica del Voto Nacional towers (entry ~£2) and Parque de la Alameda. Book your Galapagos flight and island speedboat legs today if you haven't already.

🚌Airport bus or shared taxi (~£6)

🛏Hostel dorm in Centro Histórico or La Mariscal (~£10-14/night)

• →Free walking tour of Quito Old Town
• →Basilica del Voto Nacional
• →La Compañía de Jesús
• →Plaza San Francisco

Morning flight Quito–San Cristóbal (via Guayaquil, ~£180-250 one-way booked direct with LATAM/Avianca/TAME). At the airport pay the Galapagos National Park entry fee (~£160 / US$200) and the transit control card (~£16 / US$20) — bring USD cash. Check in to a guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and walk 20 minutes to La Loberia for your first sea lion and marine iguana fix, snorkelling on your own with rented gear (~£5).

🚌Domestic flight Quito–San Cristóbal (~£210); airport walk to town

🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£20-28/night)

• →Fly to Galapagos
• →Pay national park fee and transit card
• →Snorkel at La Loberia

Join a locally licensed day-boat to León Dormido (Kicker Rock) — book direct at the pier the day before for ~£110-130 including snorkel gear and lunch; it's the classic spot for turtles, rays and harmless Galapagos sharks. Back in the afternoon, walk to the free Interpretation Center and up to Cerro Tijeretas viewpoint for frigatebirds and panoramic bay views. Strong swimmers only for the open-water snorkel — life jackets are provided.

🚌Walk / short taxi in town

🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£20-28/night)

• →Kicker Rock (León Dormido) snorkel boat trip
• →Interpretation Center
• →Cerro Tijeretas viewpoint

Take the public inter-island speedboat (lancha rápida) via Floreana to Isabela — roughly £45-55 each way, ~2.5 hrs, tickets bought at the pier or through your guesthouse. Stop for the black-sand beach at Floreana and a snorkel if your boat schedule allows. Arrive at Puerto Villamil, check in and eat a cheap almuerzo at a family-run comedor (~£4-6).

🚌Inter-island speedboat San Cristóbal–Isabela (~£50)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (~£20-28/night)

• →Inter-island speedboat
• →Floreana black sand beach
• →Puerto Villamil beach walk

Morning boat/kayak excursion to Las Tintoreras (Shark Alley) — book locally at the pier, ~£40-50, with white-tipped reef sharks, marine iguana nesting sites and snorkelling. Afternoon: free-entry Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre just outside town, the flamingo lagoon on the edge of Puerto Villamil, and a kayak rental (~£10) around the bay. Rentals and tours are cheapest arranged the day before directly with operators.

🚌Walk / bicycle hire (~£6/day)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (~£20-28/night)

• →Las Tintoreras excursion and snorkel
• →Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Centre
• →Flamingo lagoon
• →Kayaking in Puerto Villamil bay

Hike the Sierra Negra crater rim — roughly 16 km / 5-6 hours return. You must be accompanied by a licensed Galapagos guide, so book a shared guided hike locally (~£45-60 including transport to the trailhead). Expect the second-largest caldera in the world and Volcán Chico lava fields. Bring water, sun protection and sturdy shoes; this is the most demanding walking day on the islands.

🚌Shared 4x4 to trailhead (included in hike price)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (~£20-28/night)

• →Sierra Negra volcano hike (5-6 hrs)
• →Volcán Chico lava fields

Morning speedboat Isabela–Santa Cruz (~£30-40, ~2 hrs). In the afternoon take a local bus or shared taxi up to the Santa Cruz highlands (~£5) to see giant tortoises in the wild and visit an organic farm; a short, cheap cooking session on encebollado (tuna soup) can be arranged through many hostels or a local comedor for ~£10-15. Stay in Puerto Ayora.

🚌Inter-island speedboat (~£35); public bus/shared taxi to highlands (~£5)

🛏Hostel in Puerto Ayora (~£20-28/night)

• →Speedboat to Santa Cruz
• →Santa Cruz highlands giant tortoises
• →Organic farm visit
• →Encebollado cooking session

Walk 45 minutes (or grab a taxi boat, ~£2) to Tortuga Bay for a white-sand beach and marine iguana spotting — free entry, just sign in at the ranger post. Afternoon at the Charles Darwin Research Station (free/donation) to see the tortoise breeding programme and learn about Galapagos conservation. Evening: cheap seafood dinner at the fish market street stalls (~£6-9).

🚌Walk / water taxi (~£2)

🛏Hostel in Puerto Ayora (~£20-28/night)

• →Tortuga Bay beach walk
• →Charles Darwin Research Station

Bus/shuttle from Puerto Ayora to Baltra airport (~£3-5 including ferry crossing), then fly Baltra–Quito (via Guayaquil, ~£170-220 booked in advance). Overnight in Quito and rest up — tomorrow's a long travel day.

🚌Shuttle + ferry (~£4); domestic flight (~£195)

🛏Hostel in Quito (~£10-14/night)

• →Island transfer to Baltra airport
• →Flight to Quito

Fly Quito–Lima (~£110-150 with Avianca/LATAM/JetSMART, booked ahead; there's no practical overland option in a single day). Settle into Miraflores or Barranco, walk the Malecón clifftop, and have a pisco sour and cheap ceviche dinner (~£8-10). Repack for the jungle — you'll need light long sleeves and insect repellent.

🚌Flight Quito–Lima (~£130)

🛏Hostel in Miraflores/Barranco (~£12-18/night)

• →Malecón walk in Miraflores
• →Pisco sour in Barranco

Early flight Lima–Puerto Maldonado (~£70-100). Book a 2-night/3-day jungle lodge package direct or via a local agency (~£180-240 all-in: transfers, meals, guide, activities) rather than a group tour. Motorised canoe down the Madre de Dios, afternoon jungle walk, caiman spotting after dark.

🚌Flight Lima–Puerto Maldonado (~£85); lodge transfer boat and 4x4 (included)

🛏Amazon jungle lodge, shared cabin (included in package)

• →Fly to Puerto Maldonado
• →Canoe transfer into the jungle
• →Night caiman-spotting walk

Full day of included lodge activities: pre-dawn parrot clay lick or canopy tower, rainforest trail walk with a local guide, piranha fishing, and a night boat trip. All part of the lodge package — no extra cost beyond tips for guides (~£10).

🚌Lodge boat/on foot (included)

🛏Amazon jungle lodge, shared cabin (included in package)

• →Parrot clay lick or canopy tower
• →Rainforest guided walk
• →Piranha fishing
• →Night river boat trip

Morning activity and canoe out, then fly Puerto Maldonado–Cusco (~£60-90). Check into a hostel in San Blas, take an easy orientation walk around Plaza de Armas and San Pedro Market, and drink coca tea to help acclimatise to 3,300 m. Attend your Inca Trail briefing if you've booked through an agency — and confirm your permit date.

🚌Lodge transfer out (included); flight to Cusco (~£75)

🛏Hostel in San Blas (~£8-14/night)

• →Fly to Cusco
• →Orientation walk: Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, San Blas
• →Inca Trail briefing

Take a collectivo from Cusco towards Pisac (~£2) and wander the Sunday-style artisan market, then continue by shared colectivo through Urubamba to Ollantaytambo (~£3-4 total). Visit the Ollantaytambo fortress terraces (~£8). Optionally do a community-tourism lunch in a nearby village or a social-enterprise café stop in Urubamba. Overnight in Ollantaytambo to be close to the trailhead.

🚌Colectivos Cusco–Pisac–Urubamba–Ollantaytambo (~£6)

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£12-18/night)

• →Pisac market
• →Ollantaytambo archaeological site
• →Sacred Valley village lunch

Your 4-day/3-night Inca Trail permit must be booked months ahead through a licensed agency (~£480-600 including guide, porters, cook, meals, campsites and the Machu Picchu entry). Day 1 is an easy warm-up from Km 82 along the Urubamba to Llactapata and camp at Wayllabamba. Alternative if Trail permits are sold out: the 3-day Inca Quarry Trail or a train-based Machu Picchu visit (~£170-220 for train + entry + guide).

🚌Agency transfer to Km 82 (included)

🛏Inca Trail campsite (included in trek package)

• →Inca Trail Day 1: Km 82 to Wayllabamba
• →Llactapata ruins

The hardest day: a climb to Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman's Pass, 4,215 m), then a long descent to Pacaymayo for camp. Everything — meals, porters, tent — is covered by the trek package. Pace yourself, drink water and chew coca leaves. Only carry a daypack; porters handle the rest.

🚌On foot

🛏Inca Trail campsite (included in trek package)

• →Dead Woman's Pass (4,215 m)
• →Pacaymayo Valley descent

Cross the Runkuracay and Phuyupatamarca passes through cloud forest, visiting the ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, and camp at Wiñay Wayna. The scenery on this day is the best of the trek — keep your camera handy for orchids and the Vilcabamba range.

🚌On foot

🛏Inca Trail campsite (included in trek package)

• →Runkuracay and Phuyupatamarca passes
• →Sayacmarca ruins
• →Wiñay Wayna

Very early start to reach Intipunku (the Sun Gate) for sunrise over Machu Picchu, then a 2-hour guided tour of the citadel (included in the trek package). Descend by bus (~£10) or on foot to Aguas Calientes, then take the PeruRail/Inca Rail train back to Ollantaytambo and a bus/collectivo on to Cusco (~£50-70 for the train; book early for cheaper fares).

🚌Bus Machu Picchu–Aguas Calientes (~£10); train Aguas Calientes–Ollantaytambo (~£55); colectivo to Cusco (~£4)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£8-14/night)

• →Sun Gate (Intipunku) sunrise
• →Guided Machu Picchu tour
• →Train through the Urubamba Valley

Slow day to recover. Wander San Pedro Market for cheap 'mystery soups' and juices (~£3), explore Qoricancha and the 12-angled stone, drink coffee in Plaza de Armas, or rent a mountain bike for the hills (~£15). Book tomorrow's bus to Puno or a tourist bus with Lake Titicaca stops.

🚌On foot

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£8-14/night)

• →San Pedro Market
• →Qoricancha
• →Plaza de Armas café time
• →Optional mountain biking

Take the direct tourist bus Cusco–Puno (~£10-15, 7-8 hrs) or a slightly pricier tour bus with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and La Raya (~£25-30). Arrive at Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca at 3,800 m, settle into a hostel and eat grilled trout at a local restaurant (~£5-7). Pre-book tomorrow's Uros/Taquile boat trip with a local operator.

🚌Tourist bus Cusco–Puno (~£13)

🛏Hostel in Puno (~£8-14/night)

• →Scenic bus over the altiplano
• →Grilled trout dinner

Take a boat tour to the Uros floating reed islands (entry ~£3 plus tour), then continue to a family homestay on Amantaní or a quieter Uros/Isla community (~£25-35 per person including dinner, breakfast and transport). Nights are cold at this altitude — bring layers. Dinner is a home-cooked Andean feast with your host family.

🚌Boat from Puno (included in homestay package)

🛏Family homestay on Lake Titicaca (included in tour package)

• →Uros floating islands
• →Homestay with a Lake Titicaca family
• →Traditional dinner

Boat to Taquile Island, hike uphill to the main village (30-40 mins, slow at altitude), meet the famous weaving cooperative and shop directly from artisans. Lunch of trucha on the island (~£4). Return to Puno in the afternoon and try a chilcano or pisco sour in a local bar (~£4).

🚌Shared boat to Taquile (included in day tour ~£15-20)

🛏Hostel in Puno (~£8-14/night)

• →Taquile Island hike
• →Weaving cooperative and handicraft shopping
• →Pisco sour at a local bar

Take a direct bus Puno–La Paz (~£12-18, ~7 hrs including border formalities at Kasani/Desaguadero — check visa rules for your nationality; UK/EU/US passports usually get 90 days on arrival, but verify). Alternatively cross to Copacabana and take a shared minibus on. In La Paz, ride the Mi Teleférico cable car (~£0.50) and take a self-guided walk past the Witches' Market and Plaza Murillo.

🚌International bus Puno–La Paz (~£15)

🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£8-14/night)

• →Border crossing into Bolivia
• →Mi Teleférico cable car
• →Witches' Market
• →Plaza Murillo

Final morning: a last wander through La Paz's markets, or an optional day trip if your flight allows. International flights from El Alto airport (LPB) home. If you want more, add on the Salar de Uyuni tour (~£120-160 for 3 days) — a classic Bolivia extension.

🚌Airport transfer (~£4)

🛏Departure day (no overnight)

• →Morning market wander
• →Depart La Paz