From Vacations Inspired Travelers’ Perspective – Galapagos and Machu Picchu

Hello and welcome to the to the ‘Vacations Inspired – From a Traveler’s Perspective’ series. I’m sharing with you what I hope to be the first of many stories of my client’s travels. Another way for you to hear what my client’s say and to be inspired for your future travels.

Neil and Mary have traveled over the years to many of the places you and I dream about going to. This next adventure kept coming on and off their list. How it came to be was that a friend invited them (#traveltip – invite a friend) to come along with them, and the Galapagos Islands was back on. So, they emailed me to book their cruise. And as long as they were going that far, and knowing that Mary wasn’t too fond of flying, I suggested they just continue on down to Machu Picchu while they were half way there.

Mary has been a bird-watcher for over 10 years, so the Galapagos held some allure for them. Between the two of them, they are always on the look out with their binoculars and camera for another “life bird”. A “life bird” is a bird species that a birder has identified and seen in the wild for the very first time in his or her life. Some birders have a specific list, like a bucket list, or it can be any bird that a birder sees for the first time.

Machu Picchu was in the back of their mind because one of their daughters had gone there a few years before and highly recommended it. So off they went.

They sailed the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic & Lindblad Expeditions. Neil says, “If you want to go beyond your normal vacation, do more than return to the same destination or resort or escape from that typical cruise, tackle an expedition to the Galápagos Islands with an extension to Machu Picchu. The expedition provided opportunities to see wildlife up close from a kayak, paddleboard, zodiac, glass-bottom boat or while snorkeling, or simply walking on the beaches or on trails gazing at the Galápagos giant tortoises up-close.”

Expedition cruises have a team of experts on-board perfectly fit for the curious traveler; expert naturalists in all fields, even certified photo-instructor naturalists.

Memories – Galapagos

“Seeing the endemic wildlife of the Galápagos islands including the Galápagos giant Tortoise, Waved albatross, Frigate birds, Darwin’s finches and Marine iguanas and in addition, colorful footed birds as the Red-footed booby and the Blue-footed booby and also the only penguin to live north of the equator is a once in a lifetime treat. Never once did our ship dock at a pier as our standard mode of transportation on and off the islands was a rubber boat called a Zodiac. Whether going a shore was a dry landing or a wet landing the Zodiac was carefully guided by a skilled driver.”

• 

• 

And Onto Peru

When Neil and Mary finished their Galapagos cruise, they boarded a plane from Guayaquil, Ecuador to Lima and then to Cusco, Peru where they were met by a private guide for their trip to their hotel in the Sacred Valley, which included sight-seeing along the way. After a day of relaxing at their hotel and adjusting to the altitude, the next morning their private guide picked them up bright and early for their trip to Machu Picchu by car, train, bus & hiking.

​“The tour of Machu Picchu was fantastic. Flying into Peru to tour Machu Picchu finds you in Cuzco and above 11,000 feet. Cuzco was very colorful with Andean women in traditional clothing and llamas seen on the street. Don’t miss the marketplace with everything from souvenirs to food can be found there.”

• 

• 

• 

How many life birds did you see?

“In Galapagos, 22 plus the great blue heron was a different subspecies, and a flamingo in its natural environment, not in the zoo, so that would technically bring the total to 24. Plus, on the rest of the trip (in Peru), I saw 8 more life birds. So, all together, I saw 32 life birds. Wow! I hadn’t counted them all up before.”

• 

• 

Thoughts on Using a Travel Advisor?

“Day tours, private transfers, hotel arrangements by Julie took the worry and trouble out of seeing the beautiful landscape, local people and finding the train and then the bus to see the ancient buildings of Machu Picchu.”

With a camera full (over 2,000 photos) of memories, Neil and Mary were ready to be home with time to rest for whatever travels come next. And I’m happy to help them with their travel planning. Do either of these two trips sound like just what you’re looking for?

If you’re interested in a trip to the Galapagos, Machu Picchu or any other amazing place on this beautiful planet, please reach out to me. It’s my pleasure to help Vacations Inspired travelers experience authentic journeys where relationships deepen and cherished memories begin.