At a glanceA long two-part honeymoon that pairs Peru's Inca heartland with the Galápagos: three nights in the Sacred Valley, one at Machu Picchu and three in Cusco, then a short hop through Guayaquil for six nights in the Galápagos by lodge or small ship. It suits active couples who love history and wildlife. Go from May to June or September to October.
Peru and the Galápagos are the two places many couples dream about in South America. They are also closer than they look: Lima to Guayaquil takes about two hours and Guayaquil to the islands about two more, so you can move from the Andes to the equator in a day and a half.
This route starts low and climbs. The Sacred Valley sits at about 9,400 feet, lower than Cusco, which helps your body adjust. A night at Machu Picchu lets you reach the citadel at opening time, before the day trains arrive. Then Cusco, at about 11,150 feet, gives you three nights of colonial courtyards, Inca walls and some of the best food in South America.
The Galápagos half is all wildlife. Sea lions nap on park benches, marine iguanas sunbathe on black lava and giant tortoises graze in the highlands. Six nights by lodge or small ship let you snorkel, hike and kayak without rushing. It is an active honeymoon, so plan rest into the afternoons.
The route
- Sacred ValleyPeru · 3 nights
- Machu PicchuPeru · 1 nights
- CuscoPeru · 3 nights
- Galápagos IslandsEcuador · 6 nights
- Best months
- May to June and September to October
- Trip length
- 16 days
- Budget
- About $450–1,800 a night for two in Peru and $450–3,000 in the Galápagos (approximate)
Day by day
Days 1–5: Lima and the Sacred Valley
Fly into Lima's Jorge Chávez International (LIM); many flights from the US arrive late at night, so stay at the airport hotel or in Miraflores. On day 2, fly to Cusco (CUZ) in about an hour and 20 minutes and drive straight down to the Sacred Valley, about an hour to an hour and a half.
Stay in or near Urubamba. Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba and Sol y Luna, Relais & Châteaux, both have casitas among gardens. Explora Valle Sagrado is all inclusive, with guided outings each day.
Take day 3 slowly while you adjust to the altitude. On day 4, bike or drive from the circular terraces of Moray to the Maras salt pans, then eat a tasting menu at Mil above Moray. Visit Chinchero for a weaving demonstration on the way. The romantic moment is a late afternoon at Ollantaytambo, when the tour groups leave and the light turns the terraces gold.
Days 5–6: Machu Picchu
Take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, about an hour and a half along the Urubamba River. For a splurge, the Belmond Hiram Bingham train has a dining car, a bar and an observation car. Check into Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, set in a cloud-forest garden, or Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel by the river.
In the afternoon, walk Inkaterra's orchid trail or soak in the hot springs. Turn in early.
On day 6, take the first bus up to the site for an early entry time. Hire a private guide for two to three hours on your circuit, then climb Huayna Picchu if you have booked it. Tickets are timed and limited, so book months ahead. For the biggest splurge, the Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, sits beside the gate. Take the afternoon train back to Ollantaytambo and drive to Cusco, about two hours, arriving in the evening.
Days 6–9: Cusco
Cusco is the highest stop, so keep the first evening easy. Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, is a former convent with oxygen-enriched rooms and a pool in the cloister.
On day 7, take a private tour of Qorikancha, the Inca sun temple that became a Dominican convent. Then walk the old Inca walls on Hatun Rumiyoc. In the afternoon, explore the steep lanes of San Blas and its galleries and workshops.
On day 8, take a cooking class that starts with a market visit at San Pedro, then use the afternoon for coffee, alpaca shopping and a nap. The romantic moment is the walk from Sacsayhuamán down into San Blas at sunset, when the city's red roofs glow below you. Finish with a candlelit dinner in a colonial courtyard. Cusco's dining scene is strong, so book one standout restaurant for your last night.
Days 9–16: Guayaquil and the Galápagos
On day 9, fly from Cusco to Lima and on to Guayaquil (GYE) in Ecuador, about two hours. Overnight near the airport. On day 10, fly to Seymour Airport on Baltra (GPS) or to San Cristóbal (SCY), about two hours. Galápagos flights leave in the morning, which is why the overnight helps.
Choose between a lodge and a small ship. Lodges such as Pikaia Lodge in the Santa Cruz highlands, Galápagos Safari Camp or Finch Bay Hotel near Puerto Ayora let you sleep in the same bed and take day boats to other islands. Small-ship cruises reach the remote western islands but move every night.
The highlights are snorkeling with sea lions and turtles, the giant tortoise reserve in the highlands and kayaking at Tortuga Bay. Take a day trip to Isabela for Los Túneles if you are based on Santa Cruz. The romantic moment is the sunrise climb on Bartolomé, looking over Pinnacle Rock. On day 16, fly back to Guayaquil or Quito for flights home.
Getting Between Stops
Within Peru, fly from Lima to Cusco in about an hour and 20 minutes. Cusco to the Sacred Valley is an hour to an hour and a half by road. PeruRail and Inca Rail run trains from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes in about an hour and a half; buses then climb to the site in about 25 minutes.
To reach the Galápagos, fly Cusco to Lima to Guayaquil on day 9, about four hours of flying with a connection. Galápagos flights from Guayaquil leave in the morning and take about two hours, so overnight in Guayaquil rather than risk a tight connection.
Your lodge or ship will arrange transfers on the islands. From Baltra, it is about an hour to Puerto Ayora by bus, ferry and taxi. Day boats link Santa Cruz with Isabela, Floreana and the smaller islands. Fly home from the islands through Guayaquil or Quito to Miami or Houston.
Where to Stay
Sacred Valley: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba and Sol y Luna, Relais & Châteaux, have garden casitas and good restaurants. Explora Valle Sagrado is all inclusive, with daily guided hikes.
Machu Picchu: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes has cottages in a cloud-forest garden. Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel has a spa by the river. The Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel, is the only hotel at the gate.
Cusco: Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel, has suites with private terraces and rooms enriched with oxygen.
Galápagos: Pikaia Lodge sits on a volcanic crater in the Santa Cruz highlands with its own yacht. Galápagos Safari Camp has tented suites near a tortoise reserve. Finch Bay Hotel is a beachfront hotel reached by water taxi across the bay from Puerto Ayora.
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When to Go
Peru's dry season runs from about May to October, with clear Andean skies and cold nights. Machu Picchu is busiest in July and August. The rainy season from December to March brings mud and some closures; the Inca Trail closes in February for maintenance.
The Galápagos have two seasons. From about December to May, the water is warmer and calmer with more sunshine. From June to November, cool currents bring misty garúa, choppier seas and more marine life, including whale sharks off the far northern islands for divers.
May and June combine dry weather in Peru with mild, calm conditions in the Galápagos. September and October are also good, with fewer crowds at Machu Picchu than in high summer. Pack layers for both halves; nights in the Andes and mornings on the water are cool.
Budget and Booking
Peru's best hotels run roughly $450–1,800 a night for two, with Explora and the Sanctuary Lodge at the top. Galápagos lodges range from about $450 a night for two at Finch Bay to $2,700–3,000 at Pikaia Lodge and Galápagos Safari Camp, usually with meals and some excursions. Small-ship cruises are priced per person per night and often include everything except flights and park fees. All figures are approximate.
Book Machu Picchu tickets and Huayna Picchu as soon as your dates are set, since numbers are limited. Book Galápagos lodges or ships six to twelve months ahead for high season.
Add Galápagos national park fees and the regional flights to your budget. A specialist who handles both countries can keep the connections in sync.
Make It Shorter or Longer
For 12 or 13 days, cut the Sacred Valley to two nights and Cusco to two, then spend five nights in the Galápagos. Keep the night at Machu Picchu; it makes the visit far calmer.
With 18 to 21 days, add three nights in the Peruvian Amazon at Tambopata, a short flight from Cusco, for rainforest lodges and canopy walks. Or add two nights in Quito before the Galápagos for its colonial center and the cloud forest at Mindo.
Couples who want more water can extend the Galápagos to eight nights and split it between a highland lodge on Santa Cruz and a hotel on San Cristóbal or Isabela. Couples who want history over wildlife can add Lake Titicaca by the Belmond Andean Explorer train from Cusco.
Honeymoon Tips
- Altitude affects everyone differently. Take it easy on day one, drink water, go light on alcohol and talk to your doctor about prevention.
- If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for both countries before you book.
- Pack layers. Andean nights are cold and Galápagos boat rides can be chilly.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard and a hat; the equatorial sun is intense.
- Keep at least six feet from wildlife in the Galápagos and never touch the animals.
- Use hotel taxis at night in Lima and Guayaquil.
- Read the State Department advisories for Peru and Ecuador before you travel.
FAQPlanning this trip
How do we get from Peru to the Galápagos?
Fly from Cusco to Lima and on to Guayaquil in Ecuador, about four hours of flying with a connection. Spend the night in Guayaquil, then take a morning flight of about two hours to Baltra or San Cristóbal. Galápagos flights leave in the morning, so the overnight protects you from delays.
Should we choose a Galápagos cruise or a lodge?
A small-ship cruise reaches remote islands and sees more species but moves every night and can be rough for anyone prone to seasickness. A lodge on Santa Cruz or San Cristóbal lets you unpack once and take day trips. For a honeymoon, many couples prefer the comfort and privacy of a lodge.
Is the altitude in Cusco a problem?
It can be. Cusco is about 11,150 feet high and many visitors feel short of breath or get headaches. Starting in the lower Sacred Valley helps you adjust. Rest on your first day, drink plenty of water and talk to your doctor about prevention before you go.
When is the best time for Peru and the Galápagos?
May and June are the best balance, with dry weather in the Andes and calm seas in the Galápagos. September and October are also good, with fewer crowds at Machu Picchu. Avoid February, when the Inca Trail closes and heavy rain affects the Andes.
How much does a Peru and Galápagos honeymoon cost?
For about two weeks at good hotels, many couples spend roughly $14,000 to $30,000 for two including regional flights, trains and Galápagos excursions, before international airfare. These are approximate figures. Choosing a lodge such as Finch Bay instead of Pikaia lowers the Galápagos half considerably.
