Machu Picchu to the Galapagos

You’re invited to travel with alumni and friends from May 3-19, 2027, on a special seventeen-day small-group tour to Peru and Ecuador. Explore two of South America’s treasures: the enigmatic ruins at Machu Picchu and the fascinating Galápagos Islands.

Begin with a tour of Lima. Next, fly to Cuzco and explore the beautiful Sacred Valley. Enjoy a captivating train ride to Machu Picchu, and stay overnight at the Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, with two opportunities to visit the stunning ruins. In the Galápagos Islands, spend four nights in the lush highlands of Santa Cruz Island, your base for exploring North Seymour, South Plaza and Santa Cruz Islands, and embark on day excursions on a privately chartered yacht. Conclude your journey in Quito and enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate your adventure. Guests may also start the tour early on the four-day/four-night Amazon Rainforest pre-tour option.

This small group experience is limited to just 24 participants and will be shared with a cosponsoring alumni association. Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu  for more details or request a reservation today!

 

Dates and Rates:

Dates:  May 3 – 19, 2027

Destination(s): Peru, Ecuador

Trip Type: Land & Air

Date Range: May 3 – 19, 2027

Countries: Peru, Ecuador

Price Range:

• Land/tour only  from $9,645 per person based upon double occupancy
• air-inclusive packages from $10,343* per person based upon double occupancy total price from Miami ($9,445 air & land inclusive plus $898 airline taxes and departure fees).
• Single travelers please add $2,495. Single space is limited. Please contact us to verify availability prior to forwarding your reservation and deposit.

Please see brochure or contact us for rates* from other cities.

(*Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees of $898, which are subject  to change until final payment is made.)

Trip Type: Land and Air

Trip Status: Open for Reservations –   Request a reservation today, or contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details.

Physical Activity Level – Moderate

 

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Casablanca, Morocco

Fly overnight from the US to Casablanca.

Day 2: Arrive Casablanca/Rabat

Upon arrival this afternoon in Casablanca, the commercial center of Morocco, we transfer by coach to Rabat and our hotel located near famed Hassan Tower. We have time to relax and refresh before dinner tonight at the hotel. D

Day 3: Rabat

One of Morocco’s four ancient capitals, or imperial cities, Rabat is again the ­country’s capital, at once historic and contemporary, as we discover on today’s tour. We visit the fortified Kasbah of the Oudaias, the peaceful Andalusian Gardens, and the necropolis of Chellah, built on ancient Roman ruins. Then we cross the river to Sale for lunch in a private home followed by a visit to the new Mohammed VI contemporary art museum and a walk through the medina. We return to our hotel late afternoon; tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner of traditional Moroccan fare at acclaimed Dinarjat in Rabat’s Old Town. B,L,D

Day 4: Rabat/Meknes/Volubilis/Fez

This ­morning we depart Rabat for Fez, stopping along the way in Meknes, Morocco’s youngest imperial city (and UNESCO World Heritage site). We visit the Bab el Mansour gateway and the ruins of the imper­ial stables before lunch in a local restaurant. Then we continue on to the ancient Roman ruins at the UNESCO site of Volubilis, known for its intricate and colorful mosaics. Late afternoon we reach Fez and our elegant hotel overlooking the medina, another UNESCO World Heritage site. B,L,D

Day 5: Fez

Today we explore Morocco’s oldest imperial city, considered the “Athens of Africa” for its wealth of cultural, educational, and religious institutions. We begin with a comfortable walk through the Fez medina, where we see some hidden treasures, including the Blue Gate, the most picturesque of the Old City’s historic gates; the medieval school of Bouanania; the 12th-century home of Jewish scholar Maimonides; and the authentic food market. We also visit the traditional quarter where we watch artisans craft the acclaimed Fez pottery and ceramics. After lunch together in the medina, we tour the old Mellah (Jewish quarter) and its 17th-century synagogue and the royal gates. B,L,D

Day 6: Fez

Today’s touring features the Museum of Fez, housing traditional arts. Then we embark on a walking tour of the medina focusing on the artisans’ quarters, the 14th-century Koranic schools, and Al Karaouine, the medieval theological university. The remainder of the afternoon is free for independent exploration and lunch on our own. Tonight, we enjoy a private dinner at an intimate family-run riad in Fez. B,D

Day 7: Fez/Midelt/Erfoud

Traveling inland today, we cross the fertile plains beyond Fez and continue through the Middle Atlas mountain range. We stop in the small town of Midelt for lunch. Continuing on we cross the Ziz River, passing rows of sky-scraping palm trees and fortified villages before reaching our kasbah-style hotel in Erfoud late in the day. Dinner tonight is at our hotel. B,L,D

Day 8: Erfoud/Rissani/Merzouga

This morning we visit the city of Rissani, with its 18th-century ksar, a virtually impenetrable warren of alleys. We enjoy a tour highlight this afternoon as we set out on a sunset excursion to the breathtakingly beautiful sand dunes at Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. In the enormous silence we watch the sun set over the desert as we take a camel ride along the erg. Following this experience, we’ll have dinner together in this desert setting before returning to our hotel tonight. B,L,D

Day 9: Erfoud/Tinehir/Todra Gorge/Ouarzazate

Our destination today is in the snow-topped High Atlas. The day features one beautiful scene after another, including the village of Tinehir, a stunning mountain oasis rising on a series of riverside terraces lush with palm trees; and the spectacular 984-foot Todra Gorge, home to a variety of rare bird and plant species. Following lunch here we visit El Kelaa des Mgouna, known for its roses, then set out on the fabled “Route of a Thousand Kasbahs” ancient caravan route, a region of fortresses with elaborately decorated façades. Late afternoon we reach the town of Ouarzazate (the “door of the desert”) where we spend the night. B,L,D

Day 10: Ouarzazate/Ait ben-Haddou/Marrakech

En route to Marrakech today, we stop first at uninhab­ited Ait ben-Haddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of southern Morocco’s most scenic villages that is often used as a location for fashion and film shoots. Its old section consists of deep red kasbahs packed together so tightly they appear to be a single unit. Then as we begin our descent from the High Atlas, we pass through typical villages with fortified walls and stone houses with earthen roofs. In Tizi N’Tichka, we traverse the Pass of the Pastures (alt. 7,415 feet), where life is much as it was centuries ago: shepherds bring their flocks to the high pastures every summer, then return with them to their villages in autumn. We arrive in Marrakech late this afternoon and dine tonight at our hotel. B,L,D

Day 11: Marrakech

Once the capital of southern Morocco, the imperial city of Marrakech is an allur­ing oasis with a temperate climate, distinct charm, and fascinating sights. Our day-long tour includes the beautifully proportioned Koutoubia Mosque with its distinctive 282-foot minaret visible from miles away; the lovely Andalusian-style El Bahia Palace (part of which is still used by the royal family); and the ruins of 16th-century Palais El Badii. After lunch at our hotel, mid-afternoon we embark on a walk­ing tour of the medina, ending at Djemaa el Fna Squ­are, a UNESCO site and the heart of Marrakech, crowded with snake charm­ers, ­entertainers, story­tellers, musicians, barbers, and sellers of fruit, water, and spices. Dinner tonight is on our own in this exotic city. B,L

Day 12: Marrakech

This morning we travel by horse-drawn carriage from Menara Park to Majorelle Gardens, a private botanical garden with some 15 species of birds native to North Africa and known for its cobalt blue accents. Following a tour of the gardens we visit the Yves St. Laurent Museum, housing a vast collection of the designer’s haute couture and design works. The afternoon is at leisure before dinner tonight at a local restaurant in the city’s Old Town. B,D

Day 13: Marrakech/Casablanca

We leave Marra­kech this morning by coach for storied Casablanca, Morocco’s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After a brief orientation tour of the city, we visit the magnificent Hassan II Mosque, Morocco’s only functioning mosque open to non-Muslims. Sitting on the Atlantic shoreline, the mosque boasts a prayer hall the size of London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. Tonight we celebrate our Moroccan adventure at a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. B,D

Day 14: Depart for U.S.

After breakfast this morning we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. B

B = Breakfast included    L = Lunch included    D = Dinner included

Tour Price Includes:

• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities for air-inclusive participants
• 12 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class hotels
• 31 meals: 12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 11 dinners
• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
• Services of a Professional Tour Director
• Private motor-coach transportation throughout your trip
• Luggage handling for one bag per person
• Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

What’s not included:
Taxes; passport, visas and associated fees; personal expenses such as laundry and telephone calls; accident/sickness, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance; excess baggage charges on aircraft; International airfare if you have booked as a “land only” participant; transfers and baggage handling to/from hotel on day of arrival and/or departure if you have booked as a “land only” participant or if you are arriving earlier or later than and/or departing earlier or later than the scheduled group transfer(s); any overnight on land due to flight schedule(s); meals, alcoholic or other beverages and all other services not specifically mentioned in the “Included Features” section of the program brochure.