Peru - Galapagos Islands - Ecuador
Life is a Beach
A Private Journey to Ecuador & Peru
Best time to travel
Year-Round
Recommended for
Family Travel, Groups & Friends, Couples & Honeymoon
Duration
15 Days / 14 Nights
Price from
$16800
per person
This unique 14-day journey blends a full week exploring the Galapagos by small luxury yacht with a relaxed overland discovery of Ecuador and Peru’s little-known Pacific coast. Designed for travelers who value privacy and minimal airport time, it offers the ideal pace for reaching the archipelago’s most remote islands while experiencing the charm of the mainland.
You’ll fly from coastal Guayaquil to the Galapagos and board your intimate yacht for an eight-day expedition across volcanic islands teeming with wildlife. Days unfold with guided hikes, zodiac rides, and time for snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding, always followed by delicious onboard meals and enriching naturalist briefings.
Returning to the mainland, you’ll unwind at the family-run Hacienda La Danesa, an authentic countryside retreat surrounded by lush vegetation. Horse riding, cacao workshops, river tubing, cooking classes, and gentle bike rides offer a warm introduction to Ecuador’s rural traditions.
Your journey then continues overland along the Pacific, crossing the Ecuador-Peru border through quiet fishing villages and open coastline, an experience few travelers make. The trip concludes in Mancora at KiChic, a serene, barefoot-luxury eco-lodge set directly on the beach and the perfect place to relax, reset, and end your adventure by the ocean.
Highlights
- Explore the Galapagos aboard a small luxury yacht, reaching remote islands rarely visited on shorter routes.
- Hike volcanic craters, wetlands, bays, and coves as you encounter iconic wildlife up close.
- Snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard with top-tier equipment provided onboard.
- Discover Ecuador’s quiet coastline with stays at Hotel del Parque and the charming Hacienda La Danesa.
- Cross the Ecuador–Peru border overland, passing little-known seaside villages along the Pacific.
- Unwind at KiChic, a boutique eco-lodge on Peru’s northern beaches—perfect for relaxation after adventure.
Daily Summary
Life is a Beach
A Private Journey to Ecuador & Peru
15 Days / 14 Nights
Hotel Del Parque, Isla Baltra, Isla Genovesa, Santiago Island, Isla Isabela, Isla Fernandina, Isla Rabida, Hacienda La Danesa, Kichic Boutique Hotel, Talara
All elements of these journey will be tailormade to your interests and travel style.
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Day 1
Arrival in Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Arrive in Guayaquil, where your Aracari representative greets you and transfers you to your elegant riverside hotel. Settle into the tropical coastal atmosphere ahead of tomorrow’s Galapagos adventure.
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Day 2
Fly to the Galapagos & Board Your Yacht
Guayaquil - Galápagos
Fly from Guayaquil to Baltra and board your luxury catamaran. Settle into your suite before setting off toward Santa Cruz’s north shore for a first walk among lagoons, flamingos, and land iguanas at Cerro Dragón.
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Day 3
Your Luxury Galapagos Cruise Begins
Galápagos
Explore the archipelago with expert naturalists, enjoying spacious cabins, panoramic decks, and top-tier service aboard one of the Galapagos’ most modern catamarans. Afternoon outings introduce you to island wildlife and volcanic landscapes.
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Day 4
Genovesa: Darwin Bay & Prince Philip’s Steps
Galápagos
Walk along Darwin Bay’s coral-sand beach, spotting red-footed boobies and playful sea lions. In the afternoon, climb Prince Philip’s Steps for sweeping views and encounters with owls, storm petrels, and lava lizards.
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Day 5
Santa Cruz Highlands & Sullivan Bay
Galápagos
Visit the lush highlands and the dramatic Twin Craters before exploring Sullivan Bay’s surreal lava formations. Walk across pahoehoe flows shaped into ribbons, braids, and fans by ancient eruptions.
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Day 6
Sierra Negra, Wetlands & Tortoise Breeding Center
Galápagos
Hike along the immense caldera of Sierra Negra, then explore mangrove wetlands and the historic Wall of Tears. Visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Center to see young giant tortoises before returning to your yacht.
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Day 7
Elizabeth Bay & Urbina Uplift
Galápagos
Cruise through mangroves where rays and turtles glide below, then visit Urbina Bay, uplifted by volcanic activity. Spot land iguanas, giant tortoises, and flightless cormorants along the shoreline.
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Day 8
Tagus Cove & Fernandina Wildlife Encounters
Galápagos
Explore pirate-history-rich Tagus Cove before hiking to Darwin Lake. Continue to Fernandina for lava fields, penguins, marine iguanas, and one of the archipelago’s largest cormorant colonies.
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Day 9
Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove & Rabida
Galápagos - Guayaquil
Snorkel and stroll Espumilla Beach among iguanas and vibrant Sally Lightfoot crabs. Continue to Buccaneer Cove’s dramatic cliffs and end the day on Rabida’s iconic red-sand beach.
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Day 10
Final Landing & Return to Guayaquil
Guayaquil
Make a last stop at Mosquera Islet, home to sea lions and seasonal orcas. Fly back to Guayaquil and transfer to the peaceful Hacienda La Danesa, surrounded by lush countryside and warm Ecuadorian hospitality.
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Day 11
Hacienda La Danesa at Leisure
Guayaquil - Tumbes - Máncora
Enjoy a relaxed day on the hacienda: ride horses, float down the river, learn cacao cultivation, join a cooking class, or bike through the countryside, each experience celebrating local tradition.
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Day 12
Overland Across the Border to Mancora
Máncora
Travel down Ecuador’s Pacific coast and cross into Peru by private vehicle. Continue to Mancora and settle into KiChic, a serene beachfront eco-lodge ideal for slowing down and reconnecting with nature.
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Day 13
Mancora at Leisure
Máncora
Unwind on Mancora’s sunlit beaches. Enjoy yoga, spa treatments, fresh seafood, or simple relaxation in your ocean-view suite.
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Day 14
Another Day in Paradise
Máncora - Talara - Lima
A full day to savor KiChic’s effortless calm swim, read, walk the beach, or enjoy the lodge’s wellness rituals as the sun dips into the Pacific.
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Day 15
Departure from Talara
Talara
Spend a final morning by the sea before transferring to Talara Airport for your flight to Lima. Your Aracari host will assist with onward international departure.
Luxury Stays with a Sense of Place
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Tell us what inspires you, and we’ll tailor this itinerary to your passions, pace, and style.
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