Ecuador & Peru Travel Review: Quito, Galapagos Islands, Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu, Wayna Picchu, Sun Gate, Aguas Calientas

The trip overall was a lot of fun! All of the accommodations were good, but the accommodations in Machu Picchu and Quito were exceptional. If you're from the lowlands like us, spending 2 days in Cusco is an absolute minimum as the elevation and stress of Machu Picchu can be quite challenging otherwise. I'd recommend the Sun Gate and Waynapicchu hikes as they give you the best views of the entire site. The Peru Rail Vistadome experience was quite memorable too so don't miss that! The Galapagos offers an experience you can't get anywhere else in the world. Bring lots of sunscreen! 

My comments on this trip would be don't expect this to be relaxing. You will spend the majority of your mornings waking up no later than 6AM as all the activities and transfers have early starts. You will be flying a lot so getting to the airport very early is common. The altitude can be quite daunting, but drinking the coca tea finding other remedies will help tremendously. The Galapagos cruise can be quite exhausting as the days will begin early and be spent roaming around the area. We found ourselves taking naps everyday after lunch to recharge.

My only complaint was the air conditioning in our room on the cruise was very bad. We would come back from a hot dingy ride around the island to a room with no circulation and very hot. We complained to the crew, but it seemed to be out of their control.