Affordable luxury Kenya - Upcoming Tour | Gourmet Kosher Safaris

KENYA

PERU AND THE GALAPAGOS

-10 DAYS
Sunday 13 July 2025– Tuesday 22 July 2025

This tour unites two of South America's most breathtaking wonders: the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and Machu Picchu in Peru. Our journey begins on Sunday with our arrival in the vibrant, tropical city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, where we’ll spend the night eagerly anticipating our Monday morning flight to the Galapagos.

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ITINERARY

We explore some of the most stunning islands in this renowned archipelago, encountering the extraordinary wildlife that has made the Galapagos a world treasure.

BIRTHPLACE OF SAFARI TRAVEL

In Lima, South America’s third-largest metropolis, we celebrate Shabbat with the Jewish community, embracing the vibrant contrasts of this ocean-desert city—from modern shopping centers to beautiful colonial architecture.

DATES & PRICES

Our journey continues through the breathtaking Andean highlands, from the historic city of Cusco to the Sacred Valley, where we board a scenic train through the picturesque Urubamba Canyon to Aguas Calientes, gateway to the legendary Machu Picchu. With great anticipation, we explore this ancient Incan marvel, all while enjoying the signature luxury accommodations and gourmet kosher cuisine that Kosher Safaris is known for!

Itinerary

Depending on our arrival time, you’ll embark on a sightseeing tour of Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest and most populous city. Highlights include the colorful Las Peñas neighborhood, the scenic Malecón 2000, Cerro Santa Ana, and Parque Histórico. We’ll aim to explore as many of these attractions as time and conditions allow.

At the end of the tour, we’ll return to our elegant riverfront hotel to enjoy a relaxing dinner. Be sure to get a good night's sleep and recharge—extraordinary adventures await in the coming days!
Today, we depart from Guayaquil and fly to Baltra Port, where our incredible Galapagos adventure begins with an orientation talk and a delicious kosher lunch. In the Galapagos highlands, we’ll explore diverse ecosystems, from coastal landscapes and agricultural fields to lush, dense forests, each teeming with a variety of bird species, including the famous finches. As we journey through the reserve, you’ll have the rare chance to observe Galapagos giant tortoises, some weighing up to 600 pounds, in their natural habitat. This day offers an unforgettable glimpse into the unique contrasts and beauty of the Galapagos Islands.
This morning, we begin our adventures on the southern part of the island, El Barranco. Prepare to be amazed by the rich marine life sheltered within the crevices of the lava cliffs, while red-billed tropicbirds soar above. Scan the shoreline for colonies of fur seals, and as we ascend the rocky stairway, marvel at the Nazca and red-footed booby colonies. Keep an eye out for elusive short-eared owls along the way!
In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Darwin Bay where we land on a sandy beach within Tower Island's flooded caldera, where elegant swallow-tailed gulls, often called the world’s most beautiful gulls, can be viewed.

The trail winds past mangroves and saltbush, offering scenes of nesting red-footed boobies and magnificent great frigatebirds.

If we are lucky, by the tidal lagoon we will encounter the rarest gull in the world, the endemic larva gull.
South Plaza is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago which is carpeted with vibrant red succulents and dotted with towering Opuntia cacti. As we explore this morning, we’ll encounter sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls, and land iguanas, and at the cliff’s edge, we’ll watch frigatebirds, Galapagos shearwaters, and red-billed tropicbirds in flight.
This afternoon you will enjoy a unique snorkeling experience in the Santa Fe island region in the turquoise waters of the protected bay, where you may spot sea lions, turtles, reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays. Afterwards, we’ll stroll along a sandy beach into a forest of giant Opuntia cacti, where the Santa Fe land iguana can be hopefully be spotted!
Named after the remnants of WWII barges, whose ribs still rise from the sand, this site offers excellent swimming, a scenic shoreline walk, and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line. Here, we may spot wading birds, marine iguanas, and even flamingos!

The beaches also serve as nesting grounds for green turtles, with their distinctive tracks marking the sand.
Later, we’ll board our flight back to Guayaquil for an overnight stay. Reflect on the memories of these past days, as tomorrow we head to Lima, the vibrant heart of Peru, where new adventures await.
This morning, we fly South to Lima, the massive Peruvian capital and the third-largest city in South America. As one of the world’s largest desert cities, Lima enjoys a mild, almost rain-free climate despite its location on the humid Pacific coast.

The city’s dramatic setting—surrounded by desert, mountains, and ocean—is matched by its impressive blend of colonial architecture, pre-Inca ruins, and ultra-modern shopping centers. After a day immersed in the contrasts of this vibrant metropolis, we prepare for a memorable Shabbat with the Jewish community.
Today, we enjoy a beautiful Shabbat in the upscale suburb of San Isidro, home to Peru's small yet vibrant Jewish community.

We begin with a warm morning at the community center, where we attend shul and enjoy a great Kiddush. After a delightful Shabbos lunch, we can either take a leisurely walk through the charming neighborhood or relax with a well-deserved rest.

After Shabbat, we head out to experience one of Lima's night highlights: the world's largest fountain display.
Today, we fly from Lima, on the coast, to the Andean city of Cusco, situated at 3,500 meters (about 11,000 feet) above sea level. From there, we travel by road to Urubamba, nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley, a slightly gentler elevation for acclimatization, where we check into our hotel.
We spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the hotel, allowing ourselves to acclimate in preparation for our exciting day at Machu Picchu.

Alternatively, those with some energy can book an additional tour of some of the ruins and heritage sights of the Sacred Valley Region
Today, we board the train through the breathtaking Urubamba Canyon to the village of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu—the lost city of the Incas.

This remote village can only be reached by this unique railway. Once we arrive, a scenic drive takes us further up the canyon, where we begin our exploration of this extraordinary site and its ancient wonders on foot, for the next few hours.
After some incredibe group photos opportunities, we begin the journey back to Urubamba in reverse, where a well-deserved dinner awaits us.
Today, we drive back through the Andes to Cusco, where we enjoy a brief tour of this historic city, once the capital of the Inca Empire—the largest empire in the Americas before Columbus. We also visit the local Chabad, which serves as more than just a regular Chabad House;
Its a "home away from home" for the thousands of Israeli backpackers who fall in love with this region during their post-army travels. After a delicious lunch at the Israeli fast-food restaurant in the courtyard of this historic building, we head to the airport for our flight back to Lima, carrying with us unforgettable memories of the region's stunning scenery and wildlife.

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DATES:

Sunday 13 July – Tuesday 22 July 2025 (10 days)

$10, 000 per person sharing; Single Supplement: $3000
Luxury Accomodation as follows:

Galapagos Legend Cruise (3 nights) https://www.galapatours.com/hosts/galapagos-legend

Wyndham Guayaquil (2 nights) https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/es-la/hotels/guayaquil-guayas-ecuador?brand_id=WY&brand_tier=HR

Lima Country Club (2 nights) https://countryclublimahotel.com/home

Taypikalla Deluxe Sacred Valley Urubamba https://www.taypikala.com/en/hotel-taypikalavalle-in-urubamba/

3 freshly prepared kosher meals daily by GKS team, under strict Hashgacha. Packed lunches when out for the day

Twice daily snacks and plenty bottled water on excursions; soft drinks and water during meals

Quality local kosher wines served at dinner

All excursions, transfers, entrance fees and guiding on the itinerary except when explicitly excluded
Tips – 6%

International airfares

Domestic flights from Guayaquil to Baltra Island/San Cristobal to Guayaquil /Guayaquil to Lima/ and from Lima to Cusco

Visas and airport taxes

Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Hotel upgrades

Bar, laundry, and other hotel extras

Personal expenses
Trip is subject to minimum of 6 guests signing up. Deposit will be refunded if trip does not go ahead, so please don’t pay for flights until we have given the go ahead!

Schedule, hotels and other items are subject to change based on availability, group size and other factors, but in the event this occurs, the overall standard of the trip will be maintained as best as reasonably possible.

Kenya

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Frequently Asked Questions

On 12 December 2023 the President of Kenya announced that Kenya would be visa-free from January 2024.

Visitors to Kenya are now required to apply online for an electronic travel authorisation in advance of travel, which takes about a week (please allow a bit longer in case.) Some exemptions apply and can be found in full on the website of the Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority.

Travelers who currently hold a valid visa can continue to travel using their visa until its expiry.

As GKS cannot take responsibility for accuracy of visa information, it MUST be verified by the consulates of these countries well in advance of travel.
To enter Kenya, your passport must have:
an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive
at least 2 blank pages
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

East Africa has an equatorial climate and the temperatures are fairly similar throughout the year. At this time in particular, temperatures are generally still high. Also, August is quite a dry month for most of the country making it one of the best times to visit Kenya, which also coincides with the Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra.
The weather does change though depending on where exactly you go, especially with elevation and precipitation. At sea level it will most likely be extremely hot and humid, and cooler as elevation increases. So, although usually pleasantly warm, the higher areas of the Serengeti, Arusha, Masai Mara, Ngorongoro, and Kilimanjaro regions can be a little windy, rainy, and cool, and a sweatshirt and jacket are always recommended, particularly for early morning drives.

Prior to traveling anywhere, we recommend seeking a qualified medical practitioner’s advice about vaccinations and up to date precautionary medicine based upon your itinerary and personal situation.
Yellow fever inoculations are required.
Malaria is a risk in all of East Africa throughout the year, and you should consult your doctor for a prescription for prophylactic drugs.
Women who are pregnant, infants, children under ages of 4-5 should consult their doctor before visiting malaria areas.
Kenya has a rather basic health-care service and the nearest modern private hospital is in Nairobi, Kenya. The regions we visit are very remote, and anyone with serious medical issues should discuss them with their doctor before signing down to this trip.
All travelers should take out comprehensive travel insurance prior to travel that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation.
If you require a particular medication, ensure that you take an adequate supply as it may not be available locally.

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan shilling.
When you’re buying currency for Kenya, look out for the currency code KES. And once you’re in Kenya, you’ll see the symbol KSh used to show prices.
Kenyan banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 - although the 10 and 20 KES notes are seldom used.
Kenyan coins come in 1, 5, 10 and 20 Ksh and 40 and 40 cents.
ATMs are widely available across the country. KCB, Barclays, and Citibank are among the more reliable banks in Kenya that accept MasterCard, Maestro, and Visa. Bring additional cards, as the daily uptake with a foreign card is limited at the ATMs.
US Dollars and Euros can easily be changed to Kenyan Shillings at any Forex Bureau in most provincial towns.
Many vendors in the region will only accept cash, but many are all too eager for $US.
The good news is that being on an organized trip, you only really need cash for the small things, so it’s nothing to worry about!
*For your convenience, click here for updated currency conversion rates.

In Kenya, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type G are used, which is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.
The standard voltage is 240 V at a frequency of 50 Hz.
You can use all your equipment in Kenya if the outlet voltage in your own country is between 220V-240V. This is the case in most of Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom and most countries in Africa and Asia.
If the standard voltage in your country is in the range of 100V-127V (which is most common in the US, Canada and countries in South America) you might need a voltage converter in Kenya. Newer devices can most probably function regardless of the type of electric energy system, but there is no harm in checking, especially in the case of more sensitive or expensive personal devices.