My OAT Machu Picchu Galapagos Review

Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Tours:
Comparing OAT, Road Scholar & Odysseys Unlimited

A trip to the Galapagos is on just about everyone's bucket list.

But combine it with the wonder of Machu Picchu, and you've got something even more special — two bucket-list adventures in one unforgettable trip.

Peru and Machu Picchu alone are well worth the journey. Add the wildlife and natural beauty of the Galapagos, and you have an adventure that's hard to beat.

Here's what you should know to find a great trip, make the most of these two remarkable destinations, and enjoy those typical Thrifty Senior Traveler savings along the way....

When We Took This Trip: July 10 - 28, 2017
Jesse's Thrifty Senior Traveler Rating: 4.50 out of 5 Stars

Booking Your First
Overseas Adventure Travel Tour?

Two Bucket-List Adventures:
Thrifty Senior Traveler Tips to Find Your Best Option

I created the Thrifty Senior Traveler website to share my experiences and tips with others who enjoy traveling (and bargains).
I don't work or get paid from any particular company.

I clearly like Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). They meet all my checkmarks: great tours for great value. I am after all the Thrifty Senior Traveler.

If you are booking a first trip with OAT, I have a favor to ask.

OAT has a special "Referral Program". When booking your reservation, tell them "I was referred by Jesse Slome -
his OAT # is 932019."

You'll qualify for the first-time traveler savings of $100-per-person. And, I receive a 1-time credit toward a future OAT adventure. It costs you nothing. I only get credit once (1 time!). Then you get to earn referral credits.

So far, 88 travelers have told OAT they were referred by Jesse Slome. If you decide to take an OAT adventure, I hope you'll be #89!

Thank you - and I hope to see you somewhere in the world!

Machu Picchu ranks as the #1 most-endorsed bucket-list destination globally for travelers age 55+, while the Galápagos Islands are consistently recognized as one of the top nature and wildlife destinations in the Americas.

Put the two together and you've got one heck of a travel adventure.

That's why we chose the OAT Machu Picchu & the Galapagos tour back in 2017. At the time, it exceeded our expectations and delivered experiences we'll never forget.

But nearly a decade later, I'm not going to simply tell you how great OAT was back then. Travel changes. Tours change. And today's traveler has more choices.

We took this trip in 2017, and nearly a decade later, we still consider it one of the most remarkable adventures we've experienced. Rather than fill this page with generic testimonials, let's get to the questions that may matter more to you: Which company offers the best experience—and the best value?

Plus - Find ways to save money — with a few of my favorite Thrifty Senior Traveler tips.

The, we'll Compare OAT with Road Scholar — including the pros and cons that matter when choosing between them.

And, then Compare OAT with Odysseys Unlimited — another strong option for combining Machu Picchu and the Galápagos.

Two extraordinary destinations. Several ways to experience them.

Let's figure out which one gives you the best adventure for your travel dollar.

Small Group Adventure Advantage for Machu Picchu & the Galapagos

We've come to appreciate the small-group advantage of traveling with Overseas Adventure Travel. But for iconic destinations like Machu Picchu and the Galápagos Islands, we think small-group travel is more than an advantage — it's a big part of the experience.

Large bus tours and massive cruise ships can move a lot of people. Small-group adventures are different. They offer more intimacy, more flexibility and, often, more opportunities to actually experience a destination rather than simply see it.

That's especially important in the Galápagos, where visitor access is carefully managed to protect this extraordinary environment. Small-ship expeditions allow travelers to explore the islands in groups small enough. That's important in terms of landing limits and shuttles back and forth from a large ship.

It also makes the experience feel personal rather than like you're part of a floating crowd.

For a destination this special, smaller really can be better.

Look for Special Savings & Solo Travel Opportunities to the Galápagos

Machu Picchu and the Galápagos are popular destinations. But that doesn't mean you should automatically assume you'll have to pay top dollar.

Travel companies such as OAT depend heavily on repeat travelers. And many repeat travelers, like us, have already experienced this trip. That can create opportunities for travelers who are flexible about when they go.

If you can travel within the next one to three months, check OAT's Special Offers.

You may find discounted spaces on departures that still have room available. These offers can change frequently, so it pays to look before booking at the regular price. Look at their website under the button SPECIAL OFFERS.

There's another potentially significant savings opportunity. This one for solo travelers.

If you're traveling alone, you may be able to avoid the single supplement — and you won't necessarily have to accept a room-sharing arrangement. That's particularly appealing on a Galápagos cruise, where having your own cabin can make the experience considerably more comfortable.

OAT has long made solo travelers an important part of its business, so check for solo spaces before assuming you'll have to pay a hefty single supplement or share a room with a stranger.

Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Tours: OAT vs. Road Scholar

OAT Advantages

Smaller Groups

OAT limits this trip to 16 travelers. Road Scholar's current Machu Picchu & Galápagos program can have more travelers, depending on the departure. For us, smaller is better — especially when you're navigating airports, buses, archaeological sites and boats.

A More Intimate Travel Style

OAT puts considerable emphasis on experiencing local life, not simply touring the major attractions. That's one of the things we've appreciated most during our 19 OAT adventures.

Solo Traveler Advantage

OAT currently advertises no single supplement on this Machu Picchu & Galápagos adventure. For someone traveling alone, that can be a very big deal.

The Thrifty Advantage

OAT also offers Special Offers on selected departures. If you're flexible about when you travel, checking those deals before booking at the regular price can potentially save you a substantial amount.

Road Scholar Advantages

Education Is Front and Center

This is where Road Scholar has a legitimate advantage. Its current program includes seven expert-led lectures and 26 expert-led field trips. If learning deeply about the history, culture, archaeology and natural science of Peru and the Galápagos is your top priority, Road Scholar deserves serious consideration.

A Strong Galápagos Focus

Road Scholar's current program uses a small ship and devotes substantial attention to the natural history of the islands, with expert naturalists helping travelers understand the wildlife and ecosystems they're seeing.

The Price Difference

Here's where things get particularly interesting for a Thrifty Senior Traveler.

As of the date this page was posted, Road Scholar was listing its 18-day Machu Picchu & Galápagos adventure from approximately $8,999 per person, while OAT was listing its 17-day adventure from approximately $6,895 per person.

That's a difference of roughly $2,100 per person — or more than $4,000 for two travelers.

Prices, departure dates and included features can change, so check the current prices before making any decision. But at the prices we found when researching this page, OAT had a substantial price advantage.

And if you're a solo traveler, the potential savings can be even more significant because of OAT's solo-traveler policies.

So Which Would I Choose?

Having traveled with OAT 19 times, I obviously have a bias. But I don't think that automatically makes OAT the winner.

Choose Road Scholar if education and structured learning are your highest priorities.

Choose OAT if you put a higher value on smaller groups, locally focused experiences, solo-traveler value and getting more adventure for your travel dollar.

For us, OAT wins.

And at the prices we found when researching this page, it wins the Thrifty Senior Traveler test, too.

But Road Scholar is a legitimate competitor — and for the right traveler, it could be the better choice.

Road Scholar is probably the most natural competitor to OAT for this adventure.

Both specialize in travel for older adults, both emphasize small groups and learning, and both offer trips combining Machu Picchu and the Galápagos.

So which one is the better choice?

The answer depends on what you value most — and, of course, what you're willing to spend. Here's how I'd compare them.

Machu Picchu & the Galapagos Tours: OAT vs. Odysseys Unlimited

Odysseys Unlimited is another very legitimate competitor to OAT for this adventure.

In fact, the two itineraries are remarkably similar: both combine Peru — including Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu — with Quito and a Galápagos adventure.

So once again, which one should you choose?

Here's my take.

OAT Advantages

Smaller Maximum Group

OAT limits this adventure to 16 travelers. Odysseys Unlimited guarantees groups of 12 to 20. That's not a huge difference, but when you're traveling through Peru and the Galápagos, we think smaller groups have a real advantage.

More Days — For Less Money

This is where things get interesting.

OAT's current adventure is 17 days, while Odysseys Unlimited's is 16 days. And as of the date this page was posted, OAT was listing its trip from $6,895 per person, including airfare.

Odysseys Unlimited was listing its 2026 trip from approximately $9,393 per person from Miami — $8,295 for air and land plus $1,098 in airline taxes and fees.

That's a difference of approximately $2,500 per person, or roughly $5,000 for two travelers.

That's not pocket change.

Prices, departure dates and airfare costs obviously change, so check the current prices before booking. But based on the prices we found when researching this page, OAT has a substantial price advantage.

And that's exactly the kind of thing a Thrifty Senior Traveler wants to know.

Two Days at Machu Picchu

Here's another OAT advantage that I think deserves attention.

OAT provides two days at Machu Picchu, giving travelers more time to experience one of the world's great archaeological wonders rather than rushing through it in a single visit.

For us, that's important. Machu Picchu isn't a place I'd want to check off a list and immediately move on. Having additional time to explore and absorb the experience is a genuine advantage.

The Galápagos: It's Essentially a Tie

I wouldn't give either company a major advantage here.

Both itineraries provide an extended Galápagos experience, including four nights. OAT's current trip includes a privately chartered 16-passenger small ship, with Zodiac landings that get travelers directly into the Galápagos experience.

So if you're choosing between these two trips, I wouldn't make the number of Galápagos nights the deciding factor.

I'd look instead at the ship, cabin, exact itinerary and departure date.

OAT's Solo Traveler Advantage

OAT currently lists no single supplement for this adventure. For solo travelers, that's a potentially significant savings advantage.

If you're traveling alone, don't just compare the advertised per-person prices. Find out what you'll actually pay for your room and, especially, your Galápagos cruise cabin.

Odysseys Unlimited Advantages

A Very Strong Small-Group Experience

Odysseys Unlimited guarantees groups of just 12 to 20 guests and emphasizes excellent hotels, unique lodging and experienced Tour Directors.

That's a strong selling point — and one reason I wouldn't dismiss Odysseys simply because OAT costs less.

A Different Travel Style

Odysseys Unlimited places considerable emphasis on its Tour Directors, hotels and carefully designed itineraries. If that style of travel appeals to you, it deserves serious consideration.

And while I have traveled with OAT 19 times, that doesn't mean everyone will prefer OAT's approach.

So Which Would I Choose?

Once again, I have a bias. I've traveled with OAT 19 times, including this adventure.

But looking at the current trips rather than relying solely on my 2017 experience, I think the choice is pretty straightforward for me.

Choose Odysseys Unlimited if you particularly like its hotels, Tour Director approach or itinerary.

Choose OAT if you want a maximum group size of 16, two days at Machu Picchu, a strong solo-traveler program and, most importantly, substantially more adventure for your travel dollar.

At the prices we found when researching this page, OAT wins the Thrifty Senior Traveler test by a pretty wide margin.

And when you're talking about saving roughly $2,500 per person, that's money I'd rather spend on another adventure.

Before You Book Your First OAT Adventure...

If this page helped you decide that Overseas Adventure Travel might be right for you, there's one more Thrifty Senior Traveler tip:

When booking your first OAT trip, PLEASE be sure to use my OAT referral number: #932019.

You'll receive $100 off your first OAT adventure, and I'll get 1-time credit for the referral.
(Just one credit ... then you get to earn credits.)

It's a win-win — you save $100, and you help me get one step closer to my goal of 100 OAT referrals.

So if you decide to book, please tell OAT: “I was referred by Jesse Slome, OAT #932019.”

Thanks for helping this 19-time OAT traveler keep traveling — and keep finding ways for fellow seniors to travel a little smarter and a little thriftier.

Written by Jesse Slome, The Thrifty Senior Traveler
Originally published August 31, 2026 | Last updated August 31, 2026