Welcome to Peru for your Machu Picchu and the Amazon adventure! Upon arrival, you will be greeted by an English-speaking Latin Excursions representative who will assist you to your nearby hotel located across from the main Lima airport terminal. Almost every flight from the United States arrives in Lima late at night, and returns to the U.S. on a red-eye route. If you happen to choose a flight that arrives early in the day, we can arrange tours and experiences for that day to make the most out of your time in Lima.

After breakfast, your Lima representative will greet you in the lobby with your boarding pass to help you check in for your flight to Cusco. Here, you are met by a private guide and driver, setting off to the Sacred Valley. Along the way to your hotel, stop at the Awanacancha Textile and Camelid Center. Meet the Llamas and Alpacas, while also witnessing local women at work, dexterously weaving the wool into elaborate textiles, which you can purchase from the souvenir store. To finish this enchanting day, enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal at the authentic Hacienda Huayoccari, a working farm which serves up traditional dishes using whichever seasonal ingredients are grown onsite. The surrounding Sacred Valley views here are simply stunning, tempting you to head out and explore it all on horseback with the hacienda’s guides, but there is so much more to discover on this journey so make sure to save your energy. After lunch, your private guide and driver will take you to your hotel to relax for the evening.

Begin day three of your Machu Picchu and Amazon Tour with a relaxing and scenic kayaking session on Piuray Lagoon, a beautifully tranquil spot surrounded by grass covered plains, native forest and undulating mountains. Your paddle can be taken at a leisurely pace, making the most of your surrounds before a picnic by the lake shore. Afterwards, return to your hotel for the evening to enjoy the tranquility of the Sacred Valley, dine at the delicious restaurants located on-site, or partake in their offered on-site excursions.

Today, prepare for the iconic Lost City of the Incas: Machu Picchu, which is even more jaw-dropping in reality than you could ever imagine. A private transfer whisks you off to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you board the First Class Train by Inca Rail. If you would like to hike to Machu Picchu from Km104 of the railroad, please let your trip designer know and we’ll incorporate it into this itinerary. This journey isn’t your usual train ride, but an immersive experience with dancers, food and spectacular views of the shifting Sacred Valley scenery outside. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, your guide greets you and together make the onward bus journey up from town. Before exploring Machu Picchu properly, take lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge to enjoy first class food with unbeatable views of the ruins. Then, it’s time to uncover the iconic delights of Machu Picchu, an ancient wonder of the world and top highlight of South America, with a private guided tour. Afterwards, your private guide will lead you to the train station to board your train back to Ollantaytambo. Upon arrival, your private driver will be waiting for you and your guide outside the train station for a ride back to Cusco where you will spend the next two evenings.

The charming town of Cusco is a highlight of any essential Peru tour, perched up in the Andes, surrounded by rippling peaks and ruins. Cusco is ancient, dating back 3,000 years, and you can learn all about this magnetic city on a guided walking tour. Begin at the archaeological site of Sacsayhuamán, a vast complex that stands guard over the city. Next, the Cusco’s warren of cobblestone alleys and vibrant markets, the Cathedral of the Virgin of the Assumption on Plaza de Armas and Church of Santo Domingo, home to the original ‘Temple of the Sun’, Qoricancha; the most sacred site of the Inca. This afternoon, it’s a slight change of pace with a fun-filled chocolate making workshop at the nearby ChocoMuseo before a delicious lunch opposite the central Cathedral in Plazas de Armas, and later, visiting a musical workshop.

Savor your final breakfast in Cusco before the next stage of your Peru adventure vacation begins, with a private transfer to the airport, and flight to Iquitos for an Amazon River Cruise or Puerto Maldonado to stay at a luxurious jungle retreat. Upon arrival in Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado, you will be greeted by guides and taken to your jungle ecolodge or boat. Although you are surrounded by the lush greenery of the Tambopata National Reserve, there are still luxuries to be enjoyed at this sublime Amazon ecolodge. Make the most of a jungle spa, generous buffet meals at the rustic chic restaurant, and beautifully designed cabanas bedecked in local wood and crisp white drapes. Don’t hesitate to explore the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve, with 4.5 miles of walking trails. If you decide to go to Iquitos, your options for jungle cruises are the Aria, Delfin I, Delfin II, or Delfin III.

Whether you choose an Amazon Boat Cruise from Iquitos or a Jungle Retreat in Tambopata National Reserve, guided excursions are all included and help you delve deeper into the rainforest. Every day you will have opportunities to kayak, SUP, or hike to spot species such as Giant River Otter, pink dolphins (on the Amazon cruise only!) Red Howler Monkeys, Macaws and Yellow-spotted Side neck Turtles. No matter what excursions you choose, prepare to fully immerse into the Peruvian Amazon in style. Deciding what portion of the Amazon to visit in Peru can be a difficult one, but don’t stress, that’w why we are here. Your trip designer will listen to your travel desires and will custom-tailor this private Peru Journey just for you.

Tuck into a delicious jungle-inspired breakfast this morning before returning to the Puerto Maldonado or Iquitos airport for your domestic return flight to Lima. Depending on the time of your domestic arrival in Lima and your return flight home that day, either relax at the airport before your connecting flight or we can arrange a private transfer and guide for a Lima city tour and final sunset dinner before you depart picturesque Peru.