Peruvian Odyssey: 9 Days in Machu Picchu and the Amazon
Immerse in the Splendors of Peru: From Inca Ruins to Amazonian Wonders
Embark on a “Peruvian Odyssey,” a 9-day journey that marries the historical allure of Machu Picchu with the wild beauty of the Amazon Basin. Begin in Lima, exploring its vibrant Plaza Mayor, a testament to Peru’s rich history and culture. Fly to Cusco, the heart of the Incan empire, and soak in the unique fusion of Quechua and Inca cultures. Discover the Sacred Valley’s colorful textile markets, quaint villages, and iconic Inca sites. The journey’s pinnacle is Machu Picchu, where the sunset over the ruins offers a breathtaking experience. Venture to Puerto Maldonado and travel upstream to an Amazonian eco-lodge, immersing yourself in the dense jungle of the Tambopata National Reserve. Here, witness the spectacular macaw clay licks and diverse wildlife, creating a profound connection with nature.
Highlights
- Historic Exploration in Lima: Discover Lima’s rich history at Plaza Mayor, a vibrant mix of Spanish colonial architecture and modern Peruvian culture.
- Sacred Valley’s Market Charm: Wander through the Sacred Valley, visiting traditional textile markets and quaint villages, showcasing Peru’s vibrant local crafts and Inca history.
- Majestic Machu Picchu: Witness a breathtaking over Machu Picchu, marveling at the stunning Inca citadel nestled amidst the Andean mountains.
- Amazon Rainforest Adventure: Embark on an exhilarating journey to a remote Amazonian lodge, exploring the lush rainforest and observing diverse wildlife in Tambopata National Reserve.
- Macaw Clay Lick Visit: Experience the natural spectacle at one of the world’s largest parrot clay licks in the Amazon, observing colorful macaws in their natural habitat.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Lima – Welcome to Peru
Land in Lima and transfer to your accommodation. Take the day to relax and acclimate to the new environment.
Day 2: Exploring Lima – Colonial Walking Tour
Embark on a guided tour of Lima’s colonial quarter, immersing yourself in the city’s rich history and culture.
Day 3: Journey to Cusco – The Inca Capital
Fly from Lima to Cusco. Enjoy a colorful walking tour of Cusco, exploring its historical landmarks and vibrant local life.
Day 4: Sacred Valley Wonders – Pisac & Ollantaytambo
Depart for a tour of the Sacred Valley. Visit Pisac’s famous market and the Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo.
Day 5: Machu Picchu Adventure – The Lost Inca City
Travel to the iconic Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ancient Inca sanctuary.
Day 6: Amazon Basin Expedition – Puerto Maldonado
Take a flight to Puerto Maldonado and transfer to an Amazonian lodge in the heart of the rainforest.
Day 7: Amazon Wildlife – Macaw Clay Lick & Oxbow Lake
Visit a vibrant macaw clay lick. Hike to the serene Condenado Oxbow Lake, observing diverse wildlife.
Day 8: Deep Jungle Exploration – Sachavacayoc Oxbow Lake
Explore Sachavacayoc Oxbow Lake. Experience a deeper immersion into the Amazon jungle with a guided walk.
Day 9: Farewell to the Amazon – Departure Day
Depart from the Amazon lodge. Fly back to Lima and connect with your international flight, bringing home unforgettable Peru memories.
Prices for this trip
Hotel Category | Double or Triple room | Single room Additional cost |
---|---|---|
Budget | US$ 1556 | US$ 251 |
Tourist | US$ 1646 | US$ 413 |
Superior Tourist | US$ 1792 | US$ 515 |
* Minimum 2 passengers to confirm the booking; solo traveler is subject to an additional fee.
* Small group min 2, max 16 — group tour; join other travelers at each destination (If you want a private tour just for you, ask your travel agent).
Includes and excludes
Included
- Accommodation: 7 nights in Lima, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, and Puno Hotel.
- The itinerary includes all admission costs (Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Lake Titicaca).
- English-speaking local guides lead the tours.
- All transfers: airport, train station, bus station transfers, Hotel pickup, and drop-offs.
- Train ticket: Ollantaytambo – Aguas Calientes – Cusco (Expedition Class).
- Meals: According mentioned in the itinerary (vegetarian or special diets are available).
- All ground transportation.
- 24-hour support by our local staff.
Not included
- The price does not cover domestic or international flights. Consult a travel agency if necessary.
- VISA procedures, travel insurance, pre, and post-tour accommodation.
- Additional personal costs (alcoholic beverages, laundry).
- The price does not cover gratuities for tour guides, drivers, and support staff.
- Guidance in another language (Germany, French, others), in case you request them, please ask your travel agent.
- Additional items are not included explicitly in the itinerary description.
- Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain.
Trip code: MAPIAMA-SIC
Day 1 – International Arrival in Lima
- Lima Airport Transfer: Arrive in Lima at any time. Our representative will be waiting at Lima airport with a customized sign with the client’s name.
- Upon arrival in Lima, assistance at the airport and transfer to the lodging.
- No scheduled activities exist, so check into lodging and restore the energy.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: None.
Day 2 – Lima Colonial Walking Tour
- Hotel breakfast; enjoy a free morning to explore the city alone.
- At 14:00, pick up and transfer to Lima historical center. We will take a fascinating walking tour. We will show our clients the palaces, castles, magnificent Saint Francisco Monastery, and spectacular subterranean Catacombs throughout our city.
- We visit the main square, the Archbishop’s Palace, the Municipal Palace, the train station Palace, the unique old-fashioned “Cordano Bar,” colorful mansion palaces, the Jiron del Union Pathway, the Post Office Palace, the Dominicans Tower, and the Historical Rimac Bridge, as well as the lovely surrounded wooden Balconies.
- The historical center is considered a World Heritage protected by UNESCO.
- The tour will end around 18:00.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Lima.
- Meals included: Breakfast.
Day 3 – Flight to Cusco & Colorful Cusco Walking Tour
- Hotel breakfast; at 06:30, picked up from the hotel and escorted to the airport to trip to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital.
- Upon arrival in Cusco, assistance at the airport and transfer to the lodging.
- The rest of the day is free for relaxation to minimize the adverse effects of the high altitude and explore this wonderful city.
- Hotel pickup at 14:30. The walking tour starts in the colorful San Pedro market; there is probably no better place to witness Cusquean life. Enjoy a firsthand look at how residents live day-to-day outside the postcard perfection of Cusco’s main square. The guide explains this market’s history as its wanders through the narrow aisles laden with colorful fabrics, meals, fruit juice, bread, and shaman stalls.
- After, we visit Cusco’s main square. This busy and vibrant space marks the city’s colonial center, featuring wide stone pathways and well-kept colorful gardens.
- Afterward, we will go to Qorikancha, where Santo Domingo’s convent sits atop the ancient temple. For some unknown reason, numerous invaders were awed by the splendor of this temple when they first arrived because, according to tradition, it was fully gold-plated.
- The tour ends around 18:00.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
- Meals Included: Breakfast.
Day 4 – Tour to the Sacred Valley (Pisac & Ollantaytambo)
- Hotel breakfast; pick up from the hotel at 07:30. We embark on a journey to the Inca’s Sacred Valley, beginning in Pisac, 31 km from Cusco. The old Incan archaeological site is on the summit of a mountain. There have the chance to witness the impressive stonemasonry skill of our ancient ancestors.
- Afterward, go down into the quaint little town and wander through its colorful market to buy intricate, beautifully hand-crafted products.
- Afterward, have lunch at a nearby restaurant.
- We next go to Ollantaytambo, an Inca military, religious, and agricultural hub perched on a mountain. Unlike other little villages, this one has retained its original Incan architecture, with magnificent stone structures and winding alleyways.
- Following the tour, we go to the Ollantaytambo railway station to board the train to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, guests will be welcomed and transferred to the hotel.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Aguas Calientes.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 5 – Visit the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu & Back to Cusco
- Hotel breakfast; at 06:00. Take a bus to the Machu Picchu archaeological site (2,430m/7,972ft). Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, the mountaintop fortress earned every bit of its notoriety.
- Around 07:30 am, the guided tour begins; the guide expertly directs through the astounding ruins and main streets. Then wander around the town squares and climb the intricately carved stairways made of stone. Machu Picchu is considered the world’s spiritual center by esoteric wisdom.
- The guided tour takes around two hours and 30 minutes.
- From 12:30 pm to 13:30, take the bus to Aguas Calientes.
- From 13:30 to 15:00, take lunch at a local restaurant in Aguas Calientes.
- Board the train to return to Cusco later in the day. Arrive at Poroy station and then be picked up and transported to the Cusco hotel.
- Overnight at the Hotel in Cusco.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Day 6 – Flight to Puerto Maldonado – Amazon Lodge
- Hotel breakfast; pick up from the hotel and transfer to Cusco airport to take the flight to Puerto Maldonado.
- Upon arrival, reception by the local guide and transfer to the office. In our office, we suggest packing just what we need for the next several days and storing extra baggage in our safe. We give a duffel if needed to keep our boats and porters’ loads minimal.
- We go 2 hours up the Tambopata River to Amazon Lodge.
- We may see birds, caimans, capybaras, and monkeys en route.
- Boat lunch. We provide vegetarian box lunches and cold bottled beverages onboard.
- In our guide’s company, we relax at the lodge.
- After a brief rest, we will go for a jungle walk to introduce nature and become acquainted with the forest interior. We wait until dark to conduct a night walk searching for nocturnal species and critters, such as the fantastic bird-eating Tarantula (as giant as your hand).
- Overnight at Amazon Lodge.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7 – Macaw Clay Lick & Hike to Condenado Oxbow lake
- We will visit the beautiful Chuncho clay-lick, the biggest in the world, where hundreds of parrots gather to eat clay, a habit peculiar to this region.
- Early departure at 04:00, followed by a two-hour boat ride upstream on the Tambopata River; for optimal parrot viewing, it is essential to arrive before the birds.
- On the way to the clay-lick, we have a reasonable possibility of seeing capybaras, caimans, and jaguars. We remain in the clay lick region until we see macaws consuming clay. Return for lunch to the lodge.
- After a whole night’s rest, we pack and prepare for our journey to the beautiful wilderness. Condenado lake Condenado Lake is one hour away from the lodge. Condenado Lake has excellent wildlife, including monkeys, caimans, hoatzins, and macaws going to roost. We also have a good chance of seeing the elusive and shy anaconda. This place gives us a unique Jungle experience, as we are the only ones in this pristine lake.
- As soon as we arrive in the evening, we board a paddle boat and paddle through the thickest and fiercest forest, seeing howling monkeys and macaws.
- On the way back, we return to the resort for a night stroll in search of animals or to appreciate the spooky-romantic, dramatic, quiet, and noisy jungle.
- Overnight at Amazon Lodge.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8 – Sachavacayoc Oxbow lake & Walk Deep Jungle
- Following breakfast, we walk two hours into the deep jungle until we reach the lake Sachavacayoc oxbow lake.
- We can see monkeys, caimans, tapirs, anacondas, hoatzins, and many blue and yellow macaws roosting and nesting around this lake in the middle of the Tambopata National Reserve.
- We arrive in the middle of the morning and hire a paddle boat to gently explore the dense jungle while listening to monkeys and macaws communicate. Allow us to see the water at our leisure. This tour will span the whole day to provide enough time for searching for anacondas and spider monkeys.
- After a day of exploring the densest jungle conceivable, we return to the lodge before dinner to conduct a Cayman hunt by the river.
- dining area at the cabin
- Overnight at Amazon Lodge.
- Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9 – Departure from Lodge – Flight to Lima – Connect at International Flight
- Breakfast at lodge; transfer by boat – Lodge to Tambopata River Port, then Puerto Maldonado. We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, our office, and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.
- Flight to Lima and connect at the same airport for an International flight.
- Meals included: Breakfast