Be captivated by extraordinary natural wonders, iconic masterpieces, lush jungle and an ancient Incan culture
Magnificent Machu Picchu and the Amazon
Wildlife
Adventure
Photographic
Culture
Family
Your journey at a glance
Immerse yourself in this magnificent 11-day itinerary that reveals the wonders of Peru.
Your journey begins in the beautiful capital city of Lima. Once known as the City of Kings, Lima is steeped in heritage and is hailed as South America’s culinary capital. Explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas, shaped by sweeping rivers, and an abundance of fascinating archaeological monuments and indigenous people. Enjoy the local village of Pisac, famous for its colourful market attracting tourists from all over the world.
Hop aboard the luxurious Vistadome train, designed to provide panoramic views of the dramatic landscapes, on the way to Machu Picchu, Peru’s most sought-after drawcard and one of the world’s most significant archaeological sites. This enigmatic stone citadel is tangible evidence of the Inca Empire, when it was at the peak of its power and achievement – although the exact purpose of this magnificent complex of palaces, plazas, temples and homes remains an enduring mystery.
Delve into the ancient city of Cusco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site balancing age-old Peruvian traditions with Spanish colonial elegance. It offers peaceful courtyards, centuries-old passageways, lively European-style squares, holy temples and sacred hillside sanctuaries.
Your journey culminates on the alluring waterways of the Amazon. Search for pink dolphins, ride along the black waters of the Pacaya River and search for the mysterious wildlife that comes out after dark, enjoy intrepid adventures and be enchanted with magical stargazing under an inky black sky. This is a truly stunning experience that you will never forget.
1 night Lima | 2 nights Sacred Valley of the Incas | 1 night Machu Picchu | 2 nights Cusco | 4 nights Amazon
TAILORMAKE YOUR STAY
Talk to one of our travel specialists to tailormake your stay to any of our destinations
A taste of what to expect…
Day 1-2: Lima
- Your adventure begins in the vibrant and friendly city of Lima. On arrival here, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from &Beyond and taken to your hotel.
- Founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, the bustling city of Lima has become one of South America’s largest cities. Museums, ancient archaeological sites, beautiful beaches, wondrous nature reserves, vibrant nightlife, and the thrill of adventure sports, give Peru’s capital an authentic and unique personality.
- The city is also known for its outstanding cuisine, which encompasses specialties from ceviche and traditional coastal cooking to refined global fare. This energetic, sprawling metropolis promises visitors an unforgettable experience that is rich in culture, and high in excitement.
Day 2-4: Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Nestled at the foot of verdant hills the beautiful Río Urubamba Valley, known as El Valle Sagrado, the Sacred Valley resides.
- Boasting a magnificent natural setting, the Sacred Valley of the Incas can be appreciated for its rich flora and fauna, bird watching, and adventure sports as well as its archaeological wealth.
- Visit Awanacancha, a project that preserves ancient textile-making techniques. Continue to the fabric dyeing area where there is a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to the textiles. Peruse the fabric dyeing area featuring a display of various natural dyes and how they are applied to textiles, and watch a weaving demonstration. You will have the opportunity to purchase the finished products from their boutique store.
- Venture to the local village of Pisac, famous for its colourful market which attracts travellers from all over the world. Try your hand at bartering for local sweaters, ponchos, wall hangings, jewellery, local handicrafts, and unique souvenirs.
- Discover Moray, an impressive system of circular agricultural terraces, considered a crop lab used to create micro-climates and grow various products.
- Be captivated by the salt mines, or the famous “salt pools” of Maras. It’s fascinating to watch locals harvest the salt, a process that hasn’t changed in thousands of years.
- Relish lunch at Hacienda Huayoccari, tucked away in the lush, vegetation-filled private estate of the Lambarri-Orihuela family in the village of Huayoccari. The Hacienda houses the owners private collection of pre-Colombian, Incan and colonial artefacts.
- Explore Ollantaytambo, a lovely village that preserves the designs of Inca buildings. Among this place’s most impressive attractions are the ceremonial temple in worship of water and a fortress that guarded the entrance to the valley to repel any invasions.
Day 4-5: Machu Picchu
- Visit the town of Ollantaytambo, with its Inca streets of stone, traditional square homes, and small markets. Explore its ruins and hike up to an Incan temple for a majestic view of the town.
- Depart from Ollantaytambo Train Station to Machu Picchu on the Vistadome train. Watch the valleys, mountains and quaint villages pass by as you look through the train’s large, panoramic windows.
- Explore the fascinating citadel of Machu Picchu for three hours accompanied by your expert guide. Discover the myths, stories and theories shrouding this mysterious masterpiece. Your guide will lead you through the site, providing archaeological and historical information on key areas of interest, including Intihuatana (the Sun Dial), the Sacred Plaza, and the Temple of the Sun.
- Surrounded by the cloud forest, you’ll see the heights of the mountain Wayna Pikchu (Huayna Picchu) rising over the site, and Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) once a fortress of Machu Picchu and the entrance point to the Machu Picchu Inca trail.
- Enjoy the prospects of a walk through Machu Picchu at sunrise, something which people of strong spirituality believe to be the highlight of a visit to Machu Picchu.
- Choose between one or two of these hikes:
- Huayna Picchu, one of the highlights of a visit to Machu Picchu. The views of the Citadel and surrounding landscape are extraordinary from the top and well worth the climbing effort.
- Inti Punku or Sun Gate, it takes about an hour each way and is an uphill strenuous hike on the way out to the Gate.
- Inca Bridge, constructed of a few narrow logs perched above a sheer vertical drop – is believed to have served as a secret entrance to Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu Mountain, large granite steps comprise most of its trail and wind all the way to the top. The steep climb is a challenging but rewarding hike and the 360-degree views at the top are a gorgeous reward.
Day 5-7: Cusco
- Embark on a guided city tour of historical Cusco, magnificently preserved, and resplendent with colonial architecture. It showcases the apex of indigenous Quechua culture. Beautiful Spanish colonial buildings are juxtaposed with Incan walls lining the square, and a contemporary thriving nightlife flourishes.
- Visit notable sites on the Main Square such as the Cathedral of Cusco, the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cusco; in addition to its official status as a place of worship, it has become a major repository of Cusco’s colonial art and holds many archaeological artefacts and relics.
- Discover Koricancha Temple, the most impressive example of how Inca and Hispanic cultures fused together.
Explore the impressive fortress of Sacsayhuamán, built overlooking the city of Cusco. The ‘fortress’ is composed of three large terraced walls, which are said to represent the ‘Teeth of the Jaguar’.
Day 7-10: Amazon
- Board the Aria Amazon, a luxurious cruise ship, and start the day like Amazon River inhabitants, cruising along the Ucayali River. As these farmers and fishermen go about their business, we search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Later in the day, we return to the skiffs, to ride along the black waters of the Pacaya River at dusk, searching for the mysterious wildlife that come out after dark and with extraordinary stargazing
- Enjoy a paiche fishing demonstration, the second largest river fish in the world and venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.
- Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Come afternoon, take a short jungle walk in the San Jose de Sarapanga forest and see the unforgettable giant water lilies.
Day 11: Departure
- Visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits.
- Explore the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. Peruse the San Juan craft market on route to the airport for some last minute purchases.
- Wave a fond farewell as you arrive in Lima, to connect with your outbound flight.
Stay here on this journey
11 Days | From USD 10,180
Please keep in mind that this tour can be tailormade by speaking to one of our Travel Specialists.
Rates based on 2 guests sharing double accommodation. Children and small group rates are available on request.
What's included
- All nights of accommodation mentioned in the program
- Private transportation in the best available vehicles in each city
- Private tours with English speaking local guides
- Amazon Cruise transfers and excursions in shared basis (grouptours)
- Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and all sites mentioned in the itinerary
- Taxes included, where applicable
What's not included
- International Airfare
- Domestic Air Tickets (quoted separately) - Lima/Cusco/Lima/Iquitos/Lima approximately USD 850 per person
- Early check in or late check-out charges
- Items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, etc.
- Any video/still camera fee during the trip
- Tipping, Drinks, Excess of baggage
- Visas (visit our partner, Sherpa, for reliable and convenient access to all visa-related requirements, supporting information, and costs)
- Travel insurance (visit our partner, Global Rescue, for more information).
Conditions
- Rates are valid for: 15 January - 20th December 2024
- Children and small group rates upon request
- Prices are subject to change as per change in Government / Hotel / Airline policy without prior notice
- Rates include only those items specified in your itinerary
- Please note, the names of hotels mentioned in our proposal only indicate that our rates have been based on usage of these hotels. It is not to be construed that accommodation is confirmed at these hotels until and unless we convey the confirmations to you on receipt of your acceptance. However in the event of any of the above mentioned hotels not becoming available at the time of initiating the reservations, we shall book alternate accommodation at a similar or next best available hotel and shall pass on the difference of rates (supplement/reduction whatever applicable) to you.
- The rates quoted are subject to change without prior warning, should there be any increases in Park Fees, Fuel, Sales Tax or VAT, third party services, or any other circumstances beyond our control in the regions featured in this quote/booking
- All guests must take out comprehensive travel insurance covering them for personal effects, personal accident, medical and emergency travel expenses, cancellation and curtailment
- &Beyond reserves the right to modify program itineraries, including arranged sightseeing, and substitute accommodations, including vessels and trains, at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond &Beyond's control. Every effort will be made to operate itineraries as planned, but alterations may occur after the final itinerary has been issued.
- Rates are subject to change
- &Beyond Trading Terms apply
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