Machu Picchu and the Amazon

This morning, your guide and driver will meet you at the Cusco airport before continuing down into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the region’s fertile agricultural heartland. Along the way, you’ll stop at a conservation center dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating native Andean wildlife.

Continue to the mountain village of Pisac, where you’ll have time to wander through the colorful market and enjoy lunch before driving up to the impressive ruins set high above town. From this vantage point, you’ll take in sweeping views across the Sacred Valley below.

In the afternoon, continue onward to your hotel.

This morning, set out to visit two of the Sacred Valley’s most iconic sites. Begin at Moray, where a series of striking circular terraces are believed to have served as an Inca agricultural laboratory, used to experiment with crops and microclimates. From there, continue to Maras, where thousands of salt pans cascade across the hillside and are still harvested by local families today.

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Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the valley’s dramatic scenery before continuing to the picturesque Inca village of Ollantaytambo. Here, you’ll stroll through narrow cobblestone streets and climb the terraces of the great fortress, taking in sweeping views over the village and surrounding mountains. At the end of the day, return to your hotel for the evening.

This morning, depart early from your hotel and transfer to the Ollantaytambo train station, where you’ll board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu. Along the way, enjoy striking views as the landscape gradually shifts from the high Andes to the lush, green cloud forest.

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This afternoon, travel by bus with your guide to the entrance of Machu Picchu for your first visit to the Inca citadel. As you explore the site, you’ll learn about its history, construction, and the many theories surrounding its purpose, all while taking in the dramatic mountain scenery that makes this place so unforgettable.

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In the evening, return to town for dinner and an early night in preparation for tomorrow’s morning visit to the site.

Rise before the sun this morning and return to Machu Picchu for a second visit, experiencing the citadel in a quieter and completely different light. With your guide, continue exploring the site and take in the surrounding peaks as the morning unfolds.

You also have the option to hike Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, two additional routes that climb above the citadel and offer spectacular views from higher vantage points.

In the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where your driver will be waiting to take you back to your hotel for the evening.

Early this morning, say goodbye to the Sacred Valley and begin the journey back up toward Cusco. Along the way, stop in the town of Chinchero to visit its archaeological site and spend time at a local weaving center, where you’ll see traditional techniques still used by the community today. You’ll learn about the natural dyes, patterns, and methods behind the textiles, with the option to purchase pieces directly from the weavers.

Afterward, continue to scenic Piuray Lake for a lakeside picnic surrounded by open skies and mountain views. In the afternoon, enjoy time on the water with paddleboarding or kayaking, or take a refreshing plunge into the cold lake if you’re feeling brave.

Later, continue onward to Cusco, where you’ll have the evening at leisure in the historic capital of the Inca Empire.

This morning, set out to explore Cusco, one of South America’s most beautiful and culturally rich cities. Begin on foot in the historic center, visiting its main squares and the Koricancha, the Inca Temple of the Sun, later incorporated into the colonial Church of Santo Domingo.

You’ll then continue to San Pedro Market, where colorful produce, fresh juices, produce, local breads, flowers, and everyday food stalls offer a lively look at daily life in Cusco.

After lunch, head into the hills above the city to visit Sacsayhuaman, the immense Inca ceremonial complex known for its massive stone walls and sweeping views over Cusco. From here, walk back down toward the city through the artistic neighborhood of San Blas, passing colonial aqueducts and other notable sites along the way.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure, with plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from in the historic center.

Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, you will be welcomed and transferred by road and river into the rainforest, leaving the city behind as you travel deeper into the landscapes of Tambopata.

Depending on your lodge, you may continue to Posada Amazonas, located within the communal reserve of the Ese Eja Native Community of Infierno, or travel farther upriver toward the remote Tambopata Research Center.

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After settling into your lodge, enjoy an introduction to the surrounding forest with your naturalist guide. This first afternoon may include a gentle walk along nearby trails, an orientation to the lodge’s conservation work, or time to observe the sounds and movement of the rainforest as the day begins to cool.

In the evening, head out for a night walk or nocturnal wildlife excursion, when frogs, insects, night monkeys, and other forest species become active.

Wake early to experience the rainforest at one of its most active times of day.

Depending on the lodge and conditions, you may visit a clay lick, where parrots and macaws gather in colorful groups, or climb a canopy tower for sweeping sunrise views over the Amazon canopy. With luck, you may spot toucans, monkeys, raptors, and other birdlife moving through the treetops.

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Later, explore the forest trails with your guide, learning about the ecology of the Amazon and the many relationships between plants, animals, and people. Cultural and community-based activities are also possible, such as an ethnobotanical walk focused on medicinal and useful plants, or a visit to a local farm to learn about Amazonian crops, agroforestry, and daily life in this region.

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Later, continue your exploration by boat, on foot, or from wildlife observation points. 

Begin with an early morning excursion, taking advantage of the best hours for wildlife viewing. Depending on the season, lodge, and daily conditions, you may look for macaws, parrots, monkeys, caimans, hoatzins, capybaras, and a wide variety of insects, reptiles, and tropical birds.

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Throughout the day, your guides will tailor the experience to your interests, balancing wildlife observation with cultural interpretation and time to appreciate the forest.

Activities may include additional forest walks, visits to oxbow lakes or riverbanks, canopy observation, or hands-on learning about the plants used for food, medicine, shelter, and traditional knowledge.

Enjoy your last morning in the Amazon before heading back to the Puerto Maldonado airport for your return flight.