Luxury Amazon River Cruise & Machu Picchu Adventure in Peru- 10 Days

Highlights

• Visit cool neighborhoods in Lima while sampling its world-famous street food scene
• Spend four days cruising the Amazon with nature hikes, boat trips, and stargazing
• Ride a luxury train to Aguas Calientes and stay overnight near Machu Picchu
• Walk along the cobbled streets of Cusco, once the epicenter of the Inca Empire

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lima, Evening Food Tour

Welcome to Peru! Expect the trip of a lifetime, as this country is famous for its many virtues, including the wonders of the Amazon Basin and countless Inca ruins and archaeological sites. You'll experience all of it, starting with your arrival in Lima, a historic capital city with a modern edge and no shortage of highlight buildings and great cuisine. At the airport, a driver will pick you up for the 1.5-hour ride into the city and Belmond Miraflores Park.

Located in the upscale coastal suburb of Miraflores, this 5-star hotel is set amid verdant gardens and is known for its exceptional service and dazzling sea views. Many of the Belmond's well-appointed rooms and suites feature private balconies overlooking the Pacific. Other welcome features include a spa/wellness center and a rooftop pool where you can relax after a long flight in a sun lounger. There are many dining options at the hotel, including the acclaimed Tragaluz restaurant, serving innovative Peruvian/international cuisine.

Later, around 4 pm, you're off to discover the best of Peru's world-famous cuisine on a half-day foodie tour. Meet your guide on the waterfront and kick things off with some seaside snacks paired with a pisco sour (Peru's national cocktail) as you enjoy the fine coastal views. Then, head over to the Huaca Pucllana pyramid, which dates to around 500 CE, to sample a variety of foods, including Peru's famous ceviche. The tour ends in the romantic Barranco neighborhood in a trendy restaurant, where you'll dine al fresco at a garden table as you enjoy a curated selection of the chef's signature dishes. 

Day 2: Fly to Iquitos, Luxury Amazon Cruise (Day 1)

Rise and shine because this morning, you're off to the Amazon! Your driver will pick you up early for the ride back to the airport, where you'll board a two-hour flight to the far north of Peru and Iquitos. This port city sits on the Amazon River, the longest river in the world by volume. It's the gateway to the natural wonders, exotic wildlife, and tribal villages that define this lush corner of South America. There's much to recommend Iquitos; its bustling marketplaces are hotbeds of culture, and its cuisine is influenced by the rich biodiversity of the Amazon, featuring freshwater fish, exotic fruits, and native plants.

Over the next few days, you'll experience the wonders of the region on an adventurous river cruise. Upon arrival at the airport, representatives from Aqua Nera will pick you up for the transfer to the port where your luxury cruise ship awaits. Upon boarding the ship, you'll be shown to your cabin, which features deluxe suites with king beds and fine Peruvian linens. As for cuisine, expect 5-star service in the opulent dining room with wraparound windows looking out over the water.

After settling into your suite, you can head to the top deck to admire the riverine scenery as the ship pulls away from the port and your grand Amazon adventure commences. It's a great opportunity to enjoy a golden sunset over the river while keeping an eye on the treeline to spot exotic animals like monkeys, macaws, toucans, and more. Know that each day you spend on the water will be filled with various tours and excursions, so be sure to rest up tonight—you're exploring the rainforest tomorrow!

Day 3: Luxury Amazon Cruise (Day 2)

Wake at dawn for a birding session in the Amazon. Exotic avian species you'll glimpse include macaws, toucans, and black-collared hawks. After breakfast, you'll board a skiff and leave the main ship for a cruise down the smaller tributaries of the Amazon. Leading the expedition is an expert naturalist guide, who will point out more animals, like three-toed sloths hanging around in the trees. You'll also go fishing for Amazonia's notorious piranhas. Later, as the sun sets, head out for a guided evening hike in search of nocturnal wildlife. Then return to the cruise ship for dinner and a stargazing session.

Day 4: Luxury Amazon Cruise (Day 3)

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It's another day packed full of Amazon excursions. You'll have your choice of activities, which might include a skiff ride on the Yarapa, a vivid blackwater river, or visiting an Indigenous community to meet a local healer/shaman. You can also opt for kayaking trips, canoeing, and swimming in the river alongside (possibly) pink river dolphins. You'll also embark on a short jungle walk in San José de Paranapur, a riverine forest known for its giant water lilies. Back abord the Aqua Nera, you'll have some free time before dinner to meet and chat with the crew, who mostly comprise locals from this region.

Day 5: Luxury Amazon River Cruise (Day 4), Transfer to the Sacred Valley

The Aqua Nara will cruise back into the port at Iquitos this morning. After breakfast, you'll disembark the ship and meet your guide for a tour of the local market. Browse the many vendor stalls and meet locals as you discover the unique bounty provided by the rainforest, which includes fruits like acai, dragonfruit, and maracuyá (passion fruit). After the tour, you'll have the option to meet a local expert beekeeper and tour his honeybee operation in a small riverine community.

Later, you'll transfer to the airport in Iquitos and board a connecting flight to Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, this city retains its ancient Indigenous ruins and Spanish-colonial landmarks. Upon arrival, you'll transfer about 9 miles (15 km) north of the city to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Extending along the Urubamba River, the valley encompasses picturesque villages, archaeological sites, and gorgeous highland scenery.

It's also the location of your hotel, Tambo del Inka. This 5-star resort features elegant rooms with regional fabrics and balconies overlooking the river. There's an infinity pool, spa, and gardens on site, plus Hawa Restaurant, which serves gourmet New Andean cuisine prepared with local, organic products.

Day 6: Day Trip to the Pisac Archaeological Site & Hacienda Lunch

After breakfast, it's time for a half-day tour to visit the famous archaeological site in the village of Pisac. During a three-hour guided tour, you'll explore these hilltop ruins, which are comprised of Inca burial grounds, irrigation systems, and astronomy centers. Later, head into town and visit Pisac's famous textile market to browse hand-made garments. Later, you'll visit Hacienda Sarapampa, a country estate near town. Here, you'll sit down with Maria del Pilar and Jussef, your friendly hosts, for a private lunch followed by a guided tour of the hacienda grounds. Afterward, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 7: Visit the Ollantaytambo Ruins, Train to Aguas Calientes

Start the day with a visit to Ollantaytambo, a highland town and archaeological site that's one of the few remaining places in the Sacred Valley that has retained its original Inca urban planning. After exploring its ruins, you'll board a luxury train for the 3.5-hour ride from the Sacred Valley to Peru's most famous ancient Inca site, Machu Picchu.

During the ride, you'll enjoy first-class service as you marvel at views of the Urubamba River and Andes peaks through the windows. You can spend the journey in the train's observatory bar car, sipping a smart cocktail like a pisco sour before sitting down to a gourmet three-course lunch.

Your destination is the town of Aguas Calientes. This is the main hub for excursions up the mountain to the UNESCO-listed Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Upon arrival, you'll transfer over to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel located right at the entrance to Machu Picchu. Overnighting at this stylish retreat lets you beat the citadel's mass crowds. This 5-star hotel also offers a range of welcome amenities for the weary traveler, such as Incan spa rituals to nourish your spirit and soothe your weary muscles after a day hiking around the citadel.

Day 8: Machu Picchu Tour, Train to Cusco

Wake up early and board a bus for the 25-minute ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu at 7,970 feet (2,430 m), which dates to around 1450 CE. During a tour led by an expert guide, you'll hike around the complex and visit its famous landmarks, including astronomical/ritual stone structures like the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon. Many landmarks, like the Sacred Plaza and Inca Bridge, showcase the Incas' architectural prowess. The agricultural terraces are also impressive, demonstrating the Incas' skill at cultivating crops on steep hillsides.

You'll also have the option to embark on one of the additional hikes in the area. The most famous are the routes up the tallest peaks rising above the citadel: Huayna Picchu at 8,920 feet (2,720 m) and Montaña Machu Picchu at 10,111 feet (3,082 m). Both involve rigorous uphill (at times almost vertical) hikes, and both reward your effort with great views over the citadel and the Andes below.

Later, you'll return to the terminal and board a luxury train for the four-hour ride south to Cusco. This area has been settled for thousands of years; however, it wasn't until 1200 CE that Cusco was officially founded as a center for Inca rule, lasting until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Upon arrival, you'll check into Hotel Monasterio. This former monastery dates to 1592 and is today part of the Belmond suite of luxury hotels. It offers luxurious colonial-style accommodation set around an expansive courtyard right in Cusco's historic center, just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas (main square).

Day 9: Walking Tour of Colonial Cusco

Enjoy a free morning today to enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel followed by time to relax. After lunch, you'll meet your expert local guide for a half-day walking tour of the city. Explore Cusco's historic center, visiting iconic landmarks like the Plaza de Armas and Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun). During Inca reign in the 15th century, this was Cusco's religious and political center.

From there, walk down Hatunrumiyoc Street and admire the ancient Inca walls, particularly the 12-Angle Stone, so named because its dozen angles fit perfectly in the surrounding stones. It's a shining example of the ancient Incas' stonemasonry prowess. After the tour, you'll return to your hotel and can celebrate your penultimate day in Peru with a night on the town in Cusco.

Day 10: Rooftop Cooking Workshop & Local Market Visit, Depart Peru

Make the most of your time in Peru with one last memorable activity. In the morning, you'll meet a local Peruvian chef and transfer over to San Pedro, Cusco's grandest municipal market. There's no better way to know the soul of this city than by browsing its vendor kiosks and marveling at the sheer abundance of fresh produce, which includes many of Peru's thousands of varieties of potatoes. You'll also want to sit down at one of the food stalls for fresh fruit juice and to snack on some street food.

This is a guided tour to learn about the origins of the many items on display. You'll also pick up some fresh produce and continue on foot to a rooftop kitchen. There, you'll don your chef's whites and commence with an al fresco cooking class amid incredible views of the Cusco skyline. During the culinary workshop, you'll learn the techniques and secrets to producing some of the country's most emblematic dishes. At the end of the experience, everyone will sit down and enjoy these creations for lunch. From there, you'll transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

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