Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights
Departure Dates: Any day you would like! This itinerary works year-round.
Start/End City: Lima
Homestay Options: Sacred Valley
Extension Suggestions: Nazca Lines, Uyuni Salt Flats
Machu Picchu & Amazon Lodge HighlightsOur Machu Picchu and Amazon Lodge program combines unforgettable highlights with adventurous, non-traditional tours and activities. Begin with the Cusco area and Peru’s wonder of the world, Machu Picchu. From there, continue to a multi-day Amazon Lodge stay in the remarkable Tambopata Reserve. Peru is among the most biodiverse and culturally varied countries on the planet, and Ayni Peru plans each phase of this tour to give you unique and unforgettable experiences.
As with all Ayni Peru travel, this itinerary can be customized or combined with tours in Cusco and beyond. Please contact us for custom itineraries, quotes and questions.
ItineraryArrive in Cusco, the heart of the ancient Inca Empire! Begin with a private guided tour of the city, visiting Cusco’s most fascinating sites. Included in this walking tour are the Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, the San Pedro Market, and the San Blas neighborhood. From there, you’ll have free time to relax and explore on your own.
Today you’ll depart by private transport for a tour of the beautiful Sacred Valley, starting with the Inca fortress Saqsayhuaman. Continue to Pisac, to explore the impressive Inca fortress and temples overlooking the town. Next, descend to Pisac’s colorful local market. You’ll have time to browse artisan stalls for textiles, jewelry, ceramics and more.
After a break for a delicious buffet lunch, continue to the charming town of Ollantaytambo, where you can explore the cobblestone streets and visit the massive Inca ruins. In the late afternoon, board the train for an incredibly scenic ride to Aguas Calientes, located at the base of Machu Picchu. Enjoy dinner in your hotel and prepare to visit Peru’s Wonder of the Modern World the following morning.
Wake up bright and early to catch the bus to our Wonder of the World! As you enter the gates, catch your first glimpse of the incredible ruins and surrounding mountains. After a 2n hour guided tour, take some time to marvel at the incredible views. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add a Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb for an amazing birds eye view of the ruins (must arranged in advance).
In the late afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo. Your private driver will will be waiting for transfer to your Cusco hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the Cusco Airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, a lodge representative will welcome you at the airport, and assist with transfer to the Tambopata River Port, where you’ll board our motorized canoe to the Amazon reserve owned by the Native Community of Infierno. Posada Amazonas in located within this reserve, and operated in cooperation with the local community.
In the afternoon, explore the lodge’s Canopy Tower, a structure of platforms within the forest. From there, observe a variety of toucans, parrots and mixed-species flocks.
Before dinner, learn about biodiversity and efforts to conserve the Amazon in a lecture with lodge staff.
Take a 30-minute boat ride followed by a 45-minute hike to Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake. Paddle around the lake on a catamaran, looking for the resident family of nine giant river otters (seen by 60% of visitors) and other lakeside wildlife such as caimans, hoatzins, and horned screamers.
Next, visit the Centro Ñape, a communal organization that produces medicines from forest plants. Walk along a trail that explains the medicinal and other uses of various selected plants.
Before dinner, attend another lecture focusing on different aspects of Amazon’s unique ecosystem.
After dinner, enjoy a night walk. While nocturnal mammals are often active but rarely seen, frogs with unique shapes and sounds are easier to find, revealing their fascinating natural histories.
In the morning, visit the Parrot Clay Lick. From a blind just 20 meters away, watch as dozens of parrots and parakeets descend to ingest the clay from the riverbank, creating a spectacular display of color and activity.
Embark on a two-hour hike from Posada Amazonas, culminating in the shadow of a majestic giant Cieba tree. Learn about the natural history of the rainforest and its principal species.
Visit a local farm in the community of Infierno, where the owner cultivates a wide variety of Amazonian crops. Discover how almost every plant and tree serves a unique purpose, reflecting the rich agricultural traditions of the region.
After dinner, participate in the Discovering New Species activity. Learn about ongoing research projects aimed at identifying and cataloging new species in the rainforest, and understand the importance of this work for global biodiversity.
After breakfast, say goodbye to your lodge and begin the journey back to the Puerto Maldonado Airport. Here you will catch your flight back to Lima – or on to your next location!
