Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours A Bespoke Journey Through Peru

Fly to Puerto Maldonado where the Amazon expedition begins.

In the morning, your Kuoda host will escort you to the airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado. A travel guide from your jungle hotel will be waiting when you land and captain the boat to the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica lodge. Upon arrival, you will be served a delicious lunch with fresh-pressed juices.

Embark on a guided jungle walk along the Reserva Amazonica natural area, where you will find Shihuahuaco trees that can grow to the heights of 50 meters (164 feet) and a diameter of 1 meter (3.3 feet) over the course of 700 years. Learn about the strangler fig trees, or matapalos, and spot exotic jungle birds and insects.

As the sun sets, enjoy a twilight tiver excursion watching the jungle transform into an energetic nocturnal world. Spot unique mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and insects that thrive in the darkness, and enjoy their peaceful songs as you fall asleep in the ecolodge.

Embark on the ultimate jungle excursion.

After a serene sunrise breakfast, sail to Lake Sandoval, gliding through the Amazon river in a wooden canoe. Voyage a captivating oxbow lake and see if you can spot one of the endangered river otters. Other wild inhabitants here include red howler monkeys, red-bellied macaws, anacondas, sick-neck turtles, and more.

Nourish yourself with an energizing lunch before exploring the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. Here, you’ll wander across eight observation platforms, located 30 meters high in the jungle canopies, linked by suspension bridges. Be on the lookout for toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, and the three-toed sloth. After your descent, stroll along the Anaconda Walk and observe various species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and the lush foliage of this seasonally flooded marshland.

Trek the dark-water creek and take a daring late-night jungle excursion.

It’s another early morning today, as you set off to investigate Gamitana creek. Embrace the exciting wildlife research opportunities on this winding dark-water creek, home to piranhas, caiman, turtles, and birds. Afterward, visit Gamitana Model Farm and learn about Amazonian agriculture. You’ll even get the chance to make your own plantain flour used to make bread back at the lodge.

After lunch, it is a 35-minute boat ride upstream to the Hacienda Concepcion – an extraordinary botanical garden with over 200 different species of flora and fauna. After a calming afternoon, prepare for a daring Rainforest by Night experience hosted by the Inkaterra Ecological Reserve. Venture into the forest and spot creatures that only come out to play at night.

Fly to Cusco, visit a local project that promotes sustainable weaving practices and relax in the breathtaking Andean countryside.

After breakfast, we will bid goodbye to the Amazon jungle as the Refugio Amazonas team will escort you back to Puerto Maldonado. From the airport, you will embark on a flight to Cusco. Once you land, a guide will accompany you to the stunning Sacred Valley, whose bucolic farming and weaving towns – a few thousand feet lower in elevation than Cusco – are ideal for acclimatizing. On the way to the valley, stop at Awanakancha Living Museum.

At this “living museum,” you’ll come face-to-face with some of South America’s most endearing inhabitants, including alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, and guanacos, and learn about traditional weaving.

Visit Ollantaytambo’s iconic ruins and Pisac market.

Start your tour of the Sacred Valley in the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, where the centuries-old influence of the Incas is still very much visible. Water from the mountains trickles down to the Inca-built street canals, while the original Inca walls and trapezoidal doors are still standing.

With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above the town. This is the spot where the Incas secured an important victory over the Spanish conquistadors. Inspect the intricately hewn stone constructions and have your guide show you the distant quarries from which the Incas sourced their materials. This site also affords fabulous views of the valley and the Urubamba River that meanders through it.

Afterward, your exclusive tour of Peru will take you to another valley town – Pisac – where you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with locals as you survey the artisan offerings of the market. Vegetables, textiles, and silver jewelry are just some of the items sold here.

End the day with one more archaeological site visit, this time to the abandoned mountainside ruins of the original Inca Pisac village. Look out across verdant Inca farmland that has since been transformed into agricultural farms for modern-day Quechua people. Later, return to the hotel of your choice.

Relax with a morning train through the cloud forest on your way to visit Machu Picchu!

This is the moment all Peruvian explorers wait for. Board the train in Ollantaytambo to begin your Machu Picchu journey. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows, and see if you can spot some alpacas grazing in the valley! When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, enjoy an early lunch before ascending to the lost Incan citadel.

After a bus ride to the gates of South America’s most notable wonder, you will finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone citadel will reveal itself to you as you enter the main gates, a city intertwined with the clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city.

Upon conclusion of your tour, return for an evening in Aguas Calientes. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your hotel and fall into bed, lulled to sleep by the sound of the cloud forest around you.

Embark on an exclusive trek up the highly coveted Huayna Picchu!

Today you have the option to hike two different trails – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, so it’s completely up to you! This will be the culmination of your Machu Picchu luxury tour, so enjoy it however you want. Adventurous travelers who desire something off-the-beaten-path should hike the steep slope of Huayna Picchu, offering unrivaled views of Machu Picchu.

Please note that only a limited amount of hikers are allowed to climb Huayna Picchu each day and tickets will need to be purchased in advance along with your Machu Picchu entrance.

In the afternoon, reconvene in Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Your Kuoda host will meet you at the station and bring you to your hotel for a well-earned evening of rest.

Uncover the secrets of Cusco’s cobblestone streets on a private city tour!

Prepare to fall in love with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of almost every traveler that passes through it. A private tour is the best way to learn about this historic city, and get the best insider secrets! After breakfast, meet your guide and wander among the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incas staged a great battle against the conquistadors. Return to the city and venture through the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, a hub of artistic inspiration.

Explore Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery, a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun. Live like a local and grab some groceries in the open-air San Pedro market for a delightful shopping experience!

At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest a few places to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Tour the bohemian streets of Barranco and bid farewell to Peru!

Going home is the worst part of any private Peru vacation, but at Kuoda, we’ll do our best to make it as smooth and hassle-free as possible. First, we’ll bring you to Cusco airport for your return flight to Lima. In Lima, a Kuoda host will meet you and take you to the seaside bohemian district of Barranco. See the streets of Barranco come alive as you visit a number of local art galleries and shops that support local artisans.

Finally, enjoy a first-class gourmet meal featuring world-renowned Peruvian flavors in a restaurant of your choice before returning to the airport for your journey home! Buen Viaje!