Amazon, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puno & Lake Titicaca - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Lima

Upon arrival at the Lima airport, meet our representative for a transfer to your hotel in Lima.

Day 2: Arrival in Puerto Maldonado

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to the airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon. Upon arrival, meet our representative who will accompany you to the river port for your transfer by boat to your jungle lodge.

Distances to each lodge vary, however, most lodges are located between 30-minutes and 1-hour by boat from the city. Additionally, many Puerto Maldonado lodges are located within the territory of the Ese'eja native community, and are built with local materials and architectural techniques developed by native communities throughout the Amazon. As you leave the city of Puerto Maldonado behind, you’ll be enveloped in the tranquility of the Tambopata River and surrounding rainforest.

Upon arrival at the lodge you will have time to settle in and relax. Then, meet your guide and learn about the variety of activities that you will enjoy during your stay. This evening you will enjoy a delicious dinner before tucking in early to get ready for your jungle tour at the break of dawn.

Day 3: Amazon Tour

Mornings in the rainforest start early and today you will set out at dawn for your first Amazon adventure. Grab breakfast at your lodge and then head to a nearby lake to see if you can spot caimans, turtles, hoatzin, wading birds, and if you are lucky, endangered giant river otters.

Return to the lodge for lunch, and then set out with your expert naturalist guide to learn more about rainforest flora and fauna. Native communities use rainforest flora for a variety of purposes; some plants are medicinal, while others are used for construction or even for transportation.

After dinner at the lodge, set out for a nocturnal jungle walk. Once the sun goes down, the rainforest comes to life and you’ll have a chance to spot creatures that only come out at night. Alternatively, you can simply relax to the sounds of the jungle in your cabana hammock.

*Note: Activities may vary due to weather conditions and other considerations. Your Amazon guide will update you on the schedule of activities for each day.

Day 4: Amazon Tour

After breakfast, go for a hike to learn more about how local communities engage with the forest in their everyday lives. During the hike you may be able to see toucans, several species of birds, monkeys and sloths.

After breakfast, go for a hike to learn more about how local communities engage with the forest in their everyday lives. During the hike you may be able to see toucans, several species of birds, monkeys and sloths.

You will return to the jungle lodge before dark for your last evening in the Peruvian rainforest.

*Note: Activities may vary due to weather conditions and other considerations. Your Amazon guide will update you on the schedule of activities for each day.

Day 5: Arrival in Cusco

Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge and then return Puerto Maldonado by boat.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, meet our representative for the short drive to your hotel in the historic center.

Cusco is located at 11,300 feet in elevation; it’s a good idea to take it easy during this first afternoon in the city. You can wander about the main square, with its many cafes and stores, visit a museum, or sample the many options for casual and/or fine dining.

Day 6: Cusco City Tour

This morning, you have time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the famous San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many excellent museums.

In the afternoon, an expert guide will take you to Cusco’s main sights, including the Cusco Cathedral, Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, and the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.

At the end of the tour, your guide will return you to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure enjoying the local cuisine and the splendor of Cusco at night.

Day 7: Sacred Valley Tour

Explore small towns and ancient ruins with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley. You’ll visit the town of Pisac, famous for its bustling indigenous market and for the beautiful Incan ruins on the hillside overlooking the city. After Pisac, enjoy lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant offering a variety of Peruvian and international food near the town of Urubamba. The last stop is Ollantaytambo, magnificent Incan ruins that were part of the royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti.

In the late afternoon, you will be taken to your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Day 8: Machu Picchu Tour

After breakfast, you will take a train to Machu Picchu, the hidden Inca citadel. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, you will be met at the train station and accompanied to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the secluded citadel.

Next, meet your expert, English-speaking guide for a 2-hour tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the ruins on your own.

In the late afternoon, take a comfortable train back to Cusco and then transfer to your Cusco hotel for the evening.

If you would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu, this package can be customized to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which will allow you to make a second visit to the ruins on the following day.

*Optional: Hike up Huayna Picchu, the peak overlooking the Machu Picchu ruins. This hike is steep and takes about 3 hours round trip, but affords spectacular views of the surrounding Andes and views over the citadel from above. Please let us know if you’d like to add this to your itinerary.

Day 9: Arrival in Puno

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and then transfer to the bus terminal for your journey to Puno. (Or inquire about transportation options by rail and air.)

The bus ride lasts between 9 and 10 hours, and you will travel on a comfortable tourist bus that includes a stop for lunch, as well as guided visits to several ruins and tourist sites along the way.

You will arrive in Puno in the early evening. Meet our representative at the bus station and transfer to your hotel for the night.

Puno is at a higher altitude than Cusco and Machu Picchu and if you haven't already sufficiently acclimatized, it is a good idea to take it easy after arrival. Many of our recommended hotels are located along the lakeshore and away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, so you will be able to take in views of the lake as you rest and relax.

Day 10: Lake Titicaca Tour

Fuel up at breakfast and get ready for a 9-hour Lake Titicaca experience. The tour includes stops at two of the lake's most fascinating islands: the floating Uros islands and Taquile Island, the latter located about 30 miles by boat from Puno. You’ll get the chance to learn about time-honored customs and traditions, and you’ll be able to enjoy amazing views of Lake Titicaca along the way. Be prepared for some effort on Taquile; the island's topography means you’ll be hiking up hills and climbing stone stairs.

After touring Taquile, you’ll have time to enjoy a local lunch (not included), before your return by boat to Puno.

You’ll arrive back in Puno in the early evening and will have time to relax at your hotel or head to the city center to enjoy some traditional Peruvians cuisine in one of the local restaurants.

Day 11: Departure from Puno

After breakfast at your hotel, meet your transfer to the airport for your journey home. Or browse our full range of destinations to see how you can continue your exploration of this country’s wonders.