Embark on an epic adventure holiday to Peru, exploring the rich Amazon jungle and trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Departures: Daily
Length: 15 days / 14 nights
Destinations: Lima / Tambopata Amazon Jungle / Cusco / Sacred Valley / Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Highlights: Explore the Amazon jungle and spot animals and birds. Be amazed by the Sacred Valley and be overwhelmed with the sight of Machu Picchu after trekking the Inca Trail.
Tailor Made: This is a suggested holiday that can be booked exactly as described if you wish or that can be used to help inspire you on the fascinating journeys and destinations in Peru. Like all our holidays this itinerary can be tailored, customised and crafted by our friendly experts to suit your own travel style, personal requirements, wishes, budget and interests. Simply get in touch to discuss, and we would be delighted to create a truly personalised holiday for you.
Holiday Itinerary
Your Peruvian adventure starts in Lima, and on this first day you can arrive at any time and we will meet you and escort you to your hotel which will be in the fantastic coastal district of Miraflores. We will help you check in and answer any questions you may have before leaving you to relax following your journey to Peru. Miraflores is a modern district packed full of fantastic restaurants for you to enjoy in your first meal in Peru, voted Culinary Travel Destination of the Year an unprecendented 4 years in a row (2012-2015) at the World Travel Awards.
Meals: None
Overnight: Hotel in Miraflores, Lima
Today you will enjoy a tour through the Peruvian capital city of Lima. The tour starts with a journey into the old-town colonial heart of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a stunning district rich in colonial architecture. You will travel to Lima's two main central plazas, including the Plaza de Armas, and pass the Presidential Palace on your way to a visit of San Francisco Monastery, an ancient colonial monastery in the heart of Lima with a beautiful interior, historic library and underground catacombs.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Miraflores, Lima
Early in the morning we will collect you from your hotel to escort you to Lima airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado, a small city in the Peruvian Amazon and the gateway to the Tambopata jungle region. On arrival in Puerto Maldonado airport you will be met by your jungle guide and will travel from the city to the river port, transferring to a jungle riverboat to travel along a tributary of the Amazon River to reach your renowned jungle lodge accommodation. In the afternoon you will go on a short trek through the jungle near your lodge to reach a canopy tower and will climb 30m high through the tree tops to experience fantastic views of the Amazon stretching out around you as far as the horizon. This is also a great opportunity to spot for wildlife including birds and monkeys.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Posada Amazonas Lodge
Another early start today will see you travel along a short section of the river to reach an oxbow lake where you will transfer to a small catamaran to slowly float across the lake to observe wildlife. The tranquil waters of oxbow lakes can create wildlife hotspots and it is possible to spot a variety of wildlife here from caiman and capybara to gianty river otters and a variety of Amazon birds. Next you will visit a clay lick nearby to watch birds, including macaws and parrots, descend from the trees to ingest the clay. After returning to your lodge for lunch the afternoon will be spent following a jungle trail through the Amazon. This ethnobotanical trail was developed by a medicinal communal organisation and is rich with a wide variety of plants and trees used by the local indigenous people. After nightfall you have the option of a stepping out into the jungle at night on a jungle night walk to listen to the sounds of the nocturnal creatures and try and spot a variety of wildlife by torchlight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Posada Amazonas Lodge
This is your final morning in the jungle, and at the appropriate time you will return to the jungle riverboat to return to Puerto Maldonado airport from where you will fly to the Inca capital city of Cusco. On arrival in Cusco we will meet you and escort you to your centrally located hotel where the remainder of the day is free to allow you time to acclimatise and relax after your jungle adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Optional: Contact us to discuss a range of Amazon extension options including additional nights to allow time for more jungle excursions, deeper travel within the Amazon to visit the renowned Tambopata Research Center lodge, or "a la carte" jungle excursion packages where you can plan your own jungle itinerary.
Today you will tour Cusco and the surrounding area. The tour starts within the city itself with visits of the main central plaza and Cusco cathedral which is home to some fantastic art and contains a fabulous interior, before visiting the Inca Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) which was later modified and adapted by the Spanish during the colonial era. The tour continues to the outskirts of the city to visit the Inca ruin of Tambomachay and the large and important Inca site of Sacsayhuaman.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Today is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the Inca Empire ahead of your Inca Trail trek as you tour the length of the Sacred Valley visiting all of the most important Inca ruins along the way. Leaving Cusco in the morning your first stop will be a visit to the ancient village of Chinchero where you will visit the small Inca ruins within the village, explore the Inca streets, visit the ancient colonial church, and will learn about the crafts techniques employed by the inhabitants of this region for hundreds of years. The tour continues to the unique Inca ruin of Moray which consists of terraced circles that were used by the Inca to cultivate different crops at different temperatures. The final stop before lunch is Maras salineras where over hundreds of years a valley has been converted into hundreds upon hundreds of salt pans creating a unique visual spectacle. The tour concludes at the large Inca fortress of Ollantaytambo towards the end of the Sacred Valley. This Inca ruin contains some large monolithic stones and was left unfinished by the Inca, most likely due to the arrival of the Spanish. After the tour you will return to your hotel in Cusco.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Today enjoy a free day in Cusco. The city of Cusco is steeped in history and rich in fantastic architecture and contains hundreds of Inca ruins, ancient churches, art galleries and other interesting sights within walking distance of your hotel, so we include free time to allow you to explore this fantastic destination and make the most of your time in Cusco as well as provide a day of rest ahead of your Inca Trail trek.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Today you will start your Inca Trail adventure trek to Machu Picchu. Leaving Cusco early you will travel by road to the start of the trail where you will begin your journey towards Machu Picchu. Day 1 of the Inca Trail is relatively easy as you slowly rise up gentle inclines admiring the fantastic views whilst listening to your Inca Trail guide talk about the flora and fauna you can see on the route. The highlight of the day is the incredible views of the Inca ruin of Llactapata which you can see from an elevated section of the trail. This Inca ruin was used as a storage and farming site to provide maize to Machu Picchu. In late afternoon you will reach your campsite and spend your first night under the beautiful Andean sky.
Meals: Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Camping
Approximate walking time: 5-6 hours
Approximate distance: 12 kilometres
Approximate altitude: Start at 2750m, Finish at 3000m
Day 2 of the Inca Trail starts with a tough but rewarding section of the trail as you spend most of the morning climbing from your campsite up through cloud-forest and beyond the tree line until you reach the pass known as Dead Woman's Pass (so named due to the shape of the pass resembling a woman lying down) at 4200 metres above sea level. This pass is the highest point of the Inca Trail and offers stunning views of the Andes mountains and surrounding scenery. From here the trail descends down the Pacaymayu valley to your campsite for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Camping
Approximate walking time: 7-8 hours
Approximate distance: 13 kilometres
Approximate altitude: Start at 3000m, Highest Point at 4215m, Finish at 3800m
Day 3 of the Inca Trail is a very enjoyable days trekking as the route traverses some of the most interesting sections (inluding Inca tunnels!) and passes a number of smaller Inca ruins that can only be visited on the Inca Trail. The first ruin you visit is called "Runkurakay", and after a brief visit and explanation by the guide as to the history of this place you continue to another ruin called "Sayacmarca" (meaning “Inaccesible Town”) which it is believed was used as a resting station for Inca messages on their way to Machu Picchu. The trail continues to the Inca ruin of "Phuyupatamarca" which is impressive due to the original Inca water fountains which still function. The trail concludes with a trek through dense cloud forest towards your campsite which is near another the Inca ruin known as "Wiñayhuayna". Depending on your campsite location and speed of your Inca Trail group you may have time to visit this ruin before trekking to your campsite for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Evening Meal
Overnight: Camping
Approximate walking time: 7-8 hours
Approximate distance: 15 kilometres
Approximate altitude: Start at 3800m, Finish at 2650m
This morning you will start the final ascent towards Machu Picchu very early in the morning trekking the final few kilometres by the twilight of the mornings first rays of sun. After a few kilometres you arrive at the Inca Sun Gate and after climbing the final few Inca steps you will suddenly be able to see Machu Picchu in all its glory laid out before you, a stunning sight and a fantastic reward for the hard work trekking over the past few days. The sensation of seeing Machu Picchu for the first time is a unique and unforgettable experience. From the Sun Gate you will descend the final few steps to enter Machu Picchu and will then enjoy a full tour of the entire site before having free time to take photos or relax and enjoy the moment. In late morning you will travel by bus to Machu Picchu Pueblo, the small town in the valley below Machu Picchu, and will enjoy some lunch and have time to buy a celebratory drink or peruse the local crafts markets before returning to Cusco by scenic train. In Cusco we will escort you to your hotel for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Approximate walking time: 2 hours
Approximate distance: 6 kilometres
Approximate altitude: Start at 2650m, Finish at 2400m
Today enjoy a free day in Cusco to relax and recover from your trek.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Central hotel in Cusco
Today you will travel by domestic flight from Cusco to Lima, and in Lima we will meet you and escort you to your hotel for your final night in Peru. Your hotel is in the modern district of Miraflores so you might consider visiting the ancient pyramid of Huaca Pucllana which is within walking distance of your hotel, explore some of the crafts stalls that are scattered around Parque Kennedy, watch the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean or simply enjoy your final "Pisco Sour" cocktail (the national cocktail of Peru). If needed we can assist with restaurant recommendations or reservations.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Hotel in Miraflores, Lima
At the appropriate time you will be transported to the airport and will be assisted with your check-in for your flight back home.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: N/A
Included
- Three domestic flights within Peru (Lima - Amazon Jungle / Amazon Jungle - Cusco / Cusco - Lima)
- All excursions
- English-speaking guides for all excursions
- Entry fees to all sites included in the itinerary (including Machu Picchu)
- Accommodation
- All meals detailed
- Private transfers to / from airports or hotels
- All transport and travel within Peru
- Inca Trail includes: permits and tickets to enter the Inca Trail; safety briefing in Cusco before the trek; Inca Trail guide throughout the trek; Porters to carry 7kg per person of personal belongings, all tents, food and cooking equipment; drinking water from Day 2 of the Inca Trail; all meals, some snacks and tea and coffee during mealtimes; bus transport from Cusco to the start of the trek; train journey from Machu Picchu back to Cusco; full tour of Machu Picchu
Not Included
- International flights to/from South America. We exclude international flights to give the option to compare flight pricing or use air miles, however we can include and provide international flights as part of your holiday and any international flights booked through us would be ATOL-protected as part of your package with us. Depending on time of year, departure airport and airline preference flight prices start from around £800pp economy. If you would like us to include international flights or provide a quote just let us know your preferred departure airport when you enquire.
Jungle Holidays
Although the itinerary listed here is our standard itinerary for this holiday, in very rare instances the precise jungle activities and excursions may occur in a slightly different order, or may change slightly from those listed here. This could be due to a number of reasons, including the changeable weather in rainforests, or jungle lodge availability.
Inca Trail Permit Information
Access to the Inca Trail is strictly controlled by the Peruvian government and authorities to help protect this important UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entry Permits for the Inca Trail are strictly limited to 500 per day (including guides, porters, cooks etc), are sold on a first-come-first-served basis, cannot be reserved in advance (as they are non-refundable and linked to passport details) and they sell out fast - we recommend booking at least 6 months in advance to avoid missing out. We will take care of all Inca Trail permit reservations for you. We take full payment for the Inca Trail at the point of booking as permits are non-refundable and once a booking is made it is not possible to amend, cancel, change the date, or change a name.
Inca Trail Campsites
The Peruvian Government Authority UGM are responsible for control of access to the Inca Trail and for allocation of campsites on the trail to the relevant trekking companies and groups. Although we make every effort to guarantee the tour is as described in very rare situations for a variety of reasons the UGM may allocate us to different campsites. We try to make Wiñahuayna our last campsite (as it is only a 2 hour trek to Machu Picchu) as described however we cannot guarantee this to be the case and on occasions we have been allocated space at Phuyupatamarca (nearly 5 hours from Machu Picchu). We therefore cannot guarantee you will be able to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Unfortunately these matters are outside of our control and are outside the control of all tour companies. If any other company “guarantees” a specific campsite then approach with care as it is impossible for them to do so.
ATOL PROTECTION
This is a flight-inclusive package holiday. All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertificate.
Contact us if you want more information or want to book this holiday. One of our Peru holiday specialists will be more than willing to help.
