Itinerary In Brief

Day 1:

Arrival and overnight in Lima hotel.

Day 2:

Half day city tour of Lima, taking in the historic centre with the Lima cathedral, Plaza de Armas, and ornate churches. You’ll also visit the coastal neighborhoods of Miraflores with its manicured Parque del Amor (Love Park) and a historic olive grove in the San Isidro district. Overnight in Lima hotel.

Day 3:

Fly from Lima to Cusco. Enjoy a scenic drive to the Sacred Valley, stopping en route at Pisac ruins and market, and Awanacancha, a traditional weaving center. Overnight in Sacred Valley hotel.

Day 4:

Full day tour of the Sacred Valley. Choose from Ollantaytambo fortress, Chinchero market town, the salt ponds of Maras and the Moray archaeological site. Overnight in the Sacred Valley hotel.

Day 5:

Train from Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu. Guided half day tour of Machu Picchu. Return train to Sacred Valley and transfer to Cusco. Overnight in Cusco hotel.

Day 6:

Half day Cusco city tour, including highlights like Qorikancha, the Cusco cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

Day 7:

Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, then transfer to Tambopata Research Center (TRC) by bus and motorized canoe.

Day 8:

Amazon activities organized by TRC. Overnight at TRC.

Day 9:

Amazon activities organized by TRC. Overnight at TRC.

Day 10:

Transfer by motorized boat and bus back to Puerto Maldonado for your flight back to Lima, for your international connection or onward travel.

Itinerary In Detail

Good Life Expeditions carefully selects the best destinations and pace, and offers you a choice of attractions to visit on some of the tours. Like all our itineraries, this can be personalized and tailored for you and your travel style.

Machu Picchu to the Amazon

Starting in the capital Lima, enjoy a tour showcasing the contrast between old and new Lima. Visit the historic downtown district filled with beautiful colonial architecture and impressive squares with manicured gardens and statues of Peru’s illustrious heroes. Explore the cathedral, Plaza de Armas (main square), San Francisco convent and more. You’ll also visit the upscale coastal Miraflores district, strolling along the green clifftop Malécon park and an ancient olive grove in nearby San Isidro.

Next fly to Cusco, then head straight off to the Sacred Valley – we recommend this as the lower lying valley will help you acclimatize to the altitude before returning to Cusco. Here you’ll visit stunning archaeological sites such as the fortress of Ollantaytambo, Pisac and the unique spherical formations at Moray. Watch locals collecting salt from the naturally forming salt ponds of Maras, and learn about traditional textiles in Chinchero and Awanacancha.

The Wonder of Machu Picchu

The highlight of Peru for many people is their visit to the ancient citadel Machu Picchu. Enjoy a private tour of the ruins with an expert guide, learning about the Incas who built it, and visiting the temples, terraces and all the best spots for photos.

Now acclimatized to the altitude, return to Cusco and enjoy a tour of this beautiful ancient city, where the legacy of the Incas and Spanish colonizers sit side by side. Choose from the many ancient sites to visit such as Qorikancha, the Cusco cathedral, Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay.

Fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon in southern Peru. From here you’ll travel by bus and then by motorized canoe deep into the rainforest to at Tambopata Research Center (TRC).

Responsible Travel in the Amazon Jungle

Our carefully chosen partners in the Amazon run sustainable, eco-friendly lodges, that were first established as research stations for scientists studying macaws and other willdlife. Protection and conservation of the Amazon is central to their mission. They also work closely with the local community of Infierno, and one of the lodges is actually owned by the community, ensuring that they benefit from tourism.

You have the chance to stay at TRC, the only lodge located within the Tambopata National Reserve, it’s one of the most remote places in the Amazon accessible to travelers.

Regardless of which lodge you’re based at, you’ll spend the next few days learning the ways of the rainforest. Your expert guide will lead you on jungle expeditions, on foot, and by canoe. Climb a 100ft (30m) canopy tower for incredible views over the jungle canopy, visit vibrant Macaw clay licks, head out in the dark for a night walk in search of creepy crawlies and quietly walk through the forest on the lookout for monkeys, peccaries and if you’re lucky, the elusive jaguar.

On your last day, fly back to Lima for your international connecting flight or onward travel elsewhere.