Peru Packages: Cross the Andes to the Amazon

You will be picked up at the airport and taken to your comfortable Arequipa hotel to relax and acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon you will be taken on an Arequipa city tour to view what is considered by many to be the most attractive city in Peru, where many of the colonial buildings are made of white ashler stone, giving the city the nickname of “The White City.” In the evening you will have the opportunity to check out some of Arequipa´s great restaurants and picanterías. This region of Peru is famous for its cuisine and is home to the Rocoto Rellenos, Ocopas, Adobos, Chairos, Chactados and Chupes de Camarones. Be sure to try one of the local specialties but be aware that many of these dishes are quit spicy, but many restaurants will cater to your needs upon request. After exploring the main square by night, get some rest for your early start in the morning. 

You will start out early to spend as much time as possible in the majestic Peruvian highlands arriving at the Colca Canyon lookout point "Cruz del Condor" in Chivay. Here you will have a panoramic view of the canyon. This part of the canyon provides optimal conditions for condors to live and you will spend the first few hours of your morning here to watch the condors surf the wind currents above you.  You will re-board your bus to visit some of the surrounding highlights.  During your journey, you will not only see amazing panoramas but also traditional Andean villages and animals - llamas, alpacas and vicuñas - whose wool is used by the inhabitants to make the finest of textiles. To fully enjoy the trip we have arranged an overnight stay in a lodge close to the canyon so that you will have every opportunity of photographing condors and grabbing up textile bargains. In the afternoon you will be taken to your Colca Canyon hotel where you will have the opportunity to visit some of the local hot springs along the valley´s river.  These natural occurring springs are a fantastic way to enjoy the surrounding beauty, relax and prepare for the rest of your amazing Peru vacation.  In the afternoon of day 3 you will return to your hotel in Arequipa - the White City.  When you arrive, you will have the opportunity to explore the city either on your own or in one of our organized tours.  Please see our list of excursions below or speak to one of our Peru Travel experts to arrange the perfect tour options for you.

Read our newsletter article about restaurants in Arequipa.

After breakfast in your Arequipa hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cusco. You will be picked up at Cusco´s airport upon arrival and taken to your comfortable Cusco hotel where you are advised to rest to acclimatize to the altitude. That evening, enjoy the Cusco nightlife at your leisure.

You will have the morning to either relax or explore a little on your own after breakfast at your Cusco hotel.  In the early afternoon you will be taken on a Cusco tour of the city and will visit some of the many amazing archaeological sites and wonders in and around the city. You will see the Cathedral (which is located on the Plaza de Armas- or main square), Sacsayhuaman, Q'enko, Puka Pukara and Tambomachay. Remember to bring your camera on this trip as you will certainly want a reminder of the amazing awe these Inca sites can evoke.

You will return to your hotel in the late afternoon to relax before dinner. Before setting out to eat in one of the many restaurants in Cusco remember to put on something warm as the temperature in the city can drop dramatically due to the dry climate and altitude.  If you are not prepared for cooler weather, there are many markets and high end stores selling alpaca wool sweaters all over the city.  Spend the evening enjoying the local cuisine and hospitality of the friendly Cusco locals.

See our Cusco Guide for more in-depth information about the city, including Cusco restaurants.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a journey into the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas.  As you wind through the Andean mountain tops, you will see echoes of the traditional lifestyles that have existed here for more than 500 years.  Many people proudly wear traditional clothing, cook in clay fire ovens and utilize many of the irrigation techniques developed over a half a century ago.  The drive from Cusco is not very long and on the way you will see some typical Andean villages and scenery. Upon descent into the Sacred Valley you will know that you have arrived in the area the Inca revered for its lush fertile soils and advanced agricultural methods. 

First you will visit the impressive ruins of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent ancient ruins look out as outposts over the valley and if you are up for the climb, offer an incredible view.  Originally the royal estate of Emperor Pachacuti during the Inca Empire, it later served as a stronghold for Manco Inca Yupanqui in the Inca´s final rebellion against the Spanish.

After learning more about the history and architecture of the Inca, you will ride along the Urambamba River for a short trip to the beautiful town of Pisac.  Here you will have the opportunity to visit the lively local market in to enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale. It is here that many fine Andean garments are for sale. For lunch you will have the chance to try out traditional Andean foods. This town also has some very interesting small architectural elements that should not be missed.  For example if you walk down some of the side streets at the end of the block you will find a serpent´s head as the drainage spout.  These little elements make this town a gem of the Sacred Valley. 

In the evening you will return to your comfortable Cusco hotel where you will once again be given the opportunity to spend the evening at your leisure in one of the many fine restaurants or bars available in the area.  The nightlife in Cusco is fantastic but be sure to get enough rest for your trip to Machu Picchu, one of the wonders of the world, in the morning! 

After breakfast at your Cusco hotel you will take a train to the hidden temple of the Incas: Machu Picchu. The train ride is an attraction in itself as much of the ride winds along the river and mountain face with dramatic views of the Andes as you pass through abundant cloud forests.  The foliage dramatically changes as you ride towards the meeting point of the Andes and the Amazon rainforest providing visitors a real sense of how much this country really as to offer. 

Upon arriving in Aguas Calientes, you will either be taken directly by bus to the ruins of Machu Picchu or to your very comfortable hotel if you have decided to spend the evening in the area.  Once settled, you will leave this little town and take a roughly 20 minute bus ride to the hidden ruins of Machu Picchu perched in the mountains above.

Once you arrive in Machu Picchu, you will begin a guided tour of this world wonder. If you decide to spend the night in this area (highly recommended) you will have another chance to visit the ruins early the next day. After your tour you can wander the many Inca trails that lead to the main site or head into town for a late lunch. In the event you choose to stay in Aguas Calientes overnight, you can use the evening to relax in the nearby hot springs.  Otherwise you will return to the station in the mid-afternoon for the train back to Cusco and transfer back to your hotel.

See our Machu Picchu Guide for more information on what to see and do, as well as which Machu Picchu Restaurants we recommend for a tasty dining.

Bright and early you will leave Cusco to take an early flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon your arrival you will be immediately transferred to your jungle lodge. It is located in the territory of the Ese'eja native community and is built with the same materials and architectural techniques as those used by the native communities throughout the Amazon. As you leave the traces of the city of Puerto Maldonado behind, sailing in a dugout canoe on the Tambopata River, the tranquility of the rainforest will absorb you. That evening you will enjoy a delicious dinner before tucking in early for your breaking of dawn jungle tour at the break of dawn.

At dawn you will venture out on a short hike to the parrot clay lick a few minutes down-river from the lodge to witness the jungle come to life. Later, after breakfast, you will have time to try to spot giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds as you explore the surrounding jungle. In the afternoon you will be taken on a guided walk through the forest where your Amazon expert guide will have the opportunity to point out hiding animals and indigenous plants. After dinner, enthusiasts can go on a night walk to enjoy the nocturnal creatures that come to life or you can relax in the warm nights of the jungle with the sounds of the wild to lure you to sleep.

At dawn you can go for another optional visit to the clay lick. After breakfast, you will go for a hike accompanied by an Ese'eja who will explain how the forest is used in their everyday life: for food, medicine, construction materials etc.  You will enjoy a delicious local meal for lunch before heading off in the afternoon for another hike that will take you down a trail that crosses a floodplain and a bamboo forest. This trail will offer yet a different variety of flora and fauna for you to enjoy.  You will return before dark to the jungle lodge for your final evening of this Peru tour.

After an early breakfast at the lodge you will be transferred to Puerto Maldonado for your flight out to continue your Peru vacation, travel on one of our other South America tours or catch your flight to Lima for your return home.

• 2 nights in Arequipa, 1 night in Colca Canyon, 4 nights in Cusco or 3 nights in Cusco/1 night in Aguas Calientes, 3 nights in Puerto Maldonado, all in comfortable hotels based on US standards.
• All guided visits are with English speaking tour guides.
• All transfers and entrance fees.
• All breakfasts. 4-star and up hotels offer breakfast buffets.

We recommend that you book more time in Cusco. There is so much to see in and around the city that an extra day would amplify your Cusco experience. We would be pleased to book an additional day(s) for you. Otherwise enjoy your 4 days / 3 nights Cusco vacation and take in the sights and sounds of this magnificent city.

Have an extra day to visit the ruins on your own, relax at the local hot springs, and walk around the orchid gardens. The breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu certainly deserves an extra day!

The sheer natural beauty of this area will revitalize any jaded soul. Learn why it is called the Sacred Valley by staying overnight in a Sacred Valley hotel.

Heading east from Cusco you will discover the remarkable and extensive Inca ruins of Tipon, famous for its beautiful gardens set high within the Andes Mountains, where fresh, cool water runs through an intricate system of fountains. Your professional tour guide will lead you up and along the expansive terraces, supported by traditional Inca stonework, with a visible and fully-functional irrigation system of channels flowing underneath.

Following a path leading just above the final terrace on the hill you will come across a remarkable temple hidden by the mountain. Your entire visit to the ruins will be framed by the beautiful vistas overlooking the town of Tipon, and the stunning backdrop of the Andes dominating the entire valley.

Continuing your tour you’ll arrive in Piquillajta, ‘the City of Fleas,’ an impressive and ancient Wari ruin established in the first century. You’ll explore this administrative capital of the southern portion of the Wari Empire which dates back to pre-Inca times, made up of compounds of ancient two-storey storehouses, dormitories, and ceremonial sites. To this day the walls have retained their ancient plastering and lime coatings.

As your day continues, you will travel to the small village of Andahuaylillas, home to a dazzling 17th-century church, known as ‘the Andean Sistine Chapel’.  Its stunning frescoes and rich, distinct interior design are on par with the work of European masters and is a beautiful mix of European and Peruvian art styles. Built upon the site of an old Inca temple, the church’s altar is gilded in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with both Christian and Quechua symbols. The detailed baroque style and elegant, valuable adornments are thought to have been an early attempt by the Spaniards to dazzle the Inca into converting to Christianity.

Leaving the village of Andahuaylillas you will make the return journey through the stunning Andean landscape and back to your comfortable Cusco hotel. Please note that lunch is not included in this tour and ordering a box lunch from your hotel is advised.

Enjoy a horseback riding adventure across the Sacred Valley to Maras Moray Salt Mines. This is our most recommended additional service. Prices are per person for this private service (includes transfer to the Sacred Valley).

Located between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the campsite is situated at 2800 meters a.s.l. and is close to the Vilcanota River. From here you can see the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, just a 30 minute walk from your campsite. The following day, you can walk to the train station, only 15 minutes away, and take the train to Machu Picchu.

Campsite is accessible by road, by rafting on the river Vilcanota or by trekking.

• Stationary tents
• Dining area
• Bathrooms
• Hot showers
• Potable water
• Campfire
• Pachamanca lunch
• Hammocks
• Soccer field, badminton court, volleyball court, petanque (a game similar to bowls)

Get on a boat and have a wet and wild rafting experience through the Sacred Valley. Our tour guides are fully trained and bilingual. Transfers and lunch included.

Take a horse-back ride through the valley from the Inca Bridge to the Quarries of Cachicata and return to camp. This trip lasts about 4 hours.

Includes: First aid kit, walkie-talkie, guide service and horses completely equipped.
Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

Take a bike ride through the Sacred Valley where you will visit the Quarries of Cachicata and the villages on the banks of the river, such as Sillque, Chillca and others. We will return to our campsite during a pleasant 2 hour journey on the other side of the river, passing through the villages of Phiri Podra and enjoying the beautiful scenery.

Includes: bicycles, helmets, gloves, first-aid kit and guide service

Not included: bottled water, food, tips

Raft on the River Urubamba with category 2 and 3 currents, suitable for everyone. No experience necessary. Trip lasts approximately 2 hours and provides an opportunity to see the beautiful Sacred Valley from a different perspective.

Included: First-aid kit, bilingual guide service, canoeing kit, life- jackets, oars, waterproof pants, and transportation from and to campsite.

Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

This site, constructed by the Incas, is the oldest known horticultural experimental center in the world. Each terraced level gives a different micro-climate in which different crops can be grown. The terraces built into the natural surrounding landscape are fascinating. Prices are per person for this private service:

This horseback riding tour will take you to the beautiful country side around the city of Cusco. (minimum 2 people)

Watch professional Peruvian dancers and musicians perform to traditional Andean music during a delicious dinner.

With more than a thousand items from pre-Columbian cultures such as the Huari, Tiahuanuco, Chancay and Inca including ceramics, textiles, stone, wood and metal objects, the archeology museum’s most interesting attraction is “Mummy Juanita” also known as “Ice Maiden” or ¨Ice Princess¨. Discovered in 1995 by anthropologist Johan Reinhard in the summit crater of Mt. Ampato, Juanita is the Inca mummy of a girl who lived more than 500 years ago. The frozen state of the mummy permitted tests to be run on the organs that revealed new insights into Inca health and nutrition during the reign of the Sapa Inca Pachacuti. The discovery was heralded by Time magazine as one of the world’s top ten discoveries.

*Tour available April through December.

This tour not only shows you some of the beautiful things to see in Peru, but also allows you to see how many Peruvians get by from day to day. This tour explains many of the intricacies of daily Peruvian life that are not commonly observed by the typical tourist. On this reality tour you will visit a quarry where locals extract volcanic ashler stone in the traditional, artisan way to use to build their homes. You will also safely visit a shanty town where you will observe first hand the struggles and realities of daily life of the lower economic classes. In the shanty town you will visit a wawawasi- a public nursery school, and a local public cafeteria, where mothers come together to cook for their families. The next stop on the tour is a local market where you can try local fruits and vegetables. And finally, you will visit a local public elementary school.

NOTE: This tour is NOT FOR PROFIT. All money earned from this tour is used at the end of the year to buy necessary materials for the public cafeterias and the wawawasis. Some of the money is also destined to purchasing gifts for the children at the wawawasis.