Compare Cruising The Amazon River by Kuoda Travel vs Peru with Machu Picchu 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1: Arrive at your hotel in Lima after your international flight to Peru!

Lima is a metropolitan city known for its colonial architecture and mouthwatering ceviche!

When your international flight arrives in Lima, look for your Kuoda host holding a sign with your name on it! We know you’ll most likely be a little tired after your long flight, so we’ll save you the stress of trying to navigate and bring you straight to your hotel adjacent to the airport where you can shake off that icky flight feeling with a shower and a sleep. Relax into the evening and enjoy a good night’s rest before your flight to Cusco in the morning!

Day 2: Fly to Cusco to tour an ancient local hacienda, the Pisac Market, and the Peruvian countryside.

The Sacred Valley, lower in altitude than Cusco, offers gorgeous landscapes and a serene atmosphere.

This morning we’ll escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. Impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance. Your journey will take you to an ancient hacienda, nestled in the fertile valley next to the pueblo of Pisac. Step onto the family-owned hacienda grounds and step into centuries past while your hosts expound upon the growing process of Giant White Corn and its profound cultural significance in the Andes Mountains. This hacienda dates back generations, and you’ll immediately be immersed in local customs steeped in the spirits and mysticism of the Andes, and embraced by the warmth of local Peruvians.

Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch with sample dishes featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn, and make sure to visit the on-site stables housing the renowned Peruvian Paso horses. Watch the horses dance with their human counterparts in a “marinera” demonstration, and even go for a quick trot yourself if you feel up to the task!

From there, 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 that are sold here. Later, return to the hotel of your choice.

Day 3: Hike to Ollantaytambo’s iconic ruins & Explore the Arts of the Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo is an incredible Incan town known for its original urban planning and awe-inspiring ruins.

Today’s journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas will start with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. At the ruins of Pumamarca we’ll begin our hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.

After approximately two hours of easy hiking, we’ll find ourselves in the Incan 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 original Inca walls and trapezoidal doors are still found here.

With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the stepped, slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above town, 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 where the Incas sourced these huge stone blocks. This site also afford fabulous views of the valley and the Urubamba River that meanders through it.

Following a lunch featuring local flavors, hop back in the car. This time, we’ll take you to our favorite artist’s workshop, famous throughout Peru for handcrafted ceramics. Spend the afternoon laughing, learning, and creating hand-made souvenirs with a Peruvian flair to bring home with you!

Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel for an evening spent at leisure.

Day 4: Enjoy a morning train through the cloud forest and visit the Machu Picchu Citadel!

Machu Picchu will take your breath away with its enigmatic and historical atmosphere.

Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the train in Ollantaytambo for our journey to Machu Picchu. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows! Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, we’ll tuck in to an early lunch in order to refuel before ascending to Peru’s lost citadel.

After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will pass through the main gates with your private guide to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by 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.

Day 5: Hike one of the coveted, limited-entry hikes, Huayna Picchu!

Huayna Picchu, a not to miss experience while exploring Machu Picchu!

Today you have the option to hike two different trails – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, so it’s completely up to you on how you would like to culminate your Machu Picchu luxury tour. Feeling adventurous? Consider hiking the steep slope of neighboring Huayna Picchu, which offers unrivalled views over 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-deserved good night’s rest.

Day 6: Explore the hidden cobblestone streets of historical Cusco on a private city tour and fly back to Lima

Tucked into the Andes Mountains, the city of Cusco lies at 11,150ft (3,300m) above sea level!

It’s time to get acquainted with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of most every traveler that passes through it. Get to know the real Cusco during a private tour. 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 roam the atmospheric streets of the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, which is known for its free-spirited scene. Explore Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery (a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun); see where the locals make their grocery runs at the open-air San Pedro market and pass the famous 12-angled stone, whose image appears on the bottle of the local Cusqueña beer. At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest places to visit for lunch. In the afternoon, fly back to Lima.

Day 7: Fly from Lima to Iquitos and board your luxury Amazon cruise

Iquitos is the largest city in the world without highway access – one can only arrive by boat or by plane

After breakfast at your hotel, we will escort you back to the airport for your flight to Iquitos Upon arrival, you’ll meet your Delfin II’s guide and take a seat on an air-conditioned bus for a scenic 90-minute drive to the small village of Nauta where the Delfin II Cruise – of the luxury Delfin cruise line – is anchored.

There should be a line above “Board the Delfin II and settle into one of the 14 cabins. After a safety drill and a quick briefing, tuck into a delicious welcome dinner and toast the beginning of your voyage with a glass of fine South American wine.

Day 8: Luxury Cruising the Amazon River

Pink river dolphins have sophisticated sonars, which allow them to send out electromagnetic pulses that bounce off of solid objects under water.

On your first morning, getting up early is highly recommended! This enables you to appreciate one of the most important zones of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Early rising is always rewarding, since wildlife is most abundant and active with the rising of the sun. Be sure to keep an attentive eye open for spotting surprises. During the dry season (Jun-Nov), you will have the chance to do some hiking at Belluda Caño, where you can explore two different kinds of ecosystems: “flooded forest” and “terra firme” forest. Here you may see snail kites, black-tailed ant birds, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, and pygmy marmosets. Your hike will take you to a lagoon filled with endangered and unique fresh water fish, where you will explore the waters in a dugout canoe.

During the wet season (Dec – May), you will explore Belluda Cano Creek by skiff. Here you will get a chance to spot parrots, macaws and monkeys. You may also see Morpho butterflies, and various species of hawks, including the noisy “laughing falcon,” named for its loud falsetto call.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Dorado River (“golden river”), where you might choose to go fishing for the famous piranha, a captivating and challenging experience you won’t forget! Or, you might want to go swimming with the delightful pink river dolphins, which some locals believe can transform into beautiful humans. These rare and yet friendly creatures are mostly found in the freshwater rivers of the Amazon, near Iquitos. So make sure you bring your bathing suit and a waterproof camera, as a snapshot of the pink river dolphin will surely be one for the Amazon adventure photo collections. As night approaches, your guide will take you on a night safari in search of caiman alligators and nocturnal birds and creepy-crawlies.

Day 9: Day full of jungle activities

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the world’s largest protected wetland

The morning is a perfect time for kayaking along the calm and inspiring rainforest waters of Zapote River. Your guides will take you upstream while you spot for prehistoric-looking iguanas lying lazily in the sun. Travel along the shoreline and be ready for whatever the jungle has to offer. Squirrel monkeys are very active at this time of the day, when they move in large noisy troops at mid to upper levels of primary and secondary lowland forest.

In the afternoon, we will have reached our main goal, the Pacaya River at the very heart of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected area with a mean annual rainfall of nearly 3,000 millimeters (or 118 inches), and by far the largest protected wetland reserve in the world. Filled with lakes, palm swamps, and streams, the reserve becomes a flooded forest in the rainy season and is sure to be one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. You will also have the chance to swim in one of the pristine Amazon lagoons in this wonderful region!

Day 10: Day full of jungle activities

The rising and falling cycles of rivers in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve allow an abundance of aquatic species to flourish.

This morning after breakfast, board on Delfin’s aluminum skiff to explore Clavero Lake, where you will have a chance to get deeper into the rainforest and see a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna and local villagers paddling in their traditional dugout canoes.

In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to test your own skills on the water. First, you’ll board the Delfin’s skiffs taking you to the Yarapa River, and then it’s into your very own kayak. Paddle through the tranquil waters, keeping an eye out for native flora and fauna at every turn! Next, you’ll visit the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers who have called Amazonia their home for generations. Here, your naturalist guides will introduce you to village life in the jungle, and you’ll learn about native plants, local customs, and the seamless interaction between humans and wildlife.

Fall asleep for the last time under the Amazonian stars as the Delfins pulls you back towards Iquitos.

Day 11: Explore a bit more of Iquitos before your international flight home

Mommy manatees are pregnant for around 12-13 months with manatee babies, which are called calves.

After one final breakfast on the ship, you will arrive at the port of Nauta. The ground crew will be waiting to take you by private vehicle back to the city of Iquitos, about 95 kilometers journey by paved road. As we are journeying back from Nauta to Iquitos airport, we will stop by the Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals (ACOBIA), where you will have the chance to meet baby manatees and learn about these wonderful and docile creatures and why they are on the endangered species list.

Afterwards, your guide will bring you to Iquitos airport for your return flight to Lima. In Lima, you will be met by a Kuoda host, who will escort you to Costa del Sol on-site airport hotel and will leave you to enjoy one final dinner in Peru before your international flight. Buen viaje!

Day 1: Welcome to Lima

Arrive in Lima for the first day of your journey. In the evening meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at the hotel bar for a welcome dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Explore Lima Relaxed Start

Explore the colourful capital of Peru this morning with your Local Expert. Delve into its colonial past and see key attractions, including the Cathedral of Lima, the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and City Hall. Visit the San Francisco Monastery and its underground cemetery. One for those with an appreciation for art, head to Museo Larco, a private museum located in Lima’s Pueblo Libre District. It is the highest-rated museum in South America and houses the largest collection of Pre-Columbian art. Indulge in a Highlight Lunch with an 18th-century garden as your backdrop. After lunch, meet a local guide who will take you around the Museo Larco and share the museum’s private collection with you. Delve into Peruvian culture, its ancient history and the country's religious beliefs. Return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 3: Lima to Sacred Valley

Take a transfer to the airport in the morning, where you'll catch your flight to the ancient capital of Cusco. Begin your tour of the Sacred Valley, while taking in impressive views on your scenic drive along the way. After a few stunning photo stops, enjoy lunch at Altar Inca, surrounded by some of the most impressive views of the region. Enjoy a leisurely trip to your hotel for the next couple of nights, where the evening is yours to do as you please. We recommend that you rest in order to adjust to the altitude comfortably.

Day 4: Explore Sacred Valley Relaxed Start

Start the morning off with a visit to the Maras salt pans, where the Incas harvested their salt. Today, the salt from Maras is exported to the entire world. Move on to an Incan laboratory in Moray, an archaeological site close to Cusco. Find out more about the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience as you visit a local traditional Quechua weaver in the Sacred Valley and learn about the importance these textiles have in shaping personal and regional identities. Afterward, make your way to Laguna Piuray, where you’ll enjoy a Pachamanca, a traditional Peruvian feast, for your Highlight Lunch. In the evening, transfer to Hacienda Huayoccari, where you'll discover this gem of the Sacred Valley while exploring its grounds and small museum. Sit down for a special Peruvian dinner before heading back to your hotel, the luxurious Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel.

Day 5: Explore Machu Picchu

Transfer to the station for your IncaRail train ride. Enjoy lunch on your way to Machu Picchu pueblo, the gateway village to Machu Picchu. On the way, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, followed by a stop at a local house in the village’s cobblestoned old town and visit with the family living there. In the afternoon, visit Machu Picchu, where you’ll meet your Local Experts for a guided visit in small groups. They will take you through the ruins and explain their historical and archaeological significance, as well as the importance of their location. Set high in the Andes Mountains, it offers spectacular scenery and history, dating back to the 15th century. End your day with a relaxing dinner and drinks at your hotel.

Day 6: Machu Picchu at Leisure

Take in the breathtaking landscapes of Machu Picchu for a second time. Spend your morning exploring at your own pace, with your Travel Director on hand to answer any queries you may have. The afternoon is yours at leisure. Relax back at your hotel or perhaps explore the town of Aguas Calientes on your own. Spend the evening as you please before sitting down to a Highlight Dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 7: On to Cusco

After breakfast, return by train to Ollantaytambo, where you will transfer to the ancient city of Cusco. Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco showcases a mix of Spanish colonial architecture, ancient remains and a lively cosmopolitan scene for modern inhabitants. On arrival in Cusco, head out on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Visit its cathedral and the Korikancha temple, the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The evening is yours at leisure. Ask your Travel Director for local restaurant and bar recommendations.

Day 8: Exploring Cusco

Start your day with a walking tour of Sacsayhuaman, a citadel built in the reign of Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, the ninth Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco. Afterward, choose to join a local expert on a guided hike of the Inca ruins at Puca Pucara. Alternatively you can explore the artisan bohemian neighborhood of San Blas and visit the prestigious art galleries. After lunch at Pachapapa, visit San Blas Church and the surrounding streets, before making your way to San Pedro Market, where you will find local produce. Later, make your way to the city’s planetarium, for a private, after-hours tour. Learn about astronomy, cosmology, and its influence on Andean culture. While here, try some local delicacies paired with hot wine.

Day 9: Leisure time in Cusco Relaxed Start

Choose between an optional visit to Rainbow Mountain, the ChocoMuseo, where you’ll learn more about the chocolate making process, or perhaps relax and simply enjoy the facilities at your hotel? Set in a beautiful 16th century building, make the most of this boutique hotel’s signature spa and Andean-inspired healing treatments, massages, facials and custom spa packages. In the evening, join your fellow travelers for a memorable Celebration Dinner at Calle del Medio, where you will toast to your adventures and end of your trip.

Day 10: Depart Cusco

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Take a private transfer to Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport.