Compare Inca Trail Express from Lima by Intrepid Travel vs Cruising The Amazon River by Kuoda Travel

Day 1 Lima

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. With Indigenous cultures dating back millennia, this country is a fascinating land of Amazonian rainforests, diverse wildlife and soaring mountains. Your adventure begins in Lima with a welcome meeting at 2 pm at your hotel in Lima. After, head downtown for a guided walking tour of the city's historical centre to take in the colonial mansions, palaces and churches that line the streets. Then, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon free. Wander around the city until night falls, then embark on an optional Lima Bites and Sights Tour with Urban Adventures, taking you to the bohemian Barranco district to sample the best local street food and Pisco cocktails.  

Day 2 Cusco (3450m)

This morning after breakfast, you’ll fly to Cusco. When you arrive, you’ll have a second welcome meeting at 2 pm where you'll meet your next group of fellow travellers (some people will probably start this trip in Cusco, rather than Lima). After, get acquainted with this charming city and its intriguing blend of cultures on a leader-led walking tour. Check out some of Cusco's main attractions, as well as its lesser-known sights, such as the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, the main square, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. Tonight is free to explore at your own pace or find the perfect dinner spot with your group and try some local Peruvian favourites.  

Day 3 Ollantaytambo

This morning, drive through the Sacred Valley. Known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, the valley has been a source of livelihood for the locals for hundreds of years. You’ll see maize crops covering the terraced walls and the sacred river beneath. Stop for lunch in a local community, where you'll also get the chance to learn about their traditional lifestyle and maybe wrap your tongue around a few words of the Quechua language. If it’s market day, you'll have time to browse the local handicrafts on offer, such as beads and ponchos. Then, visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba for afternoon tea – this café is dedicated to working with single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley, where there are few opportunities for childcare and employment. As all the ingredients used here are grown and purchased locally, the establishment also prides itself on its organic and locally focused practices. Enjoy a coffee, tea or juice with a slice of vegan beet cake or a homemade cookie and continue your journey to Ollantaytambo. Optional, Check out the town’s fascinating archaeological site – ancient remnants of an Inca city with soaring views over the present-day settlement.

Day 4 Inca Trail

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be either hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu. While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. You won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco and travel with only a small bag for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes. Route 1 Inca Trail Today, travel by minivan to the 82 km marker and meet your crew of local porters, your cook and your guide. Your first day will include uphill trekking to the campsite, which sits at 3100 m above sea level. On the way, you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. In the evening, unwind at the campsite with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook. Route 2 Quarry Trail Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. From here, you’ll head to the small community near Qory Song’o (Golden Heart) hill, where you’ll climb to the top for the incredible views of the Soqma Perolniyoc, Pachar and Huarocondo valleys. There are also several sacred tombs in the area, protected by the locals, which you can explore with your leader and even see some of the original structures crafted from wood and leather. These remains have never been seen by travellers before, so you can be a part of this exclusive experience. Carry on to the Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, where you can stop for some snacks and photos. Arrive at the campsite, 3700 m above sea level, around lunchtime. After, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas. Route 3 Cusco: After spending the night in Ollantaytambo, take a short drive to the town of Pisac. Pisac is well known for its market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to shop for souvenirs and perhaps try some local empanadas. Arrive back at Cusco in the afternoon, where your leader will take you to San Pedro Market, where you have the option to buy some local favourites for a picnic tomorrow.

Day 5 Inca Trail

Route 1 Inca Trail This is the most challenging day of the trek, as you ascend a 5-hour long steep path to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4200 m above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 m. Route 2 Quarry Trail This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3-hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa, about 4370 m high. After enjoying the picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. After, make the 2-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4450 m. From here, descend to the sacred site that the Incas called Intipunku. This is a sun gate, where the sun will stream through at particular times of the year and there are views of the Nevado Veronica mountain year-round. The Incas built several sun gates, the most notable overlooking Machu Picchu. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 3600 m. Route 3 Cusco Today, take a taxi to Tambomachay, an archaeological site just outside of Cusco. From here you’ll take a 2 to 3 hours walk back to Cusco. On the way, stop to admire some of the archaeological sites, including Puka Pukara, Quenqo and Saksaywaman. Arrive back in Cusco in the early afternoon and enjoy some free time. Maybe visit the Merida, Mendivil and Olave art galleries and workshops before finding a great spot to sit down and enjoy some dinner.

Day 6 Inca Trail

Route 1 Inca Trail Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass at 3980 m. Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 3850 m, also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the 2-hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Route 2 Quarry Trail Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo when you finish your trek. This is where you’ll meet with the travellers in your group who didn't hike, before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes.Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu. Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes After a 1.5-hour drive to Ollantaytambo. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. You’ll catch a 1.5-hour train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. Spend the night in a hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Day 7 Cusco

Route 1 Inca Trail This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu – one of the famed Wonders of the World. The day starts before dawn, with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and begin hiking. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, you’ll begin the final 2.5 hour trek to Intipunku (the Sun Gate). Weather permitting, you’ll enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ as you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Route 2 and 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 6.00 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for the Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters. This is a day to remember! For all travellers, after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to catch the bus to Aguas Calientes, where you’ll stop for lunch together. From here, take a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

Day 8 Cusco

Your trip comes to an end today, and there are no activities planned. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent. You may want to consider purchasing a Boleto Turistico (tourism ticket) It gains access to the many fascinating museums here, such as the Contemporary Art Museum, Regional History Museum and Qosqo Native Art Museum. Please speak with your tour leader about this for more details.

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!