Compare Cruising The Amazon River by Kuoda Travel vs Best of Peru with Machu Picchu by Odynovo

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: Arrival – Lima

Overnight: Lima

Welcome to Lima, the capital of Peru! Meet our representative outside Customs, who will escort you to your hotel. After checking in, you can either relax in the hotel to recover from the long journey or go outside to a fine restaurant for famous Peruvian cuisine.

Day 2: Lima – Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Cusco

Fly to Cusco this morning. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for a rest and give your body some time to adjust to the high altitude. Go sightseeing in Cusco this afternoon. Visit the site of Qorikancha, once the most revered Golden Temple dedicated to Sun God in Inca Empire. Admire a collection of art inside the Cusco Cathedral before visiting the archaeological complex of Sacsayhuaman. This impressive Incan fortress will amaze you with exquisite stone masonry and dramatic vistas.

Day 3: Cusco - Sacred Valley - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Overnight: Aguas Calientes

Set out for Awanacancha, the only camelid theme park in South America. Continue your journey to the Sacred Valley. You will walk around the lovely town of Pisac, admiring the locally made handicrafts at its colorful markets, followed by the Pisac Archaeological Park. These impressive ruins will show you a town of the ancient Inca Empire, with all types of functional buildings, remained. Ollantaytambo Archaeological Park is another Inca site you will visit. After the tour, take a scenic train to Aguas Calientes for the night.

Day 4: Aguas Calientes – Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Cusco

Line up to take a shuttle bus to Machu Picchu at the appointed time. Built in preColumbian times, this magnificent ruin site is an iconic symbol of the Inca Empire, often referred to as the "Lost City of the Inca." With your private tour guide, visit the main areas like the ritual baths, the Palace of the Princess, and the Temple of the Sun. After the guided tour, you will have some time to explore on your own. In the afternoon, take the shuttle bus down back to the town and find a nice cafe for a drink or lunch. Return to your hotel to collect your luggage and walk to the train station to catch your train to the Poroy Station in Cusco. Our representative will meet you here and take you to your hotel for check-in.

Day 5: Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Cusco

Today is yours to wander around at leisure. Stroll through the cobblestone streets of this former Inca capital to admire its colonial architecture, historic cathedrals, fine museums, and fantastic restaurants. Taking a break in a coffee shop and sipping a delicious Peruvian coffee while overlooking Cusco's beautiful streets is also a good choice.

Day 6: Cusco – Lima

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight: Lima

Take some time off before flying back to Lima. Upon arrival, proceed to your hotel for check-in and refreshments.

Day 7: Lima - Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Spend 3 hours exploring Lima's downtown area in the morning. You will walk through Plaza de Armas, surrounded by the Government Palace, the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, and many other historic buildings. Continue to San Isidro District to see the residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. After visiting the archaeological site of Huaca Huallamarca, you will take great views of the Pacific Ocean in the Miraflores district. After the tour, relax until a private transfer takes you to the airport for your homebound flight.