Amazon River + Machu Picchu — Daily Departures, All Year Long
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This 10-day Peru tour takes you to the two places every traveler dreams of: the Amazon River and Machu Picchu. After a city tour of Lima, fly to Iquitos — the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road — and travel by boat along the Amazon to a jungle lodge for three days of pink river dolphins, giant water lilies, monkeys and rainforest nights. Back in Lima, fly to Cusco, take a day to acclimatize, explore the Sacred Valley and ride the panoramic train to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the Inca citadel.
Your 10 days at a glance: Lima, Iquitos and the Amazon River, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
A driver meets you in the arrivals hall of Jorge Chávez International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Miraflores, the seaside district perched on cliffs above the Pacific. Rest after your flight, then take an easy walk along the malecón gardens to Larcomar and enjoy your first Peruvian dinner — ceviche, lomo saltado and a pisco sour.
Day 2
Your guide shows you the heart of colonial Lima: the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral where conquistador Francisco Pizarro is buried, the Government Palace and the San Francisco Monastery with its painted cloisters and catacombs. The afternoon is free in Miraflores and Barranco — the perfect moment for a long ceviche lunch.
Day 3
Fly from Lima to Iquitos, the capital of the Peruvian Amazon. After a short look at the floating houses of Belén, board a boat on the Amazon River and travel downstream to your jungle lodge. In the afternoon, take your first guided walk among giant ceiba trees, and after dinner set out on a night excursion to hear the rainforest come alive.
Day 4
A full day on the river and in the forest. Look for pink and grey river dolphins, visit a riverside community to learn how families live with the rhythm of the river, try piranha fishing with simple poles, and search for sloths, monkeys, toucans and macaws with your guide. Watch the sun set over the Amazon from the boat.
Day 5
An early bird-watching outing and a visit to the giant Victoria water lilies, whose leaves can grow over two meters wide, close your Amazon adventure. After breakfast, return by boat to Iquitos and fly back to Lima for the night.
Day 6
Fly from Lima to Cusco (approx. 3,400 m), the ancient capital of the Incas. After the transfer to your hotel, rest and let your body adjust to the altitude with a cup of coca tea. In the late afternoon, walk to the Plaza Mayor to admire the Cathedral and the Church of the Company of Jesus as the lights come on.
Day 7
Travel down to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, lower and warmer than Cusco. Explore the Pisac terraces and market, then Ollantaytambo, a village still laid out on Inca foundations. Board the panoramic train in the afternoon to Aguas Calientes, at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Day 8
Ride the bus up to Machu Picchu in the morning and discover the Inca citadel with your guide: the Main Plaza, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Intihuatana stone and the terraces clinging to the mountainside. In the afternoon, return by train to Ollantaytambo and by road to Cusco.
Day 9
A free morning in Cusco for last visits or souvenirs — alpaca textiles, ceramics and silver are local specialties. Fly back to Lima in the afternoon and spend your last evening in the bohemian Barranco district.
Day 10
Enjoy your final hours in Lima — a stroll above the Pacific or a visit to a museum — before your transfer to the airport for your international flight home. End of services.
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Yes. Flights connect Lima with Iquitos and Cusco, so this itinerary gives you three days on the Amazon River and four days in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, with two days in Lima at the start.
Iquitos is the only big city on the Amazon River itself in Peru. From here you travel on the main river, not a tributary, which gives you the best chance of seeing pink river dolphins and giant water lilies. Iquitos cannot be reached by road, only by plane or boat.
Boat transfers from Iquitos, two nights at a jungle lodge with all meals, a bilingual naturalist guide, jungle walks, a dolphin-watching boat trip, piranha fishing, a night excursion and a visit to a riverside community.
Iquitos is on the Amazon River itself, with pink dolphins and riverside communities, and is reached via Lima. Tambopata is in the southern Amazon, close to Cusco, and is known for Lake Sandoval, giant otters and macaws. If you want the Amazon River, choose Iquitos; for the shortest connection to Cusco, choose Tambopata.
The yellow fever vaccine is recommended for the Peruvian Amazon. Pack insect repellent, long sleeves and a light rain jacket, and check the latest health advice with your doctor before traveling.
You fly from Lima to Cusco (approx. 3,400 m) and keep the rest of that day free to rest. The next day you descend to the Sacred Valley (approx. 2,900 m) and Machu Picchu (approx. 2,430 m), both lower than Cusco. Drink plenty of water and check with your doctor if you have a medical condition.
Yes. Departures are daily, all year, and every day of this 10-day itinerary can be adapted: add nights, upgrade hotels, switch to a luxury train to Machu Picchu or add Huayna Picchu. Just tell us in the request form.
The price depends on the hotel category you choose (Essential 2★, Comfort 3★, Superior 4★ or Deluxe 5★) and on the number of travelers. Open the Rates tab for the current price per person, based on double or twin accommodation. Domestic flights are quoted separately so you can choose airline and schedule.