Rainforest first, at sea level.
Three nights on the river before any altitude. You arrive in the Andes rested and already settled into the trip.
10 days / 9 nights · A private journey
Lima · Amazon · Sacred Valley · Machu Picchu · Cusco
The river and the mountains in one private journey. Three nights aboard Aqua Expeditions in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, then the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco with your own guide. Ten days, with the flights and connections planned for you.
Pricing on request
Per person, two sharing, USD. Includes the cruise, hotels, Machu Picchu entry, trains, guided visits, private transfers and meals as listed. Flights, insurance and gratuities excluded. Your written proposal confirms the total.
Night 1
Lima
Nights 2–4
Aqua Expeditions, Amazon
Nights 5–6
Sacred Valley
Night 7
Machu Picchu Pueblo
Nights 8–9
Cusco
Day 10
Departure from Cusco
Tell us about mobility needs when planning, and get personal medical advice about altitude and Amazon travel health before you go.
Three nights on the river before any altitude. You arrive in the Andes rested and already settled into the trip.
Every suite on board faces the river. You unpack once and the forest changes outside the window each morning.
The Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco follow the same private pattern as our other journeys: your guide, your vehicle, your pace.
Your days in Peru
Day 1
We meet you at Lima airport for the private transfer to your hotel in Miraflores. Most international flights land in the evening, so we keep this night simple: check in, rest and be ready for the morning flight north.
Day 2
Fly to Iquitos, the largest city in the world with no road in. Aqua Expeditions meets you for the transfer to the ship at Nauta, where the Marañón and Ucayali rivers join to form the Amazon. Board, settle into your suite and sail.
Day 3
Guided excursions, morning and late afternoon, by skiff and kayak into the reserve’s flooded forest and side channels. Expect monkeys, sloths and the pink river dolphins the reserve is known for. Lunch and dinner on board, with the ship moving between excursions.
Day 4
Visit a riverside community with your naturalist guide, then fish, swim or paddle depending on the season and the water level. After dinner, a skiff excursion into the dark for caiman and the sounds of the forest.
Day 5
A final morning excursion, then disembark and transfer to Iquitos airport for the flight to Cusco via Lima, a full travel day. Your guide meets you at Cusco airport for the drive down to Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 6
A gentle first day in the Andes. Visit Pisac’s market and the Inca site above the valley with your guide, then Ollantaytambo’s terraces and stone streets after lunch. We keep the walking moderate while you adjust to the altitude.
Day 7
Meet weavers in Chinchero and learn about their dyes and techniques, then continue to Moray. In the afternoon, travel by train through the valley to Aguas Calientes and settle in at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Day 8
Your guide accompanies you through Machu Picchu on your reserved circuit in the morning. We confirm your entry time and any mountain-hike permit before travel. After lunch, return by train and private transfer to Cusco and check in at Inkaterra La Casona.
Day 9
A guided morning at Sacsayhuamán, Qoricancha and the Plaza de Armas, then the afternoon free for San Blas, the market or a long lunch. For a cooking class or textile workshop, tell us during planning so we can confirm availability and include the cost.
Day 10
Private transfer to Cusco airport for your flight on.
Your proposed hotels
These are the ship and hotels featured in this itinerary, plus a Miraflores hotel for your first night. We’ll confirm suite and room categories and availability in your proposal, and discuss any alternatives with you before booking.
Amazon · 3 nights
Aqua Expeditions. River-facing suites with floor-to-ceiling windows; the ship chosen for your dates.
Sacred Valley · 2 nights
Casitas on 100 acres with views across the valley.
Aguas Calientes · 1 night
Cloud-forest casitas five minutes from the bus to the site.
Cusco · 2 nights
Eleven suites in a 16th-century house off the Plaza Nazarenas.
Prefer a different hotel, ship or suite category? We’ll explain the options and the difference in price.
The details, clearly
Departures several times a week; we match the sailing to your dates. Just the cruise? →
We check Machu Picchu availability and cruise space before charging the deposit; if entry cannot be secured afterwards, our terms provide new dates or a full deposit refund. Otherwise deposits are non-refundable once permits and trains are bought, so we ask every guest to carry travel insurance. Destination Peru E.I.R.L. operates your journey in Peru; Inca Trek LLC, a Utah company, is the contracting company and merchant of record. Read the booking terms.
Questions
Yes. Aqua Expeditions has departures several times a week, and we match the sailing to your dates. Tell us your travel window and we’ll propose the sailing and the days either side of it.
Altitude can affect any traveler. This itinerary starts at sea level in the Amazon and arrives in the Sacred Valley, at about 9,000 ft (2,750 m), before Cusco at about 11,200 ft (3,400 m). That order helps but does not remove the risk. Get personal medical advice before you travel, and tell us about any concerns during planning. Oxygen is available in our hotels and vehicles and we work with a clinic in Cusco; these are support arrangements, not a guarantee of how you will feel.
Pricing depends on your dates and suite category; we confirm it in your written proposal. The price includes the three-night cruise, hotels, Machu Picchu entry, trains, private guided visits, private transfers and most meals. Flights, insurance and gratuities are extra.
As early as you can. The cruise has a fixed number of suites per sailing, and Machu Picchu entry is limited by circuit and time slot. Six months ahead is comfortable for most dates; we’ll tell you if your window is tighter. A $500-per-person deposit secures the cruise space, entry and trains.
Tell us your dates, who is coming and what matters to you. We reply within 24 hours and confirm when you can expect a proposed itinerary with hotels and a per-person price. We refine it with you, then a $500-per-person deposit secures the trip. The balance is due 60 days before arrival.
Your listed guided visits and road transfers in the Andes are arranged for your party. The cruise is shared with other guests on board; your suite is private and excursions are in small groups led by Aqua’s naturalist guides. Scheduled trains are shared with other passengers, and Machu Picchu is open to other ticket holders. Your proposal identifies any other shared services.
The hotels and ship shown are the ones featured in this itinerary. Your dates, suite or room category and availability set the final quote; your proposal names the hotels you are confirming and any agreed alternatives.
Destination Peru E.I.R.L. operates your journey in Peru; our terms name Inca Trek LLC, a Utah company, as contracting company and merchant of record. A $500-per-person deposit secures the trip; the balance is due 60 days before arrival. Pay by major credit card (no card fee) or by bank transfer (no fee). If Machu Picchu entry or cruise space cannot be secured after your deposit, our terms provide new dates or a full deposit refund. Read the booking terms before paying.
Make it yours
Take the full week aboard and see more of the reserve. We re-plan the Andes days around it.
The cruise alone starts from $4,050 per person (3 nights). See Aqua cruises.
Hike a section of the Inca Trail with our own licensed operation between the valley and Machu Picchu.
Stay a second night in Aguas Calientes for a slower visit or a second entry.
Add a night at the start for Lima’s food, art and coastal neighborhoods, rather than an airport stop.
A demanding high-altitude excursion, best considered at the end of your trip. We’ll discuss whether it suits you.
Quoted for your dates.
Plan this journey
Tell us your dates and who’s coming. Our team replies within 24 hours and confirms when you can expect a proposed itinerary and price. Nothing is booked and no payment is taken with your inquiry.
“We loved the itinerary and the knowledge & helpfulness of the team.”
drbeth1 · TripAdvisor · 5.0 · 41 reviews