Independent Peru Highlights with Peru's Amazon
Independent Peru Highlights with Peru's Amazon
Independent Peru Highlights with Peru's Amazon
11 Days Starting and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata National Reserve, South America
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ISM2-2025
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with the "Independent Peru Highlights with Peru's Amazon" tour, exploring the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of Peru. Begin your journey in Lima, then fly to Cusco to discover the ancient Inca sites, including the majestic Machu Picchu. Traverse the Sacred Valley, visiting traditional markets and learning about Inca weaving techniques. Continue your adventure into the heart of the Amazon Jungle in Puerto Maldonado, where you'll experience the vibrant wildlife and lush rainforest. Stay in unique accommodations, from luxury hotels to a rustic Amazon lodge, and enjoy guided tours that bring Peru's natural and cultural wonders to life.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Lima,Peru
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Welcome to Lima, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2: Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA• Your included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias. (B) Today’s I-Time Tips This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images.
Day 3: Lima,Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA–CUSCO • Fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide. • Your guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. • Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. Followed by the amphitheater of Kenko, and the red fortress of Puca Pucara. (B)
Day 4: Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY • Today, a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you will learn about the importance of the alpaca for Inca cultures, as well as the ancient weaving techniques still in use today. • Continue to the market town of Pisaq, where you can buy handmade rugs, alpaca sweaters, and jewelry at bargain prices. • At the other end of the valley, visit Ollantaytambo to see some of the finest examples of Inca masonry. (B,L)
Day 5: Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU • Embark on a train trip bound for Machu Picchu and cut a path through the Sacred Valley to this “Lost City of the Incas,” discovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.• On a guided tour of Machu Picchu, explore this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, a brisk one-hour walk leads to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. (B,L,D)
Day 6: Machu Picchu,Sacred Valley,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO • A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. • Return to Cusco by train. (B)
Day 7: Cusco,Puerto Maldonado
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
CUSCO–PUERTO MALDONADO • Fly to Puerto Maldonado, capital of Madre de Dios and the entry to Peru’s Amazon Jungle. • Embark on a motorboat ride for a journey up the Madre de Dios River to view the exotic wildlife. • Arrive at your Amazon Jungle lodge and meet your Naturalist. • After settling in, head out with your Naturalist for a nature walk along nature trails to learn about primary and secondary rainforest. • At dusk, take a canoe ride to learn about the Amazon River ecosystems, nocturnal animals’ behavior, and the southern constellations. (B,L,D)
Day 8: Peru's Amazon
Location: Tambopata National Reserve
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
PERU'S AMAZON• This morning, take a Naturalist-guided walk into the Tambopata National Reserve and then navigate by dugout canoe around Lake Sandoval, a beautiful oxbow lake. Learn about the reserve’s conservation efforts and the animals that inhabit this lake, such as the endangered giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, and black caimans. • This afternoon, the canopy walkway shows you a different perspective 100 feet above ground. From the treetops, keep an eye out for white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys and the three-toed sloth.• After night falls, your Naturalist introduces you to the nocturnal animals of the Amazon. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Peru's Amazon
Location: Puerto Maldonado
Accommodation Name: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
PERU'S AMAZON • A short boat ride brings you to a native farm where farmers use ancient methods to grow crops. Learn about local cultivation techniques and taste some of the produce. • This afternoon, you can fish for piranha like the local indigenous communities do and visit a clay lick to observe wildlife from a blind to observe the normal routine of the fauna without disrupting the environment. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Puerto Maldonado,Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation Name: Hotel Pullman Miraflores
Meals Included: Breakfast
PUERTO MALDONADO–LIMA • Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima and then transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Lima. (B)
Day 11: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Stay at Hotel Pullman Miraflores in Lima, Casa Andina Premium Cusco in Cusco, Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas in Sacred Valley, Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel in Machu Picchu, and Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion in Puerto Maldonado.
-
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners.
-
Guided Tours
Guided tours in Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon Jungle with a Naturalist.
-
Transportation
Flights from Lima to Cusco, Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, and Puerto Maldonado to Lima. Train trip to Machu Picchu.
-
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees to Machu Picchu, Tambopata National Reserve, and other sites mentioned in the itinerary.
What's Not Included
-
Luggage Restrictions
For overnight stays in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, only an overnight bag weighing no more than 11 pounds is allowed due to luggage restrictions on the train.
Main luggage will be stored at the Cusco hotel. -
Physical Requirements
Walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs is required.
Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. -
Accommodation Conditions
The Hacienda Concepcion in the Amazon rainforest is a rustic lodge without air conditioning.
Electricity is shut off between 11 pm and 4 am, and rooms are provided with kerosene lanterns and flashlights.
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Notes
Transportation is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary and include private airport transfers to/from intra-vacation flights. Local guide service is provied in Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A Naturalist is also provided in the Amazon. Intra-vacation flights are not included but can be added. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and have the ability to jump in/out of small water crafts such as canoes and small fishing boats.
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Accommodation
Lima: Hotel Pullman Miraflores, Cusco: Casa Andina Premium Cusco, Sacred Valley: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and Villas, Machu Picchu: Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Puerto Maldonado: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion.
Mode of Transport
Travel includes flights to Cusco and Puerto Maldonado, a train trip to Machu Picchu, and motorboat rides in the Amazon Jungle.
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of physical fitness is required for this tour?
Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Travelers should be in relatively fit shape without walking difficulties.
-
Are there any luggage restrictions during the tour?
For your overnight stays in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, you will only be allowed to bring an overnight bag weighing no more than 11 pounds due to luggage restrictions on the train. Your main luggage will be stored at the Cusco hotel where you will return for an additional overnight.
-
What should I expect from the accommodation in the Amazon Rainforest?
The Hacienda Concepcion is a rustic lodge in the middle of the rainforest. Rooms have ceiling fans but do not have air conditioning - the rooms are screened in to allow you to hear the surrounding rainforest. Electricity is shut off between 11 pm and 4 am, and at night, each room is provided with kerosene lanterns and flashlights. This is a truly unique experience in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest with wildlife everywhere and educated guides to bring this area to life for you.
-
What kind of wildlife can I expect to see in the Amazon?
During your stay in the Amazon, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including endangered giant river otters, blue and yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, black caimans, white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys, and the three-toed sloth.
-
What activities are included in the Amazon portion of the tour?
In the Amazon, you will embark on a motorboat ride to view exotic wildlife, take a nature walk to learn about primary and secondary rainforest, go on a canoe ride to learn about the Amazon River ecosystems, and take a Naturalist-guided walk into the Tambopata National Reserve. You will also navigate by dugout canoe around Lake Sandoval, explore the canopy walkway, and visit a native farm to learn about local cultivation techniques.
-
What are the highlights of the Machu Picchu visit?
At Machu Picchu, you will embark on a train trip through the Sacred Valley to the 'Lost City of the Incas.' On a guided tour, you will explore the intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct. For hikers, there is an option for a brisk one-hour walk to the Sun Gate, the ancient entrance used by the Incas. You will also have a second included entrance to the ruins to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu.
-
What kind of meals are provided during the tour?
The tour includes buffet breakfast daily, 5 lunches, and 4 three-course dinners.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
For over 90 years.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies
-
What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.
Reviews of this operator
Save on this tour
Request your exclusive discount code now and unlock savings for your next adventure!
Send me one now.Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions
Why book with Barrhead?
Fully Protected
All our holidays are fully financially protected.
Your flight & hotel package is fully ATOL protected.
Range
Our bespoke holidays are tailor-made to suit your personal requirements.
We can book flights, rail journeys, accommodation, cruises, attraction tickets and much more.
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
Expert Knowledge
We know because we go – our Touring & Adventure specialists have travelled to over 55 countries.
Reliable & unbiased advice from our trusted travel experts.
Trusted Agent
Multi award-winning agency with almost 50 years experience.
Rated 4.9/5 on Trustpilot – the highest-rated high-street travel agent.
We look after you every step of the way.