Machu Picchu & Amazon River Expedition

Andes to Amazon

Peru holds two of the most compelling ecosystems on earth at opposite ends of the same country. The Andes — dry, vertiginous, steeped in Inca engineering — and the Amazon basin, where the river system begins its eastward journey to the Atlantic through some of the most biodiverse rainforest on the planet. This eleven-day itinerary crosses both, moving from the high altitude of Cusco and the Sacred Valley through Machu Picchu and down into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, where the Amazon Explorer makes its way through river tributaries that see almost no other boat traffic.

Cusco and Acclimatisation: Days 1–2

The flight into Cusco's Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport arrives at 3,400 metres above sea level — the city is the highest capital of any major tourism destination in South America. The first two days are deliberately unhurried, built around acclimatisation. Coca tea, shorter walks, and an early night do more for the first 48 hours than any itinerary can. The San Blas neighbourhood — a tangle of cobbled lanes above the Plaza de Armas, lined with studios where the city's silversmiths and woodcarvers work — rewards slow exploration. The central Plaza de Armas itself is framed by the Cathedral of Cusco and the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, both built on Inca foundations using stones taken from Sacsayhuamán, the fortress complex above the city.

Dinner on the first evening is at MAP Café, the restaurant inside the Museo de Arte Precolombino, which occupies the courtyard of the Casa Cabrera and holds one of the strongest collections of pre-Columbian goldwork in South America. The menu draws from Andean ingredients — quinoa, cuy, kiwicha, purple corn — without the folkloric framing that most tourist restaurants apply to them.

The Sacred Valley: Day 3

The Sacred Valley of the Incas runs northwest of Cusco along the Urubamba River, dropping in altitude as it goes. A full day's private drive covers the valley's main stops: Chinchero, where local women demonstrate back-strap loom weaving using techniques unchanged for centuries; Moray, the mysterious set of concentric circular terraces carved into a natural hollow in the earth — generally understood to have been an Inca agricultural research station, where the stepped topography created measurable temperature gradients between levels; and the Maras salt pans, where a natural saltwater spring has been channelled through more than 4,500 terraced pools since pre-Inca times, producing the pale pink Maras salt still harvested by local families today. The valley's lower altitude — around 2,800 metres in Urubamba — is the first significant breathing room since arrival.

The afternoon ends at Ollantaytambo, the living Inca town where the ancient street grid and water channels are still in daily use and the terraced fortress above the town remains one of the most legible pieces of Inca military architecture in Peru. This is also the train departure point for Machu Picchu.

The Hiram Bingham and Machu Picchu: Days 4–5

The Belmond Hiram Bingham departs from Poroy station on the outskirts of Cusco and takes approximately 3.5 hours to reach Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. The train — named after the American explorer who brought the site to international attention in 1911 — runs Pullman carriages from the 1920s with polished wood and brass fittings, a dining car, a bar car, and an observatory car where the roof panels open to the sky. Brunch is served on the outbound journey; gourmet dinner on the return. The bar car runs Pisco Sours. Traditional Peruvian dance and live cajón music accompany both legs.

On arrival in Aguas Calientes, the group transfers by bus up the switchback road to Machu Picchu for a private guided tour of the citadel. The guide covers the site in sections — the agricultural terraces, the Royal Sector, the Temple of the Sun, the Intihuatana stone — and the tour is paced to allow time without the crowds that the main entrances draw. Overnight accommodation is at a hotel in Aguas Calientes, allowing an early return to Machu Picchu on Day 5 for a second entrance before the buses from the valley arrive. This second morning — quieter, cooler, the citadel catching the first light — is consistently what guests remember most.

Cusco to Iquitos: Day 6

A flight from Cusco to Iquitos, via Lima, covers the country's full geographic range in a few hours: from 3,400 metres above sea level to 106 metres, from the driest inhabited city in South America to one of the largest cities in the world accessible only by boat or plane. Iquitos sits at the confluence of the Amazon's headwaters in Peru's Loreto region and serves as the embarkation port for the Amazon Explorer.

The Amazon Explorer: Days 7–10

The Amazon Explorer is a 15-suite river ship designed for the Peruvian Amazon's shallow tributaries and operates on a fully chartered basis — the entire vessel is the group's. The itinerary runs deep into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the largest protected wetland areas in South America and one of the most pristine expanse of Amazonian river system remaining in Peru, navigating the tributaries of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers where the Amazon originates.

Expert naturalist guides — all native to Loreto, with knowledge of the reserve's plants, wildlife, and waterways that no field guide replaces — lead twice-daily skiff excursions into the flooded forest and narrow river channels. The wildlife density in Pacaya-Samiria is exceptional: pink river dolphins move alongside the skiffs in the deeper channels; three-toed sloths hang from cecropia branches at water level; spider monkeys and squirrel monkeys travel in troops through the canopy above. Caiman are found along every bank after dark, their eyes reflecting the guides' torches from the water's surface. Anacondas, giant river otters, and blue-and-yellow macaws are sighted regularly but not guaranteed — the guides know where to look.

The cooking aboard is overseen by the same culinary philosophy as Aqua Expeditions' fleet: menus built from Amazonian ingredients, sourced locally from Loreto's farms and markets. Paiche — the enormous Amazonian fish, one of the largest freshwater fish in the world — appears on the menu. Cooking classes in the ship's kitchen are offered on two afternoons. Piranha fishing at dusk, kayaking in the flooded forest at dawn, and night skiff excursions complete the daily rhythm.

On one afternoon, the skiffs visit a local Ribereño community, where the guides facilitate a genuine exchange rather than a staged performance. Community members talk about fishing techniques, medicinal plant knowledge, and the changes the reserve has brought to their livelihoods.

Lima: Day 11

A charter flight from Iquitos to Lima ends the expedition. Lima's Miraflores district — the clifftop neighbourhood above the Pacific, lined with restaurants that have collectively made the city one of the most significant culinary destinations in South America — holds the final evening. Central, Maido, and Astrid y Gastón are within a short distance of each other on the Miraflores plateau; your advisor will have a reservation at one. The Pacific coast view from the Larcomar shopping complex at the cliff's edge at dusk is one of the better ways to end a trip that began at 3,400 metres.

Frequently Asked Questions

How difficult is the altitude in Cusco?

Cusco sits at 3,400 metres and altitude sickness (soroche) is common in the first 24–48 hours regardless of fitness level. Symptoms — headache, fatigue, mild breathlessness — typically resolve within 48 hours. The itinerary builds acclimatisation days into the Cusco section. Staying well hydrated, avoiding alcohol on arrival, and sleeping adequately are more effective than most remedies. Prescription altitude medications (acetazolamide) are available through your physician before travel.

Is Machu Picchu crowded?

The site's ticketing system now limits daily visitors per time slot and circuit, which has reduced peak congestion significantly from previous years. The overnight stay in Aguas Calientes specifically enables the early morning entrance on Day 5 — arriving before 7 AM puts you in the citadel at the quietest point of the day, with the best light.

What is the Amazon like in June?

June falls in the transition between high water and low water season in the Peruvian Amazon. Water levels are beginning to recede after the wet season peak, which means flooded forest and narrow channel exploration is still possible while the main river is navigable. Wildlife is active and visible throughout the year in Pacaya-Samiria; June offers good conditions for both land-based and water-based excursions.

Are there any fitness requirements?

The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu sections involve walking on uneven cobbled and stone surfaces; Machu Picchu's circuit requires moderate walking at altitude. The Hiram Bingham train and Amazon excursions are seated. The Amazon skiff excursions involve stepping in and out of boats at water level, which requires reasonable mobility. The itinerary does not involve any mandatory hiking.

What vaccinations are required?

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to the Peruvian Amazon and may be required for onward travel from Peru to other countries. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and malaria prophylaxis are worth discussing with a travel health clinic before departure. Your advisor will provide a health preparation briefing document before travel.