Journeys: Machu Picchu and the Amazon
Experience Overview
In Peru, adventure awaits at every turn, from the verdant valleys and jagged peaks of the Andes to the narrow cobblestone streets of Cusco. Experience the country’s most iconic sights on this action-packed journey. Immerse yourself in the Amazon during a stay at a jungle lodge, and venture to the Sacred Valley to discover enchanting Inca ruins and timeless indigenous traditions. Embark on one of the world’s most memorable hikes—the Inca Trail—or experience the spectacular train ride to the iconic citadel of Machu Picchu.
Highlights
- Spot wildlife at the exclusive G Lodge Amazon
- Explore the Incan city of Cusco
- Conquer the Inca Trail or enjoy the scenic train to Machu Picchu
- Meet local people at a G Adventures-supported community restaurant
- Explore the Cusco Planetarium
Trip Details
Product Code: 2921
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private van, plane, train, boat, canoe, hiking, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
National Geographic Journey, Extreme Adventures
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: SPSNG.A
Starts: Lima, Peru
Finishes: Cusco, Peru
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Demanding
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium, Cusco Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Andean Experience, Urubamba Your G for Good Moment: Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), Pisac Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
- Arrival transfer
- Three-day (2 nts) excursion to the G Adventures intimate rainforest lodge
- Sacred Valley tour
- Choice of four-day Inca Trail hike with local guide, cook, and porters or Cusco/Aguas Calientes stay with scenic train
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (4 nts), G Lodge Amazon (2 nts), Inca Trail camping or Cusco-stay hotel (3 nts).
- 9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Transport
- Private van, plane, train, boat, canoe, hiking, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,554 ($355 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Day 2: Lima/Tambopata
Fly to Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized canoe to our comfortable lodge, situated near the Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon rainforest. Spot local bird species along the lush shores of the Tambopata River en route to the lodge, and set off on an evening walk with a naturalist guide before dinner, keeping an eye out for some of the rainforest's nocturnal creatures.
After a brief stop in town to store large luggage, drive to the pier and travel by covered motorized boat to the jungle lodge.
En route, spot bird species typical of the local river and forest edge. The Tambopata Rainforest area holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.
Local community members make up the majority of lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides. Take the opportunity to learn about the area's rich flora and fauna and locals' extensive use of medicinal plants and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting.
Enjoy a welcome drink and orientation. Before dinner, head out for a night walk around the lodge grounds.
Day 3: Tambopata
Spend the day exploring the thriving ecosystems of the rainforest with our lodge's naturalist guides. Scan the treetops for toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths, and glide along oxbow lakes on canoes for a chance to glimpse river otters, turtles, and, if we're lucky, anacondas. After dinner, embark on a river tour by motorized canoe on the lookout for caimans, the smaller cousins of alligators, which are often found hiding near the muddy banks.
Head out early to catch the jungle at its wildest (and coolest). Walk slowly through the forest searching for wildlife before heading out on an oxbow lake by canoe.
Search for anaconda, the elusive giant river otter, or black caiman. Even if you don't spot these shy creatures, there are plenty of birds, interesting plants, and other animals about.
Day 4: Tambopata/Cusco
Travel out of the jungle by boat and catch a flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, soaring above the Andes into Peru's Inca heartland. This evening, visit the Cusco Planetarium for a presentation on the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, and learn about the vital role that astronomy played in the lives of the ancient Inca. Weather permitting, peer through the planetarium's telescopes for a dazzling look at the stars.
Afternoon arrival into the Inca capital. Time for strolling around the plazas and markets. Admire the cobblestones streets, and visit some museums and Cathedral.
Day 5: Cusco/Urubamba
Drive to the scenic Sacred Valley for a full day of exploration with a local guide. Tour the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We'll also visit the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.
Day 6: Inca Trail
Set out on the iconic Inca Trail, departing Urubamba by van to the starting point of the trek. Immerse yourself in the enchanting Andean countryside, hiking along meandering streams and crossing remote mountain villages and ancient ruins as we get warmed up for the more challenging days ahead.
Trek through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons, passing several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.
Day 7: Inca Trail
Today, we ascend the long, steep path to Warmiwañusca, better known as Dead Woman's Pass—the highest point on the Inca Trail, at 4,198 meters (13,769 feet). Enjoy stunning views of the Sacred Valley as you make your way up the rugged terrain, and aim to reach our camp by early afternoon. Rest and relax at camp the remainder of the day.
Day 8: Inca Trail
Today we'll cross two spectacular passes. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, one can catch a glimpse of the snowcapped peaks of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. Continue through cloud forest on a gentle climb to the second pass, and arrive at the misty Inca ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 3,650 meters (11,972 feet), known as "the city above the clouds.” We will either camp here or settle at a further spot, near the beautiful terraces of the Wiñay Wayna ruins, at 2,650 meters (8,694 feet).
Day 9: Machu Picchu/Cusco
The final day of our hike begins before dawn. Reach the Sun Gate—the last checkpoint on the Inca Trail—in time to witness daybreak over Machu Picchu. This 15th-century Inca citadel was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and excavated with support from National Geographic. Hike down for a guided tour of this breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site before catching a bus to the frontier town of Aguas Calientes, where we'll have free time for lunch. Continue by train to Cusco.
Day 10: Cusco
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Edward - Traveled, November 2023
We traveled with Active Adventures to Peru to hike the Inca Trail. The local guides were amazing. The itinerary was well thought out and gave us great cultural experience. The food was great. However, their customer service was subpar. I have traveled with several other tour companies over the years, and they have always been helpful in giving us tips on pre and post trip logistics. When we booked the trip they were not all that helpful in answering questions we had to get more clarity on details we needed to schedule the rest of our trip. We learned on the trip that they gave other guests different information (that was more accurate). They also changed the overall itinerary and did not tell us that until the trip started. The changes were fine but it required us to change our post trip flights and it would have been better to know that before the trip. Finally, the hotel rooms for the first two nights in Cusco were subpar for what I would expect for what we paid for the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/28/2024
Henry - Traveled, December 2017
Magnificent Cusco and Machu Picchu. Delicious food, beautiful city, well organized hike and excellent Eric and Hosea
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/17/2018
Michael - Traveled, November 2017
This trip was spectacular! It exceeded my expectations! The scenery was majestic and the food and culture was awesome.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/28/2018
Andrew· - Traveled, March 2018
My adventure in Peru was amazing. My guide Zach was very knowledgeable and helpful with anything you could throw at him. The accommodations and crew and food were absolutely incredible. I highly recommend Active Adventures for your world trip journeys.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2018
Flora - Traveled, March 2018
It was definitely trip of life time. I loved the adventure.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/24/2018
Roya - Traveled, January 2018
We had an amazing trip trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu and then Flying to Puerto Maldonado to explore the Amazon Rain forest. We were incredibly well cared for by our Active Adventures trip guide, Zack. The 4 day trek to Machu Pichu was guided by Wilson. He made sure that each of us was able to complete the trip, by encouraging us and teaching us about the spiritual nature of the area. He watched our pace carefully and made sure that each of us felt supported. Our group of 4 close friends will be forever grateful for the experiences that we had on this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/05/2018
Robin - Traveled, August 2017
Eric Farfan was an amazing guide. He was very knowledgeable, patient, kind, and had so much respect for my fear of heights. Which I did overcome while hiking the Inca Trail.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/23/2018
David - Traveled, May 2018
Wonderful experience. The four day Classic Inca Trail hike that ended at Machu Picchu was by far the best part of the trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/30/2018
Andrew - Traveled, April 2018
Awesome experience! All went well and our guide (Danny) was fantastic! No bad days!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/06/2018
Kristina - Traveled, May 2018
What an adventure! We had an amazing trip led by our fearless leader Gustavo. We had a great crew helping us and we felt very well cared for the entire time...and very safe! I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who asks.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2018
Matthew - Traveled, February 2019
I couldn't be happier with my trip to Peru! Active Adventures is the only way to go and I have recommended them to everyone I talk to and tell about my trip. The guides are hands down some of the best and most knowledgeable I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Like every excursion there are speed bumps and hurdles, but our guides handled them with true professionalism and always took care of us 100%! They went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of and had the best experience!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/24/2019
Sarah - Traveled, February 2019
We had the trip of a lifetime. Everyday was a great adventure.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2019
Scott - Traveled, May 2019
Hiking the Inca Trail as a family was the trip of a lifetime! When the trail got tough, just had to remember to turn around and take in the magnificent scenery. The camp, food, and support provided by our crew was top notch. We really appreciated their efforts and commitment to making this a great memory for all of us.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/17/2019
Melanie - Traveled, December 2018
I recently travelled (for the second time) with Active Adventures to Machu Picchu & the Amazon (the Jaguar). The trip was a dream come true. Due to some very fortunate circumstances, I got to enjoy an intimate journey along the Lares Trail through the Sacred Valley of the Incas for 3 glorious days before reaching Machu Picchu on the 4th day and joining back up with my group. The Lares Trek was rugged and open with varied terrain and breathtaking views for as far as the eye could see. We passed llamas, alpacas, villagers, glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, gorgeous eucalyptus woods, quinoa fields, old farm houses from the Inca period, and so much more. Every step led to a new insights of the old world, and my brilliant guide Erick was always ready with his narration of the history of the land and people. The 3-course dining and camping were also very good, and my hosts were gracious and efficient. We even made a stop to Aguascalientes (hot spring), where I got to enjoy a very relaxing soak. Following Machu Picchu, the Amazon adventure for 2 days was also very exciting. I personally loved the heavy exotic heat of the days and warm-cool nights. (A dip in the swimming pool and a memory foam bed in the cabin made for a magnificent sleep). Live tarantulas, capybaras, sloths, owls and green orange trees were firsts for me, and the relaxing pace made for a perfect wind down to the adventure. All in all, this trip was a MUST DO. I’m already thinking of my next AA journey.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/30/2019
Muriel - Traveled, December 2018
Hiking Machu Picchu has been on my husband's bucket list for years & as he's not getting older (78), I finally said yes, I'll go with him. Glad we went with Active Adventures as they carried our supplies, looked after our meals and had our tents set up at the end of each day. The porters are phenomenal. We sure appreciated the warm wash water after our hikes and hot water bottles on cold nights. Our group leader Eric was very organized and adapted to changes to our itineraries which were out of his control. Prior to this trip, I had no plans to visit South America and thought I was finished camping years ago but the views along the Inca Trail were amazing and so is the history. Team work by Active Adventures staff/porters/cook made the trip enjoyable.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2019
Louise - Traveled, May 2019
Beautiful, people, culture and mountain vistas.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/06/2019
Caroline - Traveled, March 2019
I didn't know what to expect except an adventure and this is precisely what I got. Not often that one travels and comes home with no weight gain and amazing meals at every turn. Our cooks and sherpas (Donotello, Ilario, Stephen and others), our drivers (Natcho and Mario), our guides (Eric, Salvatore) made our experience of the Andes and Lares trail magical. The Amazon was quite the experience as well although my preference was the mountains and the Peruvian people of the mountains.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/29/2019
Michael - Traveled, March 2019
We were apprehensive joining a group of strangers for this trip through Peru. Within minutes of meeting our group, we felt comfortable. Our guide, Eric, was terrific and made sure we all were comfortable. Erick even provided support to us in Cusco two days prior to our tour starting. Erick worked with the group to customize the trip to fit our needs and abilities. The support teams were outstanding. We enjoyed all the aspects of the trip. The country, culture, landscape, and wildlife were all amazing to learn about and understand, thanks to Erick. It was a great trip and we would highly recommend it to anyone.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/25/2019
Kathy - Traveled, March 2019
Wow what a trip, guide and porters were amazing. The chef was the envy of all others of the trail.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/16/2019
Marshall - Traveled, November 2018
Walking through the backcountry of Peru was spectacular. The guides were above and beyond
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/09/2019
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