The Amazon to Inca Trail tour from Lima combines the best experiences of Peru - an unforgettable journey through the Amazon rainforest and a hike along the legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, all in 11 days.
This Peru tour begins in Lima and takes you deep into the Amazon jungle for 3 days of exploration. Highlights include a scenic river boat trip, guided rainforest walks, and opportunities to spot exotic wildlife. You will stay in a comfortable jungle lodge, the perfect base for hiking, canoeing, and experiencing the incredible biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon.
After the jungle, you will travel to Cusco and the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Explore colorful local markets, the Incan town of Pisac, and the fortress of Ollantaytambo, while immersing yourself in Andean culture and history. In Cusco, you’ll also have the chance to discover ancient ruins, colonial architecture, and stunning views of the surrounding sacred mountains.
The adventure continues with the classic 4-day Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu. Starting on Day 6, you’ll follow the course of the Urubamba River, hike through cloud forests, and cross two high mountain passes, including Warmiwañusca (Dead Woman’s Pass) and Abra Runkurakay. Along the way, you’ll encounter fascinating Inca archaeological sites and breathtaking Andean landscapes.
On the final day, you’ll arrive at the Sun Gate for your first panoramic view of Machu Picchu - an unforgettable moment. You’ll then have plenty of time to explore the citadel, learn about its history, and take in the awe-inspiring beauty of this world wonder.
The Amazon to Inca Trail tour is the ultimate way to experience Peru, combining the biodiversity of the rainforest, the traditions of the Andes, and the footsteps of the Incas. Come and book the Amazon to Inca Trail tour.
Sustainable Tourism: Inca Trail Machu is very keen and happy to promote and practice sustainable tourism by being eco-friendly and supporting local communities
Physical Activity: 3-Moderate to Difficult - Some points are high.
Service Level: All Inclusive.
Age Requirement: 4+. Please note: all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff: Inca Trail Machu Representatives in Lima and Cusco, professional local bilingual tour guides, on the Inca Trail a trekking cook and super porters.
Accommodation: Hotel*** (5 nights), Jungle lodge (2 nights), Campsites (3 nights).
Meals: 08x breakfast, 5x lunch, 5x dinner, 03 snack and 3x afternoon tea.
Transportation: 2x domestic flights, van, motorboat, train.
Camping equipment: All camping equipment included!
Day 01: Lima
Day 02-03: Peruvian Amazon
Day 04: Cusco City
Day 05: Sacred Valley of the Incas
Day 06: Inca Trail
Day 07: Inca Trail
Day 08: Inca Trail
Day 09: Hiking to Machu Picchu
Day 10: Cusco
Day 11: Departure
Highlights of the Amazon to Inca Trail |
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| Lima | Amazon Rainforest | Cusco | Sacred Valley | Inca Trail | Machu Picchu |
Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities are planned, so you may arrive at any time. Similarly, the last day is a departure day with no scheduled activities. Our Inca Trail Machu representative will be waiting for you at Lima Airport with a sign displaying your name. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Lima, located in Miraflores, one of the city’s main tourist districts, which you can explore on your own. This area of Lima is considered one of the safest places to visit and discover.
Some of Lima's finest galleries, museums, shops, and restaurants are located here. Established by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, Lima is the oldest capital in South America, offering an excellent blend of Spanish colonial and 19th-century European architecture. If you have time, we recommend visiting the Museo de la Nación or the Larco Herrera Museum.
Today we begin our Amazon to Inca Trail tour. Transfer to the airport and flight from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, arrival and our representative will be waiting at the airport with your sign and he/she will take you to the port to take the motorized boat, we go deep into the Peruvian jungle, the Amazon. Travel by motorized canoe through the Madre de Dios River to our lodge settled deep in the jungle. On our journey to the lodge, you will have the chance to see bird species typical of the river or forest edge.
The jungle lodge combines native architecture and materials with low impact, trying to preserve the environment and the ecology. The lodge rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito nets for individual beds, flush toilets, and showers. Local community members make up the majority of the lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides.
In the afternoon, we will cross the river to visit Monkey Island, home to capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and other species that roam freely in their natural habitat. After returning to the lodge, dinner will be served. After nightfall, we will go on a nocturnal boat safari in search of white caimans on the riverbanks. We may also spot capybaras, the world’s largest rodents. Overnight at the lodge.
After breakfast, we will hike three kilometers into the Tambopata National Reserve to reach Lake Sandoval, one of the most beautiful and biodiverse lakes in the Peruvian Amazon. A rowboat tour will allow us to observe the area's rich wildlife, including herons, hoatzins, cormorants, macaws, and monkeys. With some luck, we may catch a glimpse of the endangered giant river otters.
Then, we return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, we will climb the Canopy Walkway, a 30-meter-high suspension bridge offering sweeping views of the rainforest and the Madre de Dios River. From the various platforms along the walkway, you may spot toucans, tanagers, macaws, and other colorful birds.
In the evening, we go on a guided walk through the jungle to discover nocturnal wildlife, such as frogs, insects, and reptiles. We have dinner and spend the night at the lodge.
We wake up early and continue our expedition into the Peruvian Amazon. We board a boat and head to the parrot clay lick, where hundreds of parrots and parakeets gather daily to feed on mineral-rich clay - an essential part of their diet. After witnessing this unforgettable spectacle, we will return to the lodge for breakfast.
Today is our last day in the Amazon rainforest. After breakfast, we will take a motorized boat from the lodge to the port of Puerto Maldonado. From there, we will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Cusco.
Upon arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco's city center. No activities are planned today, so we recommend resting for about two hours to help with acclimatization. You may also want to try coca leaf tea, which is traditionally used to ease the effects of altitude. Later, you can walk around the Inca capital.
Cusco is considered the cultural heart of Peru. This beautiful colonial city has nearby ruins, cobblestone streets, museums, churches, and a lively atmosphere. It has several excellent museums, including the Coricancha, the Archaeological Museum (which houses a small art collection), the Regional History Museum, and the Museum of Religious Art. More adventurous travelers may enjoy optional activities such as whitewater rafting on the Urubamba River, horseback riding around archaeological sites like Sacsayhuamán, Tambomachay, and Puca Pucará, or mountain biking down to the Sacred Valley, Moray, and Maras. You may even visit an Inca ruin along the way!
Our guide will pick you up from your hotel in the morning, and then we will drive to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This fertile valley provided the Inca culture with abundant agricultural resources and is home to various Inca ruins. The valley was carved by the Urubamba River (also known as the Vilcanota River), which runs through Pisac and Ollantaytambo on its way to the ancient sanctuary of Machu Picchu.
The lush agricultural region still supplies much of Cusco City’s produce. First, we will visit the impressive Inca site of Pisac, an archaeological complex situated on a hillside high above the town with stunning vistas of snow-capped mountains. The site features fascinating agricultural terraces carved into the mountainside. Higher up are well-preserved temples, including the Solar Clock, or Intiwatana, showcasing magnificent Inca design.
Next, we will visit Pisac's traditional market, an excellent place to buy souvenirs! You will have free time to wander around, shop for crafts, sample classic Andean cuisine, and stop at one of the wood-fired ovens for a delicious empanada or loaf of bread.
Next, we will stop in Urubamba, considered the capital of the valley. There, we will have a buffet lunch offering Andean cuisine. Then, we will continue to Ollantaytambo, a charming town that has been continuously inhabited since Inca times. There, we will visit the main temple complex, which was once used as a fortress during the Inca resistance. We will also enjoy beautiful views that are perfect for photos.
Finally, we will be taken to our hotel in Ollantaytambo to rest before our hike to Machu Picchu the following morning. We will spend the night in Ollantaytambo.
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is physically demanding, but well worth the effort! The Inca Empire once had an entire system of connected roads that linked Cusco to its colonies and other territories, and the Inca Trail was part of that network. This wonderful route runs from high mountains down to cloud forests, passing through ecological zones with diverse flora and fauna, as well as a variety of archaeological sites. Cooks and porters will carry most of the equipment, so you just need to bring a backpack with the essentials. The trek is within the ability of the reasonably fit. This 27-mile trek is often steep, with two high passes to cross. Temperatures at night may fall below zero, so be sure to come prepared! Rain is also possible, even during the dry season.
From the trailhead at kilometer 82, the route follows the left bank of the Urubamba River. We will visit the Inca archaeological sites of Willca Raccay and the ruins of Llactapata. Then, we continue up the Cusichaca River Canyon, which offers magnificent views of the Cordillera Oriental, including the beautiful Veronica Mountain (19,190 ft). After having lunch in Chamana, we continue alongside the Cusichaca River until we reach the village of Huayllabamba. We then ascend through tree- and bush-covered high Andean terrain, eventually reaching a large, flat, treeless area known as Llulluchapampa, where we will set up our first campsite.
On our second day, we cross Warmiwañusca, the highest pass of the trek (13,280 ft / 4,050 m), before descending to Pacamayo for lunch. Then, we continue downhill along a paved Inca road to the ruins of Runkuracay and Sayacmarca. After crossing the second pass, Abra Runkuracay, we follow the "Royal Inca Highway" down to Sayacmarca and finally reach our campsite at Chaquicocha.
Today, we will enter the cloud forest and descend to the Phuyupatamarca ruins via a stone stairway. This site is one of the best-preserved and most complete on the trail. Located atop a hill, the site's Quechua name means "Town Above the Clouds." After a guided tour and lunch, we continue down steep Inca stone steps for about three hours to Wiñay Wayna, a charming Inca site nestled in a dense forest. After a guided tour and dinner, we will set up camp at Wiñay Wayna.
We climb the ancient stairs to Intipunku (the Sun Gate), which is about two hours from Wiñay Wayna. From there, we get our first breathtaking view of Machu Picchu. Once inside the Inca city, we will explore temples, houses, farming terraces, and palaces with our guide, depending on the circuit you choose for your visit. The guided tour takes about two hours. If you want to enhance your Inca Trail experience, you may also choose to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, though prior reservation and an extra fee are required. In the afternoon, we will return to Cusco by train.
Important Note: The guided tour is according to the circuit booked. There are 3 circuits to visit Machu Picchu, and the most popular is Circuit 2, which permits a full exploration of the Inca citadel. If Circuit 2 is sold out, the next option is Circuit 3. It is very important to book in advance to secure the best circuit for visiting Machu Picchu.
Today you have time to explore at your leisure, maybe visiting some of the sites on foot or by bus. For the archaeological fans, the Inca sites of Q'enqo,
For the more adventurous there are optional activities such as white water rafting on the Urubamba River (grade 2-3) or mountain biking into the Sacred Valley of the Incas or Maras-Moray-Salineras and perhaps visiting some Incan sites along the way. You don't need to have the experience to do these activities, instructions are given and all safety equipment is provided and get ready for one last night in the city.
Price: U$ 50
Transfer to Cusco airport after breakfast. End of the tour or alternatively, a good time to extend your trip!
Please note: a return flight to Lima can be arranged upon request!
Meal budget: Please allow USD 100-150 for meals not included.
Solo Traveler: Please note that if you have booked the "Solo Traveler" option for this tour, you receive your own single room for all overnights and a single tent for the Inca Trail.
Local flights: There are three local flights included in the cost of your tour. It is very important that we have got your passport details at the time of booking in order to process all air tickets! Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to each flight departure!
+51 84 217 551
+51 997 434 941
Av Tupac Amaru PP-10B, Santiago, Cusco, Peru
info@incatrailmachu.com
www.incatrailmachu.com
