The Ultimate Machu Picchu & Amazon Rainforest Itinerary
When it comes to experiencing Peru, there’s no destination more iconic—or more magical—than Machu Picchu. Pair it with the Amazon rainforest, Lima’s vibrant culinary scene, and the Sacred Valley’s breathtaking landscapes, and you have the trip of a lifetime.
This carefully designed itinerary is built to perfection, blending luxury, culture, adventure, and seamless logistics. Each hotel, tour, and transfer has been handpicked to give you the most authentic and stress-free experience possible.
Day 1.
Lima, Peru
Welcome to Peru! Your arrival to New Jorge Chavez International Airport marks the beginning of your incredible journey.
Once you arrive, meet your private driver at the Arrival Hall at the airport. If booked through the link below, this will be a private transfer. Your driver will be waiting for you with your name on a sign.
Arrive to your Hotel. We recommend the JW Marriott Lima or The Westin Lima. These beautiful hotels are in prime locations, with tons of luxury amenities and elevated service.
Your first day in Peru should be all about leisure, especially after such a long flight. If you have the energy, check out local restaurants and shops. If you’re not feeling up to it, no worries! Book a spa treatment at the hotel or rest up, you have an exciting journey ahead of you!
Day 2.
Lima, Peru
Your second day in Peru should be nothing short of magical - which is why we found the best tours to fill your day with fun and wonder!
Start your day with a Lima City Tour. This tour shows the main attractions of the ancient and modern city of Lima. The entire tour from start to finish is accompanied by a guide specialized in the history and culture of the city, who will make your tour enjoyable and fun. Headphones are used during the tour so that passengers do not lose the narration of the tour guide. They offer a demonstration and tasting of Pisco Sour, for these reasons they make it a different tour from the others.
If food is more your speed, choose a Peruvian Food Tour or a Peruvian Cooking Class - each are wonderful options.
After your tour, enjoy dinner at one of the top restaurants in Lima, La Huaca Pucllana Restaurant. Specializing in traditional Peruvian staples, this evening dine indoors or on the outdoor patio looking out to the massive pyramid as you enjoy a fixed menu dinner and Pisco Sour.
Our Recommended Hotels + Tours in Lima
-
![]()
JW Marriott Lima
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this modern hotel in Miraflores offers stunning views and easy access to vibrant shopping and dining. Delight in a lavish breakfast buffet and enjoy spacious, comfortable rooms with luxurious sheets and duvets.
-
![]()
Private Airport Transfers
Get your trip to Peru off to a good start and pre-book a private transfer service. Meet the driver at Lima Airport (LIM), waiting for you with a sign, and head to the car for the quick transfer to your hotel in the city. Or, if you are leaving Lima, this service is also available for pickup from your hotel and on-time transfer to the airport.
-
![]()
Lima City Tour
This tour shows the main attractions of the ancient and modern city of Lima. The entire tour from start to finish is accompanied by a guide specialized in the history and culture of the city, who will make your tour enjoyable and fun. Headphones are used during the tour so that passengers do not lose the narration of the tour guide. They offer a demonstration and tasting of Pisco Sour, for these reasons they make it a different tour from the others.
-
![]()
Ultimate Food Tour
Lima's bohemian Barranco neighborhood has a thriving food scene but, for visitors, it can be difficult to choose which venues to visit. Take the guesswork out of your trip on this small-group walking food tour that takes you to the area's best restaurants and shops to sample a plethora of Peruvian foods and drinks.
-
![]()
The Westin Lima
Gorgeous design and a quiet, upscale location in Miraflores offer a serene escape with stunning city views from your large balcony. Delight in the beautiful pool, exceptional restaurant, and top-of-the-line AC system for ultimate comfort.
-
![]()
Peruvian Cooking Class
Get hands-on experience preparing some of Peru’s most iconic dishes and shopping at a local market during this Lima cooking class. First stop by the market to pick out fresh meat and produce, discovering the incredible diversity of ingredients in Peruvian cuisine. Then head to the kitchen choosing to prepare a choice of fish, chicken, beef or vegetarian dish like ‘Ceviche’ learning the necessary steps in fun, relaxed atmosphere. Your cooking excursion also includes round-trip hotel transport (for most areas of Lima), professional chef instructor, snacks and either lunch or dinner.
Day 3.
Peruvian Amazon Rainforest
It’s time to check-out of your Lima hotel and head to the beautiful Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. We recommend staying at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonia Lodge, one of the most luxurious lodges, which is situated in a private reserve surrounded by the vast Peruvian Rainforest.
The Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge has guides that will help plan your day’s adventure! A range of complimentary activities are available during your stay.
If you’d rather enjoy a luxury cruise on Amazon Rainforest River, there are a few wonderful options to choose from. Please reach out to us as we have the best pricing and perks for these river cruises. Please note, these cruises are all- inclusive and start at $5,000 per person.
Day 4.
Lake Sandoval & the Tambopata National Reserve
Day 4 is all about enjoying the Peruvian Rainforest at its finest.
Today, you should wake up early and go to Lake Sandoval & the Tambopata National Reserve. This experience takes you to Peru’s National Reserve of Tambopata under the safety of a guide who knows the area. Hike to Lago Sandoval, take a canoe ride on the lake, and then head to the reserve’s Canopy Tower—all the while learning about the wildlife and ecosystem of the jungle.
After lunch, you can march along the remarkable Inkaterra Canopy Walkway. After ascending the first tower, 95 feet above the forest ground, begin this journey through the rainforest canopy on a suspension bridge network linking eight observation platforms. During this 90 minute expedition, be on the lookout for colorful toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, monkeys, and sloths.
Day 5.
Exploring Gamitana Creek & a Nighttime Rainforest Garden Walk
Your last day in the Amazon Rainforest should be filled with nature and wonder.
A 25 minute boat ride from the lodge, Gamitana Creek is a dark-water stream that is home to piranhas, caimans, turtles and a wide range of birds. Explore this unfettered land with your Inkaterra guide and learn about the many animals and plants that depend on one another to survive. After a 90 minute tour, make the one hour ride to Gamitana Model Farm for a brief tour of the property and see firsthand how famers grow their fruits and vegetables, perhaps picking up a few tricks to use back home.
In the afternoon and evening, participate on two wonderful outings. First, stroll through the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica rainforest garden. Planted more than a decade ago by locals, the garden showcases an array of native plants, trees and orchids. With an Inkaterra guide offering in-depth insights into the traditional uses and benefits of these plants and trees from construction to clothing to medicine along the way, enjoy this leisurely and informative walk. In the evening, participate in the “Rainforest by Night” program. Venture into the darkened forest and experience the mysteries of the nighttime jungle. With the calls of nocturnal animals ringing all around you, and with the assistance of a flashlight and guide, explore this mesmerizing if at times disconcerting land and, with luck, spot a few Amazonian animals that only emerge at night.
Our Recommended Hotels + Tours in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest
-
![]()
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica
the Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica Lodge is situated in a private reserve surrounded by the vast Peruvian Rainforest. Climb the banks of the meandering Madre de Dios River and enter another world. Wake to a symphony of tropical birdsong and end your days by lantern light, falling asleep to the gentle night noises of the Amazon.
-
![]()
Lake Sandoval & Tambopata
This experience takes you to Peru’s National Reserve of Tambopata under the safety of a guide who knows the area. Hike to Lago Sandoval, take a canoe ride on the lake, and then head to the reserve’s Canopy Tower—all the while learning about the wildlife and ecosystem of the jungle.
-
![]()
8 Day Amazon River Cruise
THIS EXPERIENCE IS BEST TO BE BOOKED THROUGH OUR TRAVEL AGENCY, WE GET BETTER PERKS AND RATES***
Day 6.
Sacred Valley, Cusco & Puerto Maldonado
The time has some to check out of your beautiful Amazonian lodge and head to the next adventure on your trip - Sacred Valley. (You will need to fly from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco).
We recommend staying at the Tambo Del Inka Resort & Spa as it is among the top hotels in the Sacred Valley. It features elegantly designed rooms and suites with mesmerizing views of the Andes and the Vilcanota River. Peruvian cuisine, recognized as one of the best in the world, is served daily at the elegant Hawa Restaurant where guests can enjoy a wide range of exotic, mouth-watering dishes. Unwind and relax in the luxurious spa where you can choose from an array of pampering massages and exclusive therapeutic treatments featuring ancestral Incan ingredients, all surrounded by sweeping views of the Andes.
The effects of being at high altitude vary from person to person. While some travelers will experience no discomfort, others may find the process of acclimatization more challenging. To ensure an enjoyable experience in the coming days, take some time today to rest and allow your body to adjust to the change in environment. We recommend booking a spa treatment at the Tambo Del Inka Spa.
Day 7.
Huilloc Community & Ollantaytambo Tour
During the morning leave your hotel in the Sacred Valley and head to Ollantaytambo, a town and the archaeological site inhabited uninterruptedly since the Incas. The Ollantaytambo fortress, formed by a series of platforms and temples next to the mountain, is one of the most emblematic buildings of the Incas. You will have free time for lunch at a selected local restaurant. Later, you are transferred to Huilloc, a community that maintains the Inca traditions of its ancestors. After finishing this visit, you will be transferred to your hotel in Cusco.
If you’d like something a little more intimate, we have tours available that allow you to join a host family that will cook an organic meal with local products harvested in a traditional and sustainable way for you.
Day 8.
Chinchero Market with Maras & Moray
Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the idyllic town of Chinchero would be similar to many other quiet Andean villages that dot the land if not for the bustling open-air market found in the main square. World-famous, this colorful fair is open seven days a week and is the best place in the country to barter for hand-woven dresses and carefully-crafted trinkets, or to simply peruse the seemingly endless wares.
Sunday is one of the best days to visit, which is when the market is at its largest and best. Chinchero is also host to the remains of an Inca wall and an excellent fresco on the portico of the nearby colonial church.
Next, visit Maras, where hundreds of multi-colored salt ponds cascade down a single mountainside. These pool-sized reservoirs, in use since the time of the Inca, glimmer in hues of pink, yellow, and white, and are today the principal supplier of salt to Peru’s finest restaurants.
A short drive away, you’ll arrive at a series of stone-walled terraces that descend ten stories: Moray. Carved into a valley in a way that, in form, looks like an ancient amphitheater, it is believed to have been used, in function, to test how well certain crops grew in varied conditions. Impressive examples of early agricultural practices rooted in empirical thought, they are incredible sites. ***This tour is offered through one of our preferred travel partners. Please reach out to learn more about this tour.
Day 9.
Machu Picchu
It’s time to check-out of your beautiful Cusco resort and head to one of the main events: Machu Picchu.
Once you reach Machu Picchu Pueblo, we recommend staying at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Today, you’ll go to Machu Picchu on the train. We recommend upgrading to the Vistadome, Observatory, Tititcaca or the Belmond Train. Please note, large luggage is not allowed on this train. Arrangements for your larger suitcases will need to be made to get them to your hotel, as you cannot take them on the train.
Once you get off the train, you’ll need to board the bus to Machu Picchu. We highly recommend purchasing tickets to Machu Picchu well in advance, as they do sell out. A private tour is also recommended with a local who knows Machu Picchu and its’ impactful history.
Day 10.
Machu Picchu
After a beautiful stay at the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, we’re heading to our next hotel: Casa Clara. Located in the prestigious and renowned Plaza Nazarenas, right in the heart of the city, you can explore the most distinctive sites. This makes an ideal option for the most adventurous travelers. Casa Clara is an authentic marvel where you will feel part of the history and culture of Cusco.
You’ll then spend your second day exploring Machu Picchu, preferably with a private guide, who will help you unravel the mysteries and astonishing history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 11.
Cusco
You’ve seen incredible places during your stay in Peru, but it’s not over yet. It’s time to explore the beautiful city of Cusco, and get introduced to the traditions, history and unanswered questions surrounding Cusco and the nearby ruins on a privately guided tour.
What did Inca astronomers see and think when gazing up to the stars high above the city of Cusco? To answer these questions, a visit the Cusco planetarium is a must. Upon arrival, first learn about Inca theories of the night sky and then watch as a virtual presentation of the southern skies simulates astral movements, bringing to life constellations that cannot be observed in the northern hemisphere.
Day 12.
Cusco
Your last day in Peru should be filled with nothing less than more wonder and ruins. Today, you will Immerse yourself in the impressive Incan architecture of Sacsayhuaman on an exciting excursion from Cusco. Explore the ancient fortresses and sacred temples of the archaeological park with a knowledgeable guide to discover legendary landmarks like the Tower of Puka Pukara. Seek out the source of natural spring water; navigate a mystifying stone labyrinth; and gain fascinating insight into the culture and customs of the Incas.
Link to this Tour.
Ready to Make This Your Reality?
Traveling to Machu Picchu is a bucket-list experience that deserves to be done right. With our connections and travel partners, we can craft this exact itinerary—or tailor it uniquely to you—with the same seamless flow and handpicked luxury touches.
👉 Fill out our inquiry form below and hire us plan your perfect journey to Peru.
