Inca Trail Trek & Amazon Experience

Welcome to Peru! A representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Lima. Your adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm at your hotel, where you’ll meet your group and find out what’s in store over the next 12 days. After, head downtown for a guided walking tour of the city's markets, mansions and centuries-old buildings in the historic center. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore at your leisure – how about getting to know your fellow travelers over a Pisco sour or two? For dinner tonight, consider eating your way around the street food stalls in the bohemian Barranco district.

It's an early start today for your journey to the Peruvian Amazon. A private transfer will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado. Here, you’ll pack a small duffle bag with your essentials for the next two days and board a motorized canoe into the jungle. The journey to your eco-lodge in the Madre de Dios region will take a couple of hours, so you’ll stop for lunch along the way. Settle into your thatched-roof lodge before a short orientation walk of your home for the next two nights, then spend the evening taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle.

Get ready for a day of exploring the jungle! Set out on a half-day hike guided by local experts on the Amazon's flora and wildlife. Learn from your guides about the medicinal and practical uses for some of the plants that grow here which Indigenous people have been using for thousands of years. As you walk through the thickets, look out for rainbow macaws and butterflies, and listen for the barking call of the peccaries. This part of the Amazon is also known to house capybaras, giant otters and jabirus, so keep your eyes peeled for these creatures. Enjoy a packed lunch before heading back to the lodge for some free time to unwind. After sundown, venture out on a night walk in search of the jungle's nocturnal inhabitants – with a bit of luck, you might spot a caiman, jaguar or anaconda.

Say goodbye to the Amazon and return to Puerto Maldonado to fly to Cusco. You’ll arrive in Cusco in the afternoon and check into your hotel. With a maze of cobbled alleys, old plazas and markets, this historic city is a regular favorite for travelers in Peru. Once you’ve taken some time to acclimatize to the altitude of 11,150 ft, you might like to explore the many Baroque churches and ancient temples that dot the city. As you wander the streets, you’ll see the Inca stonework that provided the foundations for many of Cusco’s buildings. The city itself is the continent's oldest continuously inhabited city and was the home of the Inca Empire for two centuries before the Spanish built their first capital here. For dinner, your leader will be happy to share their favorite local restaurants.

After breakfast, get acquainted with Cusco and its intriguing blend of cultures on a walking tour with your leader. Check out some of the city's main attractions, as well as its lesser-known sights, such as the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, Plaza de Armas, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. The afternoon is free to continue exploring the city on your own – or just use this downtime to relax before an active few days ahead. Maybe find a spot at a restaurant and people watch with some Andean dishes.

Hit the road through the Sacred Valley today. With maize crops covering the terraced hillsides and irrigation from the Urubamba River, the Sacred Valley – known as Wilcamayo to the Incas – has been a source of livelihood for the locals for centuries. Stop for lunch in a local community, where you'll learn about their traditional lifestyle and enjoy a pachamanca meal. Dating back to the Incas, this cooking method uses an earth oven heated with stones to slow-cook meats and vegetables. If it’s market day, you'll also have time to browse stalls selling beads, textiles and other handicrafts. After, stop by AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – a cafe that provides employment and training opportunities to local women who are single mothers – and learn about how they’re supporting the community over coffee and snacks. Then continue your journey to Ollantaytambo to relax. You could also visit the town’s fascinating archaeological site – ancient remnants of an Inca city with views over the present-day settlement.

It's time to hike the Inca Trail! Travel by minivan to the 51-mi marker (8819 ft) and meet your trekking guide, chef and crew of porters. Today’s mostly uphill trail winds past the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. When you arrive at your first campsite (10,170 ft) in the evening, kick off your boots and recharge with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook – you might be surprised by what they can rustle up this high up in the mountains. If it’s a clear night, don’t forget to look up to see the glittering Andean skies.

Get ready for the most challenging day of the trek. You’ll ascend for five hours up a steep path to reach the highest point of the trail – Warmiwanusca, or colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass' – which sits at a height of 13,780 ft above sea level. It can be a tough and sweaty climb, but you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the valley below. You’ll then descend to your next campsite in Pacaymayo Valley (11,975 ft), where you can put your feet up, dig into a hearty dinner and enjoy another peaceful night in the Andes.

Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass (13,058 ft). Stop for a breather and enjoy views of Cordillera de Vilcabamba range before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Believed to have been used by the Incas for ceremonial purposes, this maze-like stone structure sits on a mountain crest and is only accessible on foot. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca at 12,631 ft, also known as the 'Town Above the Clouds'. It’s then a 2-hour downhill trail along ancient Inca steps to the final campsite near the Winay Wayna archaeological site. Get an early night as you’ll wake before dawn tomorrow.

Today’s the day you’ll walk through the Sun Gate to Machu Picchu. This is the final and most rewarding leg of the trek. The day starts with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station, then begin hiking. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, you’ll push on for the last 2.5-hour trek to Intipunku (the Sun Gate). This grand entrance to Machu Picchu sits at an altitude of 9000 ft, and weather permitting, you’ll enjoy unforgettable views over Machu Picchu – you made it! Sitting high in the Andes and surrounded by cloud forest, this 15th century Inca citadel is one of those genuinely magical places, and your first glimpse is something to remember. After a guided tour (and taking advantage of endless photo ops), catch the bus to Aguas Calientes for lunch (at own expense). From here, take the scenic train to Ollantaytambo and drive back to Cusco. Relax for a while after a celebratory shower, then relive all the special moments you’ve shared at a farewell dinner at Nuna Raymi – a sustainable restaurant that supports local organic producers.

Board a flight to Lima today. Depending on what time you arrive, you’ll have free time to explore Lima's sights and maybe do some last-minute souvenir shopping. Regroup in the evening for one last dinner with your fellow travelers and raise a glass to the lifelong memories you’ve made.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you’re not quite ready to leave, just let your booking agent know ahead of time to organize extra accommodation.