Exploration of Peru
(10 Days/ 9 Nights)
Trip Overview
DAY 1 – ARRIVE IN LIMA
DAY 2 – FLY TO IQUITOS, CHECK INTO TREEHOUSE LODGE
DAY 3 – TREEHOUSE LODGE
DAY 4 – TREEHOUSE LODGE
DAY 5 – FLY TO CUSCO, TRANSFER TO THE SACRED VALLEY
DAY 6 – THE SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS
DAY 7 – CHINCHERO/MORAY + TRAIN TO MACHU PICCHU
DAY 8 – MACHU PICCHU
DAY 9 – RETURN TO CUSCO + TOUR OF CUSCO
DAY 10 – FREE DAY IN CUSCO + FLY TO LIMA + AWAIT INTL. DEPARTURE
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1 – Welcome to Peru
You will arrive at Lima International Airport and check into your hotel, located inside the airport, in preparation for your flight the following morning.
- Accommodations: Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport
- Meal(s) Included: None
DAY 2 – Travel to Treehouse Lodge
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before boarding your flight to Iquitos (IQT). Upon arrival you will be picked up by your Treehouse Lodge guide who will accompany you on a 1.5 hour transfer to Nauta Port for your boat transfer on the Amazon River to Treehouse Lodge.
Arrive and check-in at Treehouse Lodge, one of the most unique hotels in the world. Here, at the lodge, you will be handed a “menu” of amazon river excursions:
- Dolphin watching
- Day jungle walks
- Night jungle walks
- Kayaking
- Dugout canoe
- Visit local Amazon village
- Fish for piranhas
- Look for monkeys/sloths
- Birdwatching
- Accommodations: Treehouse Lodge
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Afternoon Snack, Dinner
DAY 3 – Treehouse Lodge Activities
Continue your adventures at Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon (See Above).
- Accommodations: Treehouse Lodge
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 – Treehouse Lodge Activities
Continue your adventures at Treehouse Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon (See Above).
- Accommodations: Treehouse Lodge
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 – Fly to Cusco, transfer to the Sacred Valley
This morning, after breakfast, you will be transported back to the Iquitos Airport for your flights to Lima and Cusco. Upon your arrival in Cusco, your guide will pick you up and you will then transfer to the heart of the Sacred Valley.
Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas, is a dizzying 11,200 feet altitude above sea-level. Your home base for exploring this incredible area will be in the Sacred Valley, which is approximately 9,000 feet altitude and gives you an easier transition to the altitude.
Upon arrival in the Sacred Valley, you will check-in to one of the most incredible hotels in the whole country, Hacienda Urubamba. This luxury hotel is immersed in the countryside in a gorgeous area. It spans approximately 100 acres surrounded by the world famous Andes mountains.
All of the luxury casitas feature breathtaking views of the valley, immersing guests in open space, serenity and relaxing solitude. Architecture and interiors are inspired on the area’s cultural history, with colonial furniture, authentic Inca masks and handcrafted woodwork that add to the hacienda’s local charm.
- Accommodations: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast and Dinner
DAY 6 – The Sacred Valley of the Incas
The Sacred Valley of the Incas is often our guest’s favorite experience on the trip. You will be able to observe llamas and alpacas at the Awanakancha llama reserve, as well as local Andean women making textiles. You will then observe the world famous Pisac artisan market and Pisac archaeological site, high above the Sacred Valley. Following your lunch on the banks of the Urubamba river you will explore Ollantaytambo: the Living Inca City, one of the most stunning sites in all of Peru.
After marveling at the Ollantaytambo archaeological site, you will return to the Hacienda Urubamba for an evening of relaxation, stunning views, and maybe even one of the included hotel excursions like stargazing, where you can learn of Incan astronomy.
- Accommodations: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
DAY 7 – Chinchero/ Moray + Train to Machu Picchu
Today you will get to see some of the most exclusive and amazing Incan sites in the entire country. You will start by observing the incredible colonial Andean town of Chinchero. You will attend a presentation by local Andean women who will tell you about life in the Andes and show you how they dye and produce textiles by hand.
Following lunch and a tour of the archaeological site of Chinchero, you will visit the incredible circular Incan ruins of Moray that looks down over the Sacred Valley and up to glacier-covered mountains. If time permits, you will then observe the Pre-Incan open air salt mines of Maras.
Following those tour activities, you will board your train to Machu Picchu. Known as one of the top 5 train rides in the world, you will get to observe the change in scenery from high Andes to the cloud rainforest. Upon your arrival, your private guide will pick you up at the train station and escort you to one of the most incredible hotels on the planet, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel is an intimate Andean village with terraced hills, waterfalls, stone pathways and 83 whitewashed adobe casitas tucked away in the cloud forest. Member of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, the property has 12 acres of exquisite natural beauty, where 214 bird species – such as the golden-headed quetzal and the iconic Andean cock-of-the-rock – and the world’s largest native orchid collection (372 species) have been registered.
After exploring the Historic Sanctuary and in-house excursions, guests can enjoy the Unu Spa, which combines the classic nurturing with a mystical Andean approach. Natural products are derived from local botanical extracts (mint, eucalyptus and orchids), thus providing a pleasing spiritual, sensual and soothing experience. The first-class restaurant features stunning views of Vilcanota River, and shares the secrets of Peruvian cuisine with a contemporary twist.
After your dinner (included), you will meet with your private guide to plan the following day at Machu Picchu. The rest of your evening will be at your leisure.
- Accommodations – Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo
- Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
DAY 8 – Machu Picchu, Wonder of the World
This will be an amazing day. Based on your plan with your guide the night before, you will be transported up to the entrance of Machu Picchu at the time of your choice. Explore the ruins and enjoy the incredible views of the Lost City of the Incas.
When ready, enjoy a private 2.5 hour tour of the entire city. If you booked the Huayna Picchu hike, then you will enjoy that hike at some point during your morning at Machu Picchu. Note: we automatically include this hiking permit for all of our guests (*if available).
For lunch, enjoy the buffet at the Sanctuary Lodge by Belmond at the entrance of Machu Picchu. Continue to explore on your own or with your guide for the remainder of the afternoon. In the late afternoon / evening, return to your hotel in Aguas Calientes to relax and recount the day’s adventures.
The rest of the evening is at your leisure to recount the incredible experiences of the day.
- Accommodations: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo
- Meal(s) Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
DAY 9 – Return to Cusco + Tour of Cusco
This morning, after breakfast, board your return train and private transfer back to Cusco.
Check into Inkaterra La Casona, originally a 16th century Spanish Mansion. After being harmoniously restored by Inkaterra throughout five years, emphasizing its original architecture, Inkaterra La Casona reflects the encounter of cultures and traditions across centuries. Surrounding the main patio, its eleven suites are provided with chimneys, heated floors and extra-large bathtubs. Its halls are decorated with colonial furniture, Pre-Columbian textiles and original murals.
Spend the balance of the afternoon and evening exploring the most incredible sites that Cusco has to offer including the world famous Saqsayhuaman fortress ruins high above the city, the Qorikancha Incan Temple of the Sun, and the Main Plaza de Armas, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The remainder of today will be for you to enjoy at your leisure.
- Accommodations – Inkaterra La Casona
- Meals Included – Breakfast Only
DAY 10 – Free Day in Cusco + Fly to Lima + Await Intl. Departure
This morning, after breakfast, enjoy some free time in one of the most historic, scenic, and interesting cities in South America (and the world!)
When the time arrives, you will have private transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima.
After flying to Lima, you will either wait at the airport for your return flight home, or (included in your package) we will store your luggage and have private transportation to the nicest district in Lima: Miraflores. Here, you will enjoy great food, culture, and ocean views, until it is time for your return flight home.
- Accommodations – N/A
- Meals Included – Breakfast Only
What's Included?
INCLUDED:
PROFESSIONAL GUIDES • All of our guides speak fluent English/Spanish and studied tourism at the National University of Cusco. They all grew up in this region and love sharing their knowledge of history and culture with our guests. They’re professional and enjoy providing a safe and enjoyable experience.
PERMITS • The first step after placing your deposit is to secure all of your entrance permits. Throughout the year, especially during the busy season, this is the most important step in trip preparations. These permits are individually issued for a specific date and for a specific traveler. Once confirmed, they cannot be changed. We can update passport numbers, but at a fee of $50 per traveler.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION • From the moment you arrive in Peru until your international departure, all of your ground transportation is included in this tour package. Your private transfers, buses, and trains are all included. When we pick you up our representatives will always have a sign with our name and your name on it.
*As a default, your itinerary includes Vistadome Class train service on Perurail and/or Executive Class train service with IncaRail.
FOOD • Please see itinerary descriptions above to plan for which meals are included and which meals are not.
WATER • Water will be provided throughout all of your tour activities.
OXYGEN & FIRST AID • All of our guides receive yearly first aid training. We’re partnered with Cusco’s #1 Private Clinic in case any additional medical attention is needed. All of your hotels and transfers will have oxygen available for those who are struggling with the altitude.
HUAYNA PICCHU / MONTAÑA HIKES • The world-famous Huayna Picchu hike is limited to 400 hikers each day, very early in the morning. Because of the brevity of this itinerary that makes it impossible for you to participate in this hike. The good news is that you can still do the Machu Picchu Montaña hike which is less busy and actually has better views. Depending on availability, we secure this permit for all guests. It is a great option to experience original Inca trail.
24 / 7 / 365 TRIP SUPPORT • For the planning stages, and during your trip, we provide 24/7 customer service to assist with any of your questions or issues.
NOT INCLUDED:
FLIGHTS • Coordinating international and domestic flights can be tricky. During this tour package you will need to secure 2 round-trip flights in Peru (LIM-IQT-LIM and LIM-CUZ-LIM). Our Peru Travel Experts will walk you through this entire process and recommend the exact flight itineraries you need to take for your trip. Delays and cancellations are common in Peru so we recommend that you book with the most reliable airline: LATAM. You can also work with Peruvian Airlines, Star Peru, LCP Peru, and Avianca. If you would prefer that we purchase flights for you, we charge a $50 booking fee per R/T domestic flight booked and a $100 booking fee per R/T international flight booked.
GRATUITIES • Tipping is always appreciated and should be based completely on your satisfaction. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels.
TRAVEL INSURANCE • This is not required, but always recommended. All tour packages are nonrefundable and this can be a great way to plan for contingencies.
Pricing
$4,349 PER PERSON
- *Pricing is based on a minimun of 2 guests, double occupancy.
- *Single room supplement: $1595 per person
- *Does not include flights