Machu Picchu & Southern Amazon
See Peru from rainforest eco-lodge to mountain empires
Destinations
Machu Picchu, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puerto Maldonado
Activity
Adventure, Nature & Wildlife, Culture & History, Luxury, Family, Photography
Physical Level
Easy
Combine Peru's two finest gems in one trip: the biodiverse wonderland of the Amazon basin, and the incredible cultural heritage of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley. Explore Amazon river tributaries with expert guides, before arriving to the Andes to marvel at Machu Picchu, Cusco and the many ruins of the beautiful Sacred Valley. This trip can be extended or adjusted to suit your preferences, get in touch now now for more information.
Trip highlights
Contact SA Expeditions to customise your experiences
Puerto Maldonado
Visit a luxury Amazon eco-lodge
Puerto Maldonado in Peru’s southern Amazon basin is a wildlife wonderland. Spend a few nights in a full-service jungle lodge and take guided excursions birdwatching, climbing canopy walkways, hiking and canoeing.
Typical stay: 3 days
Machu Picchu
Take a guided visit of Machu Picchu
Yes it’s famous and busy, but for a perfectly valid reason: Machu Picchu remains one of the world’s preeminent archaeological sites. In spite of the crowds, an expert guide will bring the place to life and help you make sense of the Inca’s incredible ingenuity. You’ll have the option of climbing the adjacent Huayna Picchu for spectacular views, and can return for a second day exploring if you wish.
Machu Picchu
See another side to Machu Picchu
For a different perspective of the ruins and a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, try the moderate hike up adjacent Huayna Picchu. Additional permit is required, our recommended tour operators will be happy to assist.
Typical stay: 1 day
Cusco
Discover historic Cusco
Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, combines pre-Colombian heritage with colonial-era architecture and vibrant contemporary city life. You can (and should) spend some time exploring solo, but a good quality guided tour will visit the popular sites of Sacsayhuaman, Koricancha and Cusco Cathedral, while avoiding the tourist traps and giving you an insight into the stories behind this fascinating city.
Typical stay: 2 days
Sacred Valley
Explore ruins and storied histories
The glorious Sacred Valley connects Cusco with Machu Picchu and is dotted with ruins, including Ollantaytambo, Pisac, Moras, Moray, as well as many lesser-visited spots. Try to get off the beaten path and you’ll quickly encounter a slice of authentic Andean life.
Typical stay: 2 days
Sacred Valley
Meet Andean culture in the Sacred Valley
Despite the Spanish colonial influence, Peruvian indigenous culture thrives in the Sacred Valley. The village of Ollantaytambo has been inhabited since the 13th century, and nearby Pisac has a vibrant (if somewhat touristy) market. A good guide will help you branch off the tourist trail for a better perspective.
Typical stay: 2 days
Lima
Eat like a king in Lima
Lima’s chefs cook up a storm with the fruits of the sea, mountains and jungle. But it’s not all fine dining and exclusive restaurants: Peru’s is an egalitarian cuisine and you’ll find excellent food at street stalls, local markets and neighbourhood cantinas.
Typical stay: 3 daysSample accommodation
All hotels can be changed on request
Luxury
Pueblo Hotel, Machu Picchu
Hidden in 12 acres of seclusion, the Pueblo Hotel provides a paradise of individual bungalows with stone paths leading you through the gardens and natural fountains. The Pueblo is laid out in the traditional Andean Village style and consists of 85 luxury cottages, a naturalist centre, a natural Andean sauna, and an exquisite restaurant that overlooks the Vilcanota river below.
Superior
Casa San Blas, Cusco
Right off the main pedestrian fare in the San Blas district and less than three blocks to the main square, Casa San Blas Boutique offers exceptional location and comfort. Inside, the well-appointed rooms make for a great night's rest, and the family-style suites are perfect for families.
Superior
Isla Suasi, Lake Titicaca
A luxurious eco-lodge located on the only private island in Lake Titicaca. Lodging includes all food and beverages and the opportunity for activities on the lake. The 24 rustic and appealing rooms all have expansive views of Lake Titicaca as does lunch, which is served on the bluff overlooking the lake.
Boutique
Second Home, Lima
Second Home was the home of renowned Peruvian sculptor & painter Victor Delfin, whose art collection adorns this historic Tudor mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean, in Lima's picturesque Barranco district. Accommodation features antique-style decor, gardens, an outdoor pool, and outdoor breakfast with a sea view.
Luxury
Reserva Amazonica, Puerto Maldonado
This eco-luxury lodge is exotic yet accessible, situated in a private reserve surrounded by vast jungle canopy. Inspired by native Amazon design, the lodge is composed of thatched roof cabanas that combine local natural materials with contemporary amenities.
Luxury
Delfin II, Iquitos
This vessel takes you one step beyond luxury, where comfort and grace combine effortlessly with the wilderness of the Amazon in a setting of understated elegance and world-class hospitality. As you travel through some of the most remote territory on the planet, you will enjoy exquisite creole-Amazon cuisine amongst glowing candle lights.
What people are saying about SA Expeditions
Eric and Katie
15/07/2019
We would highly recommend SA Expeditions if you want to travel with less stress and some extra comfort. We were beyond pleased with our adventure! We greatly appreciate you for helping us through the Lima airport, it would have taken us a long time to figure out. Our Machu Picchu, Sacred valley, Textile, Salt flats, and Ollantaytambo were really neat. The Wayna Picchu hike was worth it and we felt was the highlight of Machu Picchu. We were very pleased with our room and travel accommodations. We will definitely be in touch if we decide to go back!
Becky
11/07/2019
I could not be more pleased with the trip arranged by SA Expeditions. I found SA on line and they had very positive reviews. The entire trip to Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu was arranged in two days and I left on my originally scheduled departure date. When my flight from the US were delayed SA tracked the changes and still arranged for pick up and escort at the airport even at 4:30 a.m. arriving 6 hours late. When I arrived in Cusco I was met by my guide Martin and spent the next five days with him and our driver. It was a totally private tour through the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Cusco. The hotels were high 4-5 star and beautiful. Martin was knowledgeable, considerate and a lot of fun. As a woman traveling alone it could have not been better. Returning to Lima I was picked up by Ruth my guide and driver. They were equally as knowledgeable and paid attention to every detail. Thanks to SA I had a wonderful experience. Jeanie my travel coordination did a fantastic job of putting together a high end trip with little time and stayed in touch throughout the trip to make sure it was running smoothly. I would recommend anyone looking for a South American adventure book work with SA. I certainly plan to use them again.
Sarah
21/06/2019
We had an amazing trip! Every aspect is something we would recommend to others. The SA Expeditions planning experience with, the flexibility when we had to make changes to our itinerary, personal 1-1 connection to an expert made the process very smooth and enjoyable. The hotels were exactly what we had hoped for – authentic yet comfortable. Casa Cartegna service was impeccable and the location very convenient. We loved the court yard, the breakfast was delicious, well beyond what we anticipated and the tea service was a nice touch. Machu Picchu was by far our favorite day. Our driver, airport escort and guides were all top notch, friendly, helpful. In all cases I felt like we were in good hands, we enjoyed ourselves and we learned a lot about Peru. Dimas was a great guide and an incredible story teller, had helpful recommendations, stopped and took many photos for us – he always knew the best spots. He answered all our questions and was flexible when we wanted to stay longer or switch the order of something. He made a very positive impact on our experience for sure. The idea to get a room at the hotel for the long layover was great – we were very happy we did that. This is a trip we will never forget. Something we have dreamed about and the experience exceeded our expectations.
Machu Picchu & Southern Amazon
What's included & what's not included
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Accommodation |
Carefully-selected, quality assured hotels including unique, independently-owned boutiques. All hotels can be upgraded or changed on request. |
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Guided excursions |
All trips and excursions accompanied by expert, bi-lingual guides to help you get an inside view on Peru. |
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Ground transfers |
All airport collections and hotel transfers in comfortable minivans. |
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Hotel breakfasts |
All hotel breakfasts and some lunches included. Your guides will happily advise on local restaurants for evening meals. |
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Camping equipment |
All camping gear and equipment supplied on trekking tours where required. |
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International flights |
Flights are not included in the price but can be arranged on request. |
Approx. days
9
Expect to pay
$332 per day
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Authentic experiences
We curate exceptional trips in underrated places, organised by the very best tour operators who live and breathe their destinations and are passionate about authentic, responsible tourism.
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