Exploring Peru: Machu Picchu and the Amazon

Day 1: Lima, Peru

Arrive in Lima, Peru’s thriving capital, and transfer to the convenient Wyndham Costa del Sol, connected to the airport. Most international flights arrive in the late evening. Opt to arrive early for a Lima pre-voyage extension, staying at the iconic Country Club Lima Hotel. The extension adds just a day to the expedition and gives you a chance to rest, relax and see this UNESCO World Heritage designated city.

Day 2: Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu

Arriving in Cusco, drive through the Sacred Valley to Chinchero, a typical Andean village, where National Geographic Grantee Nilda Callañaupa joins you for lunch and a demonstration of Inca weaving traditions. Continue to Ollantaytambo, board a late afternoon scenic train to Machu Picchu and check in at your hotel. You’ll stay for two nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, with Andean-style casitas set inside a private mountainside reserve with 300 species of orchids. Don’t forget to pack your duffel bag for your two-day trip to Machu Picchu.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Machu Picchu

Take the full day to explore Machu Picchu, the Inca royal retreat introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 National Geographic magazine.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sacred Valley / Cusco

Return to Ollantaytambo by train and continue to Cusco, where you’ll explore the ornate 17th-century cathedral and Plaza de Armas, the sacred Inca Temple of the Sun and other treasures of this burgeoning cultural capital and center of the Inca universe, where colonial buildings stand atop Inca foundations. Check in at Palacio del Inka in the historic center. Dinner is on your own tonight to explore nearby restaurants or rest and relax at the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Cusco / Lima / Iquitos / Nauta / Embark Ship

After breakfast, fly via Lima to Iquitos in the Peruvian Amazon basin and continue overland to the riverside village of Nauta, where the Delfin II awaits. Settle into your cabin and gather for a welcome dinner of fine Peruvian cuisine on board. Tonight, step out on deck to gaze at the magnificent Amazon night sky.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 6-8: Exploring the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a pristine swath of jungle stretching more than five million acres and harboring some of the Amazon’s most fascinating flora and fauna. The reserve is bordered by the Marañón and the Ucayali, two powerful rivers that converge to create the famed Amazon, which floods annually with nutrient-rich waters and is known locally as the Mirrored Forest for the reflections created by its seasonal glassy water.

Set out into this remarkable wilderness on daily excursions by skiff, kayak and, when the water level permits, hikes on dry land. Look for sloths and monkeys, including variably colored saddleback tamarins, noisy howlers and shaggy-tailed monk saki monkeys. Watch for an astounding variety of birds, from tanagers and hummingbirds to parrots and scarlet macaws. In the river, look for massive paiche fish, the Amazon’s largest; rare pink dolphins; and the infamous piranhas.

One of the unexpected joys of traveling in the Upper Amazon of Peru is interacting with the local ribereños, the traditional people who live on the riverbanks. Visit the local non-profit Minga Peru, including a program of handicraft development, radio broadcasts, women’s health initiatives and efforts in sustainable farming.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Nauta / Disembark Ship / Iquitos / Lima

Nauta / Disembark Ship / Iquitos / Lima

Disembark in Nauta, stopping at the Amazon Rescue Center on the drive to Iquitos. Fly to Lima and connect for flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about options to extend your stay, including an overnight at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch