Amazon River Cruise

Arrive at your hotel in Lima after your flight to Peru!

When your flight arrives in Lima, a Kuoda host will welcome you personally and escort you to the hotel. Instead of navigating a new city after a long flight, let us take care of the transportation logistics. We will drop you off at your hotel so you can refresh and enjoy a peaceful evening before the real excursion starts. Relax with a good night’s rest before your flight to Puerto Maldonado in the morning.

Fly to Cusco to tour a historic local hacienda, the Pisac Market, and the Peruvian countryside.

After flying from Lima to Cusco, your guide will take you on a unique adventure giving you a glimpse at local life in the surrounding valley. Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, with sheep grazing tranquilly in the fields.Impossibly steep peaks rise in the distance. Your journey will take you to an ancient hacienda, nestled in the fertile valley next to the pueblo of Pisac.

Step into centuries past while your hosts provide an educational tour about the growing process of Giant White Corn and its profound cultural significance in the Andes Mountains. This hacienda dates back generations, and you’ll immediately be immersed in local customs steeped in the mysticism of the Andes, embraced by the warmth of local Peruvians.

Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch, sampling authentic cuisine featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn. Be sure to visit the on-site stables housing the renowned Peruvian Paso horses! Watch how they dance with their human counterparts in a “marinera” demonstration and even go for a quick trot yourself if you feel up to the task!

From there, your exclusive tour of Peru will take you to another valley town – Pisac – where you’ll have the chance to socialize with locals as you survey the artisan offerings of the market. Vegetables, textiles, and silver jewelry are just some of the items that are sold. Later, return to the hotel of your choice for a restful evening.

Hike to Ollantaytambo’s Iconic Ruins & Explore the Arts of the Sacred Valley

Journey through the Inca’s Sacred Valley, starting with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. After a stop at the ruins of Pumamarca, you will begin the hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following ancient irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.

After approximately two hours of easy hiking, the town of Ollantaytambo will appear, where the influence of the Incas is still very much visible. Water from the mountains trickles down to the Inca-built street canals, while original Inca walls and trapezoidal doors still stand.

With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above the town. This is the spot where the Incas secured an important victory over the Spanish conquistadors. Inspect the intricately hewn stone constructions and have your guide show you the distant quarries from which the Incas sourced their materials. This site also affords fabulous views of the valley and the Urubamba River that meanders through it.

Following a lunch featuring local flavors, hop back in the car. This time, we’ll take you to our favorite artist’s workshop, famous throughout Peru for handcrafted ceramics. Spend the afternoon laughing, learning, and creating hand-made souvenirs with a Peruvian flair to bring home with you!
Upon completion of your tour, we will bring you back to your hotel for an evening spent at leisure.

Relax with a morning train through the cloud forest on your way to visit Machu Picchu!

This is the moment all Peruvian explorers wait for. Board the train in Ollantaytambo to begin your Machu Picchu journey. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows, and see if you can spot some alpacas grazing in the valley! When you arrive in Aguas Calientes, enjoy an early lunch before ascending to the lost Incan citadel.

After a bus ride to the gates of South America’s most notable wonder, you will finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone citadel will reveal itself to you as you enter the main gates, a city intertwined with the clouds. Your expert guide will give you a private tour of the ancient city.

Upon conclusion of your tour, return for an evening in Aguas Calientes. Enjoy an excellent dinner on-site at your hotel and fall into bed, lulled to sleep by the sound of the cloud forest around you.

Uncover the secrets of Cusco’s cobblestone streets on a private city tour!

Prepare to fall in love with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of almost every traveler that passes through it. A private tour is the best way to learn about this historic city, and get the best insider secrets! After breakfast, meet your guide and wander among the archaeological remains of Sacsayhuaman, where the Incas staged a great battle against the conquistadors.

Return to the city and venture through the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, a hub of artistic inspiration. Explore Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery, a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun. Live like a local and grab some groceries in the open-air San Pedro market for a delightful shopping experience!

At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest a few places to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Fly from Lima to Iquitos and board your luxury Amazon cruise

After breakfast at your hotel, we will escort you back to the airport for your flight to Iquitos before setting sail on the luxurious Delfin II ship. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your Delfin guide and take a seat for a scenic 90-minute drive to the small village of Nauta where the ship will be anchored.

Board the Delfin II and settle into a five-star cabin. After a safety drill and a quick briefing, tuck into a delicious welcome dinner and toast the beginning of your voyage with a glass of fine South American wine.

Your first day aboard the Delfin Luxury Cruise

On your first morning, getting up early is highly recommended! This enables you to appreciate one of the most important zones of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Wildlife is most abundant and active with the rising of the sun, so you’ll have plenty of company to look for.

During the dry season (Jun-Nov), you will have the chance to do some hiking at Belluda Caño, where you can explore two different kinds of ecosystems: the “flooded forest” and the “terra firme” forest. Here you may see snail kites, black-tailed antbirds, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, and pygmy marmosets. Your hike will take you to a lagoon filled with endangered and unique freshwater fish, where you will explore the waters in a dugout canoe.

During the wet season (Dec-May), you will explore Belluda Cano Creek by skiff. Here you will get a chance to spot parrots, macaws, and monkeys. You may also see Morpho butterflies and various species of hawks, including the “laughing falcon,” named for its loud falsetto call.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Dorado River (“golden river”), where you might choose to go fishing for a piranha, a captivating and challenging experience you won’t forget! Or, you might want to go swimming with the delightful pink river dolphins, which some locals believe can transform into beautiful humans.

These rare yet friendly creatures are mostly found in the freshwater rivers of the Amazon, near Iquitos. Make sure you bring your bathing suit and a waterproof camera! As night approaches, your guide will take you on a night safari in search of caiman alligators, nocturnal birds, and creepy crawlers.

Adventure through the Amazon Jungle

The morning is a perfect time for kayaking along the calm and inspiring rainforest waters of Zapote River. Your guides will take you upstream while you spot prehistoric-looking iguanas lying lazily in the sun. Travel along the shore and be ready for whatever the jungle has to offer. Squirrel monkeys are very active at this time of the day when they move in large noisy troops amongst the canopies.

In the afternoon, you will reach the Pacaya River at the heart of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected area. This is by far the largest protected wetland reserve in the world, filled with lakes, palm swamps, and streams. The reserve becomes a flooded forest in the rainy season and is a highlight of any Amazon excursion. You will also have the chance to swim in one of the pristine lagoons in this wonderful region!

Adventure through the Amazon Jungle

After breakfast, climb aboard the aluminum skiff to explore Clavero Lake, where you will have a chance to venture deep into the rainforest and see a fantastic array of flora and fauna as local villagers paddle in their traditional canoes.

During the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to test your own skills on the water. First, you’ll sail to the Yarapa River on the skiffs, and then it’s into your very own kayak. Paddle through the tranquil waters, keeping an eye out for native flora and fauna at every turn! Next, you’ll visit the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers who have called Amazonia their home for generations.

Here, your naturalist guides will introduce you to village life in the jungle, and you’ll learn about native plants, local customs, and the seamless interaction between humans and wildlife.

Fall asleep for the last time under the Amazonian stars as the Delfin pull you back towards Iquitos.

Explore a bit more of Iquitos before your flight home

After one final breakfast on the ship, you will arrive at the port of Nauta. The ground crew will be waiting to take you by private vehicle back to the city of Iquitos. As you journey back from Nauta to the Iquitos airport, you will stop at the Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals (ACOBIA). Here, you will have the chance to meet baby manatees and learn about these wonderful, docile creatures, and why they are on the endangered species list!

Afterward, your guide will bring you to Iquitos airport for your return flight to Lima. In Lima, you will be met by a Kuoda host, who will escort you to Costa del Sol on-site airport hotel and will leave you to enjoy one final dinner in Peru before your international flight. Buen viaje!