Luxury Travel the Amazon River

11 Days / 10 Nights
Lima – Cusco – The Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Cusco – Iquitos – The Amazon River – Lima

This sample luxury Amazon River cruise tour brings you on a cruise through a place often mythologized in adventure stories and films, and a destination of which many intrepid travelers dream: the Amazon jungle! During your four-night luxury Amazon River cruise, you’ll travel along the main branch and the tributaries of this mighty and vital waterway. Depart from the isolated jungle city of Iquitos and float further into the depths of the rainforest, where you’ll enjoy excursions and activities including piranha fishing, jungle trekking, and wildlife watching. Expect to see all kinds of jungle creatures and critters, from graceful and elusive pink river dolphins to slow-moving sloths, as well as feathered fliers of every imaginable color. Conclude your adventure with a luxurious jaunt to the New World Wonder of Machu Picchu and the former Inca capital of Cusco.

DESTINATIONS
HIGHLIGHTS
  • Glimpse monkeys, macaws, and many more of Peru’s most curious animal inhabitants.
  • Float along the Amazon River and participate in jungle excursions during your luxury cruise.
  • Visit rural communities in the Sacred Valley towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo.
  • Embark on a private city tour of Cusco, whose fascinating streets feature a unique concoction of Inca ruins and colonial constructions.
  • Scale the ancient stone stairway up Machu Picchu’s neighboring peak, Huayna Picchu.
  • Tour Machu Picchu with your very own expert guide to explain the history, architecture, and theories surrounding the site, before wandering independently among the iconic ruins the following day.
  • Discover the delights of Peruvian cuisine at the country’s finest dining establishments.
  • Immerse yourself in local life with a visit to a remote Andean village that is, for most travelers, uncharted territory.
  • Enjoy enriching experiences with local artists at their workshops.
  • Relax in deluxe and characteristic accommodations throughout your personalized trip of Peru.

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    *We'll be in touch within one business day, matching you with an expert Kuoda travel designer who will turn your travel dreams into reality. Contact us today!
    Your Trip
    Your Details

    ITINERARY
    Arrive at your hotel in Lima after your international flight to Peru!
    When your international flight arrives in Lima, look for your Kuoda host holding a sign with your name on it! We know you’ll most likely be a little tired after your long flight, so we’ll save you the stress of trying to navigate and bring you straight to your hotel adjacent to the airport where you can shake off that icky flight feeling with a shower and a sleep. Relax into the evening and enjoy a good night’s rest before your flight to Cusco in the morning!
    Lima Peru private travel
    Fly to Cusco to tour an ancient local hacienda, the Pisac Market, and the Peruvian countryside.

    This morning we’ll escort you back to the airport for your morning flight to Cusco. Watch the windows as the desert coast rises into the snow-capped peaks of the Andes!

    Just 15 minutes outside of Cusco, true Peruvian countryside will stretch away on either side of you, sheep grazing tranquilly road-side. 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 onto the family-owned hacienda grounds and step into centuries past while your hosts expound upon 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 spirits and mysticism of the Andes, and embraced by the warmth of local Peruvians.

    Relish your time on the farm with a delicious multi-course lunch with sample dishes featuring none other than the “white gold” giant-kernelled corn, and make sure to visit the on-site stables housing the renowned Peruvian Paso horses. Watch the horses 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 rub shoulders 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 here. Later, return to the hotel of your choice.

    Peruvian paso horses
    Hike to Ollantaytambo’s iconic ruins & Explore the Arts of the Sacred Valley

    Today’s journey through the Sacred Valley of the Incas will start with a drive through the breathtaking Patacancha Valley. At the ruins of Pumamarca we’ll begin our hike down a pre-Columbian trail, following irrigation canals that line terraced fields still in use today.

    After approximately two hours of easy hiking, we’ll find ourselves in the Incan town of Ollantaytambo, where the centuries-old 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 are still found here.

    With your guide by your side, ascend beyond the stepped, slope-side terraces to the ruins of a centuries-old fortress above town, 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 where the Incas sourced these huge stone blocks. This site also afford 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.

    Ollantaytambo Experience
    Enjoy a morning train through the cloud forest and visit the Machu Picchu Citadel!

    Prepare for a climactic day! In the morning, we will board the train in Ollantaytambo for our journey to Machu Picchu. Watch the cloud jungle pass by through the large glass windows! Upon arrival to Aguas Calientes, we’ll tuck in to an early lunch in order to refuel before ascending to Peru’s lost citadel.After a bus ride to the gates of this wonder of the world, you will pass through the main gates with your private guide to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu. The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by 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.

    Machu Picchu Peru
    Hike one of the coveted, limited-entry hikes, Huayna Picchu!

    Today you have the option to hike two different trails – Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, so it’s completely up to you on how you would like to culminate your Machu Picchu luxury tour. Feeling adventurous? Consider hiking the steep slope of neighboring Huayna Picchu, which offers unrivalled views over Machu Picchu. Please note that only a limited amount of hikers are allowed to climb Huayna Picchu each day and tickets will need to be purchased in advance along with your Machu Picchu entrance.

    In the afternoon, reconvene in Aguas Calientes and board the return train to Ollantaytambo. Your Kuoda host will meet you at the station and bring you to your hotel for a well-deserved good night’s rest.

    Huayna Picchu Peru
    Explore the hidden cobblestone streets of historical Cusco on a private city tour and fly back to Lima

    It’s time to get acquainted with Cusco, a gorgeous city that wins the heart of most every traveler that passes through it. Get to know the real Cusco during a private tour. 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 roam the atmospheric streets of the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, which is known for its free-spirited scene. Explore Qoricancha and the Santo Domingo monastery (a colonial structure built on top of the ancient Inca temple of the sun); see where the locals make their grocery runs at the open-air San Pedro market and pass the famous 12-angled stone, whose image appears on the bottle of the local Cusqueña beer. At the end of the tour, your guide will suggest places to visit for lunch. In the afternoon, fly back to Lima.

    Qoricancha Cusco Peru
    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 Upon arrival, you’ll meet your Delfin II’s guide and take a seat on an air-conditioned bus for a scenic 90-minute drive to the small village of Nauta where the Delfin II Cruise – of the luxury Delfin cruise line – is anchored.

    There should be a line above “Board the Delfin II and settle into one of the 14 cabins. 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.

    Delfin Cruise Amazon river
    Luxury Cruising the Amazon River

    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. Early rising is always rewarding, since wildlife is most abundant and active with the rising of the sun. Be sure to keep an attentive eye open for spotting surprises. 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: “flooded forest” and “terra firme” forest. Here you may see snail kites, black-tailed ant birds, manikins, tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds, and pygmy marmosets. Your hike will take you to a lagoon filled with endangered and unique fresh water 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 noisy “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 the famous 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 and yet friendly creatures are mostly found in the freshwater rivers of the Amazon, near Iquitos. So make sure you bring your bathing suit and a waterproof camera, as a snapshot of the pink river dolphin will surely be one for the Amazon adventure photo collections. As night approaches, your guide will take you on a night safari in search of caiman alligators and nocturnal birds and creepy-crawlies.

    pink river dolphins
    Day full of jungle activites

    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 for prehistoric-looking iguanas lying lazily in the sun. Travel along the shoreline 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 at mid to upper levels of primary and secondary lowland forest.

    In the afternoon, we will have reached our main goal, the Pacaya River at the very heart of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected area with a mean annual rainfall of nearly 3,000 millimeters (or 118 inches), and 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 sure to be one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit. You will also have the chance to swim in one of the pristine Amazon lagoons in this wonderful region!

    Amazon cruise
    Day full of jungle activites

    This morning after breakfast, board on Delfin’s aluminum skiff to explore Clavero Lake, where you will have a chance to get deeper into the rainforest and see a fantastic diversity of flora and fauna and local villagers paddling in their traditional dugout canoes.

    In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to test your own skills on the water. First, you’ll board the Delfin’s skiffs taking you to the Yarapa River, 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 Delfins pulls you back towards Iquitos.

    Amazon river experince
    Explore a bit more of Iquitos before your international 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, about 95 kilometers journey by paved road. As we are journeying back from Nauta to Iquitos airport, we will stop by the Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals (ACOBIA), where you will have the chance to meet baby manatees and learn about these wonderful and docile creatures and why they are on the endangered species list.

    Afterwards, 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!

    Like the sound of this Cruising the Amazon private tour? Get in touch with Kuoda and we’ll start crafting your very own customized private travel experience to Peru!

    Nauta Amazon Peru
    INCLUDED
    • Personalized itinerary planning
    • A Kuoda host to assist you in every location
    • The majority of meals in the itinerary
    • Daily activities and excursions as indicated in the itinerary
    NOT INCLUDED
    • International flights to and from your home country
    • Travel insurance
    • Meals not specified
    • All gratuities
    PRICE REFERENCE
    An exemplary way for any adventure seeking traveler to experience the best of the region! This sample itinerary is just the way for you to get inspired.
    ACCOMMODATIONS
    • Our staff handpicks the best hotels to ensure you get ultimate comfort and character during your stay.
    • Talk with your Kuoda Travel expert to help find the right hotels for you during your personalized luxury tour.
    TALK TO A DESTINATION EXPERT
    LET’S PLAN YOUR TRIP
    REACH OUT TO A TRAVEL DESIGNER

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