Compare Adventure in Peru by Audley Travel vs Peru in 10 days - Sacred Inca & Ultimate Amazon Experience - Superior by Exoticca

Day 1 : Lima

On arrival to Lima airport your private driver and guide are waiting to take you to the hotel in the lovely Miraflores area of town.

Day 2 : Lima

A different way to see some of the city is by bike. You will join a small group on this tour to visit both Miraflores and Barranco.

Day 3 : Cuzco

Your private driver will return you to Lima airport for the short flight to Cuzco high in the Andes. Your private driver and guide will drive you to your hotel.The afternoon will be yours to enjoy at your leisure as you adjust to the altitude.

Day 4 : Cuzco

A great way to adjust to the high altitude and see the main sites of Cuzco is on foot. First, visit Tambomachay in a private vehicle and then walk back down to Cuzco visiting different Incas sites with your private guide.

Day 5 : Cuzco

The morning is spent rafting on class III and IV rapids on the Urubamba River before a picnic lunch on the banks of the river.

Day 6 : Cuzco

Enjoy a day at leisure in Cuzco. It is a great town to wander about and enjoy the local markets and cafes that look out over the main square.

Day 7 : Sacred Valley of Incas

Your private guide will accompany you for 2 days of mountain biking on small mountain trails into an area of the Sacred Valley that is well-known for its traditional weaving techniques. You will spend the night camping close to hot springs.

Day 8 : Sacred Valley of Incas

The private car drives you to the top of a mountain pass where you begin biking down through a beautiful canyon with a mix of Inca pathways and farming roads.

Day 9 : Sacred Valley of Incas

Enjoy a day of leisure in Ollantaytambo. This small Incan village has ruins well worth exploring.

Day 10 : Sacred Valley of Incas

You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the beginning of the Inca Trail where you will be given a briefing and start the trek.

Day 11 : Sacred Valley of Incas

The most challenging day on the trail as you cross Dead Woman's pass at 4,200 meters above sea level.

Day 12 : Sacred Valley of Incas

This day involves trekking down Inca staircases and through Inca tunnels, it is a truly spectacular day of hiking.

Day 13 : Cuzco

An early departure towards Inti Punku (the Sun Gate) where you see Machu Picchu and then head down into the ancient citadel. You will have a guided tour and then board your train to head back to Cuzco for the night.

Day 14 : Return home

Your guide and driver will bid you goodbye as they take you to the airport to begin the journey home.

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your US departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Lima*. Night on board. * Important: If your outbound flight leaves at dawn (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the selected departure day.

Day 2: Lima

Arrive in Lima, the capital of Peru, situated on the Pacific Coast. Transfer to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day exploring the city's colonial streets and magical plazas at your leisure. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 3: Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an informative and interesting city tour of Lima, including its Historic Centre and the Santo Domingo Convent. Start by exploring the districts of Miraflores and San Isidro before heading to the Historic Center. Visit the impressive Convent of Santo Domingo and walk to the Plaza de Armas to admire the exquisite colonial architecture that surrounds it. Next, stop in the Parque del Amor, from where you can take beautiful photos of the Peruvian coastline. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 4: Lima - Cuzco - Sacred Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Cuzco. Arrive in Cuzco, the former Inca capital, and transfer to the Sacred Valley, on the way stop at Awanakancha and savour the opportunity to explore this living museum, where ancient customs and traditions have been preserved across the centuries. Watch local communities creating beautiful handmade textiles and soak up the beautiful views, unchanged by time. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring the lively immaculate scenery of this iconic region. Overnight stay in Sacred Valley.

Day 5: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day at Machu Picchu awaits you this morning as you set off for the train station to board the Expedition Train to Aguas Calientes, admiring the landscape along the way. Arrive and transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu*, a true wonder of the world and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Spend some time discovering the ruins and being amazed by the terraces and enjoying a tour of the different sections of the site. Return to Sacred Valley. Arrive and overnight stay in Sacred Valley. Note: The baggage policy on board the Expedition train is 1 bag or backpack per person weighing a maximum of max. 5kg / 11lb. * Backpacks or bags taken into Machu Picchu must not exceed 40x35x20cms or have a capacity larger than 20Lts and must not contain single-use plastic bottles or bags. Backpacks or bags that exceed the indicated measurements can be left in storage for approx. $2 per bag.

Day 6: Sacred Valley - Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off towards Cuzco, with the opportunity to enjoy optional Sacred Valley excursions along the way, to experience the best of the region.* Arrive in Cuzco and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, enjoying the lively plazas at night. Overnight stay in Cuzco. * Optional Essence of the Sacred Valley Excursion: Visit Chinchero and the PARWA Centre, to appreciate the colourful traditional textiles. Next, visit the church of Chinchero before heading to the Racchi panoramic viewpoint for a fantastic view across the valley. Explore Ollantaytambo and its Inca fortress. Lunch and 'Boleto Turisitco' included granting entrance to the Sacred Valley and surrounding sights.

Day 7: Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a fascinating half-day tour of Cuzco. Begin in the iconic Plaza de Armas, and visit the Cathedral. From here, walk to the Koricancha Temple, an impressive ancient Inca palace, in honour of the Sun God. Today, a Dominican church stands on the site. Finally, visit the lively San Blas neighbourhood, known for its artists, shops and artisan workshops. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, soaking up the atmosphere of the city and sampling the local cuisine. Overnight stay in Cuzco.

Day 8: Cuzco - Puerto Maldonado

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado*, nestled in the dense Amazon rainforest, close to the Bolivian border. Be picked up and taken to the local office where you'll have the chance to unload any unnecessary luggage to lighten the load for your journey into the Amazon**. From Capitania Port, take a 50-minute boat ride on the Madre de Dios River, enjoying your first glimpse of the dense Amazon rainforest. On arrival at the lodge, get inmmerse in the middle of the pristine nature and get settled in your room. After lunch, take some time to relax before heading off in the mid-afternoon on a guided jungle-walk*** to get to know the tropical trees and abundant nature of the local area to come face-to-face with the beauty of this diverse ecosystem. Look out for rare and unique bird species and weird and wonderful insects during your first Amazon experience. Back at the lodge, hang out in the hammocks or enjoy a cocktail at the bar before enjoying an unforgettable Caiman Safari**** boat trip, to get up-close to the emerging nocturnal wildlife as night begins to fall over the Amazon. Witness the transformation as an orchestra of sounds emanates from the nocturnal wildlife of the rainforest. You'll have a great chance of spotting larger animal species once night falls. Dinner and overnight stay in the Amazon. * Please, note that the order and times of the excursions may be modified as your guide sees it convenient in coordination with the management, considering the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time of your visit. **Luggage left behind is kept in safe storage. *** Duration: 1/4 day / Physical rating: light. **** Duration: 1/4 day / Physical rating: light.

Day 9: Puerto Maldonado

Before the sunrises, fuel yourself with a hot drink before departing for Lake Sandoval by boat. Enjoy a morning hike from 3km through the rainforest until you reach the Tambopata National Reserve, where you can admire the giant trees, snakes and numerous monkey species. Back at the lake, enjoy a relaxing rowing-boat cruise, all the while enjoying the abundant wildlife around you. At the perfect spot, stop for a picnic breakfast before returning to the dock. Back at the lodge, tuck into a delicious lunch before climbing the observation towers in the afternoon to soak up the impressive views from 42-metres above the rainforest floor. Afterwards, visit the Brazil Nut Camp, where these tasty nuts are harvested and return, through the lush rainforest, to the lodge. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing at the lodge, by the pool or with a luxurious massage. Dinner and overnight stay in the Amazon. * Please, note that the order and times of the excursions may be modified as your guide sees it convenient in coordination with the management, considering the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time of your visit.

Day 10: Puerto Maldonado - Lima

Awake early to enjoy a short walk to the Parrot Clay-Lick, where a handful of diverse parrot species flock to eat the mineral-rich clay. It's an amazing, unique sight as the colourful birds nourish themselves with the cool clay. Return to the lodge for breakfast before getting ready to return to Capitania port. On arrival at the port, collect your additional luggage and enjoy a short visit to the local market (15-20 minutes). Transfer to the airport for a flight to Lima. Arrive, transfer to the hotel and spend your last evening in Peru at your leisure. Overnight stay in Lima. * Please, note that the order and times of the excursions may be modified as your guide sees it convenient in coordination with the management, considering the physical condition of the passengers and the weather conditions at the time of your visit.

Day 11: Lima - Night on board

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Night on board.

Day 12: US

Arrive in US and end your trip.