Inca Trail Amazon Expedition: 11-Day Peru Tour from Lima

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Jorge Chávez Airport for an early flight to Puerto Maldonado — the frontier city that serves as the gateway to the Peruvian Amazon. The flight takes just over an hour, but the change of scenery is dramatic: you leave the grey Pacific coast behind and land in the heat and humidity of the jungle.

From the airport, there's no time wasted. You head straight to the Tambopata river port, where a motorboat is waiting. The ride to the lodge takes about an hour along the Madre de Dios river — watching the city gradually disappear behind you as the vegetation closes in on both sides. By the time you arrive, you're deep in the Amazon.

A welcome drink made from local Amazonian fruits is waiting at the lodge. Settle into your room, have lunch, and let the jungle start doing its thing.

Afternoon — Monkey Island

Your first excursion takes you across the river to Monkey Island, a small natural sanctuary directly opposite the lodge. This is where you'll have your first real encounter with Amazonian wildlife: capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys moving through the canopy at close range, completely on their own terms. No enclosures, no feeding stations — just their habitat, and them going about their day. It's a gentle introduction to what the Amazon actually feels like when it's undisturbed.

The morning starts early — the Amazon rewards those who are up before the heat sets in. After breakfast, you'll set off on a three-kilometer walk through the Tambopata National Reserve, following a trail that leads to Sandoval Lake: an old river meander that gradually transformed into one of the most biodiverse corners of the entire reserve.

At the lake's edge, you swap boots for a rowboat. No motor — just oars and silence, which is exactly the point. Moving slowly across the water gives you the best chance of spotting what's actually there: hoatzins perched at the waterline, jacanas walking across floating vegetation, herons standing perfectly still, and monkeys shifting through the canopy overhead. Sloths are there too, camouflaged so well that you'd walk past a dozen without noticing — your guide knows exactly what to look for.

The two animals everyone hopes to see are the giant river otter — an endangered species that can reach nearly two meters in length — and the black caiman, the apex predator of these waters, which can exceed four meters. There are no guarantees in the wild, but the possibility alone changes how carefully you scan every shadow at the water's edge. That alertness is part of the experience.

Lunch back at the lodge, then a rest during the hottest part of the afternoon before the second half of the day begins..

Afternoon — The Canopy Walkway

Thirty meters above the forest floor, everything looks different. The Canopy Walkway is a network of hanging bridges suspended in the treetops, and the view from up there shifts your entire sense of scale — the canopy spreads out in every direction, the Madre de Dios river curves in the distance, and toucans, macaws, tanagers and oropendolas fly level with you rather than somewhere far below. It's the kind of perspective that stays with you long after you've come back down.

After Dark — Night Walk in the Jungle

After dinner, you head back into the forest — this time with only flashlights. The jungle at night operates on completely different terms. The sounds are sharper, the shadows deeper, and the creatures that hide during the day come out: camouflaged frogs clinging to leaves, insects that look like bark, reptiles that are invisible in daylight. Your guide knows where to look and what to look for, which makes the difference between a confusing walk in the dark and something genuinely extraordinary.

Three excursions in one day. By the time you fall asleep, the Amazon will have made its case.

Your last morning in the jungle starts before breakfast. You'll head out by boat to the Parrot Clay Lick — a natural clay wall on the riverbank where dozens of parrots gather every morning to feed on the minerals they need to process the toxins in their diet. The noise arrives before the birds do: a layered, chaotic chorus that builds as more species land. Parakeets, macaws, mealy parrots — all of them jostling for position on the same wall. It's colorful, loud, and a little overwhelming in the best possible way. A fitting farewell to the Amazon.

Back at the lodge for a last breakfast, then you board the boat back to Puerto Maldonado and head to the airport for the short flight to Cusco.

Arriving in Cusco – The Navel of the World

Someone from the team will meet you at Cusco airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours — and the most important advice is also the simplest: slow down.

At over 3,400 meters above sea level, the altitude is real, especially arriving straight from the jungle lowlands. Your body needs a few hours to adjust. A cup of coca tea, a rest, and a gentle walk without any particular destination is genuinely the best way to spend your first afternoon in Cusco. There's no itinerary here, and that's intentional.

When you do go out, the city will make an immediate impression. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire — the Tahuantinsuyo, which once stretched across the four cardinal points of the continent — and that history is embedded in the fabric of the streets rather than kept behind museum glass. Perfectly fitted Inca stone walls support Spanish colonial buildings with terracotta rooftops. Arcaded plazas open unexpectedly onto steep alleys that climb and descend without warning. Two civilizations, layered on top of each other, both still visibly present.

It's the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas, and it carries that weight lightly. The markets, the ruins woven into the urban fabric, the pace of daily life — Cusco has a cultural density that takes more than one afternoon to absorb. But this is just the beginning.

Recommended for today: A half-day city tour of Cusco is a great way to get your bearings — your guide can cover the main sites at a pace that respects the altitude. Ask the team and they'll arrange it for you.

The Sacred Valley is the natural corridor that the Urubamba River — also known as the Vilcanota — has been carving between Cusco and Machu Picchu for centuries. The Inca chose it as their main agricultural heartland, and the valley still produces some of the most diverse crops in the Andes today. Touring it the day before the Inca Trail isn't just logistically convenient — it's the best possible context for everything you're about to walk through.

Today's route runs from Pisac to Ollantaytambo, with three stops that each deserve more time than most tours give them.

Pisac Archaeological Site

The first stop is the ruins of Pisac, built into a hillside with snow-capped mountains closing in on all sides. The agricultural terraces climbing the slope are impressive for their scale alone, but the real surprise comes at the top: temples in remarkably good condition, and the Intiwatana — the Inca solar clock — still standing at the summit. The views over the valley from up there are among the best of the entire trip.

After coming down through the ruins, you'll have free time to explore Pisac's market in the town below — Andean textiles, local produce, ceramic work. No rush, no guided commentary. Just wander.

 
Lunch in Urubamba

At midday you'll arrive in Urubamba, the valley's main town, for a traditional Andean buffet. By this point in the tour, a proper sit-down meal with local food is genuinely appreciated. Try the choclo, the different varieties of potato, and whatever the kitchen has made with quinoa. It's the kind of lunch that reminds you where you are.

 
Ollantaytambo – The Living Inca Town

The last stop of the day is the most remarkable. Ollantaytambo is the only town in Peru where people still live within the original Inca urban grid — the same street layout, the same stone water channels running along the edges of the roads, the same logic of space that was designed over five hundred years ago. You notice it the moment you walk in.

Above the town sits the fortress of Ollantaytambo, one of the most strategically significant sites of the Inca resistance against the Spanish conquest. The scale of the stonework — enormous carved blocks hauled up from a quarry across the valley — is difficult to rationalize standing in front of it.

After the visit, you'll check into your hotel in Ollantaytambo. Rest well. Tomorrow morning, the Inca Trail begins.

This is what the trip has been building toward. Four days on the Classic Inca Trail — the same path the Inca used to connect Cusco with the farthest reaches of the Empire, and today one of the most celebrated trekking routes in the world. Physically demanding, logistically complex, and entirely worth every step.

The trail covers 44 kilometers (27 miles) through terrain that shifts constantly: Andean canyon, high-altitude grassland, cloud forest, and stretches of original Inca stone paving that have survived five centuries of weather and foot traffic. The real challenge isn't the distance — it's the altitude. The highest pass exceeds 4,000 meters, night temperatures can drop below zero, and Andean weather changes without much warning. A reasonable level of physical fitness is needed, but no technical mountaineering experience is required.

What you won't have to think about is the logistics. Our licensed team of porters and cooks handles everything — tents, sleeping equipment, and all meals on the trail — so you move through each day carrying only a light daypack. Getting to know the porter team over four days is one of the quieter highlights of the experience.

 
Day 6 — Km 82 to Llulluchapampa: The Trail Begins

The hike starts at Kilometer 82, on the banks of the Urubamba River. The first section follows the river before turning into the Cusichaca canyon, passing the archaeological remains of Willka Raccay and Llactapata — the first ruins of many. After lunch in Chamana with views of the snow-capped Verónica peak (5,850m), the route continues to Huayllabamba and then climbs through high Andean forest to Llulluchapampa, the open plateau where you'll set up the first camp. A good day to find your rhythm. The harder sections come tomorrow.

 
Day 7 — Llulluchapampa to Chaquicocha: Dead Woman's Pass

The second day is the most demanding of the entire trek. The morning starts with a long climb to Abra Warmiwañusca — Dead Woman's Pass — at 4,050 meters, the highest point on the Inca Trail. The ascent is relentless and the altitude is felt, but reaching the top is one of those moments that earns its place in memory. The descent leads to Pacaymayo for a well-earned lunch, then the route climbs again past the ruins of Runkurakay and Sayacmarca, crosses the second mountain pass, and drops to camp at Chaquicocha. Hard day — but the satisfaction on the other side of it is real.

 
Day 8 — Chaquicocha to Wiñay Wayna: Cloud Forest & Inca Ruins

The third day trades altitude for atmosphere. The route descends stone stairs into the dense, humid cloud forest, arriving at Phuyupatamarca — "Town Above the Clouds" — one of the best-preserved archaeological complexes on the entire trail and the lunch stop for the day. The vegetation here is unlike anything from the previous two days: moss-covered walls, orchids growing from the stonework, mist moving through the trees. After lunch, three more hours of descent lead to Wiñay Wayna, a spectacular terraced site nestled in the jungle where the final camp is set. Dinner tonight has a different feel — the hardest days are behind you, and Machu Picchu is hours away.

 
Day 9 — Wiñay Wayna to Machu Picchu: The Sun Gate at Sunrise

The last morning starts at 3:30am. The early start is non-negotiable — you want to reach Inti Punku, the Sun Gate, before the light comes up. The two-hour climb in the dark is worth every step of it: when the clouds clear, the first view of Machu Picchu spread across the ridge below, lit by the rising sun, is the moment the entire journey has been pointing toward.

After crossing that threshold, you'll descend into the citadel for a full guided tour — temples, agricultural terraces, royal palaces, and the intricate urban planning of a city built without mortar or metal tools. The tour follows Circuit 2, the classic and most complete route through the site. If demand limits availability, Circuits 1 or 3 offer equally extraordinary perspectives of the complex. To secure Circuit 2, booking as far in advance as possible is strongly recommended — daily entry spots are strictly limited.

Optional mountain climbs (additional cost, advance booking required):

• Huayna Picchu — steep and technical, approximately 45 minutes each way. Requires a Circuit 3A ticket.
• Machu Picchu Mountain — longer and more demanding, around 90 minutes to the summit. Requires a Circuit 1A ticket.

In the afternoon, you'll descend to Aguas Calientes for free time, lunch, and a hot shower before boarding the Expedition Class train back to Ollantaytambo. A ground transfer returns you to Cusco, arriving comfortably in the evening.

After four days on the Inca Trail, today has no fixed schedule. No early alarms, no transfers to catch. The day is yours to move through Cusco at your own pace — and depending on how your legs are feeling, there are two very different ways to spend it.

 
If you still have energy — adventure options

Rafting on the Urubamba River The same river you crossed at Km 82 on Day 6 runs white water sections rated at Class 2 to 3 — strong enough to be genuinely exciting, accessible enough that no previous experience is needed. All equipment and a pre-water briefing are included. A good option for those who want one last adrenaline moment before the trip ends.

Mountain Biking through the Sacred Valley A guided route connecting Maras, Moray and the Maras Salt Mines — the same landscape you passed through on Day 5, but seen from a completely different angle. The salt mines in particular look extraordinary from a bike, descending toward the terraced pools with the Andes on all sides. Full gear and a guide included.

  
If you'd rather keep exploring on foot

The four ruins on the outskirts of Cusco — Q'enqo, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay and Sacsayhuaman — can be visited in a single circuit, on foot, by bus, or on horseback.

The first three are worth the stop, each with a distinct architectural purpose. But Sacsayhuaman is in a different category. Built on the high ground above the city, its outer walls are made of limestone blocks weighing up to 350 tons — fitted together with a precision that still has no fully satisfying engineering explanation. Standing next to those stones after four days on the Inca Trail gives you a different kind of perspective on what the civilization that built both of them was capable of.

The horseback option for this circuit deserves a mention of its own. The Andean landscape from a horse moves at exactly the right speed — slow enough to absorb it, high enough to see across the valley. It's one of those experiences that turns out better than expected.

 
Or simply: Cusco itself

The city center, the San Pedro market, a long lunch at one of the restaurants around the Plaza de Armas, a final walk through the Inca stone streets before tomorrow's departure. After ten days of moving, sometimes the right call is to stop moving and let the place come to you.

The last morning. After breakfast, you'll be transferred to Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport in Cusco, where the tour officially comes to an end.
Eleven days. The Amazon at night, the Sacred Valley at dawn, four days on the Inca Trail, and Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. It's a lot to carry home.

If you'd like to extend your time in Peru, this is a natural moment to do it. Cusco has more corners worth exploring than eleven days allows, and destinations like Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon, or the northern archaeological circuit are within easy reach. The team can help arrange whatever comes next.

A return flight to Lima can also be organized on request — just let us know in advance and we'll take care of the transfer and booking coordination.
It's not goodbye — it's see you on the next one.

• Personal welcome by a Tierras Vivas representative upon arrival in Lima
• Domestic flights: Lima → Puerto Maldonado → Cusco
• All airport transfers throughout the tour (arrival and departure, except the final transfer in Lima)
• Accommodation: 3-star hotels (5 nights), Amazon jungle lodge (2 nights), Inca Trail campsites (3 nights)
• All entrance fees included: archaeological sites, national reserves, and the official Inca Trail permit
• Machu Picchu entrance ticket (Circuit 2 prioritized — booked in advance on your behalf)
• Professional bilingual guides throughout all tours and treks
• Dedicated trekking cook — all trail meals prepared fresh at camp
• Super porters on the Inca Trail: they carry food, cooking gear, camp equipment, and up to 7kg of your personal belongings so you hike with a light daypack
• Meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners, and 3 afternoon hot beverages on the trail — vegetarian options available at no extra cost (just let us know at booking)
• Inca Trail camping equipment: personal double tent with inflatable Therm-a-Rest mattress and cover
• Pillow with cover
• Sleeping bag rated to -5°C with sleeping bag liner
• Duffel bag with waterproof plastic cover (especially useful during the wet season)
• Hiking poles — one pair per person
• Rain poncho
• Dining tent with tables, chairs, and full cooking equipment
• All ground transportation throughout the itinerary
• Shuttle bus from Machu Picchu citadel down to Aguas Calientes
• Expedition Class train from Aguas Calientes back to Ollantaytambo
• Motorboat transportation through the Peruvian Amazon
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen bottle carried by the team throughout the Inca Trail
• Tierras Vivas t-shirt — because by Day 9, it's earned

Portable Two-Way Radio Communication

Our guide and trekking chef will use two pairs of radios to communicate with each other throughout the trek. These radios are connected to the Ministry of Culture and SERNANP. If you would like to find out more about the importance of radio communication, please visit our 'Radio Communication vs. Satellite Phone' page.

Sustainable Travel

When you book an Inca Trail tour with Tierras Vivas, you can be sure that we are committed to supporting various social projects for porter families and reforestation efforts in Andean communities. Visit us, Responsible People!

During the Inca Trail Tours, our staff will provided the following:

• Our staff will provide biodegradable soap.
• Every morning, our trekking chef will provide hot water for personal cleaning.
• During the four-day trek, we recommend that you bring your own water bottle for the first four hours.
• You will also be provided with small towels to clean your hands.
• Our trekking chef will provide hot water bottles each night to put inside your sleeping bag in case you get cold.

The best experience during your trip awaits!

• Pre & post tour accommodation,
• Last flight Cusco - Lima,
• International flights and airport departure taxes,
• Meals not mentioned,
• Entrance fee to Huayna Picchu ($80);
• Travel insurance,
• Tips and baggage portage to local staff (please note: it is a custom to give tips in Peru; however, it is not obligatory),
• Other extras not specified.

Meal budget: Please allow USD 100–150 for meals that are not included.

Solo traveller: If you have booked the 'Solo Traveller' option for this tour, please note that you will receive your own single room for all nights and a single tent for the Inca Trail.

Local flights: Two local flights are included in the cost of your tour. It is very important that we have your passport details at the time of booking in order to process all air tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to each flight departure.

Every Tierras Vivas tour travels with a dedicated guide, representative, or team member from the first day to the last. Not just someone to lead the group from point A to point B — but someone who knows the route, reads the group, and makes sure the experience adds up to more than a checklist of destinations.

Our guides carry deep knowledge of everything the itinerary moves through: the history behind the ruins, the cultural context that makes a market or a ceremony actually meaningful, the local dynamics that no travel app captures. They'll tell you where to eat, what's worth the detour, and who to talk to in each place — and they'll introduce you to the kind of people and moments that don't show up in any guidebook.

Where a destination calls for more specialized knowledge, we work alongside local expert guides — people with first-hand roots in specific communities, ecosystems, or archaeological sites. It's the difference between visiting a place and genuinely understanding it.

The follow hote used during the Inca Trail Expedition

Lima

Hotel Ferré Miraflores

• Address: Calle Diego Ferré 235, Miraflores, Lima, Perú
• Phone: +51 1 446-7276

Cusco

Illa Hotel

• Dirección: Calle Carmen Alto 166, Barrio San Blas, Cusco, Perú
• Phone: +51 84 262328

Ollantaytambo

Hotel Samanapaq

• Address: Av. Ferrocarril s/n, Ollantaytambo, Cusco, Perú
• Phone: +51 984 011 604

During the tour, we ask our hotels to prepare your rooms in time for your arrival, especially if you arrive before the standard check-in time. However, this is not always possible. If this is the case, simply store your luggage in the hotel storage room and explore your new destination in the meantime.

Inca Trail: 3 Camping Nights

During the Inca Trail, we will camp for three nights. This means that our camp staff will pitch and dismantle our tents for us. Rest assured that our camping staff will take care of all camp chores, so you only need to carry your day pack. Dining facilities will be provided, and bowls of warm water will be available for washing in the mornings and evenings.

Domestic flights to the Amazon for the Inca Trail Tour

Tierras Vivas works with LATAM and Sky Airline, both of which operate flights to Cusco and the Amazon. According to domestic flight regulations, restrictions apply to carry-on baggage. If you wish to bring additional baggage, extra charges may apply.

For Amazon to Inca Trail tours, one checked bag (up to 23 kg) and one carry-on bag are included.

The flights used for this itinerary are as follows:

From Lima to the Amazon

There are only two flights a day from Lima to the Amazon. Our sales team will usually book your flight for the morning or early afternoon, depending on availability.

From the Amazon to Cusco

There are direct flights from the Amazon to Cusco every day, but only two flights depart each day. If you book your tour at short notice, our sales team may need to book you on a flight with a stopover in Lima before continuing on to Cusco.

Inca Trail permits are issued for a specific date and sell out months in advance — so the earlier you check availability, the better your chances of securing the dates you want.

Start by checking availability directly on this page. The Inca Trail begins on Day 6 of this tour, so when searching for your permit date, count five days forward from your intended start date. If you want to begin the full expedition on 6 August, for example, you'll need to check availability for 11 August.

Once your preferred date is available and you're ready to confirm, our Reservations team will send a booking confirmation by email. From that point, you'll need to provide your full personal details and pay the deposit to secure your Inca Trail permit. Important: the permit reservation window is one hour. If payment isn't completed within that time, the spot is automatically released and you'll need to start again.

Inca Trail Closure — February

The Inca Trail closes every February for conservation and maintenance work. It's a deliberate pause that allows the vegetation along the route to recover — and February is the wettest month of the year in the Andes, which makes it a practical time for the closure. Machu Picchu itself remains open throughout.

If February is your only window, there are strong alternatives. The Salkantay Trek approaches Machu Picchu through high mountain terrain with dramatic scenery — a different route, but an equally rewarding arrival. The Inca Jungle Trail is the more adventurous option, combining hiking, cycling, and zip-lining on the descent toward Aguas Calientes.

The type of luggage you need depends on the type of tour you are planning to undertake. But this is not the only thing to take into account; you should also consider which part of the country you would like to visit, the season, and how long you wish to stay. In general, it is advisable to pack as lightly as possible, because you will be carrying your own luggage for most of the tour. We recommend keeping the weight of your luggage under 10 kg (22 lb).

Most travellers use a suitcase. However, a large backpack would be more suitable. In any case, please do not forget a small rucksack for daily travel, to carry your bottled water, camera, snacks, etc. Wheeled luggage is best avoided in favour of luggage with shoulder straps.

What Kind of Clothing to Pack to Peru

The clothing you need to take with you depends on the season in which you are travelling to Peru and which part of the country you plan to visit. If you are planning to visit the northern Peruvian coast and the surroundings of Lima, you should pack light clothes (such as shorts, skirts, dresses and T-shirts), flip-flops and sandals, a hat or cap to protect you from the sun, sun protection cream, sunglasses, mosquito repellent and a swimsuit.

However, if you plan to visit the Peruvian mountains (the Andes), we recommend taking trousers suitable for hiking, shorts and T-shirts for the daytime, and sweaters, fleeces, hats, scarves and warm jackets for the evenings. You should also take sun protection cream and sunglasses, and mosquito repellent depending on the route chosen. It is also advisable to carry light rain gear in your daypack, such as a waterproof poncho or jacket and/or waterproof trousers, as the weather can change quickly and it can rain suddenly. 

If you want to visit the Amazon rainforest (Manu, Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos, etc.), the most important thing to pack is mosquito repellent containing at least 20% DEET! You should also take some light clothing with long sleeves and long trousers that can be worn with your shoes to protect against insects. You should also take waterproof clothing (especially if you are visiting the rainforest during the rainy season), comfortable closed-toe footwear, long socks and a hat.

What to Bring on the Inca Trail Expedition Tour

• Passport Original and copies
• Travel insurance(+ copies for a case of lost),
• Flight tickets,
• Cash in USD or credit cards,
• Our service voucher (sent by us to you),
• Entry visa and a proof of vaccination (if applicable),
• Day pack (to carry your personal items during daily travels),
• Rain gear (a rain-jacket and a waterproof trousers or a rain poncho - this can be purchased in Cusco),
• Resistible footwear, waterproof trekking shoes are recommended,
• Sandals (for a higher comfort while at a campsite),
• Warm clothes such as a jacket, a fleece (thermal clothing is also recommended for cold nights during camping),
• Hat or a cap (to protect you against the Sun, rain as well as cold),
• Sun cream or sun block,
• After-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body,
• Insect repellent– recommended minimum is 20% DEET (please note that no malaria has been reported during this trip!),
• Camera and its charger/batteries (please note that batteries are consumed quickly under cold conditions),
• Flashlight/headlamp + batteries,
• Handkerchiefs and toilet paper,
• Small towel and toiletries,
• Sufficient reserve of underwear,
• Swimsuit (to visit the thermal baths of Aguas Calientes),
• Snacks (biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.)
  Please note: we do provide a daily morning snack and our meal service is very complete and well supplied. The recommendation of taken own snack applies only for customers who like a specific snack that might not be in our menu.
• Bottled water for the first morning and a water bottle.
  Important: plastic bottles are not allowed on the Classic Inca Trail! Please bring a metallic (alternatively Nalgene) bottles!
• Optional: walking sticks (please note: rubber covers are required for the Inca Trail!!); you can also rent it from us,
• Please note: we provide with filtered boiled water during entire Inca Trail, but if you like to use water from streams along the trail, you need to take some water-purifying tablets with you.

Need more information? Here some interesting pages for you!!

• Its time to visit Peru!!
• Amazon and Inca Trail FAQs
• Tierras Vivas Booking terms & Conditions
• How to book and pay with us?
• Before to book. Read the Inca Trail Regulations
• Why Tierras Vivas tour operator   
• Responsible Travel with Tierras Vivas tour operator.

Destinations:

Lima | Peruvian Amazon | Cusco | Sacred Valley | Ollantaytambo | Machu Picchu