Cusco, Inca Ruins and Jungle Expedition Tour 8 Days/ 7 Nights

The Sacred Valley tour starts at 08:00 am from Cusco. We pick you up from your hotel and bring you to our tourist bus, where you will meet your tour guide and your travel mates (shared service).

We leave Cusco around 08:30 am in the direction of Pisaq, descending to the sacred river Urubamba. With a few stops at various lookout points along the way, we will arrive at Pisaq, where you can enjoy checking out the traditional handicraft market with plenty of time for local souvenir shopping. Afterwards, we drive up the mountain where we will find Pisaq's ruins. Our tour guide will take you around the temples, terraces and tunnels of this complex, including the famous Intihuatana (sun clock), while constantly enjoying the majestic view of the sacred river. Then we drive along the river Urubamba, passing by a colourful little town where you can observe the descendants of the Quechua people wearing colourful ponchos.

We stop in the town of Urubamba for lunch (we recommend a lunch buffet of Peruvian food). After a short rest, we keep going until we reach Ollantaytambo, one of the last living Inca towns. You will be amazed by the impressive Temple of the Sun with its intricate stone worked details, the terraces which are constructed to sustain the mountain and finally the temple in shape of a llama. You will have a short time to explore this amazing complex with its beautiful water fountains by yourself.

After exploring the complex, your tour guide will guide you to the train station from where you will take the train at 04:36 pm in direction to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Town). Enjoy the incredible 2-hour-journey through the panoramic windows of the train which will take you along the Sacred River of the Incas, descending from the high valley down to the cloud forest at 2000 meters. The landscape changes drastically in front of your eyes! You will be able to see the tropical mountain ending in a snow carpet and the small waterfalls shimering on the hills, forming small rivers that flow down to converge at the Sacred River. After these spectacular natural views, you will arrive at Aguas Calientes, where the warm atmosphere welcomes you with typical jungle sounds.

A Green Peru Adventures Staffmember and your tour guide will be waiting for you at the gate of the train station in Aguas Calientes and bring you to your hostel. At 07:00 pm, you arrive at your hotel, and the tour guide will come to give you a briefing for the next day.

Accommodation: Hatun Inti Classic

The day you were waiting for!

Wake up early for breakfast and take the bus uphill to the famous Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. The first bus leaves at 05:30 am and takes a 25-minute ride. (This timing can be changed according to the entrance fee to Machu Picchu)

Optional:  Take the path which winds up the mountain to reach Machu Picchu.

The Machu Picchu gate opens at 06:00, so arriving early will allow you to be among the first visitors of the day and avoid the crowds. However, we may modify the timing when you make your booking.

Upon paying your entrance fee, a private bilingual tour guide will escort you through the vast ruins for approximately 2.5 hours, providing a comprehensive explanation of Machu Picchu's historical significance and its importance within the Inca Empire.

Machu Picchu is the best known of all the Inca Archaeological sites, as it is recognised worldwide as one of the New Seven Wonders, even though it’s not mentioned in any handwritten Chronicle of the Spanish Conquerors. Experts believe that Machu Picchu was constructed around the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacuteq and was rediscovered in 1911 by American historian Hiram Bingham.

The guided tour of this fascinating site will be an unforgettable experience, visiting the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Sun Tower, the Sacred Sun Dial (Intihuatana), and the Burial Grounds.

We offer optional hikes in Machu Picchu with an additional ticket. (has to be reserved together with your booking)

You can hike up Huayna Picchu (the mountain behind Machu Picchu), from where you will enjoy stunning views over the whole complex! However, there are only 400 entrance tickets available per day; therefore, you must let us know in advance if you want to do the hike so we can reserve your ticket at an extra cost of US$60.00.

Due to Huayna Picchu being very fast oversold, we offer Machu Picchu Mountain as a second optional climb. The advantage of this hike is that it will be less crowded, but not less beautiful! The cost for this hike is also US$60.00 per person.

La Gran Caverna a ceremonial place in Machu Picchu US$60.00 per person.

Also, there is another road to Inti Punku, the SUN GATE, which is the traditional end of the Inca Trail (a hike of 3 hours), US$35.00 per person.

You can visit the beautiful Inca Bridge (a hike of 1 hour). This road will allow you to enjoy other views of Machu Picchu and take many breathtaking pictures. US$35.00 per person.

You will arrive at Aguas Calientes for a late lunch.

At 14:30, you take the train back to Ollantaytambo and then a tourist transport to Cusco.

Please let us know if you want to spend more time in Aguas Calientes, so we can book a late train at 04:12 pm or 19:00 (according to the train service, it may have an extra cost).

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Amaru Group Hostels

This is a free day to explore the city of Cusco. You can walk around town, shop, visit museums, eat at local restaurants or relax before taking the bus to Puerto Maldonado.
(NOTE: If you want to take a plane to Puerto Maldonado on the 4th day of the program, please note that this ticket is NOT included in the price of this tour. You may arrange your aeroplane tickets yourself, or ask Green Peru Adventures to arrange these tickets for you. Aeroplane tickets through LAN Peru or Star Peru vary in price, mainly depending on when you book them. If you book the tickets in advance, we will arrange you the best price we can find! Anyway, we recommend you take the bus instead of an aeroplane. The bus will leave Cusco at 08:00 pm. If you decide to take an aeroplane instead, you will spend an extra night in Cusco at additional cost and fly the next morning at around 10:00 am.

Accommodation: Amaru Group Hostels

Upon arrival at the Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal, a professional guide will meet you. We will then proceed to our office to obtain the official waterway permits. Meanwhile, you can visit the town’s main square and also take some photos of the beautiful scenery overlooking the confluence of the rivers Madre de Dios and Tambopata from Grau Square.

After a 40-minute boat ride, we will arrive at the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. After your welcome cocktail, you can enjoy the delicious international dishes that the Lodge offers. After that, you will have some free time to get comfortable in your bungalow, overlooking either the river or the jungle, or simply taking a refreshing dip in our pool.
At 03:30 pm, you will go on a short trek with your guide who will show you the tropical trees, medicinal plants and the abundance of nature in the 60 hectares of the Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. From our lookout point, you can observe toucans, macaws and other species of birds before your return for sunset. The duration of this trek will be between 2 and 3 hours.

The rest of the afternoon you can relax in our pool or take a nap in the hammocks at the terrace of your bungalow. If you'd like, you can also take a nightly boat trip to spot caimans before dinner. At 08:00 pm, dinner is served. After dinner, you can retire to our bar to have some tropical cocktails, relax in our reclining seats at the central terrace or take a bath in the pool underneath the shining Amazon sky.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning, at 05:30 am, we will go on a 20-minute trek until we arrive at the parrot clay lick. Here, a minimum of five different parrot species feed themselves on a special clay, which is vital for their metabolism. It’s a truly marvellous, multicoloured spectacle!
At 08:00 am, we will have a delicious breakfast and then have some free time to explore the splendid gardens of Corto Maltes Amazonia. There are dozens of varieties of exotic plants and flowering trees waiting for you to discover them!

Afterwards, around 10:30 am, we start navigating the Madre de Dios River. This time, it’s an expedition destined for Monkey Island, where we can find many different species of these interesting and entertaining animals, living in freedom. Next, we embark on a 30-minute boat ride as we enter the territory of the Tambopata-Candamo National Reserve. We will trek around 5 km through the dense vegetation of the tropical rainforest and observe many giant trees, snakes, monkeys, birds and sometimes even the elusive jaguar!

The trek’s destination is heavenly Sandoval Lake. Numerous species of animals share their privileged setting: birds (in particular Hoatzins, Kingfishers and Cormorants) and different species of monkeys (Squirrel monkeys, Howler monkeys, Capuchin monkeys). At the lake itself, we can enjoy the spectacle of Giant River Otters, Black Caimans and Piranhas (sometimes we can even observe Anacondas in the areas covered by reed). This is also the habitat of the giant Arapaima, a fish that can grow over 2.5 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. Travelling by canoe, the sunset on the lake will be a spectacular, unforgettable sight. On our return to the river, we might be able to spot some nocturnal animals as well.

We will have dinner around 08:00 pm. If you still have energy left, you can share some moments of music and conversation in the bar whilst having a cocktail or enjoy the sounds of the rainforest surrounding you from your hammock. You can also recover with a massage by one of the qualified masseurs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On the morning of our third day, we will enjoy a delicious breakfast at 08:00 am, followed by some free time to relax by the pool or explore our shop, where you can discover exclusive Amazon handicrafts and jewellery.
At 10:00 am, we will follow the course of the river for approximately 1,5 hours to visit a native community. Occasionally, we can see monkeys, river turtles, caimans and various birds in the dense vegetation of the riverbanks. We will also see some medicinal plants like Sangre de Grado, Oje and Capirona.
The Project for the Rescue of Cultural Values supports the local native community of Palma Real. It is the biggest one with approximately 200 families of the Eseeja tribe. Two families, working with the project located at Gamitada island, will introduce us to the cultural values of their ancestors, their language, their customs, their garments and their dances. In an era where globalisation rapidly changes traditional societies, this presents a unique opportunity to connect directly with this tribe of ancient warriors and hunters, supporting them economically through the purchase of their handmade products.
We will be circumnavigating Gamatida Island around 01:00 pm, occasionally seeing animals that have escaped human presence. Afterwards, we will visit a Chakra (local term for farm). We will get to know a variety of tropical fruits and other local products (Cocoa, bananas, coffee, and cocona) and then have lunch, consisting of a typical Amazon dish. The Chacarero (farmer) will also let us taste some of the fruits that will later be taken to the city of Puerto Maldonado for consumption.
Upon our return to the lodge, you will surely enjoy a bath in our swimming pool – maybe even with a cocktail that might also serve as an aperitif for dinner.
Dinner will be served around 08:00 pm. Afterwards, you can retire to our bar to enjoy some tropical cocktails, relax in our reclined seats at the central terrace, or take a bath in the pool underneath the shining Amazon sky.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to the staff and the beautiful setting of Corto Maltes Amazonia Lodge. Your guide will accompany you on your way back to Puerto Maldonado. We will pass by our office to collect any left baggage. Next, we will visit the local market to showcase some of Amazon's local agricultural products, particularly its fruits. Afterwards our staff will accompany you to the airport, hoping that your stay was as pleasant for you as it was for us to show you this beautiful corner of Peru. Then you can fly back to Cusco or Lima or take your bus back to Cusco.

Meals: Breakfast