Pure Peru: Amazon to Ancient Cusco Tour

Sunset in the Peruvian Amazon

What to expect on this itinerary

Book this immersive 11-day Peru tour to experience the adventures and heritage of Peru, from the Amazon to the Andes. The enchanting ruins of Machu Picchu feature soaring stones and sensational legends, and the dense jungle of the Amazon hides tremendous wildlife. Whether following the trails of the Inca or searching the water for signs of giant otters, you can indulge in the pure traditions, culture, and wonder of Peru with this trip.

Countries Visited

Peru

Places Visited

Iquitos, Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu and the Inca, Moray, Ollantaytambo

Suggested Duration

11 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Lima - Arrive in Vibrant Lima

Lima is a unique city that rises out of one of the driest places in the world. The city is home to coastal cliffs, pre-Columbian temples, and a unique display of Peru’s diverse heritage. Stately museums provide a sublime image of regional history and contemporary culture with displays of remarkable pottery and edgy art. Your flight will land at Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, where your private transfer will meet you at customs. Once at your hotel, you can enjoy the day at your pace.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Iquitos - An Amazon Cruise

Day 3

Amazon - Along the Amazon River

Day 4

Amazon - The Amazon and Piranha Fishing

Day 5

Amazon - The Fundo Casual Jungle Trail

Day 6

Sacred Valley - Finally Reach the Andes

Day 7

Sacred Valley - Andean History and Culture

Day 8

Sacred Valley - The Secrets of Machu Picchu

Day 9

Cusco - The Charms of Cusco

Day 10

Lima - Visit Piquillacta and Tipon

Day 11

Lima - Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the fascinating history and alluring mystery of Machu Picchu on a tour of the hidden Inca ruins
  • Delight in the wild of the Amazon River Basin on a cruise in search of the renowned biodiversity that supports vibrant monkeys and colorful macaws
  • Embrace the captivating culture of the Andes and the traditions of the Inca with a tour of the agricultural terraces at Moray and the Ollantaytambo ruins
  • Witness the mixture of Columbian architecture and Inca engineering when exploring the shimmering Andean city of Cusco
  • Uncover the pre-Columbian ruins of Piquillacta, which predate the Inca empire by almost 500 years
  • Meet with rescued manatees in the Amazon at the ACOBIA Manatee Rescue Center to view the rehabilitation and release efforts of the local wildlife
  • Visit with a local Amazon community along the Fundo Casual jungle trail to learn about the history, heritage, and sustainable traditions of the villages

Starting Price

$4,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 112 reviews

Peru Tour Review: Cusco, Lima, Machu Picchu, Lares Trail, Sacsayhuaman, Huayna Picchu, Sacred Valley, Salt Mines, Hiking, Biking, Local Cuisine, 12 Nights

Zicasso's travel specialist was spectacular in every way. From the inception of communication and planning, through arranging for all of our tickets, hotels, transport, and amazing dining experiences, to the incredible support and guides we enjoyed along the way... they were outstanding and we received five-star service.

We were a demanding group of 13, ranging in ages from 17 to over 60, and we all had an absolute blast! We had an absolutely amazing trip. The Lares Trail and Machu Picchu (and our climb up Huayna Picchu) are by far some of the most memorable experiences we've ever had.

Our guide and driver were awesome... kind, professional, and accommodating, and our guide especially was very knowledgeable, with so much respect and love for the surrounding nature and culture.

Our travel specialist was timely, attentive, and responsive to all of our requests, and helped us collectively achieve one of the greatest vacations we have ever experienced.

They were 100% accurate in terms of how to prepare us for the altitude and allow us enough time to acclimatize in Cusco (and with a great, long, mountain bike ride at high elevation). Our specialist provided excellent recommendations for how to fill some additional time in Cusco while we acclimated. We loved touring Cusco itself, and seeing Sacsayhuaman, several spots in the Sacred Valley, and the Maras Salt Mines were all unforgettable experiences. We also loved the hotel she had us at in Cusco. It was a great spot to be able to explore the city on our own time.

After seeing all of the coordination, especially for the Lares Trail and Machu Picchu, we're so relieved we chose to go through Zicasso for this trip and were connected with our travel specialist and her company. Everything was well planned and thought out, and if anything was not right, they sought to immediately correct it. Our guide was on top of every detail and it was great knowing our agent was just a text or phone call away.

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Peru Tour Review: Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Amazon Rainforest, Salt Flats, Ruins, Village Visit, Walking Tour, Thermal Baths, 9 Nights

My adult daughter and I had the most wonderful trip planned by Zicasso's travel company. Their team was exceptional; educational, on time, and just a pleasure to be with. Our itinerary was just what we were looking for. From Lima to the Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, and ending with Machu Picchu, it was well planned and well executed. We have memories that will last us forever.

Our travel specialist was a pleasure to work with. She listened to our thoughts and improved our experience with her great knowledge of the country, cities, and historical sites we wanted to visit. The travel company exceeded our expectations on every level. Thank you to our specialist and the team she assembled. We now have fantastic memories that will last us forever!

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Peru Travel Review: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Culture, Ruins, Local Cuisine, 10 Nights

We had excellent guides and hotels throughout our trip. Zicasso’s trip planner helped develop an itinerary that fit our interests perfectly. We enjoyed our time in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lima.

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Peru Vacation Review: Amazon Rainforest, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Huacachina, Sandboarding, 2 Weeks

We discovered our travel company through Zicasso and had an incredible experience planning and executing our trip to Peru. This was our first journey to South America and, since we don’t speak Spanish, we decided to work with a travel agent for this trip. Having planned all our travels around the world on our own, we were initially hesitant to entrust someone else with such an important task. However, our agent exceeded our expectations and made the entire process seamless and enjoyable.

From the very beginning – five months before our trip – our agent was a pleasure to work with. She was prompt, responsive, and attentive to our aspirations for the trip. After discussing the types of activities we wanted to include, she crafted a comprehensive itinerary filled with diverse and exciting options. Together, we refined the plans through a few iterations until we arrived at the perfect itinerary for our dream vacation.

Our two-week adventure in Peru was nothing short of amazing, taking us through the Amazon rainforest, the cultural heart of the Inca civilization in Cusco, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu, the breathtaking Rainbow Mountain, the tranquil beauty of Lake Titicaca and the floating islands in Puno, and the vibrant coastlines of Lima and Huacachina, where we experienced sandboarding and a flight over the Nazca Lines.

Throughout the trip, our agent stayed in constant communication, providing detailed updates and guidance for each day’s activities. Every guide she arranged for us was a local expert with deep knowledge of the region’s history, architecture, and culture, which added immense value to our experience.

Even when we encountered a minor hiccup with one of the tours, our agent handled it promptly and professionally, resolving the issue without hesitation or resistance. Her dedication and attention to detail ensured our trip was smooth and stress-free.

Thanks to our agent and her incredible network of guides, we had a phenomenal experience in Peru. We highly recommend visiting this beautiful country and entrusting our tour company with your travel plans. Without a doubt, we would work with our agent for future adventures!

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Peru Tour Review: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Inca Trail, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Local Cuisine, 12 Days

I loved my time in Peru! Zicasso’s travel specialist and her team organized the trip perfectly, and everyone took care of me very well. I had great hotels, amazing hikes and tours (Machu Picchu!!), and the best food. I highly recommend the travel company for a Peru adventure!!

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Peru, Ecuador Tour Review: Wildlife, Hiking, Mountains, Snorkeling, Machu Picchu, 11 Nights

We (me and my husband) took our seven-year-old to visit Machu Picchu and the Galápagos for two weeks. The trip was initially booked through Zicasso, who then referred us to our travel agent, who fine-tuned our itinerary to make all three of us happy, and it was great. We had nothing to worry about. Once we landed in Lima, the rest was like autopilot. Our drivers were ready, the hotels were amazing, and the food was awesome. They even helped us check in bags at the airports and printed our boarding passes for us since we didn’t speak much Spanish. 

My son had a blast in the Galápagos. His eyes got so big, once he got to officially snorkel, after seeing all those beautiful animals underwater. He loves nature and he got to go hiking and see all kinds of animals every day. Altitude sickness was real in Machu Picchu, but a little water and a little rest fixed it.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

28,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews