Peru: Amazon Rainforest & Machu Picchu - 8 Days – Peru – FlashpackerConnect Adventure Travel

Experience two of Peru’s defining landscapes on an eight-day journey combining the wildlife of Tambopata National Reserve with the Inca history of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Spend three nights at Tambopata Research Center, a remote eco-lodge surrounded by protected rainforest. Join small-group excursions to the Macaw Clay Lick, climb above the canopy and explore forest trails connected to ongoing conservation projects. Early starts and expert naturalist guides provide opportunities to observe macaws, monkeys, caimans and other Amazon wildlife in their natural habitat.

From the rainforest, continue into the Andes for privately guided exploration of Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu. Carefully arranged transfers, comfortable accommodations and a night beside the railway in Ollantaytambo create a well-paced route through two distinctly different sides of Peru.

Trip Highlights

Spend three nights deep inside Tambopata National Reserve
Stay at Tambopata Research Center, a working base for rainforest conservation
Watch for macaws and parrots at the Macaw Clay Lick
Climb a 30-meter canopy tower to search for monkeys, toucans and other wildlife
Explore the Bamboo Trail and forest associated with the 8 Primates Project
Discover Pisac and Ollantaytambo with a private guide
Travel by scenic train to Machu Picchu
Explore Machu Picchu on a privately guided visit

Trip Details

Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Price: US$2,995 per person
Trip style: Group-guided Amazon excursions with private Andean tours
Minimum travelers: 2 people
Accommodation: Seven nights in selected hotels and a remote rainforest eco-lodge
Arrival airport: Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima (LIM)
Departure airport: Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima (LIM)
Domestic flights required: Lima to Puerto Maldonado on Day 2, Puerto Maldonado to Cusco on Day 5 and Cusco to Lima on Day 8

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lima

Welcome to Peru. Upon arrival at Jorge Chávez International Airport, meet your private driver for the transfer to Casa Andina Premium Miraflores.

Settle into your hotel and enjoy an included dinner without needing to make additional plans after your flight. Miraflores provides a comfortable introduction to Lima, with coastal parks, shops and restaurants nearby.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Miraflores
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Journey into Tambopata National Reserve

Transfer to Lima Airport for your early flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to Peru’s southern Amazon. Meet the rainforest team and travel approximately one hour by road before boarding a motorized boat for the journey upriver.

Lunch is served during the approximately 2.5-hour boat ride. After crossing the Malinowski River, settlements disappear as you enter the protected interior of Tambopata National Reserve. Watch the riverbanks for capybaras, caimans and waterbirds, with macaws often passing overhead.

Arrive at Tambopata Research Center, a remote eco-lodge surrounded by more than 700,000 hectares of protected rainforest. Before dinner, learn about conservation work such as the Tambopata Macaw Project and the 8 Primates Project. After dark, you may join a guided night walk to search for frogs, insects and other nocturnal wildlife.

Amazon transportation and excursions are shared with other lodge guests.

Domestic flight: Lima to Puerto Maldonado, not included
Overnight: Tambopata Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Macaw Clay Lick and Canopy Tower

Begin before sunrise with a group-guided excursion to the Macaw Clay Lick, one of Tambopata’s most important wildlife-viewing sites.

From a concealed observation area, watch as parrots and macaws gather in the surrounding trees. Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws may descend to consume the mineral-rich clay alongside several smaller parrot species. Wildlife activity varies with the weather, season and natural animal behavior, making every morning different.

Later, climb the lodge’s 30-meter canopy tower for a completely different perspective of the rainforest. From above the treetops, scan the forest for toucans, macaws, monkeys and other species that can be difficult to observe from ground level.

Activities are shared with other Tambopata Research Center guests.

Overnight: Tambopata Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Bamboo Forest and the 8 Primates Project

Follow your naturalist guide into a section of rainforest dominated by native Guadua bamboo. The thinner canopy and fast-growing bamboo create a distinctive habitat for specialized birds, insects and mammals.

Your guide will point out tracks, calls and other signs of wildlife while explaining how researchers study animals in dense forest where direct sightings can be challenging.

In the afternoon, explore trails associated with the 8 Primates Project. Look and listen for squirrel monkeys, brown capuchins and spider monkeys moving through the canopy. Peccaries and other forest mammals may also be encountered along the route.

The pace is unhurried, with frequent stops to observe wildlife signs and learn about the ongoing research surrounding the lodge.

Activities are shared with other Tambopata Research Center guests.

Overnight: Tambopata Research Center
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Return to Puerto Maldonado and Fly to Cusco

Enjoy one final morning in the rainforest before beginning the journey downstream. Keep watch along the riverbanks for caimans, capybaras, monkeys and birdlife before continuing by road to Puerto Maldonado Airport.

Fly from the Amazon lowlands to Cusco, located approximately 11,150 feet above sea level. Upon arrival, meet your driver for the transfer to your hotel.

The transition in elevation is significant, so the remainder of the day is intentionally left free. Relax at the hotel, drink plenty of water and allow your body time to adjust to the Andes.

Domestic flight: Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, not included
Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 6: Pisac, the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo

Meet your private guide and descend into the Sacred Valley, where farming terraces rise above the Urubamba River and traditional communities sit beneath steep Andean slopes.

Begin around Pisac, exploring its archaeological terraces and learning how the Incas used the surrounding mountains and fertile valley floor. Depending on the day’s timing, visit the village market or stop for a traditional weaving demonstration before enjoying an included lunch.

Continue west through the valley to Ollantaytambo. Walk along narrow stone streets and water channels that preserve the town’s original Inca layout, then explore the ceremonial and agricultural terraces rising above the village.

Spend the night at El Albergue beside the railway station, positioning you for a relaxed start to Machu Picchu the following morning.

Overnight: El Albergue Ollantaytambo
Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Day 7: Private Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Walk to Ollantaytambo Station and board the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo. The railway follows the Urubamba River as the broad Sacred Valley narrows into steep, forested mountains.

Continue by shuttle bus to Machu Picchu and enter the citadel with your private guide. Explore its terraces, temples, residences and ceremonial spaces while learning how the site was constructed and how its buildings relate to the surrounding landscape.

Your visit follows the official Machu Picchu circuit secured for your departure. After the tour, return to Machu Picchu Pueblo and board the train toward Ollantaytambo. A private vehicle will meet you for the return drive to Cusco, where your main luggage will be waiting.

Overnight: Casa Andina Premium Cusco
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Fly to Lima and Depart

After breakfast, meet your private driver for the transfer to Cusco Airport. Fly to Lima and connect with your onward international departure.

The Cusco-to-Lima flight is not included. Allow a generous connection window between your domestic and international flights. Travelers with an early international departure or separately ticketed flights may prefer to add an additional night in Lima.

Domestic flight: Cusco to Lima, not included
Meals: Breakfast

Additional Trip Information

Best Time to Travel

This trip operates throughout the year. May through September generally offers the driest conditions in both Tambopata and the Andes. April and October can provide a favorable balance of weather and fewer travelers. Rain is possible in the Amazon during any season.

Reaching Tambopata Research Center

The lodge is located deep inside Tambopata National Reserve. Reaching it requires approximately one hour by road followed by a 2.5-hour motorized boat journey. Lunch is served during the boat ride, and the remote location provides access to wildlife habitat far from Puerto Maldonado.

Guiding and Wildlife

Amazon excursions are shared with other lodge guests and led by professional naturalist guides. Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu tours are private. Wildlife sightings depend on weather, season and animal behavior and cannot be guaranteed. The lodge may adjust excursion times or order based on current conditions.

Activity and Conditions

Expect early starts, warm and humid rainforest conditions, boat travel and walks on uneven or muddy trails. The Andean portion includes moderate walking, stairs and uneven stone surfaces. No strenuous trekking is required.

Altitude

The transition from the Amazon lowlands to Cusco, located approximately 11,150 feet above sea level, is significant. The evening after arriving in Cusco is left free so travelers can rest and begin adjusting to the elevation.

Machu Picchu and Luggage

Your Machu Picchu visit follows the official visitor circuit secured for your travel date. Specific viewpoints and structures depend on permit availability. Train travel permits only a small carry-on, so travelers will take an overnight bag to Ollantaytambo while their main luggage remains securely stored in Cusco.

Domestic Flights

Three domestic flights are required but not included: Lima to Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Maldonado to Cusco and Cusco to Lima. FlashpackerConnect will provide recommended flight schedules so they coordinate with the included transfers and activities.

Additional Trip Info

Seven nights of accommodation in selected hotels and at Tambopata Research Center
Daily breakfast and additional meals specified in the itinerary
Private airport and ground transfers
Transportation by road and boat to Tambopata Research Center
Shared Amazon excursions with professional naturalist guides
Private guided tours of the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Entrance fees for all included sites and activities
Round-trip train tickets to Machu Picchu Pueblo
Round-trip shuttle bus tickets to Machu Picchu
FlashpackerConnect predeparture planning and in-country support

International and domestic flights
Travel Insurance - We recommend Insuremytrip, or Global Rescue
Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
Personal expenses
Gratuities for guides, drivers and lodge staff

info@flashpackerconnect.com

+1 206-892-8877

Peru

Peru: Amazon Rainforest, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

An 8-day wildlife and cultural adventure from Tambopata to the Andes

Peru: Amazon Rainforest, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

An 8-day wildlife and cultural adventure from Tambopata to the Andes

Trip Highlights

Trip Details

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lima

Day 2: Journey into Tambopata National Reserve

Day 3: Macaw Clay Lick and Canopy Tower

Day 4: Bamboo Forest and the 8 Primates Project

Day 5: Return to Puerto Maldonado and Fly to Cusco

Day 6: Pisac, the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo

Day 7: Private Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Day 8: Fly to Lima and Depart

Additional Trip Information

Best Time to Travel

Reaching Tambopata Research Center

Guiding and Wildlife

Activity and Conditions

Altitude

Machu Picchu and Luggage

Domestic Flights

Additional Trip Info

Have Questions?

Interested in building a custom trip? We want to help you travel to places you have dreamt about.

info@flashpackerconnect.com

+1 206-892-8877

Peru

Peru: Amazon Rainforest, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

An 8-day wildlife and cultural adventure from Tambopata to the Andes

Peru: Amazon Rainforest, Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu

An 8-day wildlife and cultural adventure from Tambopata to the Andes

Trip Highlights

Trip Details

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Lima

Day 2: Journey into Tambopata National Reserve

Day 3: Macaw Clay Lick and Canopy Tower

Day 4: Bamboo Forest and the 8 Primates Project

Day 5: Return to Puerto Maldonado and Fly to Cusco

Day 6: Pisac, the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo

Day 7: Private Guided Tour of Machu Picchu

Day 8: Fly to Lima and Depart

Additional Trip Information

Best Time to Travel

Reaching Tambopata Research Center

Guiding and Wildlife

Activity and Conditions

Altitude

Machu Picchu and Luggage

Domestic Flights

Additional Trip Info

Have Questions?

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Interested in building a custom trip? We want to help you travel to places you have dreamt about.