Compare Amazon River Cruises by International Expeditions vs Peru in 12 days - Sacred Inca & Ultimate Amazon Adventure - Charm by Exoticca

Day 1: Arrive Lima

Fly independently to Lima, Peru, the nation’s capital and largest city, and transfer to the Swissôtel for the night. (D Aloft)

Day 2: Lima / Iquitos / Embark Amazon Riverboat / Amazon River

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tour historic Lima, visiting Casa Aliaga, a private home dating back to the Conquistadors. See the Cathedral, where Francisco Pizarro is entombed, and Plaza de Armas. Before lunch, tour the monastery and vast catacombs of the Iglesia de San Francisco. Fly over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos. Board our riverboat, home for the next seven days of our Amazon cruise. During a nightly briefing, we’ll review the following day’s Amazon Voyage expedition itinerary and meet the crew. Tonight, we journey slowly toward the confluence marking the beginning of the Amazon River, stargazing and storytelling with our local guides.

Day 3: Confluence of the Amazon River / Río Ucayali

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We awake this morning on the Amazon River, seeing some of the ever-changing panorama of jungle life as our Amazon River cruise ship continues upriver. Small villages dot the shoreline, and channels weaving through island mazes provide close-up views of a variety of birds. The confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers is famous as the beginning of the Amazon River in Peru. Amazingly, we are about 2,400 miles from where the river flows into the Atlantic. The river drops only about 350 feet the entire way! On our Amazon Voyage adventure, travel waterways aboard sturdy excursion boats to areas where we may find marsh birds such as oriole blackbirds, green ibis, yellow-headed caracaras, black-capped donacobis and white-headed marsh-tyrant. We turn into the Río Ucayali, where we’re apt to find gray river dolphins and Amazon pink dolphins cavorting near the boat and along the shoreline. Later we take an excursion into the surrounding rainforest in search of giant water lilies and elusive wildlife such as monkeys and sloths. As dusk approaches, fishing bats begin their night’s foraging.

Day 4: Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a peaceful breakfast along the black-water Sapote Creek, we explore a small tributary of the Ucayali aboard our excursion boats. Look for animals including primates, sloths and an enormous variety of birds. Our Amazon Voyage adventure continues upriver to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Although scientific studies are far from exhausted, the Pacaya-Samiria is the known home to 450 bird species, 102 species of mammals, over 130 species of reptiles and amphibians, and countless plants. This afternoon, an excursion into this largest wetland reserve in the world provides the opportunity to see 13 species of primates, including monk sakis, red howler, saddle-backed tamarin and squirrel monkeys. Explore Caro Lake, connected to the river by way of a very small stream, where we may find flocks of greater ani, often seen following monkeys in search of insects disturbed by the monkeys’ foraging. We enjoy a nighttime boat excursion for a chance to find caimans, capybaras, common potoos, frogs and other nocturnal wildlife.

Day 5: Rio Pacaya / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the day exploring this flooded realm, seeing wading birds such as herons, wattled jacanas and horned screamers. Venturing deep into the rainforest, tour an igapo (seasonally flooded forest), where plant life is very different from what we see along the main course of our Amazon cruise, and walk through the forest. Lucky guests may release turtle hatchlings. A delicious lunch energizes us for afternoon excursions with our expert naturalists, where we may find scarlet macaws, hoatzins, black-collared hawks and red howler monkeys.

Day 6: Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we board our excursion boats for access even further into the heart of these vast wetlands. As our Amazon Voyage adventure cruises the narrow waterways, we’ll find birds such as canary-winged parakeets and spectacular blue-and-gold and scarlet macaws. Primates also are fairly common, including noisy squirrel monkeys. Once we arrive at a remote ranger station, enjoy a refreshing swim. Gradually make our way back to our riverboat through the maze of waterways. Enjoy an al fresco lunch and time to relax before our afternoon excursion.

Day 7: Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we head back downriver, with a morning wildlife or other activity. Visit a village along the river, with the chance to learn about the lives of the “Ribereño” people who live there. Accompanied by guides who grew up along the river, this is a fantastic opportunity to stroll through gardens learning about medicinal plants and folklore, visit a school, or join in a game of soccer. The children are especially excited to see their faces on digital cameras and to show off their school and sing Peruvian songs. Depending on the villages visited during your Amazon River tour, you may also have the opportunity to see an IE-funded water treatment plant. The clean drinking water provided by these plants is having an enormous positive health impact in remote river villages. Learn about medicinal plants and enjoy a blessing ceremony by a respected village shaman. Aboard the ship, take advantage of the open-air top deck, learning to make traditional Peruvian dishes or enjoying an enriching lecture. After dark we’ll go out in our excursion boats to listen to the sounds of the rainforest and look for nocturnal wildlife.

Day 8: Amazon River

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Wake up early for a morning birdwatching excursion along the Yarapa River. After breakfast, try your hand at piranha fishing in Ubos Lake.  Piranha are very common in the slower-moving water. With luck, we may catch red-breasted, white or black piranha, and feast on our catch this evening at dinner. Once back aboard our Amazon River cruise ship, we enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 9: Iquitos / Lima / Depart

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning we disembark in Iquitos.

Dayrooms are provided until you connect with flights home, which depart after midnight.

Day 10: Arrive Home

We arrive Sunday and connect with flights home. (Meals Aloft)

Day 1: US - Lima

Arrive at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight* to 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. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Lima

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, enjoy an informative and interesting half-day city tour of Lima, including its historic centre and the beautiful 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. Stop in the Parque del Amor, from where you can take beautiful photos of the Peruvian coastline. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 3: 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. Along 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 4: Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Sacred Valley

Breakfast at the hotel. An exciting day at Machu Picchu awaits you this morning as you set off for Ollantaytambo train station to board the Voyager Train to Aguas Calientes, admiring the landscape along the way. Arrive and transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu*, a bucket-list favourite and one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Spend some time discovering the ruins and terraces and enjoying a tour of the different sections of the site. After capturing the beauty of these ancient ruins, return to Aguas Calientes train station to catch the evening train back to the Sacred Valley. Arrive and overnight stay in Sacred Valley. Note: The baggage policy onboard 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 5: 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 6: Cuzco

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in Cuzco, exploring the lively plazas of the historic city or perhaps visiting some of the numerous museums and cultural institutions.* Overnight stay in Cuzco * Optional Half-Day Cuzco City Tour: Begin your tour in the 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.

Day 7: Cuzco - Iquitos

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Iquitos, a port city and gateway to the Northern Amazon. Transfer to the hotel and get settled. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing before your Amazon adventure begins in the morning! Overnight stay in Iquitos.

Day 8: Iquitos - Amazon

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, set off into the Amazon, headed for the lodge, your base for further Amazon exploration over the next four days. Along the way, you will be able to observe the wonderful landscapes of the Peruvian jungle accompanied by the small houses located on the banks of the rivers. After 30 minutes of boat ride we will arrive to Irapay, where our staff will welcome you and receive you with a refreshing fruit juice from the region. At the appropriate time we will check-in and location in your respective cabin. We will enjoy our first Amazonian lunch at Maloca Restaurant with a wonderful view of the Momom River. Pilpintuwasi is also an animal rescue center, one of the most striking animals being a beautiful Jaguar. On our return to the lodge we will have time to appreciate our first Amazonian sunset. Delicious dinner at Maloca Restaurant. Overnight stay in the Amazon. Please note: The activities and restaurant options offered in the Amazon vary depending on the lodge. Whilst the overall experience will be very similar to what is detailed in the itinerary, there may be some variation in terms of activities and the order in which they take place. *Please consider this relevant information about your stay which can be found below in the important notes section.

Day 9: Amazon

Rise before the sun this morning to seize the day and catch the first rays of light on the Amazon. Set off on a guided bird watching excursion , appreciating how diverse birds gather in search of their morning foods, this excursion will begin very early, transferring us by boat along the Momom River. You can see various species such as Oropendolas, Paucares, Hawks, taangers as well as the Tuki (Jacana Jacana), Ringed Kingfisher (Ceryle-Torquata), Black-Collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis), among others. Then we will return to Irapay to enjoy an energizing breakfast, after breakfast we take a break to enjoy Irapay facilities. Lunch in Maloca overlooking the Momom River. At nightfall, especially in the growing season of the rivers, we will enjoy a magical tour in an open boat through the Momom River, without any lighting, accompanied only by some glimpses of the flora and fauna of the jungle. If we find a clear sky, we can appreciate the splendid brightness of the moon, as well as the stars and constellations. Dinner at maloca Restaurant. Overnight stay in the Amazon. Please note: The activities and restaurant options offered in the Amazon vary depending on the lodge. Whilst the overall experience will be very similar to what is detailed in the itinerary, there may be some variation in terms of activities and the order in which they take place. *Please consider this relevant information about your stay which can be found below in the important notes section.

Day 10: Amazon

Breakfast at the village this morning before enjoying our first botanical walk through the jungle where we will observe medicinal plants, giant trees, the Irapay palm, and we will enjoy lianas to hang ourselves. We will return to the lodge to enjoy our lunch. In the afternoon, we will visit a native community, where they will show us their customs and native language; we will also share their dances and songs, at the end of the tour we will be able to observe the crafts they make. Free time to rest in our facilities and enjoy our last Amazonian sunset. Dinner at Maloca Restaurant. Overnight stay in the Amazon. Please note: The activities and restaurant options offered in the Amazon vary depending on the lodge. Whilst the overall experience will be very similar to what is detailed in the itinerary, there may be some variation in terms of activities and the order in which they take place. *Please consider this relevant information about your stay which can be found below in the important notes section.

Day 11: Amazon - Iquitos - Lima

Breakfast at the lodge. Today, enjoy a wonderful tour of the Amazon River, where we will observe the convergence of the waters of the Amazon and Nanay Rivers. We will make a brief stop in the seventh natural wonder for the observation of pink dolphins, if we are lucky and patience we can observe them. Transfer to the airport for a flight back to Lima. Overnight stay in Lima. Please note: The activities and restaurant options offered in the Amazon vary depending on the lodge. Whilst the overall experience will be very similar to what is detailed in the itinerary, there may be some variation in terms of activities and the order in which they take place.

Day 12: Lima - Night on board

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

Day 13: US

Arrive in the US and end your trip.