Bienvenido! Welcome to Peru. Your adventure begins in Lima, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for a welcome meeting at 2 pm. After, head out to get to know the city on a walking tour of downtown Lima with your leader. Admire the buildings of Plaza Mayor and visit the eerie catacombs of the Saint Francis Monastery, then head away from the tourist trail to Alameda de Chabuca Granda – an area popular with the locals. Stop off at the colourful street food stalls to sample some of Lima’s favourite sweet treats, like Peruvian doughnuts and mazamorra morada (porridge made from purple corn). Lima has one of the world’s most revered culinary scenes, and tonight, you’ll head to one of the city’s best restaurants that boasts stunning views, surrounded by ancient ruins. The creative chef here offers traditional Peruvian dishes with modern twists in a one-of-a-kind environment. It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Today, you’ll catch a flight to Puerto Maldonado. When you arrive, take a bus to the port where you’ll board motorised canoes and head into the Amazon rainforest. Keep an eye out for macaws, herons, alligators and capybaras along the way. Here, you’ll find Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion – your Feature Stay for the next two nights. Built in the heart of a 380-hectare private ecological reserve, this unique resort is focused on the conservation of local habitats and features 25 private cabanas plus an on-site team of expert local guides. Enjoy lunch at the lodge, then explore the Concepcion Trails with an expert guide. As darkness begins to fall, join a guided Twilight River boat ride and try to spot some caimans lurking on the riverbanks. Dinner tonight will be a la carte and draws on local Amazon ingredients. Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. Due to today’s boat transfer to the jungle lodge, the maximum luggage weight limit for the Amazon is 10 kg. Your main luggage may be left in the lodge office in Puerto Maldonado, and you will be provided with a small duffel bag to pack for two nights (your leader will provide more details). The lodge provides walking boots, but we recommend you bring a raincoat, long-sleeve shirts and trousers in neutral colours, insect repellent and a torch. Bio toiletries (soap, shampoo and conditioner) are provided by the lodge for minimal impact to the surrounding environment.

After breakfast, board a dug-out wooden canoe and glide across Lake Sandoval, keeping an eye out for potential wildlife sightings, like red howler monkeys, giant river otters and colourful macaws. After lunch, you might like to walk along the Inkaterra Canopy Walkway – a 344 m network of suspension bridges that take you high above the forest floor to some of the best places to spot toucans, woodpeckers, monkeys and three-toed sloths. Join a night walk to discover the nocturnal activity in the surrounding areas or book into the lodge’s spa before you meet your group for dinner. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and depend on the time of year, time of day, weather and many other variables.

This morning, you’ll travel back to Puerto Maldonado, then take a flight to Cusco – the former centre of the Inca Empire. Arrive in the early afternoon before heading out with your leader to discover what the city has to offer. Stop by the stunning Plaza de Armas – the heart of the city, flanked by ornate churches. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cusco Cathedral, built on top of an Inca palace and one of the city's greatest repositories of art. Here, you’ll meet with a local historian guide who will provide expert insight into the building’s art, architecture and history and the surrounding city. Visit the Coricancha Temple – once the most important temple in the Inca Empire. The evening is free for your own discoveries. Cusco offers no shortage of restaurants and as night falls, the city is swept up in a flurry of live music and late-night street food stalls. At times, there are no non-stop flights between Puerto Maldonado and Cusco currently operating, so your flight will transfer in Lima. If you arrive late in the day, your activities for the afternoon in Cusco will be moved to the following morning.

Today is free for you to explore at your own pace. Why not head to the San Pedro market, where you can practice your bargaining skills and take photos, then swing by the Plaza de Armas for another look at the cathedral. Speak to your leader about the optional cooking class at a local restaurant using fair trade products, or take the half-day Inkilltambo trek, exploring an archaeologic site on the city’s outskirts. Maybe consider checking out the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where the massive stone blocks that form the walls provide an impressive picture of how greatly developed Inca engineering was.

This morning, travel through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo, passing maize crops and fertile terraces carved into the valley walls. Visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – this cafe provides employment opportunities and job training for single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley. Enjoy a snack and learn how this inclusive enterprise focuses on economic growth, gender equality and the support of vulnerable communities. Then venture further into the Sacred Valley to meet the Willoq community and gain a greater insight into the local lifestyle and visit a local workshop where you’ll learn about traditional textile techniques that are used by the community – you’ll even have the chance to make your own bracelet with the local women. Sit down for a festive pachamanca lunch. Continue to Ollantaytambo – a magnificent example of Inca urban planning and the perfect warm up for Machu Picchu. Explore Ollantaytambo's archaeological site with an expert local guide who will discuss the evidence of the Incas' engineering skills in the ruins of ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams, terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Today is a full day of activities and your time spent travelling will be approximately 4 hours. Due to luggage restrictions on the train to Machu Picchu you’ll be required to pack all necessary items for the next two days into a smaller bag. The remainder of your luggage will be stored securely in your Cusco hotel.

Today, travel from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes in style, boarding the 360 Machu Picchu Train. High, domed windows offer unbelievable views of the Andes, allowing you to sit back comfortably and take it all in. The train also features an open-air observation carriage to completely immerse yourself in the remarkable landscape. Disembark the train in Aguas Calientes, drop your belongings at your hotel, then take a short bus ride up the winding road to Machu Picchu, where you’ll be joined by a guide who will take you through the ruins and tell you stories of its history. The true purpose behind Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, may always be a mystery since no records of the complex exist. Most archaeologists, however, believe it to be the 15th-century headquarters of Emperor Pachacuti. Later, take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes. Your travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours. The 1-day Inca Trail hike (11 km) is a great option for those wanting to experience trekking in Peru, without committing to the full four days. This trek starts from the train station known as 'KM 104' and after a steep ascent it follows the last portion of the Classic Inca Trail. Trekkers enter Machu Picchu at the Sun Gate in the afternoon, where there will be some time to take a few photos before taking a short bus ride down to Aguas Calientes to spend the night and rejoin the rest of the group. The following day, trekkers will return to Machu Picchu for a guided tour, while the rest of the group has an unguided visit. This trek is subject to permit availability and must be pre-booked (at a surcharge). Please contact your booking agent if you would like to book this activity.

Rise before the sun and take the winding road back up to the incredible Machu Picchu. On your second visit, explore more of the extraordinary architecture of the temples, palaces and living quarters. Looking at Machu Picchu as it sits against a backdrop of forested mountains is a truly breathtaking experience. Its mortar-free design is particularly earthquake resistant, and the stones are so precisely cut that, to this day, not even a knife fits between them! Take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, then catch a train back to Ollantaytambo. From here, you’ll make the drive back to Cusco for the evening. Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours.

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to extend your stay in Cusco, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.