Overview
Independent Peru Highlights with Peru’s Amazon
If your independent spirit is filling your dreams with new heights in adventure, just point your compass south to soar higher in the Andes and the heart of Peru. This Globus Independent tour in South America takes you to the legendary sites in Lima, Cusco, and magnificent Machu Picchu – the “Lost City of the Incas.” Board a train to ascend to this treasured site, with the opportunity to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Explore a wealth of ancient ruins throughout the Sacred Valley and Cusco that defy explanation and encounter the captivating cultures that live on in the Sacred Valley. Timeless temples, textiles, and tantalizing dishes are all on the menu on this free-spirited sojourn in Peru. Treat yourself to a tour that is exclusively yours with free time, me time, and optional adventures that speak to your independent spirit!Your South American adventure continues with a thrilling expedition in the Peruvian Amazon. From Puerto Maldonado, embark on a motorboat ride for a journey up the Tambopata River to your Amazon Jungle lodge. You’ll be in good hands in the company of an expert naturalist guide while discovering the dazzling array of flora and fauna in the Amazon. A technicolor dream come true!
Highlights of Independent Peru Highlights with Peru’s Amazon
Notes
This is an Independent tour with private and shared transportation as noted in the day-by-day itinerary. Local Guide service is provided in Lima, Cusco & Machu Picchu. A naturalist is also provided in the Amazon. Intra-vacation flights are not included but can be added. Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 12,200 ft. For the Amazon adventure, guests should be prepared for eco-lodging due to their remote nature in the rainforest. The itinerary in the Amazon is subject to favorable weather conditions and water levels. When conditions are unfavorable, alternative accommodations and excursions will be provided. Further, guests should be prepared for sustained walking, possibly muddy conditions, and be able to get into/out of small watercraft such as canoes and small fishing boats.
City Highlights
Related Tours
Travelers Notes
Special features included in this tour:
- Guided sightseeing in Lima, including the Cathedral and Santo Domingo Convent
- Private sightseeing in Cusco including Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery
- Visit Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, and Puca Pucara Incan ruins
- Visit to Sacred Valley, including the market in Pisaq and Ollantaytambo Incan ruins
- Scenic roundtrip train ride through the Andes to Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu with second-day entrance included
- 3-night Amazon eco-lodge experience with activities
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu
Product Group
Independent Peru Highlights
Independent Tour
Venture further to enjoy the world your way without the group. The experts at Globus put Peace of Mind first in travel planning. We take care of the details with included hotel accommodations, daily breakfasts and select meals, guided sightseeing, and transportation between cities. Explore confidently, knowing your Globus Local Hosts and GlobusGO mobile app provide you with tips and recommendations to personalize your tour and see the world your way.
Meals
Buffet breakfast daily; 5 lunches; 4 three-course dinners
Itineraries
Day 1
ARRIVE LIMA, PERU Welcome to Lima, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.
Day 2
LIMAYour included city tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. Lima was the bastion of Spanish South America from its founding in 1535 until the independence of the South American republics in the early 19th century. See the cathedral, where the remains of Francisco Pizarro are sealed in a wooden coffin, and the Santo Domingo Convent, to see the relics of three famous Peruvian saints—Santa Rosa de Lima, San Martin de Porres, and San Juan Macias. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. (B) INSIDER PICKS This evening, you may choose to head over to a nearby park to witness the largest electronic water fountain complex in the world, certified by the Guinness Book of Records. You will enjoy a wonderful show of water, lights, music, and images.
Day 3
LIMA–CUSCO Transfer to the Lima airport and fly to Cusco, high in the Andes, where you will be met by your Local Guide. Your private guided tour visits the cathedral in Plaza de Armas and Santo Domingo Monastery, one of the most important temples devoted to worship of the sun. It is said it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Take a short drive outside the city to the ruins of Sacsayhuaman, a fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons. This is followed by the amphitheater of Kenko and the red fortress of Puca Pucara. (B)
Day 4
CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY Today, enjoy a short drive into the Urubamba Valley, the legendary Sacred Valley of the Incas, for the lively market town of Pisaq, where you can browse colorful stalls offering handmade rugs, cozy alpaca sweaters, and locally crafted jewelry. At the far end of the valley, explore Ollantaytambo, renowned for its remarkably preserved Inca ruins and some of the finest stone masonry of the ancient empire. (B,L)
Day 5
SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU Journey by train through the heart of the Sacred Valley en route to Machu Picchu, the legendary “Lost City of the Incas,” brought to global attention by American explorer, Hiram Bingham, in 1911. Enjoy a guided tour of this remarkably preserved citadel, where you’ll explore ancient temples, sacred dwellings, and an impressive mile‑long aqueduct system. (B,L,D)
Day 6
MACHU PICCHU–SACRED VALLEY–CUSCO A morning at leisure allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. Return to Cusco by train for a free evening to explore this historic city on your own. (B)
Day 7
CUSCO–PUERTO MALDONADO Transfer to the airport for your flight to Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios and the gateway to Peru’s Amazon Jungle, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by a Globus representative. Continue by motorboat along the Madre de Dios River, keeping an eye out for exotic wildlife along the riverbanks. Upon arrival at your Amazon Jungle lodge, meet your naturalist and settle in before heading out on a guided nature walk through the rainforest, learning about both primary and secondary jungle ecosystems. As dusk falls, enjoy a peaceful canoe ride, discovering the wonders of the Amazon River environment, the behavior of nocturnal animals, and the brilliance of the southern constellations overhead. (B,L,D)Please note: The itinerary in the Amazon is subject to favorable weather conditions and water levels. When conditions are unfavorable, alternative accommodations and excursions will be provided.
Day 8
PERU'S AMAZONBegin your day with a naturalist-guided walk into the Tambopata National Reserve, followed by a peaceful journey by dugout canoe across Lake Sandoval, a stunning oxbow lake teeming with life. Learn about the reserve’s conservation efforts while watching for remarkable wildlife, including endangered giant river otters, blue-and-yellow macaws, red howler monkeys, and black caimans. This afternoon, experience the rainforest from a thrilling new vantage point on a canopy walkway soaring 100 feet above the forest floor, where you may spot white-throated toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, squirrel monkeys, and even the elusive three-toed sloth. After nightfall, venture out once more as your naturalist introduces you to the fascinating nocturnal creatures of the Amazon. (B,L,D)
Day 9
PERU'S AMAZON Discover the rich traditions and natural wonders of the Amazon with a visit to a botanical garden, where you’ll learn about the region’s medicinal plants and their traditional uses by local communities. Continue to the Brazil Nut Cabin to explore the history, socioeconomic importance, and everyday uses of this iconic Amazonian resource. Later, relax on a paddle boat ride in a dugout canoe as you glide across an oxbow-shaped lagoon, or cocha, taking in the clay-colored waters and lush scenery while spotting hoatzins, flycatchers, and gray-necked woodrails—perhaps accompanied by the distant calls of red howler monkeys. Along the way, admire the partially submerged remains of the historic steamboat Contamana from the film, Fitzcarraldo, and uncover its fascinating story. This afternoon, visit a clay lick, observing wildlife discreetly from a blind as animals go about their natural routines without disturbance. (B,L,D)
Day 10
PUERTO MALDONADO–LIMA Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Lima and transfer to your hotel upon arrival. (B)
Day 11
LIMA Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
Departures
Hotels
| # | Name | Description | City | Address | Rating |
| 1 | Hotel Pullman Miraflores | The Pullman Miraflores hotel combins lifestyle and design for business and leisure. Located in the exclusive Miraflores district, near the Pacific Ocean, this hotel is not far from Larcomar shopping center. With over 236 rooms, Plural lounge restaurant, gym, pool and a spectacular Rooftop Bar the Pullman Miraflores offers an amazing place to stay and relax. | Lima | C. Juan Fanning 515 - 525 | Superior First-Class |
| 2 | Novotel Cusco | Novotel Cusco, located in the historic city center of Cusco, is in the perfect spot for discovering the Inca civilization. The hotel is in a 16th century building, and is an ideal starting point for visiting the cathedral and other hotspots of Cusco. Guests can enjoy international and local cuisine in La Cave Restaurant, or on the heated patio covered with a spectacular glass ceiling. The bar serves a wide variety of drinks and snacks, and you'll enjoy modern en suite furnishings with simple lines and restful amenities. | Cusco | San Augustin 239 - Esquina | |
| 3 | Sonesta Posadas del Inca - Sacred Valley - Yucay | Bursting with character, the Sonesta Posadas del Inca hotel is the leader in boutique hotels in the Sacred Valley. Featuring a rustic ambiance with modern comforts, dynamite local cuisine, and friendly service, it makes for a memorable stay in one of the most remarkable places in the world. The colonial-style former monastery is surrounded by views of the Andes and beautiful gardens - a leisurely and soothing escape. | Sacred Valley | Plaza Manco 11 De Yucay 123 | First-Class |
| 4 | Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel | The Sumaq Hotel is located at the foot of the Machu Picchu ruins and boasts an Andean health spa, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and business center. | Machu Picchu | Av Hermanos Ayar Mz 1 Lote 3 | Moderate Deluxe |
| 5 | Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion | The lodge sits deep within the heart of Peru's Amazon, located between the Tambopata National Reserve and the shores of the Madre de Dios River. The grounds of the lodge cover 819 hectares of mostly primary rainforest, with a natural oxbow lake making it home to diverse ecosystems, tropical plants, and wildlife. The design combines classic rainforest hacienda furniture with modern more casual features to create a comfortable, fresh but stylish environment. Guests will live an Amazonian experience surrounded by an array of wildlife and native flora. | Puerto Maldonado | Tambopata National Park | Best Available |
