Peru: Machu Picchu and Amazon Cruise

The capital of Peru and world-renowned culinary epicenter, Lima is a delightful mix of indigenous and colonial history, natural beauty and a Pacific-Coast vibe that’s laid back by day and electric by night.

Walk Lima’s colorful streets on a graffiti art tour, stopping for coffee and a scrumptious chocolate tasting. Then dive into a cocktail class and a Peruvian music demonstration featuring guitar and cajón, a box-like percussive instrument.

The former capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco is often considered the most beautiful city in Peru, with its Inca temples, churches, museums and picturesque colonial palaces. Head out to your resort in the Sacred Valley, stopping at a town en route to experience the everyday life of locals.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas carves through the green peaks of the Peruvian Andes near Cusco. Deemed a spiritual epicenter by the Inca people, the valley has a kinship with the nearby ancient citadel of Machu Picchu as well as remote Quechua-speaking communities whose traditional way of life endures. Begin with a refreshing light trek — escorted by llamas — on a trail that overlooks a lake, and then proceed to a village, where a project is supported by A&K Philanthropy, to meet with members of the community.

Explore Ollantaytambo, a fortress of massive stone terraces that hug the mountain slopes before boarding a train to Machu Picchu, the Incas’ mighty mountain citadel. The journey can unfold as you prefer: by rail all the way, getting in your first visit to the ruins this afternoon or, alternatively, by disembarking en route at KM 104 to hike the Inca Trail (for an additional cost) to the Sun Gate overlooking the ruins.

Rise with the sun to walk through Machu Picchu in the early morning mist, an experience some consider a spiritual highlight. Built in the 15th century at the height of the Inca Empire, the site was revealed to the rest of the world by American Hiram Bingham in 1911, although its location was long known to locals. Return to Ollantaytambo by train, and proceed to Cusco.

Admire city highlights such as the remnants of Korikancha, once a major Incan religious center; the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas; and the Santo Domingo Temple. Listen as a local expert explains how clashes between the Incas and the Spanish helped form today’s Peruvian culture. Visit the Sulca workshop to learn about ancestral weaving techniques before exploring Sacsayhuamán, an imposing Inca fortress compiled from colossal stones. Dine at a Cusco restaurant, where recipes honor Peru’s culinary traditions.

Walk the San Blas neighborhood, a unique, bohemian enclave where you find the workshops of artisans. Visit Sapantiana, a historic hydraulic structure with four levels of arched architecture. Then fly to Lima and settle into your hotel. The remainder of your day is free to relax or explore on your own.

The Amazon Basin is one of the greatest remaining wildernesses on earth, and the best way to explore it is aboard our boutique riverboat, Pure Amazon. Starting at remote Nauta on the banks of the Marañón River, embark on a four-night river adventure in state-of-the-art comfort, with a staff-to-guest ratio of better than 1:1, ensuring exceptional, personalized service. Relax in the Explorer’s Lounge as you are briefed about the next day’s activities and, time and energy levels permitting, dine in the restaurant on innovative dishes prepared by talented onboard chefs. Overnight, the boat cruises to Lake Clavero.

Start your day early, if you wish, with sunrise birdwatching by skiff on Lake Clavero — a tranquil lake of dizzying biodiversity. Visit a lakeside village where traditional Amazonian life and culture still prevail. Talk to members of the community about subsistence farming and watch as ribereños (river people) navigate the lake in dugout canoes. Go for a paddle yourself in a modern-day double kayak or cool down with a refreshing swim. Dinner tonight is a true gourmet feast.

Whether watching for scarlet macaws, pink river dolphins or 10-foot-diameter giant waterlilies, it’s another day in paradise. Explore by skiff or fish for piranhas (releasing any you catch) on the Yarapa River. Embark on a night safari, spotting caimans, bats and night herons. Tonight, cruise north, in part along the Amazon River itself.

Explore by skiff along the Yanayacu Yacapana River, where fascinating flora help support local wildlife. On the Tahuayo River, watch for birds and primates in the biodiverse Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area before an expert-led jungle walk.

Disembark Pure Amazon in Nauta and head to Iquitos, where you’ll visit a local food market before flying to Lima. From Iquitos, fly to Lima, where you enjoy the use of a dayroom before a short walk to the airport to depart.