Signature: Peru from Machu Picchu to the Amazon Jungle

Welcome to Peru. Your expedition begins in Lima, where the desert crashes into the Pacific. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel in Miraflores, a district perched on cliffs above the ocean. The air here carries the scent of salt and the hum of the city. If you arrive early, stroll the promenade of the malecón to watch the sunset turn the cliffs gold, browse the shopping complex overlooking the sea, or sample fresh ceviche at a local restaurant before settling in for the night.

Meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and Expedition Expert for a welcome briefing before visiting the Museo Larco. Here, you will be led by a museum curator on a private tour of an impressive collection of pre-Colombian ceramics and art. Spanning 5,000 years of history in a beautiful 18th-century mansion, this visit offers a fascinating gateway into ancient Peru and its diverse cultures. After lunch, enjoy a scenic drive past a pre-Columbian adobe pyramid and along the cliffside to Love Park. In Bohemian Barranco, cross the Bridge of Sighs to the private home of the artist Víctor Delfín, for an intimate tour of his gallery and workshop. Cap the day at a culinary studio, where the scent of lime and chili fills the air as you learn to craft causa and pisco sours before a Peruvian feast.

Fly over the Andes to Cusco and head to the historic centre for a family-style lunch. Drive through the countryside towards the Sacred Valley and visit the Ccaccaccollo weaving cooperative. Here, meet a National Geographic Explorer and the indigenous women of the community who use traditional techniques to create their textiles. Watch as they hand-shear alpaca wool and dye it with native plants, transforming raw fiber into vibrant geometric patterns on backstrap looms. This intimate encounter connects you to the living culture of the Andes. Descend into the valley to your riverside lodge, settling in as the mountains turn purple in the twilight.

Travel to the Cuyo Chico community and join local hosts in baking empanadas, smelling the woodsmoke from traditional outdoor ovens. Continue to the archaeological site of Pisaq, where massive Inca terraces carve patterns into the hillsides. Next, enjoy lunch at a family-run hacienda, hearing from the owners about the vital role of corn in Andean agriculture. Finish the day at the studio of ceramicist Pablo Seminario in Urubamba. Tour the workshop to see how pre-Columbian motifs inspire modern art, and meet the artists keeping this tradition alive before returning to the lodge.

Tour the impressive archaeological site of Ollantaytambo then walk the stone streets of town, one of the last Inca settlements still laid out in its original form. After lunch, board a scenic train that winds along the Urubamba River. Watch the landscape shift from dry, rocky peaks to the lush, green canopy of the cloud forest as you approach Aguas Calientes. Settle into your lodge, where your Expedition Leader may offer an optional nature walk to spot orchids and hummingbirds. In the evening, gather for an expert talk on the history and conservation of Machu Picchu, preparing for tomorrow’s ascent.

Rise early to catch the bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu. Enter the Lost City of the Incas as the morning mist lifts, revealing the emerald terraces and stone temples against the dramatic backdrop of Huayna Picchu and the surrounding peaks. Explore the marvels of this UNESCO World Heritage site with your guide, learning about its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham on a National Geographic-supported expedition. Return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before boarding the train back to the Sacred Valley, reflecting on the day as the river rushes by.

Ascend to the Maras salt pans, a dazzling patchwork of white pools carved into the mountainside. Continue to the agricultural terraces of Moray, deep circular depressions thought to be used by the Incas to experiment with crops. After a traditional lunch, drive to Cusco. Join your Expedition Leader for an orientation walk through the historic cobblestone streets built on Inca foundations. In the evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, highlighting Peru’s agricultural heritage with a tasting featuring some of the region's 4,000 native potato varieties.

Explore Cusco’s layers of history, visiting the Cathedral, the sun temple of Koricancha, and the massive stone walls of Sacsaywaman that loom over the city. Pause for a gourmet picnic lunch at an exclusive tented campsite near the Temple of the Moon, soaking in views of the red-tiled roofs below. Spend the afternoon at leisure before an evening visit to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Conclude your expedition with a private cocktail reception in the museum’s courtyard followed by a farewell dinner, celebrating the flavors and stories of Peru.

Leave the high Andes behind and fly to the Amazon basin, landing in the heat of Puerto Maldonado. Board a motorized canoe for a journey along the Tambopata River, watching the vegetation thicken into an impenetrable wall of green as you approach your lodge. In the afternoon, walk through the rainforest to ascend the 40-metre (131 ft) canopy tower. From this vantage point above the treetops, scan the horizon for the vibrant flash of toucans and macaws, or the silhouette of a rare harpy eagle soaring on thermals. After a delicious dinner, join researchers for a night lecture, then venture to a light trap in the forest to observe diverse insects — highlighting the incredible biodiversity of the Tambopata Reserve.

Rise in the pre-dawn darkness to witness the jungle at its most active. Travel to a clay lick to watch a dazzling spectacle as scarlet, blue-and-gold, and green-winged macaws — along with smaller parrots — descend to consume the mineral-rich earth. In the afternoon, step into the role of a citizen scientist with the AmazonCam program. Assist researchers in setting up camera traps designed to monitor elusive wildlife like tapirs and jaguars. Later, connect with local traditions at a local farm, tasting exotic fruits and learning how indigenous communities cultivate from the forest. Conclude the day with dinner and a lecture on the data you helped collect, deepening your understanding of rainforest conservation.

Stand in awe beneath the towering canopy of a brazil nut forest, gazing up at the ancient giants of the Amazon. Visit a seasonal harvesting camp to learn how local families collect and process these sustainably sourced nuts, a vital economic lifeline for the region. In the afternoon, choose your path of discovery: join the Aerobotany experience to fly drones over the canopy and Oxbow Lake for a bird’s-eye view of forest ecology, or continue with AmazonCam and explore a medicinal plant trail to uncover traditional remedies. As night falls, gather for a farewell dinner and a final lecture on rainforest research, celebrating the sights and sounds of your time in the wild.

Board a motorized canoe for the return journey to Puerto Maldonado, listening to the call of the jungle one last time as the river carries you back to civilization. Fly to Lima, trading the humidity of the rainforest for the coastal breeze. For those with late international departures, a day-use room is available to relax and refresh as you prepare for your onward travels.