Journey Into Peru's Amazon & Andes

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Nat Hab guests viewing egrets from a skiff, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru • Photo by Nat Hab guest JJ Huckin

DISCOVER PERU'S

NATURAL & ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS

Dear Nature Traveler,

Among iconic travel destinations, Peru stands apart, with both nature and culture vying for center stage.

Filled with superlatives, Peru contains some of the greatest biodiversity on the planet, held within the vast Amazon rainforest, as well as some of humanity’s most impressive archaeological achievements, exemplified in Machu Picchu, the mysterious Lost City of the Incas.

From the Amazon to the Andes, discover Peru’s contrasting ecosystems, intriguing wildlife and ancient ruins on our intimate adventures that immerse you in the wonders of this wildly diverse country.

● Embark on our Great Amazon River Expedition aboard a luxury riverboat, cruise remote tributaries to the mighty river’s headwaters and search for wildlife in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the world’s greatest rainforest.

● Explore Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley on an expertly guided immersion in the natural and cultural history of the region. From colonial Cusco to grand Inca monuments and striking mountain scenery, you’ll see and learn more on this personalized foray.

● Combine the two on our all-encompassing Discover Amazon & Machu Picchu adventure: Explore the Amazon headwaters by ship, skiff and on foot, and delve into the fascinating remnants of the Inca Empire’s greatest marvel.

Space on our small-group adventures is limited, so call 800-543-8917, visit nathab.com/peru24, or contact your travel advisor today.

I hope to see you out there,

Ben Bressler

Explorer, Founder, Conservationist • Natural Habitat Adventures

P.S. All trips that include Machu Picchu now feature a rarely visited hummingbird sanctuary in the Sacred Valley, with more than 124 different hummingbird species!

THE GREAT AMAZON RIVER EXPEDITION

Encounter rainforest wildlife from monkeys to macaws as our luxurious riverboat follows more than 400 miles of the Peruvian Amazon and its main tributaries to explore the river's remote headwaters.

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3 EXCLUSIVE ITINERARIES WITH

NAT HAB & WWF

Peru abounds in natural and cultural treasures, and our immersive itineraries offer an intimate perspective, meticulously designed for small groups of curious travelers. Travel to the Amazon headwaters and discover the intricate world beneath the rainforest canopy, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. Scout for wildlife from a dugout canoe in the watery wilderness of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Ponder myth and mystery among the ruins of Machu Picchu, and explore Cusco, the once gold-laden capital of the Inca empire.

PERU
Lima Cusco
Iquitos Sacred Valley
Machu Picchu Nauta
Pacaya Samiria

DISCOVER AMAZON & MACHU PICCHU

A spectacular combination of nature, history and culture awaits on this jungle adventure to the famed Lost City of the Incas and the heart of the Amazon rainforest, teeming with wildlife.

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MACHU PICCHU & THE SACRED VALLEY

Unveil centuries of fascinating history as we travel to the storied ruins of Machu Picchu for an in-depth encounter with this remarkable archaeological phenomenon—plus the Inca heritage of the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River.

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EXPLORE WITH PERU'S MOST EXPERIENCED NATURALIST GUIDES

Our award-winning guides provide unparalleled insight into Peru’s natural and cultural history. Their expertise reveals hidden wildlife and natural phenomena you’d miss on a more casual tour, and their local connections ensure a richer encounter with the Indigenous people you’ll meet along the way. In the Amazon, our Expedition Leaders, supported by outstanding local guides, excel in wildlife spotting and interpretation, helping you find and learn about creatures in the dense rainforest you’d surely miss otherwise. In the Andes, our Nat Hab Expedition Leader accompanies you throughout Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, providing enlightening commentary on the highly advanced Inca culture, plus personalized attention you won’t get with a typical “step-on” guide or left wandering on your own.

© B Collier
© B Bressler
Peru Expedition Leader Renzo Zeppilli interprets the rainforest on a morning exploration aboard a Delfin II skiff • Photo by Nat Hab guest Alex Estrada

SMALL GROUPS

FOR INTIMATE ENCOUNTERS WITH NATURE & CULTURE

Our Peru adventures offer the best guide-to-guest ratios you’ll find. In the Amazon, we host just 28 guests aboard our chartered luxury riverboats. With a dedicated team of Nat Hab Expedition Leaders and expert local guides, you’ll get personalized, in-depth insights into the wonders of the Amazon rainforest as we divide into smaller groups for close-up exploring by skiff and on foot. In Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley, just 12–14 guests are led by a highly experienced Nat Hab Expedition Leader with interpretive support from a trusted local guide. This experience stands in stark contrast to larger bus tours that visit Machu Picchu or ships that carry 100 or more passengers along the lower stretches of the Amazon. Our intimate group size allows ample time for conversation with your guides and opportunities to observe wildlife in silence and seclusion. You’ll also enjoy close interactions with people in mountain communities and ribereños who live in riverside villages—experiences you won’t get in a larger tour group.

Nat Hab guests explore the Peruvian rainforest

DISTINCTIVE LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS

ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE

From a grand colonial-style hotel in Cusco (ranked as one of the top hotels in South America) to an award-winning lodge in the Sacred Valley set among lavish gardens, as well as our refined Amazon riverboats, our accommodations are anything but standard. Each property is carefully selected to enhance your authentic experience of Peru. Near Machu Picchu, we stay at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, a luxury lodge secluded in a lush cloud forest and surrounded by 12 acres of flower gardens containing more than 300 orchid species. In the Sacred Valley, we hand-pick our accommodations for atmosphere and privacy, ensuring they are away from crowds while offering stunning views of the Andes. In the Amazon, our three privately chartered ships— Delfin II, Delfin III and Zafiro —allow you to explore the mighty river and rainforest in sustainable comfort.

Guests bask in solitude, surrounded by 100 acres of open countryside dominated by the imposing green peaks of the Andes at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba • Photo by Nat Hab guest George Penokie

EXPLORE THE AMAZON ABOARD OUR LUXURY RIVERBOATS

On our Great Amazon River Expedition and Discover Amazon & Machu Picchu Adventure, we cruise the waters of the Amazon Basin and the 5-million-acre Pacaya Samiria National Reserve—a vast protected realm of exceptional biodiversity—aboard one of three privately chartered ships: Delfin II, Delfin III and Zafiro. Ensuring your comfort in the remote and steamy reaches of the Amazon is important, and that’s why we stay aboard some of the newest and finest vessels on the river. All three riverboats feature air conditioning and generous en suite cabins with panoramic windows for surveying the passing rainforest and wildlife. Custom-designed for navigating the Amazon and its tributaries, these ships are built in a classic style distinctive to this region and are beautifully finished with contemporary amenities.

© R Rodrich
Explore the Peruvian Amazon from the comfort of the 169-foot-long Delfin III luxury riverboat

RIVER EXPEDITION THE GREAT AMAZON

Explore the World’s Largest Rainforest on a Private Voyage to the Amazon Headwaters

As the riverboat chugs its way up the chocolate-colored channel fringed with dense rainforest, the primeval depths of the Upper Amazon beckon. Our focus is the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve at the mighty river’s headwaters, a 5-millionacre mosaic of flooded and dry forest, islands and tea-colored creeks laden with tannins. Containing some of the greatest biodiversity on Earth, it shelters the largest wildlife populations in the Amazon Basin. Explore by excursion boat, on foot and by kayak, looking for pink river dolphins, monkeys, sloths, macaws and butterflies. Lagoons covered in giant lily pads teem with fish and caiman, while scores of marsh birds hunt from shore. Visit local villages, and learn about conservation challenges as we follow hundreds of miles of Amazon tributaries aboard a deluxe ship built for exploring the river system’s farthest reaches.

VOYAGE TO THE AMAZON HEADWATERS

Journey all the way to the tributary headwaters to explore Peru’s Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a vast protected realm of exceptional biodiversity

CRUISE ABOARD A PRIVATE LUXURY RIVERBOAT

Travel in air-conditioned comfort aboard our chartered riverboat—generous en suite cabins have panoramic windows for personal nature viewing

EXPLORE THE RAINFOREST IN SEARCH OF WILDLIFE

With expert naturalist guides, scout for jungle wildlife like scarlet macaws, sloths and monk saki monkeys, and look for rare pink river dolphins

Delfin II, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru • Photo by Richard Maack

Lima

PERU

Marañon River

Pacaya Samiria

Iquitos

Nauta

Ucayali River

Day 1: Lima, Peru Day 2: Lima / Iquitos / Nauta—Embark Ship / Marañon River Cruising Day 3: Pahuachiro Creek / Fundo Casual Trail / Nauta Caño Creek Day 4: Amazon Natural Park / Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Day 5: Ucayali & Marañon Confluence / Yarapa River / San Jose de Paranapura Day 6: Belluda Caño Creek / Dorado River Day 7: Pacaya River / Supay Cocha Day 8: Ucayali River / Marañon River—Amazonas Village Visit Day 9: Nauta—Disembark / Iquitos / Lima / Depart Extension: Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley

9 Days / Year-Round

2025 Price: $8995-$10995

Internal Airfare: $548

Limited to 28 Travelers

Make It Private

2025 Dates

Jan 4 Feb 1, 8 Mar 8 Apr 5 May 3 Jun 7 Sep 13 Oct 11 Nov 22, 29 Dec 27

Some trips run in the reverse direction of the itinerary shown.

2026 Dates

Jan 3, 31 Feb 7 Mar 7 Apr 4 May 2 Jun 6 Jul 4, 11 Aug 29 Sep 12 Oct 10, 24 Nov 21, 28 Dec 26

© S Israel
© A Arias
© S Israel
© J Quillen

MACHU PICCHU & THE SACRED VALLEY

An In-Depth Journey into the Ancient Wonders of the Inca Civilization

High in the Peruvian Andes, the ruins of Machu Picchu rest amid knife-edged ridges and vertical slopes draped in emerald jungle. Hidden from Western explorers until 1911, when a Quechua guide led Yale historian Hiram Bingham to the site, the marvelous Inca city was mesmerizing, even in its dereliction. Built on a granite mountaintop close to the sun, its intricate architecture reveals the ingenuity of its 15th-century designers. Massive blocks of stone were cut to fit together so precisely that no mortar was necessary. The site also reflects the Incas’ extraordinary knowledge of astronomy, with many elements aligning with heavenly events such as the solstice sunrise. Far below the ruins, the Urubamba River rushes through a green gorge into the Sacred Valley. Our journey into the mysteries of Inca civilization also includes Cusco, once the gold-laden capital of the empire.

DISCOVER MACHU PICCHU IN DEPTH WITH EXPERT INSIGHT

With rich interpretation from our Expedition Leader, explore the mysteries and marvels of Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas,” on two immersive visits

MEET THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE ANDES

Wander through the ruins of Inca cities and farming terraces in the Sacred Valley, stopping for cultural encounters with local Quechua residents

RELAX IN FINE LODGINGS REPLETE WITH LOCAL CHARACTER

Stay at intimate luxury hotels and boutique inns that exude regional character, from colonial splendor to traditional Andean ambience

Machu Picchu, Peru • Photo by Nat Hab guest Robert Martens

Day 1: Lima, Peru Day 2: Cusco / Sacred Valley—Pisac / Huayllabamba Day 3: Exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas—Hummingbird Sanctuary Day 4: Train to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu Day 5: Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel Gardens / Wayna Picchu Day 6: Cusco—City Tour Day 7: Sacsayhuaman / Lima / Depart

7 Days / Year-Round

2025 Price: $6995

Internal Airfare: $474

Limited to 12 Travelers

Make It Private

2025 Dates

Jan 11, 18, 25 Feb 1, 8, 15, 22 Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Apr 5, 12, 19, 26

May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Jun 7, 14, 21, 28 Jul 5, 12, 19, 26 Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Sep 6, 13, 20, 27 Oct 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Dec 6, 13, 20, 27

2026 Dates

Jan 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Feb 7, 14, 21, 28 Mar 7, 14, 21, 28 Apr 4, 11, 18, 25

May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Jun 6, 13, 20, 27 Jul 4, 11, 18, 25 Aug 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Sep 5, 12, 19, 26 Oct 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Nov 7, 14, 21, 28 Dec 5, 12, 19, 26

This trip may be booked either before or after your Nat Hab trip to the Galapagos.

Lima Cusco Sacred Valley Machu Picchu PERU
© C Whelan

DISCOVER AMAZON & MACHU PICCHU

Voyage to the Mighty River’s Headwaters & Explore the Fabled Lost City of the Incas

Aboard a luxury riverboat, cruise to the headwaters of the Amazon River for an immersion in primeval rainforest. Deep within the most biodiverse region of the Amazon Basin, explore the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, one of South America’s largest flooded wildlife sanctuaries. It’s home to a staggering array of species, including 13 different primates, pink river dolphins, and rainbow-hued macaws—the Peruvian Amazon boasts nearly a thousand species of birds alone! West into the jungle-shrouded peaks of the Andes lies another marvel, this one of human origin: Machu Picchu, the mystical stone city built by the Incas in the 15th century, and below, the Sacred Valley of the Urubamba River, replete with myth and ruins. Discover it all on a diverse, seamlessly integrated adventure combining Peru’s most astounding natural and archaeological wonders.

AN IDEAL COMBINATION ITINERARY

Benefit from our seamless coordination to experience the Amazon rainforest and the archaeological wonders of Machu Picchu on a single adventure

CRUISE TO THE REMOTE AMAZON HEADWATERS

Search for jungle wildlife from a small luxury ship designed for exploring this legendary river and its source tributaries, with naturalist-guided excursions

A PERSONALIZED TOUR OF MACHU PICCHU

There’s no hiding that Machu Picchu can be crowded, but with our small group and expert guide, you’ll have an in-depth and insightful private encounter

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru • Photo by Rodrigo Rodrich

Day 1: Lima, Peru Day 2: Cusco / Pisac Day 3: Exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas Day 4: Ollantaytambo / Vistadome Train to Aguas Calientes / Machu Picchu Day 5: Machu Picchu / Cusco Day 6: Cusco—City Tour / Sacsayhuaman Day 7: Cusco / Lima / Iquitos / Nauta—Embark Ship Day 8: Amazon Natural Park / Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Day 9: Ucayali & Marañon Confluence / Yarapa River / San Jose de Paranapura Day 10: Nauta—Disembark / Iquitos / Lima / Depart

10 Days / Year-Round

2025 Price: $9795-$10995

Internal Airfare: $814

Limited to 12–14 Travelers

Make It Private

2025 Dates

Feb 10, 15 Apr 24, 29 Jul 7, 12

Aug 25, 30 Sep 18, 23 Oct 27

Nov 1, 27 Dec 2

Some trips run in the reverse direction of the itinerary shown.

2026 Dates

Jan 11, 16 Feb 15, 20 Mar 22, 27

Apr 19, 24 May 17, 22 Aug 23, 28 Sep 20, 25 Nov 29 Dec 4

Machu Picchu
© B Bressler
© B Powell

ON DECK

DELFIN II

The 135-foot Delfin II features 14 deluxe suites. The ship’s design incorporates sustainable materials from the rainforest environs, including salvaged hardwoods. Collected irapay leaves (typically seen on residential huts) form the ship’s roof. All suites have air conditioning, floor-to-ceiling windows and bathrooms with hot showers. The covered top deck includes comfortable lounge furniture and ceiling fans. Inside, guests can relax and enjoy naturalist presentations in the air-conditioned lounge. The dining area serves traditional Peruvian cuisine like ceviche, local fish and tropical fruits. Most of Delfin II’s staff guides were born and raised in small communities throughout the Peruvian Amazon. Now, they share their knowledge and passion with travelers from around the world. The Delfin II has an open bridge policy, and guests are welcome to learn about the navigation systems and chat with the captain at any time.

UPPER DECK
MAIN DECK TOP DECK

ZAFIRO

The 164-foot Zafiro includes 19 airconditioned guest suites with panoramic windows and en suite bathrooms with hot showers. Air-conditioned indoor areas include a lounge and a reading room. An outdoor lounge has a bar and jacuzzi, and the shaded observation deck offers 360° views. Gourmet meals incorporate fresh local ingredients. Dedicated to conservation, Zafiro offers guests the opportunity to participate in turtle restoration and forest replanting.

DELFIN III

The 169-foot Delfin III features 22 luxurious suites. The ship is Biosphere Certified, an internationally recognized sustainability accolade. Indoor suites include bathrooms with hot showers. A sun deck offers a plunge pool, and the climate-controlled lounge is a comfortable gathering spot. Most of the ship’s guides are from local communities. Many have participated in projects with researchers involved in the conservation of the Amazon rainforest.

FIRST DECK
The rare spectacled bear is highly endangered, primarily due to habitat fragmentation

HOW WWF SUPPORTS

AMAZON CONSERVATION

Since the 1970s, WWF has been working with local and global partners in the Amazon to protect this invaluable rain forest, preserve biodiversity, reduce deforestation, and support local livelihoods— bridging the needs for conservation and economic development.

Confronting Drivers of Deforestation & Resulting Habitat Loss

Each year, the Amazon loses significant forested areas to unsustainable agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, poorly planned infrastructure, energy exploration and illegal logging. WWF works collaboratively with multiple partners to address these threats.

Developing a Sustainable Forest Economy

Regional and global demand for natural resources, including timber and fish, can be met without devastating the environment. WWF engages with the agriculture and timber sectors to eliminate waste and increase production efficiency. WWF also seeks to promote demand for sustainable forest products, partners with local Indigenous communities and governments to manage protected areas, and supports local communities’ ability to earn a living sustainably. WWF is focused on encouraging the development and scaling of Indigenous enterprises based on the sustainable use of forest products, fisheries management and aquaculture.

Collaborating with Governments Across the Amazon

WWF collaborates with governments across the Amazon to create, manage and permanently fund protected areas using the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) approach. In Peru, the Peruvian government-led effort, known as National Parks: Peru’s Natural Legacy, will permanently protect nearly 42 million acres in the Peruvian Amazon. The initiative supports greater resilience to climate change and benefits 1.4 million people who depend on Peru’s rainforests for food, medicines and clean energy.

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