1.- OVERVIEW OF THE MACHU PICCHU AND AMAZON TOURS
If during your next vacation trip you combine the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours you will have as a result an unforgettable travel experience that we know you will remember for a lifetime as it is one of the most complete and exciting options that you can delight in Peru, since all the Trips to Machu Picchu and the Amazon combine in a perfect way the opportunity to have an immersion in the culture and history as well as in the biodiversity of the enigmatic forests of the Peruvian Amazon.
| “The world is your oyster—go find the pearls.” |
2.- Visiting the Inca Citadel of Machu Picchu
Considered not only as a wonder of the world, it is in fact a hidden jewel among the mountains of the Peruvian Andes that belongs to the Inca culture. From the first glance it becomes a center of admiration and complete amazement of natural beauty and mystery. This archaeological center is also a complete sample of the great advance of the knowledge that the Inca culture had about engineering and architecture as well as having a deep symbolism of connection with mysticism and at the same time of nature, for this reason the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours complement each other perfectly. Now it is known that this Inca citadel was a multifunctional place because it contains agricultural, military, administrative, religious and other places which suggests that more than a sacred place was actually a checkpoint and multiple functions for people who traveled the extensive roads of the Inca.
3.- Main places to visit in Machu Picchu
3.1.- Main square
It is considered as the heart of Machu Picchu, a large space where you can find really big constructions elaborated specifically for religious purposes, here you can see a lot of incredible temples, houses and platforms that were used exclusively by the high social class within the Inca culture. Being an open space is considered one of the main places you should visit while enjoying Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours.
3.2.- Temple of the Sun
It is one of the most important archaeological spaces that can be found inside Machu Picchu, this circular construction was used for astronomical and religious ceremonies, because this enclosure was developed and oriented exclusively for the summer and winter solstices which gives to understand the deep relationship that existed between the Incas and the worship of natural phenomena as well as its elements being the sun the main god of all their beliefs.
3.3.- Intihuatana
A stone element that is believed to have had the purpose of tying the sun for a period of time, is now considered one of the most sacred places of Machu Picchu. According to studies conducted here, it was used as a point of projection of shadows which was also interpreted as a prediction for agricultural aspects and thus have a better understanding of the weather and climate for future months.
3.4.- Temple of the 3 windows
It is characterized for being a great enclosure with a structure of 3 windows of great dimensions, each one of them offers a panoramic and scenic view of all that the Inca citadel Machu Machu can offer you, this place also has its attractiveness for the incredible construction that is in its interior.
3.5.- Guardian’s House
In any of the options of the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours, you must necessarily consider visiting this place. Considered as one of the highest points of the Inca citadel, it is the ideal place to get one of the famous panoramic photos of the entire citadel. It also has a privileged view of the Huayna Picchu mountain and the Urubamba River, from here you can get the best collection of photos.
3.6.- Sacred Rock
Considered as the model of the citadel of Machu Picchu, within the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours is a must-see place. Many of the historians and scholars who have reached the world wonder of Machu Picchu consider it as an element that is linked to their spiritual vision and was used for ceremonial purposes.
4.- Access options
4.1.- Classic Inca Trail
It is the most traditional version that exists to visit the Inca citadel, even in many of the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours is considered as an alternative oriented for enthusiastic travelers looking to disconnect from the world for a few days. It is currently one of the most famous and emblematic routes in the world because over 4 days it allows visitors to know the ancient trails that lead them through breathtaking landscapes, cloud forests and archaeological remains belonging to the Inca culture to finally reach the citadel of Machu Picchu in the early hours of the fourth day.
4.2.- Short Inca Trail
A shortened version of the traditional 4-day experience we saw previously, the Short Inca Trail is a shorter experience that lasts only 2 days and fits perfectly into the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours that have a short duration. In this version we visit the last part of the popular Inca Trail considering only Wiñaywayna and Inti Punku to get first to the town of Aguas Calientes and the second day to visit Machu Picchu.
4.3.- Wayna Picchu
For those who are passionate about hiking, a route was designed that allows you to visit the top of the mountain that is inside the citadel. This natural viewpoint allows you to have a panoramic view much wider and different from the tradition that can be found from the watchman’s house. Although remember that this experience is not for everyone, only for those who have previous hiking experience because the trail is quite demanding, the advantage is that it can be perfectly coupled in any of the options of Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours.
5.- Amazon Rainforest Adventures
There is no doubt that the Amazon rainforest is the most biodiverse place in the world, for this reason the Trips to Machu Picchu and the Amazon have a quite notorious relationship, while the visit to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu connects people with the high mountains and deities, the tour through the thick Amazon forest allows you to connect in a close way with nature and the spiritual environment. The Amazon is actually the jungle region of Peru where travelers and adventurers can enjoy activities such as hiking, wildlife watching, bird watching, as well as traveling the largest navigable river in the world, the Amazon. This also allows travelers who choose one of the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours have the opportunity to share a space with the indigenous communities that exist in the place as the Shipibo, Ashaninka and others who protect with greater caution and care their traditions and ancestral legacies thus allowing survive the passage of time.
6.- Diverse Ecosystems and Wildlife
When you choose one of the Trips to Machu Picchu and the Amazon you will discover that during the last part of the trip you will visit the Amazon rainforest, there is a wide variety of ecosystems from tropical rainforests to riverside forests, wetlands and of course the mighty rivers. These ecosystems have the particularity of also harboring a large amount of wildlife.
6.1.- Rainforests
The rainforest is considered the heart or center of the Amazon, with a dense canopy of trees that intertwine to finally form a green roof where the sunlight filters through and gradually disappears into the vegetation. The particularity of this type of places is the constant humidity that a person can feel and that almost all the time the rains are present. Among the main species of trees that can be found in this area are the ceibo, samauma and maule. Of course they are not the only ones since there is also the presence of ferns and orchids.
6.2.- Riverside forest
Located next to the rivers and tributaries that exist throughout the Amazon, here you can find a completely flooded ecosystem which represents a vital key to the water cycle throughout this sector. This area frequently receives a constant flow of water and consequently creates unique habitats where wild animal species find their home, allowing them to reproduce and continue their life cycle. Here it is common to find elements such as the water lily and victoria amazonica which are really big water lilies and can measure up to 2 meters in diameter.
7.- A SYMBOL OF RESPONSIBILITY
“Throughout the Andean region, the spectacled bear has been catalogued as an element that is part of sustainability and ecotourism. The spectacled bear is the only bear in South America and is endemic to the tropical Andes, sometimes it can be seen roaming around the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu individually or in groups.”
8.- Elements that you will be able to appreciate during your visit to the Amazon:
8.1.- Flora
This is one of the most representative elements of this region of Peru, in fact it is estimated that there are more than 450 thousand species of plants of which only a percentage are registered while the rest are still under investigation. Among the most representative elements that can be found is the rubber which is very popular for its sap from which latex is produced. There are also countless medicinal plants such as sacha hinchi, palo santo, guarana, ayahuasca and others that are used by indigenous communities for generations as an ancestral knowledge.
8.2.- Fauna
It is also important to highlight that the Amazon jungle is home to multiple wild animals that in some cases are unique to find in this place as is the case of the jaguar, puma, anteater and tapir, plus a variety of primates and birds endemic to the place as is the case of the macaw, toucan and the long-billed spider that are easily visible to visitors who come to these places during the realization of the Trips to Machu Picchu and the Amazon.
9.- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How long do typical Machu Picchu and Amazon combination tours last?
There are many options of Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours, but the most popular option is the one that lasts between 10 to 12 days, since it is the average time in which you can make a calm visit in any of its options for both Machu Picchu and the Amazon.
- What should I consider when booking a Machu Picchu and Amazon tour?
You must consider that the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours have certain restrictions precisely because of the activities included and even precautions. Essentially knowing that you will be visiting the Amazon, you and your entire travel team can carry the yellow fever vaccine (recommended – no mandatory) as well as be physically prepared a few weeks before the trip, most of the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours include mountain trekking and hiking experiences so it is best to be well prepared physically.
- What are the main activities and experiences in the Amazon Rainforest?
Essentially in the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours are considered alternatives of access and recreation, in the case of Machu Picchu is taken into consideration the option of walking the Inca Trail in its traditional version and in the short version, while in the jungle activities of wildlife viewing and walks along the immense Amazon River are performed.
Now you know that planning any of the Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours is not something simple and in fact it is a great responsibility due to the impact that tourism has, however in Auri Peru we seek to create responsible and purposeful trips, for this reason we want to help you design your next experience, you can start by contacting us to start the next great trip of your life.
“Let’s wander where the Wi-Fi is weak and the adventures are strong.”
