Are you interested in taking a cruise tour to Machu Picchu? If so, read our guide for more facts and information…
Machu Picchu is located inland, and so it is not possible to cruise directly to the ruins. Below is a belief explanation of how one can work Machu Picchu into a cruise trip though.
Itinerary
Tour companies and travel agents can assist in the planning of a cruise in which the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu can be included in the itinerary.
Most cruises that include excursions to the ruins begin in Miami. When making a cruise booking one can select an all inclusive package which includes flights to and from Miami. Otherwise, one can independently book the flights to the port of the cruise departure in South America.
Cruises usually embark from one of the port cities of Ecuador and Lima. To get to Machu Picchu one needs to travel by train or bus from Lima. There is usually at least one stop along the way. The final destination to the ruins would be the city of Cusco which used to be the capital city of the Incan Empire. From Cusco one can hike to the ruins, which only takes about one hour. Or, one can catch one of the numerous buses that shuttle tourists to and from the ruins from Cusco.
Due to the sheer logistics of planning such a trip it is best to do it through a tour company, rather than try to plan every detail yourself. Their fees will include transport from Lima to Cusco, the entrance fees to the ruins, as well as a guided tour of the ruins, amongst other things.
The most popular tours are those that include the famous Galapagos Island.
Costs of Machu Picchu Cruises
There are different cruises. Variations are in the durations of the tours, the stops along the cruise, flights, as well as visiting different tours. Of course, these also impact on the cost of the tours.
A typical 8 day and 7 night tour costs between USD$3,940 to USD$7,675.
Good companies and websites to search for cruises from include Adventure Life, Southern Explorations.
River Tours
However, there are other cruise options for people who do not want to take one of the pre-packaged ocean tours. There are also cruises available on the Amazon River. These range in duration from 3, 4, and 7 night cruises. These cruises operate every week of the year. The 3 day cruise costs USD$2,685, the 4 day cruise costs USD$3,580 and the 7 day cruise costs USD$6,265, all per person sharing. These cruises are available through Aqua Expeditions. Cruises depart on Saturdays and Tuesdays from Iquitos, Peru.
These cruises themselves do not include stops to see the Machu Picchu ruins. However, the company does offer the services of assisting to arrange other tours within Peru, tours to Machu Picchu included. It is the best way to be able to see the ruins and explore the Amazon River in which one can fish, visit local villages, and explore the jungle with a knowledgeable guide.
