AmaWaterways Adds Machu Picchu Extension to Colombia Cruises
Guests travel to Machu Picchu aboard the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, or first-class Inca Rail, with a local guide accompanying each journey.
AmaWaterways will introduce a six-day Machu Picchu land extension for select “Magic of Colombia” river cruises beginning in April 2027. The post-cruise program is the company’s first journey in Peru and will be available after every sailing of that itinerary in 2028.
The extension combines the Colombia cruise with travel through Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, including a privately guided visit to Machu Picchu. Guests fly from Cartagena to Lima after disembarkation, with that international flight included in the land package price.
“We have always believed the best and most memorable experiences are those that connect our guests deeply to the places they visit,” said Catherine Powell, CEO of AmaWaterways.
The underlying cruise is an eight-day, seven-night Magdalena River itinerary from Barranquilla to Cartagena. Sailings use AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, with ship assignments and individual ports varying by departure.
Two hotel options and a rail journey
Guests can choose between hotel packages named Boutique and Iconic. The rail trip to Machu Picchu uses either the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train, or first-class Inca Rail, depending on the package, with a local guide accompanying guests.
The Boutique option includes The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center in the Peruvian capital. In the Sacred Valley, guests stay at Tambo del Inka, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, followed by Palacio del Inka, A Luxury Collection Hotel, in Cusco.
The Iconic option includes two Belmond properties: Miraflores Park in Lima and Monasterio in Cusco.
Guided touring with time to explore independently
In Lima, a local guide takes guests through the Miraflores and Barranco neighborhoods before the journey continues by air to Cusco. There, the program combines historic architecture and Inca heritage with Peruvian cuisine.
The Sacred Valley portion includes Ollantaytambo, the ancient salt pans at Maras and Moray’s agricultural terraces. Visits around Cusco take in Koricancha, a former Inca temple, and Sacsayhuaman, the fortress on the hill above the city.
AmaWaterways describes the extension as semi-guided. Alongside the organized visits, guests have free time to explore Cusco’s historic center independently.
