3 de October de 2025

Expan Experience: From Machu Picchu to the jungle of Puerto Maldonado

The coast of Lima , the highlands of Cusco and Machu Picchu , and the jungle of Puerto Maldonado . Exploring Peru is immersing yourself in a diverse country, where each landscape tells a different story and each city safeguards a legacy that seems frozen in time .

Matías Uribe , Quality and Customer Service Executive at Expan Tours , invites us in this new edition of Expan Experience to explore the coast , the highlands and the Peruvian jungle , all in one trip that connects tradition , gastronomy , nature and archaeology .

It all begins in Lima

The tour begins in Lima , the capital of Peru and recognized worldwide as one of the gastronomic meccas of the planet, the first stop of the FAM "Lima, Cusco and Madre de Dios: Coast + Highlands + Jungle" which Matías attended.

" This city , which was once the nerve center of the Viceroyalty of Peru , preserves architectural traces that show the Spanish influence in every street , church and colonial mansion ."

Lima's weather is curious: almost always overcast with gray skies and light drizzles that rarely turn into rain . However, the city's true charm lies in its neighborhoods .

San Isidro is distinguished by its wide avenues and majestic residences ; Miraflores mixes plazas , bars , bohemian atmosphere and restaurants ; and Barranco vibrates with its street art , the famous Bridge of Sighs and the legends that surround it.

At this first stop, flavors are also part of the journey , and Matías makes a recommendation: " Anticucho , with beef marinated in garlic , vinegar , and ají panca peppers and grilled over charcoal , is a must-try of Lima's cuisine . For dessert , nothing beats picarones , sweet fritters made from pumpkin and drizzled with anise sauce —a true explosion of flavors ."

Cusco, the stop before Machu Picchu

The journey continues into the Peruvian highlands , specifically to Cusco , the capital of the legendary Inca Empire . Located 3,400 meters above sea level , this city tests the physical endurance of travelers : climbing stairs or walking along its cobblestone streets becomes a challenge due to the altitude .

" Cusco is also a symbol of cultural clash . Its streets reveal the overlap between Inca architecture and Spanish imposition ."

The Cusco Cathedral , with its three naves and altars covered in gold leaf , holds a revealing detail : instead of a Christ figure on the main altar , there is a Virgin Mary . Local chroniclers explain that it was the enslaved Incas themselves who chose to place a female figure there, possibly alluding to Pachamama , Mother Earth .

The San Pedro Market is another place that portrays local life in all its intensity . There, meats , vegetables , exotic fruits , spices , textiles , gold, silver, or copper handicrafts , and souvenirs coexist, seemingly encompassing the very essence of the Andes .

" Cusco also offers impressive archaeological treasures such as Moray , with its circular agricultural terraces that reveal the agricultural sophistication of the Incas ."

The tour included a stop at the Maras salt mines , exploited even before Christ , and at Ollantaytambo , a city left unfinished by the wars against the Spanish and which surprises with its perfectly fitted terraces , walls and staircases : "It is an archaeological complex with agricultural terraces and enormous staircases that stand out for the precision in their construction ."

Peru's great treasure: Machu Picchu

" From Poroy station , the journey becomes a luxury experience aboard the Hiram Bingham Train , which combines entertainment , gastronomy and unparalleled landscapes until reaching Aguas Calientes , a vibrant town with a craft fair full of souvenirs ."

From there, a winding road takes you by bus to the top where Machu Picchu awaits, the Wonder of the World that captivates travelers from all over the planet.

" Entry is organized into circuits to explore the citadel . The first ascent leads to the classic viewpoints from where the most emblematic photographs are taken. From there, the walk becomes a journey to the past : walls that fit together without glue , concave stones that ensure their firmness , temples that evoke the spiritual union with nature ."

The Incas saw their ancestors in the mountains and believed their souls were carried by condors , symbols that can still be identified on the rocks of the citadel . This mysticism is combined with the peace that the place exudes, hidden for centuries until its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham on June 24, 1911 .

" Although it is often said that Machu Picchu was lost , many locals maintain that it was actually intentionally abandoned . According to this version, Manco Inca , the last ruler of the empire , destroyed the Inca Trail to prevent the Spanish advance and preserve his culture . A theory without scientific confirmation , but full of historical sense ."

Puerto Maldonado: The Amazon rainforest of Peru

The circuit concludes in the Amazon rainforest , with a one-hour flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado . There, the experience takes another turn with Rainforest Expeditions , a company specializing in ecotourism and research .

" After a short one-hour bus transfer to the town of Filadelfia , the journey continues by canoe along the Tambopata River for almost an hour, followed by a 20-minute hike through the rainforest . The final destination is Refugio Amazonas by Rainforest , a luxury lodge nestled within the Tambopata National Reserve ."

This lodge is striking from its design : the rooms open onto the jungle , without one of their walls , allowing for direct contact with nature . Elevated two meters above the ground to avoid animals , the lodge offers sunrise walks , sunset strolls , and even nighttime excursions for the more adventurous .

" One of the most fascinating moments occurs at the Collpa , a clay wall rich in minerals where dozens of red, green, blue and yellow macaws feed , giving a spectacle of color and sound impossible to forget ."

The trip ends by returning to Cusco on a flight , with an additional night in a hotel , to take the direct flight to Santiago de Chile the next day.

Tips and recommendations for visiting Machu Picchu and exploring Peru

" Any experience of this level requires preparation . In Machu Picchu , tickets must be purchased at least four months in advance , as spaces are limited and sell out easily ."

In Cusco , it's essential to take care of your health due to the altitude : avoid heavy meats and alcohol , and prioritize rest . Some hotels , like the JW Marriott El Convento , even offer oxygen in their air conditioning to help with acclimatization .

" For those traveling from Chile , a key recommendation is to take advantage of LATAM Airlines' direct flight between Cusco and Santiago , which saves time and makes the return trip more comfortable ."

Each stage of this experience along the Peruvian coast , in the highlands , and in the rainforest reveals a unique facet of a country that vibrates with diversity and history . This itinerary allows travelers not only to discover , but also to feel and understand the grandeur of Peru in all its dimensions , in all its landscapes .