A River Cruise Line Is Leaving the River for Machu Picchu

AmaWaterways, best known for river cruising, is launching its first dedicated Peruvian land journey: a six-day, five-night Machu Picchu extension. It will be offered on selected departures of the line’s Magic of Colombia cruisetour from April 2027, and from 2028 on every post-cruise departure.

The route starts when guests leave the cruise in Cartagena, Colombia, and fly to Lima, with the flight included. They explore the Miraflores and Barranco districts before continuing to Cusco, touring the Sacred Valley and finishing with a privately guided visit to Machu Picchu. Along the way are Ollantaytambo, the Maras salt pans, the agricultural terraces of Moray, and Cusco’s historic centre, Koricancha and Sacsayhuaman.

The rail leg runs aboard either the Hiram Bingham, a Belmond train, or first-class Inca Rail, and a local guide accompanies travelers at the site. Two hotel packages are offered. The boutique option uses The Westin Lima, Tambo del Inka and Palacio del Inka, while the iconic option stays at Miraflores Park and Monasterio, both Belmond hotels.

The announcement does not state a price, so budgeting will have to wait for the line’s brochure or an advisor. Even so, the move shows how river brands are widening their offering beyond the boat, packaging rail, hotels and guided access into a single booking for travelers who want a marquee destination attached to a cruise.

Sources: CruiseMapper