River cruise line AmaWaterways is pairing two of South America's biggest draws on a single trip. From April 2027, its "Magic of Colombia" river sailings will offer a six-day post-cruise extension to Machu Picchu — the company's first-ever Peruvian journey. It launches on select departures that spring, then rolls out to every sailing of the Colombia itinerary from 2028.
The logistics are simple: after disembarking in Cartagena, guests fly to Lima, then continue to Cusco and the Sacred Valley, finishing with a privately guided visit to Machu Picchu itself. In Lima, the extension starts with guided time in the coastal neighbourhoods of Miraflores and Barranco — the city's best zones for restaurants and galleries — before the short hop to Cusco, where the focus shifts to Inca heritage, colonial architecture and Peruvian food.
Getting to Machu Picchu is treated as part of the experience rather than a transfer. Travellers ride either the Hiram Bingham, Belmond's upscale train, or first-class service on Inca Rail, with a local guide on hand for the citadel itself.
The Sacred Valley days fill in the sites most independent visitors try to squeeze into a rushed day trip: the ruins and terraces of Ollantaytambo, the striated Maras salt pans still harvested today, Moray's circular Inca agricultural terraces, and back in Cusco, the Koricancha temple, the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuaman and the historic centre.
Two hotel tiers are on offer. The Boutique option uses The Westin Lima in the capital, plus the Tambo del Inka resort in the Sacred Valley and Palacio del Inka in Cusco, both Luxury Collection properties. The Iconic option goes full Belmond, with Miraflores Park in Lima and the Monasterio, set in a former 16th-century monastery in the heart of Cusco.
AmaWaterways CEO Catherine Powell framed the extension as part of a broader shift in how the line positions luxury river cruising — fewer add-ons for their own sake, more curated journeys that connect travellers to a place. For a line best known for European rivers, adding Peru signals a push further into destination combining: one booking, two countries, no DIY planning.
Why it matters: anyone who has priced a Peru trip knows the tricky part is the sequencing — permits, train tickets, altitude acclimatisation in Cusco, transfers between Sacred Valley towns. Wrapping it onto an existing Colombia cruise hands all of that to someone else. It also suits travellers who want to make the long flight to South America do double duty. If you're already sailing the Magdalena River past Cartagena's walled city, adding Machu Picchu for a few extra days is arguably the most efficient way to see both.
Worth watching if you're considering the Colombia itinerary for 2027: extension spots are tied to select sailings in year one, so dates and availability will matter if the Belmond hotel and Hiram Bingham options are the ones pulling you in.
