Best Machu Picchu and Amazon Tours Compared: Which Peru Tour Company Should You Choose?

Road Scholar vs. Intrepid Travel vs. Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor

Planning a trip to Machu Picchu and the Amazon rainforest? Choosing the right Peru tour company can make an enormous difference in your vacation.

There are many companies offering Machu Picchu and Amazon tours, but we've chosen to compare Road Scholar and Intrepid Travel because their culturally focused, small-group programs appeal to many of the same mature, experienced travelers who enjoy our tours.

However, not all Peru tours provide the same experience. The hotels, number of Machu Picchu visits, dining arrangements, group sizes, transportation, and personal service can vary considerably.

Enjoy photos of a recent Traveling Professor Peru, Machu Picchu, and Amazon tour. 

At Small Group Tours by The Traveling Professor, we've operated Machu Picchu tours for more than 15 years. We've learned that a great Peru vacation isn't necessarily about visiting the most places. It's about making the most of the places you visit.

Machu Picchu Tours: Why Two Visits Are Better Than One

Imagine traveling thousands of miles to Machu Picchu, only to arrive when clouds and heavy rain obscure its spectacular scenery. Unfortunately, that can happen.

Road Scholar's Two Worlds of Peru program schedules one Machu Picchu visit. Our tour provides two separately scheduled visits, with three days and two nights in the Machu Picchu area.

That second visit matters. It provides additional opportunities to appreciate this remarkable archaeological site, experience its magnificent surroundings, and potentially enjoy better weather. While clear skies are never guaranteed, two visits offer greater flexibility than one.

Intrepid's Premium Peru in Depth also includes two Machu Picchu visits, something we strongly endorse. For a destination that may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we believe giving travelers two opportunities to enjoy it is simply good planning.

Luxury Peru Hotels: Why Our Accommodations Make a Difference

We select our Peru hotels for more than luxury. After 15 years of experience, we've learned that where you stay can significantly affect your comfort and enjoyment.

Cusco: Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel

Cusco sits approximately 11,000 feet above sea level, where altitude can affect even experienced travelers.

We stay at the luxurious five-star Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel, featuring an intelligent oxygen system designed to improve guest comfort at high altitude. Although this cannot prevent altitude sickness, it's an amenity we value.

Road Scholar uses the Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco. While a comfortable property, we prefer Aranwa's luxury accommodations and special amenities.

Machu Picchu: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel

Road Scholar's itinerary includes one night near Machu Picchu. We spend two nights at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo, a luxurious hotel surrounded by magnificent tropical gardens.

In addition to excellent dining and beautiful accommodations, guests can enjoy fascinating nature programs, including butterfly viewing, birdwatching, and coffee and tea experiences. We've personally participated in several of these activities.

Rather than simply providing somewhere to sleep, this hotel becomes part of the vacation itself.

The Amazon: Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica

Our travelers spend three nights at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, recognized by National Geographic Traveler among its 25 best eco-lodges.

We prefer this exceptional property for its comfortable accommodations, outstanding dining, experienced naturalist guides, and varied rainforest excursions.

Intrepid generally uses Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción for two nights, although selected departures use Reserva Amazonica. Our additional night allows travelers more time to experience the Amazon without feeling rushed.

Why We Include High-Quality Meals on Our Peru Tour

On most Traveling Professor tours, lunches and dinners are left open. We believe travelers should choose where, when, and with whom they dine.

But Peru is different. Food quality and careful preparation are particularly important. An unfortunate restaurant choice can result in digestive illness that disrupts several days of a vacation.

That's why we include excellent dinners at Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo and all meals at Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.

Travelers enjoy extensive menu choices rather than limited group menus or standard buffets. They can dine during restaurant serving hours, with whomever they wish, rather than following a rigid group dining schedule.

Our experience reinforces the importance of these decisions. Since consistently using our three preferred Peru properties, we've encountered only one or two isolated, minor traveler health issues.

While no hotel or restaurant can eliminate every health risk, we believe our careful selections have contributed to our travelers' comfort and well-being.

Peru Tour Prices Compared: Road Scholar, Intrepid and Traveling Professor

When researching Peru tour packages, travelers should compare more than the advertised price. Tour length, hotel quality, transportation, and time spent at major attractions all influence value.

Prices are per person, generally based on double occupancy. Intrepid's figure is a previously advertised regular starting price, before promotions; verify the current price when booking. Daily costs are approximate, and inclusions differ.

Road Scholar has a lower cost per day, but its 17-day itinerary includes more time in Lima and the Sacred Valley, plus a six-night Amazon riverboat voyage instead of our luxury rainforest lodge stay.

Intrepid visits additional destinations, including Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Puno, and Lake Titicaca. These are worthwhile destinations, but they involve additional travel and time at higher elevations.

We've previously included Puno and Lake Titicaca on our Peru tours. Eventually, we eliminated them because we felt the long overland journeys and higher-altitude conditions detracted from the experience.

Additional days at destinations with less expensive accommodations can reduce a tour's average daily cost. However, a lower daily price doesn't necessarily mean a better vacation.

We concentrate our time and resources on Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon, emphasizing quality rather than quantity.

Small Group Peru Tours for Travelers Over 50

Our Peru tours typically consist of 12–14 travelers, offering a relaxed, personal experience.

Road Scholar classifies its small-group programs as generally accommodating 13–24 participants. Intrepid's Premium Peru in Depth has a maximum group size of 12.

All three companies offer smaller groups than traditional large-coach tours. However, group composition also matters.

Intrepid permits travelers as young as 15. Our tours are exclusively for adults aged 25 and older, with most participants over 50.

Many of our travelers appreciate sharing experiences with people of similar interests and backgrounds. After all, it's not just the places you go. It's the people you meet along the way.

Why 15 Years of Machu Picchu Experience Matters

Professor Steve Solosky's Peru tour was featured in The Wall Street Journal. He was also an invited speaker at the New York Times Travel Show, where he discussed Peru and served as the designated Peru expert during the show's traveler question-and-answer sessions.

But our experience extends well beyond national media recognition.

Peru is a magnificent destination, yet altitude, unpredictable weather, transportation delays, infrastructure limitations, lost passports, and medical situations can complicate a vacation.

We've spent more than 15 years building relationships with reliable local guides, transportation providers, hotels, and other professionals who understand the country.

We also work with a specialized agency in Peru dedicated to assisting when unexpected problems arise. Whether travelers encounter transportation disruptions, passport problems, medical concerns, or other complications, experienced professionals on the ground can help navigate local procedures and coordinate assistance.

No tour operator can prevent every problem. But having knowledgeable people available when something goes wrong provides valuable peace of mind.

Our experience also influences when we travel. January, for example, falls during the rainy season around Machu Picchu. Lower prices may seem attractive, but unfavorable weather can significantly affect sightseeing.

Everything we do in Peru has a reason behind it, based on lessons learned over 15 years.

Personal Customer Service: The Advantage of a Smaller Peru Tour Company

There's another important difference between The Traveling Professor and larger tour operators: the personal attention travelers receive before, during, and after booking.

We're a small, independently operated company. When you contact us, you speak with someone who actually knows the tour—not a call center representative reading from a script.

Have questions about Cusco's altitude, walking conditions at Machu Picchu, food and accommodations, recommended immunizations, vaccinations, required travel documents, what to pack, or whether this tour is appropriate for you?

We take the time to answer every question carefully and promptly. For health precautions, we also help direct travelers to reliable information and appropriate medical professionals.

And our personalized service doesn't end when you make your reservation. Our tour leaders, local partners, and specialized support agency are available to assist during the journey.

For an important international vacation like Machu Picchu and the Amazon, we believe knowing who you're dealing with—and having direct access to experienced people—makes a meaningful difference.

What Do Our Peru Travelers Say?

Morgan V., who has traveled with us to Peru, Norway/Iceland, Northern Italy, and Scotland, shared this in a verified Google review:

"It's wonderful not having to worry about hotels or transportation, and Steve is so knowledgeable about all the areas we go to that you can go to him for anything on restaurants to fantastic ideas for places to go on your free days. These trips are comfortable and well run."

Read Morgan's Google review

Which Machu Picchu and Amazon Tour Offers the Best Value?

Road Scholar and Intrepid are established tour operators offering worthwhile Peru experiences. Travelers interested in longer itineraries, additional destinations, or Amazon river cruising may prefer those options.

But if you're looking for a luxury Machu Picchu and Amazon small group tour with two Machu Picchu visits, carefully selected hotels, three nights in the rainforest, exceptional dining, groups typically numbering 12–14 adults, personalized customer service, and more than 15 years of experience, we invite you to compare our program.

We don't try to see everything in Peru. We concentrate on making the places we visit extraordinary.

Experience Machu Picchu and the Amazon With The Traveling Professor

Our thoughtfully designed 9-day Machu Picchu and Amazon tour starts at $4,499 per person, double occupancy, including outstanding accommodations, expert local guides, scenic rail journeys, and personal attention throughout.

Explore Our Peru Small Group Tour — Complete Itinerary, Dates, and Prices

Tour comparisons reflect published program descriptions and advertised prices reviewed October 2026. Rates, hotels, inclusions, and itineraries are subject to change.