After three nights in Cusco we returned to the Hotel Jose Antonio in Lima from which half of the group of 16 left, after a visit to the eclectic and vast Gold Museum, which also houses a collection of weapons from all around the world.

The remaining eight set off the next day for the northern Amazon, flying to Iquitos and travelling by boat to Explorama Inn, the first of our lodges, 50 miles from Iquitos city. (We went the next day to Explornapo; both lodges are similar in style, but Napo is 100 miles from Iquitos.) The lodges have separate thatch roof rooms with camp style latrines and showers and a communal dining room; the "hammock room" is also quite a favorite spot! Macaws hang out on the railings and kerosene lanterns light your way at night.

I was not prepared to love the rainforest as I did; my favorite place on earth is Iceland, and less Icelandic you can hardly get. But being out at night in a silent boat or climbing the canopy walkway above the trees or scratching the ears of the resident capybara (Rodent of Unusual Size) or hiking through the lianas past buttress roots or visiting a Yagua Indian village for blowdart fun or a ribeno village for a soccer match or Dr. Linnea Smith's clinic or spotting pink dolphins and sloths and butterflies and birds of all kinds...all of these were experiences that enter deeply into the memory and create a longing to return to that humid green world.

Our last night was spent in the luxury of Ceiba Tops, a "jungle hotel" with A/C just 25 miles from Iquitos. There was a spirited performance by some of the local high school students, both music and dancing...and a snake.

It's making it a little difficult to get ready to go back to school when all I really want to do is return to Peru!

I followed your decision from the Europe discussions to here. How delightful it sounds, and how lucky the students this year to hear about it all! I am considering OAT for a couple trips, this being one of them, so it's especially pleasing to read such a wonderful report. Glad you had a great time!

Thanks, amyb!

Here are a few pix to go along with the Andes part of the trip; click on the Peru album on
http://community.webshots.com/user/missalg

Amy, I so much enjoyed your trip report of OAT's Real Affordable Peru (I agree, the name sucks, but it is..real affordable, LOL)

I wrote an article for our local newspaper about my trip, also with OAT. If you'd like to see it, email at scarlettudor@yahoo.com. My pictures of the trip are at http://community.webshots.com/user/scarlettudor200

We also had a marvelous guide, Marco, one of the best. He told such wonderful stories of his childhood, how he became a guide. And he seriously loved the Incan stonework. The last night, we were going to a different restaurant from the tour and he excitedly said, "Take your cameras! They have a wonderful stonework wall in the restaurant!"

What did you think of the 'restroom restrictions' in Peru? I'd never run into that on a trip and it was very hard to adjust to!

As with all OAT trips, we had a small group, around 16. They were a wonderfully diverse, young group. We had 4 from Colorado who RAN up the larger peak above Macchu Picchu. I'm blocking on the name of it. Waynan Picchu? Or something like that.

I've also traveled once with SmarTours, to Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand, and found it a wonderful value. I was surprised that jkr said above that ST hotels were more upscale than OATs, since ST trips are cheaper, IMO.

I was impressed that OAT took us to the Sacred Valley immediately after we flew into Cuzco, so we could adjust to the 8,000 ft altitude there a few days before tackling Cuzco's 11,000 feet. I had started taking diamoxx before the tour and didn't suffer the effects, but my hands tingled in a very weird way on that medication. Two of the guys on our trip had 1-day 'Pachacuti's Revenge,' but recovered quickly.

If you look at my pictures, you will be amazed at how many similar shots we took!

Hi, Scarlettudor, and welcome to Fodor's! (Warning: it can get a little addictive. ) I'd love to see your article; my email is right in my profile if you click on my name. There are also some other trip reports on my profile page; let's just say that Peru's restroom restrictions were easy compared with, oh, side of the road in Tibet.

I absolutely fell in love with Peru; I've been back again, to the Amazon, and hope to return in 2010 or 2011. Just a magical, magical place.

I hope you're still watching the Forum. We are leaving on OAT's trip on May 4th. I am in a quandry about what shoes to pack. What worked for you? We do plan to do the minor hikes in Macchu Pichu, and, of course, the jungle activities. I am so excited about this trip! I think it is going to be a favorite, and we haven't left yet!
Answers appreciated from anyone, especially if experience around May/June.

Hello, makinghay! It is a great trip; Peru is special.

I wore (leather) Tevas most of the time, similar to these: http://www.teva.com/ProductDetails.aspx?g=w&categoryID=425&productID=6328&model=Pretty+Rugged+Leather+2
But then, I wear these pretty much everywhere I travel.

I also took a pair of (low top, not high-top) lightweight hiking shoes from LandsEnd; they don't have the same ones anymore, but they were similar to this:
http://tinyurl.com/csx3ny

You might want closed in shoes for a lot of the jungle activities, due to bug bites, and the trails around Machu Picchu are a bit slippery/uneven sometimes, so you need good soles, but I definitely didn't feel the need for hiking boots.

I was to the Amazon in July on my second trip, and even one month made a difference, so I'm sure May is quite different in terms of water levels and such. But I'd go any time!
(If you have or see a guide named Armando at Explorama, tell him hello from his sister Amy, okay? All the guides used by OAT in Peru seem really good, so I hope you have a great experience.)

Happy trip--I'm a little envious! I am booked to go to South Africa (with OAT, actually--only my second trip with them) on July 10th, and I'm really looking forward to that, but I still want to be returning to Peru.

Amy, What a perfect,precise,very helpful reply! I guess my Land's End beach trekers might do after all. Sole is the same. The water-draining openings on the sides are occasionally a problem when I hike in them at home. Little rocks get in, plus I've been concerned about critters crawling in or biting. But maybe with socks....What do you think?
Also, did you take an antimalarial? I just spent almost $200 on them for the two of us, then read on this forum that there maybe is not a problem? I am a mosquito magnet...big time, so need to be careful. Guess I'll go back to the CDC site and see what more I can learn. Still would like to know what others do....
We went with OAT to Tanzania...the mobile safari. Liked it a lot. Finding the animals is like doing those "find Elmo" type of pictures. Soon you can really spot the lion's black ear tips sticking up! It's fun to be first to spot them! I LOVED the tents! But most of all, meeting the tribes in their bomas, talking with them (thru our leader,of course) and getting involved in their cultural activities was the VERY best part. I know you'll have a great trip.
I can't remember OAT'S So.Africa itinerary. I really would love to do the Botswana trip...the water areas look really unique.

Well, no antimalarials for me, but of course it is very much a personal choice. I did get a few bites (and no malaria!) so they are definitely there, those mozzies, and the ants!

I've gotten these socks by ExOfficio for South Africa: http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,14456_Ex-Officio-Buzz-Off-Insect-Shield-Hiker-Socks-For-Men-and-Women.html The Buzz-Off stuff is supposed to work really well, so maybe they'd be a thought with your shoes? There are those little rocks on the MP trail, for sure, plus the slippery bit; I found it astounding that the Inka messengers used to run up and down the trail delivering messages. (sighs just thinking about magical Peru right now, what with the groceries to be put away, dinner made, stack of papers graded...)

My OAT trip is new this year, going to Kruger in SA and to Swaziland and Lesotho as well. It seems a nice mix of history/culture with the wildlife watching. There's some time in Jo'burg and Capetown mixed in. I think I'll be ready to travel independently again next year, but right now it's kinda nice to know that OAT is making all the reservations and I won't have to figure out transport.