We are planning a quick trip in July, something like this:

Day 1:
Get into Lima, overnight hotel then early flight to Cusco

Day 2:
Rest, sightsee in Cusco

Day 3-5:
hike Inca trail

Day five: Machu Pichu, this is also where we are meeting my "elders" in the family who are electing not to hike
Overnight Cusco

Day six, seven
Flight to the Amazon area
Cant really decide between Puerto Maldonado
and Manu. This is just a taste trip, to see a little of the jungle. So we are limited, I know.

Day 8:
Half day jungle, flight to Lima

Day 9:
all day Lima

Day 10: flight back


So, my question really is about the Amazon. I have found a ton of info on hiking guide, am looking at various hotels in Lima and Cusco (nothing definite yet).
BUT- the jungle part, well I can’t really decide where to go. I think we will only really be able to hike a little and maybe take a boat trip- but we do want to see as much as we can, we would love to see more of the native people if possible.
As we are traveling with a wide range of ages, from 81 to 20, I am not looking for strictly a low end place as I would like my grandmother to be relatively comfy- but she is a trooper and easily adaptable. Ok- enough rambling, any ideas?

Can't help you with the amazon. But, my suggestion is to take one of the overnight flights to Lima and go straight to Cusco on the first flight out. No point in staying a night in Lima unless you are going to go sightseeing there.

We checked into our hotel in Cusco as soon as we arrived from the airport. Took a nap, had a massage, ate lunch, and then were ready to go walk around.

A good hotel for your elders in the Urubamba Valley - Hotel Sol y Luna ($120 for a two-person villa, $140 for a 2-story villa that can sleep up to four). They can catch the early morning train from there and not have to take as long of a train ride. They can see various ruins, visit the Pisac market, go pet alpacas, etc. between Cusco and the hotel.

I will look into the hotel, thanks.
I was thinking of having to stay overnight the first night due to the fact that the plane gets in at 11pm and i have not found any connecting flights onward until the next morning, we were going to try to find something close to the airport just for several hours.
The Lima part in the end it intentional, we are seeing some family history at the end of the trip, so we have to go back.

Ah, I've only taken the flight that leaves around 11pm and arrives around 5am.

Personally, I love Lima, particularly the food. God I miss aji amarillo.

By the way, the owner does everything via email and/or fax. He'll hold your reservation without a credit card until 30 days before your arrival when he will have you fax a copy of your credit card, along with the information page from your passport and an authorization form. It's perfectly safe.

His name is Petit.

By the way, you will really need to plan accordingly for the older folks when you are in the mountains, particularly in Cusco. Many people don't realize that Cusco is much higher than MP. The altitude will affect your elders a lot worse. Hell, I'm healthy, fit and in my 30s and it kicked my butt. It really tires you out. They may also want to talk to their docs about taking altitude sickness meds. I took them both times I went. The one night I forgot, I wanted to shoot myself in the head with a gun. It would have hurt less.

Ok, it's late, meant to say her name is Petit.

We had lunch at another nearby hotel that you might also want to check out - the Libertador Valle Sagrado Lodge. The grounds were gorgeous, and lunch was phenomenal.

I looked at the hotel site for the SolyLuna. It looks really nice, how did you get there from Cusco?
Also, we live at 10000 ft already, so it wont hit us as bad i think. My grandmother is 81 and she hikes all over the Rockies outdoing me all the time. She is taking the train. Are there any half day activities that they could do once they arrive?

We got a driver/tour guide to take us in a minivan from Cusco to Sol y Luna, stopping at various ruins on the way. Just the drive itself is beautiful. It would be a waste to take the train and miss those ruins. I would imagine your MP tour company could arrange it for you. Otherwise, the hotel should be able to.

My favorite is Pisac. My 60-year old mom had no problems with it, but a 30-something friend almost freaked out. There is one point where the path is very narrow along a sharp drop off. He is deeply afraid of heights. But the views of the terraced (farming) valley are spectacular. And depending on the day of the week, there's also the Pisac market.

We also stopped at a small alpaca/llama petting zoo. Yes, a total tourist trap, but actually well done and thoroughly enjoyable. Not overly commercial like you would find in the US. My pictures turned out phenomenal. A few of the close ups remind me of ewoks.

There are also all kinds of activities you can do once you are in the valley - hiking, horseback riding, white water rafting, hanggliding, etc.

I agree that you should be fine with the altitude. I never have a problem in Colorado, but Cusco kicks my butt.

Just some inquiries after reading your post. Based on your schedule, I'm not sure if it is feasible to go to the jungle. I have never been to Peru, but I'm making plans for this upcoming summer. Like you, I've been struggling with how to fit the Amazon into my schedule. The shortest that I have found is 4 days/3 nights. Based on previous posts, it may be wise to visit the Sacred Valley after Machu Pichu, rather than the jungle. Hopefully someone who has been to Cusco and the Amazon could clarify this. Have a great trip!

I have been emailing all the places and i think this is what we are doing,
Day 1: arrive lima
Day 2: early morning flight to CUZ, all day in CUZ, overnight Ninos hotel
Day3: Inca trail mini trek, overnight
Day 4: Machu Pichu, meet family, overnight Cuz
Day 5: flight to PEM, i think we are staying at Refugio Amazonas,
Day 6: amazon
Day 7: amazon, flight to Lima
Day 8: Lima
Day 9: leave

It is a lot of moving, but that is what we do so we are not worried.

I am thinking of going with Llama Path for the mini trek.

I think you are going to be severely disappointed with so little time in each place.

I know it is not a lot of time, but i normally travel like this.
See the place and move on, i can come back to the places i like.
The only other option is to take out the Amazon, i am willing to do that so we shall see.

The flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado is only about 30 minutes which is less time than it takes to get to the Sacred Valley.

Personally I was not impressed with Urubamba and would not stay there. Ollantaytambo is much more interesting and charming. Hotel Pakaritampu is the best hotel there.

For the Amazon I would recommend Corto Maltes Lodge. The owner is French and the food is very good. Also, the cabins have electricity, running water and private bathrooms which most Amazon lodges don't have.

Hotel Pakaritampu
http://www.pakaritampu.com/

Corto Maltes
http://www.cortomaltes-amazonia.com/

I would acclimate for more than 1 day in Cusco. When I arrived there, my friend go t really sick, I was banking on my Diamoxx kicking in, not to be. Drinking more Coca Leaf tea helped, but I would spend at least 2 full days there. I did well on the Inka Trail until about 12,000 ft. then I was not feeling so super well. Since altitude sickness may strike sometimes and sometimes not for the same person, I wouldn't risk the premilinary acclimation.

The Amazon was great, I met up with a tour guide named Juan, he was awesome, worked for small (like 2-5 people) groups, I booked him through ECS travel, I had a great time.

The OP lives above 10,000 feet, so she should have no problems.

tarps

I just came back from a full month in South America.

I did Cusco and Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and also the Amazon.
I also did Buenos Aires,Rio, Brazilia, San Paulo , then the Iguassu Falls and over to Santiago Chile.

I flew from place to place and had private tour guides meet me at the airports.... so I saw and did a lot at each location.


To the Amazon is a long flight.

Two full days there ,as you mention on your day six and seven may be okay with a private guide waiting for you at the airport.

Not that much to see in Manaus( pronouced Man- ouse, which rhymes with mouse.!)

In Cusco I stayed at the Novotel Hotel which is very nice and walking distance to the Main Square and Cathedral builings.
The Internet was $5.00 /hour (cheap).

The Sacred Valley is from Pisca to Ollataytambo .

From Ollataytambo you will take a train ride to Machu Picchu...ooops I forgot you are going to hike the trail( this takes 3-4 days).

In Lima , get a tour guide and stay in the areas of San Isidro or the Miraflores district.

These are the "safe" and classy areas of Lima.
Take the nice drive or walk on long the Lima Coast line , there is a nice long park here to view the ocean and highway down below...very nice.

Go to San Martin Plaza Square , this is another nice place to walk about.

Percy











At the Amazon I stayed at the Tropical hotel/resort and then also at the Eco Park Lodge.
I had a private tour guide and we did the Amazon for 4 full days.
The temp was about 100F and high humidity !!

Guide I had was Marco Lima
his e-mail is:
[email protected]

RBCal, how much does the Corto Maltes lodge cost? Thanks.

when u say the amazon for 2/3 days is that manu? Im looking in to doing that straight after MP - looks quite close on the map - is it easy to travel between them?