River Cruise on the Amazon? And a trip to Macchu Pichu?
 

We are interested in a July - August 2010 trip river cruise of the Amazon and an extension to Machhu Pichu. Does anyone have any suggestions? We are two relatively fit 50+ women who love wildlife and photography. We are looking for something comfortable but it doesn't have to be over-the-top luxury.

Any leads much appreciated. We are looking at Green Tracks.

we were there two years ago, three fifty somethings. We went to Eco Amazonia Lodge outside of Puerto Maldonado. We flew from Cuzco and were picked up at the airport and taken by long boat for around 45 mintues down the Madre de Dios river to the lodge. We loved it. It was not on the tour, but asked the manager if we could visit a local village and one of the guys took the three of us down river further and we were the only ones to visit this village. Amazing.
http://www.ecoamazonia.com.pe/
Highly recommend it. It was not overly luxurious but clean and comfortable and the tours and staff were wonderful.

In Cuzco we stayed on the plaza de Armas at the Plaza de Armas hotel. We did the short inca trail which was wonderful and spent one splurge night at the santurary hotel at Machhu.
We also went to Lake titicaca which was a highlight, but then the above two were just as much a highlight too. Amazing trip and you will love it I am sure. let me know if you have any questions.

I just re read your post. You want a RIVER CRUISE....not a place to stay on the river. Sorry,

All the Amazon cruises leave from Iquitos

www.amazontours.com Greentracks do the riverboat type

or you could do the fast boat to Tres Fronteras area

if you have more time for a real journey...

www.peruforless.com does great custom tours to MP

or www.kuodatours.com a little more upscale...

the Golfinho II leaves early in the morning (6:00 am from Iquitos and 5:00 am from Santa Rosa Island, Peru near Tabatinga, Brazil) and features a full meal and beverage service with breakfast, lunch, and a snack in the afternoon. The trip is largely non-stop, and make required stops for the Peruvian National Police and inspections customs. This wonderful Amazon River cruise passes through the last remaining virgin tropical jungle left in the Amazon. Travelers can witness spectacular views of the jungle canopy. Virgin jungle is easy to spot with its distinguishing three-story canopy of tree crowns. Golfinho is a Portuguese word and translates to dolphin in English, therefore the dolphin logo featured on the boat. Moreover, travelers can often witness real golfinhos, pink river dolphins, principally near Caballococha, Peru where the boat temporarily detours by traveling up a branch of the main Amazon River. Additionally, numerous species of herons (garzas, in Spanish) and other magnificent animals are regularly seen during the trip.

Thanks, Live42day -- Although it's not what we're looking for, it sounds really amazing and we'll check it out. I appreciate you writing.

We are doing www.explorarama.com from Iquitos. Looking forward to the adventure!
Good luck
Susie

Susie, when are you going?

My mom and uncle want go to Iquitos too and make that trip from Iquitos to Thre frontiers its leave every Sunday at noom arrive on Wednesday in Santa Rosa border with Brasil and Colombia they wil stay in a hotel Colombia side then next mornig at 04.00 a.m return to Iquitos by Speed boat