Amazon Riverboat Expedition Cruise
& Machu Picchu Combination Package

The two most impressive sights in Peru: The Amazon River and Machu Picchu.

Our two most popular tours: the Amazon Riverboat Expedition and Cuzco & Machu Picchu can be combined into a two-week trip that will reveal the wonders of the Amazon river and rainforest along with the awe-inspiring mountain-top Inka site of Machu Picchu. Lima and Cuzco services are also included in the package.

What follows is a SAMPLE ITINERARY. Your actual itinerary may vary to suite your preferences, destinations and available options.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

Day 0, Saturday - Fly to Lima. (Optional transfer and lodging available in Lima if desired.)

Day 1, Sunday - Make your early morning flight into Iquitos. Greeting at the airport and transfer to our boat for departure on the Amazon. We depart Iquitos or Nauta on the Amazon towards the junction of the Rio Ucayali and Rio Marañon, the two rivers that mingle their waters to form the Amazon. As we travel, watch for the Pink and Gray Dolphins that can be observed from the deck and the egrets along the riverbanks.

We'll gather for a brief orientation, allowing everyone to acquaint themselves with the boat and crew. Late afternoon outing in the aluminum boats to look forbirds, monkeys and sloths along a jungle creek. With luck we'll have a terrific sunset, complete with flocks of parrots, caciques, and oropendolas heading for their rookeries. Dinner and relax before bed. (L/D)

Day 2, Monday - Dawn finds us far upriver into remote regions seldom traveled by outsiders. Before breakfast we'll take the small aluminum boats and head up a beautiful, blackwater stream to look for monkeys, parrots, and a host of other birds that will be moving at this time. Smaller streams are excellent places to observe bromeliads and orchids, and all sorts of wildlife.

Return to the boat for breakfast. Afterwards, we'll hike in the rainforest, experiencing the sights, sounds, and scent of the world’s greatest wilderness up-close for the first time. We'll take a leisurely stroll and look at plant and animal oddities along the way. This is a great opportunity for photography. We'll see some truly gigantic forest trees, complete with twisting lianas, aerial termite nests, and a host of novel flora and fauna. Upon returning to the boat we'll continue upstream. After a refreshing shower, lunch will be served and we'll talk about our morning hike and the next destination.

Mid-afternoon we'll reach a riverside community, where everyone can visit, purchase local handicrafts, and see how people live along the river. Late afternoon we'll head up a beautiful stream nearby where we can observe monkeys, blue-and-yellow macaws, and perhaps a sloth or two. Those choosing to remain on board can fish or relax with a good book, taking in the never-ending river sights: rafts of bananas, dugouts with exotic tropical fishes, etc.

After supper, we'll grab our flashlights and board the aluminum boats for an unforgettable night ride along the creek in search of owls, potoos (really weird birds), and caimans. (B/L/D)

Day 3, Tuesday - An early-morning boat ride for those who wish to see monkeys and birds. Return to the riverboat for breakfast. During breakfast, we'll continue upstream towards a huge oxbow lake. Late morning we'll board our boats and head into the lake to see Horned Screamers (really weird birds) and Hoatzins (even weirder birds). We'll continue downstream during lunch, stopping in time for a post-dinner night hike. Yes, that’s right....after dark, flashlights in-hand, we'll head slowly down a rainforest trail and gaze in amazement at the wonderful creatures on display. The forest comes alive at night and one can see everything from bizarre katydids to colorful treefrogs. We may find sleeping birds and butterflies, maybe even an Owl Monkey. Night walks are among the most unusual of experiences and an unforgettable way to appreciate the tropical rainforest. (B/L/D)

Day 4, Wednesday - We'll wake up heading towards a stream that runs through dense rainforest. The fishing and dolphin watching are superb, and birders will enjoy watching from the forward observation deck as we head upstream. After breakfast, we'll cross the river to a place where we'll walk in high forest. This is a botanical wonderland...the forest is a paradise, complete with brilliantly colored poison frogs, jumping about like tiny jewels on the trail. We return to our boat for a refreshing shower and a relaxing lunch while the boat cruises onward. Late afternoon outing in the small boats. Dusk will find us searching the skies for yet another Amazon sunset as the boat turns slowly into the mouth of a small jungle river. We'll overnight here, taking another nocturnal excursion in search of caimans and night birds (by aluminum boat). (B/L/D)

Day 5, Thursday - Dawn is a cacophony of bird noises, punctuated by pink dolphins as they exhale. Coffee and tea on the deck while we try to get some pictures of the dolphins will be followed by breakfast as the boat slowly makes its way up the river. After breakfast, we'll trade for handicrafts with the friendly people at a couple of the villages. They make beautiful and interesting items and are happy to swap for t-shirts, dollars, or Peruvian currency. The children are eager to see who might be bringing candy, colored pencils, or other exotic goodies. Also, a variety of wild animals is usually on display...pets roaming through the village. After lunch we'll head off to fish for piranha and take in the wildlife in a big lagoon filled with tropical fish like those we see in pet shops. Late afternoon will find us cruising downstream towards the Amazon. After dinner evening outing by small boat. (B/L/D)

Day 6, Friday - Friday morning we visit the river town of Requena with its interesting local market. Here you will see all types of river fish and jungle produce and meats. As we continue our trip down river, we later stop for a short hike into a small lake to view giant Amazon water lilies. Late afternoon we visit a small village with an excellent arts and crafts tradition, then we travel on to the main Amazon River and our destination of Iquitos. The boat will run all night. (B/L/D)

Day 7, Saturday - We'll arrive back to Iquitos early morning. A quick breakfast and then transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Upon arrival to Lima, airport greeting and transfer to Hotel Jose Antonio. (Optional Lima City Tour.) (B)

Day 8, Sunday - Transfer from hotel to airport for early morning flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer from airport to Hotel Royal Inca II. Afternoon tour of city and nearby ruins - Sacsayhuaman - Kenko - Tambomachay. Return to Royal Inca II for overnight. (B)Plaza

Day 9, Monday - Free day for optional activities. Overnight at Royal Inca II Hotel. (B)

Day 10, Tuesday - Early morning pickup for a full day tour of the Sacred Valley. Visit Pisac market and Ollantaytambo ruins. Lunch at Ollantaytambo. Overnight at Pakaritampu Hotel. (B/L)

Day 11, Wednesday - Early morning transfer to train station for Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Bus transfer to Machu Picchu ruins. Full day guided tour of the citadel including park entrance fee and lunch at Sanctuary Lodge. Overnight at local Hotel. (See options below.) (B/L/ maybe D)

Day 12, Thursday - Morning return to citadel (on your own) including bus and entrance fee. Afternoon Vistadome train back to Cuzco. Transfer from train station to Hotel Royal Inca II for overnight. (B)

Day 13, Friday - Late morning transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight back to Lima. Make your connections to the States or elsewhere. (B)

Day 14, Saturday - Arrive to your home.

PRICE:

The Amazon Riverboat Expedition is $2285 in DOUBLE accommodations.
                    SINGLE supplement for the Riverboat Expedition is $200.

Lima/Cuzco/Machu Picchu packages vary in cost by length of trip and number of people in your group.
    A 7 day package (as above) for 2 people in DOUBLE:
          Options of hotel Day 11:
                                        with Sanctuary Lodge: $1450
                                        with Inkaterra Machu Picchu: $1277
                                        with Hatuchay Towers: $1124
                                        with Hanapaqcha Inn: $1077

    5 day and 4 day Cuzco & Machu Picchu packages are also available. See the other options here: Machu Picchu Itineraries

The Combination Trip can start with any of our scheduled Riverboat Cruise dates and continue to Cuzco and Machu Picchu the following week.


2008 Riverboat Departures:
Sunday - Saturday
September 14 - 20
October 12 - 18
November 9 - 15 with Bill Lamar
December 21 - 27

2009 Riverboat Departures:
Sunday - Saturday
January 18 - 24
February 15 - 21
March 22 - 28 with Bill Lamar
April 19 - 25
May 10 - 16 with Bill Lamar
June 21 - 27
July 12 - 18 with Bill Lamar
August 2 - 8
September 6 - 12 with Bill Lamar
October 4 - 10
November 8 - 14 with Bill Lamar
December 20 - 26

 

NOTE: For smaller groups of 11 and under we use the m/v Cielito Lindo riverboat. For larger groups of 12 and over we use the m/v Arapaima riverboat.