Hi all,
My wife and I are looking to go to South America this year and a guided Machu Picchu trip through Gap is reaching the top spot on our list along with another short trip in another city/country or an Amazon Jungle trip as well for 2-4 days.
We are in our late 20's, want to have it be an adventure but not camping style. We like the classic/standard trips from Gap and Intrepid (not the basic but not the luxury either).
I can get a great deal on our next Gap trip (5% off plus a $500 voucher) plus we have free airfare to South America through award miles, so we are looking to score a solid trip on the cheap! 
What I was thinking was doing the following short 8 day Gap trip that is basically Machu Picchu, Lima and Cuzco:
http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/machu-picchu-adventure/SPMP/2011/
We are purposely avoiding the Inca Trail hike as I think it is a little out of my wife's league and interest (4 days hiking is way too much).
So with only 8 days, where could we tack on another 2-4 independently at the beginning or end from Lima (if not independently, maybe through another agent)? Alternatively, we could do this Gap trip which basically adds 2 more days onto the 8 day trip in the Amazon for a total of 10:
http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/amazon-to-the-andes/PAA/2011/
Yet another option is to replace the extra Amazon trip with Lake Titicaca and the Islands of Uros (also double the price for only 2 more days). That trip is here:
http://www.gapadventures.com/trips/peru-explorer/SPLC/2011/
The downside is that with these 2 additional days through Gap, it nearly doubles the total price of the trip for only 2 more days! Is that worth it? Is there a better option like a side excursion outside of Lima on our own to something more unique and off the beaten path? We could even take a local flight to Bolivia, Ecuador or Chile for 3-4 days.
We are open to really anything. Should we try and get to Lake Titicaca? The Amazon? La Paz? Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated!
Macchu Picchu Trip Plus What Else?
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Have you tried costing out the Amazon jungle extension on your own?
Most of the lodges have travel agent functions and can put the whole thing on for you.
I would try to do it for more than 2 days, that gives you very little time to see anything, other than travel.
There are some good values in the lodges near Iquitos (where you will see the real Amazon river). I think about 4 nights at a lodge is about right. It's actually better to go during high water season since wildlife viewing is generally easier and better (the monkeys can be seen from canoes on the tributaries rather than hiking thru mud and mosquitos!). Tahuayo Lodge is okay especially for a couple.
bluesphee,
you could look at visiting Manu Biosphere from Cusco. We travelled from Cusco to Cock of the Rock Lodge for a 2 night stay last August and thoroughly enjoyed crossing the Andes by vehicle and dropping down to the Madre de Dios River through elfin and rainforest. Photos are here, http://picasaweb.google.com/Treepol/SouthAmericaPeruInclManu#
From CORL it is possible to drive on to Manu Wildlife Center, see this trip report for ideas of what MWC has to offer http://www.fodors.com/community/south-america/final-tr-cuzcoenvirons-and-amazon-manu-wildlife-center-long.cfm and the photolink http://tinyurl.com/32pgvbt.
Alternatively, Explorama offer a range of accommodation options on the Amazon mainstream out of Iquitos. More information here, http://www.explorama.com/. There are a number of 2-4 night stays available some of which include the canopy walkway which I recommend.
Happy planning,
Pol
You can set up Titicaca Bolivia selfguiding cheaply.
www.titicacaperu.com www.edgaradventures.com
Grupo Ormeno best bus to www.boliviabella.com
www.lokihostels.com La Paz if you chose to enter Bolivia
www.bothyhostel.com or www.casa-andina.com nice Puno hotel.
Amazing place take the fast boat to Taquile overnite amazing.
or for best jungle from Cusco
www.inkanatura.com www.manuadventures.com based on budget.
Happy deciding,
Hi Bluesphee,
Not sure if you've organised your trip yet, or perhaps you've already been and returned, but we just visited Sth America and had an incredible time in Peru with Adios Adventures.
When planning our trip back in 2010, we googled Gap vs Intrepid but saw Adios mentioned in a few threads. Adios is local, so it is much much cheaper. But perhaps more importantly for you, you can build your own itinerary and your own dates, WITHOUT the price doubling on you unexpectedly. We travelled for 16 days, guided for half of it (the Machu Picchu half of course) and were set up in beautiful accommodation the whole time, all a lot cheaper than doing it with Gap or Intrepid. I would highly recommend you chat to Jacquie at Adios if you haven't booked your trip already! : http://www.adiosadventuretravel.com/
If you want any more information about Sth America, we visited Rio, Santiago, Easter Island, La Paz, and Peru for a total of about 6 weeks, just in July this year. Would be happy to share any tips if you need it.
Good luck!
-- Emily