You've got several options for an Amazon River vacation in Peru. Buy a hammock and book a cheap spot on a regular commercial passenger vessel and cruise along the main river from, say, Pucullpa to Iquitos, or even further downstream. (You could cruise all the way to the river's mouth at Belém, Brazil, and back if you had two weeks to spare.) Sure, the amenities won't be cushy, there will be no guided shore excursions, and you won't have a room to yourself, but you'll meet fellow travelers and lots of locals. Plus, the price difference between traveling on a regular passenger boat and one specifically for tourists is significant. (Regular passenger boats are much cheaper.) That said, tourist vessels do offer multiple advantages. They are cushier, feature guides and excursions, and can travel the smaller Amazon tributaries that larger vessels avoid.
If you're not a boat person but are still fascinated by and drawn to the Amazon River, base your vacation in a city on the Amazon River, such as Iquitos. Hire a guide or join a tour for shorter excursions onto the river while enjoying the amenities of dry land. You'll likely have to fly or take a boat to get to Iquitos, as road conditions in the Amazon tend to be poor or, in the rainy season, nonexistent.
If you are not inclined to attempt a multi-day hike to Machu Picchu, the next best way to get there is by train from the city of Cuzco. Periodically, severe weather conditions damage or block the tracks, which prevents the train from running--sometimes for months. Avoid traveling to Peru during the rainy season (November through March). Also, check PeruRail's website before booking your airline tickets, hotels, and so on to make sure the train is operational. Check frequently as your vacation date nears, so you can adjust your plans if necessary.
When planning your vacation, don't forget to allow at least two days in Lima (or another lower-elevation area of Peru) before heading to Cuzco, to allow your body to acclimate to higher altitudes.
Travelers on the market for an active Peru vacation should consider signing up for a guided trek or adrenaline-pumping multi-sport journey through the jungle to Machu Picchu. One classic route is the so-called Inca Trail, a multi-day hike ending at the great ruins. Be aware that--in order to rein in environmental damage from overuse--all travelers on the Inca Trail must have a permit and travel with a guide.
Contrary to what the moniker "the Inca Trail" may suggest, there isn't just one Inca trail leading to Machu Picchu. (Subjects of the Inca empire built thousands of miles of elaborately engineered roads and trails, stretching from modern-day Chile all the way to Ecuador.) Travelers wishing to venture to Machu Picchu along a less-trodden path should join a tour or hire a guide and be well prepared for conditions in the mountains.
