DAY 01.-CUSCO CITY – MIRADOR LODGE IN THE CLOUD FOREST.

We will leave Cusco early in the morning to head out to the Manu National Park. We’ll travel through the mountains, beautiful valleys, and rural communities as well as visiting Ninamarca Chullpas (tombs) which belong to the pre-Inca culture (Lupacas). When we arrive in Acjanaco, entering the MANU NATIONAL PARK, we will have a picnic lunch in a beautiful spot.

After lunch we will descend into the mysterious cloud forest, which has a huge variety of flora and fauna, making it an ideal home for orchids and bromeliads. In the afternoon we will take a hike in this perpetual cloud forest, where we will be able to see the famous Peruvian National bird, the Cock of the Rock, with its fascinating red color and daily mating dance. You will also have the chance to see trogons, quetzal, toucans, monkeys and on a lucky day the only Spectacle Bear of South America (Tremantus ornatus). Overnight in our comfortable lodge.

L. D.

DAY 02.- MIRADOR LODGE – TROPICAL LODGE

Early in the morning, you will wake up with the sounds of the Amazonian birds and have the chance to walk along the forest visiting the local fields and plantations of coca plants, pineapples, etc. We will leave for Atalaya and on the way you will be able to appreciate many colorful birds, squirrel monkeys and brown capuchin. We will arrive at the Atalaya river port where we will board our motor boat to navigate down the Madre de Dios River for one hour to the Tropical Lodge. On the way we will stop to see if we can spot Capybaras, cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, etc.

In the midafternoon we’ll walk through the primary forest searching for families of monkeys, peccaries as well as giant kapok trees, cedar trees and many air plants. During this hike our expert guide will talk about medicinal plants, reptiles, mammals, and more from this area. Overnight in our Tropical Lodge which is a beautiful place with many flowers, hummingbirds and fruit trees.

B. L. D.

Nocturnal activities are available each night. These range from nocturnal walks, talks on different topics and caiman spotting.

DAY 3: TROPICAL LODGE

Today we’ll start early and take our motor boat to the small colpa (a clay lick) in the river bank, where hundreds of noisy species of parakeets, parrots and small macaws come to feed on minerals and salts that they find in the clay. After this fantastic display of nature we will have a healthy breakfast in the middle of Small Island.

From here we will continue by boat up the Madre de Dios River to visit Machuwasi Lake and with the help of our telescope we will be able to spot families of hoatzins (primitive bird), horned screamer, hawk, herons, capybara (largest rodent in the world) and on a lucky day a massive anaconda! Overnight in lodge.

B. L. D.

Swimming, fishing in the river and hammocks are free and safe.

DAY 04.- TROPICAL LODGE – ATALAYA PORT - HUACARIA NATIVE COMMUNITY.

Early in the morning we will have breakfast and travel 45 minutes by boat up the river until we get to the tiny river port of Atalaya, where our bus will be waiting for us to drive to Pilcopata and from Pilcopata we will walk along the high Amazonian woods.

Here our expert guide will share his knowledge about the local people. You will be able to visit the Amazonian indigenous cultures of Huacaria, each of them with their own language. The community of Huacaria has two ethnic groups the Matsiguencas and the Huachipaeris, who now make a living off of ecotourism.

B. L. D.

DAY 05.- HUACARIA NATIVE COMMUNITY - PILCOPATA – CUSCO CITY

After breakfast it will be time to say thank you to the local families for the fascinating experience with them. After saying good bye, we’ll return to Cusco after going through the Andean mountains. We will arrive in Cusco at around 4:30pm and drop you off at your hotel.

B. L.

DAY 01.- CUSCO CITY – MIRADOR LODGE IN THE CLOUD FOREST.

We’ll start our tour off at around 6:00am, leaving Cusco for Manu National Park. We’ll travel through the mountains enjoying the views of the valleys and rural communities and we’ll visit the Ninamarca Chullpas (tombs) which belong to the pre-Inca culture of the Lupacas.

When we arrive in Acjanaco, entering the MANU NATIONAL PARK we’ll have a picnic lunch. After lunch we’ll travel through the cloud forest covered with orchids and bromeliads. In the afternoon we’ll hike through the cloud forest and view the famous Peruvian National Bird, the Cock of the Rock, with their bright red color and their fascinating mating dance, as well as trogons, quetzal, toucans, monkeys and on a lucky day the Spectacle Bear of South America (Tremantus ornatus). Overnight in our comfortable lodge.

L. D.

DAY 02.- BAMBOO LODGE – ATALAYA – VILLA SALVACIÓN.

On your second day you’ll wake up early listening to the sounds of Amazonian bird singing before you take a walk along the forest and then we’ll drive past the local coca fields and pineapple plantations on our way to Atalaya.

We’ll cross the river and visit Lake Machuhuasi. We’ll look for families of hoatzins (primitive bird), horned screamer, hawk, herons, capybara (largest rodent in the world) and on a lucky day a massive anaconda! Overnight in lodge.

B. L. D.

DAY 03.- SALVACIÓN VILLAGE – SANTA CRUZ PORT – PALOTOA TEPARO NATIVE COMMUNITY MATSIGENKA

Today we’ll leave early and take a bus to the port of Santa Cruz. We will drive through some beautiful landscapes for about 2 hours. We’ll visit the Santa Cruz Ranger Station where we will register to visit Pusharo which is within the Manu National Park.

The journey continues in a small wooden boat called peque peque to Tambo Palotoa to pay to enter the community. There are at least five Amazonian indigenous groups recognized in Manu. Each one has its own language, its own harvesting techniques, hunting and fishing practices, religious rituals and medicinal methods.

The different tribes have had different degrees of contact with what we call civilization. Palotoa Teparo is a beautiful native Matshiguenka community. The Matshigueka people are becoming more and more involved in eco-tourism here.

B. L. D.

DAY 04.- PALOTOA TEPARO – PUSHARO.

Day 4 of our expedition, we will start early in the morning and board our small boat and go up this small shallow river. On the way we may have to push the boat and go walking for some parts. The area of Pusharo is related to the legendary PAITITI or to the lost gold city (EL DORADO).

Members of the native community Palotoa Teparo consider Pusharo the territory of their ancestors.

Return to Palotoa Teparo native community. Overnight

B. L. D.

DAY 05.- PALOTOA TEPARO – SANTA CRUZ VILLAGE – SALVACION VILLAGE – M IRADOR LODGE.

After our typical breakfast prepared by the families we will return to the village of Santa Cruz and on the way back we may go hiking in the primary forest.

We will enjoy the fresh water and refreshingly green surroundings of the Palotoa River and afterwards we will return to the Mirador Lodge.

B. L. D.

DAY 06.- MIRADOR LODGE – CUSCO CITY.

We’ll wake up very early so we can watch the Cock of the Rock at San Pedro. This is also where we will have breakfast. During this time we also make frequent stops to observe wildlife in the cloud forest. Today we’ll to Cusco by driving through the Andean mountains and arriving in Cusco at around 16:30 pm. Once here, you will be brought to your Hotel.

B. L.

DAY 01.- CUSCO CITY – MIRADOR LODGE IN THE CLOUD FOREST.

We will leave Cusco at around 6:00am in the morning. We’ll ride in a comfortable bus and travel through Mountains, beautiful valleys, rural communities and visit the Ninamarca Chullpas (tombs); these belong to the pre-Inca culture of the Lupacas.

Then we will climb up the last mountain and arrive in Acjanaco. From here we’ll enter the MANU NATIONAL PARK. We’ll have a picnic lunch in this picturesque area. From here we’ll go down to the mysterious cloud forest which has a huge variety of flora and fauna, as well as being the ideal home for orchids and bromeliads.

By the afternoon we take a hike in this perpetual cloud forest, where we will be able to see the famous Peruvian National bird (Cock of the rock) with their fascinating red colures, and doing their daily ritual mating dance. We will also see trogons, quetzal, toucans, monkeys and on a very lucky day the only Spectacle Bear of South America (Tremantus ornatus)! Night in our comfortable lodge.

L. D.

DAY 02.- MIRADOR LODGE – HUMMINGBIRD LODGE IN BOCA MANU

Early in the morning, you will wake up to the singing of Amazonian birds and have the chance to walk along the high wood forest and getting a view of the local agriculture like coca plants, pineapples, etc. and later on the way to Atalaya you will appreciate many colorful birds and families of monkeys. We will arrive at the Atalaya river port, where we will get on board of our motor boat (which has regular safety checks) and we will start to navigate down the Amazonian river of Madre de Dios for about 5 hours to the small community of Boca Manu.

On the way we will have an interesting stop to give us a chance to see families of Capybaras, howler monkeys, cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, etc.! We’ll travel through very isolated areas in the Peruvian Amazon where there are tribes who have had little contact with the outside word.

At night fall we can go exploring in the forest by the light of our our flashlight and search for caimans, frogs, owls, and many other night creatures around the lake. Overnight in our comfortable Hummingbird lodge.

B. L. D.

Nocturnal activities are available each night. These range from nocturnal walks, talks on different topics and caiman spotting

DAY 03.- HUMMINGBIRD LODGE – CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE

Early in the morning we start our expedition again by boarding our boat up the Manu River deep into the Manu Park. We’ll make a stop at the Ranger Station Limonal to check our permits and register our entrance to the heart of the Manu Reserved Zone. This part of the park is the center of wildlife and we will take our time to visit two beautiful oxbow lakes in Manu.

In the course of the trip we’ll look for sunbathing white caimans, enormous black caimans, and the giant aquatic guinea pig, the capybara, breeding sade-necket turtle, hundreds of sand colored night hawks roosting during the day on the trunks, several groups of macaws, parrots, Toucans and on a lucky day a jaguar resting on the river bank. In the mid-afternoon we will take some time to visit the lake Cocha Otorongo. There is an observation tower to be able to overlook the lake from a different view. Monkeys are usually easily spotted during our walks.

At around 5:00pm we will go to the Casa Matsiguenka lodge. There the families of the local community will be waiting for us to bring us to our rooms. Overnight

B. L. D.

DAY 04.- CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE

This is definitely one of the most dynamic places to see wildlife in its natural habitat! We will take a hike through this virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful oxbow lakes of Manu (Cocha Salvador). We will use a catamaran for a chance to see a huge variety of colorful birds, numerous species of monkeys, black caimans and possible encounters with Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis)! This endangered species can be seen swimming, fishing, eating and playing in the lake.

After this fantastic show we will return to our lodge to enjoy a typical Amazonian meal. In the afternoon we will have a short boat ride to cross the river and we’ll walk 4 hours through this virgin forest to see ancient kapok trees, mahogany trees, rubber trees, cedar trees as well as several mammals like the Brown capuchin monkeys, black spider monkeys and wild pigs called peccaries.

At night we can explore the forest with our flashlights looking for insects, snakes, frogs or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake. Overnight at Matsiguenka lodge.

B. L. D.

DAY 05.- CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE – PANKOTSI LODGE

Early in the morning we we’ll slowly go down the Manu River, giving us the best chance to see some migratory birds like osprey, jabirus, and wood storks. When we arrive at Boca Manu we can enjoy a typical beer from Peru, CUSQUEÑA, and other cold drinks. We will then head upriver on the Madre de Dios River in the direction to the Pankotsi lodge.

The friendly families of the Shipitiary native village will be waiting for us and we will be brought to our accommodations and appreciate a typical design of construction unique in the Amazon. Here we have an interesting program for interact and learn the different ways of living of Matsigenka tribe. Overnight

B. L. D.

DAY 06.- BOCA MANU LODGE – MIRADOR LODGE.

Today after we’ve had a great breakfast we’ll continue our trip up the Madre de Dios River in our boat and enjoy the great views of the jungle as well as just relaxing for a few hours while on this beautiful boat ride.

We’ll make a stop at the local hot springs, where we can relax in a unique and natural pond. Afterwards we’ll go to the Atalaya River port where we will get on our bus and go back to Mirador lodge and spend our last night in the Amazon.

B. L. D.

DAY 07.- MIRADOR LODGE – CUSCO CITY.

Today we’ll wake up early again so we can watch the Cock of the Rock in San Pedro and have breakfast. Afterwards, we will stop frequently to observe wildlife in the cloud forest before our return to Cusco. We will drive through the Andean mountains and arrive to Cusco at 16:30 pm. We will bring you to your Hotel.

DAY 01.- CUSCO CITY – MIRADOR LODGE IN THE CLOUD FOREST.

We will leave Cusco at around 6:00am in the morning. We’ll ride in a comfortable bus and travel through Mountains, beautiful valleys, rural communities and visit the Ninamarca Chullpas (tombs); these belong to the pre-Inca culture of the Lupacas.

Then we will climb up the last mountain and arrive in Acjanaco. From here we’ll enter the MANU NATIONAL PARK. We’ll have a picnic lunch in this picturesque area. From here we’ll go down to the mysterious cloud forest which has a huge variety of flora and fauna, as well as being the ideal home for orchids and bromeliads.

By the afternoon we take a hike in this perpetual cloud forest, where we will be able to see the famous Peruvian National bird (Cock of the rock) with their fascinating red colures, and doing their daily ritual mating dance. We will also see trogons, quetzal, toucans, monkeys and on a very lucky day the only Spectacle Bear of South America (Tremantus ornatus)! Night in our comfortable lodge.

L. D.

DAY 02.- MIRADOR LODGE – HUMMINGBIRD LODGE IN BOCA MANU.

Early in the morning, you will wake up to the singing of Amazonian birds and have the chance to walk along the high wood forest and getting a view of the local agriculture like coca plants, pineapples, etc. and later on the way to Atalaya you will appreciate many colorful birds and families of monkeys. We will arrive at the Atalaya river port, where we will get on board of our motor boat (which has regular safety checks) and we will start to navigate down the Amazonian river of Madre de Dios for about 5 hours to the small community of Boca Manu.

On the way we will have an interesting stop to give us a chance to see families of Capybaras, howler monkeys, cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, etc.! We’ll travel through very isolated areas in the Peruvian Amazon where there are tribes who have had little contact with the outside word.

At night fall we can go exploring in the forest by the light of our our flashlight and search for caimans, frogs, owls, and many other night creatures around the lake. Overnight in our comfortable Hummingbird lodge.

B. L. D.

Nocturnal activities are available each night. These range from nocturnal walks, talks on different topics and caiman spotting

DAY 03.- HUMMINGBIRD LODGE – CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE

Early in the morning we start our expedition again by boarding our boat up the Manu River deep into the Manu Park. We’ll make a stop at the Ranger Station Limonal to check our permits and register our entrance to the heart of the Manu Reserved Zone. This part of the park is the center of wildlife and we will take our time to visit two beautiful oxbow lakes in Manu.

In the course of the trip we’ll look for sunbathing white caimans, enormous black caimans, and the giant aquatic guinea pig, the capybara, breeding sade-necket turtle, hundreds of sand colored night hawks roosting during the day on the trunks, several groups of macaws, parrots, Toucans and on a lucky day a jaguar resting on the river bank. In the mid-afternoon we will take some time to visit the lake Cocha Otorongo. There is an observation tower to be able to overlook the lake from a different view. Monkeys are usually easily spotted during our walks.

At around 5:00pm we will go to the Casa Matsiguenka lodge. There the families of the local community will be waiting for us to bring us to our rooms. Overnight

B. L. D.

DAY 04.- CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE

This is definitely one of the most dynamic places to see wildlife in its natural habitat! We will take a hike through this virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful oxbow lakes of Manu (Cocha Salvador). We will use a catamaran for a chance to see a huge variety of colorful birds, numerous species of monkeys, black caimans and possible encounters with Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis)! This endangered species can be seen swimming, fishing, eating and playing in the lake.

After this fantastic show we will return to our lodge to enjoy a typical Amazonian meal. In the afternoon we will have a short boat ride to cross the river and we’ll walk 4 hours through this virgin forest to see ancient kapok trees, mahogany trees, rubber trees, cedar trees as well as several mammals like the Brown capuchin monkeys, black spider monkeys and wild pigs called peccaries.

At night we can explore the forest with our flashlights looking for insects, snakes, frogs or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake. Overnight at Matsiguenka lodge.

B. L. D.

DAY 05.- CASA MATSIGUENKA – PAKITZA RANGER STATION. BUSH HOUSE

After a healthy breakfast we will board our boat and slowly go up the Manu River to search for the jaguar, the largest cat in South America which can be seen on the sand banks and on the fallen logs.

Around the midafternoon we will go to the bush house which is on a camouflaged platform into the forest to be able to appreciate one of the largest terrestrial mammals of the Amazon rainforest, the Tapir. In this area there is a clay lick where wild pigs, dear, monkeys and turkeys come. We will overnight in tents on the platform. We will provide all the camping equipment.

B. L. D.

DAY 06.- CASA MATSIGUENKA LODGE – PANKOTSI LODGE

We’ll wake up very early in the morning and take our boat to slowly go down the Manu River. This will give us the best chance to see some migratory birds like the osprey, jabirus, and wood stork.

We’ll make a stop in the small village of Boca Manu where we can enjoy cold beers and other cold drinks! We will then head upriver on the Madre de Dios River in the direction of the Pankotsi Lodge. Here the friendly families of the Shipitiary native village will be waiting for us and we will be conducted to our accommodations. Here we’ll have an interesting program planned so we can interact and learn more about the Matsigenka tribe culture. Overnight

B. L. D.

DAY 07.- BOCA MANU LODGE – MIRADOR LODGE

Today, after breakfast, we’ll continue our trip up Madre de Dios River in our boat and enjoy the great views of the jungle as we relax during the last hours of this beautiful boat ride. We’ll stop at the hot springs, where we can relax. Afterwards we’ll head for the Atalaya port where we will get on our bus and go back to the Mirador Lodge and spend our last night in the Amazon.

B. L. D.

DAY 08.- MIRADOR LODGE – CUSCO

Today we’ll wake up early s we can watch the unique show put on by the Cock of the Rock in San Pedro. Here we’ll also have our breakfast and afterwards while traveling we’ll also make stops to observe wildlife in the cloud forest. We’ll continue our trip by driving through the Andean mountains to arrive to Cusco at around 16:30 pm.