Day 1: Cusco – Pona Lodge

DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Walks along the cloud forest, Visit the Peruvian National Bird LEK, Optional Visit to a tanager garden.

Day Itinerary

Departure from Cusco city very early in the morning in one of our trucks specially prepared for this road. We will pass through interesting Inter-Andean valleys and picturesque farmer communities. In the middle of the day we are going to visit the pre-Inca buried towers of Ninamarca, known as “chullpas”. After that we will arrive to Paucartambo city, which is a typical colonial town. It had a lot of importance and it still conserves it’s flavor. Continuing our trip we drive up until the Abra of Accjanaco which is found at 3850 meters over the sea. From this point we start to go down passing through the cloud forest, which is an area rich in endemic species as the spectacular “Andean Bear” (Tremarctos Ornatus) and “The Cock of the Rock” (The Peruvian National Bird), “Orquis”, “Bromelias” and “Ferns” etc. Then in the cloud forest we will visit a lek of “Cock of the Rock”, in which these birds every morning and afternoon made during a very interesting dance called “Displays”. We will spend the night at Bamboo Lodge.

Day 2: Bamboo Lodge – Papaya Eco-Lodge – Piranha Fishing

DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Piranha Fishing, Hot Spring Visit, Night Walks, Caiman Searching

Day Itinerary

After eating our breakfast, we continue the tour by bus going through the high forest arriving to Atalaya which is found next to Alto Madre de Dios River (700 meters over the sea). From this point we start to go down river in a motorized boat (60 hp). At the riverside we will have the opportunity to see a lot of bird species such as “Herons”, “Vultures”, “Cormorants” etc. Along the river there is a hot spring where we will stop for the bath; passing two in the afternoon we will arrive to our lodge. This afternoon we will head towards an Oxbow Lake where we will sail in a small balsa Raft until dark. At night we will search for caimans at this lake we will be able to observe at least two species of caimans.

Day 3: Papaya Eco-Lodge –Tapir Clay Lick (Night in the middle of the Jungle in a Camouflage House)

DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Jungle Exploration, Tapir Clay Lick, Night Walks,Canoe Sailing

Day Itinerary

In the morning after breakfast, we will explore the Jungle, along the trails we can observe several species of animals including monkeys, toucans, reptiles and amphibians, we will return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we will pack our dinner and start heading towards a Mammal clay Lick. 45min to an hour in a half walk through the forest is what takes to reach the mammal clay lick, during the walk we will be able to observe several species of animals including exotic birds like Toucans and macaws. Near the Tapir clay lick we do have a platform where we will accommodate our selves because we will spend the night in this blind from where at night we can observe Tapirs eating the clay which its reach in minerals; at the platform we do provide mattresses, mosquito nets, blankets and a toilet in the backside of the building. At this clay lick we can also observe deers, peccaries, guans, and parakeets.

Day 4: Tapir Clay Lick -Papaya Eco-Lodge – Pona Lodge

DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Morning Walks, Exploration by Canoe, hummingbird garden Visit

Day Itinerary

In the morning we will start our journey back to the Lodge for breakfast, after breakfast you will have a free time to explore the loge in your own. Right after lunch we will start travelling back to Bamboo Lodge by boat, the whole trip will take us about 5 hours. Along the way we will have more opportunities to observe several species of animals.

Day 5: Pona Lodge – Cusco

DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Birding along the Cloud Forest, toucan searching, quetzal searching

Day Itinerary

GOOD BYE TO MANU!! On the day of our return, we will have an early morning departure from the Bamboo Lodge in the direction of Paucartambo, which was the entrance point that led us into the jungle in the first place. At this time, we will pass through the beautiful Sacred Valley on the way, arriving in Cusco around 4pm.