Great Adventure

PARROTS CLAY LICK MANU, FROM THE ANDES TO THE RAIN FOREST Highlights: Hike in Cloud &Tropical Rainforest. Watch the flora and fauna, the Cock of the rock. Visit the Matshiguenka native community, Parrots clay lick.

Day 1

Leaving Cusco early, we will pass through the pre-Inca tombs of Ninamarca, the colonial town of Paucartambo known as the region’s folklore center. The next stop is Acjanacu (3,530m/11,870ft) which is the entrance to the Manu Biosphere, where we will see the Amazon Basin. After that, we’ll descend through different ecological levels such as the puna, the elfin forest, down into the lush Cloud Forest, along the way we may see endemic flora and fauna such as, butterflies, giant tree ferns and orchids, monkeys, birds like toucans, tanagers, etc. The Cloud Forest is home of Peru’s National bird which is “the Cock of the Rock” (Rupicola peruviana) and the spectacled bear (tremarctus ornatus) -the only bear found in South America. We spend the night at a comfortable Lodge.(L,D)

Day 2

After a hearty breakfast we will start our hike to the native community of Huacaria (Huachipaire ethnic group), on the way we may see birds like quetzals, cotingas, tanagers, toucans, woodpeckers, as well as some farms, here we will have opportunity to observe their culture and typical way of living, we will hike their trails and swim in their rivers. Late in the afternoon, we will return to Pilcopata to spend the night in a cozy lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 3

45 Min. ride to Atalaya (500m rainforest) where we will board our motorized canoe that will take us to our lodge (40min. down stream) situated on the banks of the mighty Alto Madre de Dios River. Here we will spend the day exploring the surrounding area and the very interesting trails that will show us an amazing ecosystem.

In a little oxbow lake and a mysterious swamp we have the opportunity to see the prehistoric Hoatzin, some Caimans, Capibaras, Squirrel monkeys, and different species of birds. After dinner, we will hear sounds of the Amazonian night like the Night Monkey(Aotus trivirgatus), the Kalinowski Rat, frogs, Great Potoos and the Pigmy Owl among many others inhabitants of the night during a night walk. (B,L,D)

Day 4

Very early we will spend 15 minutes traveling down the river by boat to observe the parrots clay lick, where different species of Parrots and parakeets will give a colorful show and an impressive uproar. We will then board our motorized boat to start the journey back towards Atalaya where our vehicle is waiting for the ride back to Cusco, arriving late in the afternoon.