Day 1    Cusco - Pilcopata
We leave Cusco around 10 am towards the south then climb up and over the mountains passing by the Chulpas of Ninamarca. We'll have lunch in Paucartambo before descending further another 3 hrs reaching the jungle town of Pilcopata. Dinner at a local restaurant in Pilcopata. Night in basic hostal.

Meals LD

Day 2    Rafting Class 2 to 3 - Alto Madre de Dios Island
After a typical Peruvian breakfast at the local restaurant we'll take a short walk down to the Pilcopata river which later feeds into the larger Alto Madre de Dios river. We'll inflate our rafts and get to know the gear. We'll have a training session before setting off down rapids class 2 - 3 in an Amazonian paradise. We will have this stretch of river all to ourselves. We'll merge with the Pini Pini to form the bginning of the Alto Madre de Dios river. Through fast and slow sections we'll pass through a canyon and soon the port town of Atalaya. We'll dock and take a lunch break before we set off again 1 hr to land on an island in the middle of the now widening river. This is our first campsite where we can familiarize ourselves with hammock camping and tarp setups. After camp is setup we can explore the island then return to camp for dinner. We can decide on a plan for a night walk where we can visit a tapir watering hole and look for nocturnal birds. Night hammock camping.

Meals BLD

Day 3    Lake Machuhuasi - Colpa Camp
This morning after breakfast we'll pack up and raft downriver a few minutes until we reach an entrance into the forest which will lead to Lake Machuhuasi. We'll hike 20 mins to the lake then use local catamarans to paddle around the lake spotting hoatzin "Shanshos", capybaras, green parrots, turtles, egrets and kingfishers. Afterwards, we'll return to the river and have lunch before a 2 hr float downriver to our campsite near the "Colpa de Loros" (Clay Lick). In the afternoon we can go on a nature walk or swim in the river before dinner. Night walk options. Night hammock camping.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Clay Lick - Shintuya - Shintuya Lodge - Waterfalls - Hot Springs
Early this morning we'll wake up early and walk to the parrot clay lick "Colpa de Loros" located on the river banks where many species of parrots such as the Blue-headed parrot and White-eyed parakeet can be seen licking the clay to get minerals and salt supplements very important for their diet of seeds and fruits. The clay is negatively charged and helps rid them of toxins. We'll have breakfast here after the show then we'll set off again on our packrafts for approx. 3 hours along the Pantiacolla mountain range and its overhanging primary forest canopy until we reach the community of Shintuya. Here, we'll dock our boats and explore this pueblo, try fresh coconut milk, shop at the stores etc. We'll raft again another 20 mins until we reach our lodge where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we'll trek up to the Shinuya waterfalls. Arriving at the waterfalls, we can relax in the pools or jump off the 12-15 ft cliffs! We'll return to the lodge for dinner and to rejuvenate in the natural hot springs at the lodge. Night walk options. Night in lodge.

Meals BLD

Day 5    Shintuya - Cusco
Early this morning after breakfast return by motorboat from Shintuya Lodge to Shintuya then by local bus to Salvacion where we will have breakfast. We'll take a bus from Salvacion to Cusco observing the cloud forest and having lunch on the way. We'll arrive around 5 - 7 pm.

Meals BL