Day 1    Cusco - Paucartambo - Pilcopata Lodge
We leave Cusco early in the morning in our prívate transportation and will arrive mid-morning at the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, commonly know as Chullpas. After a brief visit we'll continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque colonial town where we will stop for a few mintues to learn about its' history. We will continue up to the Acjanacu pass which marks the beginning of the Cultural zone of the Manu biosphere reserve. Here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such a bromeliads. During our descent into the cloud forest we'll take a break from the bus and do some walking to look for cloud forest birds such as trogons and the Peruvian National bird, "Cock of the Rock" (Rupicola peruviana) as well as a great variety of orchids, tree ferns, heliconias, mosses and lichens. In the afternoon we'll reach our lodge for dinner where we have electricity and hot water. Night in lodge. Showers and bathrooms provided.

Meals LD

Day 2    Atalaya - Machuhuasi - Soga de Oro Lodge
After breakfast we'll transfer 15 mins to the Manu Wildlife Center where we can get up close and personal with Capibaras, Tapirs, Peccaries, Monkeys and Macaws. We will continue for another 15 min until we reach the port of Atalaya and our motor boat. We'll head down river by boat 40 mins until we reach the entrance to lake Machuhuasi. After a 20 min walk we will reach the lake where we will explore by catamaran log rafts to see the Hoatzin, Horned Screamers, Oropendolas and others. Afterwards we'll go by boat to our lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we'll hike up into the forest in search of the local and endemic Choro monkeys (Yellow-tailed wooly monkey) and stop to learn about the native plants and trees along the way. Later we have free time to relax or do some fishing from the boat. Night in lodge. Showers and bathrooms provided.

Meals BLD

Day 3    Clay Lick - Shintuya - Hot Springs - Waterfalls - Shintuya Lodge
Very early in the morning we take our boat to the parrot clay lick "Collpa de Loros" located on the river banks where many species of parrots and macaws such as the Blue-Headed and Red-Shouldered Macaws 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 there before continuing down river approx.1.5 hrs until we reach the community of Shintuya where we will explore the community. Later we continue by boat to our lodge and the Shintuya hot springs where we can relax in these thermal baths before lunch. Afterwards we'll trek up into the jungle to the waterfalls. At night we'll have a night walk looking for bullet ants, colorful spiders and termite nests. Night in lodge. Showers and bathrooms provided.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Shintuya Lodge - Soga de Oro Lodge
After a delicious breakfast we'll have time for another dip in the hot springs efore we return by boat 1.5 hrs to the Soga de Oro Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we'll explore another newly discovered unnamed lake in search of wildlife then return to our lodge for free time to relax, fish or explore more of Soga's trails. Night walk options. Night in lodge. Showers and bathrooms provided.

Meals BLD

Day 5    Atalaya - Cusco
After a delicious breakfast we will come back by boat to the port of Atalaya then return by bus to Cusco observing the cloud forest on the way. We'll arrive around 5 - 7 pm.

Meals BL