[ Spanish Version ]

Amazon Andes Peru

A view of the Amazon rainforest 5d/4n

Cusco - Pilcopata

As we leave behind Cuzco, the Inca capital, we go up a road that winds along the Andes mountains. On the way, we'll visit the Ninamarca Chullpas, Pre-Inca tombs that belonged to the Lupacas. From here onward, we start descending towards the town of Paucartambo. We then leave Paucartambo to go up to the Puna, a region that shelters unique species, such as the Vizcacha, a beautiful rodent that looks like a rabbit. The Puna is also the habitat of rarely seen predators, such as the Andean fox and the puma. As we reach 3.500 meters over sea level, a broad curtain of clouds appears before our eyes hiding the dense jungle underneath it. In Tres Cruces we'll watch the eastern side of the Andes covered by clouds.

We have now entered the Manu National Park, only 5 hours away from beautiful and frequented Cuzco City.

With the spectacular landscape of the cloud forest before us, we take a break in our trip to have lunch.

After that, we descend to the Cloud Forest where the misty tree tops are full of epiphytes, mosses and lichens. In this Cloud Forest we'll stop to search for the Peruvian national bird, the striking Gallito de las Rocas (Rupicola Peruviana). We'll reach Pilcopata at dusk, where a succulent dinner awaits us. We'll sleep overnight in the Hostel.

After breakfast, we set off to the fluvial port of Atalaya, where we shall ride a boat upriver towards the Amaru Mayu camp. During the boat ride, our guide will tell us about the different confluences of rivers in this area. Once installed in the camp, we'll walk along jungle trails, returning to the camp for dinner. Night in Amaru Mayu camp.

Very early in the morning, we'll penetrate the thick jungle to reach the place known as the Laguna Misteriosa after a 4-hour walk.
During the walk, we'll observe the difference between two types of forest: primary and secondary.

We'll take this opportunity to learn more details about different aspects of the Amazon rainforest jungle and visit the Mirador, a high place with spectacular views. After a refreshing swim in the Cascadas, we'll start our return to the camp. Lunch an free afternoon in the camp (with the most active members of the group we can continue our walks looking for different mammals or taking short boat rides in nearby places). At dusk, we'll take a night walk trying to surprise some species of nocturnal animals (monkeys, bats, bamboo rats, insects...). Night over in Amaru Mayu camp.

After breakfast we'll pick up our baggage and prepare for our return boat trip to Atalaya. During the boat ride we'll engage in bird-watching on both river banks. Once in Atalaya, we'll change our boat for a private car and drive to Pilcopata.

From Pilcopata, we'll head to the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria where we shall delight ourselves in paradisiacal surroundings with the cordiality of the Matsiguenkas and Huachipairis people. Sleep overnight in a camp.

Santa Rosa de Huacaria-Cusco

After breakfast, we shall take our last walk through the jungle towards Pilcopata. Leaving behind the Cloud Forest, we'll go up towards the Puna region for the last part of our trip which takes us back to Cuzco, the Inca capital.