Embark on an unforgettable adventure from the Andes to the Amazon, beginning with a journey through the high mountain region and a guided tour of the pre-Inca cemetery at Ninamarca. Visit the picturesque town of Paucartambo and descend through the lush cloud forest, spotting vibrant bird species including Peru’s national bird, the Rupicola peruviana. Arrive at Dorado Lodge, where you’ll enjoy comfortable accommodations and prepare for an exciting night hike.
On the second day, explore the upper Madre de Dios River by motorboat, observing diverse wildlife including macaws, eagles, jaguars, and giant otters at Lake Brashco. Visit the Diamante native community and embark on a night walk to encounter nocturnal creatures. Early on the third day, witness parrots and macaws at the clay lick before returning to Cusco. Along the way, visit a hummingbird and orchid garden, and sample local seasonal fruit treats in Pilcopata. Conclude your journey with a return to Cusco, filled with memories of the Amazon’s rich biodiversity.
Our journey begins with an exhilarating traverse ‘From the Andes to the Amazon.’ We’ll pick you up from your hotel early in the morning to embark on this unforgettable adventure.
Ascending to the high mountain area at 4000 meters above sea level, our first stop is a guided tour in Ninamarca, offering an opportunity to capture the pre-Inca cemetery. Continuing onwards, we’ll visit the picturesque town of Paucartambo, recognized by the WTO as ‘one of the best tourist towns in the world.’
Throughout the journey, you’ll be enchanted by the spectacular views of Manu’s biodiversity. Descending through the eastern slope of the Andes, we’ll traverse the cloud forest, where you can immerse yourself in the lush vegetation and spot a myriad of bird species.
Keep your eyes peeled for tanagers, quetzals, trogons, toucans, and brilliantly colored hummingbirds. Our main activity will be spotting Peru’s national bird, the Rupicola peruviana, in the San Pedro area.
As we continue our journey, we’ll reach the town of Salvación, where we’ll switch to 4×4 trucks for the final leg of our adventure. After another scenic drive, we’ll arrive at the Dorado Lodge, nestled at 300 meters above sea level.
Here, you’ll enjoy comfortable accommodations in double rooms with private bathrooms. Following a delicious dinner, your guide will provide details about the exciting activities planned for the following day, including the optional night hike.
Get ready for an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Amazon!
Early in the morning, we will board our motorboat and navigate on the upper Madre de Dios River. Downstream, we’ll enjoy breakfast on the boat as we head to the Limonal control post, where park rangers will welcome us and provide a brief overview of Manu National Park.
Continuing our journey by boat along the Manu River, weather permitting, we may have the opportunity to observe various species of birds, macaws, eagles, and mammals such as jaguars (panther onca), capybaras, tapirs, monkeys, and reptiles including the 4-meter black caiman (melanosuchus niger), white caiman (caiman crocodrylus), anaconda (eunectes murinus), and river turtles (podocnemis unifilis).
Upon reaching the port, we’ll disembark to explore the jungle amidst towering trees. Trekking through trails, we’ll spot and listen to bird and mammal calls, howls, and more until we reach Lake Brashco.
There, we’ll navigate the lake on a catamaran to observe families of giant otters (pteronura brasiliensis). After our activity, we’ll return to our boat, savoring a typical jungle lunch while cruising. Along the way, we’ll make a brief stop at the Diamante native community to support them by purchasing crafts and typical products like fish, yuca, and papaya.
We’ll continue by boat until we reach our lodge. Before or after dinner, we’ll embark on a night walk where we might encounter tarantulas, snakes, spiders, frogs, nocturnal birds, and more. Overnight at the Lodge, with an optional visit to the tapir clay lick.
Very early in the morning, we’ll venture to witness the remarkable sight of parrots and macaws gathering at the clay lick. This unique phenomenon offers a glimpse into their natural behavior as they descend to feed on the clay, essential for their digestion.
Among the diverse species present, you may spot auroras, parakeets, parrots, military macaws, blue-headed macaws, chestnut-fronted macaws, and more. Additionally, keep an eye out for Bolivian macaws, red macaws, and other species perched in the surrounding trees.
Following this captivating activity, we’ll return to the lodge for breakfast and prepare for our journey back. Boarding the 4×4 trucks, we’ll embark on a scenic 2-hour ride, traversing rivers, spotting local flora and fauna, and passing through indigenous villages en route to the town of Salvación. Here, we’ll transition from the truck to the minivan.
During our return journey, we’ll have the opportunity to visit the hummingbird and orchid garden, community-run projects showcasing the region’s rich biodiversity. Continuing in our van, we’ll make a brief stop in the town of Pilcopata, where you can support the local community by sampling refreshing juices and fruit ice creams made from seasonal fruits such as copazo, aguaje, pineapple, cocona, and more.
As we head back to Cusco, reflecting on our adventure in the ‘Lung of the World,’ we’ll drop you off at your respective hotels, concluding our journey with memories to cherish.
The Manu Adventure Park BRASHCO was an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature. From the moment we set foot in Cusco and embarked on our minivan ride, the breathtaking beauty of the Andes Mountains set the stage for an incredible adventure.
Exploring the cloud forest, navigating the Madre de Dios River, and encountering wildlife like jaguars and capybaras were just some of the highlights. The experience at Dorado Lodge felt like stepping into a natural paradise, with the sounds of birds and the freshness of the jungle air creating an immersive experience.
