EXPEDITON TO CONDEJA RIVER 5d/4n

(in and out by bus)

The program can change according to the weather, river conditions and wishes of the group. 

ON THIS TOUR YOU GET VISIT THE FOLLOWING PLACES:

NINAMARCA PRE- INCA BURIAL TOWERS (cullpas):

Ninamarca is a pre-inca burial cemetery located along the road of Manu National Park at 3700 masl. As a silent reminder the tombs, called "Chullpas", mark the pre-Inca civilization of the Lupaca people that inhabited the Andes a long time ago.

See the Photo Gallery

PAUCARTAMBO

This village is located in a valley at 2,906 masl.  Paucartambo overwhelms you by its beauty and simplicity. This colonial style town is home to recognized folk traditions, such as its famous festival to the “Virgen del Carmen”, the sunrise in “Tres Cruces” (three crosses), and the ancient traditional culture of the cultivation of the Peruvian potatoes.

Boundaries:
North: Madre de Dios Region
East: Quispicanchi Province
South: Quispicanchi Province
West: Calca Province

See the Photo Gallery

CLOUD FOREST:

Manu covers many types of ecosystems that increase the biological diversity which is enhanced by its different ecological levels. The most southern point of the park, called Acjanaco is 3550masl., its landscape is described as PAJONAL ALTO ANDINO or high Andean grassland. The vegetation in this zone is short and not very abundant; the climate is frequently cold and wet.

Descending by these PARAJES we arrive at the elfin forest with its stunted trees, cold and humid air and a diversity of flora and fauna typical to the zone. Further down, between 3000 – 1550masl it becomes the cloud forest, an ecosystem which receives a lot of rain. Here we find a great number of endemic species such as the Spectacled Bear and the Cock of the Rock bird (Rupicola peruviana)– the Peruvian National bird.

There also you can see species of birds like:
•    Crimson –Mantled Woodpecker
•    Sickle-winged Guan
•    Black-streaked Puffbird
•    Brown-backed chat-tyrant
•    Golden-headed quetzal
•    Higland motmot 
•    Many-spotted Humingbird.
•    Masked trogon
•    Speckle - faced Parrot
•    Violet-fronted brilliant
•    White-rumped hawk
•    Aplomado Falcon
•    Blue - banded Toucanet
•    Brad - winged Hawk
•    Tanagers, barbets, and flower creepers.

In addition to the birds you also get see mammals like:
•    Woolly monkeys
•    South American Coati
•    Brown capuchin monkey
•    Taira
•    Andean fox
•    Brown agouti

See the Photo Gallery

BAMBOO LODGE:

Our lodge is found at 550 masl. in a quiet place 30 minutes before Pilcopata. The lodge was built in 2004, it has private bungalows with two rooms and two beds in each room, and each bungalow has a private bathroom with both cold and hot water in the showers.  The lodge has kitchen and dining room. The walls of lodge are built with bamboo tree, the roof is constructed of giant grass which grows in the area, and the floor is made of wood. Near to the lodge there is a small coca plantation.

See the Photo Gallery

ALTO MADRE DE DIOS RIVER:

Madre de Dios River starts in the highlands of Cusco; the beginning of the river is called Pilcopata River, near to Atalaya (the place where we start our trip by boat).  Pilcopata River joins Piñipi River and it is here that the river changes its name to Alto Madre de Dios River.
The Madre de Dios River is the namesake to the Peruvian region (Madre de Dios Department). It runs through this region then becomes the Beni River in Bolivia and later turns northward into Brazil, where it is called the Madeira River. The Madeira is a tributary to the Amazon River.

BONANZA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE:

Bonanza Ecological Reserve encompasses approximately 1200 hectares of pristine jungle; the area is composed of a bamboo forest and primary forest.  In the bamboo area you can see various species of anteater birds and also many groups of squirrel monkeys. The primary forest is composed of large trees (Ceibas, fig trees and iron trees). In the primary forest there is a mammal clay lick where we often see several wild pigs (white lipped peccary).  In addition to wild pigs, you can also see deer and tapirs. At the lodge we provide bungalows either single or double rooms, a dining room, a kitchen, bathrooms and showers.

 See the Photo Gallery

 

Tour Itinerary

 

 

DAY 1 CUSCO – PILCOPATA.

We leave from Cusco by private bus, first stopping to visit the pre Inca burial towers of Ninamarca. We then drive through the mountains, to get to the typical and folkloric town of Paucartambo . Here we will have a short walk around town before carrying on to Tres Cruces, the highest point and entrance to Manu National Park .From here we will continue into the Cloud Forest and at San Pedro we will walk for around 1 hour to observe the National bird of Peru , the cock of the rock, and many different kinds of monkeys, plants and flowers.  We arrive to Pilcopata in the evening where we will sleep in a local lodge.

DAY 2 PILCOPATA –BONANZA.

After breakfast we will continue by private bus to Atalaya. On the way we will stop to observe a plantation, we will also stop at a view point where you can get a good overview of the jungle and river. From Atalaya we leave by motorized boat to Aguas Calientes, where you can bath in the nature hot springs . From there we will continue by boat to Bonanza (camping platforms).  We will arrive mid-afternoon.  In the late afternoon we will walk in the jungle and fish in the river, returning to Bonanza for dinner.  After dinner we will take a night walk in the jungle to look for spiders and snakes. We will camp on our platforms in tents.

DAY 3 BONANZA CONDEJA RIVER . ( Manu National Park )

We walk thought the jungle to the Condeja River , bringing all the equipment including food. On the way we will appreciate many different kinds of animals; such as tapir, collared peccaries, monkeys, coati; birds such as eagles, parrots, toucans, medicinal plants, flowers, and the giant trees of the jungle. On arrival we will swim in the river and fish. After dark we will catch Caimans. We camp close to the river in tents, deep in the jungle.

DAY 4  CONDEJA RIVER - SALVACION.

We walk to the Gallinaso River where we will take a small canoe back to Bonanza. From here we take our boat to Salvacion.  In the late afternoon we will walk in the jungle and we will visit a lake and take a balsa raft giving us the opportunity to see many different kinds of wildlife, and the beautiful sun set from the jungle. After dark we will have another opportunity to catch Caimans.  In the evening we will build a bonfire, which we can sit around, relax and have some drinks.  We will sleep in tents on the sandbank.

DAY 5 SALVACION - PILCOPATA - CUSCO .

We will get up early to visit the parrots clay lick and after we will return to Atalaya by boat where our private bus will waiting for us to take us back to Cusco via the cloud forest and Paucartambo.  We will arrive back in Cusco in the late afternoon.

THE TOUR INCLUDES:

• Bilingual tour guide (English – Spanish),
• Bus mini bus from Cusco to Atalaya (round way),
• Boat from Atalaya to bonanza Ecoligical reserve (round way),
• Mineral water,Rubber boots,
• Tents for 2 person.
• Hostal in Pilcopata, 
• Entrance tickets to all the private reserves and clay licks,
• Lifejackets,
• Meals (three times per day),
• First aid kit.