Itinerary

Day 1 – Cusco → Cloud Forest → Pona Lodge

Early morning pickup from your hotel in Cusco.

Travel by private van along the Andean highland road toward Paucartambo, passing impressive landscapes and small highland communities.

Stop at the colonial village of Paucartambo for breakfast.

Continue toward the entrance of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, reaching the Acjanaco Mountain Pass (3,550 m), where you will enjoy panoramic views of the eastern Andes and the Amazon rainforest canopy.

Descend into the Manu Cloud Forest, observing the dramatic transition from puna grasslands to lush cloud forest ecosystems.

Guided roadside walk to search for wildlife, including Golden-headed Quetzal, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Amazonian Umbrellabird, trogons, Blue-banded Toucanet, tanagers, euphonias, and monkeys such as gray woolly monkeys and large-headed capuchin monkeys.

Picnic lunch along the Manu Road.

Arrival at Pona Lodge in the late afternoon.

Dinner at the lodge.

Optional night walk to observe nocturnal wildlife such as night monkeys, pacas, frogs, insects, and other rainforest creatures.

Day 2 – Pona Lodge → Atalaya River Port → Machuwasi Lagoon → Dorado Lodge

Breakfast at Pona Lodge.

Continue by van for approximately one hour, making wildlife observation stops and enjoying scenic views of the Madre de Dios River.

Arrive at Atalaya River Port and navigate downstream by motorized boat along the Madre de Dios River.

After about 30 minutes, reach Machuwasi Lagoon, the first navigable lagoon along the river.

One-hour guided forest walk before reaching the lagoon, followed by exploration by balsa-wood raft.

Observe wetland birds such as hoatzins, horned screamers, yellow-rumped caciques, orange-backed troupials, flycatchers, and many other bird species.

Lunch served onboard the boat.

Continue navigating downstream for approximately three more hours until arriving at Dorado Lodge.

Time to relax, swim in the river, or enjoy the sunset from the riverbank.

Dinner at Dorado Lodge.

Guided night walk to observe nocturnal animals and insects such as night monkeys, pacas, frogs, spiders, and other rainforest species.

Day 3 – Dorado Lodge → Parrot Clay Lick → Mammal Clay Lick → Night Walk

Very early morning departure to visit the Manu Parrot Clay Lick, where parrots, parakeets, and small macaws—including chestnut-fronted and blue-headed macaws—gather to consume mineral-rich clay that aids digestion.

Breakfast at Dorado Lodge.

After breakfast, explore nearby forest trails around the Mammal Clay Lick, searching for peccaries, red howler monkeys, and bird species such as blue-throated piping-guans and Spix’s guans.

Return to the lodge for lunch.

Lunch at Dorado Lodge.

After lunch, enjoy a short rest at the lodge.

In the afternoon, walk along lodge trails to look for monkeys such as squirrel monkeys, brown capuchins, dusky titi monkeys, and the rarely seen white-fronted capuchin.

Dinner at Dorado Lodge.

After dinner, take a guided night walk to search for spiders, snakes, tree frogs, and other nocturnal rainforest creatures.

Day 4 – Dorado Lodge → Shintuya Hot Springs → Pona Lodge

Early morning departure by boat upstream along the Madre de Dios River, searching for wildlife along the riverbanks such as capybaras, red brocket deer, and many bird species. With some luck, sightings may include giant anteaters or even a jaguar.

Arrive at the Shintuya Hot Springs, where you will enjoy a relaxing medicinal bath in the natural thermal waters.

Lunch served onboard the boat.

Continue navigating upstream for approximately three hours back to Atalaya River Port.

Transfer by minivan (about 1.5 hours) to Pona Lodge, where you will spend your final night.

Day 5 – Pona Lodge → Cloud Forest → Cusco

Breakfast at Pona Lodge.

Return to Cusco by minivan, traveling once again through the cloud forest.

Opportunities for short walks along the road to search for monkeys and birds such as Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, tanagers, quetzals, trogons, and other cloud forest species.

Picnic lunch along the Manu Road.

Arrival in Cusco in the late afternoon.