Manu National Park 4 Days / 3 Nights

We will pick you up from your hotel very early, around 5:00 a.m., in one of our specially equipped vehicles for the route. We’ll travel through scenic inter-Andean valleys and picturesque rural communities, visiting the pre-Inca burial towers called “Chullpas” of Ninamarca. Around noon, we’ll pass through Paucartambo, a typical colonial town that was very important in its time and still preserves its colonial charm. Continuing the journey, we’ll ascend to the Acjanaco pass at 3,850 m.a.s.l. From here, we’ll begin our descent through the Cloud Forest, an area rich in endemic species such as the Spectacled Bear, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and more. We’ll spend the first night comfortably settled at our Orquídeas de San Pedro Camp.

Early in the morning, we’ll witness the fascinating courtship dance of the Cock-of-the-Rock, Peru’s national bird, known for its bright red-orange plumage. You’ll watch from a specially built observation platform called a “lek.” After breakfast, we continue by bus through the high jungle, arriving at the town of Pilcopata*. We then head to the port of Atalaya (700 m.a.s.l.) located on the banks of the Alto Madre de Dios River, where our motorized boat will be waiting. Once aboard, we’ll begin our descent along the river, observing a great variety of birds such as herons, vultures, and cormorants until we reach our private reserve “Erika,” where we’ll stay for the next two nights. We’ll take a short nature walk around the lodge.

*1 Free optional activity: From Pilcopata, we can enjoy approximately 1.5 hours of rafting (class I and II) on the Koshñipata and/or Alto Madre de Dios rivers, passing through the spectacular Pongo del Koñeq where we’ll stop to enjoy the scenery and bathe in the crystal-clear waters before continuing to the lodge.

*2 New (optional): Walk along a trail to an observation platform located 15 meters away from the clay lick (collpa), where we hope to spot and photograph groups of peccaries in action. Important: Sightings depend on luck, space availability, and weather conditions.

Erika Lodge is located in a transitional zone between high and low jungle (600 m.a.s.l. – 1,550 m.a.s.l.). The varying altitudes create diverse habitats, explaining the rich biodiversity of the area. After breakfast, we’ll take a five-minute boat ride across the Alto Madre de Dios River, followed by a 30-minute hike through a trail where we’ll observe and discuss interesting flora like sensitive plants, heliconias, and fruit plantations. We’ll arrive at Machuwasi Lake where we’ll set up a telescope to observe birds such as the great egret, toucans, red-crested woodpeckers, great kiskadees, cardinals, and more.

*3 Free optional activity – Canopy Tour: Erika Lodge guests can glide from tree to tree and platform to platform using harnesses on a horizontal cable system. This exciting zip-line experience allows you to see the diverse birdlife and wildlife of the Amazon from above. Our specialized staff will assist and guide you during the entire adventure and explain everything you observe from the moment you leave the ground until you rappel down from 30 meters high.

After breakfast, we’ll take a 10-minute boat ride to visit the Collpa, a clay wall on the riverbank where several species of parrots such as the blue-headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, and possibly the Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severa) gather every morning to extract and lick clay, which contains essential minerals for their diet. After this fascinating natural spectacle, we continue by boat to the port of Atalaya, where our bus will be waiting to take us back to Cusco. We expect to arrive at your hotel around 8:30 p.m.