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We begin at the community of Huacaria and the Pini Pini river, a tributary of the Alto Madre de Dios. On this narrower stretch of river you can see rainforest wildlife in the cliffs and treetops from your raft. It feels like floating through a zoo. After approx. 4 hrs we'll pass by Atalaya then hammock camp on a river island near Salvación. The following morning we'll raft to Lake Machuwasi and Caiman Lake in the morning then we'll raft further down to the parrot clay lick, our next campsite. Early the next day we visit the clay lick then raft another 3.5 hrs to the community of Shintuya followed by Shintuya lodge for a waterfall trek and hot springs. On day 5 we take a motorboat to our second clay lick then transfer to the community of Shintuya and return to Cusco by bus. Rafting total is 61km/38mi.
Duration
Difficulty
Adventure
Walking Distance
Rapids Class
Rafting Distance
Rafting Duration
River Speed
Water Quality
Bugs?
5D4N
2.5 of 5
6 of 10
4km/2.5mi
1-3
61km/38mi
4hrs/day
5-9kph/3-6mph
Excellent
Yes
Day 1 Cusco - Santa Rosa de Huacaria
We leave Cusco at 9 am and drive towards the south then climb up and over the mountains passing by the Chulpas of Ninamarca. We have breakfast in Paucartambo before climbing up to the Acjanaco Pass followed by a 3.5 hr descent reaching the jungle town of Pilcopata then Santa Rosa de Huacaria. After dinner we'll set up for platform camping provided by the community. (* Also Option for Rafting from the K'osñipata river in Pilcopata)
Day 2 Huacaria - Pini Pini - Alto Madre de Dios - Island Campsite
After breakfast we raft class 2 - 3 until we reach the Pini Pini convergence to form the Alto Madre de Dios river which turns into a canyon near Atalaya. In the afternoon we'll reach our campsite on an island in the middle of the Alto Madre De Dios river. Night hammock camping.
Day 3 Lake Machuwasi - Clay Lick Campsite
After breakfast we raft class 1 - 2 down to an opening to a jungle trail to Lake Machuwasi. We'll explore this lake on catamarans then return to the river and raft another 1.5 hrs to our next campsite near the next morning's clay lick. Night hammock camping.
Day 4 Shintuya - Shintuya Lodge - Waterfalls - Hot Springs - Cusco
Early this morning we cross the river to the parrot clay lick, then we'll raft again 3.5 hrs to Shintuya followed by the Shintuya Lodge for hot springs and a jungle trek to waterfalls.
Day 5 Shintuya Clay Lick - Shintuya - Cusco
Early this morning we'll take a motorboat to another clay lick then transfer back to Shintuya and take a bus back to Cusco. We'll arrive in Cusco at night.
Hammock camp at Pini Pini Creek
Related Raft | Manu Rafting and Camping 3 Days | Manu Rafting and Camping 4 Days | Manu Rafting and Camping to Boca Colorado 9 Days | AmazonDay 1 Cusco - Pilcopata - Huacaria
We will leave your hotel in Cusco at 9 am and transfer to the local Manu bus station and head south passing by Lake Huacarpay where we will begin climbing through the Andes mountains through the pueblos of Huambutio and Huancarani then descend into the valley and to Paucartambo (approx. 3 hrs). Along the way we can stop for photos at the Chullpas de Ninamarca (Incan burial towers) before we arrive in Paucartambo for breakfast and short tour at the main plaza. Then we'll climb again in our van until we begin to see cloud formations at the Acjanaco pass at 3502m/11489ft, our gateway into the cloud forest. During our decent into Manu our surroundings begin to seem greener and quickly turn into a lush habitat with views of Amazonian canyons, mountain ranges, waterfalls and drops. We'll stop along the famous birding hotpsot "Manu Road" for lunch and a short birding hike in search of Peru's national bird, the "Cock of the Rock" as well as trogons, woodpeckers, oropendolas etc. then continue on by van for approx. 1 hour reaching the jungle town of Pilcopata then 15 mins to the community of Huacaria. We'll have the afternoon to meet the locals and go on a nature hike. After dinner, we'll set up hammocks at Huacaria's platform camp area followed by a night walk. Night platform camping.
Full Day
30 mins
1+ hr
Hammock
Meals LD
Day 2 Huacaria - Pini Pini River - Alto Madre de Dios Island
After a typical Peruvian breakfast provided by the community we'll carry our packs/rafts a short walk down to the Pini Pini river At the river we'll inflate our rafts and get to know the gear. We'll rig our packs to our boats before setting off down this twisting class 2+ Amazon highway. We may hear monkeys, see passing kingfishers or groups of oropendolas from our packrafts. We will not see tourists or motorized boats until we reach Atalaya and Salvacion 14km/9mi later. The Pini Pini section is the area with the best photo opportunities. Bring a long lens if you have it! After a couple hrs we reach the confluence with the Queros river and we are now rafting the very beginning of the Alto Madre de Dios. We maneuver through a canyon and reach a waterfall spilling into a quiet slow section and now arrive at the port of Atalaya where the river widens. We continue further downriver to a couple of islands to camp on. There is a tapir watering hole on one while another is a good spot for hearing the night calls of the common potoo (Nyctibius griseus). After we're setup, dinner is provided then we will decide on a plan for a night walk where we will be delighted with colorful bioluminescent moths, night birds, generator-sounding crickets and yelping frogs. Night hammock camping.
3 hrs
2 hrs
1+ hr
Hammock
Meals BLD
Day 3 Lake Machuwasi - Colpa Camp
This morning after breakfast we'll pack up and raft downriver a few minutes until we reach an entrance into the forest which will lead us to Lake Machuwasi. We'll hike 20 mins to the lake then use local catamarans to paddle around the lake spotting hoatzin "Shanshos", capybaras, green parrots, turtles, egrets, flycatchers and oropendolas. Afterwards, we'll return to the river and have lunch before a 1.5 hr float downriver to our next campsite near the parrot clay lick "colpa de loros". In the afternoon we can go on a nature walk or swim in the river before dinner. Night walk options. Night hammock camping.
40 mins
20 mins
2 hrs
2 hrs
1+ hr
Hammock
Meals BLD
Day 4 Clay Lick - Shintuya - Shintuya Lodge - Waterfalls - Hot Springs
Early this morning we'll cross the river to the parrot clay lick where flocks of parrots such as the Blue-headed parrot and White-eyed parakeet can be seen licking the clay to get minerals and salt supplements very important for their diet of seeds and fruits. The clay is negatively charged and helps rid their digestive system of toxins. We'll have breakfast here after the show then we'll set off again on our packrafts for 3 hours floating by the Pantiacolla mountain range and its overhanging primary forest canopy until we reach the community of Shintuya. Here, we'll dock our boats and explore this town, try fresh coconut milk, shop at the stores etc. We'll raft again another 45 mins until we reach our lodge where we will have lunch. In the afternoon we'll trek up to the Shinuya waterfalls where we can relax in the pools or jump off the 12-15 ft cliffs! We'll return to the lodge and head down to the beach for dinner next to a bonfire. Afterwards we can rejuvenate in the natural hot springs under the natural moonlight. Night in lodge.
1 hr
3.5 hrs
1 hr
2 hrs
2+ hrs
Lodge
Meals BLD
Day 5 Hot Springs - Shintuya Clay Lick (Weather Permitting) - Shintuya - Cusco
This morning we take a motorboat to the nearby clay lick "collpa de loros" followed by breakfast at the lodge then a 15 min motorboat transfer back to the community of Shintuya. From here we take the local bus back to Salvación where our private van will be waiting to take us back to Cusco arriving at your hotel at night.
1 hr
Full Day
Meals BL
