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Simply referred to as "Creek #3" this unexplored waterway has no name. You can't get there with a tour group. The wildlife there has never seen people or even heard a motorboat. It's only visitors are the tapirs, caimans, peccaries, macaws and freshwater stingrays which buzz around its waters. The deeper you go in the greener and more lush it gets. The more remote it feels and the more bizarre it becomes. This is not a tour. It's real exploration and the only way to get there is by packraft.
Duration
Difficulty
Adventure
Walking Distance
Rapids Class
Rafting Distance
Rafting Duration
River Speed
Water Quality
Bugs?
3D2N
3.5 of 5
9 of 10
6.5km/4mi
1-2
40km/25mi
~6hrs
3-5kph/2-3mph
Murky
Yes
Day 1 Puerto Maldonado - Malinowski River
We leave Puerto Maldonado at 7 am and drive west on the Trans-Amazonian highway until we reach a crossroad where we either walk or take a mototaxi 4 miles to a creek known by the locals as the "Mississippi". There we begin our rafting and we'll reach the Malinowski River where we float down 10 miles and either camp on a sandy beach or in the forest canopy in hammocks.
Day 2 Creek #3
This morning we raft down a short distance until we reach Creek #3 which is a long, up to 10 mi unexplored waterway. It is never visited and unknown to local tour lodges. This preserves its splendor and provides unspoiled habitat for a variety of birds, reptiles and large mammals. We'll paddle up this creek maneuvering around downed trees looking for tapirs, caimans and even freshwater stingrays! We'll reach up to 3 miles in at around lunchtime and decide on a suitable campsite for our hammocks overlooking the creek.
Day 3 Creek #3 - Tambopata River - Puerto Maldonado
In the morning we'll decide as a group whether to continue further up the creek or begin our return to the Malinowski River. We can also sleep in late and watch toucanettes, macaws and parrots from our hammocks. Back at the river we'll have lunch before rafting a short distance to the Tambopata River confluence and continue another 2.5 hrs and finally through a fun rapids section before reaching our take out point and private van waiting to take us back to Puerto Maldonado.
Baby Caiman
Related Raft | Tambopata Reserve Packrafting 8 Days | Laberinto's Oxbow Lakes and Creek 6 Days | Boca Colorado to Laberinto 8 Days | AmazonDay 1 Puerto Maldonado - Malinowski River
We will leave your hotel in Puerto Maldonado at 7 am in our private van and head west on the Trans-Amazonian highway for approximately 1.5 hrs. After arriving at a crossroad we will either take motorcycle taxis or walk with our gear. Along the route to our put-in location we can find parrots, macaws, caciques and oropendolas in the trees. It is a nice walk with plenty of shady areas for taking breaks. After 1-2 hrs and 4 mi later we'll arrive at the Mississippi Creek where we'll have lunch and a short briefing on our trip. We'll inflate and rig our boats before setting down the creek for a short distance until we reach the Malinowski River. During this section of river we can find goldminers, taricaya turtles and small caimans on the riverbanks. We'll see firsthand the effects of Amazon deforestation. We'll raft 10 miles over about 3hrs spotting white-necked herons, great black hawks and pairs of macaws crossing the river overhead. In the afternoon we'll pull over at either a sandy beach or bushwhack into the forest canopy for setting up hammocks. This can depend on group preference and remaining daylight. Night camping.
1.5 hrs
2 hrs
3 hrs
Hammock
Meals LD
Day 2 Creek #3
This morning after breakfast by the river we get back on the Malinowski River in our packrafts and float about 7 mi to Creek #3's entrance. This creek can go on for 10 mi. It has both narrower and wider lake-like sections and downed logs we must either go around, under or over in our boats. At least 95% does not require getting out of our boats and can be paddled. There are also some swampier areas and flowing grassy areas. Unlike the river the creek has clean water and unlike areas which have been spoiled by loud motorboats and frequent tourist visits this creek is unknown, unexplored and only reachable by packrafts. In fact we have a good chance to see tapirs in the daytime as opposed to nighttime only. As we wind around bends in the creek we have chances for the element of surprise. At about an hr in we'll pull over and explore an old oxbow lake which has dried up but now makes a great spot for tapirs and their tapir trails. Further up it widens and resembles an oxbow lake before narrowing again and becoming more lush for birds like the hoatzin, green parrots and red and green macaws. And even further up at over 2 miles from the river we can find more exotic things like hanging birds nests made from algae and the spotted freshwater stingray with a size up to .5 m! As a group we'll decide when to stop for lunch, how far we want to go and where would be the best place to watch the creek wildlife from resting in our hammocks. Tonight your guide will serve you a hot dinner right in your hammock if you prefer. Night camping.
2.5 hrs
3+ hrs
Hammock
Meals BLD
Day 3 Creek #3 - Tambopata River - Puerto Maldonado
This morning we will decide as a group whether to continue up the creek or begin our way back to the river. From this point on it's all unexplored so there's no way to know what we can find further up. Afterwards we'll return to the Malinowski River and arrive in time for lunch. Now the Malinowski picks up a little speed and starts to get fun. After rafting a short distance we reach the Tambopata confluence and now take this river another 8 mi and finish with a fun class 2 - 3 rapids section before reaching our take out point where our private van will be waiting to take us back to Puerto Maldonado arriving at your hotel at night.
3+ hrs
2.5 hrs
1.5 hrs
Meals BL
| Group Size | All Included | No Gear | No Gear / Meals | Transp. Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $750 | -- | -- | Private |
| 2 | $450 | -- | -- | Private |
| 3 | $350 | -- | -- | Private |
| 4 | $350 | -- | -- | Private |
| 5 | $300 | -- | -- | Private |
| All Included | No Gear | No Gear / Meals |
|---|---|---|
|
• All Packrafting Equipment • All Camping Equipment • Meals - 2B / 2L / 2D • Hotel Reception • RT Private Transfers from PEM • English-Speaking Guide |
• Meals - 2B / 2L / 2D • Hotel Reception • RT Private Transfers from PEM • English-Speaking Guide |
• Reception - Taxi Transfers • Hotel Reception • RT Private Transfers from PEM • English-Speaking Guide |
| All Included | No Gear | No Gear / Meals | Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
|
• Light Sleeping Bag • Backpack (Daypack) • Change of Clothes • Light Jacket • Raincoat / Poncho • Flashlight / Batteries • Hat / Sunblock / Sunglasses • Insect Repellent • Toilet Paper • Snacks • Water Bottle • Swimsuit |
• Packraft / Paddles / PFD • Dry Bag 50l+ • Hammock w/ Bug Net • Rain Tarp • Light Sleeping Bag • Backpack (Daypack) • Change of Clothes • Light Jacket • Raincoat / Poncho • Flashlight / Batteries • Hat / Sunblock / Sunglasses • Insect Repellent • Toilet Paper • Snacks • Water Bottle • Swimsuit |
• Cook Kit / Gas • Meals (2B / 2L / 2D) • Packraft / Paddles / PFD • Dry Bag 50l+ • Hammock w/ Bug Net • Rain Tarp • Light Sleeping Bag • Backpack (Daypack) • Change of Clothes • Light Jacket • Raincoat/Poncho • Flashlight/Batteries • Hat / Sunblock / Sunglasses • Insect Repellent • Toilet Paper • Snacks • Water Bottle • Swimsuit |
• Camp Chair • Binoculars • Long Camera Lens • Afterbite |
• Prices are per person according to your group size.
• All prices are for your own private group. We will not "pool" your group with other groups.
• We require a deposit which we refund 100% with the return of all undamaged equipment.
• We have included prices for those wanting to bring their own camping gear and/or meals. For all 3 options your transportation, lodging and guide are included. Contact us if you will be bringing specific gear for adjusted prices.
• "Local" transportation is a 15 passenger Sprinter van which is available to the public. You will be sharing the bus with local Peruvians. We leave Cusco at 11 am and arrive in Manu at dusk to dark. There is only 1 stop in Pilcopata for lunch. The Mercedez Sprinter is a high ceiling passenger van built for comfort.
• "Private" transportation is an 11 passenger Toyota H1 van for your group only (Sprinter also avail). We leave Cusco at 5 am with time for stops for breakfast, lunch, photos and a 30 min birding hike along the "Manu Road". We will arrive in Manu in the early afternoon.
• There are also options for private transportion for groups of 1-3 with an additional cost or local transportion for groups of 3 or more with slightly lower costs. Contact us for more info.
• Contact us if your group is larger than 5 people for more options.
Cancellations: We are not responsible for natural occurances, delayed or cancelled flights, political protests or personal sickness.
Refunds: Tours and deposits (partial payments) are 100% refundable if cancelled within 2 months of your reserved start date. Partial refunds of 50% are available up until 2 weeks of your reserved start date. This is to protect us from any loss as we operate 1 group at a time. If we have reserved your dates then denied availability to another we are unable to fully refund a deposit or full payment according to specified time limits.
Gear: Our equipment is expensive and has to be imported so we require a 100% refundable deposit (specified in "Rates") in case of any loss. This is 100% refundable at our office in Cusco following our trip provided that all gear is returned and undamaged. This includes replacing any lost items, repairing holes in packrafts or mosquito nets etc. We're in this together and any lost or damaged gear in the field can make for a difficult trip. Please follow our simple guidelines for gear care.
Gear Care: Please review the following helpful guidelines in order to avoid any additional fees.
1. For our jungle trips and after arriving to our campsites on the river bank, simply deflate your raft. Please do not carry your raft into the forest. At most campsites there are bamboo thorns which can put holes in your boat. Your guide is responsible for taking care of your boat at campsites. Please do not under any circumstance carry a fully inflated packraft into the forest!
2. Keep a list of provided gear and check this list every morning before rafting. You are responsible for any gear items left behind at campsites. Your guide is unable to check all items for all group members. If something is missing please bring it to your guide's attention.
3. Be mindful of your boat's inflation volume (tightness). It can get hot in the jungle and regulation is very important as to prevent any warping to your packraft.
4. No smoking in your boat or in your hammock. You do not want to sink or let any bugs in.
Safety: We are not responsible for any injuries, sickness or accidental death. Sorry, we've got to put it out there but know that we have not have had any issues thus far. Although the jungle has been portrayed as a dangerous environment with flesh eating disease, hungry piranhas and man-eating caimans, this is not the case. You are more likely to hurt yourself with your own machete or with a nasty fall. As with any forestal environments there are precautions to take such as watch where you step and what you touch. Be aware of your surroundings always. Listen to your guide's instructions both on the river and at camp and most of all, have a humble attitude. The Amazon commands the greatest respect from the most experienced campers to local guides to the indigenous for good reason. For experienced rafters, the river may not act according to your experience creating eddies where they shouldn't be or unexpected moments of turbulence from below the surface.
Machete Safety: Always swing your machete away from your body, never towards your limbs and especially your legs. Be aware of anyone in close proximity and warn others nearby of anything you need to cut down. Do not cut anything towards your arms or hands such as small sticks, cordage etc. Always cut out and away. If you are unsure of any machete work, let your guide help or do it for you.
River Safety: No experience is required for most of our rafting trips as we mainly stick with class 1-2+ whitewater. Please consult with us before booking as we are not responsible for river levels and changing conditions nor are we responsible for your boating skills. In most cases there is a road which follows our river so at any time you do not want to continue, let your guide know. Not to worry, we prefer calmer rivers for sightseeing as opposed to wild and rocky adrenaline rushes.
Conclusion: Whew! We don't like these things either and appreciate you taking the time to read this. Glad that's over now let's just have fun! We are sure it will all go well, but if you have any questions or concerns just let us know. We are happy to help.
