Itinerary dedicated to the discovery of regions and communities of the province of Manu, Madre de Dios, Peru.
Introduction
60% of Peru is covered by tropical forests. In particular, the Manu Amazon rainforest has characteristics that make it a very interesting area to explore:
It has one of the greatest biodiversity in Peru.
It can be easily reached from Cusco by land thanks to a new paved road.
It is still little reached by tourism, so it retains its cultural and naturalistic integrity.
It is home to several native communities, mainly of the Harakbut, Machikenga and Yine ethnic groups.
Our itinerary takes place in an area that is not yet lowland forest, so the climate is not extremely hot and humid and the presence of mosquitoes and insects is still limited; there are rock formations and modest geographical differences, therefore waterfalls and various water courses.
This trip has different motivations besides those related to nature and contact with a native community; it can also be defined as a trip from the Andes to the Amazon, from Cusco to Antisuyo.
We will explore very different ecosystems, rediscovering at a naturalistic, cultural and historical level a path that exists and has been traveled for several centuries by cultures much older than ours.
From Salvación we will set off and discover the native community of Shintuya. It was in the 1950s when some Dominican missionaries arrived in this area and founded this community as a meeting place for the Harakbut ethnic group.
Following the Madre de Dios River we will reach natural hot waters, completely immersed in the Amazon jungle. Here we will also have our small lodge, where we will spend the night.
We will have the opportunity to explore the surroundings, day and night. We will visit waterfalls, lakes and discover many varieties of animals and birds unique to this part of the jungle.
On this tour, in addition to Andrea, an experienced connoisseur of this part of the forest and in this case also a linguistic interpreter and translator, we will also be accompanied by native guides who, in addition to showing us some of the secrets of this territory, will have the opportunity to share part of their ancestral culture.
Later we will continue along Madre de Dios river to the Pantacolla area for a visit and walk in the jungle, where we will have the opportunity to admire one of the most majestic ecosystems in this part of the region, a natural border between the Manu park and the Amarakaeri nature reserve.
IMPORTANS OBSERVACIONS
This trip is especially suitable for all those who love to be in close contact with nature and, being in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, an equally adaptive spirit is required.
Internet access is very limited and, in some villages and communities, completely non-existent.
The local cuisine is almost entirely based on vegetables, rice, meat, chicken and fish.
Fruit is obviously present, with various types of avocado, mango, papaya and other Amazonian fruits. For vegetarians the choice may be a little more limited, as many of the typical dishes in the area are based on animal proteins.
We do not provide any medical insurance and therefore we recommend that, before leaving your country of origin, you consult your doctor and take out accident insurance, limited to the period of your trip.
In order to be able to move around and travel better on this itinerary, soft and possibly light luggage is recommended. For the forest, very light and covering clothing is required and a good waterproof poncho for heavy rains even out of season. Humidity peaks can reach up to 85%.
Constant temperatures hover around the average of 25 degrees daily in the junglea and the daily average of 18/20 degrees in Cusco, where nights can be very cool (5 to 0 degrees).
Starting your trip from Cusco, where the climate is very different (we are at 3,400 meters above sea level) and predominantly dry, it is also necessary to bring a good padded jacket for the much cooler nights.
Before leaving for the jungle, it would be advisable to withdraw/exchange cash in Cusco, as none of the places we will visit are equipped with ATMs and credit/debit cards are not accepted.
We also remember that in some locations in the jungle electricity may be limited.
WHAT TO BRING?
Among the useful items to bring from home are essential:
good hiking shoes
hat to protect against sun and rain
insect repellent
personal water bottle
torch
poncho
We also recommend:
sunglasses
sandals for the hot springs
sunscreen
a small backpack for excursions.
For those who want to travel more comfortably in the jungle, we recommend leaving some of the heavy luggage at the hotel in Cusco, to pick it up at the end of the trip.
RECOMENDED PERIOD
The recommended period for this itinerary is from the beginning of April to the end of November, the beginning of the rainy season.
THE PRICE INCLUDES
The price includes all scheduled services, including:
private transportation
all breakfasts, lunches and dinners, except breakfast upon departure from Cusco and dinner upon return to Cusco on the fifth day.
Assistance from a native guide for the itinerary in the forest.
Experienced and multilingual guide throughout the trip.
Pre-trip telephone/telematic assistance.
The rate does not include:
all drinks not included in meals and dinners
medical and luggage insurance
tips and extras
anything not mentioned in the "includes" part.
Shintuya hot water lodge
CUSTOMIZACION OF THE TRIP
Variations to the following program are possible at the client's request. For example, you can add more difficult trekking, jungle tent experience, building small rafts and shelters, meeting other people from the community, local crafts, more bird watching, etc.... depending on each person's interest!
Contact us! After prior coordination with the traveler, we will create and customize the itinerary according to your tastes.
DETAILED PROGRAM
DAY 1
Departure from Cusco and arrival in Salvación.
On the way, we will stop in the picturesque town of Paucartambo for lunch and continue to Salvación town.
We will descend from an altitude of more than three thousand meters, to 550 meters in this part of the jungle, traveling one of the most beautiful paths that connect the Andes with the Amazon basin.
Overnight stay and dinner in a lodge with a natural pool in Salvación.
DAY 2
After breakfast, meet with Andrea for a briefing about the trip and final recommendations and purchases before departure.
Lunch at the lodge and then departure by private vehicle to the Shintuya native community.
Upon arrival, we will have the opportunity to meet some of the community's personalities who will introduce us to their habits and customs.
Overnight and dinner in Shintuya, in a typical house of the native community.
DAY 3
After breakfast, departure by boat along the Madre de Dios River, towards the hot springs and visit the surrounding waterfalls.
In the afternoon, we will meet with some of the community's personalities, including Don Julio, one of the last witnesses of the first contact with the Spanish missionaries and guardian of the Harakbut culture. On this occasion, he will share a workshop on their artifacts (bow, arrows, spear...) and delight us with their stories about the tribe, relationship with nature and cosmovision.
In the evening, around the fire, we will taste typical Harakbut cuisine, and listen to stories about their worldview and their relationship with nature.
We will stop for the night in a small and unique lodge in the area where you can enjoy the use of local thermal and medicinal waters, both day and night.
DAY 4
After breakfast, we will depart by boat along the Madre de Dios River, to reach an area with a unique ecosystem, where you can observe different examples of Amazonian fauna and flora.
This area is home to many animals, including capybaras, alligators, parrots, monkeys, deer, wild boars and more, and for the luckiest, the jaguar!
It will be an easy walk, among the majestic vegetation of giant monumental trees, medicinal plants, fruits and flowers of the Amazon rainforest, various types of lianas including the famous strangler lianas.
On the way back, if possible, the afternoon will be dedicated to fishing, and the catch of which will be part of dinner.
Overnight stay in the hot springs lodge.
DAY 5
After breakfast, departure by boat to Shintuya and transfer by private vehicle to Cusco.
During the return trip, we will make several stops in areas of great naturalistic interest and beyond, as we will pass through small villages that are guardians of ancient traditions and local culture.
Arrival at the hotel in Cusco in the afternoon.
End of our services.
TOUR DESIGNERS
Andrea Virzí
Born in Sicily (Italy) in 1986, and resident in Peru for 6 years.
Since adolescence he began to explore the world, always with a traveler's perspective, working or volunteering and, when possible, studying the local language. From the age of 18 to 32 he changes country of residence every 2-3 years driven by curiosity and the spirit of discovery. In order: Norway, France, United Kingdom, Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia), Italy (Trento), South America (Argentina, Peru), Sicily.
Graduated with the highest qualifications in Robotics Engineering, since the age of 26 he has dedicated himself mainly to education and for the last 7 years to tourist accompaniment, after obtaining the title of mid-mountain nature guide. He speaks 4 languages fluently: English, French, Spanish and Italian.
He started collaborating with Italian and French tourism agencies with foreign tourists, especially French, Spanish and North American, guiding them in the discovery of Sicilian volcanoes (Etna, Stromboli, Aeolian Islands,...).
His idea during the tours is to share not only the naturalistic aspects, but also the cultural and social ones with the travelers, making them more involved and aware of the context. From history to simple curiosities, he believes that it is very important that the traveler understands the place visited not only with his own senses, but also with his own reason and emotions.
The guide must love and understand the place he shows! And that is why in this last year he has also opened up to tourist accompaniment and the creation of itineraries in Peru, in the Madre de Dios jungle and in the Andes of Cusco, macro areas full of culture, nature, feeling, music, tradition, adventure that will not fail to enamor the lucky visitors.
Onofrio Zonno
Born in Puglia (Italy) in 1963, where he lives in the Itria Valley, he spends several months a year in Peru and the Amazon rainforest, discovering itineraries that were still little known to tourists.
Driven by his nature as a traveller, after his studies and thanks to sport, he began to travel very early and at the age of 21 he had his first and long experience in Africa (Senegal), working for an important and prestigious French tourism agency.
He returned to Italy and began to collaborate with some Italian tour operators, promoting itineraries that were still uncommon in Italian tourism, especially in the years before the use of technology.
In Italy and for almost twenty-five years he collaborated and promoted travel itineraries with Tour Operators and renowned agencies in the field of cultural tourism, which led him to travel and gain experience on several occasions and in different countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania and South America, where in addition to Peru, he also visited Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia.
His repeated trips to Peru and his great passion for the Amazon Rainforest are an inspiration for his continuous search for places and communities where we can still do "conscious" tourism, through unique itineraries lived in an authentic way.
He still works as a tour operator in Italy and Puglia, creating customized itineraries throughout the region and also making available his thirty years of experience and advice from years of travel around the world.
