Mountains to Manu

5 days / 5 nights

LEVEL: Difficult

To read the story of this adventure (and see more photos) check out To the end of the Road.

This is a trip for the adventurous, tough and those who want to connect with the real Peru!

As good as the "World's Most Dangerous Road" in Bolivia - but much less touristed!

Day 1: 6am pickup from hotel in Cusco, and transfer to Pisac bus station. We'll travel to Pisac and then take a private taxi to the Abra, stopping for a break in the village of Chaywatiri where the locals will explain their natural dying techniques, and show us some of their works in progress. To see pictures, please click here. We also have the opportunity to buy (usually off blankets on the ground in a very informal atmosphere) goods from the person who made it. (Prices range from 25 soles for a scarf to 500 soles for a blanket). These are good quality products.

From the Abra it's all downhill as we pass through interesting high Andes villages. We stop for lunch in Colquepata (or before) and might look at the colonial church, if it is open. From here, it's 26 kilometres more of exhilarating downhill through eucalypt plantations and alongside a roaring canyon. We arrive in the charming village of Paucartambo, famous for its devotions to the Virgen of Carmen, who we will visit. Accommodation: Basic Hostel

Please note: In May, June and July we will change the itinerary in order to camp at Tres Cruces (13km from Acjanaco) and rise at dawn to see the specactular sunrise and optical illusions.

Day 2 : You can have a sleep in, or can enjoy the colonial ambience of Paucartambo with its cobbled streets, whitewashed houses and people in traditional dress. About 10am we head towards what locals call “The Valley” – that is, the huge expanse down from the mountains that is Manu National Park. We may take a bone shattering truck or other form of transport to Acjanaco (3530metres), the start of the National Park. It is 3 to 5 hours downhill, depending on conditions and your ability to ride. We'll stop for lunch on the way and also at various pretty waterfalls. We will either visit the dancing Cock of the Rock (Gallito de las Rocas) Peru's National Bird this afternoon, or early in the morning. Accommodation: Camping San Pedro

Day 3: We will get an early start – either to visit the Cock of the Rock, or to head downhill. It is four hours to Pilcopata, firstly through evermore lush rainforest and then onto flat grasslands. We'll lunch in Pilcopata and then visit the community of Villacarmen that have an interesting collection of native animals. From here, its two hours uphill, much of it rocky, steep and washed out until we arrive at the native Huancari village of Huacaria. We'll camp at the community organised campsite with a lovely river in which we can swim Accommodation: Camping Huacaria

Day 4: We can buy some souvenirs from the village folk before heading back to Pilcopata – a hone hour rough, but pulse racing downhill ride. After a break in Pilcopata, we'll continue to Atalaya, the tourist port, a gently sloping uphill and downhill 2-hour ride with beautiful views. After lunch we will take a traditional "peek peke" boat up the Alto Madre de Dios River to our camping spot on the beach. In the evening we will visit a lagoon to try to observe caiman and other night animals. Accommodation: Camping on the beach

Day 5: We'll rise early to visit a clay lick and see the associated bird life feeding there. From here we will visit a jungle lodge to hike on their trails and take a close look at the wonders of the jungle. We'll return to Atalaya and then to Pilcopata and then take a bus back to Cusco, arriving in the early hours of the dawn on Day 6.

• All Transport
• While camping, 3 good and nutritious meals per day made by experienced cook. Optional meals for vegetarians.
• Camping equipment includes tents, mattresses, and kitchen equipment.
• Guide
• Cook
• Modern bicycles with helmets
• First-Aid kit.
• Entry to the Cock of the Rock Viewing Lek
• Entry to the community of Huacaria

• Snacks or high energy trekking food
• Drinking water.
• Breakfast Day 1/ Dinner Day 5

• Sleeping bag
• Changes of clothes for cool weather on the mountain passes and hot, humid weather in the jungle
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Good trekking footwear and socks
• Sandals
• Plastic poncho, as well as other suitable rain protection
• Special medication
• Any special or high energy snacks that you might wish on the trail,
• Swim-suit & towel
• Water bottle and purifying tablets
• Toilet paper
• Binoculars (if you have them)
• Mosquito repellent
• Sun block and sunhat
• Extra rolls of film or well charged batteries for your digital camera.

• Due to limited return transport from Pilcopata, this tour only departs on MONDAY, THURSDAY or SATURAY.
• You can do this tour in four days, eliminating the first day. However, this first day is a little travelled and different route. The tour will be $20 cheaper without this day.
• You need to have a fair amount of physical fitness to do this trip. We have no support vehicle if you get tired on the bikes. The route is not so much physically demanding in terms of pedalling but the condition of the road that is quite jarring on the upper body.

APUS PERU Adventure Trekking Specialists 

Copyright A.Svenson 2005. All material used within this web site is original work and is subject to international copyright law.Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.