Program “Koshiri Gitoni” (The Bird who cures with Plants)

Day 1:

Arrive in Lima and spend the night in the capital of Peru. You will have a representative meet you in Lima who is fluent in English. This night you will stay in a ***hotel and the following day a representative will take you to the airport for a morning flight to Cusco.

Day 2: Urubamba Valley

You arrive in Cusco where you will be met by a representative who will escort you to Kamaquen (a healing center) in Urubamba. Here you can relax and acclimate to the altitude. Perhaps enjoy a massage, or soak in the Jacuzzi and/or sauna with eucalyptus. In this beautiful landscape you can enjoy the gardens while relaxing in a hammock or use the meditation room. Lunch will be included.

After lunch you will have a two-hour meeting with the guide from Manu explaining the itinerary for the 12-day journey to Manu. (Including the course of the different kind of medicine plants.)

Day 3: Manu - Cloud Forest

You wake up early to leave the Urubamba Valley and begin a winding ascent into the Andes. The road eventually winds down to the town of Paucartambo Colonial Town, where you will stop briefly to stretch your legs.

Leaving Paucartambo you begin your ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Forty minutes from Paucartambo you reach Acjanaco at 3,500 meter atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point you have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve where you are above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon. As you ascent down from Acjanaco, the baron Paramo starts to change to an elfin forest.

Here you will stop for lunch to admire the view. As you descend further into the cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphytes, moss, luscious green ferns and the Kur-Kur (high land bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. You make your way to an observation post where, with a little luck, you will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock and hopefully spot the Woolly monkey.

You arrive at your campsite at 6 p.m. where you will spend the night. After a delicious meal you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings before turning in for the evening.

Day 4: Huacaria

In the morning you will travel from the campsite to Pilcopata which will take approximately one hour. Today from Pilcopata you will take a 2-hour trek to the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria. On the way you will observe differentkinds of agriculture & traditional plantations. Your group will reach the community around midday and from the community you will walk to Huacaria River where you will have a chance to swim in the tropical, clear waters. After feeling refreshed you will return to our campsite for a well-deserved meal, spending the afternoon relaxing. It is here you will spend the next two nights.

Day 5: Native Community - medicinal garden

After breakfast you will observe and recognize different species in the Huacaria Medicinal garden. A Medicine Man of this native community will share with you his vast knowledge of the medicinal and spiritual powers of the native plants in his garden and their methods of application. This exercise will take approx 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon. Returning to the campsite for lunch & dinner.

Day 6: Native Community - Amaru Mayu

After a hearty breakfast those in the group interested can return to the medicinal garden.

You will have your last opportunity to further your knowledge of the previous day’s teachings. At this time you can ask the Shaman more specific questions in relation to your specific interests. After your last visit to the medicinal garden the group will begin trekking towards Rio Amalia, observe wildlife, medicinal plants and from here will be introduced to the forest. On reaching Rio Amalia the group will be collected by rafts where you will travel through gentle rapids observing the beautiful surroundings making your way to Amaru Mayu, a beautiful campsite on the riverbanks of Pini Pini River. On reaching Amaru Mayu you will have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the high jungle.

Day 7: Amaru Mayu

After breakfast you will walk a (moderate to difficult trek) which is optional, exploring the high jungle. You will enjoy the beautiful landscapes of this mountainous primary forest of Manu. On this trek you will be able to observe Una de Gato in its natural habitat as well as other medicinal plants well known in the Amazon. You may also have the chance to observe monkey's, native birds, and if you are very lucky we may spot an ocelot, jaguar, or a family of white-lipped peccary. After this trek you will return to camp for a delicious lunch.

For those enthusiastic people you will have another chance for trekking in the afternoon. Upon your return from this trek you will have dinner and retire to enjoy a well-earned sleep in the evening.

Day 8: Amaru Mayu – Alto Madre de Dios River - Yanacco

After breakfast you will have a group discussion on what you have observed so far. You will be able to discuss what you have learned about the medicinal plants of the Amazon, the forest and the infrastructure of the different sections of the Amazon and how the species are able to strive. Following this discussion we will be collected by boat and begin heading down the Alto Madre de Dios River to the lowland jungle which is five hours by boat. There we can watch animals such as caiman, cappybarra, birds, turtles etc. We will then stop at Yanacco (Black water) lodge where you will spend the night.

Day 9: Yanacco - Casa de Matsiguenka

Once we have breakfast we will again get into our boat to go deeper into the jungle and enter Manu Biosphere Reserved Zone. We will briefly stop at Limonal check post to show our authorizations. You will then continue to navigate the river and enjoy all that nature, always changing and capricious will show us during our journey, until reaching the case de Matsiguenka where we will be welcomed by Matsiguenka natives. It is here we will spend the next 2 nights.

Day 10: Casa de Matsiguenka

Today you shall navigate in a catamaran on Salvador Ox-bow Lake looking for giant river otters (Pteronura Brasiliensis) and trek the forest of the casa se Matsiguenka observing medicinal plants and looking for monkey’s, birds, snakes and the noisy white lipped peccary. After returning to the lodge for lunch you will then have the opportunity to view the Matsiguenka’s Medicinal garden and in the afternoon to take a brief walk to the platform where you will be able to seethe jungle from another level high above the jungle canopy.

Day 11: Casa de Matsiguenka

Early In the morning you board our boat to go to Blanquillo. This place is known for its Macaw clay lick. Before that we will stop briefly at Limonal to register our exit from the Reserve Zone. At sunset you shall take a short walk until Blanquillo Ox-bow Lake, where you will search for caimans. Tonight we will spend the night at Blanquillo.

Day: 12 Blanquillo

Waking up early you head to the Parrot clay lick Blanquillo to see the dazzling colors of the large scarlet Macaws and the hundreds of smaller Parakeets. From here you will continue downstream through Madre de Dio River to Puerto Maldonado, on the way you will see small village of settlers and gold miners. Mid-Afternoon you will enjoy dinner and stay in a nice lodge overnight.

Day 13: Puerto Maldonado

You will arrive to the small miner village of Laberinto and from here our team will be waiting to transfer you 40 miles by car to Puerto Maldonado. The reception will be at Wasai Maldonado Hotel where you will receive a welcoming tropical fruit beverage. (*Optional part of the tour is an ayhuasca ceremony with a well-known ayhuascaro)

Day 14: Puerto Maldonado

Here is a day to relax, perhaps take a dip in the pool and visit the native medicine market.

Day 15: Urubamba Valley

You will arrive in the airport of Cusco and one of our guides will pick you up and take you to Kamaquen Healing Center in Urubamba. In Kamaquen you will have lunch at the center. On this day you will experience the making of an Andean Cosmovision offering to Pachamama (Mother Earth). These ceremonies are prepared by Q’ero shamans in the Andean Communities of Ocogante. After the offering we will have dinner and spend the evening relaxing.

Day 16: Urco - Pisaq - Urubamba

After your breakfast you will board a bus for Urco (Temple of the Serpents) where you will participate in a small shamanic ceremony. In the Andean Traditions the serpent is one archetype that represents life (DNA). Upon completion of this ceremony you will board the bus and depart for Pisaq.  In this community you will visit the archeological site of Pisaq.  It is an approximate 2-hour walk.  After you have seen the ruins you will have lunch in the Village of Pisaq and enjoy looking at the many handicraft items for sale at the market.*

You will return to the Kamaquen Center in Urubamba where you can enjoy a nice hot sauna with medicine plants. After resting you will have dinner and have conversation about what Machu Picchu means in our history and mysticism. You will get a good rest for travel to the famous Ruins of Machu Picchu.

Day 17: Machu Picchu - Urubamba

At six in the morning you will leave Urubamba by train to Machu Picchu.  Here you will have a special guided tour of this magnificent and magical place.  In the afternoon you will return to Urubamba where you will have dinner and rest.

Day 18: Moray - Urubamba

After breakfast you will go to another archeological site; Moray.  This site was built during the time of the Incas.  This place was where they studied mystical plants and is for connecting with the uterus of Pachamama.  You will participate in an exercise to connect with this energy. 

You will then have a picnic and go to the salt mines of Maras.  Here we will observe the pre-Inca technology of extracting salt for evaporation.  You will also participate in an exercise working with colors (chakras).  You will then return to Urubamba where you can enjoy a nice, hot Jacuzzi, have dinner and rest.

Day 19: Ollantaytambo

In the morning you will join the group for a meeting to share our experiences from the trip and later visit the Wind Temple of Ollantaytambo, have lunch and tour the city.  This city was constructed with Inca trails.  After this you will return to Urubamba where you have the option to attend a ceremony with San Pedro.

Day 20: Tambomachay - Amarumachay - Saqsaywaman - Cusco

After breakfast you will visit Tambomachay, Amarumachay where you will participate in the caves a small exercise of rebirthing.  After this you will visit Quenqo to finish your work in Saqsaywaman (the crown of the puma).  Then you will have free time to enjoy Cusco.  You will stay this night in Cusco.

Day 21: Temple of Tipon

This site is the temple of water.  Here you will participate in a closing ceremony and cleansing.  You will return in the afternoon for free time in Cusco.  In the evening you will eat dinner and have a fantastic show of typical Peruvian music and dancing.

Day 22: Last day transfer to the airport and end of our services.

Please note that this itinerary is just a guide and may be subject to change. Trekking is generally optional and low to moderate level of fitness is required. *This part of the trip is dependent on the market being open. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday