A gravel road winds through the mountains and deep into the jungle. As on any road trip, there are great things to see along the way. From small towns to wild monkeys, this trip offers a great glimpse into life in the Peruvian jungle.
Travel in a private 4×4, looking for animals and stopping in small towns, eat fresh fruit straight off the tree at a family’s farm, swim in a small river, visit clay lick platform, nature hike, birdwatching
We’ll pick you up from your hotel early in the morning in a private van, and travel through the Andes Mountains. After about 3 hours, we will have breakfast in Paucartambo.The trip will continue into the Cloud Forest, where the scenery and climate change quickly. In the Cloud Forest, we will stop and look for wild animals like monkeys and birds, including the bright-red Andean Cock of the Rock. We will descend into the Low Jungle, pass through the area of Kosñipata, and enjoy the trip to our first lodge, Quinta Tradiciones Santa Cruz.
*About Quinta Tradiciones: This local hostel & restaurant is on a beautiful, abundant plot of land that contains fruit trees, fish farms, cows, and rescued local animals. It’s owned and operated by one of our family members. The lodging is very simple, and we will enjoy exploring the grounds and looking for fresh fruit on the trees.
After breakfast, we’ll travel about 20 minutes to the Native Community of Shintuya. There, we will catch a boat for a short ride across the river to a local Hot Springs. We’ll spend a couple hours there, swimming in hot and cold water, relaxing, and always looking for wildlife. We’ll return to the car on the other side of the river, ready to finish the trip to the Jungle Bungalow and Nuevo Eden. On the way, we will see huge trees along the road, and search for toucans and macaws. We will have lunch along the way from Shintyua to Nuevo Eden. Arriving at the Bungalow, you will get settled and rest a little bit, enjoying the beautiful jungle surrounding the house. In the afternoon, we will go to the Camouflage House, where we will spend the night. We will bring dinner in tupperwares with us, and take turns watching for tapirs and other animals. You’ll sleep in a sleeping bag, be given a mosquito net, and have a boxed dinner while enjoying the darkness and sounds of the jungle.
*About the Camouflage house: located in a clay lick where animals visit through the night. It’s a simple shelter is about 4 meters tall with a roof, and you’ll use the “bush toilet” as needed. Not exactly camping, this experience gives you an opportunity to sleep and relax very close to nature, and unplug from your normal life for a night.
We’ll head back to the Bungalow early in the morning for breakfast and prepare to explore the jungle. Your guide will lead you on a nature hike, spending a few exploring the primary forest, learning about medicinal plants, and more. Lunch will be waiting for you in the Bungalow after your hike, and you’ll have some time to relax. In the afternoon, you’ll walk to see the local birds at their most active time of day, just before sunset. Once the daylight is gone, your guide will scope out insects, frogs, and snakes and lead you on a night walk. We’ll enjoy a special jungle-themed dinner in the Bungalow.
We’ll leave the Bungalow early in the morning, and make a couple of stops on the way to Cusco. First, we will stop at an enormous parrot clay lick, where bright green parrots have their breakfast. Later, we’ll visit Machu Wasi, an oxbow lake near Salvacion where we will look for animals and float on a balsa raft. Then, we will retrace our path back to Cusco were you will arrive around 7 or 8 pm.