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If your Peru itinerary only allows you a short time to visit the Amazon, you’ll be thrilled to learn about Machu Wasi. Neighboring the village of Salvacion, Machu Wasi is an oxbow lake that is paradise for some fascinating jungle creatures. We will stay at a nearby lodge, accessible by boat from Atalaya port, after a breathtaking journey through the Andes mountains Peru. The hightlight of both of these shorter jungle trips from Cucso is a Machu Wasi tour to see animals in their natural environment.
Even with just a few days on your itinerary, you can still get a taste of the rainforest. Featuring a road trip through the Andes, a short boat ride on the Madre de Dios river, and a Machu Wasi tour, you will be happy you took the chance to breathe the fresh jungle air and take in the views of the Andes mountains Peru on this guided tour from Cusco.
If you have 4 full days to visit the Amazon, but don’t want to journey too deep into the rainforest, Machu Wasi is the perfect destination. You will enjoy the spectacular mountain views and learn some Andes Mountains facts as we descend into the cloud forest and high jungle. As you explore Machu Wasi and take the short boat ride to the lodge, your guide will be on the lookout for wildlife and explain about the wonders of Manu National Park.
We’re going to the Manu Biosphere Reserve, in the province of Madre de Dios. There is a single road, mostly unpaved, that connects Cusco to Manu. The Manu Biosphere has 2 parts: the Cultural / Buffer Zone and the Reserved Zone. The Cultural Zone has more relaxed rules regarding human impact. The Reserve Zone is more of an adventure but there’s more of a chance of seeing special animals like caiman and jaguars. Manu is remote and has less human impact than other places in the jungle. It’s a true gem.
Real talk: you will spend a lot of time traveling. But the scenery is incredible.
The jungle has 2 seasons: rainy season and dry season. Rainy season is from December to March, and the dry season is from April to November. We only operate tours during the dry season. However, this is the rainforest, so it can rain at any time of year.
You can expect temperatures ranging from 15 degrees at night and about 30 degrees during the day. Under the jungle canopy, it feels a bit cooler.
The Manu Biosphere is a wild zone for animals. Any animals we see will be living their normal lives in their natural habitat. Therefore, it’s hard to guarantee any particular species.
Everyone on the travel team, including the chef and drivers, will be looking for animals along the way, and we encourage all travelers to do so as well. The more eyes searching, the more chance of seeing creatures.
The members of the travel team are all trained in basic first aid, and we travel with a basic first aid kit. Along the way, there are “medical posts” in many towns. These posts are clinics that provide daily care for local residents. In the event of an emergency, we will need to return to Cusco.
There is no cell signal deep in the jungle, and there is wifi available in the town of Nuevo Eden, but it is not 100% reliable. We encourage you to consider yourself “off the grid” for the duration of your jungle trip.
For emergency communication, we have a Garmin InReach satellite device for sending texts or calling for emergency help when off the grid.
For the year 2021, we will only operate tours with single groups. We welcome couples, families, and groups of friends. We welcome groups of up to six people but they must be a single group of family members or friends who are traveling together.
The guided tours include everything you’ll need for the duration of the tour. However, there will be opportunities to stop at local shops along the way to buy other things. Also, the members of the travel team will really appreciate any tips at the end of the tour. Try to bring small bills!
Absolutely. Our guided tours are appropriate for children who can walk for a while without any help, and are curious about the world around them. For younger children, a stay at our Jungle Bungalow may be a better fit as your daily schedule will be more customized. Our family in the jungle has many children who will love to share their knowledge of the jungle with other kids.
Yes. Every guided tour does involve a lot of walking, but the walking is slow and quiet so as to not disturb the animals. You’ll also have to climb in and out of the boat.
Although the jungle has dangerous animals and such, your tour guide knows the jungle very well and will be on the lookout for anything dangerous. If you’re scared of snakes or tarantulas and would prefer NOT to look for them, just let your guide know
There is some form of electricity at each lodge. The clay lick platform and campsites won’t have electricity.
We will travel with large bottles of purified water that will be used both for drinking and for preparing food. The chef is versatile and can easily prepare meals that suit your personal desires. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, no problem! Just let us know. The chef will incorporate local, fresh products into meals as possible as well.
Yes. Each day of the tour (except the 6-day tours) there will be the possibility of stopping at a small store. Pharmacies are available on the first, second, and last day of each tour.