This program lasts for six day and offers its passengers an opportunity to enjoy and experience the daily life as well as the typical foods and drinks of the reclusive Hachipaeri culture, a South Amazonian native culture.

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco – Pilcopata

The trip begins extremely early in the morning as we will need to cover all of 200 kilometers (about 9 hours of driving time) just to get to the starting point at Pilcopata. Along the drive we will see many beautiful Andean valleys and mountains around the road. We will pass by a number of typical Andean communities and also a place known as “las Chullpas de Ninamarca”, which is a pre Inca burial grounds from the Lupaca culture. We will stop and have our lunch for the day in the beautiful colonial capital of Cusco, Paucartambo, an extremely typical pueblo that is considered to be the last stop before arriving to the Jungle.

After eating, we will continue on our way, making our way to Acjanacu, which is literally the entrance to the Manu Biosphere Reserve (the tourist zone). At that point we will still be at an altitude of 3,550m, but that is right when we will begin descending into the cloud forest and so we will be able to see the micro climate change considerably before our eyes. That night we will spend the night in a shelter at Pilcopata.

Day 2: Pilcopata - Native Community of Q’eros

After the breakfast, we will begin the 4 hour trek towards the Native community of Q’eros, where we will spend the next couple of days. On the way, our indigenous guides, who are well in tune with the local surroundings, will teach us all about the diverse flora and fauna that we will come across on the walk. We will see bananas, Passion fruits, coffee, and even the Incan sacred plant, Coca. On the way we will also have some time to refresh ourselves in the clear, warm waters of the Entoro River.

Once we arrive to the community, we will be welcomed by the residents with an offering of “masato” or “awirohki”, which is a traditional Amazonian chicha type drink made of Yuca. We will have our lunch for the day with a host family. We will learn about and even get to try out some of their typical foods such as Pacamoto, Patarashka, Tacacho, or one of their other local delicacies.

Day 3: Native community of Q’eros

For a predawn activity, we will have 2 options of activities to do that day: 1) Walk into the nearby forest to observe and learn about the wild plants and animals or 2) Find special places in the surrounding areas to meditate and try to fuse with the spirits of the plants and animals.

After Breakfast, we will participate in the ancient ritual of “Jallpa”, which involves chewing on the sacred coca leaf, but doing it authentically, along with “llicta”, tobacco and “chamire”. That way you will be able to really feel the effects of the sacred plant just as the Incas felt it.

Afterwards, in the afternoon, we will visit the communities ethno-botanical garden, where we will be able to learn about the different medicinal plants that the indiginious cultures grow for the treatment of sicknesses and diseases. That night, we will be able to bath in the Q’eros river and also learn about their ancestral river sailing techniques.

Day 4: Native community of Q’eros

At dawn, before even having breakfast yet, we will visit all of their crops for such important items as coca, Yucca, banana and others that are important for the survival of the Huachiperi people. Our guide will take the opportunity to explain to us about their vast agricultural knowledge and the importance of crops to a self sustaining culture such as this one.

After breakfast, we will go the river to do some fishing- huachipaeri style. In order to do that, we will first need to collect some barbasco or “kumo” root, which has something of a sedative effect on the fish. After we catch some fish, we will even learn how they traditionally prepare the fish and everything. It will be an amazing experience that will show us a good example of how the Huachipaeris use their natural resources.

Day 5: Queros – Pilcopata

After Breakfast, we will begin the long walk back towards the locality of Pilcopata. There is an optional adventurous way to do it as well if the group wants: we can board our specialized typical raft to float upstream until arriving to the “the speaking rock” in Jinkiori, that is a symbol representative of the Huachipaeri culture); afterwards, we will need to return to the walk to make it the rest of the way back to Pilcopata, which is where we sleep that night.

Day 6: Pilcopata – Cusco

After the breakfast we will initiate the trip in bus towards the city of Cusco.

Included

• Guided tours with indigenous guides
• Bus from Cusco- Pilcopata- Cusco
• Lodging and food throughout the tour