After breakfast, ride to Atalaya, the highest navigable port town on the Upper Madre de Dios River. The ride goes past the small villages and farms of colonists and indigenous people. In Atalaya, board a large motorized dugout canoe, equipped with cushioned seats and an overhead tarp roof for shelter from sun and rain. The boat takes you down the fast-flowing Upper Madre de Dios River for about five hours, to the confluence with the meandering Manu River, where camp is set on a covered platform near the isolated indigenous town of Boca Manu. After breakfast, ride upstream on the Manu River.
Every river bend offers views of unspoiled natural beauty.
You are entering the protected Reserved Zone of the Manu National Park. You may see caimans, toucans, parrots, scores of wild macaws, several species of raptors, and with luck, one of the elusive large jungle cats. Along this entire rain forest trip, you'll be accompanied by expert bilingual naturalist guides who will point out and identify wildlife. The guides will provide you with an education in tropical ecology, wildlife behavior, medicinal plants, and native Amazonian culture while accompanying you on fascinating hikes through the extensive network of trails. Their ability to find wildlife and identify species will amaze you.