Itinerary
- Day 1
Lima
You'll get picked up and taken to your hotel in Lima. The rest of the day is yours to walk around Peru's vibrant capital at whatever pace suits you. In the evening, there's a briefing where the expedition team goes over the itinerary and answers any questions you might have.
Optional Activities
- Explore Lima at your own pace
- Day 2
Cusco to Pillcopata
Early flight to Cusco, then you'll drive across the high Andes wearing rubber boots. The group stops at Ninamarca to see Aymara burial towers, walks through the historic village of Paucartambo, and continues on to Pillcopata, which serves as the gateway to Manu National Park.
Included Activities
- Fly to Cusco
- Visit Aymara burial towers at Ninamarca
- Explore village of Paucartambo
Landmarks/POIs Ninamarca Paucartambo Manu National Park - Days 3 - 5
Manu National Park
You'll spend several days in Manu National Park staying with the Matsiguenka indigenous people. There's hiking through primary rainforest, time to bathe in volcanic hot springs, visits to an orchid farm and jungle lake. Look for wildlife like macaws, parrots, monkeys, caimans, and sloths. You'll visit indigenous communities including Boca Manu and observe tapirs at a mineral lick platform.
Included Activities
- Stay in Matsiguenka indigenous village
- Rainforest hikes and exploration
- Bathe in hot volcanic springs
- Visit orchid farm
- Visit jungle lake
- Visit indigenous communities including Boca Manu
- Observe tapirs at mineral lick platform
Landmarks/POIs Manu National Park Boca Manu - Day 6
Manu National Park to Puerto Maldonado
An early boat trip takes you to a salt lick where macaws and parrots congregate. From there you continue past river gold mines and villages, riding in off-road vehicles across rickety ferries toward Puerto Maldonado. By late afternoon you'll check out the lively market. There's an optional evening visit to a local dance bar with a live cumbia band if you're interested.
Included Activities
- Boat trip to macaw and parrot salt lick
- Visit Puerto Maldonado market
Optional Activities
- Visit local dance bar with live cumbia band in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Puerto Maldonado - Day 7
Puerto Maldonado
Early morning boat trip on the Madre de Dios River gets you to Monkey Island where you can observe different monkey species. After that, a short jungle hike brings you to Lago Sandoval where giant otters, caimans, and tropical birds live. In the afternoon you'll visit a shaman's herb garden to learn about traditional medicine and ayahuasca. You'll camp overnight right next to the shaman.
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Madre de Dios River to Monkey Island
- Jungle hike to Lago Sandoval
- Visit shaman's herb garden and learn about traditional medicine
Landmarks/POIs Monkey Island Lago Sandoval Madre de Dios River - Day 8
Peru to Bolivia Border
Travel on the Trans-Oceanica highway to the Peruvian border station, then take a minibus deep into the Bolivian rainforest. You'll cross into Bolivia at a small border post, then meet the boat team in a supply village on the Rio Madre de Dios river for drinks at local pubs. That night you camp under the open sky.
Included Activities
- Travel on Trans-Oceanica highway
- Cross Peru-Bolivia border
Landmarks/POIs Rio Madre de Dios - Days 9 - 10
Rio Madre de Dios to Riberalta
The expedition boat continues down the Rio Madre de Dios river. You'll visit Brazil nut cultivation settlements and illegal gold panning sites to see how people work and live in the rainforest. By day 10 you reach the village of Sena where you say goodbye to the boat team. From there, an open pick-up or truck takes you through deep jungle to the colonial town of Riberalta, where you'll stay in a former rubber baron's colonial house.
Included Activities
- Expedition boat journey on Rio Madre de Dios
- Visit Brazil nut cultivation settlements
- Visit illegal gold panning facilities
Landmarks/POIs Sena Riberalta Rio Madre de Dios - Days 11 - 12
Bolivia to Brazil
Visit a Brazil nut processing plant to watch hundreds of tons of nuts being cracked. Spend the evening at the Plaza in Riberalta. The next morning you travel to Rio Marore border river, cross into Brazil by ferry, and arrive in the remote Rondonia region. You'll pull in to Porto Velho by evening.
Included Activities
- Visit Brazil nut processing plant
Landmarks/POIs Rio Marore Porto Velho Rondonia - Day 13
Porto Velho to Manaus
Check out Porto Velho's colorful market and harbor, plus the historic signal box from the rubber boom era. Then fly over endless rainforest to Manaus, the multicultural gateway to Amazonia. The Teatro Amazonas, a Renaissance-style opera house built in the former jungle and a symbol of the rubber boom, is a must-see landmark.
Included Activities
- Explore Porto Velho market, harbor and signal box
- Fly to Manaus
- Visit Teatro Amazonas
Landmarks/POIs Teatro Amazonas - Day 14
Manaus
You'll get a feel for Manaus's multicultural character by visiting the large market hall and fish market with huge Amazonian fish. A boat trip takes you to the famous meeting point where the Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes converge. There's also a short jungle hike where you'll search for the rare Vitoria Regia water lily.
Included Activities
- City tour of Manaus
- Visit large market hall and fish market
- Boat trip to meeting of Rio Negro and Rio Solimoes
- Short jungle hike searching for Vitoria Regia water lily
Landmarks/POIs Rio Negro Rio Solimoes - Day 15
Manaus to Santarem
Travel aboard a cargo ship down the mighty Amazon river to Santarem. This unique experience gives you close contact with local people, and your tour guide helps translate conversations. You'll sleep on deck in hammocks.
Included Activities
- Cargo ship journey on Amazon River to Santarem
Landmarks/POIs Amazon River Santarem - Days 16 - 17
Santarem to Alter do Chão/Pindobal
You arrive in Santarem in the early evening and drive to either Alter do Chão or Pindobal. Spend time swimming on Caribbean-style beaches. The hotel sits near the dream beaches, so relaxation is easy. If you want activity, there are plenty of optional excursions like boat trips, nature reserves, settlements, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, and sport fishing.
Included Activities
- Swim on Caribbean-style beaches
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on Rio Tapajos
- Boat trip on Rio Jari
- Tapajos nature reserve visit
- Caboclo settlement visit
- Ford settlement Belterra visit
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Snorkeling
- Sport fishing
Landmarks/POIs Alter do Chão Rio Tapajos Rio Jari - Day 18
Alter do Chão to Belem
Fly to Belem, a lively city where samba, forró, and lambada fill the many dance halls. In the late afternoon, wander through the old port warehouses, which now host modern stores and restaurants. Don't skip the city's best ice cream parlor.
Included Activities
- Fly to Belem
- Explore old port warehouses with stores and restaurants
Optional Activities
- Visit ice cream parlor
Landmarks/POIs Belem - Day 19
Belem to Ilha Marajó
Start at the famous Ver-O-Peso market at the old harbor where herb women sell traditional Amazonian forest remedies representing shamanic knowledge. Take the public ferry to Ilha Marajó, Brazil's largest island with untouched nature and historic ceramic culture. Black water buffalo and zebu herds work on the island's farms. After over three hours by boat you'll reach Soure, the island's capital, where mango trees shade streets and water buffalo graze.
Included Activities
- Visit Ver-O-Peso market
- Ferry to Ilha Marajó
- Explore Soure, Ilha Marajó
Landmarks/POIs Ver-O-Peso Market Ilha Marajó Soure - Days 20 - 21
Ilha Marajó
Travel on adventurous moto-taxis through a fazenda to see scarlet ibises. You'll reach the secluded Caju Una beach and walk along the shore to a colorful isolated fishing village. Meet potter Ronaldo who creates traditional indigenous ceramics. Travel by minibus and speedboat along the Paracauary River to a buffalo fazenda where you can experience ranch life and maybe ride with vaqueiros through fields to drive buffalo herds. Other options include boat trips spotting caimans and toucans, or visiting acai and manioc plantations.
Included Activities
- Moto-taxi tour through fazenda
- Beach walk to fishing village
- Visit pottery maker Ronaldo
- Speedboat journey on Paracauary River
- Buffalo fazenda experience
Optional Activities
- Buffalo herding ride with vaqueiros
- Boat trips spotting caimans and toucans
- Visit acai plantations
- Visit manioc plantations
Landmarks/POIs Caju Una Paracauary River - Day 22
Ilha Marajó to Belem
Before breakfast, you'll go with the vaqueiros to the milking and taste fresh buffalo milk at a typical farm breakfast. Afternoon time lets you explore the island before taking the public ferry back to Belem. If you want to celebrate the adventure, there's an evening option to hit a dance bar.
Included Activities
- Farm breakfast with fresh buffalo milk
- Island exploration
- Ferry back to Belem
- Dance bar celebration
- Day 23
Belem
You depart for your individual journey home, leaving with wonderful impressions from your Amazon adventure.
