Early in the morning, at 6:30 a.m., we will depart towards the Atalaya Port. From there, we will continue our journey by boat on the Madre de Dios River, one of the tributaries of the Amazon River. Throughout the day, we will have the opportunity to observe many colorful bird species such as parrots, oropendolas, vultures, and others. With luck, we may also have the chance to see some mammals like monkeys and the famous capybaras (the largest rodents in the world, measuring up to 2.5 meters long). In the afternoon, upon arriving at our lodge, we will settle in and replenish our water supply before embarking on a 45-minute to 1.5-hour hike through the jungle. During the hike, we will have the opportunity to observe many animal species, including birds.

Early in the morning, we will head back to our lodge and immediately begin our boat journey towards the Macaw Clay Lick. Activity at the clay licks typically starts around 5:30 am, with medium-sized parrots being the first to arrive. These noisy birds will perch in the treetops just above the clay licks. Later, around 7:00 or 7:30 am, the larger macaws will begin to arrive, gathering in groups of 40 to 100 individuals to indulge in the clay for about 40 minutes, until danger approaches in the form of a hawk, eagle, or ocelot. There are usually between 80 and 100 macaws and 600 or more other parrots present. After the macaw clay lick activity concludes, we will return to our lodge for an overnight stay. (B+L+D)

Traveling upstream on the Manu River, we'll delve deeper into the pristine jungle and its inhabitants. This is the same route taken by the French explorer Jacques Cousteau during his 1980 Amazon expedition. Due to the lack of hunting pressure, it's likely to encounter groups of howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and Capybaras – the world's largest rodent. We'll witness a wide variety of birds during nesting season on the beaches – herons, egrets, Orinoco geese, swallows, and kingfishers, to name a few. Some of these beaches may host large white and black caimans (caimans related to alligators), aquatic turtles, and hundreds of nightjars perched during the day on tree branches along the river. It's not uncommon to spot a jaguar sunbathing on the riverbanks. After lunch, we'll arrive at our campsite near Cocha Salvador. We'll have the afternoon to explore some of the trails through virgin rainforest. At Cocha Otorongo, we'll observe wildlife from a 20-meter (65-foot) observation tower, especially seeking out a family of Giant River Otters inhabiting the lake. After dinner, we'll have the option for a nocturnal hike to spot nocturnal creatures. The lakes are teeming with large Black Caimans, and with luck, we might encounter an Olingo, Kinkajou, or even an Ocelot on the trails. Tonight, we'll sleep to the sounds of tree frogs and jungle insects. (B+L+D)

We'll start our activities early in the morning at Cocha Salvador, using a floating platform called a catamaran. This morning, we'll have the opportunity to spot a myriad of bird and mammal species, including herons, cormorants, eagles, hawks, squirrel monkeys, capuchin monkeys, giant otters, and river otters. Giant otters can reach up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 70 pounds, consuming between 9 and 11 pounds of fish per day. They are one of the rare animals on Earth that are common in Manu. We'll be searching for some of the 13 monkey species that inhabit this area. The sound of red howler monkeys through the mist can send shivers down our spine, while parrots will be seen flying overhead. After lunch, we'll hike the trails that cut through the jungle, observing the intricate ecosystem surrounding us. Our ecologist guide will explain how plants and insects interact with the forest. We'll be on the lookout for some of the smaller inhabitants of the jungle, such as emperor tamarins or saddleback tamarins. Along the way, we may also encounter a group of peccaries, a species of wild pig found here. In the afternoon, we can swim in the river to soak up the sun. The night will be spent at Cocha Salvador Camp or Matsiguenka Lodge. (D+A+C)

On this day, we'll explore a cocha or lake nestled within the forest. We'll head to Cocha Otorongo - also known as "Jaguar Lake" - where we'll have the chance to immerse ourselves further in the wildlife of this area. We might encounter troops of monkeys, especially common woolly monkeys. We'll pay special attention to the plant life around us, as they may give us signals through falling fruits and leaves, indicating the presence of nearby animals or birds. After a leisurely lunch, we'll journey downstream by boat until we reach the village of Boca Manu, where we'll spend the night in a lodge. (D+A+C)

Our journey continues upstream. Upon reaching Atalaya, we'll transition to our vehicle, which will transport us to Bamboo Lodge where we'll spend the night.

We embark on our journey back home, departing Bamboo Lodge early in the morning, heading towards Paucartambo, the initial threshold to our jungle adventure. En route, we'll meander through the captivating scenery of the Sacred Valley, arriving back in Cusco by approximately 7:00 pm.