RawFlora Wild Food Journeys

PERU AMAZON WILD FOOD EXPLORER

8 Days / 7 Nights
ITINERARY SUMMARY START CUSCO

Day 1:

Early in the morning, a private transport picks you up at your hotel in Cusco to start this exciting journey. We visit the Sunday Pisac Market the traditional farmer and handicraft market. This market offers a wide variety of fresh food, medicinal plants and handicrafts. Here we collect Superfoods and other fresh vegetables and fruits for the next days. After Pisac we leave the paved roads and continue our adventure in the Sacred Valley passing true little villages like Colquepata known for the fiesta of ‘Mamacha Asunta’ traditional dances and celebrations. We will continue our way towards one of the highest points of the day at Acjanaco, a Park Rangers Station and the entrance to Manu National Park. If the weather conditions permit, we will have the first spectacular view of the one of the largest National Parks of Peru. Amidst the clouds, we will start our descent. As we observe the dramatic changes of the landscape, we will reach our Cloud Forest lodge where we will have dinner and spend this first night.

Cacao, Hot Coca Tea and snacks in Pisac
Lunch in Pisac at traditional bakery with Maca, Quinoa & Coca Bread
Dinner at Cloud Forest Lodge
Overnight at Cloud Forest Lodge -see picture-

Day 2:
The Cock of The Rock is the national bird of Peru, and it is a main attraction in the Cloud Forest. Males dance to attract the females, and we observe its activity at the lek, early in the morning, at incredible short distance. The ten-minute walk that takes us back to the lodge for breakfast gives us great chances to see a band of monkeys looking for breakfast themselves among the trees, by the road. Then, our journey continues down the Cloud Forest through the trees and water falls of the narrow ravine, home to one of the richest varieties of birds and to the spectacled bear. As we approach Pilcopata, coca plantations become visible and we will stop to visit one of them, to learn about the uses of the coca leaves and their medicinal properties. After a short stop at Pilcopata, we head for the port-town of Atalaya, where we will board a motorized canoe. A one hour ride to the Manu Learning Center gives us the first impression of a meandering Amazonian river, the Alto Madre de Dios, one of the most southern tributaries of the legendary Amazon river. Once at the Center, lunch and a warm welcome from our friendly staff will be waiting for us. A basic introduction will be provided to us to make or stay more comfortable and enjoyable. Then, we will have a first short walk on the nearby trails.

Breakfast at Cloud Forest lodge
Lunch and dinner at the Manu Learning Center
Overnight at the Manu Learning Center

Day 3:
One of the most interesting activities at the Manu Learning Center is the monitoring of the clay lick or collpa where,
among others, the Blue Headed Macaw is observed and studied as it is an endangered species. At 5:00 a.m. in the
morning, we join the scientists and researchers on the boat and head for the hide, five minutes up river, to observe the
activity of macaws, parrots, and parakeets. As the day breaks and the rays of the sun paint the walls of the clay lick with magic colors, the birds display their dances, come and go in pairs, in flocks, until they leave to continue their day,
deeper in the jungle. Then, we go back to the center for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will take the opportunity to visit the MLC orchid garden, home to more than 120 species of orchids.
A visit to the bio-garden, medicinal-garden and wild water project will give us a better understanding of how the Centers projects are a bet for a sustainable future for the jungle and its human inhabitants. Then, we will start our second visit to the trails, towards the outlook, from which it is possible to see the distant mountains of the Andes and the misty slopes of the Cloud Forest; and towards the Mascoitania ravine and its lovely creek-ponds. We’ll swim in the waterfalls and collect wild edible foods. Back at the Center we enjoy lunch and fresh smoothie making from your collected plants,
fresh herbs and food from the bio-gardens. In the afternoon, a new visit to the trails will take us to some of the transects where the research work is carried out, as we try to spot monkeys, mammal tracks and birds while researching more wild edible plants. The tour is led by biologists and food experts!

In the evening, depending on the weather conditions, we will observe the sky, identifying the southern hemisphere
constellations while we are told about Andean, cosmic visions, and stories of the jungle are told to us afterwards, in the dark, in the comfort of the living room.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Manu Learning Center
Overnight at the Manu Learning Center

Day 4:
After an early breakfast, a boat will take us on a two-hour trip to the hot springs of Aguas Calientes in Manu, in the land of the native community of Shintuya. Among the trees, we will have a great time enjoying the hot springs and the cool waters of the creek. A picnic lunch by the river includes wild food collected by ourselves or taken from the bio gardens at MLC. Then, we will cross to the other side of the river for a visit to Shintuya. We will have some time for an exchange with the members of the community and to see, and eventually purchase, hand-made arrows, spears and crafts.

Breakfast at the Manu Learning Center
Picnic lunch by the river
Dinner at the Manu Learning Center
Overnight at the Manu Learning Center

Day 5:
After breakfast we take the boat to Atalaya where we travel by car to Pilcopata. After a 3 hour trekking the locals of the Queros community will welcome us with a traditional Wachiperi lunch. We learn about medicinal plants with a local Shaman in the afternoon. We’ll collect medicinal plants for a evening steam bath with herbs and a Wachiperi Shaman. After our lunch we have a informal meeting in order to prepare us for the forest to observe and collect the specific plants we will later use in the ceremony. At the same time we will be shown the ethnobotanic garden where we can learn about the different plants that the Amazon indigenous cultures use to treat a variety of illnesses. In the evening, after dinner we will begin the ‘Banos a Vapor’ ceremony, guided by a Wachiperi shaman. The ceremony starts in the early evening and lasts till midnight. At night at the campfire you can enjoy stories, dances and songs of the Wachiperi culture.

Breakfast at the Manu Learning Center
Wachiperi Lunch
Dinner in Queros
Overnight in tents in Queros
(sheets, blankets and modern tents included)

Day 6:
In the morning we’ll participate in the elaboration of Wachiperi
crafts like tree fiber baskets and necklaces in traditional style.
We’ll be rafting back to Pilcopata by balsa boat. Transfer back
to the Manu Learning Centre. We bring our collection of wild
foods and medicinal plants for research and lunch. Enjoy a
afternoon of exploring and volunteering at your own pace on the
grounds of MLC, hike the surrounding trails, swim in nearby
waterfalls or just relax. Smoothie making and food preparations
done with staff or by yourself. Optional: for those who are
interested a shaman will come to the Manu Learning Center to
offer you a healing journey with Ayahuasca.

Breakfast in Queros
Lunch and dinner at the Manu Learning Center
Overnight at the Manu Learning Center

Day 7:
After breakfast, we prepare for departure and take the boat back to
Atalaya port-town, where we will board our transport back to Cusco.
The landscape will change again before our eyes as we climb the
Cloud Forest towards the Andes and then down to Cusco. The car
will leave you at the Posada to complete this extraordinary journey.

Breakfast at the Manu Learning Center
Box Lunch
Overnight at Posada San Rafael or similar

Day 8:
End of service

Join Daniel Vitalis for the Wild Food Explorer with Machu Picchu visit!

Daniel invites you to join him for this ten day Adventure! Daniel: “This trip is so comprehensive. We are traveling into the jungle to explore the most bio-diverse region of the world! Native biologist and shamans will lead us through the most nourishing, exciting and informative eco-adventure of our lives! You will have to view the itinerary to believe it. I am still amazed!” For more info about Daniel Vitalis please visit: www.danielvitalis.com Limited space for 9 people per tour!

PERU AMAZON WILD FOOD EXPLORER INCLUDED MACHU PICCHU

10 Days / 9 Nights
ITINERARY SUMMARY START LIMA

Day 1
Upon arrival in Lima a transfer service will take you to Hotel Carmel or similar. Overnight stay.

Day 2
After breakfast at the hotel a transfer will take you to Lima Airport.
Your will take your flight from Lima to Cusco (1:15 hours)
Cusco arrival and transfer to Hotel. Enjoy a free day in Cusco. Visit the fresh smoothie markets and artisan shops! Overnight stay at Posada San Rafael or similar. See hotel link: www.posadasanrafaelcusco.com

Day 3
Our staff will meet you for a pick up at the hotel to take you on a private transport to start our full day Sacred Valley of the incas and Machu Picchu visit. From Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu we go on a train that runs along the Urubamba river, in a 90 minutes amazing ride. Once in Aguas Calientes, we take a bus up the ruins. Two hours of a private guided visit put us at the centre of the Andean part of our journey. Then, we continue the visit on our own at Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is the greatest of the Inca cities and it was hidden from the conquerors and remained covered by the jungle for more than three hundred years. It is the most beautiful example of the classic Inca style, and it has been built on the top of a mountain. To this day, it is the consensus that it was built by the great Pachacutec, and that it was used as a resting place for the Inca. After Machu Picchu we take the bus back to Aguas Calientes followed by the late afternoon train to Ollantaytambo. Our private transport takes us back into the Sacred Valley. As we return to Cusco, the view of the Cordillera and its snowed peaked mountains is the perfect end for the Andean part of our trip.
In the evening we’ll drop you off at Posada San Rafael or similar.

Day 4
Start Tour WILD FOOD EXPLORER --see detailed itinerary above--

Tour includes:
Bilingual Expedition Leader in Rainforest and at Machu Picchu

All accommodation & meals listed in the itinerary

Local taxes & rates

Entree fees to the National Park(s)

Tour does not include:

International and domestic flights (Lima-Cusco-Lima)

Taxes related to above airfare

Gratuity

Personal services & consumption (laundry, alcohol, etc)

Travel insurance fees

Start Tours 2010

August 5th for 10 days -- Join Daniel Vitalis & J. Kielo Dussel
August 19th for 10 days -- Join Daniel Vitalis
September 2nd for 10 days -- Join Daniel Vitalis

Please contact info@rawflora.com for your booking-form

Bring your own Group! Wild Food Tour for 2010 and 2011:

September 16th for 7 or 10 days -- tour led by local biologists and shamans

Above itineraries for the seven and ten day tours are now offered for June till Sept. 2011

All tours are led by a professional biologist, shamans, raw and wild food experts!

Peru Wild Food Explorer Group-tours max. of 10 people - min. of 6 people.

The group rate based on 10 people participating:

$2,400 per person for the 10 days RawFlora Wild Food Explorer / Join Daniel Vitalis

BRING YOUR OWN GROUP!

*2010 Special: bring your own group and you travel for FREE!

Please contact us for more details.
Group rates for the 10 day RawFlora Wild Food Explorer in Peru:
Based on 5 people: on request

Based on 6 people: on request

Based on 7 people: USD 2,545

Based on 8 people: USD 2,485

Based on 9 people: USD 2,435

Based on 10 people: USD 2,400

Please contact:

info@rawflora.com

*for all reservations, terms, conditions and pre-departure information!

For more impressions of the tour see: www.rawflora.shutterfly.com