Jungle Pyramids
There isn’t much information about the ancient inka civilization of the Antisuyo, the jungle section of the Tahuantinsuyo Empire. The first pieces of information about the Pusharo Petroglifes come from missioners and explorers. In 1921, the Dominic priest Vicente de Cenitagoya was the first person to spot them and draw the symbols first hand.
The Pusharo Petroglyphs lie on a rock 27 meters long by 2 meters tall filled with different types of native Matshiguenka iconography: symbolic, realistic, geometric, morphologic and abstract. The drawings were carved using stone and humid sand, and painted using “Genipa Americana” (huito) – black/blue colour and with Bixa orellana – (achiote) a reddish colour. Currently, native communities close by still visit the site and re-paint the drawings every now and then as an ancestral tradition, and they prefer not to talk about their meaning.
Day 1
We leave Cusco early in the morning in our specialized overland vehicles. Approximately mid-morning we visit the pre-inca tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to the Acjanacu pass, a feature that marks the beginning of the cloud rainforest and cultural zone. Overnight in the Orquídeas de San Pedro Lodge.
Day 2
Early wake up call to observe the Cock of the Rock (Rupicola peruviana) from a platform. After breakfast, we continue in our vehicle (*1) down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward the town of Pilcopata (*2) and then to Atalaya Port, where we board our motor boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 15 minutes toward Erika Lodge where we will spend the next two nights.
*1 Free Option: River Rafting at Pilcopata. (Read more at our Canopy/Rafting page)
*2 Free Option: Canopy Zip Down (Read more at our Canopy/Rafting page)
*3 Free Option: Mammal Licking grounds observation (Read more on our Erika Lodge page)
Day 3
Immediately after breakfast we start exploring the trail system around Erika Lodge. We will spend all day learning more about the fauna and flora endemic to this particular region.
Day 4
Today we take a 2-hour boat ride down the Alto Madre de Dios river toward the native community of Llactapampa. After a brief walk around the community we will continue to where the Alto Madre de Dios River and the Palotoa Rivers meet. We set up camp in a beach nearby and prepare for next day’s morning hike.
Day 5
After an early wake up and breakfast, we pack up camp and start a 9-hour walk along the Palotoa river’s shore. The dense vegetation will force us into walking on the river itself at times. After the first hour, we arrive at the first Matshiguenka community, ask for permission to enter their territory and meet the rest of the expedition team: native guide and porters (if required). We continue our walk toward the Palotoa Teparo Community, the point of entry for the Petroglifes.
All through the hike we will observe the immensity of the rainforest and the diversity of the surrounding wild life. After our box lunch, we continue walking into the inner forest until we reach the mysterious Pusharo Petroglifes. Overnight camping.
Day 6
We will observe the icons all day, talk about them with our guide, take pictures and walk around the site to witness the surrounding forest, flora and fauna. Overnight at the base campsite.
Day 7
We pack up site and walk through the trails toward the naturally-occurring river pools, where we will spend some time swimming, relaxing and having lunch. Early afternoon we arrive to the Palotoa native community. Overnight camping.
Day 8
Morning farewell reunion with the native guides and porters. We walk back to the Alto Madre de Dios River where our motor boat will be waiting for us to go up stream toward Atalaya Port and take the bus back to Cusco arriving late that night.
