The Machiguenguas Center for Tropical Studies

The Machiguengas Center for Tropical Studies is perched on a high bluff overlooking the Urubamba River and the first range of the Andes mountains as they rise from the lowlands and forest in the Peruvian Province of Cusco.

A 50-minute flight from Cusco to the Timpia landing strip and 10-minute motocanoe ride on the Urubamba River leads you to the Machiguenga Center for Tropical Studies, and an Amazon adventure to the Pongo de Mainique.

The Pongo River Canyon

Boasts unrivaled scenic beauty, unique and endangered wildlife, a score of photogenic waterfalls and a fair share of mystic history. The wildlife protected in the cloud forest around the Pongo includes Spectacled Bears, Military Macaws, Woolly Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Golden headed Quetzals, Amazonian Umbrella birds and Peru's national bird the blazing scarlet Andean Cock-of-the-Rock.

A one-hour motor canoe ride takes you from the Center to the incredible Pongo de Mainique, a 50-yard wide (45-m wide), two mile long (3-km long) break in the Vilcabamba Mountain Range through which flows the mighty Urubamba River. This river originates in the glaciers near Cusco and runs through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Its walls rise 3,300 feet (1,000m) into the mists of the unexplored mountain cloud forest of Vilcabamba.

The Macaw Licks

Three of the best Macaw Clay Licks in the world are located near the Machiguenga Center and are viewable from solid blinds only 15 feet (45m) away.

The clay licks of Timpia

Kinaroari: 10 minutes by river from the center. All three species of large macaws can be viewed: Blue and Gold's, Scarlets and Greenwings (Red and Greens)

Megalick: located 45 minutes by motor canoe from the center, is the most exciting new clay lick for Blue and Gold and Scarlet Macaws.

Sabeti: a 250-feet-tall clay and rock bank at one-hour hike from the Center. In the early morning Blue headed Parrots (Pionus) and White-eyed Parakeets (Conures) congregate, followed by Amazons and Chestnut-fronted (Severe) Macaws. Scarlets, Red-and green (Greenwings), and Blue and Gold Macaws eventually take over the lick.

Indigenous-Owned Rain Forest Lodge

The Machiguengas Center features native hardwood constructions with 10 fully screened double occupancy private rooms. Spacious dining and public areas,modern bathroom facilities with hot water showers are offered. Featured are miles of nature trails surrounding the Center which may be explored accompanied by expert naturalist indigenous guides.

The 125-families of the Machiguengas Indian community of Timpia own 100% of the Machiguengas Center, the only lodge in this remote and little explored region of the Amazon. Two Peruvian non-profit groups, the Center for the Development of the Amazon Indian (CEDIA) and Peru Verde, provide the Machiguengas Center with funding training and technical support.

The Machiguengas Indians of Timpia offer educational worshops about their traditions, handicrafts, arrow making, weaving medicine plants and a session of their famous story-telling.

Peruvian Nature:

National Parks
National Reserves
Other Natural Wonders
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