Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
year, many travel agencies and outdoor adventure outfitters run sunrise-watching trips
from Cuzco.
During Paucartambo's Fiesta de la Virgen del Carmen, minibuses run back and forth
between Paucartambo and Tres Cruces all night long. You can also take a truck en route to
Pillcopata and ask to be let off at the turnoff to Tres Cruces (a further 13km walk). Altern-
atively, ask around in Paucartambo to hire a truck. Make sure you leave in the middle of
the night to catch the dawn, and take plenty of warm clothing. Camping is possible but
take all your own supplies.
Tres Cruces is within Parque Nacional Manu. For details of the onward trip to Shintuya
and the Manu area,
Click here
.
Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado
Almost 500km long, this road takes a day to travel in the dry season. Most travelers
choose to fly from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado. Now paved, this route is part of the In-
teroceánica, a highway that unites the east and west coasts of South America for the first
time.
Various companies depart from Cuzco's
terminal terrestre
for Puerto Maldonado
between 3pm and 4.30pm daily. CIVA (S60, 17 hours, departs 4pm) is probably the best
option. If you want to split up the journey, the best places to stop are Ocongate and
Quince Mil, which have basic accommodations.
The route heads toward Puno until soon after Urcos, where the road to Puerto Maldon-
ado begins. About 75km and 2½ hours from Cuzco, you come to the highland town of
Ocongate
, which has a couple of basic hotels around the plaza.
From here, trucks go to the village of
Tinqui
, an hour's drive beyond Ocongate, which
is the starting point for the spectacular seven-day trek encircling Ausangate (6384m), the
highest mountain in southern Peru.
After Tinqui, the road drops steadily to
Quince Mil
, 240km from Cuzco, less than
1000m above sea level, and the halfway point of the journey. The area is a gold-mining
center, and the hotel here is often full. After another 100km, the road into the jungle
reaches the flatlands, where it levels out for the last 140km into Puerto Maldonado.
AUSANGATE
Snowcapped Ausangate (6384m), the highest mountain in southern Peru, can be seen
from Cuzco on a clear day. Hiking a circuit around its skirts is the most challenging alpine
