To reach the Manu National Park means a day's journey by road over the Andes from Cusco, climbing up to the high puna grassland where one enters the park at the Tres Cruces guard post, 3300m above sea level. The last part of the road down to Shintuya at 300m has four unbridged river crossings that are impassable in the wet season from November to March. At Shintuya, if no park boat is available, the onward journey to Pakitsa, the administrative headquarters where there is accommodation, can only be made by hiring the Dominican Mission boat at $100 a day plus 30 gallons of gasoline (if you can get it) as well as enough for the return journey from Pakitsa to Cashu Cocha.