It is hard to describe a "typical day" in the life of a Machiguenga family, because their activities are so different depending upon the season of the year, the weather, the necessities of each family, and their whims for the day. Unlike people living in the United States, the Machiguenga do not work for anyone but their own families. They set their own schedule, decide what they want to do and when they want to do it, how much they want to work and how much they want to relax and have fun.

During the rainy season of November to May, families take advantage of a rainy day to manufacture various important articles. Women sit in the shelter of their sturdy houses, spinning and weaving cotton to make the cotton tunics typically worn by the Machiguenga.

Men make arrows for their upcoming hunting trips . Children might play with a pet bird, or help their mother fix any leaks in the roof.When the weather clears up for a few days during the long rainy season, men set out to hunt game animals, including tapirs, agoutis, peccaries (a kind of wild boar) and monkeys. They can walk as much as 15 miles in a day in pursuit of different game animals. Because they produce little protein in the gardens, hunting is a necessity for the Machiguenga. Women do not hunt for game animals, but frequently go on shorter treks in the company of children to gather wild fruits, palm hearts, beetle larva (they are really yummy! taste like peanut butter!) and other delicacies.