MANU EXPLORER  

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Day 1: Cusco – Manu Cloud forest

Depart Cusco about 8am after an early breakfast and start the fabulous journey that will take you from the high Andes, with spectacular views of the sacred valley, right down into the cloud forest. Arrive at Paucartambo, the centre of ancient trading routes of the Incas, and stop for a light refreshment. Here you will have the chance to experience some local culture, traditional dances and celebrations as well as learn about the Andean communities’ use of biodiversity within the forest. Continue your journey on towards one of the highest points of the day at Acjanaco (3,500 m), a park rangers’ station and the entrance to Manu National Park. If weather conditions permit, you may have the chance of seeing the spectacular views of Peru’s largest National Park. Amidst the clouds, travel on towards San Pedro, where you will have lunch. Take in the dramatic changes of the landscape as you go until you reach the lodge in the afternoon about 3pm for your overnight stay.

Lodging: Cock of the Rock Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 2: Manu Cloud forest – Manu Learning Centre

An early morning start takes you out into the cloud forest to see one of its main attractions, the Cock of The Rock bird, the national bird of Peru. Watch their dance spectacle right in front of you, an incredible sight! After a hearty breakfast at the lodge begin the journey down by road further into the cloud forest. The journey will be full of the sights and sounds of the forest, monkeys and some of the richest varieties of birds on earth as well as the spectacled bear. You will visit a coca plantation where you will learn about the uses of the coca leaves and their medicinal properties. After a short stop at Pillcopata you will head on to the port-town of Atalaya, and board a motorized canoe. A one-hour ride to the Manu Learning Centre gives you your first impression of the meandering Amazonian river, the Alto Madre de Dios, one of the most southern tributaries of the legendary Amazonas River. On arrival you will be shown round the lodge before lunch. In the afternoon, explore the local trail system with your naturalist guides, before relaxing at the lodge to the sounds of forest. During your stay at this beautiful lodge guests can learn about the human history of Manu and the challenges conserving this beautiful and fragile environment talking to the guides and researchers on site. Or perhaps you want to just relax and let the world go by sipping a cool drink and watching the sun set on the Amazon.

Lodging: Manu Learning Centre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 3: Manu Learning Centre

Spend the day with your guide exploring the reserve, take a guided tour around the medicinal plant garden at the lodge and learn all the about the healing properties of the Amazon plants or perhaps head out early after breatkast and follow one of the teams of researchers as they head out into the forest to check their camera traps or pitfall traps and see what incidentals they have found – maybe a even a new species to science? In the afternoon head out to the wetland viewing platform for some wildlife view or perhaps venture a little further from the lodge if you are feeling more adventurous and head out onto the nearby ocbow lake Machuhuasi where you will get the chance to sit on a wooden raft paddling quietly through the water so as not to disturb any present wildlife. Head back to the lodge in the early evening and relax with a drink looking out of the beautiful Madre de Dios river. After dinner you could perhaps trek up to the mammal hide and spend a few hours watching and listening for any of the larger species we have surrounding the lodge and hopefully spot some.

Lodging: Manu Learning Centre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 4: Manu Learning Centre – Juan De Dios

One of the most interesting activities at the Manu Learning Centre is the monitoring of the clay lick or Collpa where, among others, the Blue Headed Macaw is observed and studied as it is an endangered species. At 5:00 a.m. in the morning, join the scientists and researchers on the boat and head for the hide, five minutes up river, to observe the activity of macaws, parrots, and parakeets. As the day breaks and the rays of the sun paint the walls of the clay lick with magic colors, the birds display their dances, come and go in pairs and in flocks, until they leave to continue their day, deeper in the jungle. Return to the centre for breakfast. After breakfast, continue your journey down the Madre de Dios River spending much of the day navegating the river wildlife spotting along the way. Finish your journey at a small place called Juan de Dios where you will break the journey for the night before heading into the National Park the following morning.

Lodging: Juan de Dios

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 5: Juan de Dios - Campsite Aguaje

After a great breakfast, head on a journey right into the Manu National Park. You will reach as deep into the park as allowed, to Cocha Salvador. On the way, the beaches, especially in the dry season, are teeming with nesting birds and feeding herons, egrets, orinoco geese, terns and skimmers to name but a few. Some beaches will host sunning white and black caimans and breeding side-necked turtles. Hundreds of sand-coloured nightjars roost during the day on logs and beaches and there is a chance of encountering a sunning Jaguar - the world’s third largest cat. Overnight at one of Manu’s best tented campsites, Campsite Aguaje.

Lodging: Campsite Aguaje

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 6: Campsite Aguaje

Wake early and head to Cocha Salvador. Board small catamarans and head out onto the lake observing animal life from the water. Encounter agami heron, sungrebe or brown capuchin monkeys who are usually feeding on fruits nearby. Look out for a family of giant otters, the world’s largest freshwater carnivores, which remain common only in Manu, having been hunted to extinction throughout most of their former range. Each animal consumes between 4 and 5 kilos of fish daily and often they can be seen eating large fish on logs at the lakeside. Walk through the primary forest, shaded by 60 meter emergent canopy of Kapoc trees, where black spider monkeys rest whilst foraging through the strangler figs. Head back downstream stopping at Cocha Otorongo and climb a 20-metre observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake and observe the wildlife below.

Lodging: Campsite Aguaje

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 7: Campsite Aguaje – Manu Wildlife Centre

Wake early and head to Cocha Salvador. Board small catamarans and head out onto the lake observing animal life from the water. Encounter agami heron, sungrebe or brown capuchin monkeys who are usually feeding on fruits nearby. Look out for a family of giant otters, the world’s largest freshwater carnivores, which remain common only in Manu, having been hunted to extinction throughout most of their former range. Each animal consumes between 4 and 5 kilos of fish daily and often they can be seen eating large fish on logs at the lakeside. Walk through the primary forest, shaded by 60 meter emergent canopy of Kapoc trees, where black spider monkeys rest whilst foraging through the strangler figs. Head back downstream stopping at Cocha Otorongo and climb a 20-metre observation tower in the rainforest canopy overlooking the lake and observe the wildlife below. Then head back down river to the Manu Wildlife Centre for your overnight.

Lodging: Manu Wildlife Centre

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

Day 8: Manu Wildlife Centre – Cusco

An early start takes you on a journey downstream (approx 3 hours) to Colorado Village, breakfast will be served on the boat taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. The journey takes us past several lowland native settlements and gold miners digging and panning gold along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. From Colorado start the overland journey to Puerto Carlos (approx. 45 mins) and then cross the Inambari River (approx. 15 mins) by boat to Santa Rosa, before finally a van or bus will drive you on to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Cusco.

Lodging: Not Included

Meals: Breakfast

 

 

 

Price per person sharing: 1695 GBP (subject to change and availability