Manu Endemic Tour
Manu National Park Reserved Zone 7 Days 6 Nights
7 days
Cloud Forest, Boca Manu, Lakes Salvador and Otorongo, and the Macaw Lick, entering by bus over Manu Road and returning by bus over the Interoceanic Highway.
USD 0.00Displayed tour price · per guest
The experience
A seven-day journey from Cusco through the cloud forest and deep into Manu National Park’s Reserved Zone, with river travel, rainforest walks, oxbow lakes, canopy observation and the macaw clay lick.
Tour programme
Day 1: Cusco – Cloud Forest Leaving Cusco early in the morning, we begin an 8-hour journey over the Andes by bus, stopping for breakfast in the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb to the high point of the Manu Biosphere at about 4,000 m before descending into the cloud forest. In these green and moist surroundings, we take our first long walk. There are many bird species to be seen, including the beautiful Paradise Tanager, Umbrella Bird and Golden-headed Quetzal. Among the butterflies are clouded yellows and various skippers. The cloud forest has three monkey species: the Woolly Monkey and the two Capuchin Monkeys of Manu. There are plenty of other mammal species, but they are more difficult to see. We end our walk at the lek of the strange-looking Cock-of-the-Rock, where we watch the males dancing and singing right before our eyes. We spend the night at Manu Endemic Lodge (approx. 1,000 m). Optional: extend your stay by two nights here and join the next group. Driving distance: 200 km / 125 miles, 6 hours Included: Box lunch, Dinner Day 2: Cloud Forest – Boca Manu Lodge At daybreak, we continue by bus into the tropical lowland rainforest, stopping along the way to visit a coca plantation and a hummingbird garden. We arrive at the small village of Atalaya at 650 m, where we change to a motorized canoe for a journey of about 6 hours down the fast-flowing Alto Madre de Dios River. It is difficult, but possible, to see up to eight species of monkeys, as well as other mammals such as peccaries, ocelots, squirrels and bats. Overnight at Romero Lodge. Travel: 45 km / 28 miles, 2 hours by car and 6 hours by boat. Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, Dinner Days 3 & 4: Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo At first light, we continue by boat up the Manu River for an 8-hour ride into the heart of Manu’s Reserved Zone. From this vantage point, we will have great views of riverside birds such as the Black Skimmer, Snowy Egret, Yellow-billed Tern and the exquisite Roseate Spoonbill, as well as sunbathing Black and White Caimans and perhaps the largest rodent species in the world, the Capybara. We reach the Matchiguenga House, deep inside Manu, in the afternoon. This will be our base for this day and the next. During this time, we will walk through virgin forest and admire giant trees such as Shihuahuaco, Mahogany, Brazil Nut and Rubber trees. We will explore one of the most beautiful lakes in the Manu basin, Cocha Salvador, by catamaran, where we can see a huge variety of colorful birds such as the Agami Heron, Sungrebe, Red-capped Cardinal, Amazon Kingfisher, Tropical Kingbird and Yellow-rumped Cacique. Large Spider Monkeys like to spend time in the trees around the lake and, with luck, you may have a front-row view of a day in the life of a family of Giant Otters. There are other trails to explore in this habitat-rich forest near another lake, Cocha Otorongo. The lake also has a 20 m-high observation platform overlooking it. This silt-filled lake has extensive floating vegetation, and Wattled Jacanas walk on top of it. At night, we can explore the forest by flashlight or go caiman-spotting on the lake by moonlight. Travel: 4 hours by boat, plus moderate hiking. Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, Dinner Day 5: Lake Salvador – Macaw Lick Early in the morning, we start boating down the Manu River, giving us a good chance to spot larger and rarer animals along the riverbank. We may see a Black Caiman over 5 meters long, a Tapir, a Giant Anteater, a Sloth swimming across the river, or even the most magnificent of the New World cats, the Jaguar. After joining the Madre de Dios River, we arrive at Blanquillo, near the macaw clay lick. This afternoon, we will climb the 42-meter-high canopy tower, which gives us an excellent view over the resplendent rainforest canopy. We spend the night at the rainforest lodge Tambo Blanquillo. Travel: 4 hours by boat, plus moderate hiking. Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, Dinner Day 6: Macaw Lick At first light, we head to the macaw lick to watch the amazing spectacle of hundreds of parrots eating clay. Among the parakeets are Tui and Cobalt-winged Parakeets; among the parrots, the Orange-cheeked Parrot; and among the larger macaws, foremost the Red-and-green Macaw, with an occasional Scarlet or Blue-and-yellow Macaw. In the afternoon, we visit another of Manu’s beautiful oxbow lakes, Cocha Camungo, which gives us a chance to see the rare Pygmy Kingfisher and Pale-eyed Blackbird. We spend the night again at the rainforest lodge Tambo Blanquillo. Travel: 4 hours by boat, plus moderate hiking. Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, Dinner Day 7: Blanquillo – Boca Colorado – Cusco Back on the boat early in the morning, we head downstream to the small mining village of Boca Colorado. Here, you can see the negative effects of human activities on the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest. We take local transportation to cross the Inambari River. On the other side, our bus is waiting to take us along the newly paved Interoceanic Highway, through beautiful cloud and elfin forest. Near Cusco, we have stunning views of Ausangate Mountain. We reach Cusco in the evening. Travel: 250 km / 156 miles, 8 hours by car and 4 hours by boat. Included: Breakfast, Box lunch, Dinner
Wildlife focus
tapaculo
Included
- Naturalist guide in English and Spanish,Transportation Cusco/Atalaya & Boca Colorado/Mazuco/Cusco by private bus,Transportation Cusco/Atalaya/Boca Manu Lodge/Lake Salvador/Tambo Blanquillo/Boca Colorado,Overnights in lodges and camping huts,Excursions mentioned in the programme,Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner),Water at all times, and warm drinks or lemonade with meals,Guidebook to the Manu rainforest – Talking about Manu,Entrance fee to the Reserved Zone
Not included
- Soft drinks and beers,Personal expenses,Domestic flights