With fixed departure dates: it has three variants, of 5, 7, and 9-days, and gives you a very complete picture of Manu’s undisturbed rainforest.

Manu is one of the most unspoilt wildernesses in the world. It is the size of Costa Rica and, in terms of diversity, is undoubtedly among the riches places on the globe - an area where many species are still waiting to be discovered. Indeed, ninety percent of Manu is virtually unexplored and uncontacted tribes are still known to be living in the area.

Manu is probably one of the best places in South America to see the highly endangered giant otter. There are guaranteed sightings at Cocha Salvador, one of Manu’s largest oxbow lakes but there are excellent opportunities at many other lakes.

Manu is also home to over a dozen species of primate (many of which are easily seen) and a staggering 650 species of bird (not to mention 1500 species of flowering plants).

Manu is broadly divided into two areas. Manu National Park, of which only ten percent is open to tourists, and the Manu Cultural Zone which lies directly adjacent to the Park. This region is rich in native culture and though human subsistence activities are permitted here it has yet to have much impact on the area’s abundant wildlife. Indeed, some of the best wildlife viewing is outside the park, such as the macaw and mammal clay licks.

Manu National Park: from s/.2566

With fixed departure dates: it has three variants, of 5, 7, and 9-days, and gives you a very complete picture of Manu’s undisturbed rainforest.

• 5 / 7 / 9 days
• With fixed departures
• Cloud Forest, Pilcopata, Lakes Salvador & Otorongo, Macaw Lick and Manu Camping Lodge
• in by bus, out by plane or bus

DAY 1: Cusco-Cloud Forest and Pilcopata
After an early rise there will be a visit to Lake Huacarpay (30km outside Cusco). Using a telescope, it will be possible to see some of the 95 species of birds that are registered at the lake, including Black-crowned Night-Herons, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles, White-tufted Grebes, Silvery Grebes, Plumbeos Rails, Sparkling Violetears, Giant Hummingbirds, Green-tailed Trainbearers, Barded Mountaineers, the Andean ducks and the Puna Ibis.
We head over the Andes, stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb to the highpoint of the Manu Biosphere at about 3,800 m before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a hike to the leek of the incredible cock-of-the-rock, to see the 'performance' of the male’s right under our eyes. We spend our first night in Pilcopata, Gallito de las Rocas Hotel.

DAY 2: Cloud Forest-Atalaya-Boca Manu Lodge
At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at the small village Atalaya at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate down the turbulent Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu. As night falls we sleep at Boca Manu Lodge.

DAY 3 & 4: Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo night in Machiguenga Lodge
On the morning of the third day we turn up the Manu River. From this vantage point we will have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman, and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our Machiguenga Lodge deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for the next two days. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colourful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. A five hour hike through the forest takes us to Lake Otorongo and a 20 metre-high observation platform that overlooks the lake. At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.

DAY 5: Lake Salvador-Boca Manu
After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador, we return back down the Manu River. At Boca Manu you return to Cusco by light aircraft, if you are participating in the 5-day trip.

If your tour is of 7 or 9 days, it continues as follows:

DAY 5: Lake Salvador-Boca Manu – Amazon Manu Lodge
After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador, we return back down the Manu River. At Boca Manu we continue on the Madre de Dios River and we stop for see a Crested Eagle nesting close to the river 15 minutes walking into the forest, arriving to Oropéndola private reserved zone, near the clay licks for mammal and macaws, where we spend the night in Manu camping Lodge.

DAY 6: Macaw Lick
At first light we head to the macaw lick for 45 minutes by boat to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we rest and walk around the lodge looking for medicinal plants, at night we will visit another one of Manu’s most famous Mammal Clay lick, after dinner your guide will take you to a platform overlooking a Mammal clay lick in the heart of the forest. Here you can experience the incredible sounds of the night whilst keeping an eye out for visitors to the clay lick. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, your guide will be on full alert and ready to wake you at the first sign of activity. Animals that may visit the clay lick are the Tapir (a large mammal found in the Amazon), Deer and the Agouti paca.

DAY 7: Manu Camping Lodge - Cusco
A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft, if you are participating in the 7-day trip.

If your tour is of 9 days, it continues as follows:

DAY 7: Manu Camping Lodge - Boca Manu - Yanayacu Lodge
A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu and we carry on up the Alto Madre de Dios River. Travelling on the river gives us our best chance to see rare animals such as the puma or jaguar that are resting or foraging on the beaches; Night at Yanayacu Lodge.

DAY 8: Pilcopata
This day we travel upstream to Atalaya where our bus is waiting to take us back to Pilcopata and spend the night at Gallito de las Rocas Hotel.

DAY 9: Pilcopata-Cloud forest- Cusco
Early in the morning we travel by bus take us back to the cloud forest and over the Andes to Cusco.

All prices are current only for 2008:

Includes:

• Qualified naturalist guide speaking English and Spanish.
• Neotropical Rainforest Mammals Field Guide Book, Field Guide to the Birds of Peru and Flora check list.
• First Aid Kit.
• Transportation by private bus from Cusco to Cloud Forest to Atalaya (5- and 7-day tour) and back from Atalaya to Cusco (9-day tour).
• Transportation by private boat from Atalaya to Lake Salvador to Boca.
• Manu (5-day tour) to Blanquillo claylike to Manu Camping Lodge (7-day tour) to Yanayacu Lodge to Atalaya (9-day tour).
• Flight from Boca Manu to Cusco (5- and 7-day tour).
• All Meals.
• Lodges
• Tents and mats.
• Manu checking list.
• Paper work for park entrance.

Not Included:

• Entrance fee $50 pp for 2008.
• Airport tax for those returning by plane from Boca Manu to Cusco on 5 and 7, day tours(10 Dollars pp to be paid before departure).
• Soft drinks and beers.

CONFIRMED

The fixed departure dates for individual travelers for 2008 are as follows.

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Tropical Nature: from s/. 2610

Itinerary: 4/5 Days/ 4 nights
Departure: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Tropical Nature

DAY 1 - Cusco to Amazon Manu Lodge:
Day 1 entails an early morning 45-minute flight from Cusco, landing at Boca Manu’s airstrip in the middle of the rainforest. Here you will be met by the Guide and taken by boat up the Rio de Madre de Dios (Mother of God River) to Amazon Manu Lodge. A leisurely lunch will be followed by your first hike through the rainforest. The hike will take approximately 3 hours, we can expect to see birds such as the Mealy Parrots, and Macaws of various types including blue & yellow Macaws, red & green Macaws and scarlet Macaws. Monkeys such as the Emperor & Saddle-back Tamarins and the Squirrel Monkey may also be spotted in the trees above.
Later, dinner will be served at the campsite followed by a night walk. This is often the best way to see different species of frogs, insects and small cats like the Ocelot.

DAY 2 - Macaw Clay Lick:
The Red Howler monkey alarm clock will ensure an early rise for coffee. You will then be taken by boat for 45 minutes down river to the sheltered bird lookout at Blanquillo’s Macaw Clay Lick. Here you can watch, as huge flocks of Parrots, Parakeets and Macaws arrive to eat Blanquillo’s clay. You’ll spend a few hours here giving the opportunity to spy on the jungle life (and take some amazing photos!) from the sheltered lookout.
Around midday you will visit and climb Camungo´s 42-meter (140 feet) tower taking in the spectacular view of Manu from the canopy at the top. Back at the base camp you’ll have lunch, and in the afternoon, take another walk to further explore the rainforest.
Dinner will be served at Amazon Manu Lodge followed by a night boat ride searching for Black and White Caimans with flashlights.

DAY 3 – Blanco Lake to Tapir Mammal Clay Lick
Day 3 begins with another early start and a visit to Cocha (oxbow lake) Blanco where the Giant Otter’s family (Pteronura brasiliensis) may be spotted.
In the afternoon we will walk the trails around the Lodge, we will look for a monkeys like Emperator & Saddle Back Tamarins and birds like Piping Guan.
After dinner your guide will take you to a platform overlooking a Mammal clay lick in the heart of the forest. Here you can experience the incredible sounds of the night whilst keeping an eye out for visitors to the clay lick. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, your guide will be on full alert and ready to wake you at the first sign of activity. Animals that may visit the clay lick are the Tapir (a large mammal found in the Amazon), Deer and the Agouti paca.

DAY 4 – Amazon Manu Lodge to Cusco
Once again you will be woken early by the Howler Monkeys! After breakfast you will be taken to Boca Manu’s airstrip where you will take the short flight back to Cusco airport. You will be met here by an Oropéndola representative who will make sure you are returned safely to your hotel.

DAY 4 –Amazon Manu Lodge
After breakfast we will visit the Crested Eagle, nesting on the dicterix tree, close to the river 15 minutes walking into the forest.
Afternoon walk in the forest around the Lodge and the guide will explain you about the medicinal plants and piraña fishing in our private lake call Piraña Lake.

DAY 5 – Amazon Manu Lodge to Cusco
After breakfast you will be taken to Boca Manu’s airstrip by 2 hours boat trip, where you will take the short flight back to Cusco airport. You will be met here by an Oropéndola representative who will make sure you are returned safely to your hotel.

All prices are current only for 2008:

Includes:

• Qualified naturalist guide speaking English and Spanish.
• Telescope 20x60 Kowa TSN-664 ED for the group use.
• Neotropical Rainforest Mammals Field Guide Book, Field Guide to the Birds of Peru and Flora check list.
• Flight from Cusco to Boca Manu/ Boca Manu to Cusco.
• Boca Manu Airport to OropéndolaLodge by private boat.
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• Manu checking list.

Not Included:

• Airport tax Cusco - Boca Manu – Cusco (20 Dollars pp. to paid before departure).
• Soft drinks and beers.
  

Bird Watching tours look birding tours page

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Wildlife Expeditions: from s/. 2581

Shows you Manu’s most interesting areas and Indian villages for 7, 9 days and 8 nights
Itinerary: 7/9 Days and 8 nights
Departure: Every Friday

Wildlife Expeditions

DIA 1 - Cusco - Cloud Forest - Pilcopata
Begins with a trip to Paucartambo, The trip will then continue to the Andino area, at 3,532 meters above sea level, this is the highest part of Manu. Lunch will be served at 1pm, after which the journey will continue, descending to the cloud forest. This journey will take us through 13 different ecological levels varying in altitude of 550 meters above sea level, to 4,000 meters.
After an early rise there will be a visit to Lake Huacarpay (30km outside Cusco). Using a telescope, it will be possible to see some of the 95 species of birds that are registered at the lake, including Black-crowned Night-Herons, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles, White-tufted Grebes, Silvery Grebes, Plumbeos Rails, Sparkling Violetears, Giant Hummingbirds, Green-tailed Trainbearers, Bearded Mountaineers, the Andean ducks and the Puna Ibis.
During the descent, there will be areas that we will walk. These areas are known to be inhabited by the Hooded and Scarlet-Bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Grass-Green Managers, Orange-Eared Tanagers, Golden-Headed Quetzals, Masket Trogons, Highland Motmots, Versicolored Barbet, Emerald and Blue-banded Toucanets, Grey-Breasted Mountain-Toucans.
We will sleep in Pilcopata Gallito de las Rocas Hotel.

DAY 2 - Pilcopata – Manu Camping Lodge
At 6am (after breakfast) we will head to Atalaya where there will be a boat waiting to continue the journey down the Madre de Dios river for 7 hours. Stopping at the populated area of Boca Manu, where it is possible to buy chocolate, ice cream, soda drinks and beer and also we will show you the boat building process with the ecological Cedar wood which they collect from Manu river natural erosion during the raining season.
Continue travelling down the river and sleep at Manu Camping Lodge.

DAY 3 - Macaw Clay Lick
On this day there will be a 45 minute boat ride down the Madre de Dios River, to the Macaw Clay Lick. At approximately 6am you will be treated to the sight of hundreds of Parakeets, Parrots and Macaw arriving at the lick to eat the clay. This really is a spectacular sight and is said to be one of the highlights of the trip. Species you can expect to see include: Red and Green Macaw, Yellow Crowned, Mealy, Blue Headed, Orange-Cheeked Parrot, Dusky Headed and White Eyed Parakeets.
Dinner will be served at Manu Camping Lodge followed by a night boat ride searching for Black and White Caimans with flashlights.

DAY 4 - Lago Blanco (Blanco Lake)
Begins with another early start and a visit to Cocha (oxbow lake) Blanco where the Giant Otter’s family (Pteronura brasiliensis) may be spotted.
In the afternoon we will walk the trails around the Manu Camping Lodge, we will look for a monkeys like Emperator & Saddle Back Tamarins and birds like Piping Guan.

Day 5 - Tapir Mammal Clay Lick
This morning after breakfast you will walk the trails around the Camping place looking for the monkeys and birds.
After dinner your guide will take you to a platform overlooking a Mammal clay lick in the heart of the forest. Here you can experience the incredible sounds of the night whilst keeping an eye out for visitors to the clay lick. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, your guide will be on full alert and ready to wake you at the first sign of activity. Animals that may visit the clay lick are the Tapir (a large mammal found in the Amazon), Deer and the Agouti paca.

Day 6 –Canopy Tower
Early in the morning you will visit and climb Camungo´s 42-meter (140 feet) tower taking in the spectacular view of Manu from the canopy at the top. You are going to have the second option to visit the Camungo Lake where a group of other leave there. Back at the base camp you’ll have lunch, and in the afternoon, take another walk to further explore the rainforest and visit the Piraña Lake where you can have an opportunity to do fishing with a special fishing line and try piraña dish.

Day 7 – Manu Camping Lodge – Boca Manu – Yanayacu Lodge
If you are participating in the 7-days trip. You return to Cusco by light aircraft, (45 minute flight) you will be met here by an Oropéndola representative who will make sure you are returned safely to your hotel. If your tour is 9 days, it continues as follows:
You will be taken to Yanayacu Lodge, in Boca Manu we will have a chance to visit the Isla de los Valles Community (Machiguenka Indian people), where you will see their life stale and also to the other community Santa Teresita they are Piro Indian people that live close to Boca Manu. We carry on up the Alto Madre de Dios River. Night at Yanayacu Lodge.

DAY 8: Yanayacu - Pilcopata
This day we travel upstream to Atalaya where our bus is waiting to take us back to Pilcopata and spend the night at Gallito de las Rocas Hotel.

DAY 9: Pilcopata - Cloud forest - Cusco
Early in the morning we travel by bus take us back to the cloud forest and over the Andes to Cusco.

All prices are current only for 2008:

Includes:

• Qualified naturalist guide speaking English and Spanish.
• Telescope 20x60 Kowa TSN-664 ED for the group use.
• Neotropical Rainforest Mammals Field Guide Book, Field Guide to the Birds of Peru and Flora check list.
• First Aid Kit Transportation from Cusco to Atalaya by private bus.
• Transportation from Cusco-Atalaya-Boca Manu – Manu Campiing Lodge-Macaw and Mammal Lick- by private boat- bus to Cusco.
• Flight from Boca Manu to Cusco.
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• Manu checking list.

Not Included:

• Airport tax for those returning by plane Boca Manu to Cusco on 7 day tours (10 Dollars pp to be paid before departure).
• Soft drinks and beers.

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Cloud Forest: from s/. 1711

Itinerary: 3/4 Days/ 3 Nights
Departure: Every Wednesday

Cloud Forest

DAY 1 - Cusco - Cloud Forest
Begins with a trip to Paucartambo, The trip will then continue to the Andino area, at 3,532 meters above sea level, this is the highest part of Manu. Lunch will be served at 1pm, after which the journey will continue, descending to the cloud forest. This journey will take us through 13 different ecological levels varying in altitude of 550 meters above sea level, to 4,000 meters.

After an early rise there will be a visit to Lake Huacarpay (30km outside Cusco). Using a telescope, it will be possible to see some of the 95 species of birds that are registered at the lake, including Black-crowned Night-Herons, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles, White-tufted Grebes, Silvery Grebes, Plumbeos Rails, Sparkling Violetears, Giant Hummingbirds, Green-tailed Trainbearers, Bearded Mountaineers, the Andean ducks and the Puna Ibis.

During the descent, there will be areas that we will walk. These areas are known to be inhabited by the Hooded and Scarlet-Bellied Mountain-Tanagers, Grass-Green Managers, Orange-Eared Tanagers, Golden-Headed Quetzals, Masked Trogons, Highland Motmots, Versicolored Barbet, Emerald and Blue-banded Toucanets, Grey-Breasted Mountain-Toucans.
We will sleep in Manus Paradise Lodge comfortable with private toiled and hot shower at 1,600 altitudes.

DAY2. - Early in the morning, we take a hike to the leek of the incredible cock-of-the-rock, to see the 'performance' of the male’s right under our eyes. We spend one hour approximately here and we back to the Lodge for our breakfast.
Continuing down the Manu Road, we will bird our way through subtropical forest to Atalaya, crossing the Alto Madre de Dios River to the Amazonía Lodge.

We will spend two nights, and we will look for the monkeys and birds habitats from the lodge at the base of the Andes. We will cover the extensive trail system Overnight at Amazonía Lodge.

DAY 3.- Amazonía Lodge, we will hike to the mountain and we are going to visit a canopy tower to see different wildlife over the canopy and in the afternoon we are going to see the famous Hoatzin prehistoric bird close to the lake.

DAY 4.- Early in the morning we travel by bus take us back to the cloud forest and over the Andes to Cusco. In the way back we can make short stop.

All prices are current only for 2008:

Includes:

• Qualified naturalist guide speaking English and Spanish.
• Telescope 20x60 Kowa TSN-664 ED for the group use.
• Neotropical Rainforest Mammals Field Guide Book, Field Guide to the Birds of Peru and Flora check list.
• Private Car / boat
• Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• Manu checking list.

Not Included:

• Soft drinks and beers.

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