Manu National Park - 9 Days
Description
Manu National park has 1 716 295,22 hectares. protecting from Puna in the high land until tropical rain forest in the lowland,in between we can find elfin forest and cloud forest and a number of micro habitat, which has an extraordinary Mega biodiversity,
also is indigenous territory. some communities are Yora, Mashko-Piro, Matsiguenka, Harakmbut, Wachipaeri and Yine inhabit ancestrally between the forests and rivers of these jungles. There are couple native communities part of Matsiguenka: Tayakome and Yomibato are recognized within the area. Both are located in the upper Manu River. During our tour we are going to visit one lodge manage by this local people, and you will help his economy through this amazing Ecotourism activity.
incredibly there is an undetermined number of indigenous populations in voluntary isolation, using their ancestral knowledge with help of mother earth.
Day 1: Huacarpay – Paucartambo – Upper Manu Road.
We pick you up in the morning from your hotel to start our tour, we drive to the southern Cusco, along the way we’ll pass by several quaint village, with specific economical activities, Like bakery, Peruvian Cuisine, etc. and we visit our first protected area Huacarpay Lake.
This lake has Ramsar Category, Name for protected lakes and marshy areas, here we can find more 118 different species of birds some of the are migrant species, after to visit ad find some endemic species we drive across the Andes, we arrive to colonial village of Paucartambo. a very important village in Colonial time for local trade market, after Lunch we visit the village, trade market is possible to see until nowadays, then Continuing, we climb to the high point of the Manu Biosphere at 3500 m.a.s.l, this point is know like Ajanaco, officially at his point start Manu National Park, from this place we start descending all the way down the east slope to the cloud forest. we walk and if we are lucky probably we find some nice mix flocks of tanagers we are surrounded by the most pristine elfin, habitat had changed totally just in few minutes , biodiversity and scenery are unique. trees everywhere Orchids, flowers, and many more, arriving to the lodge we have a hummingbird festival, they come to visit hummingbird feeders.
Night: Upper Manu Road. L:D.
Day 2: Manu Road – Andean Cock-of-the-rock Lek.
At daybreak, you’ll notice that we are over the clouds, we have a privileged location, seems a dream.
After breakfast, will visit and orchid garden, this kind of habitat its a perfect location for many of them, time to pack and start descending through the famous Manu Road by bus, eventually depending of the activity will have short walks. we have a picnic breathing natural air, after lunch, we keep descending down the the east slope of the Andes, habitat keep changing at the same time our impression its increasing, late in the day we are our beautiful and comfortable lodge,
in the afternoon we visit Andean Cock-of-the-rock Lek, considered like Peruvian national bird, although it is not official or there isn’t any document, relationship is given about their colors, bright red and silver back are related with Peruvian flag, from a hiding place we can see the spectacular show where males are dancing and singing everyday to attract female.
Night: San Pedro – Cloud forest. B:L:D.
Day 3: Tropical Rainforest – Alto Madre de Dios River.
Our tour will keep going into the rain forest we pack and start to driving down the road, we have to time the visit the small village where fresh local fruit es available, then we drive to Atalaya, here we change our ground transport and time to say good bye our staff, but we have a new staff boat man and his helper will join us, in our river transport we go ride down stream, we’ll be surrounded for more wildlife a new splendorous sceneries are coming, late in the day we arrive a new lodge, this evening we we have a different perspective about tropical rain forest, we have a night walking and will visit a Tapir clay lick, in a hiding place we’ll wait these nocturnal visitors.
on the way back depending of the time we look for mysterious insects, frogs, snakes and the uniquely nocturnal night-monkey.
Night: Amazonian Lodge. B:L:D.
Day 4: Macaw Clay lick .
our lodge is located in privileged place, just next to our lodge there is small macaw clay lick, where parakeet, parrots and macaws visit to eat the clay as part of their diet, hundreds of these birds are concentrated every day, activity is directly related with weather,we spend morning enjoy this show, and late in the day we’ll visit the trail system, monkeys, insects, frogs some reptiles, birds, plants, any many more its possible to find, giving us a perfect lesson of harmony and conservation of this natural habitats.
Night: Amazonian Lodge B:L:D.
Day 5 – 6: To Manu National Park – Salvador Oxbow lake.
Manu National park has different zones, like reserve zone specifically dedicated for tourism, today early in the morning will go toward this zone, sailing on the Alto madre dios river until the confluence with Manu River, from where we sail up stream, this river its totally diffent vay slow river with lots of meanders and sandy beaches, along this river we’ll see White and Black Caimans, the biggest rodent of the world «Capibara», biggest predator «Jaguar»of all over tropical rain forest, Skimmers nesting on the river bank, cocoi herons, monkeys, and many more see, our lodge is manage by local comunity.
Next day our plan its to visit Salvador oxbow lake, where inhabit threatenet and endangered species «Giant Otters» there are several individuals in this lake, and abundant wildlife, Otoronge lake Its another location with another sellections of monkeys and forest.
Night: Casa matsiguenka. B:L:D.
Day 7: Leaving Manu.
After to spend couple busy days inside the reserve zone we ride down stream on the Madre de Dios river, this river start after the confluence of Alto Madre de Dios river and Manu River, in a couple hours riding will get to our new lodge. we have same change to see some rarities on the way back like Jaguar Tapirs, Orinoco goose, Caiman, …….etc.
Day 8: Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick – Blanco Lake.
Clay lick are place where special kind of mineral are concentrate, which attract different animmals like mammals and birds, in this ocacion we’ll visit the biggesr macar clay lick of the area, where not only parakeets, parrots, and macaws are vising, but also some mammals if we are lucky we can see some of this rare species, on our last afernoon well visit blanco lake for second chance for more wildlife like, Hoatzins, kingfishers, Horned screamer, Giant otters, caimans some monkeys and more.
Night: Amazonian Lodge. B:L:D.
Day 9: Back to Cusco.
On our final morning, we may try to pin down some stubborn missing species, any way chance always are open remember, this forest can surprise us any time, We’ll then travel downstream by boat, we will take a boat down stream for 2 hours about (depending water level) until Boca colorado village, here you will say goodbye our boat crew members, in Boca Colorado we will take ground transport (Taxi) for one hour about, to get Puerto Carlos in this place we are going to take another boat just cross the Inambari River for 10 – 15 minutes.
From here we will take another ground transport to go back to Cusco.
depending of your next plan we we leave in Santa Rosa from where you can easily get a ground transport to get Puerto Maldonado or you can connect with other tours that we have in Tambopata Reserve.
if you have a flight to Lima we can drop you direct to the airport.
What to Bring:
- Please do not bring too much luggage. For domestic flights you can hold 23 kg. ( 50.7063 lbs.) and 8 kg. (17.637 lbs.) in hand luggage. Extra costs run by yourselves.
- Lightweight comfortable clothing is recommended, i.e. standard field pants and shirts for the
entire trip, some jackets, gloves, for cold places is enough, at least for the Cusco area. - Day back pack is recommended, we have some walking and you need to pack daily use devices.
- Sunblock and hat or cap.
- Mosquito or insect Repellent
- An umbrella and rain poncho, remember even if you have a good weather forecast, this can change suddenly.
- Please using camouflaged clothing would be OK, not really any military clothing avoid the second.
- Dry back pack is recommended, specially for river sailing.
- Shower thongs / rubber flip flops will be useful.
Recommendation:
- Camera.
- Binoculars.
- Extra Batteries.
- Telescope (Optional).
General:
- we’ll visit protected national Park our tour will primarily be on forested roads and some trails – difficulty is totally easy level.
- We will be moving between 3400 – 500 meters, asl (11154.86 – 1968.5 feet), . Mostly between 500 – 1500 meters.
- We will experience all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is necessary.
- We will have electric power at all our destinations. There are sockets inside all rooms with 220 volt
electricity, lodges provide this service by generator from 6 – 9 pm. This in 2 different lodges, and in the other lodges you will have electricity 24 hours - Please note be sure and bring extra batteries sometimes one single battery is not enough for one day.
- Wifi service its available just in one Lodge.
- additional memory card would be OK, please remember to download your previous day photos.
Medical and Health Information:
High altitude information you may find useful. Arriving in Cusco is not a problem because you were already in this town, if you didn’t stay in Cusco yet, is not a problem because our Nature tour is relaxing, we try to avoid physical effort mostly we’ll be driving with short conformable walks, Adjusting to higher altitude is a very individual thing.
Some may feel no effects at all, some may have minor effects, and others may experience great difficulty.
You may feel the lack of oxygen, and will easily get “out of breath” You may feel a little nauseous, have a headache, or tire easily.. You will acclimatize to it by producing more red blood cells, so you should make sure you stay well hydrated, avoid physical effort as the extra cells thicken your blood. and Coca Tea its very helpful.
Drink lots of water, while avoiding alcohol or caffeine. Dehydration can make any effects of altitude worse. Try to avoid overeating the first day.
your safety and well-being is of first importance above all else.
Therefore, I will be making frequent checks to make sure everyone is feeling well.
If someone in the group isn’t feeling well easily we can visit and small hospital to be sure that you are OK at the same time we can ask for some medicine at the drugstore after doctor diagnostic.
There are medications available for altitude sickness. Please check with your doctor. For the headache, you can take an over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).
Travel insurance
Our suggestion is that you use travel insurance service. The normal price of this tour not cover travel insurance.
Books:
Birds of Peru is the best field Guide.
If you consider you can bring some other field guide are welcome.
+ Prices Include:
- Private transport in all the way.
- All accommodations in all the tour (Cusco/Cusco).
- Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch/ picnic or box lunch depending where we are, dinner, snacks, water available all the time).
- Naturalist Guide specialist.
- River transport.
- Entrances to all Archaeological sites and Birding spots.
- Manu National park fee entrance
- Blanquillo Macaw clay lick fee entrance.
- Blanco lake fee entrance.
- Transfers in Cusco.
- Basically full board in a private tour.
- Oxygen Bottle.
– Not included:
- Laundry, calls, medical costs or hospitalization, excess baggage charges, insurance, or other items of personal nature.
What I (guide) will have with me
- Recording stuff Roland R-05/Microphone SENNHEISER ME66/K6.
- Two iPods- speakers.
- A Swarovski ATX 80 scope 20-60 zoom
- Green laser pointer
- Owling light.
- GPS.
- Personal Swarovski Binoculars.
- I will be carrying the new field guide Birds of Peru this can be found on www.amazon.com.
Tour Calendar 2023:
At the moment just working on Private tours but if you are interested please let us know, we can run this tour any of the year and no minimal people required.
Tour Calendar 2024:
- working on the calendar, mostly will be Private tour ask for your dates available
If you need private or customized tour please contact us for more information:
