Experience the best that Manu Biosphere has to offer: watch out for monkeys on the forest trails, spot giant otters and rare birds from a raft on Lake Salvador, look out for caimans, jaguars, capybaras and side neck turtles on the Manu River, interact with the members of the Matsiguenka tribe, our hosts inside the park.
At the end of the journey, we will visit the macaw salt lick on the Madre de Dios river which is one of the most amazing birding experiences in the world. Every day parrots and macaws congregate here to obtain mineral-rich clay to help their digestion. End the journey in Puerto Maldonado.
Day 1
A journey through lonely highland scenery and isolated Quechua communities will take us to the pass of Acjanaco, the entry point of Manu National Park. From here we begin our descent into the cloud forest, enjoying the marvelous scenery and exotic flora on the way. We shall also stretch our legs several times and look out for exotic birds, butterflies, and insects. In the afternoon our lodge in the cloud forest where we shall spend the night. We shall also visit a lek where the male Andean Cock-of-the-rocks congregate each morning and afternoon in order to display for the females. Full board.
Day 2
We rise with the birds to observe the wildlife around the lodge gardens with first light. Colorful hummingbirds, tanagers, Jaybirds, motmots, and some more cock-of-the-rocks may be seen with a little luck and perhaps some capuchin or wooly monkeys. We shall also have a look at the orchid garden. After breakfast and a refreshing dip in the pristine mountain river, we continue our journey overland to Atalaya from where a motorized dugout canoe will take us across the river to our Lodge. Full board.
Day 3
The gardens of the Lodge come alive with first light. You may see colorful parrots, macaws, araçaris, woodpeckers, tanagers, caciques, and oropendolas as well as hummingbirds. After an early breakfast, we climb a trail leading into the montane forest and to a watchtower affording splendid views over the river. If lucky you may also spot interesting birds from here like squirrel cuckoos, cotingas, tityras, flower piercers or more tanagers. In the afternoon we explore more of the lowland trails around the lodge, hoping to surprise monkeys, toucans, guans, caracaras, tinamous or perhaps some agouti or capybara. At a small oxbow Lake you be able to watch the weird and wonderful Hoatzin, egrets, herons, kingfishers, raptors and if lucky you may even sight black caimans. We also watch out for squirrel monkeys, Dusky Titi monkeys, and capuchins. After dark, we may go on a short night walk to spot amphibians and insects or surprise some night monkeys. Full board.
Day 4
Today we travel down the Upper Madre de Dios River up to the confluence with the Manu River. After a brief visit to the settlement of Boca Manu, we settle into our lodge for the night.
Day 5
We begin our journey up the Manu River with first light. This journey offers a maximum chance for sightings of rare animals, like black and white caimans, side-neck turtles, different species of monkeys, capybaras, jabirus and wood storks, black skimmers, sand-colored Nighthawks, and many other animals. We arrive at our Lodge, run by the Matsguenka tribe in the afternoon. Hopefully, we still have time for the first visit to Lake Salvador, one of the oxbow lakes deep inside the Park. If lucky we may see a family group of giant otters, as well as black caimans, neotropical cormorants, Muscovy ducks, green ibis, and many other animals. Overnight at the Casa Matsiguenka. Full board.
Day 6
You will probably awake to the sound of red howler monkeys. We return to Lake Salvador where we will have the use of a catamaran to get a closer look at wildlife there. Sometimes it is possible to watch the giant otters fishing, eating and playing from a short distance. You may also get sightings of horned screamers, hoatzins, limpkins, capped herons, wattled jacanas, purple gallinules and the rare and shy Agami Heron. Later we shall walk the trails to look for spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys or tamarins. Overnight at the Casa Matsiguenka. Full board.
Day 7
Today we visit Lake Otorongo, another oxbow lake, where we have another chance to watch giant otters from a watchtower. In this area, there are also wooly monkeys. With a little luck, we might see a number of different monkey species. We spend the rest of the day exploring different trails looking out for wildlife and learning about the different uses of plants. In the afternoon we have the opportunity to participate in a shooting contest with the Matsiguenka (we shoot with bows and arrows on a papaya fruit). Overnight at the Casa Matsiguenka. Full board.
Day 8
Today we begin our return journey down the Manu River. We use this opportunity once again to look out for typical riverine animals like caimans, capybaras or roseate spoonbills. If extremely lucky we may even spot a jaguar, an anteater or tapir! We spend the night at a Lodge on Madre de Dios River. If time allows we may explore the trails there and look out for more red howler monkeys and other animals. Full board.
Day 9
Before dawn, our boat will take us near the macaw salt lick where on a good day hundreds of colorful parrots and macaws descend in order to obtain the mineral-rich clay that helps them in their digestion. The afternoon will be spent with leisurely walks on the trails of our lodge. Full board.
Day 10
We continue our journey by boat and the last bit by road to reach the jungle city of Puerto Maldonado where we spend the night. Full board.
Day 11
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima and international flight. B End of all services.
Included:
- 10 nights in Jungle Lodges
- Private land transport Cusco – Atalaya
- Private motorized dugout canoe.
- All meals as stated in the itinerary
- Drinking water
- Entry fees to Manu National Park
- Entry fee to the lek of the Andean-cock-of-rock and the macaw salt lick
- All excursions as described in the itinerary
- Bilingual naturalist guide
Not included:
- Flight out from Puerto Maldonado to Lima or Cusco
- Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks
- Extras not included in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
Available departure dates:
from April – November.
Prices per person in US dollars:
-
- 1 Person
in Single - 8,660.-
- 1 Person
-
- 2 people
in Double/Twin - 4,950.-
- 2 people
-
- 3 people in Triple or
1 Double & 1 Single - 3,825.-
- 3 people in Triple or
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- 4 people
in 2 Doubles/Twins - 3,240.-
- 4 people