MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE
08 DAYS / 07 NIGHTS
1º. Day
6:00 Departure of our comfortable Trans Manu bus, equipped with reclinable seats and HF radio. Our destination is Manu Nature tour's 1,300 Ha. Private Reserve in the cloud forest near the southeastern boundary of Manu Park , nested between the grasslands and the lowlands of the Upper Madre de Dios river. We travel south -east toward Pisac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. After a short visit on the main archeological complex we take a detour through small andean villages while we observe camelid shepherds and native peasants in their colorful attires. We travel at leisure making several stops along the way , including many photo opportunities and the colonial town of Paucartambo, gateway to the rainforest since pre-inca times . As we reach the Acjanaco pass , near the southern-most tip of the Manu Park , a delicious buffet lunch is the perfect complement to the magnificent views of the elfin forest, cloud forest , and the lowland Amazon Basin below.
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Optional : For those with the energy and a sense of adventure we will offer the choice to use a sturdy mountain bike to descend effortlessly the most scenic and beautiful part of the single -lane dirt road into the heart of the cloud forest . Four your security , and since this is not a competition but a change to enjoy nature , you will have to ride behind our transport.
We reach our Manu Cloud Forest Lodge to have a relaxing evening by yhe lodge's veranda or the fireplace accompanied by a home - made pizza , pepperoni or your choice of ingredient . The sound of the union creek by the lodge will put us into a pleasant sleep.
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2º. Day
The lush and misty coud forest in perhaps yhe mos fragile and threatened type of rainforest. This forest which start from 11,000 feet, and continue down to about 5,000 feet of elevation, cover the eastern slopes of the Andes, before yielding to the vast lowland forest of the Amazon. This is a kingdom of moss, lichens, ferns, and orchids, which in some cases grow up to 33 feet per year.
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Early excursion to a nearby platform and blind strategicalle located to see a "lek" where the brightly red colored Cocks - of- the rock display daily for the females . We return to our Lodge for a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, hiking excursion to the waterfall trail, walking through dense and exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams which originate in the snow-capped peaks high above the forest.
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At noon a delcious barbecue awaits beside a natural pond. Surrounded by massive rocks, hanging vines and bromeliads, we will enjoy a refreshing dip in these cristal - clear waters.
Optional.- White- water rafting on the Qosñipata River, visitors of all ages can enjoy 3 hours of exciting class II and III rapids in the beautiful setting of the tropical rainforest . Lunch is served ashore the river , we return to Manu Cloud Forest Lodge early in the afternoon . A minimum of two client is required. Must be reserved in advance.
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3º. Day
After breakfast, we head towards Atalaya, the first port on the Upper Madre de Dios river.The ride will take us through small villages of andean colonist and indigenous people whose main economic activities are rudimentary farming and low- scale logging . Once on Atalaya we board our motorized dugout cances, equipped with individual cushioned seats, and long tarps to provide shelter from the baking sun , or the sudden tropical downpour . River journeys are long in Manu and visitors have rated our boats as the most comfortable in the entire region . We will boat down the fast-flowin, braided, clear water, upper Madre de Dios river for about five hours to the confluence with the meandering, Manu river. As soon as we enter the great Manu wilderness, every river bend will bring us a vista of unspoiled beauty . We may see black caimans , white caimans, toucans ,parrots, scores of wild macaws, several species of raptors , and maybe even a magnificent jaguar . The best proof of the presence of jaguars and the possibility of many of our tour groups to see these great cats , are many wonderfull amateur photographs that our customers sent back to uo company.
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After about four hours, we arrive at the Juarez Lake sandbar, then we hike 600 meters along a flat trail to the Juarez oxbow lake, where guides paddle us in a catamaran to the secluded Manu Lodge , the only lodge in the entire protected wildnerss of Manu. Due to low water level in the lake , it is possible that the catamaran cannot be used during the dry season, if that is the case, we will walk through a thousand-meter long trail (about twenty minutes) taking with us our hand carries while the main luggage is ported. Overnight: Manu Lodge.
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4º- 5º Day
We raise to the loud call Howler monkeys, and to the option of a dawn paddle on the lake . During breakfast from the dinning room, you may be able to see ntire troops of Squirrel Monkeys, Brown Capuchins, and white-fronted capuchins who may be visiting the loadge clearing in search of palm fruits. Without any doubt, one of the highlights of Manu Lodge is the family of four Giant otters who have recently bred two cubs there. Manu lodge visitors have been able to see these playful and gregarious carnivores from a 15 meter distance without causing any disturbance of their daily activities.
This group of giant Otters visit Manu Lodge every now and then, and when at Juarez, they can be seen at different times of the day.Surprisingly, a few dead logs in front of our dinning room is their favorite spot to eat fish, preen , and play.
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Manu lodge offers yhe largest and most complete trail system available in Manu (over 20 Km of marked trails), and the result of standardized trail walks completed by groups of researches over the course of several years , show that " it is actually those sections closets to the lodge and most heavily visited, which were the most productive in terms of mammal sighting. This suggests that the presence of tourists and researchersis not having a disturbing effect on the local mammal population."
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6º. Day
Today we will have an opportunity to explore the Manu River, and two of the most beautiful oxbow lakes in Manu, Otorongo and Salvador. This is another good change to try our luck and see a jaguar sunning in the sandbars of the Manu River, as well as side -neck turtles sunning in logs. The five -kilometer long Salvador lake is the largest and most beautiful lake in the lower Manu River. Manu Nature tours manages a private camp close to tall, mature never-flooded rainforest close to the lake .
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Four lake piers , several trail circuits and small catamaran will offer us a change to look for fauna and to observe the Otorongo in hopes to see a troop of woolly monkeys and to climb a 100 ft. Observation tower near the lake shore. If we are lucky while on this tower, we might see a group of Giant Otters playing and fishing on the waters below. We boat back to Manu Lodge in the late afternoon, to a refreshing shower, snacks and iced drinks. Overnight: Manu Lodge.
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7º. Day
Two miradors are located within a close distance from Manu Lodge: when clear they allow visitors with a vista of the canopy that stretches to the snow-capped peaks near Cuzco. Dawn visits to the miradors are the most rewarding and while we look at the seemingly endless horizon, several primate and bird species may reward our patience. Mirador visitors regulary see : white-trhoated jacamar, paradise tanagers, opal rumped tanager, and swallow tanager. Eye-level sights of red and green macaws, scarlet macaws, and blue and yellow macaws as they fly by the mirador, and turn their heads to look at us is an unforgettable memory. On some accasions visitors have been rewarded with sights of ornate - hawk eagle, and the monkey - eating harpy eagle . At over a meter-high,its yellow legs and talons seem larger than human arms and hands .
An old oxbow lake, within a 15 minute boat ride from Manu Lodge present large stands of Mauritia palms which make wonderful roosting and nesting sites for dozen of blue and yellow macaws and red bellied macaws. An elevated plataform will provide visitors with "next to stage seats " to watch these colorful birds ,as they play, preen and display while their bright plumage reflect the golden light of the setting tropical sun.
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Optional: Canopy climbing. During your stay in Manu Lodge you have the change to explore the rainforest canopy at a closer range . Our staff can take you for a spectacular and safe climbs to a plataform located 76 feet above the ground . Overnight: Manu Lodge.
Optional: Macaw clay lick two-day expedition: clients taking this side-trip depart the Manu Lodge early today for a 6-7 hours trip to the macaw lick at Blanquillo on the Madre de Dios river. It is important to note that the activity at macaw licks, as well as other types of licks is very seasonal.
Macaw licks are almost inactive during the rainy season . Macaw licks are totally inactive during the months of May- June . Macaw licks are one of the world's most amazing avain spectacles, but bird activity lasts only two or three hours right after down, and since reaching the side involves considerable amounts of travel time outside of Manu, and additional expense, you should probably attempt to see it only between the months of July through September.
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8º. Day
Today we boat back to the confluence of the Manu and the Madre de Dios river to our rendezvous with a twin-engine , pressurized Beechcraft plane. The journey back to the airstrip is our last change to spot a Capybara, the world's largest rodent, or a tapir, a relative of horses and the rainforest's largest mammal. The small airstrip will almost certainly make you wonder of the possibility of any aircraft landing in the small grassy airstrip. Nevertheless, the expert bush-pilots will make it look easy as you take -off over the meandering river. The flight to Cuzco is an experience in itself as it provides a totally different perspective of the forest. As the plane gently climbs towards the towering Andes you will have a great view of huge stands of Aguaje palms , the braided Upper Madre de Dios river, smaller meandering tributaries, small native settlements, and the glaciers of the Carabaya range, as well as the Urubamba glaciers near Machupicchu. Weather conditions , airport traffic in Cuzco, and other factors may cause frequent , several hour-delays at either. Cuzco or Boca Manu runways. Thus, you should consider flight schedules provided only as a reference. Upon arrival in Cuzco our staff will transfer you to the shocking experience of our world ...End.
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INCLUSIONS:
Ground, plane and boat transport, naturalist guide, all meals , accommodations at Manu Cloud Forest Lodge and Manu Lodge , entrance fees and park permits, transfer to hotel.
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