Manu National Park

The Manu National Park is the largest tropical park in South America, covering one million eight hundred thousand hectares of pristine rainforest. Designated by the UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, this unique status recognizes Manus rich biodiversity and serene beauty. Manu is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth and it is home to over 1,000 species of birds, 300 species of trees, and countless other life forms, The park begins in the highland savannahs and cloud forest. The lowlands jungles are crisscrossed by the chocolate-colored Manu River, which meanders through the immense reserve. You will observe crystal clear oxbow lakes, each with their own ecosystems.

Day 01: Cusco San Pedro Lodge

Early morning, our English speaking Guide will picked you up from your hotel to start our adventure in Manu. We leave Cusco in our specialized overland vehicles, approximately mid-morning we visit the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, known as “Chullpas”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to the Acjanacu pass, which marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve. Here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads.
This varied and fascinating world is home of the Cock of the Rock, Spectacled Bear, Orchids, Tree Ferns (one of the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. This cloud forest exists between 2,000 and 3,500 m.a.s.l. and at least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic to this region.
Overnight: in “Orquideas de San Pedro Lodge”.

Day 02: San Pedro Lodge – Erika Lodge

Today we wake up very early to observe the Cock of the Rock from a platform. The male birds are a vibrant reddish orange, and as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a mating ritual dance in a place called Lek. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females. The females, fewer in number, watch to select the most suitable males.
After breakfast we continue in our overland transport down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward the town of Pilcopata.
Here we board our covered, outboard motor boat and head down the Alto Madre de Dios River for approximately 15 minutes toward the private reserve of “Erika” a comfortable 12 room lodge, from where we will hike through the interesting trail system that this transitional area between high and low jungle offers.
Overnight: in Erika lodge.

Optional:

1. Descend with mountain bikes from our San Pedro Lodge (1700 m.a.s.l.) Cloud Forest to Pilcopata (700 m.a.s.l.) High Jungle.
2. Here in Pilcopata town we will make the final settings for a 1 ½ or 3 hours river rafting (class I and II rapids) trip down the Koshñipata River where we will have the opportunity for a dip and of course enjoy the spectacular view of the Koñeq Canyon. Continuing down the Alto Madre de Dios River to Erika Lodge.

Optional Canopy Tour:
At Erika Lodge, our guests traverse from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys on horizontal traverse cables zip lines), as they sail through the treetops of the tropical rainforest canopy, and over the trails far below. Expert guides assist you in this exciting journey through the different layers of the virgin rain forests and explain what’s going on around you, from the time you leave the ground, until you rappel back down to the forest floor.

Day 03: Erika Lodge – Boca Manu

After breakfast we leave Erika Lodge and board our canoe for the four-hour ride down the Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu’s airstrip. During our voyage we may see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as: Black Skimmer, Pied Lapwing, Capped Heron, Jabiru Stork, and several species of kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers. Boca Manu’s village is situated a short distance from the confluence of the Manu River with the Alto Madre de Dios River place where you can buy your last fresh supplies and cold drinks before setting off again in the canoe. Now we enter the Manu River and the Reserved Zone, stopping in a white sand beach where we camp along the riverbank. Short walk around the area.

Day 04: Boca Manu – Salvador Lake

Very early and after a ten minutes boat ride, we will arrive at a Parrot Lick “Collpa”, which is a wall of clay in the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, the white-eyed parakeet, the dusky-headed parrot the chestnut fronted macaw and others feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. After registering in the official tourist logbook at Limonal, the Park Rangers Headquarters and eating an early breakfast, we will continue travel up the Manu River for 4 hours approximately into the pristine heart of the reserve; we will leave the final traces of human habitation behind us. We arrive at Salvador Lake, our base safari campsite (screened dining room, toilets / showers and radio communication is available).

Differences in wildlife abundance will be noted immediately we will begin to sight macaws, herons, kingfishers and cormorants frequently and improve our chances of encounters with capybaras, caiman, storks, ducks and other wildlife, you will often see animals sunning themselves on beaches, or foraging for food in the trees lining the riverbanks. This canoe ride gives us the opportunity to observe the immensity of the rainforest. We arrive early in the afternoon and have lunch before setting off on a jungle trail although at this time of day mammals and birds are not as active as in the early morning, we will concentrate on the forest itself and discuss general rain forest ecology, return to the campsite.

Day 05: Salvador Lake

We get up early in the morning, as the forest is awakened by the Red Howler monkey (Aloatta seniculus) declaring its territory. A morning walk before breakfast is a great way to catch wildlife in the pursuit of food, as the temperature is very pleasant at this time of day. We explore Salvador Lake by paddling quietly along on a catamaran, giving us the opportunity to observe unique species of birds, monkeys, caimans and with luck the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). This endangered species can be seen swimming, fishing, eating and playing
After we enjoy lunch, we cross the river to walk an 8-km trail to another oxbow lake called Otorongo. This forest, which is estimated to be 200 to 300 years old and includes truly huge Ceiba trees and Strangler figs, and it is home to several mammals that are occasionally encountered: Saddleback tamarins, Squirrel, Spider and Brown Capuchin Monkeys, the Collared and the white lipped peccaries. At the lake a strategically located observation tower rises 15 meters above the lake and the jungle floor, from the top you not only get spectacular view of the lake and the surrounding forest but also excellent opportunities to observe birds from the canopy, this also gives us more chances to observe wildlife including the Giant Otter. Back at Salvador Lake, late in the afternoon we will use the catamaran and with the help of flashlights we can observe the black caimans rise from the depths of the lake and begin their search for prey. Return to the safari campsite.

Day 06: Salvador Lake – Juan de Dios Reserve

Once again we wake up early, enjoy walking around Salvador Lake and then pack up and slowly go down stream the interesting Manu River. We arrive at the Island of Los Valle Family, a Native family and it’s possible to do a short walk through the forest to observe American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs and an incredible variety of colorful insects. We continue to Boca Manu’s Village, situated a short distance from the confluence of the Manu and Alto Madre de Dios rivers. From here we descend the Madre de Dios River arriving at Juan de Dios Reserve and spend night here in a Lodge.
Possibility to do a short night walk.

Day 07: Flight Boca Manu Cusco

After breakfast we board our canoe to return to the airstrip in Boca Manu to take our flight back to Cusco.
This flight offers spectacular views of the surrounding jungle and the area’s meandering rivers.