DAY 1: CUSCO TO RIO DE
ORO LODGE : We take an
12 hour bus trip (with stops) from the city of Cusco ascending
to the high mountain area at 4000 m (13,000 feet). After a short
stop in Ninamarca, to see the pre-Inca cemetery, and Paucartambo
village, we descend the eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud
forest with lush vegetation (ferns, orchids, bromeliads etc.) to
the lowland rainforest on the Madre de Dios River. You will enjoy
spectacular views of the Andes and may see wildlife such as our
national bird, the Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola peruviana) inside
a hiding place next to the lek, brilliantly colored Tanagers, Quetzals
and Hummingbirds and with some luck the first monkeys, e.g. the
Woolly Monkey. In the afternoon we arrive to Atalaya (500m), from
here it is only 15 minutes by boat to our Rio de Oro Lodge. Optional
night walk.
Tourists aboard our boat
DAY 2: RIO DE ORO TO
BLANQUILLO : Early start
to visit the small parrot clay lick 10 minutes downriver. After
observing parrots, parakeets and small macaws ( Chestnut fronted
Macaw and the rarest Blue headed Macaw) we continue for an 8
hour journey in a 15-meter motorized canoe down the Alto Madre
de Dios River. Today we have the opportunity to see wildlife
along the rocky banks of the river, such as Fasciated Tiger Herons,
Purplish Jays, Skimmers, Vultures, caimans and some of the 13
species of monkeys that live in Manu. In the afternoon we arrive
to Blanquillo, our base camp for 2 days. Optional night walk
before dinner and a shower!
Giant River Otters
DAY 3: MACAW CLAY LICK
AND CAMUNGO LAKE : Early
in the morning we go to the Macaw Clay Lick. From the blind we
can observe flocks of macaws (Ara chloroptera, - macao), parrots
and parakeets congregating to eat the clay, which is essential
for their digestion. Breakfast at the blind. After the spectacle
we go to Cocha (lake) Camungo to look for the family of Giant River
Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) who lives here. Nearby we have
the opportunity to climb a 42 m tower to get a great canopy view
and observe birds, e.g. toucans. The night is spent at Blanquillo.
Optional night walk ( to see insects, frogs, snakes etc.).
Macaw in its nest
DAY 4: BLANCO LAKE (BLANQUILLO)
TO MAQUISAPAYOJ TAPIR LICK : Today we visit Cocha (lake)
Blanco to observe Giant River Otters, monkeys (e.g. Red Howler
Monkey), caimans and different varieties of birds. In the afternoon
we travel upriver for one hour to Maquisapayoj (place of the
Black Spider Monkey). From the dining room close to the river
we walk about 1 1/2 hours into primary forest to the Mammal Salt
Lick, where we spend the night on an elevated platform (with
mats and mosquito nets) to observe tapirs or other mammals during
the night.
blind at the macaw clay lick
DAY 5: EXPLORING MAQUISAPAYOJ
: At dawn we return
to the dining room to have breakfast. Later we explore other trails
around Maquisapayoj looking for Black Spider and Red Howler Monkeys,
White and Brown Capuchin, Emperor and Saddle backed Tamarin, Monk
Saki monkey, Pavonine Quetzal, Manakins and other birds. The night
is spent at Maquisapayoj, either on the tapir platform again or
close to the river. (Today you can fly back to Cusco from Boca
Manu Airstrip.)
Emerald Tree Boa
(Foto: Ross Murphy)
DAY 6: TRAVELLING UPRIVER
BY BOAT OR FLIGHT BACK TO CUSCO : We travel upriver to make our way back to Cusco. Either
by plane from Boca Manu to Cusco or continuing further upriver
to camp at Yanayacu beach for this night. If time allows we make
a short visit to the Piro Indian village Diamante.
DAY 7: YANAYACU BEACH
TO RIO DE ORO LODGE : Today
we continue traveling upriver, always looking for wildlife. We
make a stop for a swim at Aguas Calientes (hot springs) and continue
to Rio de Oro Lodge, close to Atalaya, where we spend the night.
We can visit Machuwasi lake and walk on some of the trails.
Diamante village
DAY 8: RIO DE ORO TO
CUSCO : After breakfast
we take a short boat ride to Atalaya, where our bus is waiting.
We travel up to the Andes again to return to Cusco around 5 p.m.
Note: Please consider that Manu
flight schedule might be changed or - rarely - even be canceled
due to weather conditions or maintenance. Therefore please make
sure that you don't book your connecting flights the day after
returning from Manu.
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
Professional naturalist guide with telescope, birding guide
on request
Private bus and boat transport
Entrance fees to Macaw clay lick, Tapir lick
and Blanco and Camungo lakes
Cook
All food (vegetarian on request)
male Jaguar
Camping equipment and Lodge stays
First Aid Kit, extractor (for poison)
Radio communication
5 or 6 day tour: return flight to Cusco
NOT INCLUDED:
Sleeping bag
Binocular
when returning by plane: airstrip tax Boca Manu
Alcoholic drinks etc.
Manu Rafting
6 DAYS 5 NIGHTS
Price per Person :
8 days: 616 € / 890 US $
6 days , incl. flight : 696 € / 1005 US $
(min. 2 Pers.)
building the raft
DAY 1: CUSCO TO PILCOPATA or ATALAYA
: We take an 10 hours bus
trip from the city of Cusco ascending to the high mountain area
at 4000 m (13,000 feet). After a short stop in Ninamarca, to see
the pre-Inca cemetery, and Paucartambo village, we descend the
eastern slopes of the Andes through cloud forest with lush vegetation
(ferns, orchids, epiphytes etc.) to the lowland rainforest on the
Madre de Dios and Manu Rivers. You will enjoy spectacular views
of the Andes and may see wildlife such as our national bird, the
Cock of the Rocks (Rupicola peruviana) inside a hiding place next
to the lek, brilliantly colored Tanagers and Hummingbirds and with
some luck the first monkeys, as e.g. the Wooly Monkey. We spend
the night in a lodge in Pilcopata ( 600m) or a little bit further
down at Rio de Oro Lodge, close to Atalaya.
DAY 2: ATALAYA TO SERJALI : Early
in the morning we drive ½ hour
to Atalaya where we prepare our raft and descend the upper Madre
de Dios River for around 6 hours. Today we have the opportunity
to see wildlife along the rocky banks of the river, such as Fasciated
Tiger Herons, Skimmers, Purplish Jays, King Vultures, caimans and
some of the 13 species of monkeys that live in Manu. In the afternoon
we arrive to the area of Serjali and camp on the beach.
going downriver on the raft
DAY 3: SERJALI TO BOCA MANU TO MAQUISAPAYOJ
: After an early
breakfast we continue by boat to Boca Manu village, where we have
a stop and can have a look around the village or get a cold drink.
Afterwards we continue by boat for 2 ½ hours to Maquisapayoj
(place of the Black Spider Monkey). Here we walk to the Mammal
Salt Lick in the afternoon and spend the night on the specially
made platform ( with mats and mosquito nets ) to observe tapirs
or other mammals.
DAY 4: MAQUISAPAYOJ TO BLANQUILLO : After exploring the trails
around Maquisapayoj we travel downriver for half an hour to get
to Blanquillo, our base camp for the next days. We visit Cocha
(lake) Blanco to observe the family of Giant River Otters, monkeys
(e.g. Red Howler Monkey), caimans and different varieties of birds.
Our camp is at Blanquillo. Optional nightwalk ( to see frogs, insects,
snakes etc.) before dinner and a shower!
on the balsa raft
DAY 5: MACAW CLAY LICK AND COCHA CAMUNGO
: Early in the morning
we drive to the Macaw Clay Lick. From a blind we can observe flocks
of Macaws (Ara chloroptera, - macao), Parrots and Parakeets arriving
to eat the clay of the lick. Breakfast at the blind. After the
spectacle we continue exploring the trails around Blanquillo and
visit the 42 m tower at Cocha ( lake) Camungo. We spend the night
in Blanquillo. Optional nightwalk.
DAY 6: BLANQUILLO TO CUSCO: Early in the morning we drive upriver
for 3 hours to Boca Manu airstrip and fly back to Cusco (45 min.)
From the plane we have a nice view of the rainforest. Transfer
to your hotel.
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
Professional naturalist guide with telescope,
birding guide on request
Private bus and boat transport and the raft
Entrance fees to Macaw clay lick, Tapir lick
and Blanco and Camungo lakes
Cook
All food (vegetarian on request)
Camping equipment and Lodge stays
First Aid Kit, extractor (for poison)
Radio communication
6 day tour: return flight to Cusco
NOT INCLUDED:
Sleeping bag
Binocular
when returning by plane: airstrip tax Boca Manu
Alcoholic drinks etc.
Fixed departures please see on the right
Things
you should bring for the Manu Trip:
mosquito repellent
long sleeved shirts (cotton is better)
cotton socks
sandals
rain gear
long pants
bathing suit
hiking shoes
binoculars (you can also rent them from)
camera and films (400 and 200 ASA)
plastic bags for clothes and camera
etc.
personal things (soap, toilet paper.
towel etc.)
hat (or handkerchief)
sun blocker, sun glasses
sleeping bag (can also be rented)
flashlight (with spare bulb and batteries)
day pack
rubber boots ( only in rainy season,
Jan. -April)
vermillon flycatcher
Please note: you have to be prepared to get wet on this trip,
please protect
you and your equipment adequatly.
Manu is situated in the peruvian
part of the Amazon basin and
is one of the world´s great wilderness areas
where wildlife is still undisturbed and plentiful.
The Manu Biosphere Reserve protects Tropical
Alpine Grasslands ( Puna), Elfin ( temperate) and Cloud
Forests, High Rainforest and Lowland Rainforest. In
these different ecosistems we can find an extraordinary
variety of animal and plant species:
So far 15.000 plant
species, over
1000 bird species and 200 species of mammals have been
identified in Manu.
According to biologists no other
rainforest Park can compare with Manu´s biodiversity (
40 % more bird species than in the brazilian Amazon)
and opportunities to observe wildlife, e.g. at the
Mammal- and Macaw Salt Licks.
Manu is remote, away from civilisation
and scarcely populated,
which distinguishes Manu from other rainforest destinations
like Pto. Maldonado. Some of the indigenous
tribes in Manu have no contact to civilization.
Some birds are endemic to
this area as e.g. White tufted Sunbeam(Aglaeactis castelnaudii),
Red and white Antpitta (Grallaria erythroleuca), Puna
Thistletail (Schizoeaca h. helleri) and White cheeked
Tody Tyrant (Poecilotriccus albifacies).
No other area in America offers such
excellent viewing of rare or difficult to observe animals.
Macaws
· Why
go with Amazon Trails Peru?
We
were founded
by experienced, professional Manu guides- most
of them grew up in the rainforest - , who make
sure that you have the best opportunities to observe
wildlife without disturbing the animals.
Our
guides are bilingual and give you a comprehensive impression
of the rainforest ecosystem and provide you with an unique,
learning rainforest experience at a fair price.
Amazon
Trails Peru aims to train local people and work with
them, support lodges and enterprises owned
by local people and communities (e.g. Casa
Matsiguenka).
· Why go to Blanquillo
and Maquisapayoj?
Blanquillo
and Maquisapayoj are private
reserves, situated in pristine
primary rainforest, only
a short boat ride from Boca Manu. In
Blanquillo there is the big Macaw
Clay Lick and 2 oxbow
lakes with ideal conditions to observe giant
otters from a wooden catamaran.
Maquisapayoj
has an elevated platform to observe
tapirs at night – surrounded by dense
forest.
Nobody
else around in hundreds of kilometers of rainforest!
Both
places are surrounded by plenty of private walking
trails to discover, ideal to observe animals.·
Tapir
· Ecotourism
and Conservation
Manu
is a very rich/ biodiverse but fragile ecosystem.
Being home of several endangered
species, e.g. Giant Otter, Harpy Eagle, Giant
Anteater, Ocelot and Wooly Monkey, ecologically
sustainable tourism in Manu is imperative
and a low tourism flow is favourable.
Visitors
should be informed about rainforest
conservation and favorabletourism activities
have to be controled ( e.g. don´t get too close
to the animals).
Ecotourism also
is an important economic activity for the inhabitants
of the rainforest that permits its use without distroying
the rainforest resources.
That´s
why it´s very important to involve local people
in Manu tourism!
USA representative : World Class
Travel 800-771-3100 (Toll free USA and Canada)
352-371-3100 (local phone)
e-mail: amazontrails@peruperu.com
Important: All Phographic
Material is propierty of Amazon
Trails Perú
The sounds of birds you can hear on this site have been recorded in Manu
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