Leaving Cusco early in the morning, we begin an 8-hour journey over the Andes by bus, stopping for a coffee at the beautiful colonial village of Paucartambo. Continuing, we climb to the highpoint of the Manu Biosphere at about 3,530 m before descending to the cloud forest. In these mysterious surroundings we take a hike to the lek of the incredible cock-of-the-rock, to see the 'performance' of the males right under our eyes. We spend our first night in the rustic lodge Posada San Pedro (appr. 1,600 m).
day
2
Cloud Forest-Atalaya-Manu River
At daybreak we continue by bus to tropical lowland rainforest. Here at the small village Atalaya at 650 m, we change into a motorized canoe to navigate some 5 hours down the turbulant Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu. As night falls we make camp or stay in a basic lodge, depending on weather and availability.
day
3 & 4
Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo
On the morning of the third day we turn up the Manu River for a 6 hour ride into the heart of Manu's Reserved Zone. From this vantage point we will have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman, and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our camping huts deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for the next two days. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colourful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. There is another hike in this habitat-rich forest, that will end in Lake Otorongo and a 20 metre-high observation platform overlooking the lake. At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman-spotting on the lake.
day
5
Lake Salvador-Boca Manu
After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador (flight schedule permiting), we return back down the Manu River. At Boca Manu, you return mid-day to Cusco by light aircraft , if you are participating in the 5-day trip.
If your tour is of 7 days, it continues as follows:
day
5
Lake Salvador-Macaw Lick
Joining the Madre de Dios River we arrive at Blanquillo, near the claylick for macaws, where we spend the night in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.
day
6
Macaw Lick
At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we visit another one of Manu´s beautiful oxbow lakes, Cocha Blanco. Going back up the river we camp or stay in a basic lodge, depending on weather and availability.
day
7
Boca Manu-Cusco
A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our mid-day return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft, if you are participating in the 7-day trip.
If your tour is of 9 days, it continues as follows:
day
7
Boca Manu-Pantiacolla Lodge
We carry on up the Alto Madre de Dios River for about 5 hours. Here we get great views of the Andes. For the next two nights we stay at the Pantiacolla lodge, right at the foot of the Pantiacolla Mountains.
day
8
Pantiacolla Mountains
This day we hike through a very special rainforest: this is where the Andes and the lowland tropical rainforest meet, providing the visitor with a chance to see a good selection of birds, insects and flora from both zones as well as some endemics.
day
9
Atalaya-Cloud forest- Cusco
Back on the boat early in the morning, we head upstream to Atalaya where our bus is waiting to take us back over the Andes to Cusco.
Andina Travel Peru
Plazoleta Santa Catalina Nº 219 Cusco - Peru
Tel/Fax: +51 84 251892 / andinatravel@terra.com.pe
Transportation Cusco/Atalaya by private bus (5 & 7 day tour) and back Atalaya/Cusco (9 day tour)
Transportation by private boat: Atalaya/Lake Salvador/Boca Manu (5 day tour) – Macaw Lick/Boca Manu (7 day tour) – Pantiacolla Lodge/Atalaya (9 day tour)
Flight Boca Manu/Cusco (5 & 7 day program)
Tents and mattresses
Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Guide book for rainforest of Manu – Talking About Manu
Paper work for entrance
not Included:
Entrance fee reserved zone ($50 per person)
Sleeping bag (can be rented in Cusco at $2 per day)
Soft drinks and beers
$10 airport tax (5 & 7 day tours)
packing list:
Binoculars (imperative)
Flashlight with spare bulbs and extra batteries
Sleeping bag
Day pack
Long pants and long-sleeved shirts
T-shirts
Shorts/Bathing suit
Towel
Sweater or light jacket
1 pair of hiking boots and 1 pair of light shoes or sandals
Long socks
Rain gear
Rubber boots (only in the rainy season—we provide them)
Sunhat, sunglasses, sunblock
Insect repellent (with at least 25% 'deet') and afterbite
Toilet-paper
Plastic bags (to keep everything dry)
Water bottle (with water for the bus ride into Manu)
Copy of a valid passport
Copy of yellow fever and tetanus vaccinations
Money for softdrinks or beers and handicrafts at the Boca Manu landing strip
health advice:
There is an extremely low malaria risk in the Manu area and the occasional cases of malaria in the Alto Madre de Dios zone have proved to be completely curable. Use insect repellent and effective clothing to avoid being bitten.
We carry on up the Alto Madre de Dios River for about 5 hours. Here we get great views of the Andes. For the next two nights we stay at the Pantiacolla lodge, right at the foot of the Pantiacolla Mountains.
