WILD LIFE IN THE "MANU NATIONAL PARK" 8D / 7N  

Day 1: Cusco – Bosque nublado

You wake up early to leave Cusco and begin a winding ascent into the Andes. The road eventually winds down to the town of Paucartambo Colonial Town, where you will stop briefly to stretch your legs.

Leaving Paucartambo you begin your ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Forty minutes from Paucartambo you reach Acjanaco at 3,500 meter atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point you have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve where you are above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon. As you ascent down from Acjanaco, the baron Paramo starts to change to an elfin forest.

Here you will stop for lunch to admire the view. As you descend further into the cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphytes, moss, luscious green ferns and the Kur-Kur (high land bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. You make your way to an observation post where, with a little luck, you will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock and hopefully spot the Woolly monkey.

 You arrive at our campsite at 6 p.m. where you will spend the night. After a delicious meal you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings before turning in for the evening.

Day 2: Bosque nublado - Boca Manu

At daybreak, we make our way to the fluvial port of Atalaya, at the headwaters of the Alto Madre de Dios River. Accessibility to the lowland jungle from Atalaya must be made in improvised canoes with powerful outboard motors.

From Atalaya we have a relaxed journey downstream to Boca Manu. Arriving at Boca Manu, it is time to take in the beautiful surrounding. At dusk we will take a short walk into the jungle in order to spot the more elusive nocturnal animals such as the Night Monkey. Returning to Lodge for dinner, we are lulled into a peaceful sleep by the jungle orchestra.

Day 3: Boca Manu - Casa Matsiguenka

Once we have breakfast, we’ll get into our boat in order to go to the National Park Manu. We’ll briefly stop at Limonal check post to show our authorizations. We’ll continue to navigate on the river and enjoy all that nature, always changing and capricious, will show us during our journey.  
 
We shall have lunch in the boat and in the afternoon we will arrive at Casa Matsiguenka. There we will be welcomed by Matsiguenka natives and be introduce to their guides which, in the next day, will show us the natural wealth of the area.

Day 4: Casa Matsiguenka

This day we shall navigate in a catamaran by Salvador Ox-bow lake looking for giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis) and to go through the forest of the Casa Matsiguenka, trying to find the spider monkeys (Atheles paniscus) and the noisy white lipped pecker (Tayassu pecari). We shall sleep at Casa Matsiguenka.  

Day 5: Casa Matsiguenka - Blanquillo

Early in the morning we shall board our boat to go to Blanquillo, this place is known for its Macaw clay lick. Before that we’ll stop briefly at Limonal to register our exit. At sunset we shall take a short walk until Blanquillo Ox-bow lake, where we shall search for caimans.

Day 6: Blanquillo - Yanayaco

Early on we shall go in the catamaran to park in front of the Macaw clay lick. From a hide away we will fully enjoy the arrival of hundreds of parrots and parakeets, as the Macaws descend to complete their diet.

After this fantastic spectacle, we will continue our river voyage to Yanayaco, where we shall rest until next day.  
Optional camping in the beaches of Madre de Dios River.

Day 7: Amaru Mayu

Next morning, we shall head to the river port of Atalaya. On our trip we shall be atonished by the many birds which fly ahead and above us, or that rest on the tree branches. Before arriving at Atalaya we will briefly stop in Aguas Calientes, where we will relax in the hot springs (Lunch). Once in Atalaya, and after a short stop we will continue upriver to enjoy our last night in Amaru Mayu Ecological Reserve. This is a space with special conditions, protection and conservation interest because of its biological diversity, fragility and wealth of its forests. The guide will introduce us in the different projects of protection and conservation of this zone. Sleep overnight in the Lodge of the reserve.

Day 8: Return to Cusco

After breakfast we shall have our last walk in the jungle and we will prepare ourselves for our trip back to Cusco. In the road we will make short stops in interesting places such as Pilcopata (for lunch), again in the Cloud Forest and our last stop in Paucartambo to have a coffee before the arrival to Cuzco. End of our services.

Day 1: Cusco – Bosque nublado

You wake up early to leave Cusco and begin a winding ascent into the Andes. The road eventually winds down to the town of Paucartambo Colonial Town, where you will stop briefly to stretch your legs. Leaving Paucartambo you begin your ascent through eucalyptus groves, cultivated fields, and remnant patches of native vegetation. Forty minutes from Paucartambo you reach Acjanaco at 3,500 meter atop the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. At this point you have entered the Manu Biosphere Reserve where you are above the clouds gazing below into the lush jungle of the Amazon. As you ascent down from Acjanaco, the baron Paramo starts to change to an elfin forest. Here you will stop for lunch to admire the view. As you descend further into the cloud forest where the tree canopy covered by mist gives life to numerous epiphytes, moss, luscious green ferns and the Kur-Kur (high land bamboo). This area is a natural playground for a vast number of birds. You make your way to an observation post where, with a little luck, you will be able to watch the fascinating dance of Peru’s National bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock and hopefully spot the Woolly monkey.

You arrive at our campsite at 6 p.m. where you will spend the night. After a delicious meal you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings before turning in for the evening.

Day 2: Bosque nublado – Amaru Mayu

After breakfast, we set off to the fluvial port of Atalaya, where we shall ride a boat upriver towards the Amaru Mayu camp. During the boat ride, our guide will tell us about the different confluences of rivers in this area. Once installed in the camp, we'll walk along jungle trails, returning to the camp for dinner. Night in Amaru Mayu camp.

Day 3: Amaru Mayu

Very early in the morning, we'll take the boat to go to a parrot’s clay lick. That morning we will spend most of the time by boat. We will also visit a small ox-bow lake. Depending on the time we will penetrate to the jungle doing some tracings, we'll observe the difference between two types of forest: primary and secondary. We'll take this opportunity to learn more details about different aspects of the Amazon jungle and visit the Mirador, a high place with spectacular views. After a refreshing swim in the Cascades, we'll start our return to the camp. Lunch an free afternoon in the camp (with the most active members of the group we can continue our walks looking for different mammals or taking short boat rides in nearby places). At dusk, we'll take a night walk trying to surprise some species of nocturnal animals (monkeys, bats, bamboo rats, insects...). Night over in Amaru Mayu camp.

Day 4: Amaru Mayu – Santa Rosa de Huacaria

After breakfast we'll pick up our baggage and prepare for our return boat trip to Atalaya. During the boat ride we'll engage in bird-watching on both river banks. Once in Atalaya, we'll change our boat for a private car and drive to Pilcopata. From Pilcopata, we'll head to the native community of Santa Rosa de Huacaria where we shall delight ourselves in paradisiacal surroundings with the cordiality of the Matsiguenkas and Huachipairis people. Sleep overnight in a lodge

Day 5: Santa Rosa de Huacaria - Cusco

After breakfast, we shall take our last walk through the jungle towards Pilcopata. Leaving behind the cloudy forest, we'll go for the last part of our trip which takes us back to Cusco, the Inca capital.